Abstract: A hybrid SOFC/gas turbine electric generating system comprising an SOFC stack, a hydrocarbon reformer, a first anode tailgas hydrogen-rich combustor to drive a first gas turbine stage, and a second stoichiometric combustor to drive a second gas turbine stage to drive a generator. Anode tailgas is also recycled into the reformer for substantially endothermic reforming of hydrocarbon fuel. Oxidant is provided as pure oxygen—which may be stored as liquid oxygen. All nitrogen may be excluded. Cathode exhaust is passed to the first combustor, to the second combustor, and is recycled into the cathodes. The turbine exhaust is passed through successive heat exchangers cooled by liquid oxygen being vaporized, precipitating water and solid CO2. The system is operated at about 800 kPa (about 8 atmospheres), thereby increasing the power output of the stack. The system may be operated with no gaseous exhaust or with by-products of water and CO2.

Abstract: An exhaust gas sensing system and a method for determining concentrations of exhaust gas constituents are provided. The exhaust gas sensing system includes a NH3 sensing cell, a NO2 sensing cell, a NOx pumping cell, and a current sensor that detects an electrical current flowing through the NOx pumping cell. A computer determines a NO2 concentration value, a NH3 concentration value, a NO concentration value, and a NOx concentration value based on signals from the NH3 sensing cell, the NO2 sensing cell, and the current sensor.

Abstract: A method for attaching a bracket to a heat exchanger comprises providing a heat exchanger having a mounting surface. A bracket having an edge portion that conforms to the mounting surface is located in contact with the mounting surface. A portion of the mounting surface is then skived with the bracket in place so that a sufficient amount of skived material is deformed against the edge portion of the bracket to retain the bracket to the heat exchanger. The retained bracket is then brazed to the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A HVAC assembly includes a temperature mixing valve that comprises a shaft, an upper paddle, a lower paddle, and a yielding means. The upper paddle and the lower paddle attach to the shaft. The yielding means applies a force to keep the upper paddle sealed to prevent cold air in a cold air inlet from entering a mixing zone and the lower paddle moves away from a shared sealing boundary over a predetermined angle of rotation before the upper paddle initially moves to allow cold air to enter the mixing zone. Movement of the lower paddle away from the shared sealing boundary allows cold air to enter a hot air inlet and admix with hot air to mix in the mixing zone to produce non-stratified air.

Abstract: A urea storage system comprising a storage tank for a urea solution is provided. The system comprises a heated reservoir, a channel connecting the storage tank to the heated reservoir and a pump for drawing urea from the heated reservoir. A second pump including an actuator comprising a memory shape metal for drawing urea from the storage tank to the heated reservoir is also provided.

Abstract: A dynamic eye tracking system to track movement of an eye including the steps of detecting if a neighbor exists about the eye over a predetermined amount of time and forming a boundary for the neighbor. Eye candidates are tracked and a determination is made if the eye candidates are beyond the boundary defined by the detected neighbor.

Abstract: A method of producing an overmolded electronic assembly including a circuit board and a flexible circuit interconnect by fixturing the assembly in a mold cavity such that a portion of the flexible circuit protrudes from the mold, and providing a compressible elastomeric interface between the mold and the flexible circuit to seal off the mold cavity and protect the flexible circuit from damage due to the clamping force of the mold. The portion of the flexible circuit within the mold cavity is pre-coated with a material that ensures good adhesion with the molding compound, and a heat exchanger thermally coupled to the portion of the flexible circuit that protrudes from the mold protects the flexible circuit from damage due to thermal conduction from the mold and mold compound.

Abstract: An actuator assembly including, a polar assembly including an inner tooth and an outer tooth, and a magnet disposed between the inner tooth and the outer tooth, the magnet operative to interact with the polar assembly to induce an electromagnetic torsion bar operative to impart a torque on a first shaft connected to the ring magnet.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an exhaust temperature sensor is disclosed. It includes forming a green ceramic substrate; and printing an electrical circuit on the green ceramic substrate. The method then contemplates trimming the electrical circuit to a predetermined resistance prior to firing the green ceramic. Finally, the method contemplates firing the green ceramic substrate with the electrical circuit thereon.

Abstract: A vehicle lane departure warning system and method are provided. The system includes a position sensor for sensing position of a vehicle and memory storing learned vehicle path data. The system further includes a controller for processing the position data and determining a stored learned vehicle path that the vehicle is travelling on. The controller comprises logic for comparing the sensed position data to the stored learned vehicle path and determining if the vehicle is sufficiently departing from the stored learn vehicle path. The system further includes an output for providing a warning signal indicative of the vehicle departing from the stored learned vehicle path. The stored learned vehicle path is updated as the vehicle repeatedly travels on the path.

Abstract: A shaft assembly includes a first shaft member and a second shaft member telescopically engaged with the first shaft member. A roller carrier supporting a plurality of rollers is disposed between the first and second shaft members. The first shaft member defines a first slot extending along and angled relative to a longitudinal axis. The second shaft member defines a second slot extending along and angled relative to the first slot and the longitudinal axis. The roller carrier defines a carrier slot extending transverse to the longitudinal axis. A pin extends through the first slot, the second slot and the carrier slot and moves the roller carrier at a slower speed than the relative movement speed between the first shaft member and the second shaft member during telescoping movement. A wedge is disposed between the first shaft member and a portion of the rollers to de-lash the shaft assembly.

