Abstract: An internal combustion engine including an air intake manifold having a rotary valve for regulating air flow within the manifold. The valve comprises a cylindrical shaft formed of stainless steel and butterfly vanes formed of plastic overmolded onto the shaft. The composite valve has a natural frequency of about 300 Hz and can resonate with engine noise. In accordance with the invention, the valve shaft is additionally provided with one or more sound-absorbing elastomeric dampers, formed preferably of a silicone rubber, that make contact with saddles in the intake manifold for extinguishing harmonic frequency response of the valve below 660 Hz. Preferably, the plastic butterfly vanes also are overcoated with the elastomer to further damp harmonic flexure and wave propagation in the valve.

Abstract: An anti-rotation guide for a deactivation hydraulic valve lifter for an internal combustion engine. The guide includes a through bore accommodating of a hydraulic valve lifter and is sized such that the outer end of the lifter may be inserted into the through bore of the guide. The guide is securable to the engine such that the lifter is reciprocable within the guide. The guide is provided with two opposing keepers for mating with corresponding flats on the lifter to prevent rotation of the lifter. Further, a keyway means is provided in the guide and lifter to prevent the lifter being inserted into the guide 180° from the correct orientation.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for starting a generator (10) from an internal combustion engine (14) to allow the generator (10) to charge a battery (32). The generator (10) includes a field bridge (36), having first (72) and second (74) switches, and a multiphase inverter (30), having upper (60, 62, 64) and lower (66, 68, 70) halves of switches. The method includes the step of providing a voltage from the battery (32) to the internal combustion engine (14). The voltage is used to crank the internal combustion engine (14). The first (72) and second (74) switches are closed to conduct and maximize the field current in the generator (10). The method includes the step of identifying when the internal combustion engine (14) is transitioning from a cranking state to an idling state. The method then switches the first (72) and second (74) switches off to decrease the field current to zero.

Abstract: A sub-unit for a vehicle air conditioning system is shipped with a condenser, chiller and fluid lines. Snap together couplings are placed on free ends of the fluid lines whereby the sub-unit can be pre-charged, shipped, installed into the front end of a vehicle engine compartment and connected to an air conditioning compressor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for operating a pump-less rear wheel anti-lock brake system of a vehicle using speed sensors on at least one front and one rear wheel, to provide a true dynamic rear proportioning (DRP) function, and to significantly enhance braking performance in rear wheel anti-lock mode through better management of the volume of pressurized fluid supplied by the master cylinder using rear pressure control (RPC).

Abstract: A cable connector comprises a housing having a terminus receiving cavity that receives a terminus assembly. The cavity has a rearward facing shoulder and an annular recess defining a forward facing shoulder. The terminus assembly includes a terminus which is attached to the end of a cable. The terminus has rearward and forward facing shoulders, an annular recess rearward of the forward facing shoulder and a second forward facing shoulder rearward of the recess. The terminus assembly also includes a forward stop ring and a rearward lock ring slidably mounted on the terminus, and a coil spring biasing the rearward lock ring toward the first forward facing shoulder. A retention ring that is slideably mounted on the terminus behind the rearward lock ring has a rearward end engageable with the second forward facing shoulder of the terminus and a plurality of circumferentially spaced, cantilevered, depressible fingers having outwardly projecting lock tangs.

Abstract: A one-piece header tank includes side edges that are overlapped and brazed together to form a joint positioned within the interior of the tank. The tank also includes an integrally formed mounting flange that may be fabricated without jeopardizing the leak integrity of the tank.

Abstract: A fuel cell assembly or system including flexible metal bellows elements in one or more tubes intended for carrying hot gases during operation of the assembly. The bellows elements include a tubing element having plurality of annular corrugated folds. Thermal expansion and contraction of rigid tubes and of the non-tubular elements of the assembly can lead to buckling, cracking, and failure of the tubes and failure of the assembly or system. The flexible bellows elements, having relatively low axial and radial spring rates thus are able to absorb thermal and vibrational dimensional changes in the assembly. In addition, the corrugations provide significant resistance to axial heat flow and large radiant surface area, thus increasing thermal isolation where desired between relatively hot and relatively cold regions of the assembly.

Abstract: A lead-containing glass material of the type suitable for use in a wafer bonding process, wherein the moisture resistance of the glass material is increased by the presence of a lead phosphate coating on an outer exposed surface of the material, thereby acting as a barrier to reaction of moisture with the lead of the glass material. A source of reactive phosphate ions is applied to the glass material so as to spontaneously form the desired lead phosphate coating.

Abstract: A solid-oxide fuel cell system comprising a plurality of components having mating ports therebetween, the port interfaces being sealed by gaskets that include fluorophlogopite mica (F-mica).

Abstract: A target wheel sensor assembly includes a target wheel, a magnet, and two or more sensing elements placed therebetween. The magnet and the sensing elements are configured so that as the target wheel rotates each of the sensing elements outputs a respective asymmetric signal relative to the direction of rotation of the target wheel or an object mechanically connected to the wheel. Each of these asymmetric signals is differentially combined with one another to determine the direction of motion of the target wheel, and, if optionally desired, the position of the target wheel.

