Abstract: An improved multiple-tube catalytic reformer comprising a tubular body containing a radiator core having a plurality of longitudinal cells for low-pressure flow-through of combustion gases, the core being formed preferably either by winding of corrugated metal or as an extruded metal monolith. A plurality of reformer tubes, preferably non-cylindrical, containing hydrocarbon catalyst are arrayed in longitudinal openings within the radiator core and preferably are brazed thereto to maximize heat transfer from the radiator core to the reformer tubes. During manufacture, the metal radiator core is economically bored by laser cutting to form the openings to admit the reformer tubes for brazing. Preferably, the reformer tubes are numbered, sized, shaped, and arrayed to minimize the longest conduction path in the radiator core to the center of any reformer tube.

Abstract: A method for detecting an engine block heater includes block heater detection logic and a data table containing calibration thresholds. The method determines a time-series of delta (?) engine coolant temperatures (ECT), which represent the respective differences between a start-up ECT and a plurality of operating ECT values measured thereafter. The method integrates the time-series to obtain a ? ECT integral. The method also maintains an integrated engine speed parameter accumulated over the course of the detection period. Throughout the detection period, the method retrieves a threshold value from the table based on the integrated engine speed (Y-axis) versus an elapsed time (X-axis) since the detection period began. When the calculated ? ECT integral value exceeds the retrieved threshold, the method determines that the block heater was operated, which can thereafter be used to suppress sensor rationality testing or reporting of results thereof.

Abstract: A fuel injector comprising a nozzle having a nozzle needle which is moveable with respect to a first needle seat to control fuel delivery through a nozzle outlet. The injector includes a nozzle control valve for controlling fuel flow into a control chamber through a first passage to pressurise the control chamber, and for controlling fuel flow out of said control chamber through said first passage to depressurise the control chamber. Movement of the nozzle needle is controlled by fuel pressure within the control chamber, such that pressurising the control chamber causes the nozzle needle to be urged against the first needle seat to close the nozzle outlet, and depressurising the control chamber causes the nozzle needle to lift from the first needle seat to open the nozzle outlet. The nozzle needle defines, at least in part, a restricted passage through which fuel can flow into the control chamber as the control chamber depressurises.

Abstract: A system comprising a cylindrical housing containing a sorbent cartridge selective of one or more gases in a gaseous mixture. End caps on opposite ends of the housing seal to the ends of the cartridge and direct the flow of gas mixture through a portion of the cartridge. The first end cap has entrance and exit ports for the gas mixture and for a purging gas for cartridge regeneration. The second end cap includes a compartment to receive and return the gas mixture to the first cap exit port. The purging gas follows a similar pathway via the remaining portion of the cartridge. The cartridge is rotatable within the housing; thus, the exhausted portion of the medium may be rotated into position for regeneration while a regenerated portion of the medium is rotated into position for re-use, thus providing continuous adsorption from the gas mixture.

Abstract: A method of identifying an individual short circuit fuel injector, within an injector bank of an engine comprising a plurality of fuel injectors. Each fuel injector has a piezoelectric actuator and an associated injector select switch forming part of an injector drive circuit. The method comprises: (i) charging all of the piezoelectric actuators of the plurality of fuel injectors within the injector bank during a charge phase; (ii) at the end of the charge phase waiting for a delay period; and (iii) subsequently closing an injector select switch of a fuel injector to select said fuel injector. The method further comprises: (iv) determining a stack voltage present on terminals of the piezoelectric actuator of the selected fuel injector and storing the stack voltage in a data store. The stack voltage is indicative of an amount of charge present on the selected injector at the end of the delay period.

Abstract: The head pose of a motor vehicle driver with respect to a vehicle frame of reference is assessed with a relative motion sensor positioned rearward of the driver's head, such as in or on the headrest of the driver's seat. The relative motion sensor detects changes in the position of the driver's head, and the detected changes are used to determine the driver's head pose, and specifically, whether the head pose is forward-looking (i.e., with the driver paying attention to the forward field-of-view) or non-forward-looking. The determined head pose is assumed to be initially forward-looking, and is thereafter biased toward forward-looking whenever driver behavior characteristic of a forward-looking head pose is recognized.

