Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning incipient build-up of commutation byproducts from the commutators and brushes of a DC motor actuator for an air intake valve on an internal combustion engine. A controller for controlling the position of the intake air control valve is programmed via an algorithm to force the air control valve, abruptly and rapidly, to its open and/or closed position at least once at predetermined times in the engine's operating cycle, preferably immediately after engine shutdown. Such abrupt and rapid motion of the motor breaks loose such incipient build-up and thereby maintains the motor actuator at a high power output.

Abstract: A fuel injection apparatus for use in an internal combustion engine includes a fuel injector having a valve member which is operable to control injection of fuel through an injector outlet, a first supply path having a first path length for delivering fuel to an injector control chamber, a second supply path having a second path length for delivering fuel to an injector delivery chamber and a control valve for controlling fuel pressure within the injector control chamber so as to control movement of the valve member. An actuation means is arranged to vary at least one of the first and second path lengths in response to one or more injection parameters. Varying the first and/or second path length enables resonant pressure pulses within the control chamber and/or delivery chamber to be optimized so as to minimize the pressure differential across the valve needle at the instant of closure of the control valve to terminate injection, thus reducing needle closure response.

Abstract: A semi-circular dielectric rotor is attached to a steering column for rotation with the steering column. Straddling the rotor but not contacting it are an excitation electrode member which generates an electric field and a receiver electrode member that outputs signals representative of the electric field and, hence, of the position of the steering column.

Abstract: The invention is a suspension system, typically for use between a cab and a truck frame, includes a strut module having a strut and an air spring, and a control module, connected to a source of pressurized air, for sensing a distance between the cab and truck frame and selectively pressurizing the air spring in response to changes in that distance. Preferably, the strut is a McPherson-type strut and the air spring encloses at least a portion of the strut to provide a compact assembly and includes a three point connection to the cab and frame to resist relative lateral movement between the cab and frame. The strut also preferably is a magnetorheological-type damper so that the control module can adjust the damping characteristics of the strut to optimize rider comfort.

Abstract: A pyromechanical disconnecting apparatus, in particular for battery shutoff in a motor vehicle, includes a housing (4) in which there is arranged an electrically conductive conductor bus (2), which is fashioned so as to be severable at a predetermined cut position (1) by a cutting chisel (6) driven by a pyrotechnic propellant charge. The conductor bus (2) is clamped in on its side facing away from the cutting chisel (6) by a locking bolt (5) inserted into the housing (4), and a receiving space (15) is arranged in the locking bolt (5) in the region of the predetermined cut position (1), into which receiving space the cutting chisel (6) bends the region of the conductor bus (2) severed by it, and the locking bolt (5) forms an external surface of the housing (4).

Abstract: A process for forming a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device by a deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) process during which a substrate overlying a cavity is etched to form trenches that breach the cavity to delineate suspended structures. A first general feature of the process is to define suspended structures with a DRIE process, such that the dimensions desired for the suspended structures are obtained. A second general feature is the proper location of specialized features, such as stiction bumps, vulnerable to erosion caused by the DRIE process. Yet another general feature is to control the environment surrounding suspended structures delineated by DRIE in order to obtain their desired dimensions. A significant problem identified and solved by the invention is the propensity for the DRIE process to etch certain suspended features at different rates.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for absorbing energy in a collapsible steering column. The energy absorbing device includes an anvil rotatable relative to a strap. The anvil defines a plurality of profiles corresponding to different rates of energy absorption. The plurality of profiles are radially adjacent to one another about the rotational axis of the anvil. The anvil can be rotated by explosive charges. For example, the anvil can define a follower portion and first and second explosive charges can be disposed on opposite sides of the follower portion.

Abstract: A drive assembly for a closed loop cable system in which a flexible driver member drives a door or the like back and forth has the flexible drive member wrapped around and driven by a drive pulley. The drive assembly includes a motor unit having a motor shaft that rotates about a drive axis for rotating the drive pulley about a pulley axis, and a tensioning mechanism for adjusting the position of the pulley axis with respect to the drive axis responsive to tension in the flexible drive member.

Abstract: The end portion of the insulation sheath of a cable is formed into a grommet to promote better mechanical bonding with a vehicle sensor housing that is overmolded onto the cable.

Abstract: A variable purge orifice assembly for an evaporative emission system of a vehicle includes a housing for fluid connection to a vapor canister and a purge solenoid of the evaporative emission system. The housing has a purge orifice therein. The variable purge orifice assembly also includes a regulating device connected to the housing and for connection to an engine of the vehicle. The regulating device is actuated by manifold vacuum from the engine to vary flow of fuel vapor through the purge orifice from the vapor canister to the purge solenoid.

