Abstract: There is disclosed a method for forming a gasket or seal between mating faces of two components. The method includes the steps of forming an initial seal and forming a primary seal by injecting a liquid material into a groove formed between the mated components. The method further includes the steps of monitoring sealant volume and injection pressure to determine whether a viable seal has been formed.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a NOx absorbent useful to purge exhaust gases during lean-burn internal combustion engine operation. The material is resistant to sulfur poisoning hence improving the long term NOx absorption efficiency. The method comprises providing an alumina/ceria support with barium and precious metal of at least platinum and then overcoating with a layer of lithium. The absorbent can be used in the exhaust gas system and subjected to lean operation when the nitrogen oxides are absorbed and then to stoichiometric or rich A/F operation which causes the nitrogen oxide to desorb and then they are reduced over the precious metal.

Abstract: An on-board diagnostic system and method for directly monitoring the efficiency of a catalyst having negligible oxygen storage capacity is provided. The monitoring system includes an oxygen sensor mounted at a first end of the conditioning catalyst, and an exhaust gas catalyst bypass. The oxygen sensor includes a first side and a second side. The first side detects oxygen levels in the exhaust gas at or near the first end of the catalyst and the second side detects oxygen levels at or near the second end of the catalyst. The oxygen sensor simultaneously compares exhaust gas from the first end of the catalyst to the exhaust gases from the second end of the catalyst. The oxygen sensor produces a voltage signal which is proportional to the difference in oxygen levels between the upstream gases and the downstream gases.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a curved glass/plastic laminate sheet for lightweight automotive glazing is disclosed. A flat laminate is build up with two thin glass layers, one inner and one outer, and a thick middle layer of thermoplastic. The flat laminate is heated to a plasticity temperature of the thermoplastic and it may be fit into a mould so that bending occurs mainly due to plastic transverse shear deformation of the plastic layer. Glass bending is limited to elastic bending of the single glass layers. Residual bending stresses in the glass layers are avoided by preferably incorporating pre-bending stresses in the flat glass layers. Strengthening of the final glass layers is achieved by incorporating compression stresses on the bent pane through heat treatment and having different thermal expansion coefficients of glass and plastic.

Abstract: The invention is a fluorescent sensor element for detecting concentration changes of oxygen in an atmosphere suitable for high temperature applications such as automotive exhaust gases. It comprises an optical fiber, preferably silica, coated on at least a portion of its surface with a sol-gel processed porous uniform mixture of (1) matrix material of alumina, zirconia, titania, or silica or a mixture of any of them with (2) ceramic fluorescent indicator like Cu-ZSM-5 zeolite incorporated therein. In use of the sensor element in a system, a light source excites fluorescence in the indicator which is responsive to varying oxygen concentration in the contacted exhaust gas.

Abstract: This invention is a method for using alumina-based metal oxide materials made by sol-gel techniques for absorbing nitrogen oxides from lean-burn engines when the exhaust gas is oxidizing, the engines may be gasoline or diesel engines. The oxide materials include precious metal like platinum. The nitrogen oxides are desorbed when the exhaust is made richer and is reduced over the precious metal with reductants in the gas like hydrocarbons. Preferably, the alumina-based metal oxide is made from certain heterometallic alkoxides which include alkali metals or alkaline earth metals or both, and also aluminum. Optionally, the preferred materials may also include oxides of lanthanides.

Abstract: The invention is a method for preconditioning a palladium containing automotive catalyst by subjecting the catalyst to oxidation by means of an oxidizing gas containing at least 0.85% oxygen at a temperature of at least 450° C. preferably for at least 15 seconds. This oxidation can be carried out before or after engine shutdown. The catalyst is placed in the exhaust system in a location whereby the catalyst attains this temperature during steady state warm-up operation of the engine.

Abstract: This invention is a method for making a thin, flat metal membrane of palladium or palladium/copper alloy. It involves sputtering the metal onto a flat surface of a substrate under conditions such that a deposited film is essentially free of compressive and tensile stresses. The membrane that results upon removal of the film from the substrate, as by dissolving a parting layer therebetween, does not curl up.

Abstract: The invention is a method for treating diesel exhaust gases, i.e., in an oxidizing atmosphere, with a catalyst which has a broadened operating temperature window at higher temperatures. It is a mixture of particles comprising platinum/alumina and a bi-metal oxide of manganese and zirconium.

Abstract: A low friction cam shaft for actuating at least one valve of an internal combustion engine includes a shaft member extending longitudinally, at least one cam secured to the shaft member, the cam being made of a plurality of density metal materials and having an outer surface impregnated with a solid film lubricant that has an affinity for oil and promotes rapid formation of a stable oil film to reduce friction therebetween.

Abstract: The invention is a sol-gel processed metal-aluminum based oxide material useful as a catalyst including a NOx trapping catalyst. It is made from alkoxides comprising heterometallic alkoxides. The metal is transition metal, one or both of alkali metal and alkaline earth metal, and optionally also a lanthanide. Then invention is also a method of treating lean-burn internal combustion engine exhaust gas with this material, without any precious metal included with the material, in the exhaust gas system. The method comprises locating the NOx trap in the system where the NOx trap absorbs nitrogen oxides during lean cycle operation and desorbs the nitrogen oxides when the concentration of the oxygen in the exhaust gas is lowered as during a rich or stoichiometric cycle.

