Abstract: Noise produced during a supplemental brake apply is reduced eliminated by reducing the quantity of additional brake fluid supplied to the pump during the apply. The prime valve is opened only at the initiation of the supplemental apply to supply a predetermined small quantity of brake fluid to the accumulator and pump inlet and is then closed for the remainder of the apply. The quantity of extra fluid supplied can be retained by the accumulator and does not need to by blown off back to the master cylinder. The apply valve of the non-regulated wheel brake is controlled to regulate pressure to the regulated wheel brake through the apply valve thereof, which is left open while the release valve of the regulated wheel brake is left closed. The release valve of the non-regulated wheel is controlled to maintain a lower pressure at the non-regulated wheel, preferably equal to the master cylinder pressure whenever possible, while permitting fluid flow back to the accumulator.

Abstract: An air conditioning system for a vehicle including an integral valve block (32) having a liquid line bore (42) extending therethrough and a suction line bore (44) extending therethrough with a transverse by-pass passage (34). The by-pass check valve (38) of the first system of FIGS. 1 and 2 allows only one-way fluid flow through the by-pass passage (34) from the suction fluid line (22) to the liquid fluid line (20), whereas the by-pass check valve (40) of the second system of FIGS. 3 and 4 allows only one-way fluid flow through the by-pass passage (34) from the liquid fluid line (20) to the suction fluid line (22). Also integrated into the valve block (16) is a suction check valve (46) in the suction fluid line (22) for allowing one-way fluid flow from the evaporator (16) to the compressor (12).

Abstract: A collapsible push rod for a brake booster in a vehicle is provided, having first and second telescoping members, and retractable locking means for selectively locking the first and second members together against telescoping. During a frontal impact collision, the members telescope into one another to shorten the length of the push rod and compensate for rearward movement of the brake booster and forward movement of the driver. The push rod is operable in the collapsed state. The push rod is also re-settable after the collision, and includes features for returning the push rod to its normal un-telescoped length following the collision, if the push rod is not damaged in the collision. The retractable locking means includes an electrically actuated solenoid for selectively locking and unlocking the first and second members against telescoping, in response to an electrical signal applied to the solenoid.

Abstract: A fuel injector comprising a nozzle body, a first outlet opening having an axis, a second outlet opening having an axis, and means for controlling fuel delivery through the first and second outlet openings. The axes of the first and second outlet openings are arranged so as to intersect one another downstream of the outlet openings such that, when fuel is delivered through both the first and second outlet openings, a combined spray formation is formed which is substantially equivalent to a single spray formation having been delivered from a single opening.

Abstract: A telescopic tripot universal joint comprises an outer drive member having three longitudinal drive channels which include two opposing concave side surfaces, an inner drive member having three radial trunnions having a radially outward facing semi-spherical surface for tiltably mounting a drive ball assembly which has a bearing train disposed radially between an inner ball tiltably engaged to the trunnion and an outer ball having a tread face which directly opposes the concave side surfaces of the drive channels. The ball assembly being free to wobble about a Z-axis wherein the assembly pivots about an X-axis disposed laterally to the outer drive member and pivots about a Y-axis disposed longitudinally to the outer drive member. The channel carries a guide rail which extends longitudinally lengthwise to the channel and projects radially inward in order to contact the outer ball when the ball assembly pivots about the X-axis, i.e., tilts relative to the axis of the outer drive member.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed that uses an empirically-derived thermal transfer function for an ignition coil taken with respect to an ambient temperature and responsive internal temperatures. The system combines the transfer function with a minimum cure-induced stress profile, in order to obtain a time-temperature profile for minimizing cure-induced residual stress in an epoxy resin impregnated ignition coil. An accelerated minimal-stress profile is obtained by increasing an initial gel isotherm temperature of the above-mentioned time-temperature profile.

Abstract: A dual evaporator air conditioning system and method for use therewith is provided to cool air in front and rear portions of a cabin of a vehicle. The dual evaporator air conditioning system includes primary and auxiliary HVAC units having primary and auxiliary evaporators, respectively, to cool the air in the front and rear portions of the cabin. A heat exchanger near the auxiliary evaporator warms the refrigerant in the auxiliary evaporator to maintain a minimum temperature. The heat exchanger warms the refrigerant in the auxiliary evaporator to prevent accumulation of liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil in the auxiliary evaporator when the auxiliary HVAC unit is in a non-cooling mode while the primary HVAC unit is in a cooling mode.

Abstract: A multi-stage internal gear/turbine fuel pump for a vehicle includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet and a motor disposed in the housing. The multi-stage internal gear/turbine fuel pump also includes a shaft extending axially and disposed in the housing. The multi-stage internal gear/turbine fuel pump further includes a plurality of pumping modules disposed axially along the shaft. One of the pumping modules is a turbine pumping module and another of the pumping modules is a gerotor pumping module for rotation by the motor to pump fuel from the inlet to the outlet.

Abstract: A suspension damper system is provided. The damper system includes a damper with a damper rod, a portion of which extends from the proximal end of the damper. The damper rod includes a bore and an electrode disposed within the bore. A fastener for securing the damper rod to a vehicle is also provided. The fastener is disposed over the damper rod and includes a circumferential groove. An electrical connector which includes an electrically conducting terminal is connected to the electrode. The connector includes a lock which mates with the groove in the fastener and includes a ground terminal which is connected to the damper rod.

