Abstract: A wear resistant fuel pump for a vehicle includes a pump section having a flow channel and a rotatable impeller cooperating with said flow channel to pump fuel therethrough. The fuel pump also includes a motor section disposed adjacent the pump section and having a motor to rotate the impeller. The 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. At least one of the plates includes a wear insert that improves abrasion wear characteristics therebetween.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to control a braking system. One method provides a command signal to a valve to control fluid pressure to a wheel brake in a braking system, includes determining a pressure signal based on a first set for control gains and a pressure command signal, determining a first current signal based upon the pressure command signal, subtracting an actual pressure signal from the pressure command signal to produce an error signal, and determining a second current signal based on the second set of control gains and the error signal. The method further includes subtracting a supply pressure actual signal from a supply pressure nominal signal to produce a pressure differential signal, multiplying the pressure differential signal by a selected gain to produce a third current signal, and summing the first current signal, the second current signal and the third current signal to produce an output signal.

Abstract: Apparatus for opening and closing a deck lid of a vehicle body. An elongated rack is mounted in a housing for longitudinal movement. A rotatable pinion meshes with the rack to move the rack longitudinally in one direction or the other depending on the direction of rotation of the pinion. A reversible motor rotates the pinion in opposite directions. The deck lid is attached to a pair of arms pivoted to the vehicle body. A link has one end pivoted to the rack and the opposite end pivoted to one of the arms. The deck lid is moved to open position in response to longitudinal movement of the rack in one direction or to closed position in response to longitudinal movement of the rack in the other direction.

Abstract: A power operating system for opening and closing a vehicle liftgate has a pair of drive units supported on the respective vehicle pillars at the sides of the liftgate opening. Each drive unit includes a vertically oriented channel and a rack member that moves in the channel. The rack member comprises a rack bar and a plurality of rack links that are pivotally connected end-to-end. A transfer link is universally attached to the rack bar at one end and universally attached to the liftgate at the opposite end. The rack member is raised and lowered by a power unit that has a motor driven pinion gear that meshes with teeth of the rack bar and the rack links in succession. Raising and lowering the rack member opens and closes the liftgate via the transfer link.

Abstract: A master cylinder for vehicle braking systems includes a housing having a central cavity, at least one fluid supply inlet port, at least one pressure outlet port, and a flange at one end thereof. A piston actuation mechanism within the central cavity is moveable between a first position wherein the central cavity is in fluid communication with the fluid supply inlet and a second position where the central cavity is in fluid communication with the pressure outlet. A cup-shaped end cap is fastened to the housing flange in a fluid sealing relationship wherein the cup-shaped end cap receives at least a portion of the piston actuating mechanism therein and further retains the piston actuation mechanism in an operational configuration within the housing.

Abstract: A self-compensating control circuit for use with a magneto-resistive sensor. The control circuit includes a first stage amplification and offset function that removes a DC component from the input signal and maximizes an AC component of the input signal within the dynamic range of the control circuit. Subsequent stages remove the remaining DC component, if any, and provide suitable additional amplification. A comparator provides a digital output based on the processed input signal and a threshold signal.

Abstract: Battery charging methods and associated chargers which are capable of rapidly charging a battery while subjecting it to reduced levels of overcharging. The methods described are capable of being utilized within numerous battery charging systems for batteries spanning a range of chemistries, such as lead-acid, nickel-based, and lithium-based batteries. Upon detection of the onset-of-overcharge during the charge process, a variable voltage lid is imposed (VLID=&ngr;(&phgr;)+&bgr;log&phgr;+&kgr;&phgr;) which reduces the maximum voltage that may be applied to the battery as a function of charge acceptance which is typically estimated by a calculation based on state-of-charge. Additionally, the voltage lid can be approximated with step-wise voltage lids which are responsive to the level of charge acceptance within the battery.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the precombustion identification of a cylinder undergoing compression in an internal combustion engine is disclosed. An electrode gap (e.g., preferably a spark plug) is disposed within a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. The electrode gap is provided with a voltage differential from a power supply through a circuit (preferably an RC circuit). The engine is cranked, and the voltage differential across the electrode gap is monitored during the cranking of the engine. With appropriate choices of the voltage differential across the electrode gap, the resistance R of the circuit, and the capacitance C of the circuit, voltage pulses are produced across the electrode gap during such time when the cylinder is not undergoing a compression stroke. Such voltage pulses are suppressed when the cylinder is in fact undergoing a compression stroke due to a rise in the breakdown voltage across the electrode gap, in accordance with Paschen's Law.

Abstract: This diaphragm support (18) for a motor vehicle brake booster comprises a central region (40) intended to be fixed to a piston (14) of the brake booster and a peripheral region (41). At least part of the support (18) extending from the central region towards the peripheral region includes a stratified structure consisting of a superposition of at least two sheets (42, 44) joined together.

Abstract: An anti-extrusion ring for use in conjunction with a vehicle solenoid valve has a plano-concave cross-section. The anti-extrusion ring is used to support a seal that seals the interface between a solenoid valve and a bore within a valve fitting. When the solenoid valve is installed in the valve fitting, a bore-to-ring interference area is formed between the bore and the anti-extrusion ring and a debris capture area is formed above the bore-to-ring interference area. Thus, when the anti-extrusion ring controllably fractures during installation of the solenoid valve with the bore or due to vibration, debris from the ring will be captured in the debris capture area and prevented from entering a fluid system in which the vehicle solenoid valve is used.

