Abstract: A check valve for a combustion engine fuel system includes a polymeric poppet valve including a valve stem and a valve head that terminates the valve stem. A valve seat is adapted for cooperation with the valve head of the poppet valve, and includes a valve seat body and an elastomeric valve seat seal supported by the valve seat body and adapted for sealing against the valve head of the poppet valve. The check valve is particularly adapted for use with a fuel pump within a fuel system.

Abstract: A multi-way valve has a housing with a stepped bore forming two piston guiding regions and a shoulder ring with two sealing shoulders. The housing also has a first, second and central transverse bores which are spaced along the cylindrical bore. A contact piston has a piston rod and sealing members secured thereon. The guide members are pressed fit onto opposite ends of the piston rod.

Abstract: A speech recognition adaptation method for a vehicle having a telematics unit with an embedded speech recognition system. Speech is received and pre-processed to generate acoustic feature vectors, and an adaptation parameter is applied to the acoustic feature vectors to yield transformed acoustic feature vectors. The transformed acoustic feature vectors are decoded and a hypothesis of the speech is selected, and the adaptation parameter is trained using acoustic feature vectors from the hypothesis. The method also includes one or more of the following steps: the speech is observed for a certain characteristic and the trained adaptation parameter is saved in accordance with the certain characteristic for use in transforming feature vectors of subsequent speech having the certain characteristic; use of the trained adaptation parameter persists from one vehicle ignition cycle to the next; and use of the trained adaptation parameter is ceased upon detection of a system fault.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention contemplates a proton exchange membrane for use in a variety of fuel cells. The proton exchange membrane may comprise a solid phase organic based copolymer material in which a first structural unit is derived from a polymerizable organic super acid. The organic super acid may comprise an acid group such as a sulfonic acid group or a carboxylic acid group.

Abstract: According to one implementation, a carburetor includes an intake bore, a throttle valve, a main fuel nozzle, an accelerator device and a fuel passage. The throttle valve is movable between an idle and wide open positions and includes a shaft rotatably supported around an axial line extending across the intake bore. The accelerator device may be operable to increase an amount of fuel that flows through the main fuel nozzle when the throttle valve is moved toward its wide open position, and may include a fuel reservoir constructed and arranged to store fuel. The fuel passage communicates with the main fuel nozzle and the fuel reservoir is provided upstream of the main fuel nozzle such that fuel flows through the fuel reservoir before being delivered to the main fuel nozzle.

Abstract: State-of-the-art electronic structure calculations provide the likelihood of the availability of YLi3N2, ZrLi3N2, NbLi3N2, MoLi3N2, TcLi3N2, RuLi3N2, RhLi3N2, GeLi3N2, InLi3N2, and SnLi3N2 as compounds for reaction with hydrogen under suitable conditions. Such calculations also provide the likelihood of the availability of YLi3N2Hn, ZrLi3N2Hn, NbLi3N2Hn, MoLi3N2Hn, TcLi3N2Hn, RuLi3N2Hn, RhLi3N2Hn, PdLi3N2Hn, AgLi3N2Hn, CdLi3N2Hn, AlLi3N2Hn, GaLi3N2Hn, GeLi3N2Hn, InLi3N2Hn, SnLi3N2Hn, and SbLi3N2H, (here n is an integer having a value of 1-6) as solid hydrides for the storage of hydrogen. These materials offer utility for hydrogen storage systems.

Abstract: A component, such as an intake manifold or a throttle body, has an air passage. A structure may extend into the air passage so that the structure intersects a part of a total air-flow passing through the air passage. The structure may have a first through-hole and a second through-hole. Each of the through-holes define a cross-sectional area that may tapers in a direction of air-flow that is passing through the air passage so that a cross-sectional area of an entrance of the respective through-hole is greater than a cross-sectional area of an exit of the respective through-hole. The structure helps attenuate acoustic noise that may occur in the component due to the air-flow.

Abstract: The surface of a magnesium or magnesium alloy part is protected from corrosion by a coating of adherent, electrically conductive material that is electrolytically anodic to the magnesium-containing substrate. For example, the magnesium alloy has a microstructure with portions that are anodic and cathodic to each other, but the coating contains species (e.g., lithiated graphite particles in a polymeric binder) that are anodic to all phases in the magnesium alloy microstructure so that when the coating is damaged and the part surface is exposed, the coating is sacrificially consumed by electrochemical corrosion and the part is spared.

Abstract: A component, such as an intake manifold or a throttle body, has an air passage. A structure may extend into the air passage so that the structure intersects a part of a total air-flow passing through the air passage. The structure may have a first through-hole and a second through-hole. Each of the through-holes define a cross-sectional area that may tapers in a direction of air-flow that is passing through the air passage so that a cross-sectional area of an entrance of the respective through-hole is greater than a cross-sectional area of an exit of the respective through-hole. The structure helps attenuate acoustic noise that may occur in the component due to the air-flow.

