Abstract: A system and method for controlling an air-fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine using a ratio of cylinder pressures measured within at least one cylinder. The air-fuel ratio control system includes an electronic control module (ECM) which computes a measured cylinder pressure ratio of the cylinder pressure measured at a predetermined crank angle before top dead center and the cylinder pressure measured at a predetermined crank angle after top dead center. The measured cylinder pressure ratio is compared with an optimal cylinder pressure ratio. Based upon the results of this comparison, the ECM then determines an adjusted air-fuel ratio which would modify the measured pressure ratio to equal the optimal pressure ratio. This system controls the air-fuel ratio by measuring the quality of combustion without the need to measure the amount of air or fuel actually delivered to the engine.

Abstract: A PCMCIA card for use in electronic equipment includes a glass laminate circuit board including a pair of substantially planar, oppositely disposed component-mounting surfaces. Printed circuitry is designed and arranged on at least one of the component-mounting surfaces. At least one integrated circuit package is assembled onto the printed circuitry and has a length dimension direction and a shorter, width dimension direction. In order to reduce the stresses which the integrated circuit package is subjected to during handling of the PCMCIA card, the integrated circuit package is arranged on the circuit board such that the integrated circuit package length dimension direction is substantially parallel to the width dimension direction of a cooperating metal case which is part of the PCMCIA card. The assembled circuit board is encapsulated with a flexible potting compound and enclosed within the metal case to complete the PCMCIA card assembly.

Abstract: An improved engine gear drive train arrangement is provided which effectively minimizes the crankshaft torsional vibrations at the location of the gear train, for engines with a front gear train. A flywheel is resiliently connected to the rear end portion of the crankshaft so as to resiliently connect a driven unit to the crankshaft. An extra inertial device is connected to the front end portion of the crankshaft and includes an inertia so selected as to cause a nodal point of the first torsional vibration mode of the crankshaft to be located in the vicinity of the crank gear to minimize the amplitude of torsional deflection of the crankshaft at the crank gear. Also, the device for resiliently connecting the flywheel to the rear end portion of the crankshaft may include resilient members positioned in cavities formed by engaging rings.

Abstract: An engine system with a gear train to provide engine timing is disclosed. A technique to minimize backlash and noise caused by the gear train is included. An anti-backlash gear assembly useful to reduce backlash in the gear train is also disclosed. One disclosed gear assembly has at least two gear wheels with the circular thickness of the teeth of one gear wheel being less than the circular thickness of the other gear wheel. A gear assembly is also disclosed that has a bias torque of at least about 100 foot-pounds. A device carried on an anti-lash gear assembly to generally align teeth of the assembly for installation is also provided.

Abstract: A cruise control governor which is able to dynamically define and switch between various goal droop curves in order to find the best goal droop curve for use with the current vehicle driving situation. For instance, the present invention will dynamically define and select different goal droop curves when the vehicle is lugging up a hill, coasting down a hill, cruising on level ground, preparing to crest a hill, or preparing to transition off of a downhill slope.

Abstract: A piston for reciprocal movement within a combustion chamber (4) of a compression ignition engine (2) having a fuel injector (20) for forming a fuel injection plume (40) having a relatively deep angle (7.degree. to 40.degree. from a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the combustion chamber) and a piston (8) having a centrally located symmetrical upwardly opening cavity for forming a combustion bowl (30) especially arranged to complement the plume in a manner to maintain very low entrainment of soot in the lubrication oil of the engine and to maintain other engine emissions, e.g., CO and smoke, within acceptable ranges suitable to meet TALuft standards. In particular, the combustion bowl (30) as formed by an upwardly opening cavity formed as a surface of revolution having a centrally raised floor section (42) with relatively large radius of curvature R.sup.1 and an upwardly flared outer bowl section 48 having relatively smaller radius of curvatures R.sub.2. The ratio of R.sub.2 divided by R.sub.

Abstract: An improved nozzle assembly for servo-controlled fuel injectors is provided which includes a needle valve control device including a rate shaping control device for effectively producing a predetermined time varying change in the flow rate of fuel injected into the combustion chamber during an injection event so as to reduce emissions. The rate shaping control device includes an injection control valve positioned along a drain circuit connected to a control volume positioned at one end of the needle valve element. The injection control valve includes an actuator for controlling the flow of fuel through the drain circuit to variably control the rate of movement of the needle valve element between the open and closed positions so as to provide the desired shaping to the flow rate of fuel into the combustion chamber.

