Abstract: A top off fill wand assembly for adding and removing operating fluid from an automatic transmission for a vehicle having a flexible fluid fill line for snaking through a transmission fill tube which incorporates a tip assembly with a metal electrical contact at the tip. The contact of the tip with the bottom of the oil pan completes electrical circuitry activating top off operation. The tip has a port which corresponds to indicator stick level measurement system. If level is low, the fill wand delivers fluid to the sump until the port is reached, and if level is high, the wand removes fluid until the level is obtained.

Abstract: A fresh air duct system for a vehicle that includes an engine air cleaner with an attached conduit for passing fresh air into the air cleaner. The system includes a bumper beam that has elongated upper and lower air passageways that can be in fluid flow communication with the conduit for defining an air flow path between the air cleaner and the passageways. Fresh air can be introduced into the air duct system such that at least one of the air flow passageways can simultaneously act as a sound resonator and a resonator tuner.

Abstract: An exhaust manifold with several inlet ports and a combination of diffuser and nozzle portions associated with each inlet port for producing a high flow rate and a low pressure drop from entry to exit. The diffuser and nozzle portions are in series and designed into the manifold at each inlet port and slightly upstream of the next downstream positioned inlet port. The diffuser portion decreases the velocity of exhaust gasses as they enter the manifold and are then turned substantially ninety degrees into a longitudinal direction of the manifold. This diffuser action slows the velocity and reduces pressure losses as the turn of exhaust flow is accomplished. The next in series nozzle portion increases the velocity of exhaust gases to cause the flowstream to jump past a neighboring downstream engine exhaust port. Resultantly, the flow through the manifold is improved and the pressure drop decreased which enhances engine performance.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method of cooling a piston by passing a stream of lubricating oil against the underside of the piston and more specifically by providing an enclosed reservoir space between the engine cylinder wall and the side wall of the piston formed by a depression in the piston and providing a passageway in the piston aimed to direct oil to a desired location on the undersurface of the piston.

Abstract: A composite finishing cover for a component such as a vehicle instrument panel is provided by extruding a parison of inner and outer layers of different recyclable plastics having different characteristics but which are from the same family of plastics. The parison is injected with low pressure gas when forming dies are being closed thereover so that the plastics will fully conform to the forming surfaces of the die tooling cavity. The closing force of the dies cause the heat softened inner layers of the first plastics material to join at their interface to form a relatively thick core or substrate providing structural support for the relatively thin and flexible outer layer of the cover, also joined at their interface. The outer layer provides a finishing surface that exhibits a soft feel as when the human hand lightly contacts and moves across the surface thereof.

Abstract: An engine induction system resonator that is designed to minimize emitted engine noise. The resonator includes an enclosed tube that has a first diameter and that defines a resonant chamber therein. The resonator also includes a pipe that has a second diameter smaller than the tube diameter. The pipe extends axially through the tube and has first and second ends that connect to other induction system components to channel inductive air flow therethrough. The pipe defines a plurality of perforated holes distributed along a section of the pipe housed within the tube. The plurality of perforated holes is distributed along the pipe in a manner that minimizes emitted engine noise. The resonator is designed in view of other system components to minimize overall system cost and overall required system implementation area.

Abstract: A fuel injection system for injecting gasoline or other fuel directly into the combustion chambers of an internal combustion engine including a fuel pump with a plurality of fuel pumping pistons mounted within cylinders formed in a fixed barrel member. Each of the pistons internally contains an improved inlet valving assembly mounted wholly within a bore axially extending in the piston. The valving assembly provides a one-way fluid inletting to the pumping chamber by slight movement of a low mass valving member away from an annular seating surface formed about an inlet passage. Unlike rotary sliding type valves, the subject valve does not move rapidly through and agitate fuel and thereby does not generate any significant degree of undesirable fuel heating thus preventing undesirable fuel vaporization which is detrimental to pumping action of fluid.

Abstract: A valve train mechanism for an internal combustion engine that has one of its members formed with at least two partial cylindrical cavities supporting at least a pair of shaftless rollers that are adapted to be in successive contact with a cam-lobe of a camshaft and serve to convert the rotary motion of the camshaft to linear movement of a valve.

Abstract: A connector member for a valve train mechanism of an internal combustion engine and in which the connector member takes the form of a separate element shaped as a block that is inserted within the grooved bottom end of one arm of a crosshead or the arm of a finger follower and provides surface-to-surface engagement with the side walls of the groove within the crosshead or finger follower so as to prevent rattles between the two parts and has the bottom surface of the connector provided with an opening which serves to accommodate the terminal end of a valve stem.

Abstract: A gear-type pump having an inner rotor and an outer rotor and in which the outer rotor is supported for rotation by a plurality of roller bearings interposed between a support housing and the outer rotor and in which the inner and outer rotors and the support housing are made of the same material and have essentially the same width dimension so that the thermal contraction of the support housing and the thermal contraction of the inner and outer rotors while pumping super-cooled fluid does not adversely affect the end-clearance between the end plates and the inner and outer rotors to an extent where the efficiency of the pump would differ if it were pumping fluid at a temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Abstract: An instrument panel top cover with a seamless breakaway air bag door made as a unitary composite from multiple layers of plastics by extruding a parison with inner and outer layers of different recyclable plastics having different physical characteristics but which are from the same plastics family. The parison is injected and expanded with low pressure gas and forming dies with door scoring tools are closed thereover. The plastics will resultantly conform to the shaping surfaces of the dies to form the composite while the perimeter of the air bag door is scored. A quantity of the plastic material interior of the door score lines is removed after the top cover is removed from the dies so that a seamless or hidden door is provided that can readily break open at the peripheral scores to augment air bag operation when the air bag is triggered.

