Abstract: A method is provided for assembling a pole piece into an internal fuel passage of a fuel injector. The assembly method includes the steps of: (a) providing an endoskeletal injector tube, where the injector tube provides the fuel passage for the fuel injector; (b) forming at least one depression into an outer surface of the injector tube; (c) inserting an injector valve into the injector tube; (d) inserting the pole piece into the injector tube, wherein the pole piece is adjustable thereafter; and (e) affixing the pole piece within the injector tube, where an outer surface of the pole piece is in contact with an inner surface of the injector tube corresponding to the depressions, thereby creating a spring fit between the pole piece and the tube.

Abstract: A pressure atomizer includes a silicon plate having a top surface and a bottom surface. A portion of the top surface defines a turbulent chamber. The turbulent chamber is peripherally bounded by the top surface of the plate. The turbulent chamber is recessed a predetermined depth relative to the top surface. The silicon plate further defines at least one flow orifice. Each flow orifice extends from the bottom surface of the silicon plate to intersect with and open into the turbulent chamber. Each flow orifice is in fluid communication with the turbulent chamber.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated exhaust gas recirculation valve assembly for metering exhaust gas to the intake of an internal combustion engine. The exhaust gas recirculation valve assembly includes a base having an internal cavity with a control portion and a flow-through portion permitting flow-through of exhaust gas. The base has a hydraulic control port in fluid communication with the control portion of the cavity, the control port having an inlet. A valve body is rotationally mounted within the base, the valve body including a hydraulic control spool disposed within the control portion of the internal cavity. The hydraulic control spool generates a rotational force in response to a hydraulic pressure applied to the control port.

Abstract: A method and device for controlling an actuator in response to an input signal is provided. The device detects actuator position, calculates a force applied to the actuator as a function of the detected position using a predetermined formula, and responsively produces a force feedback signal. The device receives the input signal and the force feedback signal and responsively delivers to the actuator a control signal.

Abstract: Described is an integrated glass fog sensor unit utilized to provide the necessary data to predict glass fog formation. The unit includes a glass surface temperature sensor, an ambient air temperature sensor, and a relative humidity sensor. The unit is mounted on a thermal barrier tray which serves to thermally isolate the ambient air temperature sensor and the relative humidity sensor from the glass surface. A protective dome having a plurality of apertures covers the tray and sensors. A flex circuit, also acting as a thermal barrier, is utilized to complete the circuit between the sensors and the fog control unit.

Abstract: A valve seat for a fuel pressure regulator includes a valve body adapted to be disposed in the fuel pressure regulator and a passageway extending axially through the valve body. The passageway is tapered through the valve body to reduce fluid flow cavitation by limiting expansion of the fuel.

Abstract: A method of a manufacturing rotating electromagnetic component to have both soft and hard (permanent) magnet regions, in which powder technologies are used to net-shape mold the component. A soft magnet powder material and an insert or powder of a permanent magnet material are compacted to form a rotating electromagnetic body containing soft and hard magnet regions. A partial sintering operation is then performed on the body at a temperature of 1600° F. (about 870° C.) or less, preferably about 1400° F. to 1500° F. (about 760° C. and 830° C.), and most preferably at 1500° F. to at least partially fuse the soft magnet powder materials with the permanent magnet material. The soft powder component of the resulting electromagnetic body is sufficiently fused to exhibit mechanical properties comparable to a fully sintered body (i.e., sintered at 2050° F. (about 1120° C.) or more), but without degrading the magnetic properties of the hard magnet region.

Abstract: A vehicle restraint control system provides sophisticated, adaptable control of occupant restraints through the use of a system level architecture to predict the nature of a crash event at the earliest possible time and an occupant injury model to tailor the restraint deployment in an adaptable way to characteristics of the protected vehicle occupant(s) and the nature of the crash event. The occupant injury model derives the potential for injury in a particular vehicle crash in real time as a function of occupant mass, vehicle interior stiffness and occupant impact velocity with respect to the vehicle interior. Peak vehicle crush zone velocity is used as a predictor of occupant impact velocity with the vehicle interior. Predicted occupant impact velocity is preferably adjusted in response to derived impact angle factor, which is derived from orthogonal lateral and longitudinal accelerometers in the vehicle occupant compartment.

Abstract: An exhaust gas re-circulation (EGR) system is provided for use in conjunction with an internal combustion engine. The EGR system includes an intake manifold, an exhaust manifold, a passageway connected in flow communication between the exhaust manifold and the intake manifold, and an EGR valve interposed in the passageway for controlling re-circulation of exhaust gas into the intake manifold. In addition, an emissions control device (e.g., a catalytic converter) for reducing exhaust emissions in the gas flowing into the intake manifold is connected in flow communication with the EGR valve.

Abstract: An optical connection unit for the optically conducting connection of optical elements which conduct, receive or emit light is described. The optical connection unit comprises an optical transmission element which has at least one coupling surface for the optical coupling on at a coupling surface of one of the optical elements. Furthermore, the optical transmission element is designed as a spring element so that the coupling surface of the transmission element can be subjected to a bias force in the direction of the coupling surface of the optical element.

