Abstract: An evaporative emissions control canister for adsorbing fuel vapors from a fuel tank on a marine vessel. The canister comprises a polymeric extruded housing that may be formed to any desired length or cut from extruded stock. Identical end caps having tubing connectors are bonded to opposite ends of the housing, defining an inlet and an outlet. Marine-grade pelletized activated carbon is disposed within the housing between porous slidable plates that are spring loaded against the end caps to pack the carbon tightly against the housing walls. Mounting brackets at each end are rotatably attached to the end caps so that opposite ends of the assembly may be attached to different surfaces of the vessel's hull, thus relieving stress which might be introduced into the assembly. Preferably, the assembly is wrapped in a fire retardant material.

Abstract: A sensing system, including: a sensing assembly, the sensing assembly having: a trim resistor; and a controller removably secured to the sensing assembly, the controller being configured to determine a resistance value of the trim resistor; a database in operable communication with the controller, the database having a plurality of resistance values, each identifying a pair of compensation values; a microprocessor receiving the resistance value of the trim resistor, a first signal and a second signal, the resistance value of the trim resistor being used to define a selected pair of compensation values from the database, one of the selected pair of compensation values is used to adjust the first signal and the other one of the selected pair of compensation values is used to adjust the second signal.

Abstract: A steering column (10) according to the invention includes a steering column jacket (12) having an engaging surface (14). The steering column jacket (12) is operable to at least partially encircle a steering shaft (16) in a vehicle. The steering column (10) also includes a tilt housing (18) engaged with the steering column jacket (12) for tilting movement about a tilt axis (20) between a plurality of tilt positions. The steering column (10) also includes a locking member (22) pivotally supported at a pivot end (24) by the tilt housing (18). The locking member (22) extends to a distal locking end (26) moveable outwardly from the tilt axis (20) along a first arcuate path (28) to a locked position contacting the engaging surface (14) and inwardly towards the tilt axis (20) along the first arcuate path (28) to an unlocked position spaced from the engaging surface (14).

Abstract: A camshaft phaser comprising a differential bevel gear arrangement to vary the phase relationship of a camshaft to a crankshaft in an internal combustion engine. In the differential gear system, a 45° beveled input gear is mounted parallel to and coaxial with a 45° beveled output gear. One or more 45° beveled spider gears is disposed in meshed relationship with the input and output gears in a gear pattern having a rectangular cross-sectional appearance. Rotation of the input gear causes an opposite rotation of the output gear. The phase relationship between the input and output gears may be varied by varying the position of the spider gear. The input gear and spider gears may be driven via a sprocket in time with the crankshaft in a plurality of arrangements.

Abstract: The invention concerns a copper-based circuit having an electrically insulative substrate, a bond layer including silver formed over select portions of the substrate according to a desired shape of the circuit, and an electrically conductive layer including plastically deformed particles of copper deposited on the bond layer.

Abstract: A powertrain mount comprises an upper orifice plate, a lower orifice plate, and a generally planar diaphragm having an enlarged central node. The central node is in constant contact with the upper orifice plate and in contact with the lower orifice plate. A periphery of the diaphragm is free to move between the upper orifice plate and the lower orifice plate.

Abstract: The invention provides an electric brake system and method. The electric brake system includes an electric motor having a portion moveable along a path between a plurality of positions for moving a brake pad and applying a selectable amount of braking force on a brake rotor. One of the plurality of positions is a minimal contact position. The minimal contact position is operable to change among the plurality of positions over time. The electric brake system also includes an electric controller for controlling the electric motor to move the portion along the path between the minimal contact position and at least one other of the plurality of positions for moving the brake pad and for selecting the amount of braking force. The electric brake system also includes at least one sensor for sensing at least one of motor current, motor acceleration, controller voltage, motor speed, motor voltage, and motor temperature, and communicating a sensed condition to the controller.

Abstract: An automated wire harness machine is capable of manufacturing a wire harness in an automated process. The wire harness is generally a plurality of bundled, preferably un-stripped, insulated wires. Each un-stripped end portion of each wire is preferably terminated by an electrical terminal in one of a series of electrical connectors of the wire harness. Each connector has at least one wafer which houses a plurality of terminals. The wire harness machine utilizes a pallet that holds all of the wafers of one wire harness. A conveyor transports the pallet and wafers through a series of stations which perform automated manufacturing steps. The first station is a terminal inserter which inserts and locks the terminals within pre-assigned cavities of the wafers. The next station is an automated wire loader which measures, cuts and crimps the two ends of each wire into the respective terminals of the loaded wafer assembly.

Abstract: A cooling assembly includes a housing supporting a nozzle for directing cooling air over an electronic component. A casing rotatably supports a shaft, which in turn, supports a compressor, an expander, and an electric motor, for circulating air and delivering the cooling air to the nozzle. The assembly is distinguished by air bearings supporting the shaft in the casing on a thin film of air, thereby maintaining a contaminate free housing.

Abstract: A hydraulic control system for a brake apparatus includes a combination valve and a motor connected to the combination valve. Output by the motor in a first direction places the combination valve in a first configuration, and output by the motor in a second direction opposite the first direction places the combination valve in a second configuration different from the first configuration. In the first configuration, the control valve allows hydraulic fluid to flow along a first fluid path. In the second configuration, the control valve allows hydraulic fluid to flow along a second fluid path different from the first fluid path.

