Abstract: A partial assembly process for a vane-type cam phaser. A pulley/sprocket is loaded onto a first camshaft-shaped fixture with a cam nose extending beyond the length of an actual cam nose such that a phaser rotor containing a locking bolt, when mounted onto the cam nose, is displaced axially from the pulley/sprocket by an amount sufficient to set the axial engagement of the bolt upon final assembly. A stator is loaded onto the pulley/sprocket and is rotated clockwise until it contacts the rotor, thereby removing all rotational and radial lash from the system. One or more axial holes are bored through the pulley/sprocket and stator and a locking pin such as a roll pin is inserted to permanently pin the stator to the pulley/sprocket.

Abstract: An electric power assist steering system is controlled by sensing torque in a steering shaft at a point along said steering shaft between a hand wheel and a mechanical connection to an electric motor, wherein the sensing includes sensing a magnetic field direction and intensity.

Abstract: A steer-by-wire handwheel actuator in a vehicle is presented. The handwheel actuator comprises a driver input shaft; a gear train connected to the driver input shaft; a motor responsive to control signals from a controller and variably geared to the gear train; a electro-mechanical brake responsive to the control signals from the controller and geared to one of the driver input shaft and the gear train; and a stop mechanism attached to a housing and coupled to one of the electro-mechanical brake and the gear train.

Abstract: A vehicle seat occupant classification system uses a pressure responsive, fluid filled bladder and pressure sensor adapted for engagement with an underside of a foam seat cushion so as to generate a pressure signal corresponding to the weight of an occupant on an upper side of the foam seat cushion. A humidity sensor responds to relative humidity of air adjacent the pressure sensor and/or foam seat cushion to generate a humidity signal that is used to compensate at least one of the pressure signal, a stored reference pressure value and a stored threshold value, from which at least in part; an occupant classification is determined.

Abstract: A ball-nut assembly includes a ball nut and a crossover member. The ball nut incudes a radial through slot and an outer surface. The outer surface has a first portion, has a ledge radially recessed from the first portion and at least partially bounding the through slot, and has an undercut wall connecting the ledge and the first portion. The crossover member has a flange and a crossover-grooved portion. A method for making a ball-nut assembly positions the crossover member from outside the ball nut to have the flange supported by the ledge and the crossover-grooved portion located in the through slot. The method also deforms the flange creating a staked portion of the flange which contacts the undercut wall of the outer surface of the ball nut.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon scrubber including a monolith; a seal disposed concentrically around an end of the monolith, wherein the seal includes an inner surface having a diameter equal to or less than an outer diameter of the monolith, a shoulder member protruding from the seal and physically contacting at least a portion of an end face of the monolith, and a rib member disposed on an outer side of the seal and in physical contact with the shell.

Abstract: An improved hydraulically assisted braking and steering system of a vehicle having a hydraulic pump communicating with a hydraulic steering assist device and including a hydraulic brake assist device coupled in series between the pump and the steering assist device includes the provision of a flow splitter which operates to reduce the interdependence of the hydraulic brake and steering assist devices on the flow of fluid from the pump. The flow splitter communicates with the outlet of the pump and the inlet of the brake assist device and is operative when the back pressure from the brake assist device exceeds a predetermined control value to divert a fraction of the flow of fluid around the brake assist device directly to the steering assist device, thereby providing sufficient flow to operate both the brake and steering assist devices within their normal design limits, rather than having the brake assist device starve the steering assist device when under heavy load.

Abstract: A method of making a heated steering wheel comprises depositing an electrically conductive layer on at least a portion of a steering wheel substrate to produce thereon a heating element for receiving an electrical current and providing a source of heat. Also disclosed is a heating element for a steering wheel and a heated steering wheel assembly formed using this method.

Abstract: A lead-containing glass material of the type suitable for use in a wafer bonding process, wherein the moisture resistance of the glass material is increased by the presence of a lead phosphate coating on an outer exposed surface of the material, thereby acting as a barrier to reaction of moisture with the lead of the glass material. A source of reactive phosphate ions is applied to the glass material so as to spontaneously form the desired lead phosphate coating.

Abstract: A ball nut and return liner assembly includes a ball nut having a tubular body having a longitudinal axis, the tubular body having an inner surface and an outer surface, a plurality of arcuate grooves defined on the inner surface. A longitudinal slot is defined on the inner surface parallel to the longitudinal axis, interrupting the plurality of arcuate grooves, and forming a pocket for receiving the return liner, the longitudinal slot having first curved walls. The return liner is provided with a first surface having a plurality of S-shaped return grooves extending from the first side to the second side to cooperate with the plurality of arcuate grooves in the ball nut. The return liner is further provided with a second surface for fitting within the longitudinal slot within the ball nut, the second surface having second curved walls.

Abstract: A composite steering column jacket including a pair of composite sections joined along a flange area. The composite sections include outer and inner walls spaced coaxially from each other, that mate at first and second flanges. A cavity is defined by the space between the inner and outer walls and is filled with a foam material that is disposed within. The composite steering column jacket has an increased stiffness and reduced weight when compared to conventional metal steering column jackets.

