Abstract: A fluid filter for a vehicle solenoid valve includes a male end piece, a female end piece, and a medial end piece therebetween. A first screen connects the male end piece to the central support piece and a second screen connects the female end piece to the central support piece. The female end piece is formed with a hole. A post extends from the male end piece. When the filter is wrapped around a solenoid valve, the hole engages the post and is heat staked to hold the filter snugly around the valve with the screens covering the valve ports.

Abstract: A method and device for determining the absolute angular position of a rotating body includes an input gear attached to a rotating body and meshed with a single output gear. The gear ratio between the input gear and the output gear is a non-integer, so that the output gear will be out of phase with the input gear as the input gear completes successive revolutions. A sensor is placed in close proximity to the output gear and provides a signal to a microprocessor representing the angular position of the output gear. This signal is used by the microprocessor to calculate the absolute angular position of the input gear and thus, the absolute position of the attached rotating body.

Abstract: An evaporative control valve includes a plunger reciprocable between a valve stop and a valve seat to open and close a controlled port. The plunger has a body, a flexible support member mounted on one end of the body and a resilient tip positioned on the support member for sealing engagement with the valve seat. When the resilient tip of the plunger impacts the valve seat, the flexible support member absorbs substantially all of the force of impact by deflecting in the direction opposite the plunger movement, increasing impact time and reducing noise which may be generated. The resilient tip may be positioned on the flexible support member to further define a stop cushion to further reduce impact of the plunger against the valve stop.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling engine vibration mounted within a vehicle including at least one hydraulic mount, each mount including a fluid chamber. A pair of accelerometers sense relative acceleration across the mount between the engine and the frame and generate a relative acceleration signal. A control unit is electrically connected to the accelerometers. The control unit is adapted to generate an electronic control signal in response to the relative acceleration signal. The control device is responsive to the electric control signal for controlling the damping force of the hydraulic mount. A control algorithm calibrates the control unit such that maximum vibration damping occurs at and around the engine resonance bounce frequency.

Abstract: A master cylinder assembly including a boost assembly. The hydraulic master cylinder includes a cylinder defining an elongated bore, a piston slidably positioned in said bore, inlet means in the cylinder for admitting hydraulic fluid into the bore from a reservoir, and an outlet fitting in said cylinder communicating with said bore and operative to convey hydraulic fluid out of the bore for delivery to a brake device in response to linear movement of the piston in the bore. The boost assembly includes an electric motor. A hollow ball nut and screw assembly is operably connected to the motor. A screw of the ball nut and screw assembly is positioned to advance the piston in response to actuation of the motor. An input rod extending through the screw includes a first end positioned to receive a brake input force and a second end positioned to advance the piston independently from the screw.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle sway bar assembly includes two opposed sway bar members interconnected by a hydraulically actuated latch operable to effectively decouple the sway bar members. Alternatively, the sway bar assembly may include an integral center section interconnecting the opposed sway bar members and the latch is operable to modify the effective stiffness of the assembly. The latch includes a housing with two opposed latch members axially moveable relative to each other between fully engaged positions for transmitting torque from one sway bar member to the other or partially disengaged to effectively decouple the sway bar members from each other. An anti-backlash lock member is engageable with one sway bar latch member to reduce backlash created by a splined connection when the latch members are fully engaged with each other.

Abstract: An automotive condenser includes closely nested, plastic molded support brackets solidly tightly fitted to the four corners thereof, post braze and with no separate fasteners, which adhere to the corners solidly enough to prevent any significant twisting or shifting relative thereto. A reinforced support flange on the bracket is stiff enough to prevent any significant twisting relative to the bracket itself, when subjected to the level of torque to be expected when an inlet or outlet pipe of the condenser is installed to a refrigerant line. Therefore, the support flange of the bracket can hold the end of the pipe solidly enough to allow the refrigerant line to be connected thereto with no need for a back up tool or other external support to resist the torque.

Abstract: An exhaust gas sensor includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an electrolyte disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electrolyte includes a first portion disposed at least in partial physical contact and in ionic communication with a second portion. The first portion has a first portion grain size which is different than a second portion grain size. Further, a method for manufacturing a gas sensor includes forming a multiple portion electrolyte. The electrolyte is formed with a first portion having one grain size, and a second portion at least in partial physical contact and in ionic contact with the first portion, the second portion having a second portion grain size different from the first portion grain size. The electrolyte may be fired before or after application of an electrode in ionic contact with the first portion and a second electrode in ionic contact with said second portion.

Abstract: Flexible thermoplastic polymer alloy compositions and process for preparing same are disclosed. The composition comprises a blend of about 20 to about 40 weight percent (hereinafter “wt. %”) polypropylene; about 20 to about 50 wt. % uncrosslinked ethylene copolymer; about 2 to about 15 wt. % functionalized polymers, which functionalized polymers typically include maleated polypropylene; and about 1 to about 10 wt. % amines, which amines typically include long chain amines. Processes for mixing the compositions are also included.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for independent axle control of a variable force damper system by providing at least one axle velocity signal from at least one vehicle sensor. The method then applies an axle control algorithm to the at least one axle velocity signal, thus determining at least one axle damping command as a function of the axle control algorithm.

