Abstract: A solenoid valve assembly in which the solenoid and valve are axially fitted together. The solenoid comprises a cylindrical housing having an axial slot running along its entire length to allow the housing to be resiliently circumferentially expanded. The valve body has a cylindrical axial surface over which an axial end portion of the housing is fitted. Just beyond this cylindrical axial surface is a narrow groove. The cylindrical housing of the solenoid is provided with preformed stakes in its end edge which fit into this narrow groove to retain the solenoid end valve together in assembly. The invention is particularly advantageous where there is a limited axial length for the cylindrical housing of the solenoid to fit onto the valve body. The invention provides adequate retention in assembly, a sufficient area for magnetic flux that passes between the solenoid housing and the valve body, and the ability to easily disassemble the solenoid from the valve when such disassembly is desired.

Abstract: This digital processing circuit or sequence includes means (10, 16) of sampling an analog signal and of converting the acquired samples into digital form, a shift register (25), means (23) of storing a value (N.sub..xi.) of an integration constant, a unit (30), an accumulator (31) and a sequencer (14) which controls the sampling and the conversion into digital form of the samples by the said means during a measuring period, the storage of the said digital value representing the last sample acquired in the shift register (25), the operation of the said unit (30) as an adder during the measuring period for the computation of a cumulative sum and, at the end of the said period, the operation of the unit (30) as a subtractor and the operations of rotation of the content of the accumulator (31) in order to divide the final result of the cumulative sum by the value (N.sub..xi.) of the integration constant.

Abstract: The housing protects a circuit comprising active power components 10, 11, 12. A power electrode of the component 10 is welded onto the flush surface 15 of a radiator 13 accommodated in the base of the housing. The radiator is formed in one piece with an elongate part 14, the end 5 of which projects from the housing in the form of an external connecting pin. The radiator 13 may take various forms, including that of a grid.

Abstract: A variable camshaft timing system for an internal combustion engine varies the relative angular position between the intake camshaft and the exhaust camshaft by controlling the path of the timing belt means. A first belt means is interconnected at one end of the engine between the crankshaft and the exhaust camshaft. At the other end of the engine the intake camshaft and the exhaust camshaft are connected by a second belt means for rotating the intake camshaft from the rotational drive supplied via exhaust camshaft. Idler arms are positioned for controlling the path and tension in the second belt means for varying the timing of the intake camshaft relative to the exhaust camshaft. A motor means operates to position the idler arms through a positioning cam means.

Abstract: A heater control valve comprising: a valve body defining a chamber and a bypass passage extending therefrom. A first conduit in fluid communication with the bypass passage for defining a first inlet port and a first exit port adapted to communicate coolant to an external device. A flexible divertor mounted in the bypass passage and extending into the first conduit for diverting fluid into the bypass passage as a function of flow rate. A second conduit, in communication with the chamber defining a second inlet adapted to receive flow from the external device and a second outlet.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical fuel injector comprising: a housing and valve seat including a valve setting surface and a metering orifice disposed at a lower end of the housing. An armature assembly is movable relative to the valve seating surface for opening and closing the metering orifice and includes an armature and a pin extending therefrom and adapted to engage the seating surface; a coil assembly and spring are provided to move the armature assembly in a direction to open and close the metering orifice. The injector includes a fluid chamber defined upstream of the metering orifice, in surrounding relation to a portion of the armature assembly. A damping assembly is also provided, movable with the armature assembly, for generating a viscous shear damping force by interacting with the wall of the chamber.

Abstract: A gasoline unit injector comprising an outer, electrically conductive bellows, defining a variable volume fluid chamber, for reciprocating a piston within a pressure chamber to increase the fuel pressure in various downstream cavities. Various bellows are disposed within such chambers and are deformable in response to the increased pressure, the bellows are operative to control the rate at which fuel flows out from a metering orifice upon activation of a coil assembly.

