Abstract: Magnetic latching valves have a housing with first and second ports in controlled fluid communication with one another. Enclosed within the housing is a linearly translatable armature within a solenoid. The armature is movable between open and closed positions and is connected to a poppet valve. A permanent magnet is fixedly seated at a position for magnetically latching the armature in the open position, and a spring is seated with a first end against the poppet valve and a second end against the housing. The spring biases the poppet valve closed when the armature is in the closed position and has a pre-selected spring rate that mechanically relieves pressure if the spring rate is exceeded. The armature is moved to the open position after a pulse of voltage to the solenoid and is in an unpowered state thereafter. Vehicle fuel refueling system are disclosed that include a magnetic latching valve.

Abstract: Valves, internal combustion engines including such valves, and methods of on-board diagnostic leak detection for a crankcase ventilation system using such valves are disclosed. Each valve has a housing defining a first port and a second port in fluid communication with one another and defining a valve seat therebetween. A biasing member biases a poppet sealing member into a normally open position (defining unrestricted flow through the valve) and a commanded actuator is connected to the poppet sealing member. The poppet sealing member has an orifice therethrough defining a restricted flow path, and, upon command, the commanded actuator moves the poppet sealing member from the open position to a restricted flow position in which the poppet sealing member is seated against the valve seat for restricted flow thorough the orifice in the poppet sealing member.

Abstract: Female quick couplings have a housing defining an axial bore therethrough that has a frustum-shaped bore portion that defines a restriction orifice, a first slot transverse to the axial bore, an a first shoulder between the first slot and the restriction orifice, and a locking member slidingly received in the first slot. The frustum-shaped bore can have an upstream conical frustum and a downstream conical frustum mated at their respective smaller diameter. The upstream conical frustum has a largest diameter that is larger than a largest diameter of the downstream conical frustum. Engine systems incorporating the female quick coupling and female quick coupling kits are also disclosed.

Abstract: Magnetic latching valves for a vehicle engine have a housing having a first port and a second port in controlled fluid communication with one another. The housing encloses a linearly translatable armature seated within a solenoid and connected to a primary poppet valve. The armature is movable between an open position and a closed position, respectively, after a pulse of voltage to the solenoid and is in an unpowered state thereafter. A permanent magnet is fixedly seated in a position to magnetically latch the armature in a fully open position. A spring is seated to bias the primary poppet valve closed when the armature is in the closed position. The spring has a spring rate that mechanically relieves pressure by opening the primary poppet valve a distance less than the fully open position when the spring force is exceeded, thereby also allowing flow in the primary flow direction.

Abstract: Device for producing a vacuum using the Venturi effect are disclosed that have a housing defining a suction chamber, defining a motive passageway includes a tapering portion most proximate the suction chamber that convergingly tapers from a motive entrance to a motive exit into the suction chamber, the motive exit being in fluid communication with the suction chamber, and defining a discharge passageway having a discharge entrance in fluid communication with the suction chamber and divergingly tapering as it extends away from the suction chamber, and having a solid fletch centered within the tapering portion. The device can include a fletch-partition disposed in the motive passageway and dividing the motive passageway into two flow paths along opposing sides of the partition. The solid fletch divergingly tapers toward the suction chamber as it extends from the partition, thereby providing a circumferentially continuous flow of fluid around the fletch.

Abstract: Systems for hybrid electric engines have a fuel vapor canister (FVC) in fluid communication with (i) fuel vapor in a fuel tank with a refueling valve therebetween, (ii) an intake manifold with a canister purge valve therebetween, and (iii) atmospheric pressure (atm) with a canister vent valve (CVV) therebetween, a bypass loop around the refueling valve, and a pressure sensor upstream of both the refueling valve and the CVV. The loop has a control pump and a control valve controlling fluid communication with atm, and in a first mode, control valve and CVV open, pumps fuel vapor to the FVC for pressure control, then closes the control valve; in a second mode, control valve closed and CVV open, pumps atm to the FVC; and in a third mode, control valve and CVV open, pumps fuel vapor to the FVC to a pre-selected threshold to close the CVV.

