Abstract: A front suspension and steering mount cradle is disclosed for front-wheel-drive and all-wheel drive motor vehicles which provides improved component packaging, noise isolation, and heat shielding. The cradle includes laterally spaced apart supporting end arches integrally joined by a transversely extending inverted U-section saddle, wherein each arch is defined by an upper section terminating in downwardly diverging front and rear legs. Each front leg ends in a pivot pin fitting for connection to a suspension arm front pivot bushing while each rear leg terminates in a footpad housing connection for a rear bushing fitted on a rearward extending stem of each arm. Each cradle forward leg provides a pedestal bracket for supporting a frame front isolator assembly while each rear footpad supports a frame rear isolator assembly. A pair of upstanding engine mounting flanges on the saddle bight wall insure exact powertrain orientation.

Abstract: A fixture for testing the resiliency of vehicle bulb-type weatherstripping before and after the weatherstripping has been heat treated includes a base and a holder movably positioned on the base for holding the weatherstripping. A ram is movably disposed on the base opposite the holder for motion between a compressed position, wherein the ram abuts the weatherstripping to compress the weatherstripping, and a release position, wherein the ram is distanced from the weatherstripping. A laser device is positioned for directing laser light onto the weatherstripping as it recovers from a compressed configuration to a relaxed configuration. As the weatherstripping recovers, the laser light is reflected off of the weatherstripping, detected, and a detection voltage is correlated to a distanced moved by the weatherstripping as a function of time. Thereby, a measure of the resiliency and recoverability of the weatherstripping is provided.

Abstract: The present invention is a gimbal system for an apparatus supported in a frame. The gimbal system includes at least two parallel flexible beams positioned on either side of the apparatus. The apparatus is attached to the beam near a center of the beam to the apparatus, such that an active length of the beam is equal to a distance between the beams centers. A first end and a second end of the beam is mounted to the frame. At least one dampening mechanism is attached at a first end to the apparatus and at the other end to the frame. The apparatus exhibits axisymmetric roll stiffness independent of the motion of the frame.

Abstract: A headlamp mounting system for an automobile includes respective headlamp housings for holding monofilament headlamps. Also, respective bases are attached to the automobile and each base is pivotably engaged with a respective one of the headlamp housings. An activating shaft extends between the headlamp housings and is connected to each, and an activating rod is connected to a radially protruding ear of the activating shaft. The activating rod is coupled to an operating knob in the passenger compartment, and the knob can be pushed and pulled as desired by an occupant to cause the activating rod to reciprocate and, thus, to rotate the activating shaft and hence pivot the headlamp housings. Thereby, the elevation angle of the headlamp beams is selectively established, with a high angle establishing a high beam orientation and a low angle establishing a low beam orientation. A spool having front and rear ends is pivotably engaged with the activating rod in the passenger compartment.

Abstract: An apparatus for clamping a generally cylindrical workpiece includes a band clamp and a clamp compressor. The band clamp is generally C-shaped and includes first and second ends. A sleeve is attached to the first end and receives a threaded shaft of a bolt. A head of the bolt is retained by the second end of the clamp end. A nut engages the threaded shaft of the bolt. The clamp compressor includes a main body portion and a locating portion extending from the main body portion which is adapted to releasably engage the first end of the band clamp. The locating portion is further operative to establish a fixed vertical position of the clamp compressor relative to the band clamp. The clamp compressor further includes a drive element interconnected to the main body portion which is adapted to releasably engage the second end of the band clamp. The drive element is adjustable so as to urge the first and second ends of the band clamp together when rotated in a first direction.

Abstract: A vehicle seat has a coupler for connecting the seat to the floor of a vehicle, and a first seat section. The first seat section is connected to the coupler, and includes a femur portion and a back portion. A second seat section is also connected to the coupler, and includes a femur portion and a back portion. A third seat section is additionally connected to the coupler and includes a femur portion and a back portion. The first and second seat sections are movable between: (1) a first position wherein the femur portion is generally parallel to the vehicle floor and the back portion is generally perpendicular to the vehicle floor; (2) a second position wherein the femur portion and the back portion are both generally parallel to the vehicle floor; and (3) a third position wherein the femur portion and back portion are both disposed generally perpendicular to the vehicle floor.

