Abstract: A process for casting TiAl components, having the following process steps: producing a melt (S) of the TiAl material below an inert gas fill (IF); placing a casting mold (1) on a gate (2) in a gastight manner; flooding the casting mold (1) with inert gas (IG) by opening a closure mechanism (7) which is arranged at the gate (2) and is connected to an inert gas source (8); pressing the melt (S) through the gate (2) into the casting mold (1) by increasing the pressure (P) of the inert gas fill (IF) above the melt (S) while at the same time evacuating the inert gas (IG) from the casting mold (1), and stopping the inflow of inert gas (IG) as soon as it is determined that the melt (S) passes above the position of the closure mechanism (7).

Abstract: An exhaust-gas turbocharger (1) comprising a compressor (2); a turbine (3); and a bearing housing (4), in which there is arranged a bearing cartridge (5), secured against axial displacement and twisting; and a single fixing element (6) securing the bearing cartridge (5) both against axial displacement and also twisting in the bearing housing (4). Also a method for assembling a bearing cartridge (5) in a bearing housing (4) of an exhaust-gas turbocharger (1).

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for limiting the starting current of a step-up-converter that is supplied by a DC voltage source. The step-up converter has a first capacitor, a coil connected in parallel to the first capacitor, a second capacitor connected to the coil in series, and a switch connected to the second capacitor in parallel and connected to the coil in series. In a first step, an output voltage of the circuit is measured and the step-up converter is connected to the DC voltage source by closing a power switch that is connected in series to the first capacitor. In a second step, the power switch is opened upon the output voltage increasing by more than a predefined threshold and is maintained open for a predefined time. The first and second steps are repeated until the output voltage reaches a predefined final value.

Abstract: An engine variable camshaft timing phaser (10) includes a sprocket (12), three ring gears (26, 28, 30), multiple planet gears (24), and a sun gear (22). The sprocket (12) receives rotational drive input from an engine crankshaft. One or more of the three ring gear(s) (26, 28, 30) receives rotational drive input from the sprocket (12) and rotates with the sprocket (12), and the remaining ring gear(s) (26, 28, 30) transmit rotational drive output to an engine camshaft (62). All three of the ring gears (26, 28, 30) engage with the planet gears (24). And the sun gear (22) also engages with the planet gears (24). In operation, relative rotational speeds between the sprocket (12) and the sun gear (22) causes the engine camshaft (62) to advance or retard engine valve opening and closing.

Abstract: An engine variable camshaft timing phaser (10) includes a sprocket (12) and a planetary gear assembly (14). The sprocket (12) receives rotational drive input from an engine crankshaft. The planetary gear assembly (14) includes two or more ring gears (26, 28), multiple planet gears (24), a sun gear (22), and a wrap spring (76). One of the ring gears (26, 28) receives rotational drive input from the sprocket (12) and one of the ring gears (26, 28) transmits rotational drive output to an engine camshaft. The sun gear (22) engages with the planet gears (24). The wrap spring (76) experiences expansion and contraction exertions to permit advancing and retarding engine valve opening and closing, and to prevent advancing and retarding engine valve opening and closing.

Abstract: A thermal fuse having a bow, which has a first end with a first soldering surface for soldering to a first contact surface of a printed circuit board and a second end with a second soldering surface for soldering to a second contact surface of the printed circuit board, a tensioning element, which is secured to the bow between the first and the second end and which is designed to press with a preload against the bow and the printed circuit board once the two soldering surfaces and the contact surfaces of a printed circuit board have been soldered, wherein a portion of the bow, between the two ends thereof, has a measuring resistor connected in series to the two soldering surfaces. A printed circuit board having such a thermal fuse is additionally described.

Abstract: An access port cover system, including a housing for an item, the housing defining interior and exterior regions and including an access port through which access to the item from the exterior region is provided, a cover inhibiting access through the access port from the exterior region to the interior region, and a fastener connectable to the housing and the cover. The fastener has an actuation portion for disconnecting the housing and the cover to permit access through the access port from the exterior region to the interior region, the actuation portion being inaccessible from the exterior region when the fastener is connected to the housing and the cover.