Abstract: Valves, internal combustion engines including such valves, and methods of on-board diagnostic leak detection for a crankcase ventilation system using such valves are disclosed. Each valve has a housing defining a first port and a second port in fluid communication with one another and defining a valve seat therebetween. A biasing member biases a poppet sealing member into a normally open position (defining unrestricted flow through the valve) and a commanded actuator is connected to the poppet sealing member. The poppet sealing member has an orifice therethrough defining a restricted flow path, and, upon command, the commanded actuator moves the poppet sealing member from the open position to a restricted flow position in which the poppet sealing member is seated against the valve seat for restricted flow thorough the orifice in the poppet sealing member.

Abstract: A breach detection system for an internal combustion engine having a crankcase, an intake manifold, a positive crankcase ventilation valve, a crankcase ventilation tube with a flow control system therein, and a pressure sensor between the flow control system and the crankcase. The flow control system subdivides the crankcase ventilation tube into a plurality of parallel conduits—a first conduit having a normally closed check valve that opens under a first preselected pressure drop in a first direction from the air intake to the crankcase, and a second conduit having either a second check valve that opens under a second preselected pressure drop in a second direction opposite the first direction or a restriction profile having a third preselected pressure drop that is the same in both the first and second direction. When the pressure sensor detects no pressure drop there is a breach in the system.

Abstract: Check valve inserts define a valve seat for an open position of a check valve and have an outer support seatable in an internal chamber of the check valve and have an inner annular ring spaced radially inward from the outer support by a rib that angles axially toward a central longitudinal axis to position an upper surface of the inner annular ring a distance axially beyond an upper surface of the outer support. Check valves have a housing defining an inlet port, an outlet port, and a chamber in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet ports, have the check valve insert seated with the chamber, and have a seal disc moveable within the chamber between the open position defined by the inner annular ring of the check valve insert and a closed position. The seal disc is translatable in response to a pressure difference across the seal disc.

Abstract: Female quick couplings have a housing defining an axial bore therethrough that has a frustum-shaped bore portion that defines a restriction orifice, a first slot transverse to the axial bore, an a first shoulder between the first slot and the restriction orifice, and a locking member slidingly received in the first slot. The frustum-shaped bore can have an upstream conical frustum and a downstream conical frustum mated at their respective smaller diameter. The upstream conical frustum has a largest diameter that is larger than a largest diameter of the downstream conical frustum. Engine systems incorporating the female quick coupling and female quick coupling kits are also disclosed.

Abstract: High-offset belt tensioners have a support base with a pivot tube and an arm coupled thereto rotation about a pivot axis. A flat wire torsion spring has an inner spring hook attached to the pivot tube and an outer spring hook attached to a first end of the arm at a position that counterbalances a hub load force. The torsion spring applies a spring force to the arm in a direction that moves with the arm throughout its entire sweep in a belt engaging direction. A first plane of the hub load force is axially offset from a second plane of the spring force, a fulcrum is defined between first and second ends of the arm, and a first lineal axial distance from the fulcrum to the first plane is greater than or equal to a second lineal axial distance from the fulcrum to the second plane.

Abstract: Systems for hybrid electric engines have a fuel vapor canister (FVC) in fluid communication with (i) fuel vapor in a fuel tank with a refueling valve therebetween, (ii) an intake manifold with a canister purge valve therebetween, and (iii) atmospheric pressure (atm) with a canister vent valve (CVV) therebetween, a bypass loop around the refueling valve, and a pressure sensor upstream of both the refueling valve and the CVV. The loop has a control pump and a control valve controlling fluid communication with atm, and in a first mode, control valve and CVV open, pumps fuel vapor to the FVC for pressure control, then closes the control valve; in a second mode, control valve closed and CVV open, pumps atm to the FVC; and in a third mode, control valve and CVV open, pumps fuel vapor to the FVC to a pre-selected threshold to close the CVV.

Abstract: Three-port latching valves have a housing with a first port, a second port, and a third port in controlled fluid communication with one another by three, individually electronically controllable magnetically latching valves for a combination of five different flow options. Each valve has a solenoid with an armature movable between an open position and a closed position, a poppet valve connected to the armature, a permanent magnet fixedly seated at a position for magnetically latching the armature in the open position, and a spring positioned to bias the poppet valve closed when the armature is in the closed position. The spring has a pre-selected spring rate that mechanically relieves pressure if the spring rate is exceeded. The armature is movable to the open position after a pulse of voltage to the solenoid and is in an unpowered state after translation to either of the open position or the closed position.