Abstract: A roller finger follower includes a body having a longitudinal axis, a first end and a second end. A first side member and a second side member are generally parallel with the longitudinal axis and interconnect the first and second ends. A roller seat is defined at least in part by the first and second side members.

Abstract: A seal assembly for a shaft has a flange fixed to a work piece having a bore hole therein. The flange encircles the shaft and includes a triangular shaped projecting member having first and second surfaces extending from the flange into the bore hole. An angle is formed between the first and second surface. The first surface of the projecting member is in contact with an inner surface of the bore hole or the outer surface of the shaft. An o-ring encircles the shaft and a backup ring is positioned within a space between the shaft, the flange and the o-ring or between the bore hole, the flange and the o-ring. Subject to axial forces, the backup ring undergoes a wedging action between the shaft and the triangular shaped projecting member or between the bore hole and the triangular member to seal where the shaft penetrates the work piece.

Abstract: An improved planetary traction drive mechanism for use in actuating a throttle valve assembly is provided. An electric drive motor supports a cup-shaped member defining the outer ring of the mechanism. The drive shaft of the motor extends into the cup-shaped member to define a sun roller and forming an annular space between the sun roller and the outer ring. An output plate is rotatably supported on the drive shaft, and one or more deformable planetary friction rollers are disposed in radial compression between the outer ring and the sun roller are mounted on the plate. An output shaft extends from the plate and may or may not be coaxially aligned with the sun roller. The output shaft may be connected via a link to a lever arm on the throttle shaft of the throttle valve, which may be used on an internal combustion engine.

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 also 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.

Abstract: A brake apparatus and method utilize an electric power brake booster for operating a push rod actuated hydraulic master cylinder. The existing vehicle electrical system provides electric power for the power brake booster, thus eliminating the need for engine driven or auxiliary pressure/vacuum sources. The electric power brake booster includes an electrically powered actuator having an output shaft adapted for operative connection to the master cylinder, and an input for receipt of a signal indicative of force applied to the push rod. The electrically powered actuator augments the force applied to the push rod in response to the signal indicative of the force applied to the push rod. The booster may include a sensor for sensing force applied to the push rod and generating the signal indicative of the force applied to the push rod.

Abstract: A brushless electric motor is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the motor includes a permanent magnet rotor having a plurality of magnetic poles thereupon and a stator. The stator further includes a plurality of stacked laminations defining a plurality of slots therein, and a plurality of fractional-pitch phase windings disposed within the plurality of slots. The motor has a non-integer slots-per-pole ratio, and a magnitude of 5th and 7th harmonic components of a fundamental frequency component of the motor are less than 0.3% and 0.1% of a magnitude of the fundamental frequency component, respectively.

Abstract: In an unified control of a plurality of active chassis systems a role of each chassis system in applying a corrective net force and a corrective moment to a vehicle is determined. In determining the roles, control influence coefficients and a control authority of each active chassis system is determined. An activation status of each active chassis system based on the control influence coefficients and the control authority is subsequently determined.

Abstract: A hydraulic vehicle damper is provided for limiting the extent and/or speed of extension of the damper on the rebound stroke with a variety of working fluids including magneto-rheological (MR) fluids, through the use of buoyant sleeve in the working chamber of the damper, rather than having rebound limiting elements attached to the damper piston or damper cylinder tube as in prior vehicle dampers.

Abstract: A plate making process for a lead acid battery which eliminates the need for steaming and curing steps to produce the active material. Mixing, reacting and crystallizing occur in a closed reactor under controlled temperature and mixing conditions to produce a paste having the desired crystal morphology. A polymer is then added to the paste to bind the crystals together and to produce desired rheological properties in the paste. The paste having the polymer addition is then pasted onto a grid where the paste is dried to form a battery plate of the lead acid battery. The process is applicable for both the positive and negative plates of a lead acid battery.

Abstract: A two-step roller finger follower including an elongate body having side walls defining coaxially disposed shaft orifices, a pallet end and a socket end interconnecting with the side walls to define a slider arm aperture, and a latch channel. The socket end is mountable to an hydraulic lash adjuster, and the pallet end is matable with a valve stem. A slider arm for engaging a high-lift cam lobe is disposed in the slider arm aperture and has a first end pivotably mounted to the pallet end of the body and the second end forming a slider tip for engaging an activation/deactivation latch. The latch is slidably disposed in the latch channel, and the latch has a nose section for selectively engaging the slider tip. A spool-shaped roller having first and second roller elements fixedly attached to the shaft is rotatably disposed in the shaft orifices, the roller being adapted to follow the surface motion of low-lift cam lobes.

Abstract: A fluxer applies powdered flux to an object. The fluxer includes an enclosure that defines a chamber where the object is fluxed. The enclosure includes an inlet for receiving the object into the chamber prior to application of the flux and an outlet for discharging the object from the chamber after the flux has been applied. A conveyor extends through the enclosure for traversing the object into and out of the chamber. The fluxer also includes a hopper for storing the flux and an applicator in fluid communication with the hopper for applying the flux to the object. A flux recovery system is in fluid communication with the chamber to introduce and maintain a negative pressure within the chamber. As a result, excess flux is retained within the enclosure. This excess flux can then be recovered and recycled to the hopper.