Abstract: A fuel cell comprising a fuel cell stack portion integrally connected to a waste energy recovery portion by a distribution manifold is presented. The fuel cell stack portion has supply and exhaust openings. The waste energy recovery portion has flow channels defined therein, and supply and exhaust openings. The distribution manifold integrally connects the fuel cell stack portion with the waste energy recovery portion. The distribution manifold has supply and exhaust passages therethrough, with the supply passages interconnecting the supply openings of the fuel cell stack portion with the supply openings of the waste energy recovery portion and the exhaust passages interconnecting the exhaust openings of the fuel cell stack portion with the exhaust opening of the waste energy recovery portion.

Abstract: A brake caliper comprises a motor having a shaft, at least one first planetary gear, and at least one second planetary gear. The at least one first planetary gear is rotatably engaged with the shaft and with a piston, and is operatively engaged with a first carrier. The at least one second planetary gear is operatively engaged with the first stage carrier and with a second carrier. A ball screw is engaged with the second stage carrier for rotation therewith, and a ball screw nut is operatively engaged with the ball screw. A parking brake for the caliper is also provided.

Abstract: An improved method of electric window heater activation automatically and independently activates front and rear window heaters at a variable level based on the respective potential of fogging, within the ability of the vehicle electrical system to supply the requested current without discharging the storage battery. A defog controller develops front and rear fog factors indicative of the relative potential of fogging, and activates the respective electric heaters as required to drive the respective fog factor to zero. The fog factors are based on an estimate of the cabin air dewpoint temperature, the temperature of the respective window surfaces, and a temperature interval over which the fog factor signals only partial activation of the respective heater. The temperature interval is biased in a direction to provide preventative activation of the heaters at a relatively low level when the electrical power requirement is limited, and the activation level is limited as required to prevent battery discharging.

Abstract: A composite fuel rail for delivering fuel to the fuel injectors of an internal combustion engine, includes an elongate body having a plurality of axially spaced transversely extending fuel injector sockets. The elongate body also includes an elongate, axially extending fuel passage intersecting the sockets to supply fuel to the sockets. The elongate body has an elongate polymer inner liner made of a chemically inert material that does not degrade substantially when exposed to fuel. The elongate body further includes a fiber reinforced outer shell extending over and covering the inner liner.

Abstract: A fuel pump comprising a plunger member reciprocable within a plunger bore, wherein the plunger member is cooperable with a drive arrangement to cause inward movement of the plunger member within the plunger bore to increase fuel pressure therein. The pump comprises an accumulator for fuel, and a valve arrangement controlling communication between the plunger bore and the accumulator to permit fuel under pressure to flow into the accumulator. The pumping plunger is moved in an outward direction under the action of the fuel pressure within the accumulator. The invention also relates to a fuel injection system comprising the fuel pump.

Abstract: A mechanical control head system allows a vehicle user to control certain HVAC functions. The mechanical control head system includes a mounting plate, a faceplate, at least two user-adjustable actuators, at least two function interfaces and connections between the function interfaces and the HVAC module. The knobs provide the user a means to control, for example, the ambient temperature in the vehicle interior and the outside air circulation within the vehicle. The rotary cylinders can be coupled and uncoupled to the knobs in a single step instead of requiring individual steps for each knob.

Abstract: Disclosed is a container for an entertainment system where the right and left panels each have a cutout which aligns with a channel on a bottom panel. The combination of the cutouts and channel are adapted to receive a seatbelt. Also disclosed is an entertainment system which includes a container with a combination of cutouts and a channel which are adapted to receive a seatbelt. Lastly, a method securing a container to a vehicle seat is disclosed.

Abstract: An automotive air conditioning system is provided comprising a duct for introducing a flow of air into a vehicle cabin, a closed-loop refrigeration circuit including a condenser and an evaporator, a temperature sensor arrange in the duct for measuring the temperature of the evaporator, and a control unit for selectively commanding operation of the system in accordance with the measured temperature of the evaporator. In a preferred embodiment, the temperature sensor comprises an infrared (IR) temperature sensor that is remotely positioned downstream of the evaporator such that the sensor can measure the temperature of a downstream surface of the evaporator. The use of an infrared temperature sensor allows the temperature of substantially the entire downstream surface of the evaporator to be measured instead of a small finite area of the evaporator.

Abstract: This present invention provides a deformable air bag module for use in an instrument panel or door panel of a vehicle. The air bag module has a deformable housing with an inflator and an air bag cushion being disposed within the deformable housing. The module housing has a neck portion defining an opening formed at a first side, wherein the first side is coupled to the instrument panel. The instrument panel includes first and second instrument panel sections and the module housing is disposed about the first and second instrument panel sections so that deployment of the air bag cushion causes deformation of the module housing resulting in the first and second instrument panel sections separating and deployment of the air bag cushion therebetween. When a tear seam is used to define the first and second instrument panel sections, the present invention permits the tear seam to be formed thicker in size and more durable.

