Abstract: A solenoid operated exhaust bleed type pressure control valve assembly providing a proportional pressure control signal over the full range of solenoid operating current. A poppet valve member is connected to the solenoid armature and closes against a valve seat in the control signal port pressure chamber to prevent flow through the valve seat to the exhaust (bleed) ports. This results in very low or reduced leakage at minimum pressures. The poppet valve contacts a projection on a spool valve for effecting concurrent movement therewith for valving a supply pressure port in the control signal pressure chamber. In the normally closed version of the valve assembly, the poppet delays the spool opening of the inlet or supply port until solenoid current has reached about Five to Twenty Percent (5-20%) of maximum. In the normally open version, the spool is delayed in closing the supply inlet port until solenoid current reaches about Eighty to One Hundred Percent (80-100%) of maximum.

Abstract: A plug for insertion through the wall of a vessel filled with fluid to be monitored has an extension immersed in the fluid which has a pair of wire electrodes helically wound thereon in spaced arrangement. The electrodes are wound at a uniform pitch in one embodiment and wound with regions of closely and widely spaced pitches in another embodiment. In a third embodiment, the electrodes are helically wound in spaced parallel arrangement at a pitch greater than the spacing of the pair. A thermistor is disposed on the extension for providing a fluid temperature signal. The electrodes are excited sequentially by a low voltage at a fractional Hertz (low) frequency and a (high) frequency of at least one Hertz and the current and temperature are measured. The impedance and differential impedance are computed from the measured currents.

Abstract: A method for real time monitoring fluid in a vessel with a probe having a pair of electrodes immersed in the fluid. The disclosed probe has the electrodes arranged helically on a rod, sized and configured for insertion in an engine dipstick hole. Preferably, the probe has spiral electrode winding up regions different pitch to provide improved impedance response at low fractional Hertz and high (at least one Hertz) frequencies of excitation. In one version with alternating voltage the difference in current magnitude measured at the low and high frequencies is compared with stored known values for known fluid conditions and an electrical signal indicative of fluid condition is generated. Examples with engine drain oil and heavy duty transmission lubricant fluid are presented. The impedance properties measured can determine the percentage remaining useful life (RUL) of the fluid.

Abstract: A motorized refrigerant valve has a spool axially moveable in a valving bore in a valve body for controlling flow from a high pressure inlet for expansion and discharge at substantially reduced pressure to an outlet in the valve body. A ball screw is provided on the remote end of the spool and the ball screw is driven by a rotating shaft of a stepper motor attached to the valve body to provide fine resolution for linear movement of the spool in the valving passage. A separate isolated passage through the valve body is connected to receive evaporator discharge flow and has a thermistor sensing temperature therein and provides a temperature signal to an electronic controller for providing a driver signal to the stepper motor. The stepper motor and ball screw drive to the spool provide the desired modulation of refrigerant flow in response to the signal from the controller.

Abstract: A float type vapor vent valve for a vehicle fuel tank. A relatively thin flexible valve member has one end anchored to the float but permitted relative movement with respect to the float in a direction parallel to that of float movement, with the opposite end of the flexible valve member anchored to the float in spaced arrangement from the one end, but permitted limited movement with respect to the float in a direction normal to that of float movement. The flexible arm is bowed in one version and has a flat configuration in another version.

Abstract: A solenoid operated valve is controlled upon increasing energization for greater flow by incrementing by a small fraction of the maximum current a target current level for the desired flow for a short duration followed by energization at the target level. Upon decreasing energization for lesser flow, the valve is energized at a target current decremented by a small fraction of the maximum current for a short duration. The result is a nearly negligible hysteresis.

Abstract: An improved regulator valve 10 for controlling the purging of fuel vapors collected in a canister 12 and an evaporative emission control system into an intake system 18 of an internal combustion engine employs a solenoid valve assembly 40 with an armature 86 disposed outside of the coil 58 to operate with low friction. A spring 90 separating the armature 86 from the valve member 98 allows the spring 98 to absorb most of the magnetic and gravitational side loading.

Abstract: A cylindrically curved rectangular face seal is provided for a cross-ported barrel type rotary valve member. The seal has a central flow orifice therethrough with an annular raised rib formed about the orifice and extending in a radial direction from the concave inner face of the seal. The opposite edges of the seal extending in an axial direction each have a notch or rib thereon for axial sliding engagement in grooves provided in the valve body. The annular rib about the orifice accommodates dimensional variation in the valve parts to ensure a rotary sliding seal on the rotary valve member.

Abstract: A self-calibrating method and system 10 for controlling a hydraulically operated device, such as a clutch actuator 24 in an automatic power transmission, provides a pressure switch 30 in the hydraulic circuit that provides feed-back to the controller 32 when the hydraulic fluid pressure has reached a set point level. Pressure switch 30 provides a signal to controller 32 that allows the controller to compare the control signal at the pressure set point level with that of the calibrated curve for adjusting the calibration curve.