Abstract: This invention is a single phase metal alumina material made by sol-gel techniques from certain heterometallic alkoxides which include aluminum and at least alkali metals, and optionally alkaline earth metals and lanthanide.

Abstract: This invention is a catalyst comprising a mesoporous aluminum oxide material including precious metal. The material is made by sol-gel techniques using a neutral surfactant with alkoxides, water and alcohol to form the aluminum oxide material having an interconnected pore structure of mesoporous size. The catalyst is useful to absorb nitrogen oxides from lean-burn engines when the exhaust gas is oxidizing, which may be gasoline or diesel engines. The nitrogen oxides are desorbed when the exhaust is made richer and is reduced over the precious metal with reductants in the gas like hydrocarbons. The alkoxides include aluminum alkoxides and at least one of alkali metal and alkaline earth metal. Preferably, the alkoxides include certain heterometallic alkoxides of aluminum and alkali metals or alkaline earth metals. Optionally, the alkoxides may also include lanthanides. Preferably, the alcohol used to make the oxide has four carbon atoms, most preferably being sec-butanol.

Abstract: A method for spot-welding aluminum workpieces with copper electrodes that comprises the steps of: (a) dissolving copper and one or more alloying elements X to yield an alloy that increases the liquidus of Al when dissolved in molten Al, super heating the alloy of copper and one or more elements X that normally have little or nor solubility in copper at room temperature, such super heating being a temperature at which X is soluble in copper, X being selected from the group of Mo, Ta, V, and W, elements that form monotectic or peritectic phases with copper and aluminum devoid of an eutectic, X being present in an amount of 4-15% by weight of the copper; (b) rapidly cooling the alloy to room temperature to retain such elements in solid solution; (c) either concurrently or subsequent to step (b), forming the alloy as an electrode shape; and (d) passing current through the electrode shape to effect spot-welding of the aluminum workpieces when pressed thereagainst while extending the welding life of the electrode.

Abstract: This invention is a metal-zirconium oxide material made by sol-gel techniques from alkoxides including heterometallic alkoxides. The heterometallic alkoxides include zirconium and another metal selected from alkali metals and alkaline earth metal. Optionally, in forming this material, heterometallic alkoxides of zirconium and lanthanide metal may be included during sol-gel processing, as well as mono-metal alkoxides of these metals or zirconium.

Abstract: The invention is a method for treating exhaust gas containing carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides generated by a lean burn internal combustion engine. It includes bringing the exhaust gas into contact with a particular metal-zirconium oxide material made by sol-gel processing and which includes at least 0.1 wt. % precious metal. The alkoxides include heterometallic alkoxides containing zirconium and alkali metal or alkaline earth metal. Optionally the oxide may contain a lanthanide metal. Under lean-burn conditions nitrogen oxides are absorbed on the oxide and when the oxygen concentration is lowered the absorbed nitrogen oxide are desorbed and reduced over the precious metal.

Abstract: The invention is a method for producing a metal oxide product by steps including absorbing a liquid solution of metal oxide precursors onto crystalline or microcrystalline, porous structured organic material capable of being combusted at elevated temperatures; heating the organic material containing the absorbed solution for a time and at a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid, convert the metal oxide precursors to metal oxides, and combust the organic material. The metal oxide products have been found to retain a high specific surface area (porous structure) even when subjected to elevated temperatures, which makes them ideally suited for use as catalyst materials.

Abstract: A method of operating a calorimetric gas sensor by modulating its operating temperature includes the steps of heating a sensing element and a reference element of a calorimetric gas sensor to a first temperature between a predetermined minimum temperature and a light-off temperature of the sensing element, modulating the heating of the sensing element and reference element between a second temperature above the light-off temperature and the first temperature to produce an alternating current (AC) output, and measuring the AC sensor output of the frequency of modulation.

Abstract: The invention is a method of treating exhaust gases generated by an internal combustion engine using a NOx trap in the exhaust gas system. The method comprises locating a nitrogen oxide trap in the exhaust gas passage and cycling the air/fuel ratio of the exhaust gases entering the trap between lean and rich, such that the trap absorbs nitrogen oxides during the lean cycle and desorbs the nitrogen oxides when the concentration of the oxygen in the exhaust gas is lowered as during a rich cycle. The trap comprises: (a) a tri-metal oxides made of aluminum-manganese-zirconium and (b) at least 0.1 wt. % platinum, the wt. % being based on the weight of said tri-metal oxide material. The desorbed nitrogen oxides may be converted over the precious metal to N.sub.2 and O.sub.2 by reductants like hydrocarbons present in the exhaust gas. The invention is also the catalyst trap material.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating diesel engine exhaust gas with a catalyst containing a physical mixture of particles. The catalyst contains a physical mixture of particles of (i) a bi-metal oxide of manganese and zirconium and (ii) a precious metal, such as platinum, supported on an alumina, such as gamma alumina.