Abstract: A toggle switch (1), notably a window regulator switch in a motor vehicle, comprises a switch housing (2) in which a spring-biased toggle lever (12) is arranged in at least one switching limit position and a dead-center position. The toggle lever (12) comprises at least one switch-operating lever portion (25) that actuates at least one switching assembly (20), the toggle lever (12) featuring a center projection in which a spring-loaded catch unit (18) is fitted which interacts with a cam curve (9) contingent on the position of the toggle lever (12). To reduce the overall volume of the switch housing (2) and compensate for construction-related tolerances, the switch housing comprises a receiving part (5) that is integral with it, in which the toggle lever (12) is fitted, and in which at the same time the cam curve (9) is integrated, with the receiving part (5) enclosing the at least one switching assembly (20) and the at least one switch-operating lever portion (25).

Abstract: An improved splined cam phaser includes four assemblies: a sprocket assembly, an inner hub assembly, a cover assembly, and a piston assembly. The joined assemblies provide phaser function at reduced manufacturing cost. The cover assembly, at least in part, is stamped from sheet stock and is net formed to receive a seal.

Abstract: A device and method for transferring steering responsibility from a first electro-mechanical actuator to a second electro-mechanical actuator comprises a cylinder and a first piston slideably disposed within the cylinder. A second piston is slideably disposed within an interior chamber of the first piston. A first locking sleeve is disposed within the interior chamber, a second locking sleeve is disposed within the interior chamber in opposition to the first locking sleeve, a first spring is disposed within the interior chamber interposed between the first locking sleeve and the first piston, and a second spring is disposed within the interior chamber interposed between the second locking sleeve and the first piston. The pistons and the locking sleeves also each include at least one groove disposed therein. Snap rings may be disposed within the grooves. A damping mechanism may also be incorporated into the structure of the device.

Abstract: A gear reduction mechanism includes a gearbox housing, a first gear having a first axis of rotation about a first shaft and the second gear having a second axis of rotation about a second shaft. The first and second gears are rotatably mounted in a gearbox housing so that the first and second gears mesh with each other such that the first axis of the first gear is substantially perpendicular to the second axis of the second gear. The gear isolator assembly is preferably disposed within the gearbox housing about the second gear for reducing noise generated between the first and second gears during operation of the mechanism.

Abstract: A fuel pressure regulator includes three major components, a lower housing, a control member comprising an resilient diaphragm mounted on the housing and a tubular return member mounted in a fuel return opening of the housing. The control member is preferably formed of resilient sheet metal and includes at least one annular convolution between the mounting portion and a stiff center portion configured as an inverted dome with a lower center part that acts as a valve member. The control member acts as a cover closing the internal fuel chamber and responds as a diaphragm to changes in pressure within the fuel chamber to flex upwardly by a rolling action of the convolution, which lifts the domed central portion, opening the valve and allowing excess fuel to drain through the return member.

Abstract: An improved internal combustion engine fuel control wherein a single oxygen sensor responsive to the combined exhaust gas flow of several engine cylinders is used both to control the overall or average air/fuel ratio, and to trim the air/fuel ratio in the individual engine cylinders. The oxygen sensor output is sampled in synchronism with the engine firing events, but at twice (or higher) the frequency, and filtered by an engine speed dependent high-pass filter to form a measure of the air/fuel ratio imbalance with respect to time. The imbalance signal, in turn, is parsed into an array of imbalance values that are associated with individual engine cylinders based on engine operating conditions, and the imbalance values are then used to develop correction factors for the respective engine cylinders that reduce the imbalance while preserving the overall or average air/fuel ratio of the engine.

Abstract: A variable valve actuating mechanism includes a rocker having a central rocker axis that is substantially parallel with and spaced apart from a central axis of a rotary input shaft. A frame member has a first end configured for being pivotally mounted upon the input shaft and a second end pivotally carrying the rocker. A connecting rod has a first end configured for engaging an eccentric of the rotary input shaft and a second end pivotally attached to the rocker. The connecting rod transfers rotation of the input shaft to oscillation of the rocker relative to the rocker central axis. An output cam is configured for being pivotally mounted upon the input shaft. An output cam gear is affixed to the output cam. A crank gear is affixed to the rocker and engages the output cam gear.