Abstract: An anti-theft device for an automobile audio system automatically prevents the audio system from functioning whenever the audio system is removed from its authorized vehicle and placed into another vehicle. This anti-theft device includes a microprocessor which operates with a bus interface for communicating a vehicle identifier from a vehicle multiplex bus to the central microprocessor. The device also has non-volatile memory within which the first received or authorized vehicle identifier is stored. The subsequently received identifiers are stored on RAM. A battery detector connected to the microprocessor alerts the microprocessor whenever the audio system has been disconnected from the battery source.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining ethanol thresholds for a flexible fuel control system for a motor vehicle capable of operating on more than one type of fuel. Preferably, the ethanol threshold is determined from an off-idle purge-free cell from a matrix of fuel adaptive memory cells normally used to compensate for car-to-car variations in required fueling. The ethanol threshold is periodically reduced to compensate for levels of alcohol creep indicated by the amount of purge-free adaptive memory elevation. If the learned value of percent alcohol content of the fuel is less than the ethanol threshold, gasoline operating parameters are implemented for the internal combustion engine. The off-idle purge-free cell also provides a basis for interpolating an on-board diagnostic (OBDII) ethanol threshold. As such, the OBDII monitors are only enabled if the learned value of percent alcohol content of the fuel is less than the OBDII ethanol threshold.

Abstract: A cross beam is mounted in a vehicle body between cowls on opposite sides of the vehicle body in a position to support a steering column. A bracket on one end of the beam has two slots which engage two locator studs on one of the cowls and provide increased body torsional stiffness. A second bracket is sleeved on the opposite end of the beam and has one slot engageable with a locator stud on the other cowl. The beam can be hung in the vehicle on these locator studs prior to driving fasteners which rigidly secure the brackets to the cowls. The second bracket may then be rigidly bolted to the beam.

Abstract: A sealing washer assembly includes a threaded fastener, a nut and a resilient member attached to the nut and washer or screw and washer. The resilient member, typically a polymer of propylene, ethylene or other suitable material, is oversized with respect to the nut. The assembly is useful for connecting one member to another via an opening in the first member, and particularly, provides a system for sealing the opening against the passage of fluid, such as air.

Abstract: An instrument panel top cover with a seamless break-away air bag door made as a unitary composite from multiple layers of plastics by extruding a parison with inner and outer layers of different recyclable plastics having different physical characteristics but which are from the same plastics family. The parison is injected and expanded with low pressure gas and forming dies with door scoring tools are closed thereover. The plastics will resultantly conform to the shaping surfaces of the dies to form the composite while the perimeter of the air bag door is scored. A quantity of the plastic material interior of the door score lines is removed after the top cover is removed from the dies so that a seamless or hidden door is provided that can readily break open at the peripheral scores to augment air bag operation when the air bag is triggered.

Abstract: A spread spectrum rf communication system relays mission signals from a base computer to each of a plurality of vehicle controllers (VCONs) that are positioned in the passenger compartments of respective vehicles on a test track. The VCONs are coupled to the operating controls of the vehicles for moving the controls in response to mission signals from the base station. Also, the VCONs communicate status reports via the communication system to the base station, so that the base station coordinates the control of the vehicles.

Abstract: A robotic device for turning a steering wheel of a vehicle includes an electric motor and a telescoping turning shaft connected to the motor. An adapter couples the steering wheel to the turning shaft.

Abstract: A synchronizer mechanism for synchronizing the rotation of gears between a power input shaft and a power output shaft in a manual transmission includes a hub and a synchronizer sleeve disposed about the hub and moveable relative thereto into and out of engagement with adjacent gears to synchronize the rotation of the adjacent gears with the rotation of the power input shaft. An indexing mechanism is employed for indexing the synchronizer sleeve into and out of engagement with adjacent gears. The indexing mechanism includes a retaining mechanism and a detent portion having a pair of gear engagement positions and a neutral position disposed therebetween. The retaining mechanism is receivable in the gear engagement positions and the neutral position to positively hold the synchronizer sleeve in these positions thereby preventing errant movement of the sleeve as it is moved into and out of engagement with adjacent gears.