Abstract: A vehicle seat having a support structure adapted to rigidly support the seat in multiple use positions and to guide the seat into a storage position for minimizing the volume of vehicle interior occupied by the seat. The vehicle seat and support mechanism are adapted to be stored in a recessed compartment of the vehicle. The support mechanism includes a frame spanning the vehicle interior with cross-vehicle members and engaging a track on the sidewall of the vehicle, eliminating the need for under-seat support connected to the vehicle floor, and providing cross-vehicle bracing to increase rigidity and minimize intrusion into the vehicle interior in the case of a side impact.

Abstract: An idle stop-start control method includes initiating a monitoring system, determining if the engine is running, and monitoring the engine to detect a shut-down condition or a sustain condition. The method includes initiating the restarting of an engine based on the condition of input parameters.

Abstract: A pressure-relieving valve is connected to relieve air pressure from an internal diameter of a transmission pump. On startup, pressurized oil is delivered to the torque converter. At engine idle speed, the centrifugal effects on the oil cause any air (which may have leaked into the torque converter during the shut-down time) to accumulate at the center of the converter. Air pressure output from a torque converter escapes between the housing and the transmission pump to which it is connected. The escaped air reaches the internal diameter of the pump and it is prevented from blowing across the face of the pump to the suction side of the pump by a ball and check valve arrangement which delivers the air to a non-fluid internal part of a transmission, thereby avoiding the leakage of this air to the suction side of the pump and the possible loss of pump prime.

Abstract: A folding seat arrangement for a vehicle wherein a forward edge of a seat base is mounted to a pivoting front leg, and the rearward edge of the seat base is supported by a roller or pin riding in a longitudinal track on the load floor of the vehicle. The seat back is pivotally mounted to a fixed point on the load floor of the vehicle, and is connected to the seat base by an articulating link. The articulating link is pivotally mounted to the seat back, and to the seat base at the roller so that the lower end of the link follows the longitudinal track on the load floor of the vehicle.

Abstract: A belt driven starter motor system used to start an internal combustion engine. The system comprises a starter motor having a rotor and a pulley, a crankshaft pulley, and a belt tensioner, which are connected by a belt. The belt tensioner has a pulley that is movable between a first position and a second position. The tensioner pulley in the first position applies tension to the belt and the pulley in the second position corresponds to a condition wherein there is generally no tension on the belt. The starter motor begins rotation prior to the initial rotation of the crankshaft pulley, whereby the starter motor partially uses rotational energy to rotate the crankshaft pulley, which results in starting the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A steering column mounting system that includes a mounting bracket fixedly attached to a steering column and at least one pull strap made of a resiliently bendable material, the pull strap having a first leg with a slot through which extends a fastener fixedly attached to a motor vehicle structure and having a free second leg substantially parallel to the first leg. The pull strap has at least two portions having different widths. The widths of the portions of the pull strap may be selected so as to provide a predetermined amount of resiliency to the unwinding of the pull straps. The widths of the portions of the pull strap may also be selected so as to provide differing amounts of resiliency at different stages of the unwinding of the pull straps. A support frame is attached to the mounting bracket and maintains the first leg and the second leg of the pull strap substantially parallel relative to each other.

Abstract: A seal within the filler neck of a fluid reservoir is configured to provide fluid channels into the reservior while in the at-rest position, but seals the filler neck when deformed by an externally directed insert in the filler neck. The seal is a hollow bulb with a frusto-conical surface spaced from a parallel frusto-conical surface of the filler neck by a plurality of ribs therebetween. The gap between the ribs, and between the surfaces of the seal and the filler neck, from fluid channels for replenishing the reservoir. A plunger inserted into the filler neck deflects the seal outwardly into contact with the filler neck, closing the fluid channels and preventing matter from entering the fluid reservoir.

Abstract: A tow hook assembly for mounting to a front end of a vehicle. The tow hook assembly includes a base plate for mounting to the vehicle, the base plate having a central aperture for aligning over an opening in a mounting base on the vehicle. A tow hook has a shaft and an expanded base, with the aperture in the base plate receiving the shaft, and the expanded base being larger than the aperture to prevent the tow hook from being pulled through the base plate. In response to a frontal impact, however, the tow hook is released from the base plate, the shaft traveling freely through the aperture and the opening in the mounting base, so that minimal force of impact is transferred from the tow hook to the vehicle.

Abstract: An intercooler for a vehicle engine incorporating an exhaust gas turbocharger and an air conditioning system, the intercooler comprising: a charge air cooler loop operatively connected to cool heated, pressurized air from the turbocharger before it flows into the vehicle engine; and an air conditioning system bypass loop operatively connecting the air conditioning system to the charge air cooler loop.

Abstract: A clutch pack actuation system for compressing the annular clutch pack of a limited slip differential includes a pump which can provide a supply of pressurized fluid, an annular member provided between the pump and the annular clutch pack, and an annular piston which is slidable within the annular member. Together with the annular member, the annular piston defines a clutch pressure chamber adapted to receive the supply of pressurized fluid. A fluid return line, by which the pressurized fluid is discharged from the clutch pressure chamber, is provided, and a valve, through which the pressurized fluid is returned to a fluid reservoir, is disposed in the fluid return line. The valve includes an element which is electromagnetically actuated so as to produce a desired pressure in the clutch pressure chamber.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for verifying that an occupant sensing system reliably classifies vehicle seat occupants as adults or children, a small number of systems is tested using test objects that have physical characteristics representative of a lower limit adult and an upper limit child. Average measured parameter values are calculated for each test object, as well as standard deviation. Margins are then calculated for each of the two test objects, using separate statistical formulas. If the margins for both objects are non-negative, it is concluded that the system demonstrates a minimum reliability, with a desired confidence level.