Abstract: A novel impeller for a regenerative turbine fuel pump improves the efficiency of the pump and yet still retains a geometry that allows it to be manufactured by conventional injection molding techniques at a relatively low cost. The impeller comprises a hub, an outer ring and a plurality of innovative V-shaped vanes. The hub defines an aperture into which the shaft of the pump is securable to allow the hub to rotate about a center axis. The outer ring is concentric to the hub. The vanes extend from an outer surface of the hub to an inner surface of the outer ring. Each vane comprises an entrance portion that extends from the outer surface of the hub and an exit portion that extends from the entrance portion to the inner surface of the outer ring. Each vane has a V-shape of a prespecified angle centered relative to a plane normal to the center axis.

Abstract: Variable deployment performance by controlling the quantity and fluid flow path of the inflator gas into or out of an air bag module according to the present invention. The air bag module includes a vent opening and a cushion retainer diffuser including a plurality of diffuser openings which permits fluid communication between an annular cavity and an air bag cushion. The vent opening provides a fluid path for the inflator gas to flow from the annular cavity to outside of the air bag module. For full level deployment, the vent opening is closed and therefore the inflator gas is not permitted to flow away from the air bag module but instead flows into the air bag cushion. For low level deployment, the volume of inflator gas which flows into the air bag cushion is controlled by selecting the ratio between the cross-sectional area of the diffuser openings and the cross-sectional area of the vent opening.

Abstract: A process for forming a roller bearing comprising the steps of providing a cylindrical slug that comprises at least 0.7 weight percent carbon and up to 1.6 weight percent of at least one alloying element. The slug has lateral and side surfaces. A centered indentation is formed in each side surface. A circular chamfer surface is formed at the intersection of each side and each lateral surface, thereby producing an upsetting slug. The upsetting slug is cold formed, thereby deepening the centered indentations and forming a blank. The blank has a web separating the deepened indentations and end surfaces and chamfer surfaces that are substantially at net shape for the roller bearing. The web is removed from the blank, thereby forming a pierced blank having a through hole with an inner surface. The inner and lateral surfaces of the pierced blank are finished to the specified inner and outer diameters for the roller bearing.

Abstract: A roller finger follower includes an elongate body having a first side member and a second side member. A bracket having first and second sides is associated with the body. The first side of the bracket is disposed adjacent an inside surface of the first side member of the body. The second side of the bracket is disposed adjacent an inside surface of the second side member of the body. A roller is disposed between the first and second sides of the bracket. The roller defines a shaft orifice therethrough. An elongate hollow shaft extends through the shaft orifice and couples the roller to the bracket. A locking pin assembly is disposed at least partially within the hollow shaft. The locking pin assembly has a first position wherein the shaft is decoupled from the body and a second position wherein the shaft is coupled to the body. The locking pin assembly is switchable between the first and second positions.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention is a method of controlling a motor in an electric power steering system. The method includes obtaining a motor control signal having an initial duty cycle and linearizing the initial duty cycle to obtain a secondary duty cycle. An offset is added to the secondary duty cycle to obtain an adjusted duty cycle. The motor is controlled using the adjusted duty cycle. An alternative embodiment is a torque linearization device for linearizing torque produced by a motor in response to a motor control signal having an initial duty cycle. The torque linearization device includes a comparator for receiving the initial duty cycle and comparing the initial duty cycle to a threshold. A linearization table converts the initial duty cycle to a linearized duty cycle. A selector receives the initial duty cycle and the linearized duty cycle and selects one of the initial duty cycle and the linearized duty cycle as a secondary duty cycle in response to the comparing.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system for acoustically controlling an automotive or aircraft vehicle's automatic climate control system. The acoustic HVAC control system determines an average air temperature using an ultrasonic transducer. The transducer transmits and receives an ultrasonic pulse along a pre-selected path within the vehicle's interior and concurrently measures the interval time between sending and receiving the pulse. An average air temperature is calculated based on the interval time. The determined average air temperature is evaluated against a pre-selected setpoint temperature and determines whether the vehicle's automatic climate control system controller controls an air blower fan speed, discharge temperature, and air delivery mode to the cabin to adjust the vehicle's interior air temperature near an occupant to a desired temperature.