Abstract: A fuel injection system for injecting gasoline or other fuel directly into the combustion chambers of an internal combustion engine includes a fuel pump having a fixed barrel member therein which has a plurality of bores forming cylinders extending therethrough. A pumping piston extends into one open end of each of the cylinder bores. The piston is supported for reciprocal movements as produced by an input mechanism, such as a shaft and swash plate. A fluid inlet passage and inlet check valve are positioned at one end portion of each piston so that fluid can be drawn into the pumping chamber formed by the cylinder bore and piston. The other open end of the cylinder bore in the barrel member serves as an outlet for fluid from the pumping chamber and a flat reed valve portion of an outlet valve plate overlies the open end to prevent fludi from reentering the pumping chamber during an inletting stroke.

Abstract: An insulated pre-combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine in which a piston is disposed in a cylinder for reciprocal movement relative to the cylinder. A cylinder head is provided over the cylinder and piston to form a main combustion chamber and the pre-combustion chamber is located in the cylinder head above the main combustion chamber. The pre-combustion chamber includes a pair of housing members and a retainer member all rigidly interconnected so as to provide an annular cavity between the retainer member and the upper housing member. Transfer passages are formed in the lower housing member for connecting the pre-combustion chamber with the main combustion chamber, and the cavity serves as an insulation area which cooperates with a separate and independent insulation member located between the lower housing member and the cylinder head for reducing the heat loss from the pre-combustion chamber.

Abstract: An air induction system for an internal combustion engine featuring a throttle body and air cleaner assembly vibrationally isolated from the engine by a resilient air transmitting zip tube interconnecting the throttle body with the engine air intake manifold. The zip tube flexes to isolate the throttle body from engine vibrations and oscillations thereby eliminating a cause of throttle body fractures or looseness from its mounting. Furthermore, with such isolation, the throttle body can be readily formed from plastics and provide long service life. With the throttle body isolated, engine generated throttle pedal vibration is eliminated. Additionally with the remote location, throttle body and throttle plate coking and icing from recirculating exhaust gases is obviated. The throttle body and air cleaner assembly is supplied as a unit to augment vehicle assembly.

Abstract: An automobile includes a plastic body and a steel frame bonded to the plastic body. The front suspension system of the automobile includes a "v"-shaped control arm coupled to a front wheel. An arm shaft extends between the "v" of the control arm and is engaged with a rubber cartridge press-fit into a cartridge housing that is affixed to the frame. Thereby, motion of the control arm is attenuated. Alternatively, the arm shaft extends rearwardly away from the control arm. A horizontally-mounted transversely-oriented shock absorber further interconnects the control arm and frame. This shock absorber orientation avoids transferring suspension system loads to the plastic body.

Abstract: A power train arrangement for an automotive vehicle having a front mounted internal combustion engine and a rear mounted automatic transaxle unit which are interconnected by a single one-piece propeller shaft which is in substantial axial alignment with the output shaft of the engine and the input shaft of the transaxle and which is connected to each of the shafts by a flexible coupling member.

Abstract: In this invention, a composite finishing cover for a component such as a vehicle instrument panel is provided by extruding a parison of inner and outer layers of different recyclable plastics having different characteristics but which are from the same family. The parison is injected with low pressure gas when forming dies are being closed thereover so that the plastics will fully conform to the forming surfaces of the die tooling cavity. The closing force of the dies cause the heat softened inner layers of the first plastics material to join at their interface to form a relatively thick core or substrate providing structural support for the relatively thin and flexible outer layer of the cover, also joined at their interface. The outer layer provides a finishing surface that exhibits a soft feel as when the human hand lightly contacts and moves across the surface thereof.

Abstract: A fuel injection system for injecting gasoline or other fuel directly into the combustion chambers of an internal combustion engine including a pump that incorporates a rotary driven swash plate, a plurality of fuel pumping pistons radially separated from one another and operatively mounted for axial fuel pumping movement in a fixed barrel. A special bearing assembly and creeper plate is operatively interposed in the pump housing to transmit pumping forces of the swash plate to the pumping pistons while isolating the pumping pistons from rotation so that they stroke axially in the barrel. With this arrangement, check type valves are effectively used to control the inlet and discharge of fuel to and from the pumping chambers of the pistons eliminating rotary sliding valves with attendant heat build-up and undesirable fuel vaporization.

Abstract: A fastener retention system for a wheel cover of a vehicle that comprises a stud attached to, and projecting axially from, a brake system of the vehicle. The stud includes an outer surface that has a plurality of helical threads disposed thereon. Further included is a lug nut that has an end portion including an inner surface with a plurality of helical threads disposed thereon for screwingly engaging the helical threads of the stud. The end portion of the lug nut includes an outer surface having a plurality of helical threads disposed thereon. Moreover, a nut end, integrally formed with the end portion, is included and has a plurality of ramped teeth disposed radially thereon and opposite the end portion. A decorative cap nut for covering, and fixedly attaching to, the lug nut, is also included in the present system.

Abstract: The present invention provides an internal combustion engine combustion chamber with at least one shrouded exhaust valve. The combustion chamber is partially defined by a cylinder head having an exhaust port and a throat opening to the combustion chamber with an exhaust valve with an enlarged head portion cooperative with the throat to regulate exhaust flow therethrough. The exhaust valve shroud is formed by a projecting portion of the cylinder head interiorly of the combustion chamber and located adjacent to the exhaust valve. During the exhaust cycle of the combustion chamber, the shroud cooperates with the peripheral edge of the exhaust valve head to inhibit a direct flow of exhaust rich in unburned hydrocarbons between the surface of the shroud and the edge of the exhaust valve.