Abstract: A thermosiphon assembly for dissipating heat generated by an electronic component using a working fluid is disclosed. The assembly includes an evaporator having a front face, a rear face, and a peripheral wall extending between the front face and the rear face and being arcuate. A heat block contacts the front face for transferring generated heat from the electronic component to the working fluid to vaporize the working fluid. A condenser is in fluid communication with the chamber and connected to the rear face for condensing the vaporized working fluid back to a liquid. The assembly further includes an acute angle between the front face and the peripheral wall such that the chamber extends upwardly at an angle from the front face to the rear face to ensure complete coverage of the heat block with the cooling fluid in any position between horizontal and vertical.

Abstract: A circuit configuration for controlling the field current of an alternating current generator in a vehicle electrical generator system includes a digital to analog converter for converting a digital command signal to an analog voltage. A first comparator compares the system field current with the converted analog voltage. A switched component, operatively connected to a power switch, is switchable in response to the comparator output. A frequency generator, operatively connected to the switched component, provides timed pulses to periodically tell the switched component to turn on the power switch.

Abstract: An idle stability control for a fuel injected internal combustion engine deactivates selected fuel injectors after specified idle conditions have been met for a predetermined period of time, and thereafter until the conditions are no longer met. The engine spark timing is temporarily modified on each transition to and from the control to reduce operator perception of the injector deactivation and reactivation. Additionally, the injector deactivation pattern is periodically adjusted following an overlap period during which all of the injectors are enabled.

Abstract: The steering actuator system disclosed includes a driver feedback rack for receiving input from a steering wheel and a vehicle steering rack, separate from the driver feedback rack. A variable feedback device connects the driver feedback rack to the vehicle steering rack, such that linear motion of the driver feedback rack is translated to variable linear motion of the vehicle steering rack through the variable feedback device. Also, linear motion of the steering rack can be translated into variable linear motion of the driver feedback rack through the variable feedback device.

Abstract: A magnetic brake actuated spring clutch has an input shaft that is rotatably mounted in a housing, a coaxial output shaft that is rotatably mounted in the housing for rotation relative to the input shaft, and a coil spring surrounding a portion of the output shaft. The coil spring has one end attached to the input shaft and an opposite end attached to a rotor of a magnetic brake. The rotor is journalled on the output shaft, and the magnetic brake further includes a stator that is secured in the housing. The stator includes a permanent magnet and the rotor includes a copperplate that is juxtaposed the permanent magnet. The coil spring has a first part that is wound in one direction and a coaxial second part that is wound in an opposite direction so that the input shaft drives the output shaft in either direction when the spring clutch is engaged by input shaft via the magnetic brake. Alternatively, the stator may include a pair of spaced opposed magnets that are juxtaposed either side of the copper plate.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for determining a change in the viscosity of a fluid, the apparatus including means for heating a portion of the fluid so that the heated portion will rise within the fluid, means for determining the heated portion's rise time, means for determining the heated portion's average velocity as it rises through the fluid and means for determining the viscosity of the fluid based on the rise time and/or average velocity of the heated portion. The method allows for permitting the temperature and agitation of the fluid to stabilize prior to heating a portion of the fluid so that it will rise within fluid. The rise time and/or average velocity of the heated portion is determined and the viscosity of the fluid may be determined the rise time and/or average velocity to a baseline rise time and/or average velocity. An output signal may be generated that is indicative of whether there has been a change in the fluid's viscosity and/or whether the fluid should be changed.

Abstract: A method for compensating signals from an absolute angular position sensor assembly is used in conjunction with an absolute angular position sensor assembly having an input gear coupled to a rotating shaft. The input gear is meshed with an output gear that rotates as the input gear and the shaft rotate. The sensor assembly includes an input gear sensor and an output gear sensor placed in proximity to the input gear and output gear, respectively. The gears are configured so as to be sensed by the sensors. The method includes determining an angular position compensation value that is used to adjust an absolute position of the input gear, which in turn is used to compute the absolute position of the rotating shaft.

