Abstract: A low friction cam shaft for actuating at least one valve of an internal combustion engine includes a shaft member extending longitudinally, at least one cam secured to the shaft member, the cam being made of a plurality of density metal materials and having an outer surface impregnated with a solid film lubricant that has an affinity for oil and promotes rapid formation of a stable oil film to reduce friction therebetween.

Abstract: An N.sup.th order infinite impulse response digital filter for long-delay filtering of signals representing a digital input sequence. The N.sup.th order infinite impulse response digital filter is synthesized by cascading in series N first order infinite impulse response filter stages. A filter stage operable on a digital computer with floating point capability is provided and comprises a multiplier which multiplies an input signal with a weighting factor. A summing element provides an output for the filter stage by summing the weighted input signal with a weighted and delayed output signal. A filter operable on a digital computer with fixed point capability is provided and comprises a summing element which sums an input signal with the output of a first multiplier, and the delayed output of a mask element. The output of the summing element is coupled to the input of a second multiplier and to the input of the mask element.

Abstract: A method for accelerating the rotational speed of a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders each having a spark plug wherein a predetermined amount of delivered fuel is to be combusted at a firing time within each of the plurality of cylinders with each rotation of the camshaft or crankshaft based on an acceleration input made by an operator includes the step of receiving the accelerating input, measuring the rotational speed of the crankshaft, defining an expected engine speed based on the acceleration input, calculating a speed error as the rotational speed of the crankshaft less the expected engine speed, calculating engine acceleration and adjusting the predetermined amount of fuel delivered to be combusted in each of the plurality of cylinders to reduce the speed error when the speed error is a function of the instantaneous engine speed. The preferred embodiment is implemented using fuzzy logic.

Abstract: A method for maintaining the rotational speed of a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders each having a spark plug wherein a predetermined amount of delivered fuel is to be combusted at a firing time within each of the plurality of cylinders with each rotation of the camshaft or crankshaft includes the step of operating the internal combustion engine, measuring the rotational speed of the crankshaft, defining an expected engine speed, calculating a speed error as the rotational speed of the crankshaft less the expected engine speed, and changing the predetermined amount of delivered fuel to be combusted in each of the plurality of cylinders to reduce the speed error. The preferred embodiment is implemented in fuzzy logic.

Abstract: A differential expansion control assembly is provided for a pump. The pump has a pump body with a base portion and cover portion of a first material with a first thermal expansion coefficient and a pumping mechanism of a second material with a second thermal expansion coefficient different from the first thermal expansion coefficient. The differential expansion control assembly includes at least one member disposed between the base portion and cover portion to negate a difference between the first thermal expansion coefficient and the second thermal expansion coefficient and maintain a relative controlled clearance between the cover portion and the pumping mechanism. The differential expansion control assembly also includes a seal disposed between the cover portion and base portion to allow for differential expansion of the pump body without leakage of fluid between the cover portion and base portion.

Abstract: A method of predicting volume of finished combustion chambers from a raw cylinder head casting including the steps of capturing cylinder head geometry of a raw cylinder head casting, transforming the captured cylinder head geometry into a machining coordinate system, virtual machining the raw cylinder head casting based on the transformed geometry, calculating a volume of combustion chambers of the virtually machined cylinder head, adding signed volumes of at least one component to the calculated volume to obtain a finished volume, and adjusting a mold for the raw cylinder head casting to achieve the desired finished volume.

Abstract: A method for producing powder metal cylinder bore liners for an internal combustion engine includes the steps of loading a powder metal mixture into a die cavity of a die, compacting the powder metal mixture in the die cavity using uniaxial pressure from the die and forming the powder metal cylinder bore liner, and sintering the powder metal cylinder bore liner.

Abstract: A method of introducing selectivity to a non-selective gas sensor for determining an amount of a gas of interest contained in a measurement gas wherein the non-selective gas sensor responds not only to the gas of interest but also to other interfering gases contained in the measurement gas, the method includes the steps of periodically modulating a specified flux of a measurement gas at a first predetermined frequency, periodically modulating a specified flux of a gas of interest at a second predetermined frequency, adding the modulated flux of the gas of interest to the modulated flux of the measurement gas, exposing a non-selective gas sensor to the combination of the modulated flux of the measurement gas and the modulated flux of the gas of interest, measuring a sensor output of the non-selective gas sensor at zero frequency (DC) and at specified frequencies (AC), and determining an original concentration of the gas of interest in the measurement gas from the measured sensor output at zero frequency and at

Abstract: A method of controlling a crimp press for crimping an assembly includes the steps of placing an assembly in an open crimp die of a crimp press, advancing a ram of the crimp press to a predetermined position to close the crimp die, determining whether a pressure in the ram is within a predetermined range, and alerting an operator if the pressure in the ram is not within the predetermined range.