Abstract: An MR fluid damper having a damper body tube containing a volume of MR fluid. A piston assembly is disposed in the damper body tube to form a flow gap between an outer surface of the piston and an inner surface of the damper body tube. An external coil surrounds a portion of the damper body tube. The external coil is capable of generating a magnetic field across at least a portion of the flow gap. In another aspect, the piston assembly includes a bearing in contact with the, inner surface of the damper body tube. The bearing maintains the piston assembly concentric within the damper body tube while permitting a flow of the MR fluid through the flow gap.

Abstract: A valve actuating mechanism includes opening and closing rotary cams rotatable together about a primary axis and a rocker pivotable about a first pivot axis spaced from the primary axis. The rocker includes first and second rocker arms connected to actuate a valve by oscillating motion about the pivot axis. The first and second rocker arms respectively carry opening and closing cam followers operable by the opening and closing cams for positively oscillating the rocker in either direction. The closing cam follower has a pad engagable with the closing cam and carried by a hydraulic lash control piston slidable in a cylinder of the second rocker arm. The cylinder is connected with a pressure oil supply having a check valve preventing reverse oil flow. A bleed orifice in the pad is sized to allow restricted oil flow from the cylinder to avoid excessive loading of the mechanism. The orifice may be blocked by the cam to limit oil flow during operation of the pad on the cam base circle.

Abstract: A ring gear variable valve train device is provided for installation on an internal combustion engine having a rotary input crankshaft provided with a cylindrical eccentric journal having a center offset from the rotational axis of the shaft. A connecting rod disposed on the journal is reciprocated by rotary motion of the input shaft. A frame disposed on the input shaft may be controllably varied to vary the lift and timing of the valve. A rocker arm pivotably disposed on the frame is attached to the connecting rod to oscillate a ring gear portion of the rocker arm in response to rotary motion of the input shaft, which ring gear drives a planetary-geared output cam to actuate an engine intake valve to open and close. The teeth of the ring gear and the planetary gear are axially tapered, and a coil spring disposed on the output shaft is operative axially to displace the planetary gear axially of the ring gear to eliminate gear lash therebetween.

Abstract: A parallel guide mechanism includes a peripheral housing and a central mass, for accepting a mechanical input from a user, located within the peripheral housing. The central mass moves responsive to the mechanical input. A first beam and a second beam horizontally separated by a gap and substantially located in a first plane extend from a first vertical surface of the central mass and connect the central mass to a first inner vertical surface of the peripheral housing. A third beam located in a second plane is vertically spaced apart from the first and second beams and is horizontally positioned in the first gap between the first and second beams and extends from the first vertical surface of the central mass and connects the central mass to the first inner vertical surface of the peripheral housing.

Abstract: This present invention provides an air bag assembly for use in a vehicle having a front structural member which preferably comprises an A-pillar of the vehicle. The air bag assembly comprises an inflator for generating gas and an air bag cushion deployable upon generation of gas by the inflator. The air bag cushion is preferably stored along a length of the front structural member while the inflator is preferably located at a position remote from the front structural member. The air bag assembly further includes a gas conduit which provides a gas path for transferring the gas from the inflator to the air bag cushion. The gas conduit comprises an expandable member extending along at least a length of the front structural member which permits the gas conduit to be packaged within the A-pillar structure underneath interior trim molding used to cover the A-pillar.

Abstract: A vehicle traction control increases the allowed wheel spin for a driven wheel when (1) sensed vehicle speed is within a predetermined speed range corresponding to near maximum engine speed for the sensed currently used gear of the transmission, (2) sensed vehicle turn curvature is within a predetermined curvature range of zero curvature, (3) sensed vehicle longitudinal acceleration has not been below a predetermined high acceleration for a predetermined time, and (4) sensed vehicle engine speed has not been below a predetermined high engine speed for the predetermined time. The tests are calibrated to provide the increase in a very narrow range of conditions corresponding to high performance operation, and particularly power shifts of a manual shift transmission, on a racetrack with a high coefficient surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a connection element for the connecting of electrical leads which are provided in particular for motor vehicles and which comprise a plurality of parallel individual conductors which are connected to a common strip-like carrier, comprising an upper part and a lower part, each of which having at least one clamping surface. The clamping surfaces face one another in such a manner that in the connected state, two overlapping leads with mutually facing contact regions are clamped in between the clamping surfaces. The invention further relates to a method for the replacement of electrical components which are in particular provided for motor vehicles with the help of a connection element in accordance with the invention.

