Abstract: An axially-compact camshaft phaser wherein the phaser bearing flange on the camshaft, connected to a timing chain sprocket or cam drive gear, is axially inverted in comparison to prior art cam phasers so that the bearing flange extends axially and inwardly of the phaser stator and rotor such that radial drive load on the phaser is sustained within the hydraulic portion of the phaser rather than externally thereof. The overall axial length of the phaser may be reduced thereby by about 25% relative to some prior art phasers and the Phaser Envelop volume may be reduced by 15% while maintaining an equivalent torque capacity.

Abstract: A throttle lever assembly for controlling the actuation of a throttle valve in an internal combustion engine has a throttle shaft pivotally secured to a housing. An idle stop lever is mounted to and radially extends from an end portion of the shaft for engaging a depending member of the housing to stop the rotation of the throttle lever assembly at an idle position. A return cam formed of thermoplastic/thermoset material is overmolded the end portion of the shaft and a portion of the idle stop lever. The molded return cam has a channel disposed about its cam surface for receiving an accelerator cable, a stud extending axially from the outer surface of the cam return, and a spring retainer extending axially from the inner surface of the return cam for maintaining a return spring in coaxial relationship with the shaft. The return cam may also include an idle stop member to replace the discrete idle stop lever.

Abstract: A hydraulic lash adjuster for disposition between a rocker arm and a valve stem of an internal combustion engine comprises a body having an axially extending neck depending from a lower end thereof. An enlarged head portion extends from the terminal end of the neck and has a semispherical lower surface. A foot assembly includes a disk shaped foot with an upper surface, a lower surface and a cylindrical sidewall defining an outer perimeter. The upper surface has a socket configured to receive the enlarged head. The foot assembly further includes an inverted cup shaped retainer having a cylindrical wall and radial leaves extending inwardly from the upper end of the cylindrical wall, defining a central opening. The axially extending neck extends through the central opening and the opening has a diameter smaller than the enlarged head.

Abstract: A fuel rail has a high pressure inlet and a low pressure outlet. The high pressure inlet feeds pressurized fuel to a plurality of injectors along the fuel rail. A fuel return line, which is connected with the low pressure outlet, is positioned substantially centrally of and coaxial with the fuel rail. The fuel return line is non-circular in configuration having a width to height ratio greater than one. The configuration of the return fuel line and the flexibility of the walls thereof provide a damper that reduces the pressure pulsations in the high pressure fuel.

Abstract: A fuel injection system includes a fuel body having a compact fuel chamber connected through individual flexible fuel tubes with separate fuel injectors mounted on the separate cylinder inlet passages of an engine. The system may have an integral fuel pressure regulator or the regulator may be located separately, for example with the fuel pump in a vehicle fuel tank. The pressure regulator may include a unitized diaphragm and valve assembly which may be dropped into a housing with a valve seat in the fuel body and enclosed by cover and spring means to form an integrated system. The unitized assembly can also be used in other applications. Pulsation damping may be provided by a flexible wall of the fuel chamber. The flexible wall may be the pressure regulator diaphragm or a resilient wall designed for the purpose.

Abstract: An electromagnetic fuel injector has an upper, middle and lower body. A solenoid and guide tube are mounted within the middle body. A plug is mounted within the guide tube. The armature moves from its lower position when the solenoid is not energized to its upper position. There are two air gaps which are closed when the armature moves to its upper position, one between the armature and a stop shoulder on the middle body and the other between the armature and the plug. During assembly, the plug is inserted partially into the guide tube. Next, the armature is inserted into the guide tube. The armature is pushed upward until it contacts a stop on the middle body. The armature and the plug then stop moving. Because the plug is in a tight fitting relationship with the upper body, it remains in place when the armature is moved back to its lower position. This positions the plug such that the two air gaps are equal. The second air gap is positioned between the top and bottom of the solenoid.

