Abstract: A badge is disclosed having a metallic emblem having a thickness about 0.01 to about 1 mm, adhesively attached to a mounting frame by an adhesive polymeric resin having a Shore D hardness about 20 to about 90. Also disclosed is a vehicular sub-assembly including a substrate with the badge attached thereto. Methods of making the badge and the sub-assembly are also disclosed.

Abstract: A thick film resistor strain gauge is applied to a stainless steel shell portion of a spark plug. There are two preferable ways of applying a thick film resistor to the metal shell. In a first embodiment, the thick film resistor may be directly printed on to the shell portion with special screen printing equipment. In a second embodiment, the thick film resistor is printed and applied as a decal to the shell portion. The thick film resistors may be included in a quarter, a half, or a full wheatstone bridge strain gauge circuit. One of two embodiments of an automatic drift compensating circuit is used to determine the change in resistance experienced by the thick film resistors affixed to the spark plug. Either one of the automatic drift compensation circuits output a voltage signal which is proportional to the pressure changes occurring inside the engine cylinder into which the spark plug is threaded.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus to control the rate of change of the variable cam phasing system during transient engine operating conditions. It does this primarily to maintain combustion stability. The invention controls the rate of change of the variable cam phasing system based upon the operating point of the engine, the desired operating point of the engine, and the rate of change of the variable cam phasing system necessary to maintain combustion stability.

Abstract: A proportionally-controllable solenoid including primary and secondary pole pieces that surround an armature axially movable along an axial channel within the pole pieces. The pole pieces are separated axially by an air gap and are conically tapered toward the gap. The leading and trailing faces of the armature are substantially orthogonal to its direction of travel to minimize radial parasitic forces on these faces. Further, the armature is also lengthened such that the trailing face is always outside the axial channel in the secondary pole piece at all points of axial travel to minimize the pull-back effect of axial flux vectors on the trailing face.

Abstract: An air bag restraint system for a transportation vehicle. The restraint system includes an inflatable curtain having a gas inlet, an upper edge, a lower edge and a perimeter. A gas emitting inflator is in fluid communication with the gas inlet. The inflatable curtain includes an inflatable flow channel in fluid communication with the gas inlet. The inflatable flow channel extends at least partially around the inflatable curtain in a path such that at least a potion of the inflation gas is communicated through the inflatable flow channel and along the lower edge.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improvement over conventional engine controls by providing a method and system that operates a variable valve system immediately subsequent to engine start, and disengages the variable valve system when engine performance is unacceptable. If the variable valve system is disengaged after engine start due to poor engine performance, a time delay occurs to allow the engine to create a sufficient amount of oil pressure to operate the variable valve system.

Abstract: A NOx adsorber is protected from sulfur poisoning by introducing fuel to the NOx adsorber prior to a sulfur trap and/or particulate trap regeneration stream entering the NOx adsorber. The fuel establishes a rich environment, thereby inhibiting sulfur adsorption in the NOx adsorber.

Abstract: A fuel cell system including a fuel cell stack, a reformer system, and a waste energy recovery (or heat exchanger) assembly is presented. The waste energy recovery assembly receives an anode supply and a cathode supply that are heated by exhaust gases from the fuel cell stack. The heated anode supply and cathode supply are then directed to the fuel cell stack. The waste energy recovery assembly includes a series of stacked plates. The flow direction of the plates alternates from one plate to the next. These plates are alternately stacked until the desired flow area and heat transfer are achieved. Since the direction of flow of each plate is perpendicular to the direction of flow of the next plate in series, the cool (anode and cathode) gases flow along side a plate experiencing a flow of heated exhaust gases and are thusly heated.

Abstract: A product, product by process, and process according to the present invention integrates an ignition coil driver electronics or ignitor into a plughole coil housing. Electronic components are mounted directly to a printed circuit board serving as a direct connection to connector terminals and/or coil leads via plated-apertures. If required, at least one protective layer can be applied directly to an external surface of at least some of the electronic components mounted on the printed circuit board to compensate for differences in the coefficients of thermal expansion. The protective layer is selected from a group including a conformal coating, a soft buffer material, a hard epoxy globtop, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A drive circuit is provided in a full H-bridge and half H-bridge configuration for controlling one or more piezoelectric fuel injectors. The drive circuit includes a voltage input for receiving a voltage signal, an energy storage device coupled to the voltage input for storing an electrical charge, a bidirectional current path coupled to one or more piezoelectric injectors, an inductor coupled in series with the piezoelectric injector(s) in the bidirectional current path, and switching circuitry for controlling current flow through the piezoelectric injector(s) and the inductor to open and close the piezoelectric injector(s). The switching circuitry is controlled to provide a recirculation current to recover energy stored in the piezoelectric injector(s) for storage in the energy storage device.

