Abstract: A thermostatic regulator (30) for a single handle mixer valve (12) has a sensor (32) mounted in a mixed water chamber (34) for sensing the temperature of the outlet water. The sensor is connected to a valve (20) that is mounted in the cold water supply line (18) to restrict the availability of cold water when the water in the hot water line (16) is down below a set temperature.

Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system (10) includes a proportional solenoid valve (28) that regulates vacuum pressure to a vacuum-actuated EGR valve (12). The proportional solenoid valve (28) includes an inductive coil (30) that generates a magnetic field when energized. An electronic control unit (26) energizes the coil (30) with a fixed-frequency pulse-width modulated signal. The periodic magnetic field drives a ferromagnetic armature valve (44) open and closed--alternately admitting then closing-off a flow of. atmospheric-pressure air that is used to alter the vacuum pressure output to the EGR valve (12). The vacuum pressure is dependent upon the amount of current flowing through the coil (30) during each pulse.

Abstract: A refueling valve for a motor vehicle includes a body connected to the upper wall of a fuel tank in vertical depending relationship thereon and the body has a body top or cover with a vapor exit passage adapted to be connected to a fuel vapor storage canister, the body includes a portion depending from the cover that has a vapor exit port formed therein communicating with the fuel tank interior adjacent the upper wall of the fuel tank and a vent tube has one end connected to the vapor exit passage and an opposite end communicating with the vent exit port and defining a valve seat closed by a float valve during vehicle fill and wherein the vapor exit port remains open until the float valve is completely closed and wherein the vapor exit port is spaced higher than the valve seat to separate liquid fuel particles from vapor flow. In one embodiment a baffle is located on the body between the valve seat and the vapor exit port to form a liquid trap.

Abstract: An improved automobile transfer case system (10) and electronic control circuit (16) therefor utilizes a reset circuit (70), a microprocessor (72), and an output stage (74) to operate an electronically controlled coupling (38,58) that is used to switch between drive modes in the transfer case (14) of a full or part-time four wheel drive vehicle. The microprocessor (72) is connected to a source of operating power that is available even when the vehicle ignition is switched off. The microprocessor (72) runs in two modes, a low power standby mode and an operating mode. The microprocessor enters the standby mode when vehicle ignition is switched off and it has finished any tasks that were in progress when the ignition was turned off. The reset circuit (70) responds to the ignition being switched on to provide a hardware reset of the microprocessor (72) that wakes it up from its standby mode and places it into the operating mode.

Abstract: A refueling valve for a motor vehicle includes an integrated control valve therein having a vent tube that has a first valve seat on one end thereof and a second valve seat on the other end thereof that cooperate respectively with a float valve and with a diaphragm controlled pressure responsive cut-off valve that is operative in accordance with a sensed pressure condition in a fuel filler pipe to control fuel venting to a charcoal canister and to prevent the escape of fuel vapors from a filler neck. The diaphragm is communicated with a pressure sensing port in the filler neck below a trap door therein that opens during refueling and is closed once the fuel nozzle is removed. The pressure sensing pot is located upstream of a venturi that produces negative pressure at the pressure sensing port and on the diaphragm member. A spring biases the cut-off valve normally closed.

Abstract: A torque converter includes a subassembly that comprises a lock up clutch and a torsional damper. The torsional damper has an input plate that is part of the lock up clutch. Front and back sheet metal retainers are attached to the input plate to retain a plurality of torque transmitting springs. An outer castellated margin of an output plate is disposed between the front and back sheet metal retainers and engages the torque transmitting springs for being driven by the input plate via the sheet metal retainers. In one embodiment the plates are also connected by a lost motion drive connection that limits relative angular travel to protect the torque transmitting springs from being overloaded. In another embodiment two identical sheet metal retainers are flange driven to simplify construction further and conserve more space.

Abstract: A solenoid exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve (12) includes a first inductive coil (48) that generates a magnetic field when energized by a signal from a control unit (13). The magnetic field drives a ferromagnetic armature valve (64) open and closed--metering the flow of recovered exhaust gases from an engine exhaust manifold (14) to an engine air intake manifold (16). The exhaust gas flow rate depends upon the amount of current flowing through the first coil (48). The resistance of the first coil (48) is temperature-dependent. Therefore, to reduce changes in coil current and magnetic field strength due to temperature changes, the first coil (48) is connected in series with a thermistor (75) having a temperature coefficient of resistance that is opposite that of the first coil (48). A temperature stable resistor in the form of a second coil (72) is connected across the thermistor (75) to modify the thermistor temperature-response curve to more closely offset that of the first coil (48).

Abstract: A gear transmission has a synchronizing arrangement associated with a helical gear that has end play. The synchronizing arrangement includes a shift sleeve having internal splines engageable with external teeth of a clutch gear that is an integral part of the helical gear. A torque lock feature is provided by cooperating back tapered torque lock surfaces of the splines and the external teeth of the clutch gear. The internal splines of the shift sleeve and the external teeth of the clutch gear are shaped to accommodate the end play of the helical gear and reduce variation in engagement of the torque lock surfaces.

Abstract: A power transmitting assembly includes a first rotatable assembly, a second rotatable assembly having an axially movable rotating member, a camming assembly for moving the rotating member and an electromagnetic clutch for activating the camming assembly. The rotating member is moved between a first position where the first rotatable assembly operatively engages the second rotatable assembly and a second position where the first rotatable assembly is disengaged from the second rotatable assembly. The power transmitting assembly is shown in three forms--a locking hub assembly, a lockable differential assembly and axle assembly having an axle disconnect.