Abstract: A hybrid fuel cell system comprising a solid-oxide fuel cell system, a proton exchange membrane fuel cell system, a hydrocarbon reformer and a hydrogen separator. A large PEM provides output power, such as motive power for a vehicle, using hydrogen storage that may be resupplied from a separate hydrogen refilling station or from the onboard reformer. The SOFC is preferably small and provides heat and exhaust water that, when recycled into the reformer, allow the reformer to operate endothermically without requiring atmospheric air, thus excluding nitrogen from the reformate stream. Alternatively, the reformer and SOFC are stationary at a base station and the PEM is aboard the vehicle. The SOFC and reformer have sufficient capacity to recharge hydrogen storage in the vehicle in a relatively short period of time, such as overnight.

Abstract: A fuel injector for use in an internal combustion engine comprises a first valve member and a second valve member, an injection control chamber for fuel, and a set of nozzle outlets; wherein actuation of the second valve member controls the fuel pressure within the injection control chamber, and actuation of the first valve member is regulated by the fuel pressure within the injection control chamber; and wherein the fuel injector is arranged such that actuation of the second valve member establishes a fuel flow path between the injection control chamber and the set of nozzle outlets. The first valve member may be provided with a first valve bore within which the second valve member is received. An injection nozzle and a method of operating a fuel injector are also described.

Abstract: An electronic assembly comprises a printed circuit board that has an electronic component that is attached mechanically and electrically to the printed circuit board by soldering. A plastic header connector covers the electronic component and provides a socket for the electronic component when the plastic header connector is attached to the printed circuit board solely by portions of the plastic header connector.

Abstract: A fluid distribution pipe includes an elongate tubular body and a spherical end form integral with the tubular body at an inlet end. The spherical fluid connection end of the fuel rail is formed by plastic deformation. A series of tools and motions is used while the tubing of the fuel rail is clamped in place to form the spherical end form at the inlet end of the tubing. The resulting spherical end form provides the necessary geometry and surface finish to provide a successful seal and flexible connection of the fuel rail with a fuel line with significant cost advantages over current prior art methods.

Abstract: A NOX sensor material includes a composition of Ba(1-X)AXFe(12-Y)BYO19. Constituent A and constituent B are doping elements. Constituent A is selected from the group consisting of Bi, La and Pb and X is a real number where 0?X<1. Constituent B is selected from the group consisting of Al, B, Bi, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Er, Ga, In, Mg, Mn, Ni, Nb, Rh, Pb, Si, Sr, Ti, Ta, Zn and Zr and Y is a real number where 0?Y<12. The NOX sensor material may be used in a sensor element of a NOX sensor.

Abstract: A resonator assembly is described having a longitudinal axis and generator section, an inductance section, a capacitance section, and an ignition section arranged in sections in a common housing along the longitudinal axis. The housing surrounds all the above-mentioned sections and has an opening in the region of the ignition section, and the housing is made of an electrically conductive material or has at least one conductive surface. An electrical series circuit comprising an inductance section and capacitance section constitutes electrically an oscillatable dipole to which the housing acts as a return conductor.

Abstract: A method for improving performance of an SOFC by impregnation of the cathode with metallic silver. A solution of AgNO3 in acetonitrile is imbibed into a perovskite cathode fabricated on a electrolyte layer supported by an anode, defining an SOFC cell. The cathode imbibition may be repeated a plurality of times as may be needed depending upon the thickness of the cathode. The amount of solution soaked into the cathode results a total final weight percent of Ag in the cathode between about 0.5% and about 10%. The cathode is then fired in air at high temperature to drive off the acetonitrile and to reduce the silver ions to metallic silver. In this way, cathode electrical resistance may be reduced by as much as 52%.

