Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus to determine an amount of aeration of fluids such as engine oil, thus permitting more aggressive operation of an oil-driven actuator, with fewer limitations in scheduling operation of the actuator. It includes monitoring engine speed and fluid temperature, and determining a first and second attitude of the engine relative to a first and second axis, and determines an amount of aeration of the fluid based upon those factors. The method determines an operating range of the fluid-driven actuator based upon the amount of aeration, and then permits the operation of the fluid-driven actuator within the operating range.

Abstract: A roller finger follower includes a body having a longitudinal axis, a first end and a second end. A first side member and a second side member are generally parallel with the longitudinal axis and interconnect the first and second ends. A roller seat is defined at least in part by the first and second side members.

Abstract: A product, product by process, and process according to the present invention integrates an ignition coil driver electronics or ignitor into a plughole coil housing. Electronic components are mounted directly to a printed circuit board serving as a direct connection to connector terminals and/or coil leads via plated-apertures. If required, at least one protective layer can be applied directly to an external surface of at least some of the electronic components mounted on the printed circuit board to compensate for differences in the coefficients of thermal expansion. The protective layer is selected from a group including a conformal coating, a soft buffer material, a hard epoxy globtop, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A suspension damper system is provided. The damper system includes a damper with a damper rod, a portion of which extends from the proximal end of the damper. The damper rod includes a bore and an electrode disposed within the bore. A fastener for securing the damper rod to a vehicle is also provided. The fastener is disposed over the damper rod and includes a circumferential groove. An electrical connector which includes an electrically conducting terminal is connected to the electrode. The connector includes a lock which mates with the groove in the fastener and includes a ground terminal which is connected to the damper rod.

Abstract: A dual evaporator air conditioning system and method for use therewith is provided to cool air in front and rear portions of a cabin of a vehicle. The dual evaporator air conditioning system includes primary and auxiliary HVAC units having primary and auxiliary evaporators, respectively, to cool the air in the front and rear portions of the cabin. A heat exchanger near the auxiliary evaporator warms the refrigerant in the auxiliary evaporator to maintain a minimum temperature. The heat exchanger warms the refrigerant in the auxiliary evaporator to prevent accumulation of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil in the auxiliary evaporator when the auxiliary HVAC unit is in a non-cooling mode while the primary HVAC unit is in a cooling mode.

Abstract: A brake apparatus and method utilize an electric power brake booster for operating a push rod actuated hydraulic master cylinder. The existing vehicle electrical system provides electric power for the power brake booster, thus eliminating the need for engine driven or auxiliary pressure/vacuum sources. The electric power brake booster includes an electrically powered actuator having an output shaft adapted for operative connection to the master cylinder, and an input for receipt of a signal indicative of force applied to the push rod. The electrically powered actuator augments the force applied to the push rod in response to the signal indicative of the force applied to the push rod. The booster may include a sensor for sensing force applied to the push rod and generating the signal indicative of the force applied to the push rod.

Abstract: An integrated intake manifold assembly including a poppet valve disposed at the air inlet to the manifold to regulate air flow into the manifold; a poppet valve disposed on the manifold to regulate exhaust gas flow into the air intake system; and a bi-directional camshaft with cams for operating simultaneously the manifold vacuum regulating (MVR) valve and the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve. The valve bodies are integrally formed in the wall of the intake manifold. The camshaft is driven by a DC motor and gear train. The cams are arranged on the shaft to provide optimum synchronized opening and closing of the related valves. When used on a diesel engine, the assembly may further include a swirl valve plate disposed between the manifold and the engine head and having a plurality of ganged swirl valves actuated by levers connected to the camshaft for coordinated motion with the MVR and EGR valves.

Abstract: A fuel cell system including a fuel cell stack, a reformer system, and a waste energy recovery (or heat exchanger) assembly is presented. The waste energy recovery assembly receives an anode supply and a cathode supply that are heated by exhaust gases from the fuel cell stack. The heated anode supply and cathode supply are then directed to the fuel cell stack. The waste energy recovery assembly includes a series of stacked plates. The flow direction of the plates alternates from one plate to the next. These plates are alternately stacked until the desired flow area and heat transfer are achieved. Since the direction of flow of each plate is perpendicular to the direction of flow of the next plate in series, the cool (anode and cathode) gases flow along side a plate experiencing a flow of heated exhaust gases and are thusly heated.

Abstract: An air conditioning system for a vehicle including an integral valve block (32) having a liquid line bore (42) extending therethrough and a suction line bore (44) extending therethrough with a transverse by-pass passage (34). The by-pass check valve (38) of the first system of FIGS. 1 and 2 allows only one-way fluid flow through the by-pass passage (34) from the suction fluid line (22) to the liquid fluid line (20), whereas the by-pass check valve (40) of the second system of FIGS. 3 and 4 allows only one-way fluid flow through the by-pass passage (34) from the liquid fluid line (20) to the suction fluid line (22). Also integrated into the valve block (16) is a suction check valve (46) in the suction fluid line (22) for allowing one-way fluid flow from the evaporator (16) to the compressor (12).

