Abstract: A method for regulating coolant flow rate to a heat exchanger in an automotive vehicle is described. The method includes the steps of providing a main fluid pump for providing a source of fluid under pressure to the vehicle engine and the heat exchanger and providing a reversible flow auxiliary pump between the main fluid pump and the heat exchanger. The method further includes the steps of generating an engine speed signal and an ambient temperature signal. The auxiliary pump forces fluid against the flow from the main fluid pump when the engine speed signal is greater than a threshold value and forces fluid to the heat exchanger when the ambient temperature signal is below a predetermined value and the engine speed signal is less than the threshold value and within predetermined values. A system is also disclosed for accomplishing the method.

Abstract: A refrigerant charge valve for a refrigerant system includes a housing adapted to receive a refrigerant system component of the refrigerant system having refrigerant flowing therethrough. The housing has a cavity and a passageway fluidly communicating with a refrigerant charge port of the refrigerant system component. The refrigerant charge valve also includes a valve core disposed in the cavity of the housing to open and close the passageway to allow and prevent access to the refrigerant.

Abstract: A condenser having an integral receiver dryer includes a first manifold, a second manifold, and a plurality of fluid carrying tubes extending between and in fluid communication with the first manifold and second manifold. The condenser also includes a receiver dryer being internal to and integral with a housing of one of the first manifold and the second manifold and including a dryer material disposed in the housing to dry fluid therein.

Abstract: A fin alternating and delivering apparatus is provided for orientating and delivering fins emanating from a fin mill to a fin trayer for assembly into a heat exchanger. The fin alternating and delivering apparatus includes an entrance chute for receiving fins emanating from the fin mill in a horizontal position. The fin alternating and delivering apparatus also includes a sensor disposed adjacent the entrance chute to sense the fins entering the entrance chute. The fin alternating and delivering apparatus includes an air jet operatively connected to the sensor for delivering a blast of air to the fins upon sensing the fins entering the entrance chute to reorientate the fins from the horizontal position to a vertical position. The fin alternating and delivering apparatus further includes a discharge chute disposed adjacent the entrance chute for guiding the fins from the entrance chute to the fin trayer in the vertical position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a motor vehicle passenger seat assembly for use in a vehicle. The seat assembly comprises a seat bottom. The seat bottom comprises a base and a foam seat cushion. The seat cushion is removably attached to the base. The seat assembly further comprises a seat back in contacting relationship with the seat cushion of the seat bottom when the cushion is attached to the base. The seat assembly further comprises a pair of laterally spaced anchorage members for anchoring a child seat to the passenger seat. The anchorage members are located between the cushion and the base of the seat bottom.

Abstract: An electrically heated backlite assembly and method of making same includes a glass panel and an opaque, electrically nonconductive coating bonded to the glass panel. The electrically nonconductive coating has an outer surface with a plurality of first undulations at selected locations. The electrically heated backlite assembly also includes an electrically conductive coating overlying and bonded to the electrically nonconductive coating. The electrically conductive coating has a generally smooth outer surface and an inner surface with a plurality of second undulations complementary to the first undulations at the selected locations. The electrically heated backlite assembly includes a conductor strip attached to the electrically conductive coating at the selected locations and for connection to a source of power to provide power to the electrically conductive coating to heat the glass panel to de-ice and defog the glass panel.

Abstract: An eddy current brake having an electromagnetic pole and a rotor journalled for rotation in a torque delivery shaft of an automotive vehicle driveline, the rotor being rotatably positioned in close proximity to the stator with an air gap between them. The stator comprises steel pole pieces with hollow cores that establish a magnetic circuit for a magnetic flux field. The pole pieces have machine-wound electrical windings. The windings are fastened with pole caps. The hollow core reduces the weight and material of the stator without significantly adversely affecting the braking capacity of the retarder brake for any given speed of rotation of the rotor and for any given number of ampere-turns for the stator windings. The pole caps reduce the magnetic saturation and increases the overall brake torque output.

Abstract: A method of making a heat exchanger core (56) having a stack of fins (60) having collared holes through which tubes (30) are laced. An overlying fin is supported on an underlying fin by collars (90) around the holes in one of the fins. Leading lengthwise end portions (66) of the tubes are corrugated and each tube is laced, via its leading lengthwise end portion, through a respective set of aligned holes in the fins. Then the tubes are mechanically staked to at least some of the fins in the stack by expanding the cross sections of the corrugated leading lengthwise end portions of the tubes against the collared holes in those fins through which the corrugated leading end portions pass (FIGS. 14-18).