Abstract: An improved sealable connector has a geometry which effects reliable sealing upon assembly. The connector is useful, for example, for connecting a pressure sensor to a fuel pump accumulator in a fuel injection system. The connector includes a male member, a female member, and an annular seal disc which compressibly seats between the male and female members. The male member has a tip with a flat annulus at an innermost radius surrounding a fluid-delivery bore. A frustoconical section of the tip extends radially outwardly from the annulus, sloping away from the plane of the annulus at about 5.degree.-15.degree., for example. The female member has a cavity shaped to receive the male member, the cavity having a bottom defined by a flat annular seat surrounding another fluid-delivery bore. The seal disc is compressed between the flat seat of the female cavity and the planar/frustoconical tip of the male member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing an improved static timing between a crankshaft and a camshaft in an internal combustion engine. The crankshaft and camshaft are locked into predetermined rotational positions to set the desired timing between the crankshaft and camshaft. The camshaft is locked into its predetermined rotational position using a camshaft timing member positioned between a flat portion formed on an outer peripheral surface of camshaft and an adjacent portion of said engine, such as the cylinder head. This positioning of the camshaft timing member prevents the camshaft from rotating and locks the camshaft into the desired predetermined rotational position for setting the static timing with respect to the crankshaft. The crankshaft in locked into its predetermined position using a crankshaft timing pin inserted through the engine block and positioned into a slot formed in a counterweight on the crankshaft.

Abstract: A leak prevention device including an expandable chamber and control valve for preventing fuel leakage into the combustion chambers of a internal combustion engine equipped with a common rail fule injection system including open nozzle injectors and a shut off valve mounted in the common rail upstream of the fuel injectors to isolate, when closed, the fuel injectors from the source of fuel under pressure. The expandable chamber contains a variable volume held in its collapsed condition during engine operation and expanded upon engine shutdown sufficiently to prevent the flow of fuel from any injector into the corresponding combustion chamber.

Abstract: An improved sealing boot for a spark plug assembly is provided which includes a sealing and venting feature capable of preventing pressurized contaminants from reaching the spark plug by effectively sealing the spark plug mounting bore while permitting pressurized gas accumulating in the plug well to be vented to the engine overhead. The sealing and venting feature includes at least one annular sealing rib formed on the outer surface of the boot. The radial length and width of the sealing rib, and the resiliency of the material forming the rib, are selected to cause the rib to deflected outwardly an optimal degree, when the assembly is positioned in the bore, and to engage the bore wall with a sealing force so as to permit the desired sealing and venting. The optimal deflection causes the creation of an additional sealing force due to the pressure of fluid against the deflected portion of the rib thereby ensuring sealing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a variable threshold signal conditioning circuit to condition a variable amplitude periodic input signal in response to the control signals received. A plurality of transistor circuits, each responsive to a control signal, are disposed in parallel with the positive feedback resistor of a trigger circuit. The transistor circuits are controlled to adjust the upper threshold levels of the trigger circuit in order to reduce the false triggering effects of noise in the input signal. The lower threshold level is held constant at the input signal mid-line voltage while the upper threshold level is varied over a plurality of preprogrammed values. A microprocessor determines the appropriate threshold level for the circuit by comparing the timing signal output of the signal conditioning circuit to preprogrammed values stored in the microprocessor memory.

Abstract: An articulated piston for use in heavy duty diesel engines including a piston crown having an outer surface, a peripheral pending side wall and an inner surface having a pair of pin bosses extending downwardly from the inner surface with the inner surface and the pin bosses defining a hollow cooling cavity opening downwardly and extending about a circumference of the piston crown and a piston skirt with the piston skirt including a first longitudinal plane containing a pair of diametrically opposed bores for receiving a wrist pin for connection to the bosses of the crown and defining two semi-cylindrical thrust and non thrust surfaces of the skirt with a thickness of the non thrust surface being less than a thickness of the thrust surface and a second longitudinal plane, perpendicular to the first plane thereby dividing the piston skirt into four peripheral quarters.