Abstract: A heater control valve comprising: a valve body defining a chamber and a bypass passage extending therefrom. A first conduit in fluid communication with the bypass passage for defining a first inlet port and a first exit port adapted to communicate coolant to an external device. A second conduit, in communication with the chamber defining a second inlet adapted to receive flow from the external device and a second outlet. The valve body further including a first seating surface disposed about an upstream end of the bypass passage and a second seating surface disposed about the second inlet, and a bypass valve, rotatable from a first position in sealing engagement with the first seating surface to a second position in sealing engagement with the second seating surface, and an actuator, for rotating the bypass valve from the first position to the second position in response to control signals.

Abstract: A variable camshaft timing system for an internal combustion engine varies the relative angular position between the intake camshaft and the exhaust camshaft by controlling the path of the timing belt. First and second idler arms, each having an idler wheel connected thereto, are independently pivoted around a common pivot point by means of a pair of positioning cams operatively connected to an electric stepping motor. The motor is controlled from an electronic control unit which receives signals indicating the engine operating characteristics and through a look-up table steps the positioning cams which in turn pivots the idler arms to rotate the intake camshaft relative to the exhaust camshaft thereby changing the intake valve timing.

Abstract: A sensor comprising: an inertial mass movable from a first position to a second position in response to a acceleration (deceleration) signal of predetermined amplitude and duration; electrical contacts and a conductor on the inertial mass for indicating that the inertial mass has moved to the second position; an electrical conductor, reactive with other elements of the sensor for generating an electro-magnetic force tending to dampen the motion of the inertial mass; and a magnetically attractive element or magnet for biasing the inertial mass towards the first position.

Abstract: A silicon-based sensor includes a substrate, a sensor element, and a protective diaphragm mounting and covering the sensor element. The diaphragm is a silicon layer which, in a preferred embodiment, includes an etch-stop dopant. The etch-stop layer is sealed to the substrate so that the layer covers and mounts the sensor element to the substrate. The sensor is fabricated by forming a trough area in a surface of a silicon block (e.g., a silicon chip or wafer), treating the trough area with an etch-stop dopant (e.g., boron), depositing a sensor element onto the doped trough area, sealing at least the periphery of the doped trough area to a surface of a substrate (e.g., glass) so as to encapsulate the sensor element, and then etching away undoped regions of the silicon block so that the doped trough area remains as a protective diaphragm sealed to the substrate and covering the sensor element. It is also possible to form a bonding pad on untreated (e.g.

Abstract: An accelerator control apparatus for mounting in a motor vehicle for a "drive-by-wire" system. The apparatus provides a bias spring means to generate the "feel" of an accelerator pedal to the vehicle operator, a compression spring means provides frictional forces preventing extraneous pedal actuation and pedal sensor switch means for indicating the rotation position of the accelerator pedal from a first or normal position to any second position.

Abstract: A flow rate valve comprising a non-magnetic housing comprising a central cavity and a pressure chamber, first and second ports extending into the pressure chamber, the interior end of the first port forming a valve seat. A bobbin is received within the cavity including a coil and a central blind bore enclosed at one end. The bobbin and housing including opposingly situated circumferential grooves. An armature assembly comprising a cylindrical armature within the bore, and a valve element movable with the armature between first and second positions, for opening and closing the valve seat and a motion limiter for limiting armature motion to prevent same from impacting the bottom of the bore in response to a magnetic field generated by the coil.

Abstract: A process for flush-mounting a silicon micromachined sensor for fluid flow measurements with an adjacent face of a substrate. The faces of the substrate and sensor, over which the fluid flow will pass, are disposed face down on a conformal surface. Adhesive is applied between the sensor and substrate to secure the sensor and substrate one to the other. Upon removal from the conformal surface, the faces are cleaned of adhesive and the electrical signal generating means of the sensor are connected with the signal processing means, for example, by wire bonding. In this manner, the sensor lies flush with the face of the substrate, avoiding interference with the fluid flow over the sensor face and, hence, maintaining sensitivity throughout the life of the sensor.

