Abstract: An attachment assembly and method for attaching closed loops of lanyards to dust covers. The attachment assembly and method eliminate the need for tools and enable plastic and other materials to be used in the construction of the lanyard. In one embodiment, the attachment assembly includes a groove and a flange with a slot in it. A closed loop can be attached to the dust cover using this attachment assembly by placing a section of the closed loop in the slot and then rotating the dust cover relative to the closed loop.

Abstract: A wheel bearing assembly for supporting a wheel and apportioned vehicle mass is provided. The assembly includes a spindle member defining a rotational axis with a flange for attaching a wheel and a hub assembly. A bearing assembly has inner and outer bearing members in spaced relationship from one another with a plurality of rolling members interposed between the bearing members to permit relative rotation between the bearing members about the rotational axis. The spindle is deformed around the inner bearing member to prevent axial translation between the spindle and the inner bearing member about the rotational axis. An outer surface of the inner bearing member has a geometric feature for receiving a force applied from a tool during the deformation of the spindle thereby reducing radial deflections of the inner bearing member during the process of deforming the spindle.

Abstract: A rotary damper for use in an automotive vehicle. The rotary damper includes an outer casing having a main chamber and a pair of piston orifices, the main chamber and the piston orifices being filled with a damping fluid, a pivotable cam located in the main chamber and attached to an arm for transferring the rotary movement of the arm to the cam. The damper also includes a pair of pistons, each located in its own orifice, and connected to opposite sides of the cam. When the arm transfers the rotary movement to the cam, each piston is moved in opposite directions in its respective piston orifice to damp the rotary movement of the arm.

Abstract: A method (60) for reprogramming application software in a microcontroller (10) without making the microcontroller vulnerable to failure. The method (60) divides the application memory space (18) into five distinct regions including a reset vector space (20), a pre-boot software space (22), and an application software space (24) that is further divided into a main application boot space (26) and a back-up application boot space (28). In another embodiment of the present invention, the application software space (24) is programmed to contain a reset vector jump table (52). The back-up space (28) is programmed (64) to contain data necessary to reprogram the microcontroller until the main application space (26) has been reprogrammed (68) as desired. The back-up boot space (28) cannot be erased until the main application space (26) has been properly reprogrammed. Thereafter, the back-up boot space (28) can be erased (70) and reprogrammed as desired.

Abstract: A wear resistant fuel pump for a vehicle includes a pump section having a rotatable impeller and a plurality of plates disposed axially adjacent to and cooperating with the impeller to pump fuel therethrough. The wear resistant fuel pump also includes a motor section disposed adjacent the pump section and having a motor to rotate the impeller. The wear resistant fuel pump further includes an outlet section disposed adjacent the motor section to allow pumped fuel to exit therethrough. The impeller is made of a first compound and the plates are made of a second compound having an abrasion wear resistance on a surface thereof that improves abrasion wear characteristics therebetween.

Abstract: The invention adjusts the spectral characteristics of a light emitting diode (LEDs) by placing a filter in the LEDs light emission path. The filter is printed on the lens of the LED or printed on a cap that is later attached to the LED via ink jet printing or another printing method. The specific ink colors selected for the filter depend on the deviation of each LED from a specified tolerance. The filters create a high degree of color and intensity uniformity without requiring labor and cost-intensive binning.

Abstract: A filter board for filtering electromagnetic emissions from an electronic device couples to a conductive housing in the device. The filter board includes a plurality of filter components connected to a substrate, which is coupled to a continuous ground plane. Signal lines from the electronic device are coupled to the filter components and pass through the substrate and ground plane before being connected to other circuits. The filter board prevents high frequency noise and excessive emissions from exceeding required limits.

Abstract: A method of depositing large particles having an average nominal diameter of greater than 106 microns up to 250 microns onto substrates using a kinetic spray system is disclosed. The method utilizes a powder injector tube having a reduced inner diameter and a de Laval type nozzle having an elongated throat to exit end length. The method permits deposition of much larger particles than previously possible.

Abstract: A cylindrical element having a first axis and at least one internal longitudinal passage, and a circular circumferential groove formed in an outer surface of the element and having a second axis. The groove eccentric of the element such that the groove intersects the wall of the longitudinal passage, forming thereby a rectangular opening therebetween. When a second longitudinal passage is present, it is similarly intersected by a second eccentric groove spaced apart axially from the first groove. The axis of the second groove is rotationally displaced about the element axis from the first groove, preferably by a large angle, for example 180°, such that the first eccentric groove does not intersect the second passage, nor does the second eccentric groove intersect the first passage.

Abstract: One embodiment of a non-precious metal catalyst for treating an exhaust gas stream comprises an alkali metal oxide component comprising lithium oxide, in combination with an alkaline earth support component, wherein the alkaline earth support component is an alkaline earth zeolite catalyst, an alkaline earth alumina catalyst, or a mixture thereof. Another embodiment of a non-precious metal catalyst for treating an exhaust gas stream comprises a substrate supporting a coating having more than about 6 weight percent of a lithium oxide component in combination with less than about 49 weight percent of an barium zeolite catalyst component and less than about 42 weight percent of a barium alumina catalyst component and not more than about 7 weight percent of a ceramic oxide binder.