Abstract: Devices for producing vacuum using the Venturi effect have a housing that defines a suction chamber, a motive passageway converging toward the suction chamber, a discharge passageway diverging away from the suction chamber, and a suction passageway having a first port in fluid communication with the suction chamber. Within the suction chamber, a motive exit of the motive passageway is spaced apart a distance from a discharge entrance of the discharge passageway to define a Venturi gap. A fletch that has a first hollow body section that terminates at or proximate a motive exit and a second hollow body section that terminates with a fletch entrance in fluid communication with the suction passageway upstream of the first port is present in the motive passageway. During operation, fluid flow through the motive passageway draws fluid flow through the first port into the suction chamber and through the fletch.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, a compressor in fluid communication with the intake manifold, a charge air cooler in fluid communication with and between the compressor and the intake manifold, a throttle controlling fluid communication between the air charge cooler and the intake manifold, and a condensate collection reservoir that collects condensate from the air charge cooler and is in fluid communication with a suction port of a Venturi device in a bypass loop around the throttle. A motive inlet of the Venturi device is in fluid communication upstream of the throttle and a discharge outlet is in fluid communication downstream of the throttle, and under operating conditions that provide an adequate pressure drop across the Venturi device, the suction port draws condensate from the condensate collection reservoir and introduces the condensate into the intake manifold as a mist.

Abstract: Magnetic latching valves for a vehicle engine have a housing having a first port and a second port in controlled fluid communication with one another. The housing encloses a linearly translatable armature seated within a solenoid and connected to a primary poppet valve. The armature is movable between an open position and a closed position, respectively, after a pulse of voltage to the solenoid and is in an unpowered state thereafter. A permanent magnet is fixedly seated in a position to magnetically latch the armature in a fully open position. A spring is seated to bias the primary poppet valve closed when the armature is in the closed position. The spring has a spring rate that mechanically relieves pressure by opening the primary poppet valve a distance less than the fully open position when the spring force is exceeded, thereby also allowing flow in the primary flow direction.

Abstract: Female quick couplings are disclosed that have a housing defining an axial bore having a first shoulder and a first slot transverse to the axial bore, a removable insert defining a restriction orifice seated against the first shoulder within the axial bore, and a locking member slidingly received in the first receptacle. The removable insert defines a restriction orifice having an upstream conical frustum and a downstream conical frustum mated at their respective smaller diameter. The upstream conical frustum has a largest diameter substantially similar to an internal diameter of the first sealing member and the downstream conical frustum has a largest diameter substantially similar to an internal diameter of the axial bore extending downstream of the first shoulder. The largest dimeter of the upstream conical frustum is larger than the largest diameter of the downstream conical frustum. Engine systems incorporating the female quick coupling are also disclosed.

Abstract: Devices for producing vacuum using the Venturi effect have a housing that defines a suction chamber, a motive passageway converging toward the suction chamber, a discharge passageway diverging away from the suction chamber, and a suction passageway having a first port in fluid communication with the suction chamber. Within the suction chamber, a motive exit of the motive passageway is spaced apart a distance from a discharge entrance of the discharge passageway to define a Venturi gap. A fletch that has a first hollow body section that terminates at or proximate a motive exit and a second hollow body section that terminates with a fletch entrance in fluid communication with the suction passageway upstream of the first port is present in the motive passageway. During operation, fluid flow through the motive passageway draws fluid flow through the first port into the suction chamber and through the fletch.

Abstract: Devices for producing vacuum using the Venturi effect have a housing that defines a suction chamber, a motive passageway converging toward the suction chamber, a discharge passageway diverging away from the suction chamber, and a suction passageway having a first port in fluid communication with the suction chamber. Within the suction chamber, a motive exit of the motive passageway is spaced apart a distance from a discharge entrance of the discharge passageway to define a Venturi gap. A fletch that has a first hollow body section that terminates at or proximate a motive exit and a second hollow body section that terminates with a fletch entrance in fluid communication with the suction passageway upstream of the first port is present in the motive passageway. During operation, fluid flow through the motive passageway draws fluid flow through the first port into the suction chamber and through the fletch.

Abstract: A dual chamber fuel tank protector valve has a transversely oriented divider defining a plurality of apertures for fluid flow between a first port and a second port. Each chamber has a seal disk therein. The first seal disk is normally biased to an open position by a first biasing member. The second seal disk is normally biased to a closed position by a second biasing member having a preselected biasing force set to a preselected pressure differential that allows movement to its open position before the first seal disk moves to its closed position. When the first seal disk and the second seal disk move to their respective closed positions, the direction of movement is toward one another.