Abstract: A thermal isolator including first and second pads, the first and second pads shaped to cover first and second leg portions of a mount. The isolator further includes a friable connecting portion attached to each of the first and second pads. The connecting portion is positioned to disconnect when a housing is positioned on the mount.

Abstract: A variable valve train device for use on an internal combustion engine having a rotary camshaft with adjacent valve-opening and valve-closing lobes. The device is mounted on the engine head and is pivotable about the camshaft to alter the timing and lift of a fuel intake valve. A command link controls the rotational position of the apparatus with respect to the camshaft and is rotationally supported by a cylindrical shell bearing mounted on the engine head coaxial with the camshaft. The shell bearing is supported by an hydraulic lash adjuster or an adjustable ball joint to minimize mechanical lash in the device. The command link includes a ring gear which meshes with a control shaft gear for advancing or retarding the valve timing. The command link pivotably supports a rocker assembly for following the rotary motion of the valve-opening and valve-closing cam lobes. The rocker assembly is linked to an output cam disposed between the camshaft and a roller finger follower for actuating the valve.

Abstract: A seat restraint buckle assembly for a seat restraint system in a vehicle includes a rigid frame having an open forward end defining a passage to receive a latch plate. The seat restraint buckle assembly also includes a locking member operatively connected to the frame and pivotal between a latched position in which the locking member retains the latch plate within the passage and an unlatched position in which the locking member is held clear of the passage. The seat restraint buckle assembly includes a release button slidably mounted on the frame above the passage for longitudinal movement relative to the frame. The seat restraint buckle assembly further includes a blocking lever operatively connected to the frame and pivotal to contact the locking member and urging the locking member towards the latched position.

Abstract: A seal arrangement having a bore within which a component is to be received, in use, the seal arrangement comprising a seal member formed from a resilient material, the seal member having an inner periphery and an outer periphery and being provided with a fracture to define two ends of the seal member. When in a relaxed condition, the inner periphery of the seal member has a smaller diameter than the diameter of the component such that, when the component is received through the bore of the seal arrangement, the two ends of the seal member are caused to part, the resilience of the seal member causing the inner periphery of the seal member to form a substantially fluid tight seal with the component. The seal arrangement further comprises a support member upon which the seal member is mounted, the support member being of generally annular form and having inner and outer peripheries, wherein the inner periphery of the support member is of generally circular form except for a region of irregularity.

Abstract: An evaporator (10) with opposed pairs of generally vertically oriented flow tube surfaces (14) has corrugated air fins in which the tube surface spacing c, the interior radius r of a crest (20) joining adjacent pairs of fin walls (18), the fin pitch p separating adjacent crests (20), and the length l of louvers (22) cut out of the fin walls (18) bear the following relationship: 0≦r/c≦0.057, 0.89≦l/c≦1.01, and 0.29≦p/c≦0.43. This has been found to substantially improve condensate drainage, while not significantly penalizing heat transfer or air side pressure drop.

Abstract: A mechanical oil filtration and oil flow re-direction system for a hydraulically actuated valve lifter. Pressurized oil is directed to the lifter through a series of controlled clearance passages prior to gaining access to the internal cavity of the lifter. Once inside the lifter, the oil is deflected off of an insert that directs the oil towards the upper end of the lifter and the push rod seat. The oil flow is then directed downwards into an oil deflector supply hole and into the internal cavity of the lifter and the chamber containing the lifter check ball and seat. In use, the system restricts particulates from the lifter, and re-directs particulates that do access the lifter to pre-determined locations within the lifter to minimize operational impairment of the lifter from particulate contamination.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a catalytic converter comprising disposing a first end around a second end and disposing an induction coil around the first end. Discharging a current through the induction coil and forming eddy currents on the surface of the first end. This magnetic impulse welds the first end and the second end together such that the first end disposed around the second end comprises a tube end disposed around an end of a catalytic converter or such that the first end disposed around the second end comprises the catalytic converter end disposed around the tube end. The method can be used to weld pieces of the catalytic converter, as well as sizing the catalytic converter for a desired mat density.

Abstract: A radiation furnace assembly for use in heating parts. The radiation furnace assembly includes a muffle having a top side, a bottom side, and a first side wall The muffle defines a chamber with a main heating portion and a first side heating portion. Disposed adjacent to the muffle are top and bottom heating elements. A first control device is used to adjust the temperature of at least one of the top and bottom heating elements thus controlling the temperature within the main heating portion of the chamber. A first side heating element is disposed adjacent to the first side wall of the muffle. A second control device is used to adjust the temperature of the first side heating element independently of the top and bottom heating elements to increase the temperature within the first side heating portion of the chamber relative to the main heating portion.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch has a forkbolt, a detent that holds the forkbolt in a latched position, a manually operated release mechanism that moves the detent to release the forkbolt, a lock mechanism for disabling the release mechanism, a double lock mechanism and a power operated unlatching mechanism that moves the detent to release the forkbolt independently of the manually operated release mechanism, the lock mechanism and the double lock mechanism. The power operated unlatching mechanism includes a power unlatching lever and a motor driven actuator having a jackscrew for moving the power unlatching lever.

Abstract: The collapsible vehicle steering column has a jacket slideably supported by a jacket support bracket and by at least one severable steering column support capsule. A steering wheel is journaled in a housing on the upper end of the jacket assembly. A bearing is supported by the jacket support bracket. A collapsible upper shaft is connected to the steering wheel and is slideably supported by the bearing. A collapsible intermediate shaft is connected to the upper shaft by a universal joint. Force on the steering wheel initially severs the support capsule from the jacket assembly, moves the upper steering shaft and the jacket rearward collapsing the intermediate shaft. After a stop surface on the upper shaft contacts the bearing, the upper shaft starts to collapse and the jacket housing envelopes the universal joint.

