Abstract: A battery pack containing a plurality of battery modules, these modules comprising a plurality of individual battery units, these battery units comprising a plurality of bicells with opposing terminals. The battery modules are connected in series by use of a flexible circuit and by opposing positive and negative terminals of each battery unit. The terminals of each battery unit contain a region of apertures which allow the adhesive of the packaging material to seal more effectively, thereby eliminating or reducing the amount of leakage from an individual battery unit.

Abstract: A wide range oxygen sensor comprising a first oxygen pump cell, the first pump cell comprising: a first and a second electrode, with a first communication zone therebetween, the first electrode being exposed to exhaust gas, the second electrode being exposed to a heat source; and wherein at least one element of said first pump cell incorporates a gas-diffusion limiting characteristic; a second oxygen pump cell, operating at opposite polarity from said first oxygen pump cell, electrically isolated from said first oxygen pump cell, and disposed within a sensor substrate, the second cell comprising: a third and a fourth electrode, with a second communication zone therebetween, the third electrode being exposed to exhaust gas, the fourth electrode being exposed to a heat source; and wherein at least one element of said second pump cell incorporates a gas-diffusion limiting characteristic; at least one heating element for providing heat to said second electrode and said fourth electrode; and an electrical circuit

Abstract: An electrical resistor assembly is affixed to a blower casing of a heating, venting, and air conditioning blower motor for resisting the flow of electricity to the blower motor from an electrical circuit. The assembly includes a heat dissipater for dissipating heat generated by electrical current flowing through the circuit. A connector connects the assembly to the electrical circuit. A housing contains the dissipater and the connector. The housing includes at least one catch for fixedly attaching the assembly to the casing and includes at least one break-away element for providing access to the catch. A seal circumscribes the housing including the break-away elements for providing a leak proof mating surface between the assembly and the casing.

Abstract: A variable valve actuating mechanism includes an output cam pivotally disposed upon an input shaft of an engine. First and second frame members are disposed upon the input shaft on respective sides of the input cam lobe. A first link arm is pivotally coupled at a first end thereof to the first and second frame members. A rocker arm assembly is pivotally coupled at a first end thereof to a second end of the link arm. The rocker arm assembly carries a cam follower that engages an input cam lobe of the input shaft. A biasing means is grounded to the first and second frame members, and biases the cam follower into engagement with the input cam lobe.

Abstract: A flow rate of unconnected first and second fluid flows is matched, such as, but not limited to, matching the flow rate of the replacement water stream with the waste water stream in kidney dialysis. The first and second flow paths are interconnected so substantially the same flow from a positive displacement pump in the first path encounters a flow-rate transducer in the second path. Transducer readings are taken for various values of the controllable pump speed of the pump. Then, the first and second flow paths are disconnected, a transducer reading is taken, and the flow rate of the fluid flow in the first flow path is controlled by controlling the pump speed using the value of the pump speed from the previous interconnected paths which corresponds to the value of the transducer reading from the previous interconnected paths which matches the transducer reading for the disconnected paths.

Abstract: An electric power steering system includes a motor and a soft-disable controller in signal communication with the motor for reducing the abruptly increased reaction torque felt by a driver when an assist torque is abruptly disabled.

Abstract: A manually controlled motor vehicle HVAC system is activated for automatically pre-heating or pre-cooling the cabin following remote starting of the vehicle engine. When the engine has been remotely started, an HVAC controller estimates initial outside air and cabin air temperatures, and determines if pre-heating or pre-cooling is appropriate based on the estimated initial temperatures, the engine coolant temperature and a measure of the engine soak time. When pre-heating or pre-cooling is deemed to be appropriate, the HVAC parameters normally set by a driver interface panel are selectively overridden based on the estimated initial outside air and cabin air temperatures. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the initial outside air temperature is estimated based on an inlet air temperature sensor of the engine or on a refrigerant pressure sensor of the HVAC system prior to activation of the refrigerant compressor.

Abstract: An actuating system for a mode-switching rocker arm device includes an elongate actuator shaft having a central axis that is parallel with and spaced apart from a central axis of an engine camshaft. An actuator lever extends in a generally radial direction from the actuator shaft to engage a locking pin of the rocker arm device. A cam follower engages and is pivotally oscillated relative to the central axis of the actuator shaft by an actuator cam lobe of the engine camshaft. A clutch/brake assembly is associated with the actuator shaft and the cam follower. The clutch/brake assembly is operable to selectively transfer pivotal oscillation of the cam follower to pivotal movement of the actuator shaft and actuator lever to thereby translate the locking pin and cause the rocker arm device to switch mode.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint includes outer and inner races with mating part-spherical surfaces in which a single functional set of ball grooves are formed bearing a single torque-transmitting ball which is urged under an applied torque load toward one axial end of the joint. A retainer is carried by one of the two races or the shafts to which they are connected and acts on the ball to maintain the ball within the grooves during all angles of the joint.