Abstract: A three way valve for selectively controlling a flow of gas between one passage and at least one of two additional passages includes a valve assembly having a body including a lower chamber communicating with first and second oppositely disposed controlled ports having first and second opposed valve seats aligned on an axis. A third inlet/outlet port also communicates with the lower chamber. A valve member in the body includes a shaft that is reciprocably movable on the axis and carries at least one head with first and second axially spaced seat engaging surfaces that are, respectively, alternately engagable with the valve seats for closing their respective ports. A biasing spring urges the valve member in a first direction for closing the first port and opening the second port. An actuator includes an armature that operatively engages the shaft for moving the valve member in a second direction for opening the first port and closing the second port.

Abstract: A low displacement lubricator for use in the process of inserting fuel injectors into fuel injector manifold pods, the lubricator has a defined reservoir having an open cell foam disposed therein and an applicator in fluid communication with the reservoir. The applicator having an open cell foam that provides capillary dispensing of the lubricant. The amount of lubricant applied is in effect metered.

Abstract: An injector fuel injection valve is guided at the lower end by a plastic valve guide mounted in a nozzle containing a valve seat engagable by the valve element. The valve guide includes inwardly protruding annularly spaced ribs having inner guide surfaces and defining spaced flow channels. The guide surfaces engage the circular or spherical exterior of the valve element to guide the element to properly aligned seating against the conical valve seat. The plastic or polymeric valve guide is preferably molded in place within the cup shaped metal nozzle but, if desired, the valve guide may be separately molded and subsequently inserted or snapped in place within the nozzle. A second plastic valve guide may be provided for guiding the upper end of an associated armature.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a valve body having an intake air port and an EGR port. The engine also has an intake passage for transporting an intake air/EGR mixture from the valve body to an engine combustion chamber and an exhaust passage to exhaust gases from the combustion chamber. An EGR passage extends between the exhaust passage and the intake passage for transporting recirculated exhaust gases to the EGR port of the valve body. An intake air passage transports intake air to the intake air port of the valve body and to the intake passage. A valve assembly includes a rotatable shaft supported in the valve body extending across the intake air port and the EGR port. An EGR throttle plate is supported on the shaft and is operable to close the EGR port, and an air throttle plate is supported on the shaft and is operable to partially restrict the intake air port.

Abstract: A high pressure hydraulic diaphragm pump having a pressure chamber on one side of a diaphragm and a fluid delivery chamber on the other side of the diaphragm with a reciprocating piston assembly including a piston member being provided for pressurizing the hydraulic fluid in the pressure chamber and having the pressure chamber connected with a pressure regulator which maintains the desired discharge pressure of the fluid and in which the piston assembly is combined with a diaphragm positioning mechanism for maintaining the diaphragm at a desired position relative to the piston member so as to assure full stroke of the diaphragm during normal operation of the pump.

Abstract: A satellite stabilized about a roll axis, a yaw axis and a pitch axis, for travel on an orbit with geocentric pointing towards a heavenly body, embodying a body and a solar generator adapted to collect solar radiation, characterized in that the generator includes a single wing supported in a medium portion by an arm extending at least approximately along the yaw axis away from the heavenly body, the arm being connected to the body by a single rotation mechanism with a single rotation axis substantially parallel to the yaw axis, the wing having a constant inclination .alpha. to the yaw axis.

Abstract: A composite vehicle wheel having a disk, a rim circumscribing the disk, and an ornamental metal-plated plastic overlay attached to the outboard surface of the disk. The overlay has a pair of oppositely disposed surfaces which form interior and exterior surfaces of the overlay. The interior surface mates with at least a portion of the outboard surface of the wheel while the exterior surface has a metal layer plated thereon. The overlay is formed from a relatively thin plastic panel such that the exterior surface uniformly and closely conforms to the outboard surface of the wheel and the metal layer is substantially flush with the adjacent portions of the outboard surface to provide a pleasing aesthetic effect to the wheel. The integrity of the metal layer is such that the overlay successfully meets corrosion resistance requirements for automobile manufacturers' original equipment.

