Abstract: A fuel pump isolation assembly for a fuel pump of a vehicle includes a fuel pump and an isolation housing having a fuel pump cavity extending axially therethrough to receive the fuel pump. The fuel pump isolation assembly also includes a plurality of flex arms extending from the isolation housing and into the fuel pump cavity to engage the fuel pump and allow radial movement of the fuel pump during its operation.

Abstract: An exhaust gas sensor includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an electrolyte disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electrolyte includes a first portion disposed at least in partial physical contact and in ionic communication with a second portion. The first portion has a first portion grain size which is different than a second portion grain size. Further, a method for manufacturing a gas sensor includes forming a multiple portion electrolyte. The electrolyte is formed with a first portion having one grain size, and a second portion at least in partial physical contact and in ionic contact with the first portion, the second portion having a second portion grain size different from the first portion grain size. The electrolyte may be fired before or after application of an electrode in ionic contact with the first portion and a second electrode in ionic contact with said second portion.

Abstract: An ion sensor glow plug assembly includes a metal shell for attachment to a cylinder head of a compression ignition engine. The ion sensor glow plug assembly also includes a center terminal at least partially disposed in the metal shell and connected to a source of power to create a heating circuit. The ion sensor glow plug assembly includes a metal glow sheath disposed at least partially in the metal shell and about the center terminal. The ion sensor glow plug assembly further includes an insulator disposed about the metal glow sheath and at least partially in the metal shell and extending axially into a glow area of the metal glow sheath to clean off soot on the insulator by glowing.

Abstract: An integrated pressure sensitive adhesive label application surface and pull card holder in the form of a placard component and an integral pocket component. The placard component includes a placard wall having a first side and an opposite second side, wherein a pressure sensitive adhesive coating is present on the first side. A rear wall of the pocket component is integrally connected with the placard wall, wherein a fold-over is provided at an imaginary demarcation therebetween. A front wall is superposed the rear wall, and secured to the rear wall along the mutual peripheries, except adjacent the fold-over. In one form of the present invention, the placard wall is provided with a preferably white color, the pocket component is clear, and the second side of the placard wall has a release coating. In another form of the present invention, the placard wall and pocket component are clear, and a conventional label system (ie.

Abstract: The drawbacks and disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by an electrode fluid distributor. The electrode fluid distributor comprises a fluid passageway having a first end with an inlet and a second end with an outlet. A baffle is included that diagonally traverses the fluid passageway from the first end to the second end, and from a base of the fluid passageway toward an at least partially open side of the fluid passageway. The baffle defines at least a portion of a first reservoir and at least a portion of a second reservoir, with the inlet defining at least a portion of one end of the first reservoir and the outlet defining at least a portion of one end of the second reservoir. The inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet over the baffle. The first reservoir has a width proximate the open side which is smaller proximate the inlet than proximate the outlet.

Abstract: A spark plug having enhanced heat transfer capabilities is provided. The spark plug comprises a tubular insulator body, a center electrode and a thermally conductive filler material. The tubular insulator body has an inner surface, and the center electrode has an outer surface. The center electrode is positioned within the tubular insulator body such that a gap is formed between at least a portion of the inner surface of the tubular insulator body and at least a portion of the outer surface of the center electrode. The thermally conductive filler material has a high heat transfer coefficient. It is positioned within at least a portion of the gap so as to intimately contact the inner surface of the tubular insulator body and the outer surface of the center electrode. Positioned accordingly in the gap, the thermally conductive filler material enhances the ability of the spark plug to transfer heat away from the firing tip and into the body of the spark plug.

Abstract: A bi-directional mass air flow sensing device for measuring air flow, comprising a bridge circuit coupled across a voltage potential, wherein the bridge circuit comprises a first side including first and second temperature dependent sensor resistors connected in series and disposed on a thermally insulative substrate window in line with an air flow and arranged such that relative to a first direction of air flow, the first sensor resistor is upstream of the second sensor resistor, and a second side in parallel with the first side and including third and fourth temperature dependent sensor resistors connected in series and disposed on the thermally insulative substrate in line with the air flow such that relative to the first direction of air flow, the third sensor resistor is upstream of the fourth sensor resistor, and a temperature dependent balance resistor connected between the first and second temperature dependent sensor resistors on the first side of the bridge circuit.