Abstract: A braking apparatus and method are provided for applying a braking force to the inboard and outboard sides of a brake rotor, through the use of a pair of pistons disposed in a back-to-back relationship in a cylinder bore of a housing, and defining a space between them in the cylinder bore for receipt of a pressurized fluid. The rotor is rotatable about a rotor axis, and the cylinder bore defines a bore axis extending parallel to the rotor axis. A first piston of the pair of pistons is slidably disposed in the cylinder bore for movement in a first direction along the bore axis toward the inboard side of the rotor for applying a braking force to the inboard side of the rotor, and the second piston of the pair of pistons is slidably disposed in the cylinder bore for movement in a second direction opposite the first direction along the bore axis for applying a braking force to the outboard side of the rotor.

Abstract: An air conditioning system using a refrigerant to control a temperature of a climate-controlled area. The air conditioning system comprises a refrigerant circuit and a compressor coupled to the refrigerant circuit. The compressor includes a compression mechanism comprising a swash plate and at least one piston engaging the swash plate for compressing the refrigerant. An electric motor has a drive shaft that supports the swash plate at an inclination angle. The swash plate is adjustable between a plurality of inclination angles or stroke positions to adjust a current pressure in a low-side pressure portion of the refrigerant circuit. An electronic control valve adjusts the compression mechanism between the plurality of stroke positions to adjust the current pressure. A controller is programmed to control the electronic control valve until the current pressure is within a predetermined limit of a target pressure.

Abstract: An actuator for controlling the flow of a fluid stream through a valve comprising a shape memory alloy element that positions a valve element to a first position when said SMA element is in an ambient temperature state and a second position when said SMA element is in an elevated temperature state, and a flow plate situated in the fluid stream in a position upstream of the SMA element and having a through-hole pattern to increase the velocity of fluid around the SMA element while it is in its elevated temperature state so as to cool the SMA element by fluid controlled by said valve and return the SMA element to its ambient temperature state.

Abstract: A suspension damper including a tube and a damping piston assembly disposed within the tube and slidably mounted therein for reciprocal movement in the tube. The suspension damper also includes a piston rod extending through the tube and connected to the damping piston assembly, a rod guide assembly closing a top end of the tube, and a rebound cut-off disk and spring suspended in the tube between the rod guide assembly and the damping piston assembly and cooperating with the damping piston assembly to provide a rebound cut-off effect between the rebound cut-off disk and the damping piston assembly. The rebound cut-off disk and spring have specific gravities that are less than the specific gravity of the fluid in the tube, such that the disk and the spring are floatable in the fluid.

Abstract: The invention provides a vehicle damper assembly and method of assembling the same. The vehicle damper assembly includes a damper including a reservoir tube and a stabilizer bracket operably attached to the reservoir tube. The vehicle damper assembly further includes a lower spring seat press-fit to the reservoir tube and stabilizer bracket. The vehicle damper assembly method includes providing a reservoir tube, attaching a stabilizer bracket to the reservoir tube, and press-fitting a lower spring seat to the reservoir tube and the stabilizer bracket.

Abstract: A dual voltage motor drive is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the motor includes a rotor assembly, rotatingly disposed within a stator assembly, and a plurality of motor phase windings configured to be energized in a determined sequence to cause a rotation of the rotor assembly. The plurality of motor phase windings are divided into a first group of windings selectively energized by a first voltage source, and a second group of windings selectively energized by a second voltage source, wherein the motor remains operational in the event of a failure of one of the first and second voltage sources.

Abstract: One embodiment of a gas sensor shield comprises: an elongated body comprising solid sides and a tip disposed across one end of said shield; and an opening disposed within said tip, wherein said opening comprises at least two elongated apertures.