Abstract: A fuel filler module fits in the filler pipe of an automotive fuel tank and includes a spring biased trap door assembly that cooperates with a fuel nozzle restrictor to seal an open end of the filler pipe automatically when a fuel nozzle is withdrawn. The trap door assembly includes positive and vacuum pressure relief valves for maintaining fuel tank pressure within certain limits. The fuel filler module also includes a fuel nozzle guide that is part of a vent system for venting the fuel tank during the refuelling process and a splash guard feature that prevents splash back at the end of the refuelling process. The trap door assembly and an internal valve assembly are designed to be handled and installed as a unit to facilitate economical manufacture.

Abstract: A fuel vapor vent assembly with liquid trap is incorporated in a vent valve mounted on a motor vehicle fuel tank. The vent valve operates to vent the fuel tank through a vertically oriented orifice in the vent assembly when the valve is in a normal upright position and closes the orifice when the fuel tank together with the valve is tipped to a significant degree from this position. An elevated liquid trap is provided in the vent assembly at the outlet of the orifice that traps liquid from the venting fuel vapor while permitting venting to continue therethrough and then drains the trapped liquid back past the valve into the tank when the pressure in the latter is relieved. An insert mounted in the valve body is adapted to define both the orifice and liquid trap.

Abstract: A torque converter has an axial type reactor that is disposed between a turbine and an impeller at an inner end to form a toroid. The reactor blades have leading edges that slant toward the turbine in the radially inward direction and form an angle with an inner shell ring that varies between 60.degree. and 90.degree.. The leading edges also slant circumferentially so that radial lines intersecting the respective connection points of the leading edge with the inner shell ring and an outer core ring form a central angle that varies between 5.degree. in one direction and 12.degree. in the other direction.

Abstract: A one-way roller clutch has an inner race, an outer race, a plurality of rollers that are disposed between the races and a cage assembly that is keyed to the outer race. The cage assembly anchors a plurality of energizing springs that bias the rollers toward an engaged position where the rollers are wedged between the races so that one race drives the other. The energizing springs are variable rate springs that produce exponentially increasing spring forces that counteract the centrifugal force of the rollers so as to reduce roller displacement during overrunning and response time for clutch engagement for all operating speeds of the one-way roller clutch.

Abstract: A gear transmission has a one-way synchronizer comprising a guide hub that is an integral part of a geared input member, and a shift sleeve that slides axially on the guide hub from a central neutral position either to an extended engaged position or to a retracted disengaged position.

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission and differential combination including an input shaft 36, a variable speed drive pulley 40 on the input shaft 36, a drive shaft 54, a variable speed driven pulley 500 on the driven shaft 54 and a v-belt 48 trained around the pulleys 40 and 50. A drive sprocket 64 driven by the drive shaft 54 and a driven sprocket 64 with a silent chain 66 trained around them provides a speed reduction drive. The driven sprocket 68 drives a sun gear 88 which drives planet gears 98 that mesh with a stationary ring gear 100. The planet carrier 102 is rotated at a reduced speed. The bevel gears 108 and 112 carried by the planet carrier 102 form a differential that drives axles 114 and 116. A reversing gear drive can be provided between the sun gear 78 and the sun gear 88 to reverse the direction of rotation of the axles 114 and 116.

Abstract: A two speed engine accessory drive including a gear case 12 and an input shaft 26 rotatable about an axis that is concentric with the central gear case axis 54. The input shaft 26 carries a drive sun gear 38. A driven sun gear 78 is positioned adjacent to the drive sun gear and is attached to an accessory drive shaft 91 that is rotatable about an axis that is concentric with the central gear case axis 54. A compound planet gear 66 is supported by a planet gear carrier 52 that is rotatable about the central gear case axis 54. The compound planet gear 66 includes a rigid insert 70, a first plastic planet gear 76 secured to the insert and in mesh with the drive sun gear 38, and a second plastic planet gear 76 secured to the insert and in mesh with the driven sun gear 78. A brake band 98 is operable to allow or prevent rotation of the planet gear carrier 52.

Abstract: A roller one-way clutch assembly has a single integral spacer element formed as a ring having an I.D. surface which is supported on a shoulder of the inner race of the clutch assembly and having an O.D. surface supported on a shoulder of the outer race to radially space the inner race and the outer race for precision accommodation of a caged roller one-way clutch in an operating space therebetween and wherein the outer race further includes an annular groove for receiving retention tabs on the ring to fix it axially on the outer race so as to provide retention of the roller clutch in the operating space between the inner and outer races.

Abstract: A flow control valve (20) has a needle valve (76) for controlling flow between an inlet adapted to be connected to a source of pressure and an outlet adapted to be connected to an operating device whose operation is dependent upon the position of the needle valve; the needle valve is positioned by an armature (60) magnetically attracted by a solenoid coil (18); the armature is pressure equalized by two pins (72, 74) acting on the opposite ends (60a, 60b) of the armature and by a bypass tube (90) for supplying source pressure to each pin such that the control position of the valve is unaffected by changes in the pressure and is dependent solely upon the average current flow through the solenoid coil.

Abstract: A piston plate for providing a lock-up of a hydrodynamic torque transmitting unit has a friction lining bonded to a flat area thereon near the outer diameter which is arranged to slip with respect to the front cover of a rotating housing of the torque converter. The friction lining has an annular sealing segment to seal fluid leakage across the lining; and a plurality of grooves is formed from the outside diameter of the lining to an intermediate point on the width to communicate through an axial hole in the piston plate to provide a path for flow of cooling fluid through the lining for removing heat build up therefrom; the source of the cooling fluid also is the fluid source for applying pressure to the plate for providing lock-up in the torque transmitting unit.