Abstract: The steering column assembly includes a housing having a longitudinal axis, a support member supported by the housing for movement about a shift axis, and a shift lever operatively connected to the support member and extending radially from the shift axis for shifting movement in a limited space. The present invention includes a break-away device having a shear container that extends through a translating bracket and the support member for limiting movement of the shift lever upwardly toward a parallel relationship with the shift axis and for releasing the shift lever for the movement toward the parallel relationship in response to a crash condition.

Abstract: A compressed data table is formed from an uncompressed data table by defining a code description bit structure having a code type and a run length of data items. The code type may be configured to identify byte-length data items, word-length data items and/or one or more user-specified data items. Each run of one or more byte-length, word-length or user-specified data items in the uncompressed data table is represented in the compressed data table with a code description bit structure having an appropriately configured code type and having its run length equal to the number of byte-length, word-length or user-specified data items in the run of one or more byte-length or word-length data items, and in the case of byte-length and word-length data items each code description bit structure is followed in the compressed data table by the one or more byte-length or word-length data items.

Abstract: A method of horizontally structured CAD/CAM/CAE modeling for analysis comprising: establishing a horizontally structured model of an object in a CAD/CAM/CAE modeling system; creating an analysis model from the horizontally structured model; and performing analysis employing the analysis model. A horizontally structured analysis model formulated with a CAD/CAM/CAE modeling system comprising: a horizontally structured model of an object; an analysis model created from the horizontally structured model, wherein the analysis model is employed for performing analysis.

Abstract: A non-thermal plasma reactor is provided. The non-thermal plasma reactor includes a plasma-generating substrate, a housing and a mat. The plasma-generating substrate has one or more flow paths for an exhaust gas. The housing has an inlet and an outlet. The mat retains the plasma-generating substrate in the housing such that the one or more flow paths are in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet. A voltage is supplied to the plasma-generating substrate to generate a plasma field. An electrically insulating layer is disposed between the plasma-generating substrate and the housing for preventing an arc of electricity from the plasma-generating substrate and/or the voltage to the housing.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of forming a molded powertrain mount assembly. A metal insert is provided, the metal insert including an engine interface portion and a molded base interface portion. At least one seal member is positioned onto the engine interface portion of the metal insert. The metal insert with seal member is placed into a mold, and the mold is closed. Base material is introduced into the mold. The base material is restricted from flowing onto the engine interface portion of the metal insert using the seal member.

Abstract: A diverter valve is disclosed and may comprise an actively cooled valve actuation section, an actuator, and a valve section comprising a rotationally actuated valve plate that is structured to be rotationally actuated by the actuator to direct flow wherein the actuation section may be thermally insulated from the valve actuation section.

Abstract: The subject invention provides a heat sink for a liquid cooled cooling assembly for removing heat generated by an electronic device. The heat sink includes a flow diverter having a hyperbolic cross section disposed on a base for absorbing a significant portion of the heat from the electronic device. An inlet tube directs an impinging flow of cooling fluid directly onto the flow diverter to remove the heat stored within the flow diverter. A spiral wall extends in an increasing spiral from the flow diverter to define a spiral channel for discharging the flow of cooling fluid. The spiral wall includes a plurality of louvers for creating turbulence in the flow of cooling fluid for maintaining a high heat transfer coefficient between the spiral wall and the cooling fluid.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the velocity of a rotating device is described herein. The apparatus includes a magnet assembly affixed to a rotating shaft of a rotating device and a circuit assembly. The circuit assembly includes a circuit interconnection having a sense coil and sensors affixed thereto. The circuit assembly is adapted to be in proximity to the magnet assembly, wherein the magnet assembly combines with the circuit assembly to form an air core electric machine such that voltages generated from the sense coil exhibits an amplitude proportional to the velocity.

Abstract: One embodiment of an ammonia gas sensor includes: a reference electrode, an ammonia selective sensing electrode and an electrolyte disposed therebetween. The sensing electrode comprises the reaction product of a main material selected from the group consisting of vanadium, tungsten, molybdenum, vanadium oxides, tungsten oxides, molybdenum oxides, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing main materials, and an electrically conducting material selected from the group consisting of electrically conductive metals, electrically conductive metal oxides, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing.

Abstract: A manually-operated control for generating a vector signal comprises a handle with an elongate axis pivotally mounted to the housing for universal rotation about a pivot point on the axis of the handle. An imaged surface moves in two directions with the rotation of the handle about two perpendicular axes intersecting at the pivot point. A camera and LED are focused on the imaged surface. A microprocessor-based controller inputs and processes images sequentially input from the camera for detecting and quantifying the movement of the imaged surface in two directions and generates a vector signal indicative thereof.