Abstract: An energy absorbing device for a collapsible steering column of a vehicle includes an M-shaped plastically deformable strap for imposing a resistance to collapse of the steering column when the steering column collapses in a vehicle collision. An anvil adjusts the resistance to collapse imposed on the steering column by the strap. A controller produces a signal of a magnitude indicative of an amount of resistance needed to be imposed on the steering column by the strap to better protect from injury a driver seated behind the steering column at the time of the collision. An actuator receives the signal and actuates the anvil to adjust the amount of resistance imposed by the strap in accordance with the magnitude of the signal.

Abstract: A dynamic side-to-side braking method is disclosed. First, when the vehicle is in a combined braking and cornering maneuver, a desired braking force among tires of a vehicle is determined. Second, a brake force distribution of the desired braking force among the tires is determined. The brake force distribution is approximately proportional to a normal force distribution among the tires during the combined braking and cornering maneuver by the vehicle. When the vehicle excludes an active steering system, front or rear, the brake force distribution is determined as a function of a feedback correction to counterbalance a portion of a yaw moment experienced by the vehicle during the combined braking and cornering maneuver. When the vehicle includes an active steering system, front or rear, a steering correction is determined to counterbalance a portion of the yaw moment experienced by the vehicle during the combined braking and cornering maneuver.

Abstract: A magneto-rheological (“MR”) damper having a damper body tube containing an MR fluid. A piston assembly is disposed in the damper body tube and forms an annular flow gap between the piston assembly and the damper body tube. The piston assembly has a piston core containing ferrous material and an electromagnetic coil mounted on the piston core for generating a magnetic field. The damper further includes a ferromagnetic member positioned outside of the damper body tube substantially adjacent the piston assembly for providing at least a part of a magnetic flux return path for the magnetic field.

Abstract: A hydraulic mount useful for automotive vehicle powertrain applications includes an elastomeric body, a base, a flexible diaphragm and a partition assembled to provide a pumping chamber and a reservoir. An actuator is mounted for moving a closure member between positions to allow flow of fluid between the pumping chamber and the reservoir and to restrict flow of fluid between the pumping chamber and the reservoir. The partition comprises an orifice plate assembly including a valve housing and an annular recess formed in one of two orifice plates for receiving a decoupler. The orifice plates include openings therein for communicating fluid between the decoupler and the pumping chamber and between the decoupler and the reservoir, respectively.

Abstract: A mechanism for advancing and retarding the injection timing of a mechanically-actuated fuel injection pump. The mechanism includes a housing having a bore slidably receivable of an advance piston which cooperates with a lever of the fuel injector timing mechanism. A light load piston also in the bore cooperates with the advance piston to permit adjustment of timing under light load conditions. A rotatable cam mechanism cooperates with a flange on the light-load piston to set the axial rest position of the light-load piston and the advance piston, and hence the datum timing of the fuel injection pump. The cam may be easily set by external adjustment.

Abstract: A suspension damper includes a reservoir housing with a piston slidably mounted therein and including a piston rod extending from the reservoir housing and attached to the vehicle by a mount assembly. An air chamber is defined by a sleeve cirucmscribing the piston rod and connected to the reservoir housing by a flexible portion. The mount assembly includes a pumping chamber which expands and contracts in response to normal road undulations to inflate the air chamber. A valve controlled by the flexible portion of the sleeve controls communication from the air chamber to ambient atmosphere to thereby control inflation of the air chamber and thereby controlling ride height.

Abstract: A vehicular system includes a controller and an electric motor in signal communication with the controller for receiving current and rotating at speed; while the controller includes a first function responsive to a signal indicative of the speed of the electric motor, a filter responsive to a signal indicative of the heat generation rate of the vehicular system, a second function in signal communication with the first function and the filter, and a limit calculation function in signal communication with the second function for providing a motor current limit responsive to the second function; wherein a method for controlling the vehicular system includes receiving a signal indicative of the heat generation rate of the vehicular system, receiving a signal indicative of a speed of the electric motor, providing a scale factor or an overload value in response to the received signal indicative of speed, filtering the received signal indicative of heat generation rate in correspondence with a time constant, process

Abstract: A safety system for a vehicle, having an adjustable headrest with a belt guide. The belt guide realigns the path of travel of a torso belt of a vehicle. The adjustable headrest provides head support to smaller sized passengers while also positioning the torso belt for the smaller sized passenger.

Abstract: An automotive steer-by-wire system is disclosed that includes a first network. The first network connects a first set of controllers for controlling a first set of motors. The steer-by-wire system further includes a second network that is independent of the first network and connects a second set of controllers for controlling a second set of motors. The steer-by-wire system includes a third network that connects the first set of controllers and the second set of controllers for controlling the first or second set of motors if the first or second network is inoperative, whereby information is transmitted via the third network independent of the first network and the second network.

Abstract: A sensor assembly for sensing the angular position of a rotatable body such as a motor vehicle steering column. The sensor assembly includes a ring gear which is zero calibrated upon assembly of the sensor assembly. The sensor assembly further includes a ring member which functions to lock the ring gear to the sensor housing to maintain the zero calibration between the time of calibration and the subsequent mounting of the sensor assembly on the steering column and further functions to release the ring member for free rotation with the steering column in response to mounting of the sensor assembly on the steering column.

