Abstract: An improved quick-disconnect connector assembly for connecting hoses, having a female element for connection to a first hose and a male element for connection to a second hose. The female element has an axial bore having a sealing mechanism for sealably receiving a tubular portion of the male element. The male element further comprises resettable valve including a coil spring that extends into the bore in the female element and is retained therein by a U-shaped clip. The spring is sized to hold the male element axially within the sealing mechanism up to a desired inline pressure. When the pressure limit is exceeded, the male element spring is extended until the seal is broken, relieving the overpressure condition. When the un-sealing force has been relieved, the extended spring biases the male element back into sealing relationship with the female element, thereby automatically resetting the relief valve.

Abstract: An improved engine fuel control detects combustion instability due to the use of high driveability index (DI) fuel during cold start and warm-up and compensates the fuel control for detected combustion instability through temporary enrichment of the delivered air/fuel ratio. The usage of high DI fuel is detected during engine cranking by measuring the time required for the engine speed to increase from a lower reference speed to an upper reference speed, provided the engine run time is less than a calibrated value. A timer is started when the lower reference speed is achieved, and the timer value is compared to a crank time threshold determined as a function of the initial engine coolant temperature. If the timer value exceeds the crank time threshold before the engine speed reaches the upper reference speed, the presence of high DI fuel is indicated, and the air/fuel ratio is temporarily enriched.

Abstract: An engine fuel injector body is assembled using a furnace brazing method to provide structural and hermetic internal joints at interior locations with minimum size and processing. The method of assembling an injector with such an internal hermetic and structural joint may include the steps of providing an annular body member with an annular inner recess having an inner cylindrical surface, forming an annular end recess adjoining the cylindrical surface, fitting a tubular member into the inner recess of the body member with an outer surface of the tubular member engaging the cylindrical surface of the inner recess, placing a brazing ring in the end recess of the body member adjacent the tubular member, and furnace brazing the members together to form the internal hermetic and structural joint. Additional joints may be joined during the same brazing step.

Abstract: A multi-strike throttle minimum learning system compares a signal received from at least one throttle position sensor to a predetermined minimum throttle position range based on throttle system component tolerances. A possible throttle obstruction is indicated when all of the sensor signal minimum values are outside the predetermined minimum range. In this case, the system deactivates electrical power for a predetermined delay period and then initiates another learn attempt in an effort to overcome the obstruction. This cycle is repeated until a valid throttle minimum position is detected, the number of learn attempts reaches a preset maximum, or a sensor fault is detected. If a valid throttle position minimum is detected within the allowed number of learning attempts, normal engine startup proceeds; otherwise, appropriate fault codes are communicated to the balance of the engine management system and, ultimately, to the operator.

Abstract: An engine air control valve assembly includes a valve shaft and a valve plate made from composite polymeric plastics that are formed to be welded together by infrared laser welding. In a preferred embodiment, the valve shaft includes an intermediate portion with a longitudinal open groove along one side. The valve plate is formed with a central raised portion that engages the valve shaft in assembly. A tongue extends inward from the raised portion of the plate and is fitted into the shaft groove after assembly of the shaft into a valve body. The tongue is softened by a laser beam applied to the tongue/groove interface, thereby welding the valve components together in the installed location.

Abstract: Method and system for controlling an induction machine are provided. The method allows to sense rotor position of the induction machine using a relatively low-resolution rotor position sensor configured to supply a stream of pulses indicative of angular increments as the rotor position changes. A memory device is used for storing a synchronous angle boost function. The method further allows to retrieve from the memory device at least one function parameter for providing a synchronous angle boost during a start up mode of operation of the induction machine. Upon sensing a predetermined number of pulses from the rotor position sensor, the method allows to switch from the start up mode of operation to a normal mode of operation, wherein the boost provided to the synchronous angle is discontinued upon switching to the normal mode of operation.

Abstract: Unitary construction springs are provided for exerting an axial spring force for biasing a terminus of a connector outwardly so as to assure that the terminus abuts a corresponding terminus in a mating connector with sufficient force for maintaining proper contact when exposed to shocks and vibrations.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a gas sensor having a small amount of lead oxide incorporated into an inner electrode and an outer electrode, and a method for depositing the lead oxide. The lead oxide is applied in an amount sufficient to effectuate consistent performance during sensor break-in. Lead oxide is transferred to the electrodes of the sensor element during the fabrication process by exposing the sensor element to glass having a known lead content during a heating step. Lead oxide from the glass is vaporized and deposited on the electrodes in the form of lead oxide. The deposited lead oxide is incorporated into the electrodes of the sensor element. The lead oxide reduces performance irregularities thereby improving performance during the initial use of the gas sensor.

Abstract: A linear position sensor that includes a plurality of Hall effect transducers enables reliable positioning of a parking brake cable. Coarse positioning sensing is provided by longitudinally spacing the Hall effect transducers such that not more than one transducer has a positively sloped output signal for a given position of a magnet connected to a parking brake cable actuator. Fine position sensing is provided by linear approximation of the output signal with an offset appropriate for the specific transducer having the sensed positively sloped output signal.

