Abstract: A golf club has a shaft, a connecting pin, a pin and a nut. One end of the connecting pin is securely inserted into the shaft, the other end of the connecting pin is threaded and is exposed from the shaft. The head is mounted on the shaft and has a neck with a passage for the shaft inserting into the passage in the neck. A baffle formed in the passage in the neck and has a through hole for the connecting pin extending through the through hole. The nut is screwed with the thread on the connecting pin and abuts the baffle. Consequently, the head is securely attached to the shaft with the connecting pin and the nut. With such an arrangement, the head is adjustable relative to the shaft prior to an adhesion process.

Abstract: A power operating system for opening and closing a vehicle liftgate has a pair of drive units supported on the respective vehicle pillars at the sides of the liftgate opening. Each drive unit includes a vertically oriented channel and a rack member that moves in the channel. The rack member comprises a rack bar and a plurality of rack links that are pivotally connected end-to-end. A transfer link is universally attached to the rack bar at one end and universally attached to the liftgate at the opposite end. The rack member is raised and lowered by a power unit that has a motor driven pinion gear that meshes with teeth of the rack bar and the rack links in succession. Raising and lowering the rack member opens and closes the liftgate via the transfer link.

Abstract: A solid plate of material has an outer side and an inner side. A hole is disposed in and through the solid plate, the hole being capable of receiving from the outer side one end of an exhaust pipe. The inner side of the solid plate has a collar capable of being received within an annular edge of a catalytic converter housing. The outer and inner sides of the end plate have an area outside the circumference of the catalytic converter housing that contains at least one hole capable of receiving a bolt or other fastening mechanism.

Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a multi-layered magnetic rod in which a steel powder is reduced and extruded through a die. To improve the magnetic properties, a layer of rare earth magnetic power formed around the low alloy steel in the extruder chamber. A second layer of coating formed around the rare earth powder and the three layers are co-extruded through the die to produce a layered rod having improved magnetic properties. The resulting magnetic rod may be machined using conventional machining methods.

Abstract: A disc brake including a pair of friction plates arranged coaxially in a parallel, spaced-apart relationship and a plurality of vanes extending between the pair of friction plates, each of the vanes having a proximal end, a distal end and a mid-portion extending between the proximal end and the distal end, the proximal ends of a plurality of the vanes having a first width, the mid-portion having a second width, the first width being substantially greater than the second width. The vanes can include a T-shaped portion adjacent the proximal end.

Abstract: This diaphragm support (18) for a motor vehicle brake booster comprises a central region (40) intended to be fixed to a piston (14) of the brake booster and a peripheral region (41). At least part of the support (18) extending from the central region towards the peripheral region includes a stratified structure consisting of a superposition of at least two sheets (42, 44) joined together.

Abstract: A magneto-rheological damping device comprises a core element for carrying a magnetic flux and a magnetic flux generator positioned adjacent to a portion of the core element and operable to generate a magnetic flux in the core element. A sleeve is positioned over the core element and magnetic flux generator and includes a plurality of protrusions extending generally radially outwardly from a center of the core element. A flux ring surrounds the core element and sleeve and defining a passage between flux ring and core element for the flow of a magneto-rheological fluid. The sleeve protrusions are configured to engage the flux ring and secure the flux ring in a concentric position around the core element and sleeve.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an annular metal-bristled brush for cleaning the pintle shaft of a pintle valve, such as an exhaust gas recirculation valve for an internal combustion engine, to prevent coking and failure of the valve. The brush surrounds the shaft, the tips of the bristles making contact with the shaft with sufficient force to dislodge incipient coke deposits but with insufficient force to inhibit the axial motion of the pintle shaft in actuation. Preferably, the brush is disposed in an annular space in the valve body between the pintle shaft bearing and the gas-metering chamber such that the shaft is brushed in both directions during each actuative cycle of the valve. Preferably, the annular space is slightly larger both axially and radially than the corresponding dimensions of the brush so that the brush is free to float without binding the pintle shaft.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive sensor assembly includes a housing and a permanent magnet disposed within the housing. The sensor also includes two magnetoresistive dies within the housing in close proximity to the magnet. Three leads that are electrically connected to the magnetoresistive dies extend from the housing. The sensor assembly is manufactured using a leadframe formed with plural long slots and plural short slots. The magnet is attached to the leadframe such that the corners of the magnet are visible through the leadframe, and the magnetoresistive dies are attached to the leadframe based on the position of the magnet. As such, greater precision concerning the placement of the magnetoresistive dies relative to the magnet can be achieved.

