Abstract: A pyromechanical disconnecting device, in particular for battery shutoff in a motor vehicle include a housing (1) in which there is arranged a conductor bus (11) that is designed to be severable by a cutting chisel (12) at a predetermined cut point, the cutting chisel being capable of being accelerated by the propellant gases of an ignition element (2). In order to facilitate assembly it is proposed that the housing (1) be extruded around the ignition element (2), which in this way forms one structural unit with the housing (1).

Abstract: An injection nozzle for an internal combustion engine comprising a nozzle body defining a seating surface and having at least one first nozzle outlet and a valve member received within the nozzle body and engageable with an external seating defined by the seating surface so as to control fuel injection through the at least one first nozzle outlet. The valve member is provided with a bore having an internal bore surface and an insert is received within the bore. The insert includes a part-spherical head which spans an internal diameter of the bore so as to maintain contact with an internal surface of the bore as the valve member moves, in use, so as to guide movement of the valve member. The part-spherical head also includes a surface which defines an internal seating for the valve member.

Abstract: A child seat and a method for monitoring installation of the child seat are provided. The child seat includes a child seat frame configured to receive a child occupant. The child seat frame is configured to receive a seat belt webbing for securing the child seat frame to a vehicle seat. The child seat further includes a first bladder configured to contact the seat belt webbing. The first bladder has a fluid therein. The child seat further includes a first pressure sensor fluidly communicating with the fluid in the first bladder. The first pressure sensor is configured to output a first signal indicative of an amount of pressure in the first bladder. The child seat further includes a controller coupled to the child seat frame configured to receive the first signal and to compute a first tension value based on the first signal.

Abstract: A throttle control cartridge has a circuit board carrying a Hall-effect sensor, the position of which is fixed in a housing carrying a cam. A shaft carrying a magnet is rotatably and translatably disposed with respect to the housing and carries a cam follower that engages the cam and translates the shaft with respect to the housing when the shaft is rotated with respect to the housing in at least one of two opposed angular directions. The cam and the cam follower have at least first and second pairs of cam surfaces in which a first cam surface is disposed at a different cam or helix angle then the second cam surface. A redundant stop is cooperatively formed between the cam follower and splines on the shaft to limit axial translation of the cam follower in one direction of rotation of the shaft relative to the housing.

Abstract: A catalytic reformer assembly and methods of operation, including fast start-up, are provided. The reformer assembly includes an electrically-conductive metallic vaporizer having a very high surface area. At start-up of the reformer, electric current is passed through the vaporizer to heat the material by resistance heating, providing a high-temperature, high-surface area environment for fuel vaporization. Preferably, the electric current is started a few seconds before starting fuel flow. The fuel is sprayed either onto or through the heated vaporizer, preferably before the fuel is mixed with incoming air to minimize convective cooling by the air and to reduce the pressure drop in the fuel flow. As the reformer warms up, energy from the reforming process heats the vaporizer via radiation and/or conduction such that electric power is needed only during the start-up phase. A control circuit regulates the amount and duration of electric power supplied to the vaporizer.

Abstract: A bracket for securing a side airbag for an automotive vehicle is provided. The bracket includes a mounting plate formed of a synthetic resin material, and including a main body and a coupling part projecting from an upper surface of the main body and having a hole, and a bracket clip including two support plates in contact with front and rear surfaces of the coupling part and having through-holes in communication with the hole, and a bent part connecting the two support plates at each one side. Therefore, it is possible to protect the bracket to prevent damage to or deformation of the bracket when a bolt is screwed, thereby maintaining the side airbag in an optimal state.

Abstract: An injector mounting arrangement for use in an engine, the injector mounting arrangement including: a fuel injector having one or more resonant modes of vibration, an engine cylinder housing, and a clamping arrangement including a clamping member for applying a clamping load to the injector so as to clamp the injector to the cylinder housing wherein the clamping load is applied at or substantially at a vibration node of one of the one or more modes of vibration of the fuel injector so as to damp or substantially prevent transmission of injector generated noise to the cylinder housing.

Abstract: A cable connector includes a connector housing attached to an outer shell. A seal is disposed at least partially between the outer shell and the connector housing. A shield is at least partially disposed about the connector housing adjacent to the seal. In one exemplary approach, the connector housing is removably attached to the outer shell. In another exemplary approach, the seal has a unitary configuration.

Abstract: An electrical center is mounted on a wiring harness. The electrical center comprises an upper insulator housing having a plurality of upper terminal receiving cavities, a circuit board assembly disposed in the upper housing below the upper terminal receiving cavities, a plurality of terminals mounted on the circuit board contact portions above the circuit board disposed in the upper terminal receiving cavities for engaging mating terminals plugged into the upper terminal receiving cavities, and a lower insulator housing having a plurality of lower terminal receiving cavities. The terminals mounted on the circuit board have contact portions below the circuit board disposed in the lower terminal receiving cavities for engaging mating terminals that are attached to wires of the wiring harness and that are plugged in the lower terminal receiving cavities.

Abstract: A containment device for an inflator, the containment device comprising: an outlet plate having an outlet opening; a burst disk disposed over the outlet opening; an initiator having a support member; a movable support disposed between the support member and the burst disk, the support providing support to the burst disk; wherein activation of the initiator causes the movable support to move which allows the burst disk to rupture.

Abstract: An improved fuel injection spray director plate including conically chamfered entries to the flow passages through the plate. The conical chamfer may extend part way or all the way through the plate. In a currently preferred embodiment, the chamfer extends only part way through the plate, and the remaining cylindrical portion of the passage provides desirable directional capability for the spray. Preferably, the conical chamfer axis forms an angle with the cylindrical portion axis. Preferably, a flow passage is positioned in the director plate such that the main flow direction of fuel exiting the fuel injector valve is received into the chamfer of the passage. Preferably, a second conical portion is formed in the passage between the first conical portion and the cylindrical portion.