Abstract: A rollover warning and detection method for a transport vehicle is adaptively adjustable to take into account the CG height of the vehicle. Measures of the vehicle speed, lateral acceleration and yaw rate are sampled during normal driving conditions and used to estimate the CG height of the vehicle. The centrifugal acceleration acting on the vehicle is calculated as the product of vehicle speed and yaw rate, and the CG height is estimated based on the relationship between the calculated centrifugal acceleration and the measured lateral acceleration. The estimated CG height of the vehicle is used to adjust various calibrated rollover detection thresholds so that algorithm outputs such as rollover warnings automatically take into consideration vehicle loading effects.

Abstract: Welding apparatus includes a first electrode having an electrode surface adapted to contact an outward end fold of a heat-exchanger tube which is positioned in an orifice of a tubesheet with the fold contacting an outward-facing side of the tubesheet. A second electrode has an electrode surface adapted to contact the outward-facing side of the tubesheet. Another welding apparatus includes a first electrode having an electrode surface adapted to contact an end of a heat exchanger tube positioned in an orifice of a tubesheet. The first electrode is movable to create an outward end fold in the tube and deform the fold against the outward-facing side of the tubesheet. Another welding apparatus includes a second electrode having an electrode surface adapted to contact the outward-facing side of a tubesheet and having cutouts which surround each of a plurality of heat-exchanger tubes and which are adapted to receive a first electrode.

Abstract: The invention provides for a power steering assembly and method of actuation for assisting a driver in moving the steerable wheels of a vehicle. The power steering assembly includes a housing that defines a chamber. A steering rod is disposed in the chamber and is longitudinally moveable within the chamber. A shoulder is fixed to the steering rod and has opposing sides. A shaft is supported by the housing and engages the steering rod translating the rotational movement of the shaft into a longitudinal movement of the steering rod. A first actuator and second actuator are disposed in the chamber on opposing sides of the shoulder. The first and second actuators each have an excitable material that is controlled in a series of actuations to advance the actuators in a linear movement for pushing against the shoulder to move the steering rod longitudinally within the chamber.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for pivoting and locking a steering column. The apparatus of the invention includes a steering column extending axially between first and second ends. The steering column is pivotally mountable to a vehicle at the second end. The apparatus also includes a locking mechanism spaced from the second end. The locking mechanism is operative to releasibly secure the steering column in a selected position of adjustment. The apparatus also includes a spring urging the steering column in a first pivoting direction. The spring is disposed in axially spaced relation adjacent to said locking mechanism. The method of the invention includes the step of pivotally mounting a steering column that extends axially between first and second ends to a vehicle. The method also includes the step of releasibly securing the steering column in a selected position of adjustment with a locking mechanism that is spaced from the second end.

Abstract: A method for determining the position of one of two components in relative motion with respect to each other, using optical means, comprises: directing at least one light beam emitted by a light source attached to one component towards a diffractive support attached to the second component, calculated and manufactured for generating an optical signal indicative of the positioning of said support, the optical signal being produced by the diffractive support in transmission and/or in reflection, and the optical signal including information indicative of its quality; detecting and reading at least one optical code formed by said signal, which corresponds to a unique position of the diffractive support relatively to the beam; and assigning a position to each detected optical code.

Abstract: A modified high efficiency kinetic spray nozzle is disclosed. The modified nozzle has a rapid expansion rate in the diverging region relative to prior art nozzles, which enables one to achieve much higher particle velocities without an increase in the main gas temperature. Preferably, the expansion rate of the supersonic nozzle in a portion of the diverging region is at least 1 mm2 per millimeter, more preferably 2 mm2 per millimeter, more preferably 5 mm2 per mm, with a most preferable expansion rate being 10 mm2 per millimeter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a clamping apparatus comprising a base body and two clamping straps which are arranged opposite one another on one side of the base body, are made flexible at least sectionally, extend convexly to one another in a non-clamping state of the clamping apparatus and can be brought into engagement by being pressed together in order thereby to fasten an object located between the clamping straps and the base body to the clamping apparatus of a clamping fit.

Abstract: A position sensor assembly including a circular-shaped or rhombus-shaped magnet and at least one magnetic flux density sensor, such as a Hall effect sensor, wherein rotation of the magnet is detected by the at least one sensor. The magnet may be positioned coaxially with the longitudinal axis of a rotor shaft of a motor and provided within a support. A position extraction algorithm may be employed using the output from the sensors to detect the position of the rotor shaft.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensing system includes an ultrasonic transmitter, an ultrasonic receiver, a processor and a memory subsystem. The transmitter is positioned to transmit an ultrasonic signal into a predetermined volume. The receiver is positioned to receive a composite signal from the predetermined volume. The processor is coupled to the transmitter, the receiver and the memory subsystem. The memory subsystem stores code that when executed by the processor instructs the processor to perform a number of steps to determine whether an occupant is present in the predetermined volume and whether the detected occupant has a respiration rate.

Abstract: Digital beamforming is provided for use with electronically scanned radar. In an aspect, the present invention provides enhanced sensitivity, wide angle or field of view (FOV) coverage with narrow beams, minimized number of receivers, reduced sidelobes, eliminated grating lobes and beam compensation for target motion. In an aspect, the present invention employs a uniform overlapped subarray feed network, a time multiplexed switch matrix, and a restructured digital signal processor. Antenna channels share a receiver, rather than maintain a dedicated receiver for each antenna element, as in conventional systems. In an aspect, Doppler/frequency filtering is performed on each antenna element or subarray output prior to digital beamforming. Further, Doppler compensation is employed following Doppler/frequency filtering, followed by digital beamforming.