Abstract: The invention is a driving device mainly for the windshield wiper assembly of a motor vehicle, which has a housing, an electric motor located in a housing with a pivoted armature, a gear unit located in the housing with a worm shaft located on a section of the armature and an axial force generating device to compensate for the axial free play of the armature. In order to create a driving device of the simplest possible construction in which the axial force generating device does not have to absorb all of the axial forces from the armature and which nevertheless can properly compensate for the axial free play of the armature, one end of the armature is supported by a support bearing at the housing and that the axial force generating device has a tapered sliding member which rides movably in the housing in a radial direction relative to the armature and is supported at the armature so that an axial force running in the direction of the support bearing can be applied to the armature by moving the tapered slide.

Abstract: A disposable sanding device is fabricated as a continuous rope-like article which is adapted for selective segmentation and application as a plurality of serially arranged disposable hand sanding devices or ropes. Each hand sanding device is formed as a generally elongated rod shaped base portion formed of lightweight material such as closed cell foam having a relatively constant cross-section along its line of elongation. An abrasive surface is permanently applied to the external surface of the base portion via an intermediate adhesive layer. As constructed, the sanding device is operable to conform to curvilinear contours of a work piece to be sanded upon application of user induced loading against the work piece. A dispenser holds a rolled length of sanding rope and includes a cutter feature for severing pieces of sanding rope from the coil as required as well as a retainer for the free end of the coil. A tensioning hand tool holds a severed length of sanding rope for precise applications.

Abstract: A fluid heater apparatus supplies heat to wash fluid via a flow path in a thermally conductive body. A heat source is disposed in the thermally conductive body for imparting heat to the body. Fluid flowing through the thermally conductive body in a flow path enveloping the heat source to absorb heat from the body. A seal member and a metal plate are fixed to one surface of the thermal body. A high thermally conductive pad is disposed between a printed circuit board carrying a control with heat generating switch elements. The pad conducts heat generated by control switching elements to the plate to reduce the temperature differential between the plate and the thermally conductive body to balance the temperature of the heater apparatus.

Abstract: A module includes a frame having opposed first and second ends. First and second mounts are associated with each of the first and second frame ends for mounting at least one of a plurality of components to the frame. In one aspect, the frame is formed of a flexible material allowing offset of the first and second ends relative to each other during mounting of the frame to a vehicle liftgate. In another aspect, the frame is formed as a rigid member. In one aspect, the mounts are separate mounting brackets or mounting flanges carried on the components, which are separably attachable to the frame. In the rigid frame aspect, the mounts are end portions of the frame.

Abstract: A power drive system is adapted for a sliding door mounted on at least one side of a vehicle for sliding movement forwardly and rearwardly of the vehicle. The system includes a reversible motor. A bracket is guided within a guide along a fixed path between the opened and closed positions of the door. An elongated drive member is slidably disposed within the guide and connected to the bracket at one end for driving the bracket along the fixed path. A translator mechanism operably engages with the drive member for powering movement of the door. The translator mechanism can include a rotatable hub, operably engageable with the drive member, a gear transmission for driving the hub, and a clutch mechanism for connecting the motor to the transmission. The translator mechanism preferably has sufficient power to pull the sliding door into a primary latch position with respect to the corresponding portions of a latch mechanism attached to the door and frame defining the door opening.

Abstract: A ball nut has at least one internal bearing race with a first end and second end, and at least one recirculating crossover passage for connecting the first end with the second end of the bearing race to form a continuous recirculating path for a plurality of ball bearings. A method for producing a ball nut includes the steps of forming at least a portion of the ball nut body with a helix passage for receiving a plurality of ball bearings, forming a crossover passage in communication with the helix passage for returning the plurality of ball bearings to an opposite end of the helix passage, and assembling the ball nut body portions to position the helix passage and operable orientation with respect to the crossover passage to define at least one raceway having a single recirculating rotational path for receiving the plurality of ball bearings. The ball nut body can be formed by being drawn, coined, metal injection molded, roll formed, through rolled, stamped and/or overmolded.

Abstract: A drive device includes an electric drive motor, a housing, at least one shaft driven by the drive motor, compensation elements enabling the end play of the shaft to be adjusted or compensated while the shaft is being mounted, and fixing elements which are used to fix the shaft after the end play has been adjusted or compensated. The compensation elements include a spring element which is arranged inside the housing and which axially actuates the shaft. The fixing elements are not accessible from the outer side of the housing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling fluid temperature in a fluid heater apparatus which supplies heat to fluid from a controllable heater element(s) which includes establishing a discharge temperature range between a first high temperature and a second low temperature. The temperature of the fluid is measured and, in response to the measured temperature, activation of the heater elements is controlled to maintain the temperature of the fluid within the temperature range. The heater elements can be independently controllable for temperature control.

Abstract: A wiper apparatus for a vehicle windshield has a wiper arm pivot rotatably mounted in a pivot holder fixedly secured to vehicle structure. An end portion of the wiper arm pivot normally extends exteriorly of an impact line defined by surrounding vehicle structure. The wiper arm pivot is axially displayable relative to the pivot holder upon the imposition of an impact load on the exposed end of the wiper arm pivot. An axial displacement biasing member is coupled to the wiper arm pivot for normally biasing the wiper arm pivot to a normal wiper arm wiping position. The axial displacement member returns the wiper arm pivot to the nominal wiping position after the impact load causing axial displacement of the wiper arm pivot has been removed from the wiper arm pivot.