Abstract: A vehicle hydraulic braking system responds to detection of an operator intended high braking intensity event to isolate vehicle brakes from the master cylinder and activate a motor driven pump to generate a maximum predetermined supply pressure, calibrated to provide activation of an anti-lock braking system, to the brake apply valves for an initial predetermined time. Thereafter, the supply pressure is reduced via an electrically controllable pressure relief valve responsive to sensed vehicle deceleration so as to decrease the supply pressure provided to the apply valve to a level just sufficient to provide the sensed vehicle deceleration. The high intensity braking event is detected via a rate of change of master cylinder pressure, pedal force or pedal travel.

Abstract: A control method for a direct injection gasoline engine operable in stratified or homogenous combustion modes and having a fuel vapor purge system estimates the hydrocarbon concentration of purge vapor during open loop fuel control in the stratified combustion mode, and controls the fuel injection quantity and the combustion mode based on the estimated concentration. The hydrocarbon concentration of the purge vapor is estimated during open-loop fuel control by measuring the air/fuel ratio error during steady state operation with no fuel vapor purging, and using such air/fuel ratio error to normalize the air/fuel error observed during steady state operation with purge control. The fuel injection quantity is compensated for the estimated purge vapor concentration, and engine combustion mode is determined in part based on a comparison of the estimated concentration with a calibrated threshold.

Abstract: A hydraulic mount for automotive engine and powertrain applications includes an elastomer body, a base and a partition interposed the body and the base to form a fluid-pumping chamber and a reservoir. Circumferentially spaced axial extending holes or slots or an annular orifice track are formed in the partition together with a magnetic coil operable to impose a magnetic field on the holes, slots or orifice track to control the shear properties of a magnetorheological (MR) fluid in the pumping chamber and reservoir. An elastomeric decoupler member is in communication with at least one of the pumping chamber and the reservoir to reduce the mount dynamic stiffness for isolating low-displacement relatively high-frequency vibrations. Vibrations of multiple frequencies may be isolated by tuning the mount with a controller.

Abstract: A method of assembling an ignition coil cassette assembly for use with an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinder assemblies each including a spark plug, and an ignition coil cassette assembly provided in accordance with the invention methodology. The cassette assembly includes a plurality of ignition coils for respective electrical coupling to the respective spark plugs, whereby to deliver high voltage charges to the spark plugs in accordance with a predetermined firing order, a cassette body structure interconnecting and mounting the ignition coils in spaced downstanding relation with respect to the body, a printed circuit board for delivering power to the coils, and electronic components mounted on the board.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for attaching a tube member to a housing of a vacuum brake booster is provided. A tube member includes a body portion, an outer surface, a first end, and a second end. A first collar portion is disposed between the first end and the body portion, and extends outward from the outer surface. A lip portion is disposed at the first end and extends outward from the outer surface. The first collar portion and the lip portion define a recess to receive a first housing member. The tube member may further include a second collar portion spaced apart from the first collar portion and extending outward from the outer surface. The second collar portion may preferably define a contact surface for contacting an inner surface of a second housing member.

Abstract: An air filter apparatus filters air drawn into a vehicle. The air filter apparatus is disposed in an instrument panel in a passenger compartment of the vehicle. The air filter apparatus includes an air filter housing and a filter element disposed in the housing for filtering the air that is drawn into the vehicle. The housing includes an external air side and an internal air side. A filter channel of the housing is defined between the external and internal air sides. The filter element is disposed in the filter channel. The housing further includes a filter access port defined between the external and internal air sides and that extends from the filter channel. The filter access port terminates adjacent an outer skin of the instrument panel such that the filter element can be selectively removed from the filter channel for service and/or replacement of the filter element from the passenger compartment.

Abstract: A rotary throttle valve having a first cylindrical bore for flow of air between an inlet and an outlet and a second cylindrical bore orthogonal to the first bore and being substantially the same diameter as the first bore. A flow modulator rotatably disposed in the second bore has first and second cylindrical portions disposed respectively on opposite sides of the first bore and separated by a central plate such that when the modulator is rotated to place the plate transverse to the first bore, the edges of the plate are fully engaged with the wall of the second bore and the valve is closed. As the modulator is rotated from the closed position to open the valve, the edges of the plate become progressively less engaged with the wall of the second bore, the edge of the open area following the juncture lines of the first and second bores.

Abstract: A hybrid steer-by-wire and mechanical steering system for a vehicle includes two subsystems. The first subsystem connects a steering wheel with a mechanical link adapted to turn a first wheel of the vehicle. The second subsystem has an electro-mechanical actuator adapted to turn a second wheel of the vehicle. An electronic controller adapted to receive information indicative of the positions of the steering wheel and the first wheel controls the electro-mechanical actuator to thereby control the position of the second wheel.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a catalytic converter. A plurality of catalyst substrates having a periphery, an intake area and an outlet area, and comprising a catalyst, is longitudinally aligned. A mat support material is wrapped about the periphery of the catalyst substrates to form a subassembly. The subassembly is concentrically disposed within a shell. The shell is formed to have a non-linear geometry.

Abstract: A method for estimating the yaw rate of a vehicle. The method includes receiving at least one signal indicative of a vehicular lateral acceleration and receiving at least one signal indicative of a vehicular wheel velocity. A plurality of yaw rate estimation functions are provided. A first yaw rate estimation function of the plurality of yaw rate estimation functions is selected in response to at least one of the received signals. A first estimated yaw rate is estimated in accordance with the selected first yaw rate estimation function and at least two signals each indicative of a wheel velocity. If the first estimated yaw rate is not within a threshold value of an actual measured yaw rate, a second yaw rate estimation function is selected to obtain a second estimated yaw rate using a signal indicative of lateral acceleration for correlation with the actual measured yaw rate.