Abstract: A side-impact air bag having an internal self-tensioning tether/lace interlaced within the side air bag. The side air bag is secured to the vehicle along the roof rail between the front and rear pillars. The tether or lace is secured to the air bag and traverses a plurality of predetermined guide points disposed within the air bag. When the side impact air bag is inflated the distance between the guide points increases and any slack in the tether/lace is taken up. Moreover, the air bag assembly is formed with a pair of legs that are either pulled into or clustered about the airbag during inflation to enhance curtain stability. Thus, the stability of the air bag is improved.

Abstract: An actuator includes a cylinder having a central axis and a side wall. The side wall has an inner surface. A clutch is disposed within the cylinder, and includes a hub and at least one clutch arm. Each clutch arm includes a negative opposing finger, a positive opposing finger, a negative opposing spring and a positive opposing spring. The negative opposing finger has a first end attached to the hub and a fingertip end engaging the inner surface of the side wall. The positive opposing finger has a first end attached to the hub and a fingertip end engaging the inner surface of the side wall. The negative opposing spring has a first end attached to the negative opposing finger. The positive opposing spring has a first end attached to the positive opposing finger. A control input is configured for engaging a second end of a selected one of the negative opposing spring and the positive opposing spring.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for simultaneously setting the stroke and biasing force of a valve assembly, the apparatus utilizes a securement member which individually sets the biasing force of a valve assembly. The stop assembly allows a stop member, for setting the stroke of the valve assembly, and a securement member, for setting the biasing force of the valve assembly, to be secured simultaneously.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake master cylinder for a vehicle includes a pressure transducer mounted in the master cylinder primary piston for sensing hydraulic pressure applied to a brake circuit. Transducer signals are transmitted to the exterior of the master cylinder housing through terminals on the transducer which are connected to a plug member mounted on the end of the brake piston actuator rod. The plug member and the rod include passages for extending conductors therethrough for transmitting the transducer signals from the master cylinder.

Abstract: A rocker arm assembly has a first arm for following a first or opening camshaft lobe, a second arm for following a second or closing camshaft lobe, and a pivot axis of the rocker arm therebetween. A captive roller follower on the first arm follows the first lobe, and a slider on the second arm follows the second lobe. The position of the slider with respect to the roller and to the pivot axis is mechanically and controllably adjustable to optimally set the mechanical lash among these components after installation of the rocker arm assembly into a variable valve mechanism of an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A steering column differential angle position sensor includes an upper flux shutter and a lower flux shutter, both of which form a plurality of similarly shaped openings. Receiver and transmitter coils are coaxially aligned with the shutters. The transmitter coil provides a magnetic field around the shutters, with changes in the field being sensed by the receiver coil upon differential motion of the flux shutters. Using the output of the receiver coil, the torque on a steering column that is mechanically coupled to the shutters can be obtained.

Abstract: Parallel paths for damping fluid are provided through the piston of a suspension damper, each of which are provided with separate damping valving sets to control damping. Communication through one of the paths is controlled by a movable control valve member, which is controlled by a magnetostrictive element which deforms in response to application of a magnetic field. The control valve member is moved between active and inactive positions in response to changes in a magnetic field applied by a coil mounted within the damper piston. In one position, all communication of damping fluid is through one of the damping valve sets, while in the other positon damping fluid communicates through both valve sets. Accordingly, damping levels may be varied by controlling the magnetic field.

Abstract: A damper piston assembly includes a rod, a piston, a rivet disk, and a spring. The piston surrounds the rod between a riveted end and a longitudinal stop of the rod. The piston includes a valve assembly having a valve body with an orifice extending therethrough. The rivet disk surrounds the rod and has an opening for fluid communication with the orifice. The rivet disk is longitudinally secured between the piston and the riveted end of the rod. The spring is positioned in compression longitudinally between the rivet disk and the longitudinal stop of the rod.

Abstract: A multi-blade electrical connector featuring a guidingly movable blade stabilizer which prevents blade misalignment and foreign article entry into the blade environment. A shroud provides a shroud cavity which communicates with terminal cavities. A bladed terminal is received in a respective terminal cavity, wherein the blade thereof projects into the shroud cavity. The shroud has a top wall and a bottom wall and have formed therein at least one pair of mutually opposed slot sets, each being composed of a prestage slot and a staging slot mutually aligned and separated by a prestage detent. The blade stabilizer has a plurality of blade apertures for snugly receiving a blade, respectively. Opposing edges of the blade stabilizer each have at least one staging nib for being respectively received into the at least one prestage and staging slots, wherein the blade stabilizer is at a prestage position when the staging nibs are at the prestaging slots, and at a sliding staging position when at the staging slots.

Abstract: An exhaust treatment system is provided for use with an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. The exhaust treatment system includes a parallel plate, monolithic plasma reactor for reducing nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas from the engine, an electric power source for providing an electrical signal to the electrodes of the plasma reactor, and a controller interconnected between the electric power source and the plasma reactor for modulating the electrical signal to the plasma reactor. More specifically, the electric power source provides an alternating current electrical signal and the controller modulates the electrical signal off in accordance with a predetermined duty cycle, thereby achieving uniform barrier discharge in the plasma reactor.