Abstract: An extruded magnetic structure includes a first layer of low alloy steel compressed powder and a second layer of rare earth metal compressed powder circumferentially disposed around the first layer. A third layer of compressed powder may be circumferentially disposed around the second layer.

Abstract: A vehicle door assembly that includes an outer panel and an inner panel which define a space in which hardware items are located. A trim panel including an inner door handle assembly is positioned on an inside of the inner panel. Connecting rods are positioned within the space and have a first end that is connected to a latch. The second end of the rod is connected to the inner door handle assembly. The rod is retained within a clip proximate to the second end of the rod. The clip allows for longitudinal movement of the rod while retaining the rod in the other two dimensions. This arrangement facilitates attachment of the inner door handle assembly and rod when the inner panel is installed.

Abstract: A method of forming an attachment fitting for a suspension tube comprises providing an insert in a mold, and casting a ring element in the mold. The ring element is metallurgically bonded to the insert. An attachment fitting formed by this method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint assembly comprises outer and inner joint members having engaging contact surfaces which support the joint for articulation about a common center point. The joint members have ball grooves which diverge inwardly of the joint and whose inner and outer ball groove surfaces are axially offset with respect to the center point for urging the balls axially inwardly. A ball retainer is provided within the outer joint member. The ball retainer is spring-biased into engagement with an end of the inner joint member and pivots about the center point of the joint to engage and hold the balls within the ball grooves, maintaining them in a common plane.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint includes a rotatable wheel hub for mounting a wheel of a vehicle which serves as the outer race of the joint. The hub is formed with a through bore that includes a part spherical surface at an inboard end of the hub. An inner joint is installed through the open outboard end and is formed with a plurality of ball grooves whose centers are offset with respect to the center of the joint, forcing balls within the grooves toward the installation end of the hub. A ball retainer device is disposed in the wheel hub bore to retain the balls and seal the joint.

Abstract: A voltage regulating control system for vehicle systems which includes a power supply providing electrical power to the system and having a predefined maximum voltage. A controller controls an actuator performing a vehicle system function and the electrical load in the system wherein the controller has a first predefined minimum operating voltage. A voltage regulator communicates with the controller and the power supply and senses a system input voltage in the system. In response to a sensed voltage dip in excess of a predetermined value, the regulator changes an effective electrical impedance of the system to maintain the system voltage at a predefined minimum voltage greater than the first predefined minimum operating voltage required by the controller.

Abstract: A fuel system for fluidly connecting a fuel tank with an engine includes a low-pressure fuel circuit connected to the fuel tank. A high-pressure fuel circuit connected to the engine is supplied with fuel by the low-pressure fuel circuit. A priming fuel circuit includes a priming fuel conduit and a priming valve. The priming fuel conduit has a first segment and a second segment. The priming valve has an inlet and an outlet. The first segment of the priming fuel circuit interconnects the low-pressure fuel circuit and the outlet of the priming valve. The second segment of the priming fuel circuit interconnects the high-pressure fuel circuit and the inlet of the priming valve. The priming valve is operable to control a flow of fluid through the priming fuel conduit to thereby selectively connect and disconnect the high-pressure fuel circuit and the low-pressure fuel circuit.

Abstract: A method and circuit for determining the health of a microcontroller is provided having a circuit that includes a bus, a CPU coupled to the bus and a register coupled to the bus. A memory is also coupled to the bus. The memory is utilized by the first CPU. A controller is coupled to the register for controlling reading of the memory. The register generates a signature in response to the memory. The controller compares the reference signature and the second signature. The controller generated a fault signal when the reference signature is unequal to the second signature.

Abstract: An electronic returnless fuel system for a vehicle includes a fuel pump to pump fuel from a fuel tank. The electronic returnless fuel system also includes a fuel rail fluidly connected to the fuel pump to distribute the fuel to an engine of the vehicle and a pressure transducer to sense pressure of the fuel from the fuel pump to the fuel rail. The electronic returnless fuel system includes a controller electrically connected to the pressure transducer and the fuel pump to control the pressure of the fuel from the fuel pump to the fuel rail at a set operating pressure. The electronic returnless fuel system further includes a pressure relief valve interconnecting the fuel pump and the fuel rail set a predetermined amount below the set operating pressure to leak fuel back into the fuel tank.

Abstract: A steer-by-wire control system comprising a master control unit, a road wheel unit electrically connected to the master control unit and a steering wheel unit electrically connected to the master control unit. The steering wheel unit includes a feed forward control path and a feed back control path.

Abstract: An energy-efficient air conditioning control method regulates the capacity of a variable capacity refrigerant compressor based on the compressor suction and discharge pressures and a measure of the ambient temperature. A target suction pressure is selected based on the ambient temperature and the sensed discharge pressure, and the capacity of the compressor is adjusted as required to attain the target suction pressure. In a first embodiment of the control method, the ambient temperature is used to select a target evaporator outlet air temperature, which is used along with the sensed discharge pressure to select the target suction pressure, while in a second embodiment of the control method, the target suction pressure is selected directly on the basis of the ambient temperature and the sensed discharge pressure.