Abstract: A refrigerant tube for a heat exchanger, comprising: a generally flat tube 10 having generally flat upper and lower walls 12/14; a plurality of reinforcing walls 16 connected between the upper and lower walls 12/14, the reinforcing walls extending along and generally parallel with a longitudinal axis A—A of the tube and being spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance; and a plurality of communication holes 18 distributed along the length of each reinforcing wall 16, thereby defining a plurality of discrete wall portions 20 along each reinforcing wall 16, each of the discrete wall portions 20 being disposed between adjacent communication holes 18 and having an upstream edge 22 and a downstream edge 24 thereof, the communication holes 18 and discrete wall portions 20 having lengths L1 and L2, respectively, as measured along the longitudinal axis A—A, the communication holes 18 being spaced apart along each reinforcing wall 16 by a pitch P.

Abstract: A hydrophilic coating composition for hydrophilically coating a metallic surface. The coating composition comprises a fluorocarbon-containing hydrophilic polymer comprising units of hydrophilic monomer and fluorocarbon-containing hydrophobic comonomer. The coating composition produces hydrophilic coatings on the metallic surface having a contact angle below about 50°.

Abstract: A folded tube and method of making the same for a heat exchanger includes a base, a top spaced from and opposing the base, a first side interposed between the base and the top along one side thereof, and a second side interposed between the base and the top along another side thereof. The folded tube includes at least one of the base and the top having at least one internal web having an initial web width and initial outside shoulder radius and being compressed to compress the at least one internal web to a final web width less than the initial web width and a final outside shoulder radius less than the initial outside shoulder radius and defining a plurality of fluid ports.

Abstract: The invention involves a heat exchanger assembly comprising at least one aluminum based tube including magnesium, an aluminum based cladding, and at least one aluminum based component disposed adjacent the cladding. A brazing flux is applied to a joint between the cladding and the component to facilitate brazing in an ambient atmosphere. An aluminum based lithium enriched layer is disposed between the tube and the cladding to scavenge sufficient oxygen from the ambient atmosphere to form an effective barrier against the defusion of magnesium from the tube.

Abstract: An engine compartment (10) of an automotive vehicle houses an internal combustion engine (12) having an air intake system (14). The engine compartment also contains a electrical system storage battery (24). A tray (28) has a bottom wall (32) and upright walls (38, 40) forming side-by-side compartments (34, 36) that are open at the top. Fasteners (58) fastening the tray bottom wall at a first (34) of the compartments in a hard mounting to underlying structure of the vehicle that is spaced from the engine. The battery is disposed on the bottom wall in the first compartment. A cap (46) closes the open top of a second (36) of the compartments that adjoins the first compartment and cooperates with the second compartment to form an air box (16). The hard mounting of the battery compartment to the underlying vehicle structure and the cantilevering of the air box to one side attenuates transmission of objectionable air intake noise and vibration frequencies through the vehicle structure.

Abstract: A variable capacity swash plate type compressor 10 incorporates a swash plate 34 to effect movement of at least an associated piston 44 to vary the capacity of the compressor 10. The structure of the swash plate 34 and piston 44 minimize the bending moment exerted on the piston 44 during operation.

Abstract: An accumulator for an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle includes a housing having an interior chamber and an inlet tube connected to the housing to allow refrigerant and oil to enter the interior chamber of the housing. The accumulator also includes an outlet tube connected to the housing to allow refrigerant and oil to exit the interior chamber of the housing and a single insert disposed in the interior chamber of the housing to allow refrigerant liquid/vapor separation, insulation, and oil return.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a film coated article by placing a pre-molded film into a loading station. The film has a decorative surface and a backing surface. The decorative surface is positioned juxtaposed the loading station. The film is transferred to a loader. The loader is positioned juxtaposed the backing surface. The loader and film are positioned in an open mold press between a cavity and a core. The film is transferred from the loader to the cavity. The decorative surface of the film is positioned juxtaposed the cavity. The cavity mates with the film and retains the film in position during the molding operation. The press is closed and a polymeric material is injected against the backing surface of the film. The polymeric material produces a molded article having a rigid substrate fused to the backing of the film and displaying the decorative surface. The press is opened and the molded article is transferred from the cavity to an unloader.

Abstract: A protective sleeve for a fluid pipe is disclosed. The sleeve includes an inner and outer member which provide heat, sound and abrasion resistance. The inner member includes a pair of terminal edges which are spaced apart a predetermined distance. This distance is greater than the distance between the terminal edges of the outer member. A method of making such a protective sleeve is also disclosed.