Abstract: An automotive vehicle has a body with an external surface, a fuel tank filler pipe, and a fuel tank cap assembly comprising a plug sealingly engageable with the fuel tank filler pipe by insertion into the filler pipe to a rotatively fast sealing position, a cover carried with the plug that substantially blends with the body external surface when the plug is in the sealing position, and a latch mechanism carried with the fuel tank cap assembly operable without rotation of the cover to permit the assembly to move from the sealing position to a release position displaced from the body external surface, the latch mechanism also being operable in the release position through rotation of the cover to permit the assembly to move from the release position to a free position disengaged from the filler pipe.

Abstract: A sepreable low profile connector for a transmission includes a first elongated receptacle aligned with a central axis. The first receptacle has a flange portion, a first cylindrical portion and a first terminal housing portion. The first cylindrical portion and the first terminal housing portion are sized to be received within the bore, whereas the flange portion is sized larger than the bore. The first cylindrical portion is adjacent the flange and has a diameter smaller than the bore. The first receptacle has longitudinal openings extending through the flange portion, the first cylindrical portion and the first terminal housing portion. Electrically conductive terminals are located within the longitudinal openings in the first terminal housing portion and are juxtaposed to the inner wall of the bore. At least one seal is located on the cylindrical portion adjacent the bore. A second receptacle has a second cylindrical portion, and a second terminal portion.

Abstract: A light collector includes a light source and a first and a second primary elliptical reflector partially surrounding the light source. The first and second primary reflectors have a common focal point at the light source. The first and second primary elliptical mirrors each have an opening in which a first light pipe and a second light pipe are located. Each of the light pipes having a face with a known acceptance angle. Each face is located substantially at the focal point of one of the primary reflectors. The first and second reflectors have an eccentricity sufficient to reflect light from the first and second primary reflectors so that light incident on the face of the light pipes does not exceed the acceptance angle of the light pipe. The first and second secondary elliptical reflectors are located within the opening in the primary mirrors. The first and second reflectors have common focal points with said first and second primary mirrors, respectively.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electrostatically coating a non-conductive article. The article is passed through multiple stations where electrostatically charged liquid coatings are applied to the article. Adjacent stations have opposite polarity and neutralize the residual electric charge buildup from the preceding station.

Abstract: A fuel pump (10) has a housing (12) which houses a motor (14) with a shaft (16) extending therefrom and an impeller (18) fitted thereupon for pumping fuel from a fuel tank to an internal combustion engine. The impeller (18) has a plurality of radially extending curved vanes (30) on an outer circumference (34) separated by a plurality of partitions (32) interposed between the vanes (30), the vanes (30) and partitions (32) defining a plurality of partly elliptical vane grooves (50). The vanes (30) are convexly curved in the direction of rotation (40) and have an obtuse inlet angle (.theta..sub.1) and an acute outlet angle (.theta..sub.2).

Abstract: The amplitude of peak to peak air to fuel ratio variation of an internal combustion engine is modulated as a function of catalyst temperature.

Abstract: A tool for removing a retaining cap from a hose clamp has a handle to which is attached a retaining cap nest having a cap receiving portion for receiving the capped ears of the hose clamp, an opening in an end of the receiving portion for accepting an uncapped portion of the capped ears, and a pair of lands, one on either side of the opening, for pushing against the legs of the cap during removal from the ears. In one embodiment, the nest has a pair of symmetrically shaped half-sections attached to the jaws of a locking pliers type tool which are placed around the capped ears. When the handles of the tool are squeezed together, a nest is formed capable of retaining the cap after removal from the ears. A preferred embodiment has a handle with a hollow cylindrical jacket attached thereto surrounding a pneumatically operated rod to which is affixed a unitary nest. When in an extended position, the nest can be positioned to grasp the hose clamp retaining cap in the receiving portion.

Abstract: A mass air flow sensor is calibrated by exposing it to known air flow and measuring the input and output voltage to a calibratable output stage. In the absence of air flow, the output stage is then calibrated to produce a desired output voltage in response to an application of the measured input voltage.

Abstract: An electrical connector has a first connector body which has a deflectable locking member with an engagement catch and a second connector with an opening for receiving the locking member and engagement catch. A coupling assurance device can be positioned in the first connector body and allow coupling of the first and second connector bodies, due to the flexibility of the locking member, and yet prevent unintentional decoupling of the first and second connector bodies unless the coupling assurance device is removed.