Abstract: A fuel cell system is disclosed. A fuel cell stack is in fluid communication with a reformer. An air conditioning system is in fluid communication with the reformer. Methods of making and using a fuel cell system are also disclosed.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle door has a glass window that is raised and lowered by a window regulator that includes a roller cable assembly (15). The roller cable assembly (15) has a rolled section guide rail (18) and a bracket assembly (16) at the lower end portion of the glass window that runs on an L-shaped flange (36) of the guide rail (18). The roller cable assembly (15) includes upper and lower roller assemblies (28 and 30) at the respective upper and lower ends of guide rail (18) and a cable (20) that is trained on rollers (22 and 24) of the roller assemblies and on a drive roller (26) that is driven by an electric motor (32). Each roller assembly includes a base (42) that is slideably attached to the guide rail (16) and a detachable cap pin (44) that attaches the guide roller to the base (42).

Abstract: A proportionally-controllable solenoid including primary and secondary pole pieces that surround an armature axially movable along an axial channel within the pole pieces. The pole pieces are separated axially by an air gap and are conically tapered toward the gap. The leading and trailing faces of the armature are substantially orthogonal to its direction of travel to minimize radial parasitic forces on these faces. Further, the armature is also lengthened such that the trailing face is always outside the axial channel in the secondary pole piece at all points of axial travel to minimize the pull-back effect of axial flux vectors on the trailing face.

Abstract: A collapsible push rod for a brake booster in a vehicle is provided, having first and second telescoping members, and retractable locking means for selectively locking the first and second members together against telescoping. During a frontal impact collision, the members telescope into one another to shorten the length of the push rod and compensate for rearward movement of the brake booster and forward movement of the driver. The push rod is operable in the collapsed state. The push rod is also re-settable after the collision, and includes features for returning the push rod to its normal un-telescoped length following the collision, if the push rod is not damaged in the collision. The retractable locking means includes an electrically actuated solenoid for selectively locking and unlocking the first and second members against telescoping, in response to an electrical signal applied to the solenoid.

Abstract: A heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) assembly having a housing defining first and second quadrants. An air mixing door is mounted to the housing downstream of an inlet and upstream of an outlet. The air mixing door has a first position directing substantially all of the air through the first quadrant, a second position directing substantially all of the air through the second quadrant, and a third position directing a flow of air through both of the first and second quadrants. A first seal is mounted to a first side of the air mixing door and a second seal is mounted to a second side of the air mixing door. A diffuser is mounted to at least one of the sides of the air mixing door and has a plurality of passageways to interrupt a flow of air passing around the air mixing door when the air mixing door initially moves from one of the first and second positions to the third position, thereby controlling an initial flow of air into at least one of the quadrants.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improvement over conventional engine controls by providing a method and system that operates a variable valve system immediately subsequent to engine start, and disengages the variable valve system when engine performance is unacceptable. If the variable valve system is disengaged after engine start due to poor engine performance, a time delay occurs to allow the engine to create a sufficient amount of oil pressure to operate the variable valve system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus to control the rate of change of the variable cam phasing system during transient engine operating conditions. It does this primarily to maintain combustion stability. The invention controls the rate of change of the variable cam phasing system based upon the operating point of the engine, the desired operating point of the engine, and the rate of change of the variable cam phasing system necessary to maintain combustion stability.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed that uses an empirically-derived thermal transfer function for an ignition coil taken with respect to an ambient temperature and responsive internal temperatures. The system combines the transfer function with a minimum cure-induced stress profile, in order to obtain a time-temperature profile for minimizing cure-induced residual stress in an epoxy resin impregnated ignition coil. An accelerated minimal-stress profile is obtained by increasing an initial gel isotherm temperature of the above-mentioned time-temperature profile.

Abstract: A hydraulic manifold assembly for variable actuation of engine valves in accordance with the invention includes oil flow galleries. Engine oil under pressure communicates with a global supply gallery in the manifold assembly, from which pressurized oil is supplied selectively via individual supply galleries to each variable actuator for each valve through the action of solenoid valves. At engine startup, all galleries may be empty of oil, or partially filled. A global relief valve at the end of the global supply gallery causes air to be purged immediately upon startup of the engine. Each solenoid and individual gallery is provided with a low pressure relief valve leading back to the crankcase when the solenoid supply valve is closed. A bleed orifice between the global supply gallery and each individual gallery continually bleeds oil under low pressure into the individual gallery, which purges initial air therein.

Abstract: A peristaltic piston pump driven by a dedicated pump cam disposed on a camshaft of an engine. A plurality of valve-opening cams are also disposed along the camshaft. The pump cam has a plurality of lobes equal in number to the number of valve cams and each pump lobe is disposed at 180° from a valve cam lobe such that the camshaft valve torque and secondary oil pump camshaft torque partially cancel, reducing overall camshaft torque oscillation. The pump includes a lost-motion shuttle and spring to permit continuous response of the pump to the cam.

Abstract: An automotive glove box assembly. The glove box assembly includes a storage bin and a door disposed in hinging relation to the storage bin. The door includes an expansible body having a face portion facing towards a vehicle occupant and a back portion in opposing relation to the face portion. The expansible body is operatively connected to at least one gas emitting unit such that upon discharge of gas from the gas emitting unit, the expansible body is pressurized and the face portion is projected outwardly to an extended position so as to intercept lower extremities of the occupant.