Abstract: An especially adapted engine valve includes structure which damps motion of the valve during its final closure to seat. A spool portion of the valve establishes, with its associated guideway, a damping chamber into which oil under pressure may be admitted via a feed passageway. Oil is discharged through a flow-restricted bleed passageway during closure of the valve so as to create beneficial pressure buildup within the damping chamber and thus reduce the valve's closing velocity. Since the damping functions occur passively (i.e. dependent only upon the relative location of the valve within its guideway), gentle closing of the valve can occur at any point on the cam lobe thereby making it especially well suited for use in "lost motion" valve control systems. The valve is preferably sealed against oil leakage by a pair of axially spaced-apart seal members, and a drain port having an end located between the seal members at all times during the valve's displacements between its opened and seated positions.

Abstract: A high pressure, fast response, pressure balanced reversible flow, solenoid control valve for use in such automotiove applications as electronic valve timing for internal combustion engines and adaptive braking systems. A pressure balanced bearing is connected to a moveable valve member forming a valve cavity therebetween which is at a first pressure. The moveable valve member is also connected to an armature means on the other side of the pressure balanced bearing in an armature cavity. The pressure on the opposite side of the valve member and in the armature cavity is at a second pressure. Thus, the moveable valve member is maintained in a pressure balanced condition and the solenoid then operates against any spring forces, inertia and the viscous effects of the fluid and not the pressure of the fluid. As the solenoid is energized, the armature moves the pressure balance bearing and the valve member to open the valve allowing fluid to flow from a valve inlet to the valve outlet.

Abstract: High resolution microstepping of an unipolar stepping motor is accomplished by applying from a look-up table the values of the SINE and COSINE of a given angle to the control circuit of a unipolar stepping motor. The difference between the present position and the desired position is calculated and depending upon the magnitude of the difference, the degree of microstepping is determined from four steps per ninety electrical degrees of motor rotation to thirty-two steps. By such selection, the positioning of the output shaft of the motor is smoothly and accurately accomplished.

Abstract: A dual stream thin edge orifice disk is defined as a disk having a pair of orifices positioned to direct the flow of fluid from the interior portion of a valve into two different streams. The dual streams may be parallel or typically diverge at an angle for directing the stream to two adjacent engine valves in the situation wherein the valve is in electromagnetic fuel injector for an internal combustion engine. To have the dual streams flow in a direction that is not parallel, the area of the disk surrounding the dual orifices is embossed and the orifices are positioned along the sides of the embossment between the base and the apex thereof. The manufacturing of the accurately sized orifices in the disk is accomplished by means of a progressive die. One of the stations of the die provides a coining operation on the orifice. Such coining operation is adjustable by means of a micrometer adjustment.

Abstract: An electronic throttle actuator is directly connected without an intervening gear train to a stepper motor for rotating the throttle valve from a first position, closed or substantially closed, to a second position which is wide open and any angular position therebetween. The movement of the throttle valve is under control of electronic control means which can locate the throttle valve at any one of a plurality of positions between the first and the second positions. The coupling between the motor and the shaft of the throttle valve provides for redundant means to close the throttle valve and connected to the shaft are a pair of redundant torsion springs for biasing the throttle valve in said first position. A second coupling directly connects the shaft of the throttle valve to a throttle position sensor. A pair of cavities are formed in the throttle body housing for enclosing both the coupling from the shaft to the motor and to the throttle position sensor and the redundant torsion springs.

Abstract: A pressure regulating valve comprising:a magnetic circuit comprising a magnetic central portion having a fluid passage, adapted to receive fluid at a first pressure level;an annular, upraised magnetic valve seat coaxial with the central portion and disposed at and about one end of the central portion, the one end and valve seat disposed within a pressure chamber, the magnetic circuit further including a movable valve element, acted upon by the magnetic flux flowing through the magnetic circuit, to regulate the pressure within the pressure chamber corresponding with an input electrical signal, including a disk comprising, in at least a portion thereof through which the magnetic flux flows, a non-magnetic material of a given thickness facing the valve seat and a magnetic material secured to the non-magnetic material on a dimension thereof opposite the valve seat;a spring for biasing the disk toward the valve seat;an output port for communicating the pressure chamber to a pressure responsive device;an input port