Abstract: A fuel lance assembly for an engine comprises: a fuel lance to be received in a passage provided in a cylinder head and a connection arrangement comprising an inlet adapter for securing the fuel lance within the passage. The fuel lance comprises a tubular member of constant external diameter, arranged to be received, in use, within the passage and having a first end being shaped for cooperation with a seating surface of a fuel injector of the engine, and a second end being shaped for cooperation with the inlet adapter, and being provided with a bore therethrough to define a fuel flow path between the first end and the second end of the fuel lance. The inlet adapter is provided with an attachment system for engaging a compatible attachment system of the cylinder head, and has a proximal region for receiving a high pressure fuel pipe, and wherein the inlet adapter has a distal region provided with an opening being adapted to receive the second end of the fuel lance.

Abstract: A helical phaser bias spring including at least one linear region and an adjacent region having a radius of curvature less than that of the helix. A channel in the phaser receives the linear region of the spring and adjacent region to lock the spring to the phaser at either the rotor or the stator. Preferably, the spring includes two linear regions separated by a bend of about 90°. Additional linear regions are possible, separated by right and/or other angle bends. In a phaser rotor or stator, the geometric shape required to hold a spring end having a flat is easier to form with powdered metal tooling or diecasting than is a circular, radial, or axial shape for receiving a spring tang as in the prior art, the packaging volume required for the spring is smaller, and spring friction is lowered.

Abstract: A cable includes a plurality of cable strands, an insulator disposed on a portion of the plurality of strands such that the plurality of strands are at least partially exposed, and a sealant disposed between gaps of the plurality of strands and at least partially under the insulator. Moreover, a method includes stripping an insulator from an end of the cable to expose a plurality of cable strands, and applying a sealant to the cable strands such that the sealant is drawn under the insulator and fills in gaps between the cable strands by capillary action.

Abstract: An insulated electric wire having a conductive core and an insulation jacket is center stripped by cutting a pattern in one side of the insulation jacket with a laser beam, and then cutting a coordinated pattern in an opposite side of the insulation jacket with a laser beam to produce two axially spaced circumferential cuts connected by a plurality of generally axial cuts that define at least two removeable insulation slugs for exposing the conductive core while the insulation jacket on either side of the exposed conductive core is left intact. An in-line center stripping device or a multiple wire rotation device may be used for center stripping the insulated electric wire. The insulated slugs may by removed by an insulation removal device on an offal removal assembly.

Abstract: A clip for securing a sleeve to the body of a piezoelectric actuator in an actuator assembly, the clip taking the form of a band comprising first and second axially spaced ring-like members joined by a plurality of inwardly facing substantially arch shaped sections, the arch shaped sections defining the minimum inner diameter of the band, whereby axial displacement of the ring-like members way from one another causes flexing of the arch shaped sections to increase the minimum inner diameter of the band while axial displacement of the ring-like members towards one another causes flexing of the arch shaped sections to reduce the minimum inner diameter of the band thereby, when in use, to increase a clamping force applied to the sleeve.

Abstract: A lifter oil manifold assembly for variable actuation of engine valves having first (top) and second (valve) plates having portions of oil control and oil exhaust passages formed therein. The assembly further includes a carrier member having an oil supply passage integrated thereby separating the oil supply path from the oil control and oil exhaust path. Further, the assembly includes towers for receiving and positioning the electro-magnetic oil control valves used to control oil flow in the assembly. The towers are molded separate from the carrier and are held in place by the valve plate or are molded integral with the carrier. In another aspect of the invention, oil control valve retention springs are molded integral with either the tower or the oil control valve. In a further aspect of the invention, a combined polymer restrictor/strainer in the oil circuit replaces a prior art metal die-cast restrictor.

Abstract: A method for equalizing fuel injector flows among a plurality of fuel injectors in an internal combustion engine including the steps of a) characterizing the electrical and/or mechanical performance of each fuel injector; b) imprinting characterization data on each fuel injector; c) reading the imprinted data into a control computer, preferably at the time of engine assembly or sub-assembly; and d) using the characterization data in an algorithm to adjust at least one electrical parameter such as hold current, peak current, and boost time for each fuel injector in an assembled engine during each fuel injection cycle.