Abstract: A method for heating, forming and tempering a glass sheet including the steps of heating at least one glass sheet to at least a first predetermined temperature, applying microwave energy to the glass sheet to heat the glass sheet to at least a second predetermined temperature, forming the glass sheet to a predetermined configuration, and cooling an outer surface of the glass sheet to at least a third predetermined temperature to temper the glass sheet.

Abstract: A method for determining an amount of a gas of interest contained in a measurement gas includes the steps of periodically modulating a specified flux of a measurement gas at a first predetermined frequency, periodically modulating a specified flux of a specified gas that can react non-linearly with the gas of interest at a second predetermined frequency, adding the modulated flux of the specified gas to the modulated flux of the measurement gas, passing the mixture of the two modulated gas fluxes through a reactor where the gas of interest reacts with the specified gas to produce a third gas, exposing a gas sensor that can respond to the third gas present in the gas mixture after the reactor, measuring the sensor output at zero frequency (DC) and at specified frequencies (AC), and determining the original concentration of the gas of interest in the measurement gas from the measured sensor output at zero frequency and at the specified frequencies.

Abstract: A method for producing self lubricating powder metal cylinder bore liners for an internal combustion engine includes the steps of loading a powder metal mixture into a die cavity, compacting the powder metal mixture in the die cavity and forming the powder metal cylinder bore liner having a porous structure, sintering the powder metal cylinder bore liner, and impregnating the porous structure of the cylinder bore liner with lubricant.

Abstract: A heated assembly is provided for vaporization of fuel in an internal combustion engine. The heated assembly includes a grid disposed in an inlet runner of the internal combustion engine. The assembly also includes structure for heating the grid during cold start of the internal combustion engine and vaporizing fuel in the inlet runner of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: An overload protection assembly and method for overload protection of a transistor includes a switching transistor connected between a load at a first terminal and a power source at a second terminal. A measuring circuit measures the voltage levels at the first and second terminals. The first terminal is measured before and after the measurement of the second terminal, and averaged to produce its voltage level. The measured voltage levels from the first and second terminals are subtracted from one another and the difference compared to preset limits to determine overload conditions. If overload conditions exist, the measuring circuit turns off the transistor.

Abstract: A method for adaptively detecting when portion of a magnetic tape is wrapped around a capstan of a magnetic tape cassette player includes the steps of transferring the magnetic tape from a supply reel to a take-up reel for a first rotation of the take-up reel, passing the magnetic tape across the capstan when the magnetic tape is being transferred, measuring a first set of pulses of a signal during the first rotation of the take-up reel, measuring a subsequent set of pulses during each subsequent set of a take-up reel, and stopping the rotation of the take-up reel when the subsequent set of pulses varies from the subsequent of pulses immediately proceeding to prevent the magnetic tape from wrapping around the capstan.

Abstract: A method of monitoring hydrocarbons concentration in an exhaust gas includes the steps of: sampling exhaust gas on a vehicle, isolating the hydrocarbons from the exhaust gas on a vehicle, and measuring the amount of hydrocarbons isolated from the sample on a vehicle and providing an indication based on the amount of hydrocarbons. A sensor assembly for monitoring the concentration of hydrocarbons in an exhaust gas of a vehicle includes: a hydrocarbon absorbing material placed in a stream of gas on a vehicle, a gas sensor operatively connected with the absorbing material and in the stream of gas and producing a gas signal, and a sensor controller connected to the gas sensor for receiving the gas signal and for determining the amount of hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A micro-sequencer apparatus (10) allows a plurality of threads to independently process one or several algorithms using common components by allowing each thread to execute one instruction during a cycle. A thread counter (12) identifies the current thread to allow processing of its instruction. A thread program counter (16) stores the program count or address for the current instruction for the current thread. An instruction memory (20) stores all instructions, and the program count identifies the particular instruction for processing. A processor (26) receives input information unique to the current thread and processes same with the current instruction to produce an output.

Abstract: A solenoid assembly for an anti-lock braking system includes a housing having a cavity, a plurality of solenoids, each of said solenoids being received within the cavity, and an overmold disposed between the housing and each of the solenoids to provide a resilient force for each of the solenoids.

Abstract: A method of preparing a stereolithographically produced prototype for experimental stress analysis. The method includes creating a 3-D solid model prototype through a stereolithographic process. The prototype is cleaned in an alcohol bath and cured by exposing the prototype to a bath of ultraviolet light. Further, curing of the prototype is accomplished by placing the prototype in a thermal oven at an elevated temperature for a period of time. Upon removal and after cooling of the prototype, the prototype can be tested using several different experimental stress analysis procedures.

Abstract: A reinforced door assembly for closing a door opening in a side of a body of a pick-up truck includes a first door pivotally connected to the body between an open and closed position and a second door pivotally connected to the body between an open position and a closed position. The reinforced door assembly also includes a rocker at a bottom portion of the door opening and a roof rail at a top portion of the door opening. The second door includes a vertical reinforcement assembly extending upwardly to the roof rail and downwardly to the rocker to overlap a floor of the pick-up truck to resist inward movement of the door from the closed position with respect to the body of the pick-up truck.