Abstract: A torsionally compliant sprocket system includes a first sprocket (250); a second sprocket (230) mounted in side-by-side relation to the first sprocket (250); a resilient member (270) that resiliently couples the second sprocket (230) to the first sprocket (250) to allow limited angular rotation of the second sprocket (230) with respect to the first sprocket (250); and a locking structure (300, 600, 700) that is biased toward an engaged position in which angular motion of the second sprocket (230) with respect to the first sprocket (250) is restrained and moves in response to rotation of the first sprocket (250) to a disengaged position in which angular motion of the second sprocket (230) with respect to the first sprocket (250) is permitted.

Abstract: A product for applying tension is disclosed. The product may include a block with a first bore opening into to the block. A body may be provided having a second bore substantially larger in diameter than the first bore. The body may be positioned against the block so that the first bore is open to the second bore. The body may have a passage for providing fluid to a pressure chamber from the second bore. The passage may be arranged to open to the second bore and form a tangent to the second bore. Fluid may flow from the first bore to the pressure chamber through the second bore and the passage substantially unimpeded. Fluid flow is impeded from the passage to the first bore as a result of the configuration of the first bore, second bore and passage.

Abstract: A variable camshaft timing device can operate using pressure generated by camshaft torque energy to transfer fluid from one working chamber to another work chamber or operate via an external fluid pressure source to fill one working chamber while simultaneously exhausting an opposing working chamber or operate using both modes simultaneously. The mode of the variable camshaft timing device is determined by the position of the control valve. The lock pin is controlled by fluid from one of the working chambers.

Abstract: In a hydraulic system with a dog clutch (23-25), a hydraulically operated dog clutch actuator is arranged to alternatively bring the dog clutch into a connect mode or a disconnect mode. The clutch actuator has a piston (27) reciprocally movable under hydraulic pressure between two end positions, corresponding to the two clutch modes. Pressurized hydraulic oil is supplied to the clutch actuator by a hydraulic power system comprising a pump (4) driven by an electric motor (3). Means are provided in the clutch actuator to decrease the hydraulic pressure acting on the piston (27) at the approaching by the piston of either of its end positions, so that a hydraulic signal is transmitted back to the hydraulic power system.

Abstract: A turbocharger (10) that uses exhaust gas flow to drive a turbine wheel (12) having a barrel or piston-type wastegate valve assembly (26, 126) with a wastegate valve (28, 128) that controls exhaust gas flow bypassing the turbine wheel (12) to control turbine work. A cylinder (30, 130), which may have a through hole (32, 132), is moveable in a tubular chamber (22) and functionally operates with a wastegate port (24) in the turbine housing (20) for controlling exhaust gas flow. An actuator (36, 136) operably controls movement of the cylinder (30, 130).

Abstract: A method for controlling a corona ignition system in which a corona discharge is produced at an ignition electrode by exciting a resonating circuit with an AC voltage produced by a high-frequency generator. The AC voltage is adjusted to a target value depending on an operating state of the engine. Combustion onset is determined by evaluating an electrical variable of the resonating circuit and the target value of the AC voltage is reduced by a predefined value following a predefined number of engine cycles or a predefined operating period. The determined combustion onset is evaluated in one or more engine cycles. The target value for the momentary engine operating state is then increased if, by evaluation of the combustion onset, it is found that a predefined requirement is no longer met. Otherwise, the reduced target value is stored as a new target value for the momentary engine operating state.

Abstract: Turbochargers typically have separate hydrodynamic journal and thrust bearings. A turbocharger thrust bearing for a turbocharger is provided that merges the function of a journal bearing into a thrust bearing while maintaining the thrust bearing function to produce a turbocharger with a reduced axial space envelope. Such a thrust bearing includes a bore contoured to have a plurality of taper-land pairs distributed circumferentially about the bore. As a result, the axial length of the turbocharger bearing housing and shaft can be reduced.