Abstract: An engine air control valve includes a throttle body having an intake air passage and a throttle valve rotatable in the passage between minimum and maximum air flow positions about a valve axis generally perpendicular to the direction of air flow through the passage. The air passage is defined by an internal wall of the throttle body, the wall including a pair of control surfaces spaced from the valve periphery with gradually increasing clearance on opposite sides of the valve axis in a low flow range. At least one of the control surfaces is interrupted by a recess forming a recessed portion of more rapidly increasing clearance extending essentially from a minimum to an intermediate air flow position of the throttle valve. The recess modifies the base flow curve of the throttle body to provide greater air flow over the low flow range of the throttle valve.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the precombustion identification of a cylinder undergoing compression in an internal combustion engine is disclosed. An electrode gap (e.g., preferably a spark plug) is disposed within a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. The electrode gap is provided with a voltage differential from a power supply through a circuit (preferably an RC circuit). The engine is cranked, and the voltage differential across the electrode gap is monitored during the cranking of the engine. With appropriate choices of the voltage differential across the electrode gap, the resistance R of the circuit, and the capacitance C of the circuit, voltage pulses are produced across the electrode gap during such time when the cylinder is not undergoing a compression stroke. Such voltage pulses are suppressed when the cylinder is in fact undergoing a compression stroke due to a rise in the breakdown voltage across the electrode gap, in accordance with Paschen's Law.

Abstract: A method of determining a vehicle steering wheel angle by receiving at least one steering sensor output from at least one steering sensor. The method then receives a vehicle speed signal. A centered steering angle is determined based on the received vehicle speed signal and the steering sensor output.

Abstract: A plug connector (10) for light conductors comprises two connector parts (12, 14) which can be plugged together and locked to one another and of which at least one (12) is provided with at least one optical ferrule (16). The ferrule (16) which is associated with a first connector part (12) can be locked via a locking device (18) with the other connector part (14).

Abstract: A novel impeller for a regenerative turbine fuel includes a hub and a plurality of V-shaped vanes that project radially outward. The hub defines an aperture into which the shaft of the pump is securable. Each V-shaped vane includes a pair of fin members. Each fin member has an inner sidewall and an outer sidewall. The fin members of each vane are adjoined by their inner sidewalls. From their adjoined inner sidewalls, the fin members of each vane diverge to their respective outer sidewalls. In particular, the fin members of each vane diverge at a prespecified angle relative to a plane that lies normal to the center axis and also bisects the hub. Along at least part of its length, the trailing corner of each outer sidewall of each V-shaped vane is chamfered. The chamfer is made at a predetermined angle relative to the aforementioned plane.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to control a braking system. One method provides a command signal to a valve to control fluid pressure to a wheel brake in a braking system, includes determining a pressure signal based on a first set for control gains and a pressure command signal, determining a first current signal based upon the pressure command signal, subtracting an actual pressure signal from the pressure command signal to produce an error signal, and determining a second current signal based on the second set of control gains and the error signal. The method further includes subtracting a supply pressure actual signal from a supply pressure nominal signal to produce a pressure differential signal, multiplying the pressure differential signal by a selected gain to produce a third current signal, and summing the first current signal, the second current signal and the third current signal to produce an output signal.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension damper assembly is provided which includes a cup member with a threaded opening formed therein. A piston rod includes a threaded portion, which is engaged in the threaded opening. An electrical connector including a terminal portion is received in an opening formed in the piston rod. The threaded engagement between the piston rod and the cup member is a predetermined length that reduces deflection of the cup member to reduce transfer of load to the terminal portion of the electrical connector.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a damped steering assembly are provided. The damped steering assembly includes a steering wheel attached to a steering column. Disposed between the steering wheel and the steering column is an active vibration control mechanism. The active vibration control mechanism damps vibration transmitted from the steering column to the steering wheel.

Abstract: An injector coil body assembly with upper and lower coil bodies is held together with a spring type press fit instead of welding. The coil bodies are made with generally tubular connecting portions telescoped together around the magnetic coil. The downwardly open tubular lower portion of the upper body is longer and slightly smaller than the connecting upwardly open tubular upper portion of the lower body so that the lower portion of the upper body fits into the upper portion of the lower body. A longitudinal slot in the upper body lower portion allows the lower portion to spring in slightly upon insertion into the lower body upper portion so that the upper and lower bodies are retained in assembly by a spring biased press fit. The press fit holds the telescoped portions in close contact, providing an efficient path for carrying the magnetic flux of the coil.

Abstract: An actively variable energy absorber including a convex anvil on a steering column housing, a flat metal strap attached to a steering column support and slidably engaging the convex anvil on an active surface area of the convex anvil, and a control apparatus for actively varying the geometric relationship between the flat metal strap and the convex anvil in response to changes in a control variable thereby to adjust the magnitude of the active surface area. Adjusting the magnitude of the active surface area changes the severity of plastic deformation of the flat metal strap and the magnitude of the friction between the flat metal strap and the convex anvil thereby to adjust the force resisting linear translation of the steering column housing. In some embodiments of the actively variable energy absorber, the flat metal strap is plastically deformed by being pulled over a single convex anvil during linear translation of the steering column housing.

Abstract: A hybrid electrical machine having a permanent magnetic rotor field in addition to an electrically excited rotor field is disclosed. The generator rotor (220) has two opposing claw segments (226, 228) mounted at opposite ends of a rotor shaft (222). A third, center claw segment (232) is mounted on the rotor shaft between the first and second claw segments. A first wound field coil (224) is mounted on the rotor shaft between the first and third claw segments, and a second wound field coil (234) is mounted between the second and third claw segments. One or more permanent magnets (230, 231) may be provided about the periphery of the first, second, and/or third claw segments.