Abstract: A fluid rail for conveying an actuating fluid under pressure from an actuating fluid source to a respective fuel injector of an internal combustion engine includes a rail assembly being disposable in a space defined in part by a rocker arm carrier of the engine and having; a. a first rail portion having a substantially cylindrical inside diameter defining a first substantially cylindrical flow passage; b. a second rail portion having a substantially cylindrical inside diameter defining a second substantially cylindrical flow passage; c. having a volume of between 15 cubic inches and 60 cubic inches. A method of conveying an actuating fluid under pressure from an actuating fluid source to a respective fuel injector of an internal combustion engine is further included.

Abstract: A cylinder head gasket (211) includes one or more alignment holes (301) and one or more drain-back holes (303) disposed in an area of the cylinder head gasket (211). One or more push rods (211) are extendable through the alignment holes (301). The one or more drain-back holes (303) are formed such that the one or more push rods (211) are incapable of fitting through the one or more drain-back holes (303).

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of providing a seal (300) for a movable rod (111) is described. The seal includes a flexible material (303) and a rigid seat (305) that may be utilized as a spring seat. The flexible material (303) has an opening with annular grooves and/or bumps (301) that provide a seal with the rod (111) when it moves axially and/or non-axially, for example, within a cylinder (109) in which the rod (111) and seal (300) are disposed.

Abstract: A method of automatically placing a core package (301) in a mold (505) is provided. Locators (501) and a cavity (503) designed to receive at least a part of the core package (301) are formed in the mold (505). The mold (505) is positioned such that the locators (501) may be illuminated and one or more images are obtained of the locators (501). The images are processed to determine a target location for the core package (301) in the cavity (503), and an automated device (303) places the core package (303) in the mold (505) at the target location.

Abstract: A wire guide (101) is disposable on a device such as a fuel injector (103). The wire guide (101) includes a channel (215) having one or more intermittently spaced fingers (213) along an open side of the channel (215). The fingers (213) may allow wires (205, 207) to enter the channel (215) easily, but inhibit the ability of the wires (205, 207) to leave the channel (215) once they enter. The channel (215) comprises an inner wall (301) that at least partially follows an outer contour of a device such as a fuel injector (103). One or more retaining members (219, 221) are included with the wire guide (101), such that the wire guide (101) is securable to the device, such as a fuel injector (103).

Abstract: There is provided a ceramic fiber casting core used in making cast metal parts comprised of a ceramic fiber structure. The casting core may further comprise a support tube in structural supporting relation to the ceramic fiber structure. There is also provided a method to manufacture the ceramic fiber casting core that comprises mixing ceramic fibers and a binder in a mix tank. Pouring the resultant mixed slurry into a vacuum forming tank. Inserting a perforated mandrel into the vacuum forming tank. Forming a vacuum inside the mandrel resulting in vacuum depositing of the ceramic fiber on the mandrel. Removing the ceramic fiber casting core and mandrel from the vacuum forming tank. Removing the mandrel, and then drying and curing the ceramic fiber structure. When necessary, locating a support member in structural supporting relation to the ceramic fiber structure. Machining the unfinished casting core to a desired outside dimensions.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of providing improved engine performance during a change in engine load conditions reduces or eliminates engine stumbling or hesitation and/or reduces emissions levels. When an engine load change is detected (201), a compensation factor for fuel injection timing is determined (205) and combined with a base timing for fuel injection, thereby altering fuel injector timing during the transition period.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a cylinder head (10) and a runnerless intake manifold (12) are assembled together and cooperatively define an air manifold (14) and a fuel manifold (16) for supplying air and fuel respectively to engine cylinders in an engine block to which cylinder head (10) is fastened. In another embodiment, the air manifold is the same, but the fuel manifold (66) is defined by a bore (68) and holes (70) in the intake manifold (60).

Abstract: An assembly comprises a flexible member that extends through an aperture defined by a divider component. A distal portion of the flexible member extends away from the assembly at an angle. A first flexible-member-routing bracket is mounted to the divider component and has one or more guide structures that function to facilitate a gradual transition of the flexible member from the direction it extends in as it passes through the aperture defined by the divider component to the direction its distal portion extends in.

Abstract: A disconnect switch (30, 30SA) is placed in circuit between a battery bank (12) and a distribution point (30B) for the entire electrical system load except the engine cranking motor (24). This allows the circuit between the battery bank and a cranking motor solenoid (22) that operates the cranking motor to be switch-free. A switch-free circuit allows a continuous cable to connect the battery bank to the cranking motor solenoid, significantly reducing the electrical resistance between the battery bank and the cranking motor solenoid.

Abstract: A vehicle according to the present invention has an internal combustion engine that is controlled by an engine-control computer that is operable, when the vehicle is parked, to operate in an idle-management mode to automatically start and stop idling operation of the internal combustion engine in order to maintain desirable electrical system energy levels, maintain desirable fluid temperatures of the internal combustion engine, and/or enable maintenance of comfortable occupant cabin temperatures. Each vehicle according to the present invention has a unique configuration of safety-interlock provisions that affect when and if an idle-management mode of operation of the engine-control computer is initiated and/or maintained.

