Abstract: The invention integrates a general purpose computer with a controller area network to effect an inspection regimen through the controller area network. A convenient user interface, combining handheld instruments and convention displays and printers allows the driver to interact with the system. The computer provides storage for programs and processing power to implement test regimens in logical order relating to completion of the inspection.

Abstract: A cooling module mounting system and method of mounting the package to a vehicle is described. A chassis cross member for providing vertical support to the cooling package is sub-assembled to the cooling module separate from the vehicle where the two mounting surfaces can be held parallel to one another eliminating the possibility of unevenly preloading the isolator. Then this pre-assembled isolated system can be mounted on the truck chassis without changing the relationship of the compressed isolator when the module is bolted down during truck assembly. This system eliminates the fore aft adjustment variability allowing for more control over the static location and isolator compression of the cooling module in the truck. The stay rods used eliminate variation in the rod isolator compression during mounting. The stay rod also allows for controlled multi-axial movement with a mounting centerline perpendicular to the input loads.

Abstract: A turbocharger (32) creates intake manifold boost for a diesel engine (10) that has a variable valve actuation mechanism. At times, exhaust valve opening (EVO) is increasingly retarded in relation to the engine operating cycle (56) to cause the turbocharger to increase boost, engine fueling is also increased in relation to the increased boost (58), and in response to any incipient surging of the compressor resulting from such increasingly retarded exhaust valve opening and such increased engine fueling, compressed charge air is bled from the intake manifold through the combustion chambers to the exhaust system (62) to counter the incipient surging and thereby avoid any significant turbocharger surge. The bleeding is accomplished by keeping the exhaust valves (24) slightly open beyond the time that they would otherwise close.

Abstract: The use of green sand is eliminated by replacing green sand molds with all core sand assemblies that provide, during casting, both the internal and external surfaces of a casting, such as a cylinder head or engine block. In the process, a mold is formed from the same core sand that is used to form the core elements defining the internal passageways of the casting. A mold-core carrier is constructed with tapered sides that hold the assembled mold and core elements together during pouring of the molten iron alloy into the mold-core assembly and the cooling period to form the casting. Although the carrier sides can use a refractory liner, preferably the sides are made of replaceable sheet metal backed by an open structural framework to enhance cooling of the casting. After the casting is formed, the core sand from both the mold elements and the core elements is recovered, and may recycled and processed to form further mold elements or core elements or both.

Abstract: A modular bunk assembly or module provides for easy in situ installation of the bunk in an extended cab truck by compacting to a slab like profile for shipment and handling and easily expanding in the cab for installation. The bunk is readily adapted to provide attachment points corresponding to common attachment points for vehicle seats. The bunk further provides a readily reached storage area under a bed platform. Restraints may already be installed on the module when it is shipped to an automotive assembly plant.

Abstract: A combustion chamber assembly (and a piston having the combustion chamber assembly) for use in a diesel engine, includes a combustion chamber being defined in a crown of a piston, the combustion chamber having a central axis, and having a center portion being raised above a bottom plane of the combustion chamber. The center portion of the combustion chamber is defined in part by a portion of a sphere, the sphere having a radius, the origin of the radius lying on the combustion chamber central axis. The combustion chamber has a plurality of curved surfaces having smooth tangential transitions between adjacent smooth surfaces, the smooth surfaces including the spherical center portion in combination with a plurality of annular surfaces. A method of forming a combustion chamber is also included.

Abstract: A coupling assembly for coupling fluid components includes a female coupler having a receiver defined therein. A male coupler has an insert, the insert being receivable within the female coupler receiver in sealing engagement. And, a spacer is matable to both the female coupler and the male coupler when the female coupler and the male coupler are in sealing engagement, the spacer effecting positive engagement of the female and the male couplers. A method of coupling/uncoupling a coupling assembly is also included.

Abstract: An access hatch reinforcement module and a method of assembling an access hatch to an existing engine compartment hood of a vehicle. The access hatch reinforcement module includes a wall engagement component for engagement to the hood outer wall of the engine compartment hood. The access hatch reinforcement module further includes a door engagement component for engagement to a hatch door of the access hatch. The wall engagement component and the door engagement component of the access hatch reinforcement module are directly fixedly engaged to one another by temporary fixed engagements. The wall engagement component and the door engagement component are also indirectly engaged to one another through operational door connecting components such as a hinge component.

Abstract: A method of the present invention includes an MSC (101) receiving (201) a request for a call. A call routing request indicating that no peripheral device interaction has taken place on the call is forwarded (203) to an HLR or home location register (107). The MSC receives (205) call routing instructions that direct the call to a peripheral device (109). The call is routed (211) to the peripheral device (109). The peripheral device (109) performs (213) a function for the call and routes (215) the call to the MSC. A message requesting call routing instructions and identifying the peripheral device is forwarded (203) to the HLR.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine control system processes data to develop desired fueling data representing a desired amount of fuel that is to be injected into the engine for combustion. The desired fueling data is modified by a multiplier during a cranking, starting, and initial running phase of the engine, and after the engine has started and begins running, modifies the multiplier by a multiplier adder. Use of the multiplier added is discontinued once the engine fuel injectors have sufficiently warmed up. The multiplier adder is a function of an average of desired fueling data taken over a time interval that includes engine cranking, starting, and initial engine running.