Abstract: A bearing includes a first inner race half and a second inner race half, and a first outer race half and a second outer race half. A cage defining a plurality of openings supports a plurality of rollers. The bearing is assembled by positioning the first inner race half on a mandrel and the first outer race half on a work support, positioning the cage with the rollers supported in the openings adjacent to and concentric with the first inner race half and the first outer race half. The second inner race half and the second outer race half are positioned adjacent the first inner race half and the first outer race half respectively. The first inner race half and the second inner race half, and the first outer race half and the second outer race half are then bonded together to form the bearing assembly.

Abstract: An object detection system and method of detecting objects and providing an output signal are provided. The system includes a position sensor for sensing position of a host vehicle, and an object detector provided on the host vehicle for detecting presence of an object relative to the host vehicle and for further detecting position of the detected object relative to the host vehicle. The system also includes a controller for processing the sensed position of the host vehicle and determining a current vehicle path as the host vehicle moves. The controller further processes the position of a detected object relative to the host vehicle and determines if the detected object is a stationary object relative to ground. The system further includes memory for storing the position of the detected stationary object and an output for providing an output signal based on the detected stationary object relative to the current vehicle path.

Abstract: A bearing assembly includes an inner race having a first inner race half and a second inner race half, and an outer race having a first outer race half and a second outer race. The first inner race half and the second inner race half cooperate to define an inner annular groove, and the first outer race half and the second outer race half cooperate to define an outer annular groove. A plurality of rollers is disposed within the inner annular groove and the outer annular groove in rolling engagement with the inner race and the outer race. An inner coupling mechanism couples the first inner race and the second inner race together, and an outer coupling mechanism couples the first outer race and the second outer race together.

Abstract: A cylindrical stainless steel housing includes an exhaust inlet collar and exhaust outlet collar allowing exhaust gas to travel therethrough at a mean flow velocity in accordance with a velocity formula. A plurality of stainless steel tubes extend through the housing from a steam inlet manifold to a steam outlet manifold. A number and size of the tubes is determined by formulas and dependent on an Euler number, a Reynolds number, a number of transfer units, a Prandtl number, a porosity factor and a system efficiency. The tubes may comprise an S-shape or a U-shape. The tube walls have a thickness determined according to wall thickness formulas and the walls include a plurality of cavities on an interior surface of each tube wall. The cavities may comprise a conical or semi-spherical shape and have a diameter determined according to formulas.

Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly including a first and second heat exchangers disposed in sandwiched relationship with one another. The tubes and air fins of the first and second heat exchangers are aligned with one another in a transverse air flow direction. A plurality of middle connecting portions are integral with and extend in the transverse air flow direction between the aligned first and second air fins of the two heat exchangers. Each of the middle connecting portions has a slot for impeding heat conduction between the first and second air fins, and each of the slots in the middle connecting portions is disposed closer to the first tubes than to the second tubes to maximize the effective length of the second air fin.

Abstract: A manifold for use in a heat exchanger assembly and a method of forming the manifold is disclosed herein. The assembly includes an upper manifold defining an interior and having a upper top portion having an upper opening in the center of said upper top portion. A partition is inserted through the upper opening to define a plurality of chambers in the interior. The partition has a plurality of locking tabs and dimples that abut the upper top portion. The method starts with the step of forming the upper manifold defining an interior and having an upper top portion defining an upper opening in the center of the upper top portion. The method continues with the step of dividing the upper manifold to define a plurality of chambers in the interior of the upper manifold and is finalized by joining the partition and the upper manifold through a snap fit.

Abstract: An electric motor having an oil retainer cooling assembly fixed onto the motor shaft between the rotor assembly and support bearing within the motor housing. The retainer cooling assembly is a single piece unit used to retain oil in the support bearing and to induce air flow within the housing to internally cool the electric motor. The oil retainer cooling assembly includes a hub that has a bore for the insertion and attachment of the hub to the motor shaft, a surface in sealing contact with the bearing assembly, a plurality of fan blades protruding radially from the hub, and a shoulder between the hub surface and the fan blades. The oil retainer assembly rotates with the shaft during normal operating conditions, whereby the blades induces air flow within the housing to cool the electric motor and the hub surface maintains sealing contact with bearing assembly to retain oil within the bearing.

Abstract: A vehicle event recording system is provided which includes one or more GPS receivers for sensing position of a vehicle, and an event detector for detecting a vehicle event. The recording system includes memory for storing vehicle path data and an input for receiving site data at a location where the vehicle event is detected. The recording system further includes a processor for determining a vehicle path for a time period close in time to the vehicle event. The processor determines a correction vector based on site measurement data and further determines the corrected vehicle path based on the monitored vehicle path and the correction vector and generates an output.

Abstract: A variable buoyancy heater is provided. It comprises variable buoyancy float that includes a variable volume element. A first fluid is contained within the variable volume element and a heating element that is integral with the variable buoyancy float is provided. The heater is arranged to heat the first fluid wherein the variable volume element expands based on a temperature increase from the heating element, such that the variable buoyancy float becomes positively buoyant when the variable volume element expands and negatively buoyant when the heating element is off.