Abstract: Disclosed is a method for assisting the parking of a vehicle. The method includes determining a vehicle position relative to an obstacle. When the relative position meets a first set of criteria, a first torque pulse is delivered to the steering wheel in the first direction to cue an operator of the vehicle to turn the steering wheel in the first direction. When the relative position meets a second set of criteria, a second torque pulse is delivered to the steering wheel in the second direction, opposite to the first direction to cue the operator to turn the steering wheel in the second direction. A system for assisting the parking of a vehicle is also disclosed.

Abstract: A hydraulic system for use in a motorized vehicle including a pressure source, a valve fluidly coupled to the pressure source, and an actuator fluidly coupled to the valve. The actuator includes an outer casing and a piston slidably received in the outer casing such that the piston defines a piston chamber and a rod chamber in the outer casing. The actuator includes a rod coupled to the piston on a side of the piston facing the rod chamber. The valve is configured such that when the valve is in an open position the valve provides fluid communication to the rod chamber and provides fluid communication to the piston chamber. Fluid flowing through the valve to the rod chamber passes through a restricted orifice having cross sectional area that is smaller than the cross sectional area of any orifice that would be passed through by fluid flowing through the valve to the piston chamber.

Abstract: An Engine Control Module includes an electronic controller for controlling the position of an EGR valve, the timing of opening and closing of the engine combustion valves, and the timing of the individual cylinder fuel injectors of an engine. Each engine cylinder includes a pressure sensor. Peak cylinder pressure is sent to the ECM during each firing cycle. The ECM is programmed with required maximum percentages of EGR and optimal combustion valve timing for each engine operating condition, and sets the EGR valve and/or the camshaft phaser accordingly to adjust combustion in all the engine cylinders. The ECM also compares the measured peak pressure for each cylinder and adjusts the timing of fuel injection for the next firing cycle to trim the measured peak pressure in each cylinder to a predetermined level at or below the maximum allowable peak firing pressure for the engine.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed housing includes a plurality of inner walls extending radially from a central post to a circular outer wall, thereby defining a plurality of pie shaped chambers, each independently containing a refrigerant. At least one of the chambers is always in position to remove heat from an electronic device regardless of the orientation of the heat exchanger assembly. A plurality of side fins are disposed on the outer wall of the housing, and a plurality of top fins extend radially from a central axis (A) and are disposed on top of the housing. A wicking material is disposed on the interior of each chamber. A fan assembly is disposed on top of the top fins to blow air radially down into the fins.

Abstract: A method for compensating fuel injection timing when a torque signal or throttle command indicates that a transient operation is about to transpire. The control adjusts the fuel injection timing in advance of the transient operation to prevent loss of torque due to change in combustion phase position. During engine operation in pre-mix mode of combustion, rapid changes in fueling quantity can affect the combustion angle as well as the temperature in the combustion chamber, causing late or early combustion phasing. The present invention anticipates a change in combustion phasing by sensing a change in demanded fueling rate. The Engine Control Module (ECM) then applies a nest of algorithms to advance fuel injection timing during acceleration or to shorten ignition delay for deceleration by retarding fuel injection timing. As the engine returns to steady state operation, the compensation in injection timing is progressively reduced to zero.

Abstract: The factory-calibrated target discrimination threshold of a radar-based motor vehicle back-up aid is adaptively lowered under specified vehicle operating conditions to provide enhanced target detection sensitivity without causing false target detection. The threshold is initialized to the calibrated value on transition to the reverse range, and is thereafter subject to adaptive adjustment so long as a target is not detected and a high-clutter condition is not in effect. The adaptive adjustment is carried out by low-pass filtering the resultant data of the radar sensor, starting with a factory-calibrated noise baseline, to determine the current noise level, and then calculating the threshold from the noise level. The adaptive adjustment is suspended for an interval after target detection, and the threshold is increased when a high clutter condition is detected based on rate of change in vehicle speed.

Abstract: A sensing system, including: a sensing assembly, the sensing assembly having: a trim resistor; and a controller removably secured to the sensing assembly, the controller being configured to determine a resistance value of the trim resistor; a database in operable communication with the controller, the database having a plurality of resistance values, each identifying a pair of compensation values; a microprocessor receiving the resistance value of the trim resistor, a first signal and a second signal, the resistance value of the trim resistor being used to define a selected pair of compensation values from the database, one of the selected pair of compensation values is used to adjust the first signal and the other one of the selected pair of compensation values is used to adjust the second signal.

Abstract: An evaporative emissions control canister for adsorbing fuel vapors from a fuel tank on a marine vessel. The canister comprises a polymeric extruded housing that may be formed to any desired length or cut from extruded stock. Identical end caps having tubing connectors are bonded to opposite ends of the housing, defining an inlet and an outlet. Marine-grade pelletized activated carbon is disposed within the housing between porous slidable plates that are spring loaded against the end caps to pack the carbon tightly against the housing walls. Mounting brackets at each end are rotatably attached to the end caps so that opposite ends of the assembly may be attached to different surfaces of the vessel's hull, thus relieving stress which might be introduced into the assembly. Preferably, the assembly is wrapped in a fire retardant material.

Abstract: A cooling assembly includes a housing supporting a nozzle for directing cooling air over an electronic component. A casing rotatably supports a shaft, which in turn, supports a compressor, an expander, and an electric motor, for circulating air and delivering the cooling air to the nozzle. The assembly is distinguished by air bearings supporting the shaft in the casing on a thin film of air, thereby maintaining a contaminate free housing.

Abstract: The invention concerns a copper-based circuit having an electrically insulative substrate, a bond layer including silver formed over select portions of the substrate according to a desired shape of the circuit, and an electrically conductive layer including plastically deformed particles of copper deposited on the bond layer.