Abstract: A dual barrel jet fuel pump assembly for a fuel tank in a vehicle includes a reservoir adapted to be disposed in a primary side of the fuel tank and having a top defining an overflow fuel level of the reservoir. The dual barrel jet fuel pump assembly also includes a first conduit conducting return fuel from an engine of the vehicle to the reservoir and a second conduit extending to an auxiliary side of the fuel tank. The dual barrel jet fuel pump assembly further includes a dual barrel jet pump disposed in the reservoir and having a first inlet operatively connected to the first conduit and a second inlet operatively connected to said second conduit to fill the reservoir with fuel from the primary side and auxiliary side of the fuel tank.

Abstract: A fuel pump for a vehicle includes a pump section having a flow channel and a rotatable impeller cooperating with said flow channel to pump fuel therethrough. The fuel pump also includes a motor section disposed adjacent the pump section and having a motor to rotate the impeller. The fuel pump further includes an outlet section disposed adjacent the motor section to allow pumped fuel to exit the fuel pump. The pump section includes a mechanism for minimizing leakage of fuel from the flow channel radially and equalizing pressure across a sealing surface of the impeller.

Abstract: Fuel concentrations are determinable in a solid oxide fuel cell through voltage measurement of one or more fuel cell units, which voltage is a function of hydrogen gas present in the fuel feed stream to the one or more fuel cell units. The voltage in the one or more fuel cell units is proportionally related to the fuel concentration in the fuel feed stream to the entire fuel cell. A sensor determines concentrations of the fuel flowing in the fuel cell. The sensor comprises a fuel cell unit, and an indicator electrically coupled to the fuel cell unit, the indicator being capable of displaying a voltage or being adapted to convert a voltage to a fuel concentration display. The voltage measured is correlated to the fuel concentration flowing in the fuel cell.

Abstract: A voltage sensing system that has a pair of input leads having a first input lead, and a second input lead each sensing a non-grounded voltage, and an amplifier coupled to the pair of input leads, the amplifier generating an amplifier output voltage in response to a voltage on the first input lead, a voltage on the second input lead and an offset voltage. The system further includes a controller for receiving the amplifier output voltage and determining an operating range, and an offset voltage generator for generating the offset voltage, the offset voltage generator altering the offset voltage in response to the operating range determined by the controller. An oxygen sensing system using a sample resistance for sensing a bi-directional current may be coupled to the voltage sensing system. A method for sensing air-to-fuel ratio includes sampling an input voltage drop derived from a pumping current across a sampling resistance. The input voltage is indicative of air-to-fuel ratio.

Abstract: An exhaust control system for an automotive internal combustion engine having an exhaust system that includes a NOx adsorber to trap and reduce NOx emissions from the engine. The engine is operated using an air/fuel ratio that alternates between lean and rich, with the adsorber storing NOx during the lean periods of combustion and catalytically reducing the NOx during the rich periods of combustion. The system determines the amount of NOx stored in the adsorber using upstream and downstream O2 sensors. The release of stored NOx and O2 at the beginning of the rich regeneration causes a delay between switching of the sensors. The system determines how much of this delay is due to the release of stored O2 and subtracts that amount from the total delay. There is also a switching delay at the beginning of each lean period due to the storage of O2 in the adsorber.

Abstract: A multiple zeolite catalyst mixture for purifying exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine, comprising: a first NO2 to N2 to conversion catalyst component; a second O3 conversion catalyst component; a third HC conversion catalyst component; a fourth N2O decomposition catalyst component; and, a fifth VOC reduction catalyst component; wherein the catalyst component mixture includes about 50 to 75 weight percent of the first and second catalyst components, and about 25 to 50 weight percent of the third, fourth, and fifth catalyst components.