Abstract: A suspension damper assembly capable of adjusting the height of an automobile includes a cylinder tube defining a pumping chamber aligned concentrically within a reservoir tube. A fluid reservoir is defined between the reservoir tube and the cylinder tube. A piston is slideably disposed within the cylinder tube. A gas cup is slideably disposed within the assembly and separates a fluid chamber within the cylinder tube from a gas chamber. The gas cup includes a cup conduit connecting the pumping chamber to the reservoir chamber whereby stroking the gas cup pumps fluid into the pumping chamber increasing the outward force of the piston for raising the height of the vehicle. A piston shaft guide includes a shaft valve allowing fluid to pass from the pumping chamber to the reservoir chamber for reducing the outward force of the piston and lowering the height of the vehicle.

Abstract: An air cycle automotive air conditioning system for providing conditioned air to an automotive passenger compartment (20) includes an air compressor (10) tandemed to an expander (12). The expander (12) is efficiently run so as to expand air to a very low temperature, sending recovered work back to the compressor (10). The very cold expander air is then mixed with warmer air from other sources, providing a proper volume flow and temperature of air to the passenger compartment (24).

Abstract: An apparatus for minimizing angular rotor position errors in an air core gauge includes an air core gauge (105) having a magnetic rotor (108) and at least three coils (102, 104 and 106) wound around the rotor (108). A probe signal is applied to the first coil (102), and output signals are developed and detected across the second and the third coils (104, 106) in response to the probe signal and low-frequency signals applied to one or more of the coils (102, 104 and 106). The output signals are processed by a demodulation circuit (110) and a number of DC voltage signals are produced therefrom. A control circuit (304) is responsive to the number of DC voltage signals to determine an actual angular position of the rotor (108), and to suitably adjust the low-frequency signals to thereby correct for errors between the actual angular position of the rotor (108) and the desired angular position thereof.

Abstract: A pulse generator for indicating a change in the magnitude of an input signal includes a comparator, a first network connected to one input of the comparator for receiving the input signal, and a second network connected to the other input of the comparator for receiving the input signal. Both the first and second networks provide output signals to the comparator which transition in response to a magnitude change of the input signal from their respective baseline magnitudes to respective peak magnitudes, and back to their respective baseline magnitudes. The component values of the networks are selected such that one of the first or second network output signals is positive relative to the other network output signal over some period of time during the transition to the peak magnitude and return to the baseline magnitude to cause the comparator to generate a pulse indicating a change in the magnitude of the input signal.

Abstract: Hydraulic mounts which include a body member, a partition, a diaphragm and a base member are placed on an apparatus for supporting the body member loosely assembled with the partition, diaphragm and base member. A head member engages the body member and the base member in temporary fluid sealing relationship while air is evacuated from internal chambers of the mount and hydraulic fluid is flowed into the chambers. The head member may then be moved away from the base member and a final assembly of the mount provided by crimping a peripheral upper edge of the body member in forcible engagement with the base member, the partition and the diaphragm. The mount may include spaced apart projections to allow fluid to flow between the partition and the body member during the air evacuation and fluid fill process.

Abstract: A terminal side load electrical connector positions a series of terminals of a flex circuit into a core in unison. The core has a peripheral surface extending between a contact surface and a conductor surface. The terminals are assembled to the core through the peripheral surface. A housing has a conductor opening opposite to a contact opening. The core with the pre-assembled terminals insert into the housing through the conductor opening. The contact surface of the core is exposed through the contact opening of the core. The housing engages the peripheral surface of the core thereby preventing the disengagement of the terminals from the core.