Abstract: A satellite tracking system includes a vehicle having an attitude measuring device for measuring an attitude of the vehicle. An antenna is mounted on the vehicle. An antenna pointing device is coupled to the antenna and points the antenna in a direction dependent upon the attitude measured by the attitude measuring device and a location of a satellite.

Abstract: A dual purpose key fob has manipulable keys for, in a normal mode, locking and unlocking a vehicle and keys for opening a vehicle trunk and activating a panic alarm and, in a training mode, for sending code signals to tire pressure sensors to tell the sensors what tire they are in, e.g., after wheel rotation, so that the sensors subsequently can transmit the proper location signals to the vehicle's ECM along with the pressure signals.

Abstract: A method of coating disc brake pads to obscure and seal minor surface imperfections, thereby reducing scrap rates. A preform of friction lining material is coated prior to molding and curing the preform and bonding the same to the backing plate to form the brake pad assembly. The preform is coated with an aqueous composition containing a solids mixture of 5–50 vol. % resin and 50–95 vol. % non-resin solids. Advantageously, the coating composition has a 5–30 vol. % solids mixture content, which solids mixture includes 15–25 vol. % resin, 0–10 vol. % powdered elastomer, 5–15 vol. % carbon black, 20–50 vol. % inorganic fillers, 5–15 vol. % organic fibers and 1–10 vol. % inorganic flake material.

Abstract: A radar includes fixed beam radar transmitter and receiver antennae that utilize mixed polarization to optimize the object detection field-of-view through an intervening plastic fascia. The transmitter antenna transmits radar energy with slant polarization, a first receiver antenna designed for short-range wide-angle object detection passes only horizontally polarized radar energy, and a second receiver antenna designed for long-range narrow-angle object detection passes only vertically polarized radar energy.

Abstract: A method for reducing computational time for calculating a noise-filtered average approximation of a throttle position in an automotive environment. During controller initialization, an initial average value for N samples is established by conventional averaging. The sum obtained is retained for future use as a previously-retained sum. When an updated average value is required, the oldest sample value and the last output calculation are both subtracted from the previously-retained sum, and the newest sample value is added twice to the previously-retained sum, as well as being stored in sequence in the buffer. The new sum is then divided by the number of sample values to obtain a new noise filtered average approximation of throttle position, which again is retained for use in the next update. The new output value obtained by the throttle position sensor is weighed more heavily to decrease the deviation from the average approximation of throttle position.

Abstract: A constant velocity universal joint has an outer race provided with longitudinally extending, circumferentially spaced outer race grooves in its inner concave surface. An inner race is provided with longitudinally extending, circumferentially spaced inner race grooves in its outer convex surface. The inner race is disposed within the outer race with its outer convex surface spherically engaged with the inner concave surface of the outer race for relative angular movement of the inner and outer races. Each of the inner race grooves is arranged opposite a corresponding one of the outer race grooves to define a plurality of ball-groove pairs. The grooves of each ball-groove pair are disposed in transverse crossing-relation to one another. A ball is disposed in each of the crossing ball-groove pairs for movement therealong during the relative angular movement of the inner and outer races.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an arc fault detector including a shunt resistor deployed in a circuit being protected, an arc discriminator sensing voltages across the shunt resistor and outputting an arc detection signal when it detects current variations caused by parallel and series arc faults, a signal transformer buffering the arc detection signal and outputting a pulse, a switch transient detector detecting a voltage differential across load switches and outputting a pulsed switch transient detection signal when the voltage differential across load switches exceeds a reference value, a line interrupter such as a static relay, a switch controller including logic gates generating a trip signal based on predetermined criteria, and a manual switch for resetting the line interrupter. A second embodiment of the present invention senses voltage induced in a coil wrapped around a toroidal core to detect current variations in conductors which pass through the center of the toroidal core.

Abstract: A fuel cell having a non-uniform electrical resistivity over the flow area of the cell. Resistance is higher in areas of the cell having locally low levels of hydrogen than in areas having locally high levels of hydrogen. Excess oxygen ion migration and buildup is suppressed in regions having low hydrogen concentration and is correspondingly increased in regions having a surfeit of hydrogen. Destructive oxidation of the anode is suppressed and a greater percentage of the hydrogen passed into the cell is consumed, thereby increasing electric output.

Abstract: A peristaltic piston pump driven by a dedicated pump cam disposed on a camshaft of an engine. A plurality of valve-opening cams are disposed along the camshaft. The pump cam has a plurality of lobes equal in number to the number of valve cams and each pump lobe is disposed at 180° from a valve cam lobe such that the camshaft valve torque and secondary oil pump camshaft torque partially cancel, reducing overall camshaft torque oscillation. The pump includes a lost-motion shuttle and spring to permit continuous response of the pump to the cam.