Abstract: A lifting/sliding switch, in particular for the pop-up/sliding roof of a motor vehicle, comprising a housing (1), a first actuation element (5) for the sliding movement and a second actuation element (8) for effecting the pop-up movement of the roof, whereby the actuation elements (5, 8), automatically return to their home position due to a resetting arrangement and, respectively act on switch contacts (49, 50) by means of a switch member. The second actuation element (8) is an integral part of the first actuation element (5), whereby both actuation elements (5, 8) are supported in the housing (1) and the switch members are configured as rotary switch members (13, 34).

Abstract: A CPA device located entirely on a first connector of a pair of interfitting connectors, wherein the CPA device is actuable only in the event that the two connectors are actually mated. A slide slides between a prestaged position and a staged position. The latter position is attained only upon release of a CPA actuation lock which automatically occurs upon mating of the connectors. The slide is then slid to the staged position, whereat the slide interferes with a clasp mechanism of the connectors so as to prevent unintentional release of the clasp mechanism.

Abstract: An electrical distribution center having a terminal connector body overlying a housing. The connector body has a plurality of cavities. Terminals have blades which project from the housing into the cavities through an inner surface of the connector body. A sealing member is interposed between the housing and the connector body and seals around each of the blades and against the inner surface of the connector body around each of the cavities. The sealing member has a substrate layer covered on both sides by layers of silicone rubber. Cable terminals are adapted to be inserted into the cavities through an outer surface of the connector body to make electrical contact with the blades projecting from the housing.

Abstract: A system for reducing torque ripple in an electric motor, comprising an electric motor having a stator and a rotor, a first set of N Hall sensors, a second set of N Hall sensors, a controller, and wherein said N Hall sensors in each said set of Hall sensors is spaced 360/N electrical degrees apart and said first and second sets of Hall sensors are spaced T electrical degrees apart, and wherein said controller is adapted to provide increased current during an overlap period detected by said Hall sensors.

Abstract: The electric park brake of the present invention includes an electric caliper motor assembly. The electric caliper motor assembly includes a motor, which is operably coupled to a shaft. The motor and shaft are surrounded by a housing. A cogwheel is disposed axially and operably connected to the shaft within the housing. A solenoid mechanism is disposed on the housing and positioned axially in relation to the shaft. There is at least one guide pin that is associated with the solenoid mechanism for interacting with the cogwheel when the solenoid is activated. The interaction between the at least one guide pin and the cogwheel provides a park brake feature and prevents movement of the shaft.

Abstract: The control settings of a vehicle climate control system are adjusted in accordance with a relative ambient humidity correction to compensate for variations in relative ambient humidity, and the correction is based on normally measured system operating parameters. The ambient humidity correction value is determined according to a difference between the cooling performance of the system and the ambient heat energy absorbed by the system. The cooling performance of the system is determined during an initial period of vehicle operation based on the time required to reduce the initial evaporator temperature by a predetermined amount. Once steady-state operation of the system is achieved, the cooling performance of the system is determined by the steady-state deviation of the evaporator outlet air temperature from a target temperature of the system. The ambient heat energy absorbed by the system is determined based on the temperature of the ambient air and the flow rate of air through the evaporator.

Abstract: A pressure balancing metering subassembly for use with a modular actuator of an EGR valve includes a metering base which defines a metering port and a pressure chamber. An elongate poppet includes a first end normally disposed in sealing engagement with the metering port. The poppet is selectively reciprocated to disengage the first end from sealing engagement with the metering port to thereby fluidly connect the metering port with the pressure chamber. Pressure balancing means balance the pressure at the first end of the poppet with the pressure at a second end of the poppet.

Abstract: A wear resistant fuel pump for a vehicle includes a pump section having a flow channel and a rotatable impeller cooperating with the flow channel. The wear resistant fuel pump also includes a motor section disposed adjacent the pump section and having a motor to rotate the impeller. The wear resistant fuel pump further includes an outlet section disposed adjacent the motor section to allow pumped fuel to exit the fuel pump. The pump section includes a plurality of plates disposed axially adjacent to and cooperating with the impeller. The impeller and plates are made of a compound having an abrasion wear resistance on a predetermined surface that improves abrasion wear characteristics.

Abstract: Vehicle suspension movements are transmitted to an anti-roll mechanism which is pivotally mounted on the vehicle for movement about the pitch axis thereof to accommodate normal ride motion of the vehicle in which wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle move equally. Vehicle roll is controlled by an anti-roll mechanism includes a torsion bar which is loaded by the suspension movement. Roll stiffness is controlled by adjusting the lever arm through which suspension movement is transmitted to the torsion bar by a lever arrangement commonly referred to as a Watt's link to assure that the change in the length of the lever arm is directly proportional to the change in the control in the cockpit. Accordingly, linear control is assured, and the torsion bar and lever arms do not appreciable deflect during cornering.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling a vehicle suspension system comprise determining a relative velocity between a wheel and a corresponding corner of the vehicle, and determining responsive to the relative velocity a raw wheel demand force. The method and system also comprise determining a relative position between the wheel and the corresponding corner of a vehicle body, determining a scale factor responsive to the relative position of the wheel, modifying the raw wheel demand force as a function of the scale factor to determine a scaled wheel demand force, and controlling the vehicle suspension system responsive to the scaled wheel demand force.