Abstract: Device for positioning a rotating body movable about an axis in relation to a stator body including a magnetic bearing and a locking/releasing device. The locking/releasing device embodies a plurality of clamps with pads adapted to radially grip a shaft of the rotating body. The clamps are articulated on the stator body about axial pins spaced from the rotational axis and evenly distributed in an angular manner about the rotational axis, and can be pivotally moved about the axis, by a moving control part between a released configuration in which the gripping pads are at a maximum distance from the axis and a locked configuration in which the pads are at a minimum distance from the axis suitable for inducing radial clamping of the shaft.

Abstract: A pneumatic cylinder, especially for a spot-welding machine, has a sleeve valve mounted on the piston rod. The sleeve valve provides a venting valve for dumping pressure from a return chamber at the end of the forward stroke, and a progressive restrictor to close off a forward chamber and provide cushioning at the end of the return stroke.

Abstract: In very high speed adiabatic face milling machines whose operation provides a highly efficient machining process suitable for production manufacturing conditions, it is essential that appropriate fixturing is utilized to position and support the workpiece in order to induce added rigidity to the workpiece while reliably clamping and dampening each workpiece to enable machining to withstand small flatness tolerances. Accordingly, primary rests are spaced apart relative to one another to ensure that a stable platform is provided for each workpiece. Force inducement devices are strategically positioned along peripheral edges of the workpiece to selectively deflect the workpiece and thereby significantly add rigidity to the workpiece to better withstand the cutting forces associated with the milling operation.

Abstract: A very high speed adiabatic face milling machine whose configuration and operation provide a highly efficient machining process suitable for production manufacturing conditions. The milling machine preferably operates at speeds of approximately 15,000 sfm and at efficiencies of approximately 7 cubic inches per minute per horsepower. The preferred milling operation is conducted without the use of cooling liquids, instead employing a chip removal system which enables the milling machine to operate truly adiabatically such that no heat is transferred to the workpiece or the cutter. The efficiency of the chip removal system is such that chip recutting is nearly eliminated and tool life is improved. The milling machine also includes an improved cutter structure, fixturing, and transfer devices.

Abstract: A door brake assembly (20) to control the closing of a dipper door (11) on a shovel dipper (10) has a torsion bar (39) connected to the dipper door (11) by links (15, 32). A lever (48) on the other end of the torsion bar (39) selectively engages spaced snubbers (57, 58) to provide a braking (or damping) action to the dipper door (11) in the last portion of its travel to the open or closed position. The torsion bar (39) is mounted in journals (23, 24, 43, 44) on a base (22) mounted on the dipper (10). Usually, each dipper door (11) is provided with a pair of the brake assemblies (20) mounted in mirror image.

Abstract: An arrow having a shaft that has a forward end, an oppositely disposed rearward end, a central axis and a plurality of axially elongated vanes mounted to the shaft contiguous the oppositely disposed rearward end thereof. Each vane of the plurality of axially elongated vanes has a planar portion tangentially attached to the shaft and an extended fin portion projecting from the planar portion in a direction away from the central axis of the shaft. The undersurface of the extended fin portion defines an air channel for channelling air flow along the undersurface of the extended fin portion to generate a rotating moment about the central axis of the shaft to provide increased rotation and increased stability to the shaft and improve flight accuracy of the arrow.

Abstract: For exchange of information between an earth-station and a satellite in geostationary orbit, information signals addressed to the satellite are transmitted from the earth-station, and information signals from the satellite are received at the earth-station. Signals addressed to the satellite and the signals from the satellite have a common first carrier frequency. Signals addressed to the satellite are transmitted to an intermediate satellite with an angular offset from the satellite in geostationary orbit. The intermediate satellite retransmits signals laterally to the geostationary orbit satellite on a second carrier frequency different from the first carrier frequency.