Abstract: An improved compressor capacity control method selectively overrides a normal capacity control during periods of vehicle acceleration to reduce engine exhaust emissions. The capacity override is invoked when the rate of engine throttle movement exceeds a predefined rate, provided that the load imposed by the compressor is sufficiently high and the vehicle speed is greater than a minimum value. Once invoked, the override reduces the compressor capacity to a predetermined level, and measures the elapsed time. The override is maintained for at least a minimum time period that ensures an emission benefit, after which the vehicle speed is monitored to determine the extent of the acceleration. The override is terminated when the rate of increase in vehicle speed falls below a reference rate, or when the elapsed time exceeds a reference time, whichever occurs first.

Abstract: A non-thermal plasma (NTP) reactor structural conductor element includes a base conductor support and a high dielectric constant (“high k”) barrier layer supported by and substantially surrounding the base conductor support to form a structural conductor NTP reactor element. The structural conductor element may comprise a variety of shapes such as plates, sheets, half-box, I shapes, C shapes, or comb shapes, among others. In one embodiment, the dielectric barrier layer includes a coating applied to the base conductor support. In another embodiment, the dielectric barrier layer includes a high k film laminated to the base conductor support. In yet another embodiment, the base conductor support integrally forms the dielectric barrier layer via conversion of surfaces of the base conductor using electrochemical, thermal or chemical means to form the dielectric barrier layer.

Abstract: A base manifold for a modular solid oxide fuel cell assembly comprises a plurality of receiving areas for receiving a plurality of solid oxide fuel cell stacks; a fuel inlet passageway disposed between a manifold fuel inlet port and a plurality of stack fuel inlet ports; an oxidant inlet passageway disposed between a manifold oxidant inlet port and a plurality of stack oxidant inlet ports; a fuel outlet passageway disposed between a plurality of stack fuel outlet ports and a manifold fuel outlet port; and an oxidant outlet passageway disposed between a plurality of stack oxidant outlet ports and a manifold oxidant outlet port.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a tubular assembly. A first tube is obtained. A first tubular connector is obtained having a first and second end portions. The first end portion is metallurgically attached to the first tube. A tubular member is obtained having a third end portion. At least one of the second and third end portions includes an annular outward fold including spaced-apart first and second fold portions. The first tubular connector and the tubular member are positioned with the second end portion aligned with and contacting the third end portion. A resistance welding current path is created through the first tubular connector and the tubular member proximate the second and third end portions and the second and third end portions are relatively and deformingly moved together creating a weld zone which includes at least some of the second and third end portions.

Abstract: A high current terminal blade connection system adapted for automotive environments, which provides environmental sealing includes a female connector and a male connector. The male connector includes a male power terminal having a contact blade and a means for connecting a power cable thereto. The female connector includes a female power terminal with a terminal blade seat for contactibly receiving the contact blade of the respective male power terminal. A contact insert is inserted within the female terminal and is the direct receiver of the male terminal contact blade. The contact insert includes dimples to provide stability and additional contact points to improve the electrical performance of the connection, and contact vanes to accept the mating male terminal blade for an in-line and right angle direction termination with the mating terminal blade. This design allows one female terminal and one contact insert for two different mating directions, thus eliminating the need for any additional parts.

Abstract: A two-step finger follower rocker arm assembly including a follower body having a socket at a first end for engaging a hydraulic lash adjuster and a pad at an opposite end for engaging a valve stem. A passage through the follower body in the direction of actuation by an engine cam is slidingly receivable of a slider member for variably engaging a central high-lift lobe. A lost-motion spring urges the slider member into contact with the central lobe. A latch member driven by a piston selectively locks the slider member to the follower body, causing the follower to follow the motion of the central cam lobe. When the latch member is disengaged, the slider member slides within the follower body, allowing lateral rollers to follow lateral cam lobes. The lateral rollers may be supported on the body by a rotatable cross-shaft or a fixed cross-shaft, or by a pair of fixed stub shafts, or by a pair of fixed bearing races.