Abstract: A piston pin bore cooler for cooling and lubricating a piston pin bore bushings, piston pin and connecting rod bushings, includes an oil jet, the oil jet directing a spray of lubricating oil at the underside of a crown of a reciprocating piston for cooling the crown; and a deflector formed interior to a piston skirt presenting a deflector surface, the deflector surface intersecting the spray of lubricating oil for at least a portion of the duration of a each reciprocation of the reciprocating piston and deflecting the intersected the spray of lubricating oil to cool and lubricate the bushings. An opening is provided adjacent the deflector through which the spray may pass during other portions of the reciprocation. A deflector assembly, a piston skirt, and a method of cooling and lubricating a pin and bushings are further included.

Abstract: A fuel injector includes a spool control valve, a plunger which moves in a fuel pressure chamber between retracted and full stroke positions. The fuel injector may include a spill port for spilling fuel from the fuel pressure chamber, the spill port being open at the start and closed by the translating motion of the plunger to delay the start of injection. The fuel injector chamber may further include a control port which is closed at the start of plunger motion and is opened by the plunger to connect the pressure chamber to a needle back chamber to bias the needle valve closed. The needle back chamber becomes isolated from the pressure chamber by further movement of the plunger and includes a pressure control passage to allow the pressure therein to decay upon control port closure, thereby effecting split injection or rate shaping.

Abstract: A combustion chamber assembly for use in a diesel engine includes a combustion chamber being defined in a crown of a piston, the combustion chamber having a center portion, the center portion being defined at least in part by a portion of a convex sphere to define a post, the sphere having a radius and an origin, the origin of the radius lying on a combustion chamber central axis and the combustion chamber further having an outwardly radially disposed bottom margin, the bottom margin being defined in part by a portion of a sphere, the sphere being concave and having an origin and a radius. The combustion chamber has more than two spherical surfaces having smooth annular transitions between adjacent spherical surfaces, the spherical surfaces including the spherical center portion and the spherical bottom margin. A piston and a method of forming a combustion chamber are further included.

Abstract: There is provided a wire guide for guiding and protecting wires from moving parts underneath the valve cover in a diesel engine. The wire guide has a channel portion connected to a base for securing the wire guide to the cylinder head. The base may be comprised of a retaining clip having two prongs that form an assembly that “snaps-on” to an injector clamp holder to secure the wire guide to the cylinder head. The channel portion is configured to cross a rocker arm when the wire guide is mounted on the cylinder head. The channel portion creates a conduit for holding the wires. The conduit is partially closed on at least one side and has an open side with intermittently spaced retaining tabs. The retaining tabs may be intermittently spaced as a series of pair tabs or alternating opposing singular tabs.

Abstract: A torque calculator and method for providing real time data that measures net torque output of a running engine in a motor vehicle. Gross torque production is calculated using engine speed and fueling data. Torque losses due to accessories, pumping, and friction are calculated and subtracted from gross torque production, and inertial torque is also accounted for to yield engine net running torque. The engine net running torque data and engine speed data are processed according to a filter algorithm that compensates the engine net running torque data for engine speed. Transmission shifting is controlled by the speed-compensated engine net running torque.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for a reduced mass balancer shaft that effectively balance first or second order imbalances in an internal combustion engine. The balancer shaft is symmetrical with offset masses that are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction and orientation, and preferably comprises front and rear offset masses between a center section and a front and a rear journal respectively. In a preferred embodiment, there integrally formed stiffening members in the front and rear offset masses that symmetric about the balancer shaft centerline. The front and rear offset masses are each comprised of solid partial annular configurations that extend equally away from the balancer shaft centerline. The center section is comprised of an annular configuration.

Abstract: A method of modifying a general formula that is used by an engine control system (10) to calculate duration of fuel injector actuation. Coefficients (P1 coeff., P2 coeff., ICP coeff.) of the formula are modified to calibrate individual fuel injectors (16) in an engine. The amount of calibration needed is determined by data that is marked on each fuel injector in electronically readable format after the fuel injector has been operated and its operating characteristic ascertained. The control system reads the marked data and then makes the proper coefficient adjustment.

Abstract: A traffic directing wand for directing traffic in lighted conditions such as in the day and in low light conditions such as in the night. The traffic directing wand includes a paddle and a handle. The paddle has first and second faces, and an outer perimeter comprising top and bottom edges, and a pair of side edges extending between the top and bottom edges of the paddle. The handle has upper and lower ends, and an exterior side. The bottom edge of the paddle is coupled to the upper end of the handle. The first face of the paddle has an orange colored surface for aiding the visibility of the first face of the paddle. The second face of the paddle has a phosphorescent surface for aiding the visibility of the second face of the paddle in low light conditions.

Abstract: Each communication unit (112A through 112F) and talkgroup in a communication system (100) is assigned a priority at each site (106, 108, and 110) in the system. As communication units (112A through 112F) request resources, contention among requesters at a site is resolved by the priority of requesters at the site. System-wide resources are allocated equitably based on the geographical location of the communication unit using site-based priority.

Abstract: A combustion chamber assembly for use in a diesel engine includes a combustion chamber being defined in a crown of a piston, the combustion chamber having a center portion being elevated relative to a bottom plane of the combustion chamber, the center portion being defined in part by a portion of a convex sphere, the sphere having a radius and an origin, the origin of the radius lying on a piston central axis and the combustion chamber further having an outwardly radially disposed bottom margin, the bottom margin being defined in part by a portion of a concave sphere, the sphere having a radius, the origin of the radius lying on the piston central axis and being greater than the center portion radius. The combustion chamber has a plurality of curved surfaces having smooth transitions between adjacent smooth surfaces, the smooth surfaces including the spherical center portion and the spherical bottom margin in combination with an annular sidewall surface.