Abstract: Method, for use in a vehicle including a four wheel steering system and an electronic control unit having memory, of controlling the four wheel steering system while at least one of the wheels is under a torque load such that the vehicle behaves like a front wheel steering vehicle under no torque load, or a four wheel steering vehicle under no torque load. The method includes determining at least one control gain for the four wheel steering system so that the torque loaded vehicle behaves like a front wheel steering vehicle under no torque load, and controlling the four wheel steering system according to the control gain, thereby improving directional stability of the vehicle travelling on a slippery road surface. Apparatus is provided for carrying out the method.

Abstract: An active suspension system uses a closed-loop feedback controller with tunable feedback gains to produce a control signal which minimizes a cost function formed by the weighted sum of system outputs including body acceleration and wheel displacement error. The feedback gains are adaptively varied by incremental amounts which are calculated based on the "pseudo-sensitivities" of those gains to system outputs, the pseudo-sensitivities being generated by a fixed-gain model of the suspension system and being combined using weighting factors which insure convergence in accordance with the predetermined cost function. The weighting factors are combined with the pseudo-sensitivities in a manner in which the trade-off between body acceleration, wheel displacement error and the control signal is altered with varying magnitudes of road inputs to continually minimize the cost function for varying road inputs.

Abstract: A rotary compressor having a housing with a pump cavity, an orbiting ring piston in the cavity, a cylindrical post carried by the housing within the orbiting ring, at least one pair of vanes engaging the orbiting ring to define pumping chambers in the cavity, a pair of primary fluid inlet passages communicating with the working pressure chamber during expansion of the pressure chamber, a pair of fluid outlet ports communicating with the working chambers as the volume of the working chambers contracts upon rotation of the orbiting ring piston, and a pair of secondary fluid inlet ports in parallel disposition with respect to the primary ports formed in a valve plate adjacent the orbiting ring piston whereby the orbiting ring piston registers with the ports and opens and closes the ports in synchronism with the opening end and closing of the main ports whereby the effective inlet flow capacity for the fluid into the expanding working chamber is increased.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting is disclosed for detecting a low level of refrigerant circulating through a motor vehicle refrigerant circuit. The apparatus comprises an electronic logic module, and a pressure transducer and a thermistor preferably located in the refrigerant circuit between the compressor and the evaporator. The pressure transducer generates a signal indicative of the refrigerant pressure, from which the module derives a saturation temperature of the refrigerant. The saturation temperature is compared with the measured temperature to determine if a superheat condition exists indicative of low refrigerant charge exists. When the refrigerant remains at a predetermined level of superheating, the compressor clutch is disengaged to interrupt circulation through the refrigerant circuit.

Abstract: A method for making a tube for an automotive heat exchanger is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of feeding the tube stock and turbulator stock into the tube mill; forming the tube stock into a tube; and forming the turbulator stock into a generally elongated turbulator. The method further comprises the step of guiding the turbulator into the tube through an open end of the tube and welding a longitudinal seam along the open end of the tube to complete the fabrication thereof.

Abstract: A high output fan assembly for cooling the radiator of a motor vehicle. The fan assembly comprises a shaft, first and second fans, and a motor. The first fan includes a plurality of first blades, each of which has an inner portion attached to the shaft, while an outer hub is attached to an outer portion of at least one of the first blades. The second fan includes a plurality of second blades, each of which has an inner portion attached to the outer hub. The motor is drivingly connected to the shaft to drive the first and second fans at the same number of revolutions per minute. The fan assembly is situated either for pulling or for pushing air across the radiator and an air conditioning condenser of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding a heat exchanger core 22 during a manufacturing process is disclosed. The core includes a first 24 and second 26 side support member disposed on opposite sides of an assembly of a plurality of interleaved tubes 28 and fins 30. The apparatus comprises a pair of elongated rod members 38, 40, releasably engaging locating apertures 34, 36, 34', 36' of the first 24 and second 26 side support members in an overlapping, crosswise relationship. The rod members 38, 40 apply constant compressive force between the side support members to hold the plurality of tube and fins together during the manufacturing process and prevent the heat exchanger core from skewing.

Abstract: An accumulator for an automotive air conditioning system having a mechanism for attenuating fluid pressure pulsations and resultant noise from the air conditioning compressor is disclosed. The fluid pressure pulsation attenuating mechanism includes a predetermined number of attenuating zones formed in the outlet tube of the accumulator, each zone having a cross-sectional area of different size than the cross-sectional area of the outlet tube generally.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for maintaining vehicular ride height in a vehicle having a body, front and rear wheels and an air suspension including front and rear air springs. The method includes sensing vehicle body height relative to the wheels to obtain front and rear vehicle height signals, and sensing vehicle speed to obtain a vehicle speed signal. The method also includes processing the front height signals to obtain a vehicle roll signal that has been compensated for the natural lean of the vehicle, the vehicle roll signal indicating vehicle roll due to steering adjustments by the vehicle operator. The method further includes processing the vehicle speed signal to obtain a vehicle pitch offset signal, indicating vehicle body height change due to longitudinal vehicle acceleration. The method also includes adjusting the height of the vehicle toward a predetermined target ride height based on the vehicle height sensor signals which have been compensated for vehicle roll and pitch.