Abstract: An entrance-door safety-system for a vehicle that includes a contact-sensing door-edge attachment that is adapted to be mounted to a door edge of a door panel of the vehicle. The entrance-door safety-system also includes a door-safety-logic system that is constructed in such a manner and that is adapted to be communicatively linked to the contact-sensing door-edge attachment, an entrance-door control-system of the vehicle, and a powered actuator of the vehicle in such a manner that when the contact-sensing door-edge attachment contacts an obstruction, the door-safety-logic system causes the powered actuator to cease actuating the door panel toward its closed position. The contact-sensing door-edge attachment has a unique shape that provides a particularly effective weather barrier and that has a high tolerance to positional variance relative to other components of the vehicle.

Abstract: A multi-cylinder diesel engine provides split mode operation in which one or more cylinders function as air pumps. Compressed air supplied by the cylinders is amplified and stored to a high pressure air tank from which it may be used to run air brakes or other systems. Improved energy density is achieved over prior art vehicle air systems and an auxiliary air compressor is eliminated.

Abstract: An engine control system (22) of a diesel engine (20) that powers a motor vehicle processes data in execution of a strategy (FIG. 4) to provide control of both timing and duration of forced regeneration of a diesel particulate filter (42). The overall strategy is a hybrid of model-based and closed-loop control strategies. Redundant elements of the strategy (FIG. 6) determine when forced regeneration is called for. Forced regeneration is initiated by retarding the timing of the start of main fuel injection (100). Fueling is then adjusted (98) both to enhance catalytic action and to make the process transparent to a driver of the vehicle.

Abstract: There is provided a valve actuation linkage mechanism for use in an internal combustion engine that reduces friction wear on the valve assembly during engine operation and can be pre-assembled to reduce manufacturing time and costs. The valve actuation linkage mechanism comprises a rocker arm having a pivot rod cup, a pivot rod, a valve bridge having a pivot rod chamber, and a pivot rod retainer. The pivot rod comprises a pivot rod head, a pivot rod neck, a pivot rod body, and a pivot rod bottom. The valve bridge comprises a middle valve bridge section having the pivot rod chamber and a pair of pivot rod retainer securing bore, a bottom valve bridge section, and a lubricant dimple in the pivot rod chamber. The pivot rod retainer is comprised of a pivot rod orifice having pivot rod prongs and at least one securing orifice.

Abstract: A heating, ventilation and air conditioning system for a vehicle is constructed from two modules, one for the engine compartment and a second for the passenger compartment. The engine compartment module has a base formed for positioning on at least two locations on a dash panel, a outside air inlet, a secondary air inlet for communication with the passenger compartment, an air outlet and defining a air transport conduit connecting the outside air inlet or the secondary air inlet with the air outlet. Downstream from the engine compartment is a passenger compartment module having a slide slot for a heater core, an inlet for communication with the air outlet from the engine compartment module, an air manifold, a panel exhaust from the air manifold, a defrost exhaust from the air manifold, a compartment door providing access to the slide in friction slot, and an air channel from the inlet to the air manifold. The heater core is positioned in the slide in slot.

Abstract: Immediately following the cranking of an engine, a fuel step is provided (309). The fuel step (305) is an amount of fuel that is less than the cranking fuel amount for an engine, and is provided for a fixed time period (219) once a transition from crank to run in the engine is detected (301). Engine start-up is improved by maintaining engine speed to prevent the engine from stalling, thereby reducing the necessity to restart the engine.

Abstract: A control (30) for controlling a variable valve actuation mechanism (26) of an internal combustion engine (10) to regenerate a particulate filter (35) in the exhaust system (25) of the engine. The control comprises an operating program (50, 50A) for regenerating the particulate filter while the engine is running under its owns power by causing the variable valve actuation mechanism to change the timing of engine cylinder valves during an engine operating cycle, and as a result, elevate the temperature of flow through the exhaust system to a temperature that is effective to combust particles trapped by the filter.

Abstract: An instrument panel of an automotive vehicle has an original circuit board (10). An LED (16) is disposed on a bridge (34) in the board and faces a driver of the vehicle. Two terminals (16T1, 16T2) extend through the bridge to conductive continuity with respective conductive traces (24, 26) on the rear board face 12. Should the LED fail, it is replaced by severing the bridge from the board and removing it along with the LED on it. The severing creates a through-hole (36) in the board. A socket (40) that contains a replacement LED (16R) is installed in the through-hole and provides conductive continuity of the respective traces on the board with respective terminals of the replacement LED.

Abstract: An assembly comprises a mounted component that is located relative to a mounting component through one or more compilmentary locating-structure pairs that comprise locating structures of the mounted component and of the mounting component that are engaged to one another. The locating structures of the mounted component and the mounting component are those portions thereof that are engaged to one another and through which the forces of gravity and other acceleration forces are transmitted between the mounted component and the mounting component. One or more of the locating structures of the complimentary locating-structure pairs includes a locating-point insert that is integrally molded or cast into parent material of the locating structure. The locating-point inserts are harder, more wear-resistant, stiffer, and/or stronger than the parent material that they are integrally molded or cast into.