Abstract: A rotary position sensor featuring a robust and simply constructed magnetic field assembly which provides a uniform magnetic field in the working air gap for a conventional mangetosensitive device located thereinside. The magnetic field assembly includes a plastic casing having a blind hollow, magnet pocket located at the blind end of the hollow, and a pair of diametrically opposed pole piece pockets oriented in upstanding relation to the magnet pocket. A permanent magnet is snapped into the magnet pocket, and a pole piece is respectively snapped into each of the pole piece pockets. The pole pieces may be rectangular or arc shaped, wherein the space therebetween forms the working air gap into which the magentosensitive device is placed. The magnetic field established in the working air gap is transverse to the axis of the blind hollow, and is generally uniform.

Abstract: A heater for a gas sensor has a first thermistor element and a second thermistor element arranged in an electrically parallel configuration. Each thermistor element may be deposited onto a substrate such that the first thermistor element extends about a perimeter of the substrate and the second thermistor element extends across a portion of the substrate intermediate the perimeter of the substrate. The thermistor elements are preferably fabricated of materials having differing thermal coefficients of resistivity. A method of heating the gas sensor includes disposing the two thermistor elements in an electrically parallel configuration over a surface of the substrate and passing an electric current through the elements.

Abstract: An exhaust gas sensor is made utilizing a crimp wherein an upper shield having a wiring harness assembly and a subassembly having a shell are positioned with the optional placement of a lubricant and/or sealant on the shell prior to being joined. Thereafter, the upper shield is crimped over the shell to form the exhaust gas sensor. Thereby, an exhaust gas sensor is made that is free of leaks and resists contamination from water and other contaminants.

Abstract: A compact integrated thermal management and fuel reformation system and method includes a thermally insulated wall forming an envelope having an interior chamber housing, a solid oxide fuel cell stack and a mixed mode heat exchanger. A recuperator having interior walls that are color graded to provide temperature zones effecting a positive temperature gradient in the direction of the solid oxide fuel cell stack is disposed within the chamber and close coupled to the fuel cell stack for absorbing radiation therefrom. The recuperator further heats the partially preheated oxidant gas and partially or fully reforms incoming fuel gas. Manifolds having oxidant and fuel channels for conducting reformed fuel and heated oxidant from the recuperator to fuel cell oxidant and fuel inlets are arranged to maximize fuel flow at the portions of each fuel cell adjacent the recuperator and to maximize oxidant flow near central portions of each fuel cell. A method for providing a tailored anode fuel stream is also provided.

Abstract: A fuel injector assembly incorporating a heat exchanger and a fuel injector and being disposable in a bore in a mounting substrate such as an internal combustion engine or a hydrocarbon fuel reformer. The exchanger includes an outer wall in direct contact with the bore and also surrounds and supports the dispensing portion of the fuel injector, forming an annular plenum space therebetween. The heat exchanger has an inlet port and an outlet port communicating with the plenum space. The exchanger outlet port is connected to an inlet port of the fuel injector, such that fuel entering the fuel injector is preheated by passing first through the heat exchanger. In some applications, it may be desirable to maintain the fuel at a high pressure to prevent premature vaporization of the fuel in the exchanger and resulting vapor lock of the fuel system.

Abstract: A method for applying and controlling current applied to an air reference oxygen sensor included in a vehicle exhaust system is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the method includes measuring an output voltage across the oxygen sensor when the exhaust system is initially activated and applying a current through the oxygen sensor when the output voltage reaches a value determinative of light off of a catalyst within the exhaust system. The magnitude of the applied current corresponds to a predefined purge value.

Abstract: An improved method of dynamically estimating the concentration of recirculated exhaust gases in air/fuel mixture of an internal combustion engine equipped with an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system. The EGR concentration at engine intake ports is separately estimated with static and dynamic models, and the EGR concentration for control purposes is determined by adjusting the result of the dynamic model based on a deviation of the dynamic model from the static model. This method provides the total EGR concentration, but can alternatively provide the inert EGR concentration through the inclusion of an exhaust inert ratio model.