Abstract: A shielded electric cable assembly comprises a shielded electric cable and a shield terminal. The shield terminal comprises a ferrule of one-piece construction having an inner ferrule portion and an outer ferrule portion that is radially spaced from the inner ferrule portion and attached to the inner ferrule portion by an end wall. The inner ferrule portion is disposed between an inner insulation jacket of the shielded electric cable and an exposed end portion of an intermediate conductive layer surrounding the inner insulation jacket. The outer ferrule portion is crimped about the exposed end portion of the intermediate conductive layer to crimp the inner ferrule portion tightly around the inner insulation jacket and to clamp exposed end portion of the intermediate conductive layer between the inner ferrule portion and the outer ferrule portion of the one piece ferrule. A conductive cylindrical shell is attached to the one-piece ferrule.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining whether an injection parameter correction for fuel quality is required in an internal combustion engine, the engine comprising a plurality of cylinders, each one of the cylinders comprising a combustion chamber into which fuel is injected by an associated fuel injector and within which, in use, combustion events repeatedly occur to define a combustion cycle of the cylinder between successive combustion events. The method comprises observing the speed of the combustion cycles of at least two of the cylinders and analysing the at least two speeds to determine if an injection parameter correction for fuel quality is required. The invention also extends to an injector control unit arranged to determine an injection parameter correction for fuel quality.

Abstract: A sensor including a species selective electrode and a reference electrode having an electrolyte layer disposed therebetween; a reference gas channel in fluid communication with the reference electrode; a heater and a temperature sensor; wherein the species selective electrode is disposed on a first side of an insulating layer separating the species selective electrode from the electrolyte layer, the insulating layer having a first substantially solid area and a second area having an opening pattern extending through the insulating layer; the species selective electrode comprising a species sensing electrode portion disposed on the opening pattern of the insulating layer so as to contact the electrolyte layer through the opening pattern and a non-active electrode lead portion disposed over the first substantially solid area so that the non-active electrode lead portion is in electrical communication with the species sensing electrode portion and is free from contact with the electrolyte layer.

Abstract: During assembly of an improved phaser, a rotor bias spring is captured by a spring retainer that is fitted or formed into the cover, allowing the spring to be installed in a pre-load position and forming a sub-assembly that is then attached to the remaining components. Grounded and active spring tangs are captured in separate slots in the spring retainer. A pocket within the rotor receives the active tang of the bias spring. The pocket has a tapered bottom ramp that lifts the active tang from the slot wall in the retainer and positions the active tang within the pocket in a retarding direction. Lifting the active tang of the bias spring prevents friction between the spring and the retainer slot wall as would occur as the rotor moves in a retarded direction. In advancing, spring rotation stops when the active tang contacts the end of the retainer slot.

Abstract: A method of determining the purity of oxygen present in an oxygen-enriched gas produced from an oxygen delivery system is disclosed. The oxygen delivery system includes at least one sieve bed having a nitrogen-adsorbing material disposed therein and configured to adsorb nitrogen from a feed gas introduced into the at least two sieve beds via a pressure-swing adsorption cycle. The method includes determining a quantity of nitrogen adsorbed by the nitrogen-adsorbing material by inferring an effective volume of the at least one sieve bed based on a pressure change of the at least one sieve bed.

Abstract: A lock pin bore in a two-step rocker arm assembly contains a hydraulically-actuable lock pin. A return spring urges the lock pin toward an unlatched mode. The bore has one or more annular grooves formed near the outer end of the bore. A plug, formed preferably of a soft metal, is pressed as a hydraulic seal into the bore. During assembly, the final position of the lock pin within the bore is set by positioning a stopping assembly fixture into the locking end of the bore. The plug is pressed into the bore until contact is made with the lock pin and the lock pin engages the fixture. The plug is radially deformed into the annular groove(s) to anchor the plug and fix the outer limit of travel of the locking pin and the compressive load on the return spring.

Abstract: A connection mechanism includes a metal segment in mechanical and electrical communication with the remainder of the connection mechanism on at least one side. The segment includes at least one tab protruding from the segment on a first side and a central area of the segment with a plurality of metal deformations. When the metal deformations are pressed into aluminum, they are capable of piercing through corrosion on the surface of the aluminum in order to make electrical contact with the aluminum.

Abstract: A fuel injector control method comprises determining a required separation time between a termination of an on signal associated with a first injection event and an initiation of an on signal associated with a second injection event. The method comprises calculating an overlap time between the separation time and the time to charge the piezoelectric stack to a first level; dividing the overlap time into first and second time periods as a function of the charge and discharge currents; applying the charge current to the piezoelectric stack for a charge time; and applying the discharge current to the piezoelectric stack for a discharge time so as to discharge the stack to a second level, wherein the discharge time is calculated on the basis of the second time period of the overlap time. Thus, first and second injection events are merged in a pulse mode of operation.

Abstract: A method for preparing an interconnect is provided. The method comprises: providing a conductive base sheet including a first face and a second face, the first and second faces are disposed on opposite sides of the base sheet; preparing anode gas flow passages on the first face of the conductive base sheet; preparing cathode gas flow passages on the second face of the conductive base sheet; and selecting anode gas flow passage geometry having a first geometric configuration; and selecting cathode gas flow passage geometry having a second geometric configuration that is different from the first geometric configuration so as to optimize fuel and oxidant gas flow according to system requirements.