Abstract: A wear resistant, reduced stress at increased injection pressure fuel distributor assembly for distributing high pressure fuel to the fuel injectors of an internal combustion engine is provided. The assembly includes a fuel distributor rotor with a surface profile configuration that effectively and efficiently distributes high and low pressure fuel to the fuel injectors without internal fuel distribution channels. The rotor is preferably formed from a high thermal expansion, wear-resistant ceramic or coated metal material.

Abstract: A vehicle anti-theft system includes an engine control computer operable to control engine fueling in a normal mode of operation according to operator demand via an accelerator pedal, and a code interface module responsive to a predefined security code to set the engine control computer in a secure mode of operation. In the secure mode, two fuel enabling values in the engine fueling algorithm are altered. Specifically, an engine startup enable value is altered so that the engine control computer disables fueling if the engine is not running, to thereby prevent an unauthorized individual from starting the engine. Likewise, an accelerator enable value is altered so that the engine control computer disregards the accelerator signal and controls fueling of the engine to thereby maintain an engine idling condition. The control computer is reset to its normal fueling control mode by re-entering the security code.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a component formed of parts capable of being separated for reassembly around another component. The process starts by taking separate, e.g., rod and cap, forgings and coining or forging them together prior to machining. The mating surfaces of the forgings are formed with a ridge-groove or a dimple/lug-recess configuration giving them a self-locating ability. After machining, the forgings are fractured along the original division to obtain two uniquely matched surfaces that need no further processing before being reassembled, e.g., to form a connecting rod for an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: The improved needle controlled common rail fuel system of the present invention includes split common rails serving respective sets of unit injectors. Each unit injector includes a mechanically actuated plunger reciprocally mounted to cyclically create gradual periods of increasing pressure in the common rail during the advancement stroke of the plunger followed by respective periods of decreasing pressure during the plunger's retraction stroke. The fuel injectors include a pressure control valve for controlling the amount of fuel pressurized by the plunger and a needle valve control device including an injection control valve for creating an injection event during a pumping event by controlling the fuel flow to drain so as to control the fuel pressure forces acting on an injector needle valve element. A flow limiting device is provided to limit the fuel flow from a control volume to drain during an injection event thus reducing parasitic losses while maintaining quick valve closing.

Abstract: A reinforcing insert for an engine block formed of a lightweight material is provided which is positioned in the bearing saddle area of the block for increasing the strength and stiffness of the bearing saddle area to ensure a secure connection of the main bearing cap throughout engine operation thereby ensuring proper crankshaft support and operation. The reinforcing insert is formed of a material having a higher modulus of elasticity than a modulus of elasticity of the lightweight engine block material. The insert includes a lower transverse surface for positioning at a lowermost position in the engine block, an upper surface positioned farthest from the crankshaft, a first and second linear side surfaces for positioning on opposite sides of the crankshaft. The linear sides extend from the lower surface along respective planes in nonparallel relation to each other. The linear sides may extend either in a converging or a diverging manner from the lower surface.

Abstract: An electronic assembly includes a flex-rigid circuit board having a flexible polyimide layer disposed on the upper side of a rigid substrate, conductive circuit paths formed within the substrate and on the polyimide layer, and a base for dissipating heat generated by electrical components mounted on the circuit board. The flex-rigid circuit board has a cavity therein extending from a lower electrical insulation layer through the rigid substrate to the upper polyimide layer. A heat-generating electrical component is mounted on the upper layer over the cavity in the circuit board. The base has a boss that protrudes into the cavity and contacts the upper polyimide layer such that heat from the electrical component is conducted through the upper polyimide layer and into the base. Cool electrical components requiring no heat sinking are mounted on the lower insulation layer and/or the upper polyimide layer.

Abstract: An engine compression brake control device is disclosed. The control device is electronic and prevents activation of the engine compression brakes during operating states wherein undesirable conditions will result if the engine brakes are active. The electronic control device monitors various conditions and activates the engine brakes only if all of the following conditions are simultaneously detected: a valid gear ratio is detected; the driver has requested or enabled engine compression brake operation; the clutch pedal is out; the throttle is at a minimum engine speed position; and the electronic controller is not presently attempting to execute an electronically controlled final drive gear shift.