Abstract: An air quality system for controlling air quality in a cabin of a vehicle is provided. The air quality system utilizes three air quality sensors for detecting three air quality parameters. A controller is responsive to the air quality sensors. The controller is programmed to determine a current value of the air quality parameters from the air quality sensors and to determine whether the current value of any of the air quality parameters exceeds a predetermined limit. The predetermined limits for the air quality parameters are based on levels indicative of poor air quality for the cabin. The controller is operable between purging and non-purging modes to purge the air from the cabin in the purging mode when the current value of any of the measured air quality parameters exceeds the respective predetermined limit.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle door has a glass window that is raised and lowered by a window regulator that includes a roller cable assembly (15). The roller cable assembly (15) has a rolled section guide rail (18) and a bracket assembly (16) at the lower end portion of the glass window that runs on an L-shaped flange (36) of the guide rail (18). The roller cable assembly (15) includes upper and lower roller assemblies (28 and 30) at the respective upper and lower ends of guide rail (18) and a cable (20) that is trained on rollers (22 and 24) of the roller assemblies and on a drive roller (26) that is driven by an electric motor (32). Each roller assembly includes a base (42) that is slideably attached to the guide rail (16) and a detachable cap pin (44) that attaches the guide roller to the base (42).

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus to determine an amount of aeration of fluids such as engine oil, thus permitting more aggressive operation of an oil-driven actuator, with fewer limitations in scheduling operation of the actuator. It includes monitoring engine speed and fluid temperature, and determining a first and second attitude of the engine relative to a first and second axis, and determines an amount of aeration of the fluid based upon those factors. The method determines an operating range of the fluid-driven actuator based upon the amount of aeration, and then permits the operation of the fluid-driven actuator within the operating range.

Abstract: An integrated intake manifold assembly including a poppet valve disposed at the air inlet to the manifold to regulate air flow into the manifold; a poppet valve disposed on the manifold to regulate exhaust gas flow into the air intake system; and a bi-directional camshaft with cams for operating simultaneously the manifold vacuum regulating (MVR) valve and the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve. The valve bodies are integrally formed in the wall of the intake manifold. The camshaft is driven by a DC motor and gear train. The cams are arranged on the shaft to provide optimum synchronized opening and closing of the related valves. When used on a diesel engine, the assembly may further include a swirl valve plate disposed between the manifold and the engine head and having a plurality of ganged swirl valves actuated by levers connected to the camshaft for coordinated motion with the MVR and EGR valves.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improvement over conventional electric circuit monitoring devices in that it provides a device and method to passively monitor the performance of an electrical circuit to a load device, including faults that occur intermittently. The invention is capable of identifying the location and type of malfunction in the event of a fault.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is disclosed. A fuel cell stack is in fluid communication with a reformer. An air conditioning system is in fluid communication with the reformer. Methods of making and using a fuel cell system are also disclosed.

Abstract: An air partitioning device for a vehicle heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system to divide a hot air stream into separate portions comprises an L-shaped front portion including a base leg and a dividing leg, and also comprises a tail portion extending from a back of the front portion, the tail portion oriented angularly to the dividing leg.

Abstract: An automotive glove box assembly. The glove box assembly includes a storage bin and a door disposed in hinging relation to the storage bin. The door includes an expansible body having a face portion facing towards a vehicle occupant and a back portion in opposing relation to the face portion. The expansible body is operatively connected to at least one gas emitting unit such that upon discharge of gas from the gas emitting unit, the expansible body is pressurized and the face portion is projected outwardly to an extended position so as to intercept lower extremities of the occupant.

Abstract: A heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) assembly having a housing defining first and second quadrants. An air mixing door is mounted to the housing downstream of an inlet and upstream of an outlet. The air mixing door has a first position directing substantially all of the air through the first quadrant, a second position directing substantially all of the air through the second quadrant, and a third position directing a flow of air through both of the first and second quadrants. A first seal is mounted to a first side of the air mixing door and a second seal is mounted to a second side of the air mixing door. A diffuser is mounted to at least one of the sides of the air mixing door and has a plurality of passageways to interrupt a flow of air passing around the air mixing door when the air mixing door initially moves from one of the first and second positions to the third position, thereby controlling an initial flow of air into at least one of the quadrants.

Abstract: A hydraulic manifold assembly for variable actuation of engine valves in accordance with the invention includes oil flow galleries. Engine oil under pressure communicates with a global supply gallery in the manifold assembly, from which pressurized oil is supplied selectively via individual supply galleries to each variable actuator for each valve through the action of solenoid valves. At engine startup, all galleries may be empty of oil, or partially filled. A global relief valve at the end of the global supply gallery causes air to be purged immediately upon startup of the engine. Each solenoid and individual gallery is provided with a low pressure relief valve leading back to the crankcase when the solenoid supply valve is closed. A bleed orifice between the global supply gallery and each individual gallery continually bleeds oil under low pressure into the individual gallery, which purges initial air therein.