Abstract: A system and method is provided in which a turbocharger includes a heat shield wall that is formed together with the bearing housing as a unitary structure. The wall can extend from a main body portion of the bearing housing in a generally radially outward direction. The wall can be spaced from the main body and attached by a plurality of ribs such that chambers are defined therebetween. A circumferential passage can extend through the bearing housing to permit fluid communication between the chambers and outside of the bearing housing. In this way, a fluid outlet from the chambers is provided. As a result of such an arrangement, the need for a separate heat shield is eliminated, which can facilitate the assembly process and special attachment methods associated with a separate heat shield.

Abstract: A bearing housing for a turbocharger is disclosed. The bearing housing includes a first end proximate to a turbine wheel of the turbocharger and a second end proximate to a compressor wheel of the turbocharger. The bearing housing further includes a central chamber disposed between the first end and the second end and configured to house, at least, the shaft. The bearing housing further includes an oil drain disposed radially outward of the shaft and configured for directing oil out of the bearing housing and an oil core disposed radially outward of the shaft and radially inward of the oil drain, the oil core configured for communicating oil towards the oil drain and having an inner wall. The bearing housing includes one or more strakes protruding radially inward from the inner wall, the one or more strakes configured to direct oil within the oil core towards the oil drain.

Abstract: A heat shield (100) and method for assembling such is disclosed. The heat shield (100) may comprise an outer wall (122) and an inner wall (124). The outer wall (122) includes a first member (130), a flange (132) extending outward from the first member (130) and a first inner edge (134). The first member (130) extends from the flange (132) to the first inner edge (134). The inner wall (124) includes a second member (140), a rim (142) extending outward from the second member (140) and a second inner edge (144). The second member (140) extends from the rim (142) to the second inner edge (144). The inner wall (124) is spaced apart from the outer wall (122), the first and second edges form an air gap (146) between them, and the inner wall (124) and the outer wall (122) form a cavity (148).

Abstract: A turbocharger is provided with an improved bearing which is formed as a floating ring bearing or a semi-floating ring bearing having a conical or hemispherical shape which supports both journal and thrust loads. The floating ring bearing may have conical floating ring bearings (70), (100), (180) that define inner and outer conical bearing surfaces (71), (108), (185) and (72), (109), (186) which cooperate on the inside with corresponding conical journals (75/76), (111/112), (187/188) that rotate with the shaft (53), and cooperate on the outside with a stationary bearing housing (52) to form inner and outer fluid films. Alternatively, the floating ring bearing may have a pair of hemispherical floating ring bearings (85), (140), (210) that have hemispherical inner and outer bearing surfaces (86), (144), (211) and (87), (145), (212) which form inner and outer fluid films. A semi-floating ring bearing may also be provided with these structures.

Abstract: A number of variations may include a clutch apparatus having at least one clutch and having an actuating device for actuating the clutch, the actuating device being movable from an opening position, in which the clutch is open, into a closing position, in which the clutch is closed. The actuating device can be locked with form-fit action in the closing position or opening position.

Abstract: An electromechanical is provided which includes an electromagnetic rotor, a housing with an interior opening with a stop, a first bearing mount for supporting a first bearing rotatably mounting the rotor in the housing, a cover connected with the housing having a boss having an interior providing a second bearing mount supporting a second bearing rotatably mounting the rotor in the housing, a stator having a clearance fit within the housing interior opening, the stator being axially limited in a direction toward such first bearing mount by the housing stop, the stator having an axial clearance in a direction toward the cover boss, and an elastomeric spacer connected on an extreme end of the boss compliantly filling the axial clearance between the stator and the boss positioning the stator in an axial direction and restricting movement of the stator in an angular direction within the housing opening.