Abstract: A turbocharger includes a compressor wheel and shaft assembly in which a threaded connection is provided between the shaft and the compressor wheel. A pair of pilot surfaces on the shaft and on the compressor wheel are located on either end of the threaded sections of the shaft and compressor wheel, and are displaced radially from the threads. Accordingly, the piloting functions which assure concentricity between the shaft and compressor wheel are kept entirely separate from the attachment function provided by the threads, thereby permitting the concentricity between the compressor wheel and shaft to be held to tighter tolerances than would be possible if the threads also performed a piloting function.

Abstract: A thrust bearing for constraining axial movement of the shaft of a turbocharger is made from two separate components which are assembled together, thereby simplifying manufacturing since no drilling is required. The components each include cooperating contoured surfaces for forming the oil feed holes which extend between the working surfaces of the thrust bearing, the oil feed passages, which communicate oil to the oil feed holes, and an oil gallery, which communicates oil to the oil feed passages. The oil gallery is entirely internal to the turbocharger, thereby minimizing oil side leakage. The gallery is fed from the turbocharger lubricating oil supply through an aperture extending through one of the sides of the thrust bearing in communication with the gallery.

Abstract: An exhaust driven turbocharger includes a wastegate valve which is operated by a pneumatic actuator mounted on the outer edge of the compressor housing. A portion of the linkage interconnecting the actuator with the wastegate valve includes a flexible cable which is routed around the edge of the turbine housing, around the center housing and over the outer edge of the turbine housing to a lever which operates the wastegate. In alternate embodiment, the axis of the actuator extends substantially parallel to the axis of the turbocharger, and the flexible cable is looped around the end of the turbocharger and extends across the center housing to engage the lever actuating the wastegate valve.

Abstract: An engine-exhaust gas driven turbo compressor has a controllable diaphragm valve (13, 15) in a flow path (20, 24) between a compressor delivery port (6) and an atmospheric inlet port (4), this valve being controllable to regulate gas flow via the compressor wheel member (2) to avoid compressor surging when the demand is low and a compressed torroidal wire mesh element (23) is accomodated in an annular region (22) of the compressor housing between the valve (13, 15) and the inlet port to suppress noise resultant upon operation of the valve.

Abstract: A fuel filter for a motor vehicle includes a housing made of a base Nylon 12 material to which are added stainless steel fibers to render the housing electrically conductive while retaining moldability. The electrically conductive housing permits charges generated by the fuel passing through the filtering media to be dissipated to the vehicle body, thereby preventing erosion of the housing and subsequent leaks.

Abstract: A fuel system component for a motor vehicle constructed from a polymer material to which are added stainless steel fibers to render the component electrically conductive while retaining moldability. The electrically conductive component permits charges generated by the fuel passing through the component to be dissipated to the vehicle body, thereby preventing arcing which causes erosion of the component and subsequent leaks.

Abstract: A turbocharger is provided with a tubular insert that carries engine coolant to an area adjacent the bearing supporting the end of the shaft upon which the turbine wheel is attached to provide cooling so that the temperature of the bearing does not increase to an unacceptable level.

Abstract: A proportional modulator includes valve elements actuated by a proportional solenoid that controls communications between an inlet port, an outlet port, and an exhaust port. The pressure level at the outlet port is controlled to vary directly with the current applied to the coil of the solenoid controlling the valve elements.

Abstract: A compressed air system for an automotive vehicle includes an air compressor which generates compressed air which is dried by an air dryer and stored in an air storage reservoir. The air dryer is regenerated by using compressed air stored in the storage reservoir instead of compressed air stored in a purge volume within the air dryer. A timer actuated solenoid operated valve controls the length of the purge cycle.

Abstract: A turbocharger includes a rotating shaft which is supported within the turbocharger center housing by rotational bearing elements. The bearing cartridge is located axially within the housing 14 by a pin which extends through orifices drilled in the center housing and in the bearing outer ring. The pin is relatively smooth, so that excursions of the bearing cartridge assembly with the shaft is permitted when the shaft is accelerated through critical rotational speeds. These excursions are damped by lubricating fluid communicated into grooves circumscribing the bearing outer ring through lubrication passages extending through the pin. The lubricating fluid in the grooves communicates into the intersticial space defined between the outer ring of the bearing cartridge assembly and the center housing to thereby dampen the excursions of the bearing cartridge assembly.