Abstract: A segmented stator for a permanent magnet motor. The stator includes a plurality of stator segments forming an annular stator yoke and a plurality of stator teeth extending from an edge of the stator yoke. At least one coupling is between adjacent stator segments and shaped to allow movement of adjacent teeth in a so-called loose tooth design. Slot wedges are located between adjacent teeth to prevent the conductive windings from moving out of the slots through the slot openings. The slot wedges also prevent movement of adjacent teeth with respect to one another. The segmented stator can comprise an annular yoke with a plurality of discrete teeth or a plurality of assemblies including a rim section and a tooth section. The slot wedges can be keyed wedges that maintain their position through interlocking and/or can be integrated with a stator bobbin.

Abstract: An electric motor and method for reducing or eliminating end play. The motor comprises an adjustment member that cooperates with an end lamina member to facilitate reducing end play. The adjustment member is slidably mounted on an armature shaft and inside an aperture of a portion of the end lamina tube to reduce or eliminate end play. Thereafter, the adjustment member is permanently secured to the end lamina tube. In another illustrative embodiment, the movable bearing retainer sets endplay and also retains brushes in an open position prior to, for example, assembly of the motor.

Abstract: In the case of a wiper blade for cleaning glass surfaces on vehicles, and having an elongated wiper blade body which consists of a flexible rubber material and can be placed against the glass and is furnished on both its longitudinal sides with longitudinal grooves situated opposite to each other, in which a support or spring spline extending in the longitudinal direction of the wiper strip engages with part of its width, a profiled cover is mounted on and attached to the part of at least one support spline projecting beyond the wiper blade body covering this support spline.

Abstract: A fluid heater apparatus has fluid discharge temperature control to prevent temperature overshoot. A plurality of heater elements are employed and at least certain of the heater elements are independently controllable. At least one of the heater elements is employed as a “finishing” heater element, with the other heating elements deactivated to enable the “finishing” heater element to more slowly elevate the temperature of the fluid in the body from a first temperature reached by activation all or most of the heater elements to the predetermined discharge temperature. One of more of the heater elements may have a different power output than the other heater elements.

Abstract: A module in the form of an applique is mountable on an exterior surface of a vehicle liftgate and provides a mounting platform for a plurality of components mountable on the liftgate in a single assembly operation. The components include at least two of light sources in the form of LEDs or incandescent bulbs, an actuatable switch, a camera and a wash fluid dispensing nozzle. The components are mounted on a substrate in the form of a printed circuit board or a lead frame attached to a substrate for mounting in a carrier. The carrier is affixed to the module and is alignable with apertures in the applique for transmission of light from the light sources exteriorly of the applique as well as to enable the camera to view a field of view through the lens. The electric switch is actuatable by a resilient membrane mounted on the carrier and actuatable exteriorly of the applique.

Abstract: A wiper system for a glass pane of a motor vehicle includes a fixing device which itself includes at least three fixing mechanisms which are set apart from each other and corresponding receiving devices in which the fixing mechanisms engage the wiper system also includes a contact device having at least one essentially rigid part that is connected to the system and a complementary vehicle-side part the contact device provides the connection between a driving device of the wiper system and a vehicle-side supply device. In order to facilitate the mounting of the wiper system, the vehicle-side part of the contact device is essentially rigidly connected to the vehicle and the two parts of the contact device are aligned in such a way that a contact is established automatically when the wiper system is fixed to the vehicle.

Abstract: The apparatus and method includes a panel movable between at least two positions. An electric motor has a rotating armature. A multiple pole magnet is mounted on the armature. A sensor detects the passage of each magnet pole and generates an output signal. A control measures time periods between each pole passage. An average time period is computed over a predetermined number of time periods. The difference between average time periods is computed and compared with a threshold difference to determine if an obstacle is present in the path of movement of the panel. Transient counts are accumulated for increasing average time periods over a number of time period samples as a measurement of the force exerted on an obstacle by the panel to detect an obstacle.

Abstract: An apparatus for aligning and supporting a rotatable shaft through a plastic molded support member includes an integral boss formed in the plastic molded support allowing insertion of the rotatable shaft to be supported therethrough. At least one bearing is associated with the boss for establishing proper orientation of a rotational axis of the rotatable shaft to be mounted through the boss. At least one bearing is press fit into the boss. In the preferred configuration, a pair of hat-shaped cylindrical bearings are press fit in opposite ends of the boss to define the rotational axis of the shaft to be mounted through the boss.

Abstract: A wiper arm and method for manufacturing a wiper arm provides a body having a first end connectible to and supportable by a drive shaft for imparting oscillatory rotary movement and a second end connectible to and supporting a wiper blade. A torsional region of the body is capable of toggle action and is located between the first and second ends of the body. The toggle action is defined by two stable positions, a primary position and a secondary position, lying spaced at opposite sides of an unstable range of movement, where one of the two stable positions exerts downward pressure on the wiper blade connectible to the body for engagement against a windscreen to be wiped. The torsional region is defined by first and second torsional members initially formed in a relaxed state. Each torsional member has a free end cantilevered outwardly from the first end of the body and spaced from one another. Each torsional member is subsequently flexed into a flexed state such that the free ends engage one another.

Abstract: An electric motor unit of a motor vehicle includes a brush holder plate assembly. The plate assembly has a brass insert, a radiator, and an electronic card positioned adjacent the radiator. The plate assembly also includes a plastic over-molding molded to portions of the brass insert. An outer peripheral edge of the over-molding extends perpendicularly from a surface of the over-molding to surround at least a portion of the radiator.

Abstract: A motor vehicle wiper gear motor includes a motor core and a reduction gear base, the core and the base having metal parts. The gear motor has a joint interposed between the core and the base, the joint including a sealing material and at least a metal element in contact with the metal parts of the core and the base.