Abstract: A method for determining the position of one of two components in relative motion with respect to each other, using optical means, comprises: directing at least one light beam emitted by a light source attached to one component towards a diffractive support attached to the second component, calculated and manufactured for generating an optical signal indicative of the positioning of said support, the optical signal being produced by the diffractive support in transmission and/or in reflection, and the optical signal including information indicative of its quality; detecting and reading at least one optical code formed by said signal, which corresponds to a unique position of the diffractive support relatively to the beam; and assigning a position to each detected optical code.

Abstract: A camshaft phaser comprising a differential bevel gear arrangement to vary the phase relationship of a camshaft to a crankshaft in an internal combustion engine. In the differential gear system, a 45° beveled input gear is mounted parallel to and coaxial with a 45° beveled output gear. One or more 45° beveled spider gears is disposed in meshed relationship with the input and output gears in a gear pattern having a rectangular cross-sectional appearance. Rotation of the input gear causes an opposite rotation of the output gear. The phase relationship between the input and output gears may be varied by varying the position of the spider gear. The input gear and spider gears may be driven via a sprocket in time with the crankshaft in a plurality of arrangements.

Abstract: A rollover warning and detection method for a transport vehicle is adaptively adjustable to take into account the CG height of the vehicle. Measures of the vehicle speed, lateral acceleration and yaw rate are sampled during normal driving conditions and used to estimate the CG height of the vehicle. The centrifugal acceleration acting on the vehicle is calculated as the product of vehicle speed and yaw rate, and the CG height is estimated based on the relationship between the calculated centrifugal acceleration and the measured lateral acceleration. The estimated CG height of the vehicle is used to adjust various calibrated rollover detection thresholds so that algorithm outputs such as rollover warnings automatically take into consideration vehicle loading effects.

Abstract: A hydraulic control system for a brake apparatus includes a combination valve and a motor connected to the combination valve. Output by the motor in a first direction places the combination valve in a first configuration, and output by the motor in a second direction opposite the first direction places the combination valve in a second configuration different from the first configuration. In the first configuration, the control valve allows hydraulic fluid to flow along a first fluid path. In the second configuration, the control valve allows hydraulic fluid to flow along a second fluid path different from the first fluid path.

Abstract: Welding apparatus includes a first electrode having an electrode surface adapted to contact an outward end fold of a heat-exchanger tube which is positioned in an orifice of a tubesheet with the fold contacting an outward-facing side of the tubesheet. A second electrode has an electrode surface adapted to contact the outward-facing side of the tubesheet. Another welding apparatus includes a first electrode having an electrode surface adapted to contact an end of a heat exchanger tube positioned in an orifice of a tubesheet. The first electrode is movable to create an outward end fold in the tube and deform the fold against the outward-facing side of the tubesheet. Another welding apparatus includes a second electrode having an electrode surface adapted to contact the outward-facing side of a tubesheet and having cutouts which surround each of a plurality of heat-exchanger tubes and which are adapted to receive a first electrode.

Abstract: A powertrain mount comprises an upper orifice plate, a lower orifice plate, and a generally planar diaphragm having an enlarged central node. The central node is in constant contact with the upper orifice plate and in contact with the lower orifice plate. A periphery of the diaphragm is free to move between the upper orifice plate and the lower orifice plate.

Abstract: The invention provides for a power steering assembly and method of actuation for assisting a driver in moving the steerable wheels of a vehicle. The power steering assembly includes a housing that defines a chamber. A steering rod is disposed in the chamber and is longitudinally moveable within the chamber. A shoulder is fixed to the steering rod and has opposing sides. A shaft is supported by the housing and engages the steering rod translating the rotational movement of the shaft into a longitudinal movement of the steering rod. A first actuator and second actuator are disposed in the chamber on opposing sides of the shoulder. The first and second actuators each have an excitable material that is controlled in a series of actuations to advance the actuators in a linear movement for pushing against the shoulder to move the steering rod longitudinally within the chamber.

Abstract: An automated wire harness machine is capable of manufacturing a wire harness in an automated process. The wire harness is generally a plurality of bundled, preferably un-stripped, insulated wires. Each un-stripped end portion of each wire is preferably terminated by an electrical terminal in one of a series of electrical connectors of the wire harness. Each connector has at least one wafer which houses a plurality of terminals. The wire harness machine utilizes a pallet that holds all of the wafers of one wire harness. A conveyor transports the pallet and wafers through a series of stations which perform automated manufacturing steps. The first station is a terminal inserter which inserts and locks the terminals within pre-assigned cavities of the wafers. The next station is an automated wire loader which measures, cuts and crimps the two ends of each wire into the respective terminals of the loaded wafer assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for pivoting and locking a steering column. The apparatus of the invention includes a steering column extending axially between first and second ends. The steering column is pivotally mountable to a vehicle at the second end. The apparatus also includes a locking mechanism spaced from the second end. The locking mechanism is operative to releasibly secure the steering column in a selected position of adjustment. The apparatus also includes a spring urging the steering column in a first pivoting direction. The spring is disposed in axially spaced relation adjacent to said locking mechanism. The method of the invention includes the step of pivotally mounting a steering column that extends axially between first and second ends to a vehicle. The method also includes the step of releasibly securing the steering column in a selected position of adjustment with a locking mechanism that is spaced from the second end.

Abstract: A modified high efficiency kinetic spray nozzle is disclosed. The modified nozzle has a rapid expansion rate in the diverging region relative to prior art nozzles, which enables one to achieve much higher particle velocities without an increase in the main gas temperature. Preferably, the expansion rate of the supersonic nozzle in a portion of the diverging region is at least 1 mm2 per millimeter, more preferably 2 mm2 per millimeter, more preferably 5 mm2 per mm, with a most preferable expansion rate being 10 mm2 per millimeter.