Abstract: A filter cartridge comprising an elongated sheet of porous filter material folded into an array of primary pleats is further folded to define secondary pleats which are tucked between the primary pleats. The secondary pleats define tapered portions at the top and bottom of the filter media, thereby reducing the width of the pleats at the top and bottom thereof to a width less than the primary width of the pleats, to thereby minimize the amount of sealant required to seal the ends of the pleats. The secondary pleats also resist radial and circumferential collapse of the pleats during filtering.

Abstract: An electro-pneumatic braking system includes a tandem brake actuator including a service brake actuating section and an emergency/parking spring actuated section. Hold-off pressure is communicated to the emergency/parking section through a three-way solenoid valve from a pressure reservoir, and communication to the service actuator is controlled by an electro-pneumatic modulator. Service pressure is taken both from the branch of the conduit communicating with the air reservoir, and from the hold-off pressure in the emergency/parking reservoir. Accordingly, only a single line communicates fluid pressure from the reservoir to the brake, and service brake response time is improved because the hold-off pressure and the emergency/parking section of the actuator is used as a small reservoir immediately adjacent the service actuator.

Abstract: A filter assembly for filtering the lubricating oil of an internal combustion engine includes a filter base, a cover for the filter base, and a spin-on filter cartridge attached to the filter base by way of a conventional threaded mounting stud. A filter screen is clamped between the cover and filter base and is of a sufficient mesh size to trap large particles that can be examined by tbe human eye, thereby permitting smaller particles to pass through the screen and to be trapped in the filter cartridge. When the screen becomes clogged, a relief valve opens a bypass passage permitting all lubricating oil to flow directly into the filter cartridge.

Abstract: A method of applying a wettant to an air laid, non-woven, fibrous filter web or other filter media includes the steps of atomizing the wettant into relatively small particles having a diameter equal to or less than about 1/2 of the diameter of the smallest fiber in the web or mat, and entraining the particles in a carrier air stream. The carrier air stream is forced through the batt at a face velocity substantially greater than the face velocity that the filter media sees when it is used to filter contaminant particles in use. Accordingly, dispersal of the wettant throughout the batt is assured, and migration of the particles into the effluent air stream when the batt is used in filtering is reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: A compressed air dryer includes a base and a "spin-on" desiccant cannister which is retained on the base through a threaded connection. Accordingly, when the desiccant within the cannister which drys the air must be replaced, the cannister is removed from the housing by rotating the cannister relative to the housing, and is replaced accordingly by a new cannister.

Abstract: A compressed air system includes an electronic control which controls enabling and disabling of the compressor in response to pressure level variations in the system storage reservoir. A humidity sensor is installed in the system reservoir and generates a signal which varies as a function of the humidity of the compressed air in the reservoir. The control unit includes a comparator which compares the signal generated by the humidity sensor with a reference signal and generates a humidity control signal when the humidity of the air in the reservoir exceeds the reference level. The control unit responds to compressor disabling by causing the system air dryer to regenerate or purge for a predetermined time period, even if the compressor is unloaded for time periods greater than the predetermined time period.

Abstract: Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon compounds (PNAs) are removed from motor vehicle fuel by passing the fuel through a sorbent which is placed either in the fuel line between the fuel tank and the engine or in the filler tube through which the vehicle is fueled.

Abstract: A filter/conditioner for filtering and dispensing conditioners and inhibitors to the engine coolant of an internal combustion engine includes a circumferentially extending array of filtering media circumscribing a container defining a compartment which contains a coolant softener/conditioner and a rust inhibitor pellet which dissolves to release rust inhibitor into the coolant. A diamond design is embossed on the outer circumferential surface of the container, so that grooves provided to permit coolant to travel to one of the ends of the container, and then through the container where the coolant is treated.

Abstract: A lubrication system for an internal combustion engine used to power an automotive vehicle includes a housing separate from the engine, and a lubricating oil transfer circuit which pumps oil from the engine to the housing and from the housing back to the engine, and a recycle circuit which pumps oil from a common sump to which the transfer circuit is connected through a filter element and back into the sump.

Abstract: A fuel filter for the fueling system of a motor vehicle has a non-conductive housing defining a chamber in which porous sintered plastic discs are mounted transversely across the chamber defined by the housing. The discs are of graduated porosity, and tend to strip electrons from the hydrocarbon paraffin of which the fuel consists. The charges generated by the stripping are neutralized by the positive ions generated by an adjacent disc.