Abstract: A plate-fin heat exchanger 10 is disclosed including a plurality of flat pipes 14 interleaved with a plurality of fin members 16. The flat pipes 14 are formed from a plurality of plate members 12. The heat exchanger 10 also includes a plurality of fin members 16 and a pair of fluid manifolds 22, 24. The manifolds 22, 24 engage the heat exchanger 10 along either of two axes which are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tank 20 of the heat exchanger 10.

Abstract: A method of making an automotive heat exchanger comprises the steps of assembling a heat exchanger core having a plurality of interleaved tube and fins disposed between a pair of endsheets and expanding the diameter of the tubes a predetermined distance by forcing an expansion tool therethrough. The tubes of the heat exchanger include a plurality of internal projections of predetermined height and the expansion process decreases the height of the projections by less than 25% of its original height. A heat exchanger formed in accordance with this method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A semi-independent suspension system for a wheeled vehicle is of a Short Super Long Arm (SSLA) configuration. The suspension system includes a beam having a first end and a second end. A first wheel carrier is coupled to the first end of the beam. A second wheel carrier is coupled to the second end of the beam. A first bifurcated upper control arm (A-arm) is pivotally coupled between the frame and the first wheel carrier. A second bifurcated upper control arm is pivotally coupled between the frame and the second wheel carrier. First and second springs, each coupled between an end of the beam and the frame, support the frame of the vehicle on the beam. The center of the springs are connected to the beam by a mounting bracket, which has a central opening for receiving a half shaft for driving a wheel associated with the wheel carrier.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for improving vehicle handling during vehicle operation in the nonlinear region of the front tires for use with a vehicle (10) having manually operable front steerable wheels (12) and electronically controlled rear steerable wheels (14). The method includes the step of calculating a desired rear steer angle based on vehicle parameters, such as vehicle speed and front wheel angle. Preferably, the method also includes the steps of determining if the vehicle is operating in the nonlinear region of the front tires, calculating a handling term if the vehicle is operating in the nonlinear region of the front tires and modifying the desired rear steer angle based on the handling term. The rear steerable wheels are then steered toward the modified desired rear steer angle.

Abstract: In a McPherson strut suspension, the top end of the strut 26 is not positively secured against axial movement in its seat 28 but is prevented from moving from its seat on full extension by abutment of a bracket 44 fixed to the strut with a stop 46 fixed to the chassis.

Abstract: A power steering system for automobiles comprising a rotary, driver-operated valve which is adapted to control pressure distribution from a steering pump to power-assist fluid motors and to a set of transversely disposed fluid pressure reaction pistons and which responds to a reaction pressure to oppose steering valve motion whereby the relationship between pressure and torque developed by the steering system can be tailored to provide the optimum relationship between these variables so that a desired reduced steering torque is provided at low vehicle speeds and a greater steering torque is provided at high vehicle speeds.

Abstract: A manifold assembly 14 is disclosed which includes a tank member 26 and a header plate 28. Each of the tank member 26 and header plate 28 includes a flange portion 38, 50, respectively which when in a mating engagement, form at least one brazing contact surface between the two components.

Abstract: A corrugated heat exchanging fin assembly for use with a heat exchanger having fluid conduits is disclosed. The fin assembly includes a plurality of fin elements, each fin element including a first plurality of louvers extending therefrom and disposed at a predetermined angle to the plane of the fin element. Each fin element further includes a second plurality of louvers extending therefrom and configured to intersect the plane of the fin element to prevent nesting of stacked rows of pluralities of fin assemblies.

Abstract: A flexible assembly cell is provided for adding a selected one of a plurality of available components to one of at least two different types of motor vehicle subassembly which may be presented. The flexible assembly cell comprises a work station including a platen having at least one head movable thereover, and a conveyor for presenting a subassembly to the work station. An optical scanner is also provided for identifying whether the subassembly is of a first type or a second type. The head moves magnetically over the platen to retrieve one of the first components from the supply of first components if the optical scanner determines that the subassembly is of the first type, or to retrieve one of the second components from the supply of second components if the optical scanner determines that the subassembly is of the second type. After retrieval, the head presents the retrieved component for addition to the subassembly.

Abstract: A connector for joining together a pair of fluid carrying hose members in an automotive vehicle is disclosed. The connector includes a tubular body having a first end, a second end, and a shoulder interposed therebetween, the first end including a plurality of angled barbs projecting from an outer surface thereof. The connector also includes a tubular liner press-fit into the first end of the body and a generally cylindrical, cup-shaped collar surrounding the outer surface of the first end of the body. A roll formed beadlock is formed against an interior surface of the collar to prevent axial displacement of the collar along the body of the connector. A method for making such a connector is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of making an automotive heat exchanger comprises the steps of assembling a heat exchanger core having a plurality of interleaved tube and fins disposed between a pair of endsheets and expanding the diameter of the tubes a predetermined distance by forcing an expansion tool therethrough. The tubes of the heat exchanger include a plurality of internal projections of predetermined height and the expansion process decreases the height of the projections by less than 25% of its original height. A heat exchanger formed in accordance with this method is also disclosed.