Abstract: A hinge actuator for a wing mirror of motor vehicle, which is operative between an extreme fold-in position and an extreme fold-out position and between the extreme fold-out position and an extreme fold-over position, comprising a mirror base, provided with a frame with a frame part which extends around a base shaft and supported on a base flange. A first cam track located between the base shaft and the frame part, with at least one bearing element, is present, and a first elastic element extending on a side along this track. During a rotation of the frame relative to the base shaft between the extreme fold-in position and the extreme fold-out position, the first elastic element contact with the bearing element undergoes a deformation, while during a rotation between the extreme fold-out position and the extreme fold-over position, the first elastic element undergoes a further-going deformation.

Abstract: A circuit board assembly with an array of closely spaced circuit components mounted thereon. The board has a pattern of conductive strips on both front and back faces and the strips are connected through the board by thermally conductive vias. The circuit components are mounted on one side of the board and a layer of thermally conductive, double-sided adhesive tape is laid over the conductive strips on both faces of the board. Heat sinks are then applied against the tape on both sides of the board to conduct heat from the board through the tape.

Abstract: A combination key lock and latch assembly for a vehicle trunk lid having the key lock located separately and closely adjacent the latch assembly without requiring modification of an existing latch assembly. A sliding actuator is attached to an existing latch assembly without requiring modification. The key lock includes a projecting arm for rotation upon user rotation of the key lock; and, the arm contacts a projection on the sliding actuator for affecting movement and release of the latch. The latch assembly may be manually released from inside the trunk by moving the projection on the sliding actuator.

Abstract: A soleniod operated valve has an operating rod attached to the armature with one end of the rod contacting the end of a valve member for effecting movement thereof upon coil energization. A lower bearing is disposed in a lower flux collector adjacent one end of the rod. An upper bearing surface is disposed on an adjustment member threadedly engaging an upper flux collector with the armature return spring between the armature and upper bearing for maximizing bearing separation and improving armature alignment and reducing hysteresis.

Abstract: A manifold has a supply inlet communicating with a plurality of spaced supply ports; and, has associated with each supply port a separate control pressure passage. A gasket has a plurality of spaced bosses, each with a valving cavity with an electrically operated valve received and ported in the cavity. Each valving cavity has a supply port communicating with one of the supply ports on the manifold and a control pressure outlet port communicating with one of the control pressure passages on the manifold. A plurality of electrically conductive strips are embedded in the gasket and each is connected to a terminal pin in a receptacle shell formed on the gasket. The remote end of each of the conductor strips is exposed adjacent a valve and makes contact with a terminal on the valve when the valve is received in the respective valving cavity. A common retaining bracket is attached to the manifold and retains the valves and gasket as an assembly on the manifold.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a solenoid operated pressure control valve by sweeping the solenoid with increasing current from a minimum to a maximum and measuring and recording the signal pressure output and current at selected increments of current and storing the data pairs in a first table. The solenoid is similarly swept with decreasing current from the maximum to a minimum and the signal output pressure measured at selected increments of current and the data pairs stored in a second table. Upon installation of the valve in an hydraulic system to be controlled, the commanded signal pressure output Pc, if greater than the instantaneous signal pressure output P2 is compared with the closest data pairs in the first table and, by interpolation, the required solenoid energization current Ie determined.

Abstract: The invention concerns an electrovalve proportional to a field current supplying the field coil (5) axially enclosing a mobile core (76), whereto is secured a push rod (16) sliding in a polar component (9) of the fixed magnetic circuit co-operating with the field coil, actuating a shutter (2, 3) comprising at least a valve (25, 26) co-operating with a seat (28, 29) to open and close the shutter, return means (32, 33) providing it with a stable neutral position relative to the seal when the field current is null, each valve being coaxial to the push rod and actuated thereby. The invention is characterized in that the mechanical linkage between the stem of each valve (17, 27) and, either the stem of the adjacent valve, or the push rod, constitutes a punctual contact.

Abstract: A flapper door is spring biased closed against a valve seat on the underside of a filler tube bulkhead having a refueling nozzle aperture. The valve seat has an annular tapered surface and a resilient annular seal on the flapper door contacts the valve seat in wiping engagement. A pneumatic dampener retards the speed of closure of the flapper door onto the valve seat.

Abstract: A vacuum operated flow control valve is disposed in the vapor vent line from a fuel tank to a vapor storage canister connected also to the engine air inlet. The valve has a diaphragm operator of low permeability which is biased normally open to permit fuel vapor to flow from the tank to the canister during engine shutdown. Upon engine startup a vacuum is drawn in the canister and the flow control valve which closes preventing vacuum being drawn in the tank thereby preventing tank collapse. During engine shutdown, if an ambient temperature drop creates a vacuum in the tank, the flow control valve closes; however, an emergency umbrella relief valve opens permitting reverse flow of vapor from the canister to the tank preventing excessive vacuum in the tank.

Abstract: A plastic bodied fuel vapor management valve has mounting lugs thereon which are adjustably snap-locked onto a bracket provided on a cover for the tank access opening to selectively locate the valve vertically on the bracket. As the valve is engaged with the bracket, a vapor vent fitting provided on the cover is received in the valve outlet and sealed by a seal ring. The cover preferably comprises a mounting flange for a fuel level signal sender.