Abstract: A PEM fuel cell having a current collector comprising a polymer composite and a diffusion media engaging said polymer composite. The polymer composite has a hyperconductive surface layer engaging the diffusion media to reduce the contact resistance therebetween. The hyperconductive surface layer is formed by depositing or smearing an electrically-conductive material on the surface of the polymer composite.

Abstract: A twin strand conveyor uses roller chains to move pallets along straight conveyor sections and an unpowered corner assembly that enables the pallets to glide around corners of the conveyor. The pallets are transferred from an upstream conveyor section into the corner assembly using a corner injection unit that includes powered rollers that lift the pallets off the roller chains an onto a set of ball transfers that support the pallets as they glide through the corner assembly. Side guides are used to direct the pallets around the turn and onto the downstream conveyor section. A pickup unit having powered rollers draws the pallets off the ball transfers and onto the roller chains of the downstream conveyor section. The rollers of the corner injection unit and pickup unit can be powered by the same motor used to drive the chains of the respective conveyor sections.

Abstract: A motorized precision spindle apparatus (10) including an outer cartridge spindle (12) supported on a motor cartridge spindle (14) and a motor-driven outer cartridge spindle shaft (16) supported for rotation on bearings (22) disposed between the shaft (16) and an outer spindle shaft housing (20). A tool holder (26) releasably holds a tool in position for rotation with the shaft (16). A draw-bar (30) is supported through the shaft (16) and the motor cartridge spindle (14) for reciprocal axial motion, is connected to the tool holder (26), and is biased in an axial direction that causes the tool holder (26) to grip a tool (28). An actuator (32) is connected to the draw-bar (30) and moves the draw-bar (30) in a direction opposite the bias, thereby releasing any tool the holder may be holding. An isolation tube (36) is supported within the motor cartridge spindle (14), is connected to the shaft (16), and supports the shaft (16) against transmitting axial forces to the bearings (22).

Abstract: A fuel tank that is substantially impermeable to fuel vapor has a shell with an interior for holding fuel, an opening for receiving fuel into the interior, and a fill nipple with a barrier layer. The fill nipple has an outer surface and an inner surface defining a passage extending between a pair of generally opposed ends of the fill nipple. One of the ends is attached to the shell such that the passage is aligned with the opening to allow fuel to flow through the passage and into the interior of the fuel tank. The fill nipple has an inner layer of material forming the inner surface, and an outer layer of material forming the outer surface, and has at least one intermediate layer of material forming the barrier layer. The intermediate layer is formed from a material that is different in composition from the inner and outer layers.

Abstract: The invention concerns an exercise apparatus, especially for exercising the back musculature of a user (10) with a support surface (110) to accommodate the user (10) along the longitudinal axis (30). The reclining area (112) of the support surface (110) is largely formed by a number of transverse elements (120, 120a) arranged in succession on the longitudinal axis (30), which accommodates the user (10) preferably in the prone position, the transverse elements (120, 120a) being mounted to pivot around the longitudinal axis (30) to execute a see-saw movement.

Abstract: A charge forming device may include a body having a fuel and air mixing passage, a throttle valve and choke valve moveable between first and second positions to control at least in part the fluid flow in the fuel and air mixing passage, and throttle and choke control members associated with the throttle and choke valves, respectively. The choke control member may also be associated with an engine starting system so that the choke valve is moved to its second position upon actuation of the starting system. The choke control member is selectively associated with the throttle control member to hold the choke control member in a position spaced from its first position. In this manner, the throttle valve and choke valve may be automatically positioned in a desired position for starting of the engine upon actuation of the engine starting system.

Abstract: An enhanced stability and inexpensive bipolar plate for a fuel cell is disclosed. The enhanced stability bipolar plate includes a bipolar plate substrate and a corrosion-resistant coating thermally sprayed on the bipolar plate substrate. A method for enhancing corrosion resistance of a bipolar plate is also disclosed.

Abstract: Some metal hydrides permit reversible storage and release of hydrogen for a hydrogen using power-generator. But the surfaces of some metal hydrides or metal hydride precursors may be oxidized or have other coatings that inhibit hydrogen absorption or release. Such materials may be suspended in a suitable liquid of supercritical carbon dioxide or liquid nitrogen and subjected to cavitation processing to break up such hydrogen impermeable surfaces or to fracture the particles so as to provide fresh hydrogen penetratable surfaces.

Abstract: A fluid control system that includes a fluid manifold having a plurality of manifold bodies fastened to each other end-to-end so as to form at least first and second passages extending continuously through the manifold and each of the bodies. A plurality of solenoid valves are each mounted on a side of an associated body with valve ports opening into the body to the fluid passage(s) that extend through the manifold. An electrical connection arrangement is mounted at one end of the manifold for receiving control signals from an external source. A plurality of circuitboards are disposed one within the second passage of each body, with each of the circuitboards including male and female connectors at opposed ends for connecting the circuitboards in series with each other to the electrical connection arrangement at the end of the manifold. A third connector on each circuitboard extends laterally from the circuitboard for connection to the solenoid valve mounted on the side of the associated manifold body.