Abstract: A steering column assembly for a motor vehicle is adjustable in both rake and telescope directions and then locked in a convenient setting by a driver. The locking mechanism for the telescope and rake adjust is motor actuated in response to activation of a toggle switch. The motor can be proximate or remote from the locking mechanism and the steering column assembly. A transmission operates on a rotating cam principal which alternately cycles a clamp of the locking mechanism between locked and unlocked conditions. A drive shaft extends between the motor and the locking mechanism and can be either rigid or flexible. Locking the steering column assembly in an adjusted position can be accomplished either by compressing a capsule bracket against a compression bracket, or via interlocking engagement of pawls with corresponding teeth in respective slots in the capsule and compression brackets.

Abstract: An anti-rotation guide for preventing rotation of a roller follower valve lifter in an internal combustion engine. The guide has an outer surface for engaging an engine bore and an inner surface for slidably receiving the lifter. One end of the guide includes an anti-rotation feature for cooperating with a mating feature on the lifter, preferably flats although other configurations are contemplated within the scope of the invention. The anti-rotation feature may take any of a plurality of shapes, including but not limited to an arm and tang, a flap, and an orifice flat. The guide is installed from an opening in the engine bore proximate a camshaft disposed in the engine block. The cooperating features prevent axial rotation of a lifter within the sleeve but do not inhibit axial or reciprocal motion of the lifter.

Abstract: A door for an airbag module having an inflatable cushion, the airbag module being adapted to be used in a vehicle having an instrument panel with an airbag module opening, the door having an inner surface and an outer surface adapted to match the instrument panel, comprising: a first member depending away from the inner surface of the door, the first member being movably secured to the airbag module and remains secured to the module during deployment of the inflatable cushion; a second member depending away from the inner surface of the door, the second member being received within a flange opening of the airbag module; and a plurality of latch hooks depending away from the inner surface of the door, the plurality of latch hooks being configured to engage an opening in the airbag module, wherein the first member, the second member and the plurality of latch hooks are each configured to allow movement of the door in three separate directions with respect to the airbag module and wherein the second member and t

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for calibrating apparatus (28) for acquiring the pressure in a cylinder (10) of a motor vehicle diesel engine, of the type comprising a cylinder pressure sensor (30) associated with the cylinder and means (32) for conditioning the signal delivered by the sensor (30) as a function of conditioning parameters.

Abstract: A vehicular steering column assembly (16) comprises a support bracket (26) which is joined to an outer, non-rotating sleeve (22). A release capsule (30) is releasably joined to a mounting surface (28) of the support bracket (26) via a plurality of spherical bodies (56) whose protruding crowns (52) are seated in corresponding longitudinally-extending furrows (54) in the release capsule (30). Upon the application of sufficient force to the steering column (16), such as during a collision, the support bracket (26) is urged out of engagement with the release capsule (30) with the respective furrows (54) sliding over the crowns (52). The sliding engagement between the crowns (52) and the furrows (54) can be adjusted to establish a highly predictable and consistent release force and which is capable of increasing the frequency value for the steering column (16).

Abstract: A technique for manufacturing an integrated pressure sensor includes a number of steps. Initially, a substrate with conductive electrical traces located on first and second sides of the substrate is provided. A plurality of compensation circuits are positioned in an array on the first side of the substrate in electrical contact with one or more of the conductive electrical traces on the first side of the substrate. A plurality of pressure sensors are positioned on the second side of the substrate in electrical contact with one or more of the conductive electrical traces on the second side of the substrate. Each one of the sensors is associated with one of the compensation circuits to form a plurality of pressure sensor-compensation circuit pairs. The substrate includes conductive vias to electrically connect each of the sensor-compensation circuit pairs. Each of the compensation circuits provides temperature compensation for an associated one of the sensors.

Abstract: A control system and method to monitor an intake air temperature sensing circuit for an internal combustion engine is shown. The electronic controller is connected to the intake air temperature sensing circuit, coolant temperature sensor, and a plurality of other engine sensors. The controller determines whether the measured intake air temperature changes in response to a change in actual intake air temperature, based upon the engine operating conditions and the measured intake air temperature. The controller determines whether the measured intake air temperature is representative of actual intake air temperature, based upon the measured intake air temperature, the coolant temperature, and at least one engine operating condition. The invention is an element of an on-board diagnostic system, typically related to vehicle emissions.

Abstract: A vane-type throttle valve assembly including a body having a passage therethrough and a pivotable shaft transverse of the passage and supporting a vane for variably restricting the flow of material through the passage. The shaft is disposed in opposing bores in the valve body. Each bore includes an access slot. The valve is assembled by inserting an integrated shaft and vane into the passage, engaging the ends of the shaft into the access slots, and translating the shaft ends in the access slots until the ends of the shaft are positioned in the bores. The shaft is retained in the bores by bushings inserted from outside the valve body. In a currently preferred embodiment, the access slots are formed over an angle from an axis of the bores, and the shaft ends are entered into the bores by rotating the shaft and vane about the passage axis.

Abstract: In the method of diagnosing the operating state of a motor vehicle diesel engine of the invention, the engine includes a pressure acquisition system associated with each cylinder of the engine to acquire the pressure in that cylinder, an engine shaft angle acquisition system adapted to deliver the crankshaft angle of each cylinder, and onboard correction system adapted to correct a predetermined set of malfunctions and drifts of the cylinders and the acquisition systems. The method includes an analysis step of analyzing the operation of each cylinder and the cylinder pressure and engine shaft angle acquisition systems by identifying an operating state of the set comprising that cylinder and those systems based on predetermined characteristics of the signal delivered by the cylinder pressure acquisition system, and a correction step of correcting identified malfunctions and drifts.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is supplied with reformate from a hydrocarbon reformer at engine start-up and during engine warm-up. The reformate fuel mixture is fuel-lean at start-up to ensure that all the fuel is burned while the exhaust converter is thermally non-functional. Shortly after start-up, the mixture is changed to be fuel-rich, providing unburned reformate fuel in the exhaust stream. During start-up and warm-up, the output of an air pump is controllably divided between the reformer (primary air) and the engine exhaust system (secondary air). Unburned reformate from the engine and secondary air from the air pump ignite and thereby rapidly heat the converter. Gasoline or diesel fueling of the engine by fuel injection is preferably delayed until the engine and the converter both reach operating temperatures, whereupon the engine is fueled by fuel injection and further reforming is terminated.