Abstract: A method of reducing flow noise in a thermally responsive expansion valve of the type for controlling flow of a relatively high pressure refrigerant from a condenser applied to its inlet at a substantially reduced pressure for circulation through an evaporator and including a solenoid operated shut-off valve in the inlet of the expansion valve. A reduced diameter flow passage is formed in the inlet upstream of the shut-off valve and a micro-porous element disposed in the reduced diameter passage and is operative for substantially reducing flow noise. The micro-porous element preferably has passage of about forty to one hundred eighty microns.

Abstract: An engine coolant valve has a valve body with rotatable valve member thereon with a cylindrical configuration cross ported for rotary sealing against an arcuately shaped elastomeric face seal. A torque motor is attached to the valve body and has the motor rotor drivingly engaging a hub on the valve member.

Abstract: A combination rollover/vent valve, fuel pump and fuel level sender which is installed through a single access opening in the top of a fuel tank. The rollover/vent valve has a resilient mounting strip attached and the rollover/vent valve is attached to the fuel pump level sender module by a substantially rigid vent tube and the vent tube is ported exteriorly through the module. Upon insertion of the rollover/vent valve through the access opening, the mounting strip engages ratchet teeth formed in the top and bottom of the tank to secure the rollover/vent valve at a location of the highest level of the tank, remote from the module. The module thus locates the vent line, fuel feed line and electrical connections all at a single location on the tank top. The vent tube may be formed to a curved configuration to accommodate a dished or recessed tank top.

Abstract: A motorized bypass valve having a valve body with cylindrical valving chambers with a single inlet and a first and second outlet ported to the chamber, such with convexo-concave face seals disposed over the ports. A rotary valving member having a partial cylindrical valving surface is disposed in the valving chamber and valving surface contacting the face seals. A motor housing is then spin welded onto the valve body to seal the valving chamber with the half shaft of the valving member extending into the motor housing and sealed by an O-ring. The motor and gear train are then assembled into the housing for driving the half shaft. The motor housing is closed by a cover welded thereover.

Abstract: A pair of solid state pressure sensors are disposed near the bottom of a fuel tank vertically spaced with one a unit distance above the other. A third solid state sensor is disposed in the tank at the highest point under the upper wall. The apparent hydrostatic pressure is computed from the difference in pressure sensed by the highest and lowest sensors. The density is computed from the difference in pressure sensed by the pair of sensors near the tank bottom; and, the difference normalized for the vertical distance therebetween. The liquid level height is then computed from computed density and apparent pressure. The reserve volume of liquid fuel is then found for the computed height from a lookup table of values of liquid height and corresponding liquid volume.

Abstract: A motorized servo actuator has an output shaft rotated by a sector gear driven by a worm. The worm has a co-axially disposed torsion spring which is wound as the worm rotates. The worm is driven by a motor and gear train. In the event of motor failure during rotation of the sector gear in a given direction from an initial position, the wound torsion spring has sufficient stored energy to rotate the worm to return the sector gear to the initial position.

Abstract: In a method for mounting first and second adjusting means for pivoting a mirror element about two mutually substantially perpendicular axes in the housing of a mirror to be secured in or to a vehicle, each of the adjusting means is arranged on a mounting plate member, whereafter, depending on the desired distance between the intersection of the axes and the points of application of the adjusting means on the mirror element, the two mounting plate members are positioned relative to each other and, in the relative position they have thus assumed, are mounted in the housing of a mirror. The two mounting plate members are connected for movement relative to each other in the plane of the mounting plate.

Abstract: A rotary transformer having a stator and rotor each formed by winding a coil on a non-magnetic bobbin and overmolding the bobbin and coil with magnetically permeable particulate material dispersed in a non-magnetic medium preferably selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic, thermosetting plastic and thermoplastic elastomer.

Abstract: A variable force solenoid operated pressure control valve for controlling an hydraulically operated actuator in a fluid pressure circuit. The valve has a spool in a straight spool bore with fluid pressure chambers at opposite ends. One spool end has a rod press fitted therein with the rod extending through the fluid pressure chamber and operatively contacting the solenoid armature. The rod creates an area differential on the spool ends for providing an axial spool force proportional to the pressure in the fluid chambers which are each connected by a metering passage in the spool to a recess on the spool which is continuously connected to a control pressure port. A supply port is connected to the recess by a first valving land on the spool and an exhaust port is connected to the recess by a second valving land on the spool. The metering passages serve to attenuate transients.

Abstract: A temperature sensor is disposed to sense refrigerant temperature discharging from the evaporator of a vehicle air conditioning system. The temperature is averaged over the sampling interval and is inputted to an electronic controller. The controller computes the temperature set points from a lookup table based upon blower speed and blend door settings and cycles the compressor if the averaged temperature is outside the set points.

Abstract: An electric servo motor operated valve has a motor and gear reduction subassembly and a valve body subassembly with a cross-ported cylindrical rotary valve member with an arcuately shaped resilient face seal member for sealing about the cross port. The motor gear subassembly is attached to the valve body subassembly by sonic weldment.