Abstract: An engine air control valve includes a throttle body having an intake air passage and a throttle valve rotatable in the passage between minimum and maximum air flow positions about a valve axis generally perpendicular to the direction of air flow through the passage. The air passage is defined by an internal wall of the throttle body, the wall including a pair of control surfaces spaced from the valve periphery with gradually increasing clearance on opposite sides of the valve axis in a low flow range. At least one of the control surfaces is interrupted by a recess forming a recessed portion of more rapidly increasing clearance extending essentially from a minimum to an intermediate air flow position of the throttle valve. The recess modifies the base flow curve of the throttle body to provide greater air flow over the low flow range of the throttle valve.

Abstract: A continuous paste making process for lead acid batteries that includes the steps of mixing water with a lead oxide, reaction an acid with the lead oxide in a mixture to produce lead acid compounds, and forming a paste including interlocking lead acid crystals from the lead acid compounds, where the mixing, reacting, and crystal forming steps occur in an extrusion apparatus. The method also includes the step of extruding the paste from the extrusion apparatus into a grid where the paste is dried to form a battery plate of the lead-acid battery.

Abstract: A side-mount bracket system for locking the sensor position with respect to a side-mount bracket once the air gap is first established by the gauging layer method, wherein the sensor may be removed and then reinstalled without use of any position setting procedure, yet the air gap is automatically precisely reset to its original value. The side-mount bracket system according to the present invention includes a washer and a side-mount bracket having an elongated slot, wherein as the washer is brought into the slot, facial interaction therebetween, eg., teeth inscribing a smooth surface, causes the washer to be positionally fixed with respect to the bracket. Alternatively, the washer may be slidably trapped onto the bracket at the slot, and a tapered bolt having a varying cross-section which causes expansion of the washer as it is threaded home, thereby affixing the washer positionally with respect to the bracket.

Abstract: A novel impeller for a regenerative turbine fuel includes a hub and a plurality of V-shaped vanes that project radially outward. The hub defines an aperture into which the shaft of the pump is securable. Each V-shaped vane includes a pair of fin members. Each fin member has an inner sidewall and an outer sidewall. The fin members of each vane are adjoined by their inner sidewalls. From their adjoined inner sidewalls, the fin members of each vane diverge to their respective outer sidewalls. In particular, the fin members of each vane diverge at a prespecified angle relative to a plane that lies normal to the center axis and also bisects the hub. Along at least part of its length, the trailing corner of each outer sidewall of each V-shaped vane is chamfered. The chamfer is made at a predetermined angle relative to the aforementioned plane.

Abstract: A hybrid electrical machine having a permanent magnetic rotor field in addition to an electrically excited rotor field is disclosed. The generator rotor (220) has two opposing claw segments (226, 228) mounted at opposite ends of a rotor shaft (222). A third, center claw segment (232) is mounted on the rotor shaft between the first and second claw segments. A first wound field coil (224) is mounted on the rotor shaft between the first and third claw segments, and a second wound field coil (234) is mounted between the second and third claw segments. One or more permanent magnets (230, 231) may be provided about the periphery of the first, second, and/or third claw segments.

Abstract: An inflatable curtain structure for deployment within the interior of a transportation vehicle so as to cover an area adjacent to an occupant within the vehicle during a collision event. The curtain structure includes an impact surface facing towards the occupant upon inflation of the curtain structure and a rear surface facing away from the occupant upon inflation of the curtain structure. The impact surface and the rear surface are secured relative to one another such that inflation gas entering the curtain structure is substantially confined in the space between the impact surface and the rear surface.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive sensor assembly includes a housing and a permanent magnet disposed within the housing. The sensor also includes two magnetoresistive dies within the housing in close proximity to the magnet. Three leads that are electrically connected to the magnetoresistive dies extend from the housing. The sensor assembly is manufactured using a leadframe formed with plural long slots and plural short slots. The magnet is attached to the leadframe such that the corners of the magnet are visible through the leadframe, and the magnetoresistive dies are attached to the leadframe based on the position of the magnet. As such, greater precision concerning the placement of the magnetoresistive dies relative to the magnet can be achieved.

Abstract: A steering gear system for an electric power steering system includes a motor, a gearing mechanism driven by the motor, a drive gear in mechanical communication with the gearing mechanism, a ball nut driven by the drive gear, and a rack laterally positioned through the ball nut and configured to translate the ball nut upon rotation thereof. The gearing mechanism includes a pinion and a sub-pinion in mechanical communication with each other held together but urged apart by a resilient member disposed therebetween. The pinion is urged away from a rotor shaft of the motor by at least one spring to compensate for angular motion of the pinion on the rotor shaft. Helical gear threads disposed on the pinion and sub-pinion are configured to engage corresponding threads on the drive gear. The resilient member forces the flanks of the threads on the pinion and the sub-pinion to remain in contact with corresponding threads on the drive gear regardless of the direction of rotation of the pinion/sub-pinion assembly.

Abstract: A catalyst for treating an exhaust gas stream comprising an alkaline earth/transition metal oxide component in combination with an alkaline earth/support component.

Abstract: A plug connector (10) for light conductors comprises two connector parts (12, 14) which can be plugged together and locked to one another and of which at least one (12) is provided with at least one optical ferrule (16). The ferrule (16) which is associated with a first connector part (12) can be locked via a locking device (18) with the other connector part (14).