Abstract: A vapor canister and fuel tank assembly for a vehicle includes a fuel tank having an interior chamber and a vapor canister fluidly communicating with the interior chamber of the fuel tank to adsorb vapor fuel. The vapor canister and fuel tank assembly also includes a pressure sensor located on a clean side of the vapor canister to monitor pressure in the assembly.

Abstract: A hydraulic pressure intensifier for operating a vehicle braking system under conditions that are not conducive to the proper operation of a power assist for the braking system. The hydraulic pressure intensifier has an intensifier inlet fluidly connected to a master cylinder and an intensifier outlet fluidly connected to a wheel cylinder. A bypass valve has an input and output fluidly connected to the intensifier inlet and the intensifier outlet, respectively. With normal power assisted braking operation, the bypass valve is open and the master cylinder is fluidly connected to the wheel cylinder via the bypass valve. In a manual or nonpower assisted braking operation, the bypass valve is closed; and the hydraulic pressure intensifier is fluidly connected between the master cylinder and the wheel cylinder.

Abstract: A durable MR fluid formulation is described which includes mechanically hard magnetizable particles, a carrier fluid derived from a polyalphaolefin and a plasticizer, and at least one colloidal additive such as colloidal polytetrafluoroethylene or colloidal graphite. The use of these colloidal additives inhibits surface-to-surface contact and scuffing while providing reliable lubrication under boundary lubrication conditions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of estimating a coefficient of adhesion between a road surface and a plurality of tires disposed on a vehicle. An estimated coefficient of adhesion for each of the plurality of tires is provided. First values of longitudinal and lateral forces on the tires are determined from a first set of vehicle dynamic parameters requiring no explicit knowledge of the coefficient of adhesion; and second values of the same forces are determined from a second set of vehicle parameters in an analytic tire model including the estimated value of the coefficient of adhesion. Differences between the first and the second values of the forces on the tires are determined in the longitudinal and lateral directions. Longitudinal and lateral adaptation speeds are determined for each of the plurality of tires; and a coefficient of adhesion adjustment for each of the plurality of tires is estimated from the differences and the adaptation speeds.

Abstract: A method and system for estimating current in a PM electric machine is disclosed. The method includes acquiring a torque value representative of the torque produced by the electric machine; receiving a position value indicative of the rotational position of the electric machine; obtaining a speed value indicative of the rotational velocity of the electric machine; receiving a temperature value representative of a temperature of the electric machine; calculating an estimate of the current. Where the calculating is based upon at least one of the torque value, the position value, the speed value, and the temperature value.

Abstract: An air distribution module for a vehicle heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system receives a layered air-flow of an upper and lower layer for delivery to a vehicle interior. The air distribution module includes a housing defining a central plenum and an air inlet at an upstream side thereof for receiving the layered air-flow of first and second layers. At least a first arcuate duct is coupled to the housing and defines an inner passage wherein the arcuate duct further includes an inlet coupled to a downstream side of the housing and in fluidic communication with the plenum. The duct further includes an inversion loop for inverting the air-flow layers and an outlet for discharging the air into the vehicle interior.

Abstract: A brake system control method, comprising the steps of: measuring a set of vehicle parameters including steering wheel angle, vehicle speed, lateral acceleration and vehicle yaw rate; responsive to the measured parameters using an observer to estimate lateral velocity of the vehicle, wherein the observer contains (a) an open loop dynamic model of the vehicle responsive to the measured vehicle speed and the measured yaw rate, (b) a closed loop term responsive to a first error between the measured yaw rate and a predicted yaw rate, a second error between a previously estimated lateral velocity and a predicted lateral velocity and a third error between the measured lateral acceleration and a predicted lateral acceleration; estimating a vehicle slip angle responsive to the estimate of lateral velocity; determining a control command responsive to the vehicle slip angle; and controlling an actuator responsive to the control command.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a housing (1) for an electrical connection system between parts that can be rotated with respect to each other, in particular between a steering wheel and a steering column, comprising a stationary housing part (3) and a housing part (4) which can be rotated relative with respect thereto, each of housing parts supporting a connector unit (10) and enclosing a spirally wound flexible electrical conductor (6) connected on its ends with connector units (10). The internal axial boundary surfaces (8) of the housing parts (3, 4) are provided with an insulating material (9). The insulating material (9) is a plastic material exhibiting sound-absorbing properties and is extrusion-coated on the internal axial boundary surfaces (8) of the plastic injection-molded housing parts (3, 4).

Abstract: An electrical connector uses a single flex circuit having two banks of electrical conductors each engaged to a series of terminals disposed or engaged in first and second carriers. The carriers are stacked upon one another and then inserted into a shroud of the electrical connector from a lateral direction. A clip retainer is then inserted from the rear into the shroud of the electrical connector between the first and second carriers to assure the position of the individual terminals within the respective carriers. The single flex circuit is replaced by a plurality of individual electrically insulated conductors in a second embodiment.

Abstract: A motor mounting assembly (30) for attaching a motor (32) to a housing (34) is presented. The mounting assembly (30) includes a pair of flanges (36, 38), one on the housing (34) and one on the motor (32). Each flange (36, 38) has a recess (54, 66) extending around its circumference. A hollow cover (44) is inserted over the flanges (36, 38) and crimped into the recesses (54, 66) to fasten the cover (44) and the motor (32) to the housing (34). The cover (44) includes inner and outer shells (84, 86) separated by a viscoelastic adhesive (88). A resilient damper (40) is sandwiched between the housing flange (38) and the motor flange (36).