Abstract: A spring suitable for use in interposers such as those used to electrically interconnect electronic devices such as integrated circuits and printed wiring boards. The spring includes a central portion, a peripheral portion and a plurality of bent legs extending between the central portion and the peripheral portion. The bent legs optionally comprise alternating layers of copper and nickel. At least ode protuberance is preferably formed upon either side of the generally planar spring so as to facilitate electrical contact with desired electrical contacts of the devices to be interconnected.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a configurable warning system for a vehicle instrument cluster, including: selection apparatus to select desired characteristics of individual gage elements of the vehicle instrument cluster; illumination apparatus to illuminate the individual gage elements in accordance with selections made by the selection apparatus; and control apparatus operatively connected to the selection apparatus and to the illumination apparatus to receive the selections made by the selection apparatus and to furnish instructions to the illumination apparatus.

Abstract: A seat restraint buckle assembly for a seat restraint system in a vehicle includes a rigid frame having an open forward end defining a passage to receive a latch plate. The seat restraint buckle assembly also includes a locking member operatively connected to the frame and pivotal between a latched position in which the locking member retains the latch plate within the passage and an unlatched position in which the locking member is held clear of the passage. The seat restraint buckle assembly includes a release button slidably mounted on the frame above the passage for longitudinal movement relative to the frame. The seat restraint buckle assembly further includes a blocking lever operatively connected to the frame and pivotal to contact the locking member and urging the locking member towards the latched position.

Abstract: A seal arrangement having a bore within which a component is to be received, in use, the seal arrangement comprising a seal member formed from a resilient material, the seal member having an inner periphery and an outer periphery and being provided with a fracture to define two ends of the seal member. When in a relaxed condition, the inner periphery of the seal member has a smaller diameter than the diameter of the component such that, when the component is received through the bore of the seal arrangement, the two ends of the seal member are caused to part, the resilience of the seal member causing the inner periphery of the seal member to form a substantially fluid tight seal with the component. The seal arrangement further comprises a support member upon which the seal member is mounted, the support member being of generally annular form and having inner and outer peripheries, wherein the inner periphery of the support member is of generally circular form except for a region of irregularity.

Abstract: A mechanical oil filtration and oil flow re-direction system for a hydraulically actuated valve lifter. Pressurized oil is directed to the lifter through a series of controlled clearance passages prior to gaining access to the internal cavity of the lifter. Once inside the lifter, the oil is deflected off of an insert that directs the oil towards the upper end of the lifter and the push rod seat. The oil flow is then directed downwards into an oil deflector supply hole and into the internal cavity of the lifter and the chamber containing the lifter check ball and seat. In use, the system restricts particulates from the lifter, and re-directs particulates that do access the lifter to pre-determined locations within the lifter to minimize operational impairment of the lifter from particulate contamination.

Abstract: A variable valve train device for use on an internal combustion engine having a rotary camshaft with adjacent valve-opening and valve-closing lobes. The device is mounted on the engine head and is pivotable about the camshaft to alter the timing and lift of a fuel intake valve. A command link controls the rotational position of the apparatus with respect to the camshaft and is rotationally supported by a cylindrical shell bearing mounted on the engine head coaxial with the camshaft. The shell bearing is supported by an hydraulic lash adjuster or an adjustable ball joint to minimize mechanical lash in the device. The command link includes a ring gear which meshes with a control shaft gear for advancing or retarding the valve timing. The command link pivotably supports a rocker assembly for following the rotary motion of the valve-opening and valve-closing cam lobes. The rocker assembly is linked to an output cam disposed between the camshaft and a roller finger follower for actuating the valve.