Abstract: An air bag module including a cushion, a diffuser and an inflator is provided. The cushion is expandable radially and rearward of the air bag module. The diffuser is disposed in the cushion and is also expandable radially and rearward of the air bag module. The diffuser includes a vent in fluid communication with the cushion. The inflator generates an inflator gas exhaustible into the diffuser to deploy the cushion. The inflation gas is receivable by the diffuser for expanding the cushion and the diffuser to a first predetermined position. The vent is positioned downstream of the interior surfaces when the diffuser is at the first predetermined position. The inflation gas is diffusible by the diffuser through the vent to radially expand the cushion after the rearward expansion to the first predetermined position. The cushion is further expandable rearward to a second predetermined position after the radial expansion of the cushion.

Abstract: A pneumatic brake booster includes a generally cylindrical shaped piston. The piston has a first piston end and a second piston end and defines a chamber at the first piston end and a piston bore at the second piston end separated by an air flow aperture. The piston bore includes a plunger aperture located at the second piston end. A plunger includes a first plunger end and a second plunger end and is movable between first and second positions. The second plunger end is located within the plunger aperture. An air valve has a first valve end and a valve second end and is movable between first and second positions and defines a valve bore for receiving the first plunger end. A collapsing spring is located within the valve bore and is adapted to couple the plunger and the air valve.

Abstract: An improved vehicle seat occupant weight estimation method detects weight applied to both the seat cushion and the floor forward of the seat, and increases the measured seat weight of the occupant to account for occupant weight off-loaded to the floor. Fluid-filled bladders or other sensors are arranged to detect occupant seat weight and the weight applied to the vehicle floor forward of the seat. Upon opening of a vehicle door or an off-to-on transition of the vehicle ignition switch, the seat and floor weight sensors are monitored to detect the presence of an occupant. When the seat becomes occupied, or whenever there is a large change in the measured seat weight, the seat and floor weight are recorded, the occupant weight is estimated according to the recorded seat weight, and the inflatable restraints are allowed or suppressed based on the estimated occupant weight.

Abstract: A hob cutter includes a cutting portion and an abrading portion in mechanical communication with the cutting portion. The cutting portion includes a plurality of hob teeth having at least one gash extending therethrough to define a cutting face on a front of each hob tooth and a trailing face on a back of each hob tooth. The abrading portion includes a plurality of abrading teeth positioned adjacent to each other. Both the hob teeth and the abrading teeth are continuously formed and helically arranged.

Abstract: A spark plug for igniting an air/fuel mixture in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine includes a spark gap having a variable distance defined between a central electrode and a ground electrode portion of a ground terminal. The ground terminal is formed using either a bimetallic layer arrangement wherein one of the metallic materials has a different coefficient of thermal expansion than the other metallic material, or is formed using a strut or by thickening the metal where the ground terminal is connected to a metal housing of the spark plug. The ground terminal deflects away from the central electrode when subjected to an increased temperature, such as may occur when the engine warms up during operation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to high oxygen ion conducting/oxygen storage (OIC/OS) capacity materials, a catalyst employing the OIC/OS materials, and a method for converting hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides using the catalyst. The OIC/OS materials have stable cubic crystalline structures such that after aging for greater than about 36 hours at temperatures up to about 1,200° C., greater than about 60-95% of the cerium present is reducible. These materials comprise up to about 95 mole percent (mole %) zirconium, up to about 50 mole % cerium, up to about 20 mole % of a stabilizer such as yttrium, rare earths, and the like; and about 0.01 to about 25 mole % of a base metal selected from the group consisting of iron, copper, cobalt, nickel, silver, manganese, bismuth and mixtures comprising at least one of the foregoing metals.

Abstract: A fuel permeation barrier fuel tank for a vehicle includes a tank shell having a wall formed from a plurality of layers. The layers include at least an inner layer, an outer layer and a fuel permeation barrier layer disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer.

Abstract: Contoured metal-containing structural members and methods for making the same. The contoured structural members comprise metal-containing materials sandwiching a support or stabilizing structure. The contoured structure can be provided by tube rolling (or roll wrapping) the metal-containing materials and the support structure together and then, if necessary, bonding them or connecting them. With a contoured and generally non-flat structure, applications for the structural members of the present invention are nearly limitless.

Abstract: A power booster comprises a rear housing section and a piston. An inner bearing is disposed around the piston, and is adjustable relative to the rear housing section to translate the piston. A method of setting an axial dimension of the power booster is also provided.

Abstract: A brake caliper comprises a motor having a shaft, at least one first planetary gear, and at least one second planetary gear. The at least one first planetary gear is rotatably engaged with the shaft and with a piston, and is operatively engaged with a first carrier. The at least one second planetary gear is operatively engaged with the first stage carrier and with a second carrier. A ball screw is engaged with the second stage carrier for rotation therewith, and a ball screw nut is operatively engaged with the ball screw. A parking brake for the caliper is also provided.

Abstract: A brake circuit comprises a master cylinder in communication with a front wheel brake, and in communication with a rear wheel brake through a hydraulic line. A sensor senses pressure in the master cylinder, and an electronic control unit in communication with the sensor controls an apply valve to proportion pressure between the front wheel brake and the rear wheel brake.