Abstract: An electrically operated valve is connected in the vapor recirculation line from a float operated vent valve, or a direct vapor recirculation line from the tank top to the upper end of the tank filler tube. The electrically operated valve is actuated by an electronic controller (ECU) which receives a fuel level signal either from the float operated level sender or from a thermistor located in the tank adjacent the top wall of the tank.

Abstract: A tubular probe having annularly spaced electrodes is immersed in ATF and sequentially excited with an alternating voltage at a relatively high and low frequency. The current is measured at both frequencies and the difference in impedance computed; and, the differential impedance is corrected for temperature and the corresponding value of one of TAN per ASTM D-669, Delta Oxidation per ASTME-168 (?OX) and HPDSC induction time per ASTM D-5483 (MIN) determined from a lookup table of values of TAN, ?OX and MIN versus impedance differential for known fluid conditions. The remaining useful life (RUL) may then be computed from determined present value of TAN, ?OX or MIN. When the temperature corrected impedance difference ?ZTC reaches 6.5×105 Ohms, the ATF is considered to have reached the end of its useful life.

Abstract: A probe having a pair of electrodes is excited with a low A.C. voltage at a relatively high and relatively low frequency and the difference in current measured. The difference dZ between bulk fluid and interfacial impedance is computed from the current difference. The rate of change ?dZ of the impedance difference is determined over a time interval and a physiochemical parameter (X) determined when ?dZ is positive from lubricant with known amounts of constituents selected from the group consisting of (a) Phosphorus, Oxygen and Carbon (P—O—C); (b) Phosphorous and double bond Sulphur (P?S); (c) Zincdialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP); and (d) the Total Base Number TBN by measuring CaCO3 (CO3), from a table of the selected parameter X versus dZ in a first region of the table and determining RUL from a table of RUL versus parameter X (X1). The value of the selected parameter X when ?dz is negative is determined from a second region of the table of X versus dZ.

Abstract: A right angle configured spring contact terminal for a solenoid with a hooked end adjacent a region of contra-curvature adapted for contact with an electrical contact on an external mounting member. The opposite end is bifurcated for plug-in connection to a solenoid coil terminal receptacle. A plastic/elastomeric insulator is overmolded adjacent the right angle bend for inserting the hooked end in an aperture in the body structure upon which the solenoid coil is mounted.

Abstract: A spring loaded valve member with a poppet on one end is disposed in a fuel tank with the inlet end connected to the filler tube. The valve member has a spool valve attached to the poppet. The poppet is opened by fuel discharging from a refueling nozzle and the valve member movement limited by a float operated latch such that fuel flows through the spool valve ports. Upon the float rising in the tank, the latch is released permitting the force of the flowing fuel to further move the valve member to close the spool valve.

Abstract: A probe having a pair of closely spaced electrodes is immersed in the lubricant and one electrode is excited with a relatively low voltage AC current. The frequency is swept over a range of about 1-10,000 Hertz and the current and phase angle measured at selected frequency intervals. The reactive (Z?) and resistive (Z?) impedances are computed for each current measurement and values of Z? plotted as a function of Z? as a Nyquist plot. The center of curvature of the plot between the origin and the minimum value of Z? is located; and, the angle of depression of a line from the origin through the center of curvature ? is determined from the plot. Samples of lubricant having known concentration of soot are measured and the angle ? determined for each sample. The angle is then plotted as a function of soot concentration and a smooth curve fitted to the data plots. The curve may be programmed into a microcomputer to be used with the sensor for real time determination of soot concentration.

Abstract: A diaphragm operated pressure responsive valve has its inlet connected to a fuel tank vapor line and the valving chamber openly connected to the storage canister and to the engine air intake manifold vapor purge control valve. The diaphragm is operable to vary the spring bias on a valve member disposed in the chamber for biasing closed the vapor line from the tank in the event of high vacuum from the engine purge control valves. A bleed bypass permits continued bleed flow of vapor from the tank to the valving chamber.

Abstract: A solenoid operated three port pressure control valve assembly of the exhaust pressure bleed type. The valve for the inlet pressure supply port includes a pressure responsive diaphragm with the supply port obturator attached. A bleed orifice in the diaphragm provides viscous dampening of the movement of the obturator and minimizes inlet valve flutter. The valve assembly is disclosed in both normally open and normally closed configurations.

Abstract: A method of controlling hydraulic shift clutch actuators in an automatic speed change power transmission of the type having an electronic controller (TCU) for energizing a solenoid operated valve to control each hydraulic clutch actuator. A pressure sensor is disposed to sense the hydraulic pressure (Ps) to each clutch actuator and provides an electrical signal to the TCU which also receives a clutch pressure command signal (Pc) from the vehicle powertrain computer. The TCU computes the differential &Dgr;P=Pc−Ps and determines the valve energization current IE from known relationships between &Dgr;P and the percentage of maximum valve current and repeats the process in real time to adjust IE until &Dgr;P is negligible.

Abstract: A probe assembly for use in monitoring fluid conditions in real time in a transducer utilizing impedance spectroscopy and having two closely spaced tubular concentric electrodes. The electrodes have a surface area of about 8.1 to 10.8 cm2 spaced in the range of about 0.1 to 0.55 mm. In one embodiment a concentric outer tubular Faraday shield is employed for monitoring fluid in a non-metallic vessel. The probe assembly is particularly suitable for monitoring hydraulic fluid including automatic transmission fluid and mineral based engine oil for diesel and gasoline engines.