Abstract: A hydraulic tensioner includes a piston that is pivotally mounted to a tensioner arm. The piston is slidably received within a hollow body that is pivotally mounted to a mounting block or engine. In different embodiments, the body is mounted to the tensioner arm while the piston is biased against the mounting block or pivotally connected to the mounting block or engine.

Abstract: A remotely mounted 4-way valve (2) or two solenoid valves (12) (13) control a center mounted spool valve (28). In the 4-way valve embodiment, one control port (3) provides oil pressure to one end (26) of the spool valve (28) and the other control port (4) provides oil pressure to the other end (27) of the spool (25). In the embodiment with two solenoid valves, one solenoid valve control port (16) feeds oil to one end (26) of the spool (25) and another solenoid valve control port (17) feeds oil to the other end (27). For both of these control systems, the relationship of percent of control signal to percent of control pressure is mapped into the controller, and varies as the engine oil pressure and temperature changes. In a preferred embodiment, a position sensor (34) mounted to the spool valve position reduces this error by having a control loop controlling the position of the spool valve. There is also another loop to control the phaser angle.

Abstract: A phaser for adjusting the timing between a camshaft and a crankshaft. The phaser consists of an outer housing having internal and external teeth and an inner housing connected to the camshaft. The outer teeth couple to the cam drive—the timing chain, timing belt or timing gears. A worm mounted on the inner housing is meshed with the internal teeth of the outer housing. The worm gear is connected to one or two drive wheels, which are rotated by contact with stationary plates. The plates are moved by electromagnetic coils to contact the drive wheel or wheels, and turn them in one direction or the other. The actuators are activated by an engine control unit. The plates can be mounted concentrically on one side of the phaser, or on opposite sides.

Abstract: A blade tensioner includes a blade shoe having a chain sliding face and a plurality of blade springs disposed and stacked at the opposite side to the chain sliding face. A clip is provided on the blade springs. The clip includes a clip body encompassing the blade springs, which elastically contacts the blade springs, and an engaging portion integrally formed with the clip body. The engaging portion includes an engagement hole to engage a tool.

Abstract: A chain tensioner (10) is disclosed which includes a tensioner arm (18), a face (30) and a blade spring (36). The face and blade spring each have portions which extend beyond a distal end (22) of the tensioner arm. The blade spring maintains contact between the face and a chain (16) as the chain wears.

Abstract: To provide a type of link plate for a silent chain characterized by the fact that the link plate can be differentiated by appearance from the other link plates. The link plate has a pair of teeth, each of which has an inside flank surface, an outside flank surface and a tooth tip part that connects them, with the outside flank surface and the back side part connected to each other by a shoulder part. For the tooth tip part, a portion is cut off on the side toward the outside flank surface to form a cut portion, and, on the shoulder part, a bump portion is formed projecting outward. By means of the cut portion and the bump portion, it is possible to differentiate the link plate from other link plates different from it with respect to one or several properties, such as plate thickness, material, heat treatment, hardness and finish processing of pin holes.

Abstract: A blade tensioner is configured with blade shoe having chain sliding face, base that supports base part of blade shoe while allowing it to pivot freely, and blade spring in which base part is fixed to tip part of blade shoe. Warped part provided at the tip contacts inner face of blade shoe, and curved part provided at the midpoint of base contacts sliding face of base. In this case, the damping force of the blade tensioner increases due to sliding resistance generated between warped part of blade spring and inner face and between curved part and sliding face.

Abstract: A chain tensioner is disclosed which incorporates a blade tensioner and a rigid tensioner arm. The blade tensioner and rigid tensioner arm can be pivotally supported on proximate support structure and the blade tensioner urges the rigid tensioner arm into engagement with a portion of a chain to tension the chain. Alternatively, the blade tensioner can be pivotally mounted on the rigid tensioner arm. Two or more blade tensioners can be used to tension the rigid tensioner arm. If desired, the rigid tensioner arm can be mounted on one of the blade tensioners.

Abstract: A mounting bracket mechanism and system for mounting a solenoid operated valve, such as an EGR valve, to a vehicle. A strap-type mounting bracket is positioned over the valve and secured to the engine or other vehicle component with a plurality of bolts or other fasteners. A curved recess or groove is provided in an engine component or surface, or a spacer member is positioned between the valve and the engine component or surface in order to maximize surface contact and thus heat transfer between the valve and the vehicle. Spring tab members can be positioned on the mounting bracket in order to minimize vibration of the valve in the vehicle and more securely fix it in place. The mounting bracket, spacer member, and valve can be assembled together as a modular preassembly for mounting to the engine.

Abstract: A method for actuating an onboard refueling vapor recovery (ORVR) valve to selectively enable passage of fuel vapor from a fuel tank to a collection canister for the fuel vapor. The method includes determining whether a filling event is occurring and determining a fuel level within the fuel tank. The ORVR valve is selectively opened and closed in connection with whether a fueling event occurs and whether the fuel tank is full.

Abstract: A fan assembly 10 is provided including at least one impeller blade 12, a rotating ring element 14 having a flared inner discharge surface 22, and a shroud element 20 having a shroud exit surface 32 substantially coincident with the flared inner discharge surface 22.

Abstract: A power transmission chain having a plurality of inside links and guide links. Each inside link has at least one inverted tooth adapted to contact the teeth of an associated sprocket. Each link has a pair of apertures which are connected by connecting pins inserted through the apertures. The chain is provided with projections acting to maintain a spaced relationship between the guide links and the inside links. The spacing of the guide link away from the inside links is accomplished by spacing elements which may include projections formed on the guide link or an outer face of the outermost inside link, or by washers or spacers interposed therebetween.