Abstract: A hydraulic valve lifter including venting means to assure venting of air through the lifter and filling thereof with oil during pre-start filling of the engine oil galleries after engine assembly. Patterning of a hemispherical pushrod seat surface, and/or patterning of either or both of the mating surfaces of a pushrod seat and a piston, permits air purged from the engine through a pushrod to be vented through the lifter. Such means may be temporary or permanent and may include coatings of the surfaces with materials that are destroyed by engine action after starting. Permanent means may include surface grooves in the mating surfaces and/or small-diameter passages between the hemispherical seat surface and the cylindrical outer surface of the pushrod seat. Venting means in accordance with the invention is useful for both valve-deactivating and non-valve-deactivating valve lifters.

Abstract: An electric motor driven blower assembly provides for a complete air cooling duct running from the inside of the blower housing to the motor at the back of the housing. A vertical cooling tube on the scroll housing is mated to an open, moldable trough in the motor cover across a sealing projection on a vibration gasket. The seal of the vertical tube through the gasket provides a right angle turn in the cooling duct, providing a complete cooling duct while still allowing all parts to be easily molded.

Abstract: The capacitance of a shielded capacitive load cell is determined so as to minimize the effect of stray or parasitic capacitance between the load cell and other objects including the shield. The load cell conductors are coupled across input and output terminals of an operational amplifier that is tied to a reference voltage. A constant current is applied to the load cell, and the resulting rate of change in voltage at the amplifier output is measured as a representation of the load cell capacitance. In a vehicle seat sensor application including an electromagnetic interference shield between the load cell and the seating surface, the amplifier output is coupled to the load cell electrode furthest from the shield, the amplifier maintains the other load cell electrode at a virtual reference voltage, and the shield is tied to the reference voltage.

Abstract: An electrical connector for use in forming a wire-wrapped welded terminal connection. The connector is formed by stamping and folding from a sheet of metal stock to include an integral sleeve element attached by a strap. During assembly of the connection prior to welding, the terminal is wrapped with wire as in the prior art and then the strap is folded to position the integral sleeve element correctly about the wrappings to form a weldable assembly functionally identical with the prior art sleeved assembly. Because the sleeve element is formed integrally with the connector and attached by a foldable strap, the element is automatically positioned correctly and is held in place by the strap during welding.

Abstract: A battery assembly is designed to include a plurality of cells positioned parallel to each other. A frame including end supports position the cells appropriately. Each of the cells includes a first terminal and a second terminal. Two buses are positioned over all of the first terminals and all of the second terminals. Each of the buses includes slots allowing the terminals to extend therethrough. Once through, the terminals are bent over the bus bar. A slide is then positioned over the terminals protecting the terminals and maintaining the terminals in electrical contact with each other. This battery assembly allows more than three cells to be connected to each other and is versatile enough to allow the removal of certain cells to enhance the airflow through the battery assembly.

Abstract: An electrical component having improved impact resistance and improved tolerance for thermal cycling, without sacrificing high-temperature performance, and without requiring unconventional and expensive manufacturing techniques includes an electric device mounted on a substrate circuit board, and a composite material underfilling, overmolding or encapsulating the electronic device, wherein the composite material includes a thermoset matrix phase and a discontinuous liquid crystal polymer phase dispersed throughout the thermoset matrix phase.

Abstract: A diesel fuel delivery system that maintains optimum fuel delivery to the engine despite the presence of an ice blockage at the fuel strainer. Ice formation in diesel fuel can cause fuel blockage at the fuel strainer and generate high vacuum conditions as the engine tries to draw fuel from the tank. A normally closed bypass valve automatically opens in response to an engine vacuum condition higher than normal engine vacuum levels. Upon the bypass valve opening, fuel is drawn through an auxiliary inlet port and line located above the ice formation in the tank.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for absorbing energy. The energy absorbing device includes an anvil movable relative to a spaced axis. The anvil defines a plurality of profiles corresponding to different rates of energy absorption. The plurality of profiles are radially adjacent to one another with respect to axis. The anvil can be moved by explosive charges. For example, the anvil can define a follower portion adjacent a first explosive charge and move in response to an explosion of the first explosive charge.

Abstract: An electronic package having a controlled standoff height between a surface mount device and a circuit board. The electronic package includes a circuit board having a substrate and circuitry including mounting pads and a surface mount device having circuitry and contact terminals. Solder joints connect the contact terminals of the surface mount device to the mounting pads on the circuit board. A dielectric underfill is disposed between the circuit board and the surface mount device, and a plurality of standoff members are disposed in the underfill material to provide a separation distance between the circuit board and the surface mount device.

Abstract: An integrated multi-functional catalyst system includes a diesel particulate filter having an inlet side for receiving flow and an opposite outlet side, a substrate in the diesel particulate filter having an interior wall surface and an exterior wall surface, a first washcoat layer applied to the interior wall surface and adjacent the inlet side, and a second washcoat layer applied to the exterior wall surface and adjacent the outlet side, wherein flow distribution through the substrate is dispersed for minimizing back pressure. The diesel particulate filter may be one of a plurality of honeycomb cells.