Abstract: A method of controlling the operation of heaters for an exhaust gas oxygen sensor as function exhaust gas temperature as compared to a first exhaust gas temperature to turn on the heaters and a second exhaust gas oxygen sensor temperature to turn off the heaters.

Abstract: A method and system for driving an air core gauge whereby pointer resolution of an air core gauge is improved across a full range of motion. The method including the steps of generating a first gauge control signal responsive to a signal, the first gauge control signal having a first duty cycle corresponding to a first pointer position; generating a second gauge control signal responsive to the signal, the second gauge control signal having a second duty cycle corresponding to a second pointer position; and modulating between the first gauge control signal and the second gauge control signal alternating drive periods to drive the gauge pointer to display an average pointer position.

Abstract: A UV-hard coat protective layer atop an ink transfer surface is provided and a method for manufacturing same. A UV-hard coat layer is applied over a heat transfer ink decal. The invention is primarily directed to the manufacture of rear illuminated instrument dials made from a transparent substrate and heat transfer ink decal. The UV-hard coat layer is applied over the ink decal using a dry heat transfer process and protects the decal from scuffs and abrasions.

Abstract: This invention includes straightening and curving air flow within an environmental test chamber so as to improve the testing of a mass air flow meter by maintaining a uniform air flow velocity profile and constrain the size of the environmental test chamber. Such size constraint facilitates the task of maintaining a desired environment within the chamber.

Abstract: The composition of an exhaust gas stream from an internal combustion engine is analyzed using an infrared sensor detecting infrared radiation from a catalyst passing the exhaust gas. The infrared sensor provides signals indicating the presence of certain gases. These signals can be used to generate an engine control strategy to adjust the composition of the exhaust gas.

Abstract: A catalytic converter comprises two catalytic matrices 10, 12, 14 mounted in a common housing and spaced from one another by an afterburner chamber 16. An igniter 22 is arranged in the afterburner chamber 16 near the first matrix 12 and a flame guard 18 is arranged upstream of and in close proximity to the igniter 22. The flame guard 18 comprises at least one elongate narrow strip spanning the combustion chamber which acts to spread the base of the flame across the width of the chamber 16 so as to enable the flame to spread in a shorter distance across the exhaust gases before reaching the second matrix 14.

Abstract: A method of securing a member to the interior of a blow-molded article including the steps of extruding a pliable tubular parison having interior and exterior surfaces; positioning the member within the parison; and contacting the member with the interior parison surface. A movable blow-pin urges the member against the parison wall. The member has a recessed attaching surface that interlocks with the parison wall to form a secure attachment.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle of the type having a front end, a rear end, a front pair of road wheels and a rear pair of road wheels located respectively adjacent to front and rear ends is disclosed. The vehicle also includes a passenger compartment area extending longitudinally between front and rear road wheels, a pair of frame members and a bumper member disposed generally transverses to the frame members. The vehicle further includes a storage compartment disposed longitudinally forward of the bumper member bounded by a plurality of body panel members and an isolation mechanism which isolates the storage compartment from longitudinal loads applied to the bumper member from a rear end collision to minimize the magnitude of the loads acting on the storage compartment.

Abstract: A structural brace for a unibody chassis is disclosed for minimizing deflections of upper strut mounting points of a strut suspension. The strut brace includes attachments that efficiently transfers uniaxial, bending and torsional loads into the structural brace, thereby improving the control of the suspension geometry during vehicle cornering maneuvers.

Abstract: A feedforward control system for an electrically operated fuel injection pump for an internal combustion engine includes a controller for determining required fuel pressure and flow rate to be delivered by the pump and for using the determined fuel pressure and flow rate to determine a variable operating voltage for the pump. The variable operating voltage may be delivered as a pulsewidth modulated voltage, with the system being used to operate the pump in an open loop fashion.

Abstract: A camshaft (16) is described for operating the primary and secondary inlet or exhaust valves (12) of an internal combustion engine having multiple valves in each cylinder, the camshaft having cams (18a, 18b) of substantially the same cam profile and phase for operating the primary and secondary valves of each cylinder. In accordance with the invention, in order to reduce valve train noise at least the trailing ramps of the cams (18a, 18b) are offset by between 1.degree. and 3.degree. relative to one another.