Abstract: A composite powder metal disk for a rotor assembly in a circumferential type interior permanent magnet machine. The disk includes an inner ring of magnetically conducting powder metal compacted and sintered to a high density. The disk further includes an outer ring of permanent magnets separated by magnetically non-conducting powder metal compacted and sintered to a high density. The permanent magnets additionally are radially embedded by magnetically conducting powder metal compacted and sintered to a high density with optional intermediate non-conducting powder metal bridges extending radially from the permanent magnets to the outer surface of the disk. A rotor assembly is also provided having a plurality of the composite powder metal disks mounted axially along a shaft with their magnetic configurations aligned. A method for making the composite powder metal disks is further provided including filling a die with the powder metals, compacting the powders, and sintering the compacted powders.

Abstract: In a fuel cell assembly, nickel-based anodes are readily oxidized when exposed to oxygen as may happen through atmospheric invasion of the assembly during cool-down following shutdown of the assembly. Repeated anode oxidation and reduction can be destructive of the anodes, leading to cracking and failure. To prevent such oxygen migration, check valves and oxygen getter devices containing oxygen-scavenging material such as metallic nickel are provided in the reformate passageways leading to and from the anodes. The check valves preferably are closed by gravity. Oxidation of the oxygen-gettering material is readily reversed through reduction by reformate when the assembly is restarted.

Abstract: A stator core extends along a longitudinal axis and includes a yoke, and a plurality of radially-inwardly projecting teeth separated by intervening slots. A radially innermost portion of each tooth initially includes a pair of legs separated by a recess disposed therebetween. The conventional tooth tips are unformed in the first stage, thereby defining an increased-size slot opening for allowing the insertion of stator windings. In a second processing stage, after the core itself has been manufactured and wound with stator windings, the legs are cold-formed in order to form tooth tips, which define a reduced-size slot opening to provide a magnetic flux path and provide a wire retention function. A higher stator slot fill is provided, which allows and enables higher generator efficiencies and output for a given package size.

Abstract: A vane-type cam phaser wherein a locking pin assembly is disposed between a rotor and a stator of the phaser to selectively couple the rotor and stator together under certain operating conditions, for example, during engine start-up. The central axis of the locking pin assembly is disposed in the rotor parallel to the rotational axis of the phaser. The pin is spring loaded in a default position and is guided through its axial movement by two cylindrical guide surfaces—an inner guide surface and an outer guide surface. The lengths of these guide surfaces are optimized to minimize binding and sluggish operation of the pin caused by lateral forces exerted on the pin by the stator when in operation. The outer guide surface to inner guide surface ratio (L/I) is preferably greater than 2.

Abstract: An intelligent input push rod assembly for applying an input force from a brake pedal to a power booster of a brake system. The input push rod assembly includes a sensor that is capable of generating an electrical output having a magnitude that varies with the amount of force applied to the input push rod by the brake pedal. Preferably, the sensor generates an output voltage signal that is generally proportional to the input force applied to the input push rod. A shunt is provided so that springs associated with the sensor operate in a generally linear force-deflection operating range of the springs. The output signal generated by the sensor is applied to a brake light control system that is supported by the input push rod assembly. The brake light control system uses the signal generated by the sensor to determine whether the vehicle brake lights should be illuminated and also to cause direct illumination of the brake lights during a braking operation.

Abstract: An optical superposition network that utilizes a time division multiplexing (TDM) protocol includes a first optical transmitter, a second optical transmitter and a receiver. The first optical transmitter transmits information in a tertiary mode during a time slot. The second optical transmitter transmits information in a tertiary mode during a different time slot. The information transmitted across the optical superposition network has an approximately constant average intensity such that the receiver can utilize a single decision threshold for the information received from the first and second optical transmitters.

Abstract: A heated fuel strainer assembly for a fuel tank in a vehicle includes a strainer made of a metal material and adapted to be connected to an inlet of a fuel pump disposed in the fuel tank. The heated fuel strainer assembly also includes a power source connected to the strainer supply power to the strainer to heat the strainer allow fuel to flow through the strainer to the inlet.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and a method for applying both a kinetic spray applied coating layer and a thermal spray applied layer onto a substrate using a single application nozzle. The system includes a higher heat capacity gas heater to permit oscillation between a kinetic spray mode wherein the particles being applied are not thermally softened and a thermal spray mode wherein the particles being applied are thermally softened prior to application. The system increases the versatility of the spray nozzle and addresses several problems inherent in kinetic spray applied coatings.

Abstract: A brake corner module includes a wheel bearing assembly which is configured to be coupled to the steering knuckle of the module without requiring bolts or press fit. An outer ring of the bearing assembly has a flange on one end which engages the knuckle at one end of a bore through the knuckle and a second end which is configured to be deformed to engage the second end of the knuckle bore. The wheel bearing assembly is thus captured within the bore, eliminating the need for press fit or a snap ring to retain the wheel bearing assembly.

Abstract: A wheel bearing assembly for a vehicle has a wheel hub with a spindle that extends axially from the hub. A rolling element bearing is coupled to the hub, over the spindle, and is secured to the spindle by a deformed end of the spindle. The deformed end engages a radially outward facing portion of a lip that extends from an inner ring of the rolling element bearing, such that no radially outward force is exerted on the inner ring by the deformed end.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present disclosure a preformed heating member is disclosed, the preformed heating element comprising: a first layer having a conductive layer for receiving an electrical current and providing a source of heat, the conductive layer being disposed on a sheet of formable film; and an outer layer disposed over the conductive layer; and a second structural layer adhered to the first layer, wherein the preformed heating element is capable of being configure to be positioned over a corresponding location.