Abstract: Staggered firing of first and second spark plugs in a dual-plug spark ignition engine is achieved by apparatus that fires the first spark plug based on an output signal produced by an engine control module and firing the second plug based on the output of a delay control circuit responsive to the output signal produced by the engine control module. The delay control circuit additionally detects engine speed based on the firing frequency of the first spark plug, and selects a delay time so that the firing of the second spark plug is delayed with respect to the firing of the first spark plug by a calibrated angle of engine rotation.

Abstract: A deactivation valve lifter includes a lifter body. The body defines at least one annular pin chamber therein. The lifter body has a first end configured for engaging a cam of an engine. A pin housing includes a pin housing wall and pin housing bottom. The pin housing wall includes an outer surface. The pin housing bottom defines a radially directed pin bore. The pin housing is concentrically disposed within the lifter body such that the outer surface of the pin housing wall is adjacent to at least a portion of an inner wall of the lifter body. A deactivation pin assembly is disposed within the pin bore and includes pin members. A portion of each pin member is disposed within the annular pin chamber to thereby couple the lifter body to the pin housing. An external lost motion spring is coupled to the body and pin housing.

Abstract: An electrically isolated and thermally conductive double-sided pre-packaged IC component, stamped lead members, drain pads, source pads, gate runner, and a MOSFET, IGBT, etc. are positioned between a pair of ceramic substrate members. Layers of solderable cooper material are directly bonded to the inner and outer surfaces of the substrate members.

Abstract: The subject invention provides a magnetorheological (MR) composition having improved resistance to oxidation and increased dispersability in a carrier fluid. The composition includes a plurality of metal particles and a surfactant including a hydrocarbon with at least one of a hydroxyl, a carbonyl, and an amine group bonded to the hydrocarbon for reacting with the metal particles. The surfactant is present in an amount such that from about 1% to about 20% of the amount of the surfactant is adsorbed to the metal particles. The surfactant is reacted with the metal particles such that about 75% to about 100% of a maximum amount of the surfactant adsorbs to the metal particles for improving the resistance of the metal particles to oxidation and for increasing the dispersability of the magnetorheological composition in the carrier fluid. The MR composition according to the subject invention is utilized in a magnetorheological (MR) fluid.

Abstract: Activation energy, W, is determined from oil conductivity measurements to thereby provide engine oil condition from a known relationship between viscosity and W. Changes of W at a given temperature as the oil ages are reflective of changes in viscosity of the oil at the same given temperature, wherein changes in W at different temperatures are reflective of changes of viscosity at those respective temperatures as the oil ages. To determine viscosity, the temperature dependence of the oil's conductivity is measured to deduce the value of W at a given temperature. W is monitored as the oil ages. W may also be determined through the ratio of the oil conductivities at two different temperatures by techniques well known in the art by which the viscosity may be determined as the oil ages.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the amount of flow of a flowing medium. The method and apparatus include a bridge circuit configured to develop a bridge voltage Vb such that the magnitude of the bridge voltage Vb is indicative of the amount of flow. The bridge circuit is configured without having an ambient temperature sensor, thus the bridge voltage is uncompensated with respect to ambient temperature. A thermistor circuit is configured to generate a temperature reference voltage indicative of ambient temperature. A conditioning circuit is configured to receive the uncompensated bridge voltage and the temperature reference voltage to process the same and generate a compensated bridge voltage with respect to ambient temperature.

Abstract: A method of variably actuating a valve of an engine includes selecting one of three valve lift profiles dependent at least in part upon engine operating conditions and parameters. The selected valve lift profile is phased relative to the angular position of the engine crankshaft dependent at least in part upon engine operating conditions and parameters. The valve is actuated according to the selected and phased valve lift profile.

Abstract: A tin-lead solder alloy containing copper and optionally silver as its alloying constituents. The solder alloy consists essentially of, by weight, about 55% to about 75% tin, about 11% to about 44% lead, up to about 4% silver, nickel, palladium, platinum and/or gold, greater than 1% to about 10% copper, and incidental impurities. The solder alloys contain a small portion of CuSn intermetallic compounds, and exhibit a melting mechanism in which all but the intermetallic compounds melt within a narrow temperature range, though the actual liquidus temperature of the alloys may be considerably higher, such that the alloys can be treated as requiring peak reflow temperatures of about 250° C. or less. The intermetallic compounds precipitate out to form a diffusion barrier that increases the reliability of solder connections formed therewith.

Abstract: A battery pack containing a plurality of battery modules, these modules comprising a plurality of individual battery units, these battery units comprising a plurality of bicells with opposing terminals. The battery modules are connected in series by use of a flexible circuit and by opposing positive and negative terminals of each battery unit. The terminals of each battery unit contain a region of apertures which allow the adhesive of the packaging material to seal more effectively, thereby eliminating or reducing the amount of leakage from an individual battery unit.