Abstract: A hydraulic mount for an automotive vehicle or machine includes opposed mounting members secured to an elastomeric body and a base, respectively. An orifice plate assembly is interposed the body and the base to define a pumping chamber and a reservoir for fluid to flow therebetween through an orifice track of the orifice plate assembly. An electroactive polymer decoupler member is secured in a cavity formed between two orifice plates of the orifice plate assembly. The decoupler member is operably connected to a controller for imposing an electric field on the decoupler member to change its shape and thereby selectively vary the dynamic stiffness of the mount.

Abstract: A thermal isolator including first and second pads, the first and second pads shaped to cover first and second leg portions of a mount. The isolator further includes a friable connecting portion attached to each of the first and second pads. The connecting portion is positioned to disconnect when a housing is positioned on the mount.

Abstract: An evaporator (10) with opposed pairs of generally vertically oriented flow tube surfaces (14) has corrugated air fins in which the tube surface spacing c, the interior radius r of a crest (20) joining adjacent pairs of fin walls (18), the fin pitch p separating adjacent crests (20), and the length l of louvers (22) cut out of the fin walls (18) bear the following relationship: 0≦r/c≦0.057, 0.89≦l/c≦1.01, and 0.29≦p/c≦0.43. This has been found to substantially improve condensate drainage, while not significantly penalizing heat transfer or air side pressure drop.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a catalytic converter comprising disposing a first end around a second end and disposing an induction coil around the first end. Discharging a current through the induction coil and forming eddy currents on the surface of the first end. This magnetic impulse welds the first end and the second end together such that the first end disposed around the second end comprises a tube end disposed around an end of a catalytic converter or such that the first end disposed around the second end comprises the catalytic converter end disposed around the tube end. The method can be used to weld pieces of the catalytic converter, as well as sizing the catalytic converter for a desired mat density.

Abstract: A head up display (HUD) has multiple light sources of varying intensities for projecting a high quality image under various lighting conditions. The light sources provide illumination through an electronic display (e.g. an AMLCD) in the HUD. A high brightness light source illuminates the electronic display during bright or day light conditions. A low brightness light source illuminates the electronic display during night or low light conditions. Both light sources illuminate the electronic display during intermediate lighting conditions. A light panel conducts and diffuses light from the light sources to illuminate the rear of the electronic display. An optional light mixer reduces uneven lighting of the high brightness light source. In operation, the intensities of the light sources are controlled as a function of ambient lighting conditions to optimize the projected image quality.

Abstract: The problem of directing a bullet end of a brake cable, which may have become curved during storage, into seated engagement with a bullet retention slot in a brake apparatus is reduced through the use of a spring affixed to the brake means for guiding the bullet end of the brake cable into seated engagement with the bullet retention slot, as the bullet end is inserted into the brake assembly along an installation path. The spring may also be utilized for retaining the bullet end in seated engagement with the bullet retention slot after installation of the cable.

Abstract: A radiation furnace assembly for use in heating parts. The radiation furnace assembly includes a muffle having a top side, a bottom side, and a first side wall The muffle defines a chamber with a main heating portion and a first side heating portion. Disposed adjacent to the muffle are top and bottom heating elements. A first control device is used to adjust the temperature of at least one of the top and bottom heating elements thus controlling the temperature within the main heating portion of the chamber. A first side heating element is disposed adjacent to the first side wall of the muffle. A second control device is used to adjust the temperature of the first side heating element independently of the top and bottom heating elements to increase the temperature within the first side heating portion of the chamber relative to the main heating portion.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch has a forkbolt, a detent that holds the forkbolt in a latched position, a manually operated release mechanism that moves the detent to release the forkbolt, a lock mechanism for disabling the release mechanism, a double lock mechanism and a power operated unlatching mechanism that moves the detent to release the forkbolt independently of the manually operated release mechanism, the lock mechanism and the double lock mechanism. The power operated unlatching mechanism includes a power unlatching lever and a motor driven actuator having a jackscrew for moving the power unlatching lever.