Abstract: A fluid pipe (14) for fluid flow between a pair of manifolds of a heat exchanger and which is formed from a single piece of sheet metallic material having a cladding on at least one surface, the fluid pipe having a first side wall (40) having a first portion (46) and a second portion (48); a second side wall (42) extending substantially parallel to and spaced from the first side wall; a pair of end walls (44) connecting the first and second side walls; first, second and third internal walls (50-54) positioned internally of the first and second side walls and the end walls, the first, second and third internal walls being spaced apart and spaced from the end walls, and extending between the first and second side walls, the first internal wall being of double the thickness of the sheet and being positioned intermediate the second and third internal walls; a first planar side portion (56) connecting the first and second internal walls and contacting a first planar part (58) of the internal surface of the second

Abstract: A fuel rail damper includes a hollow member having a first end and a second end, opposing first and second sides, and a first face and a second face interconnecting and spacing apart the first and second sides. Each of the first and second ends are sealed in an air tight manner to thereby define a chamber in conjunction with the first and second sides and the first and second faces.

Abstract: A deactivation hydraulic valve lifter includes an elongate lifter body having a substantially cylindrical inner wall. The inner wall defines at least one annular pin chamber therein. The lifter body has a first end configured for engaging a cam of an engine. An elongate pin housing includes a substantially cylindrical pin housing wall and pin housing bottom. The pin housing wall includes an inner surface and an outer surface. The pin housing bottom defines a radially directed pin bore therethrough. The pin housing is concentrically disposed within the inner wall of the lifter body such that the outer surface of the pin housing wall is adjacent to at least a portion of the inner wall of the lifter body. A plunger having a substantially cylindrical plunger wall with an outer surface is concentrically disposed within the pin housing such that the outer surface of the plunger wall is adjacent to at least a portion of the inner surface of the pin housing wall.

Abstract: An actuator housing isolator plate is used in an actuator array having two or more actuator assemblies connected to each other by a flexible circuit. The isolator plate prevents the actuator housings, in which the actuator assemblies are disposed, from contacting the flexible circuit. Thus, the likelihood of the actuator housings shorting out the flexible circuit is eliminated. The isolator plate further includes isolator posts that prevent the flexible circuit from contacting itself when it is folded over on top of the actuator housings.

Abstract: A fuel injector comprising a nozzle body having a first bore defining first and second seatings and an outer valve member slidable within the first bore and engageable with the first seating to control fuel flow from a first outlet opening located downstream of the first seating. The outer valve member is provided with a through bore and an inner valve member is slidable within the through bore and is engageable with a second seating to control fuel flow from a second outlet opening. The through bore defines a step which is engageable with an enlarged region of the inner valve member, the through bore permitting, during fuel injector assembly, insertion of the inner valve member into the through bore through an end of the through bore remote from the first and second outlet openings. The invention also relates to a method of assembling such a fuel injector.

Abstract: A braking assembly (102) and method for use with a brake by wire system provides braking forces to first and second wheels (104, 106) as a function of first and second electrical brake signals. A first hydraulic brake assembly (108) coupled to the first wheel (104) applies a first braking force to the first wheel (104). A second hydraulic brake assembly (110) coupled to the second wheel (106) applies a second braking force to the second wheel (106). A first pressure sensor (112) senses a pressure of the first hydraulic brake assembly (108) and responsively produces a first pressure signal. A second pressure sensor (114) senses a pressure of the second hydraulic brake assembly (110) and responsively produces a second pressure signal. A controller (116) receives a desired brake actuation signal and responsively determines the first and second electrical brake signals.

Abstract: A mount for a powertrain component of a motor vehicle comprises first and second plates, and a controller. The first plate is connected to one of the powertrain component or a frame of the motor vehicle. The second plate is connected to the other of the powertrain component or the frame of the motor vehicle. The controller measures the capacitance between the first plate and the second plate.

Abstract: A mounting bracket apparatus for a disc brake of a vehicle is provided for measuring torque in a disc brake mounting bracket. The invention includes a bracket capable of being secured to a non-rotatable part of a vehicle. The bracket includes first and second caliper bracket abutments and a cross member extending in the direction of the rotational axis of the disc. The cross member joins the first and second caliper bracket abutments at respective first and second corner-shaped portions. A force sensor is located adjacent the first corner-shaped portion of the bracket adapted to sense strain in the first corner-shaped portion.

Abstract: A passive low pass, &pgr;-type filter of a surface mounted device configuration has two stack capacitors disposed radially inwardly of a coil, otherwise known as an inductor. Each capacitor has a number of ground plates successively stacked between a number of signal plates. The ground plates electrically engage a front and rear ground band which circles the external surface of a non-conductive encapsulant of the filter. A forward and rearward conductive member or sheet engages each end of the encapsulant. One end of the coil is engaged to the front sheet and the opposite end is engaged to the rear sheet. The signal plates of the forward capacitor are engaged to the front sheet and the signal plates of the rearward capacitor are engaged electrically to the rear sheet.

Abstract: A preformed heating element for use in a steering wheel including a heating element, embedded into a rubber or polyurethane material and preformed with manufacturing methods such as vacuum forming, resin impregnating, injection molding, and pultrusion progressive die.