Abstract: A chain-belt for a CVT having a plurality of links, each link comprising a plurality of parallel tensile link plates, each link plate having connection apertures located substantially towards the ends thereof, each link being connected to an adjacent link by a pin having two ends passing through overlapping connection apertures in adjacent link plates. Wear pads are positioned on said outer link plates. A bushing, at least as long as the thickness of the tensile link plates, coaxially surrounds the chain's pins, passing through oversized holes in the link plates. Compressive force is transmitted between the wear pads by the bushing, so that the compressive force exerted by the sheaves does not deform the pin or squeeze the link plates together. The wear pads are centered on the centerline of the chain, and taper to match the taper of the pulley sheaves. The wear pads are also designed so the centerline of the wear pads intersects the center axis of the pulley when the chain is in use.

Abstract: Cost considerations have prevented the use of titanium compressor wheels (1) in automotive air boost devices. A hybrid process is disclosed, wherein a wax pattern used in the investment casting process is intentionally designed not to produce a final (net shape) compressor wheel, but rather, is designed to produce a near net shape pattern including filled in areas (10, 11) which must be subsequently machined or milled away to produce the desired non-pullable shape compressor wheel. Surprisingly, when forming a titanium compressor wheel using the hybrid or two-step process, the technical complexity of each step (pattern forming and machining) is substantially lower, distortion of the wax blades (4) during pattern casting is reduced, casting of titanium is simplified, the process allows itself to be fully automated, and the dimensional accuracy of the final product is greater than with conventional techniques.

Abstract: A two-way clutch biasing assembly including a two-way clutch having an inner race attached to an input shaft and an outer race attached to an output shaft. The inner and outer races having inner cammed portions between them, with an engagement assembly interposed therein that is adapted to rotate bi-directionally thereby providing selective mechanical engagement between the races in either direction. A planetary gear assembly is provided having a ring gear, planetary gears on a carrier, and a sun gear that is adapted to rotate the engagement assembly within the two-way clutch. A drag clutch assembly is also slidingly connected to the carrier to hold the carrier stationary when the input shaft is stationary, such that sun gear is rotated by the plurality of planetary gears, thereby rotating the engagement assembly within the two-way clutch and providing a mechanical advantage in engaging the races together when the input shaft begins to move.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a method to digitally control a transfer case through a digital data bus to provide synchronized low to high shift capabilities in vehicles that employ a controller area network (CAN) system. In addition, a transfer case that can be digitally controlled in a vehicle with a controller area network (CAN) system to provide synchronized low to high shifts is also disclosed.

Abstract: A silent chain is directed to prevent bending of the connection pin and reducing surface pressure acting on the connection pin while maintaining bendability of the entire chain. The chain includes multiple link plates, each having a pair of teeth and a pair of pinholes. The links are interleaved in the transverse and longitudinal directions and the link plates are connected by connection pins inserted in the pinholes. Connection pin is composed of center pin at the center of pinhole and of a pair of rocker pins on both sides of said center pin. Guide washer is provided to each connection pin. Guide washer has a guide part extending on both sides of the teeth of link plate and a central apertures for fixing of the end of center pin.

Abstract: The cam phaser of the present invention includes a variable force solenoid (201) with spool position feedback to control the position of a center mounted spool valve (192) and control the phase angle of the cam mounted phaser. A position sensor (300) is mounted to the spool valve position such that a control loop (30) controls the position of the spool valve (192). A second, outer loop controls the phaser angle. An offset is preferably added to the spool valve position to move the spool valve to its steady state or null position. This null position is required so that the spool (200) can move in to move the phaser in one direction and outward to move the phaser in the other direction. This type of system reduces any frictional or magnetic hysteresis in the spool (200) and solenoid control system.

Abstract: A cooling fan (10) includes a plurality of blades (12) molded about a central hub plate (11) at an annular molded ring (13). A plurality of helical gussets (30) are formed on inlet side (25) of the molded ring (13) at the blade root (15) that are spaced apart to define flow gaps (32) therebetween, and are curved to substantially follow the airflow path through those gaps (32). A like plurality of radial ribs (40) may be formed at the outlet side (26) of the fan (10) that can include an indented stacking surface (41) that engages a contact surface (42) on the inlet side (25) to facilitate stacking of multiple fans. In another aspect, the fan blades (10) are configured to include elliptical or parabolic camber lines (C) that vary along the radial length of the blade so that the blade stacking, or the centers of gravity (CG) of radial blade segments, achieve a predetermined alignment under normal operating loads to minimize bending moments between blade sections.

Abstract: A water-cooled magnetorheological fluid controlled combination fan drive and water pump (60) used in a cooling system. Introducing a magnetic field within a working chamber (91) between a drive ring (74) and a driven ring (84) increases the viscosity of a magnetorheological fluid by changing the state of the magnetorheological fluid from a free flowing liquid to a semi-solid state. The shear rate of the magnetorheological fluid in an activated state creates additional torque to drive an output shaft (108), and coupled fan (110), at a higher rotational speed to cool the engine coolant flowing through a closely coupled radiator. The rotation of the drive ring (74) also rotates an attached impeller assembly (112) having impellers (114) to move engine coolant through the cooling system.