Abstract: A fuel pressure regulator includes three major components, a lower housing, a control member comprising an resilient diaphragm mounted on the housing and a tubular return member mounted in a fuel return opening of the housing. The control member is preferably formed of resilient sheet metal and includes at least one annular convolution between the mounting portion and a stiff center portion configured as an inverted dome with a lower center part that acts as a valve member. The control member acts as a cover closing the internal fuel chamber and responds as a diaphragm to changes in pressure within the fuel chamber to flex upwardly by a rolling action of the convolution, which lifts the domed central portion, opening the valve and allowing excess fuel to drain through the return member.

Abstract: This present invention provides an air bag assembly for use in a vehicle having a front structural member which preferably comprises an A-pillar of the vehicle. The air bag assembly comprises an inflator for generating gas and an air bag cushion deployable upon generation of gas by the inflator. The air bag cushion is preferably stored along a length of the front structural member while the inflator is preferably located at a position remote from the front structural member. The air bag assembly further includes a gas conduit which provides a gas path for transferring the gas from the inflator to the air bag cushion. The gas conduit comprises an expandable member extending along at least a length of the front structural member which permits the gas conduit to be packaged within the A-pillar structure underneath interior trim molding used to cover the A-pillar.

Abstract: A suspension damper assembly capable of adjusting the height of an automobile includes a cylinder tube defining a pumping chamber aligned concentrically within a reservoir tube. A fluid reservoir is defined between the reservoir tube and the cylinder tube. A piston is slideably disposed within the cylinder tube. A gas cup is slideably disposed within the assembly and separates a fluid chamber within the cylinder tube from a gas chamber. The gas cup includes a cup conduit connecting the pumping chamber to the reservoir chamber whereby stroking the gas cup pumps fluid into the pumping chamber increasing the outward force of the piston for raising the height of the vehicle. A piston shaft guide includes a shaft valve allowing fluid to pass from the pumping chamber to the reservoir chamber for reducing the outward force of the piston and lowering the height of the vehicle.

Abstract: An air cycle automotive air conditioning system for providing conditioned air to an automotive passenger compartment (20) includes an air compressor (10) tandemed to an expander (12). The expander (12) is efficiently run so as to expand air to a very low temperature, sending recovered work back to the compressor (10). The very cold expander air is then mixed with warmer air from other sources, providing a proper volume flow and temperature of air to the passenger compartment (24).

Abstract: The invention relates to a connection element for the connecting of electrical leads which are provided in particular for motor vehicles and which comprise a plurality of parallel individual conductors which are connected to a common strip-like carrier, comprising an upper part and a lower part, each of which having at least one clamping surface. The clamping surfaces face one another in such a manner that in the connected state, two overlapping leads with mutually facing contact regions are clamped in between the clamping surfaces. The invention further relates to a method for the replacement of electrical components which are in particular provided for motor vehicles with the help of a connection element in accordance with the invention.

Abstract: An MR fluid damper having a damper body tube containing a volume of MR fluid. A piston assembly is disposed in the damper body tube to form a flow gap between an outer surface of the piston and an inner surface of the damper body tube. An external coil surrounds a portion of the damper body tube. The external coil is capable of generating a magnetic field across at least a portion of the flow gap. In another aspect, the piston assembly includes a bearing in contact with the, inner surface of the damper body tube. The bearing maintains the piston assembly concentric within the damper body tube while permitting a flow of the MR fluid through the flow gap.

Abstract: A crank driven VVT mechanism includes single or dual cranks for actuating oscillating cam drive mechanisms. The crank drive positively actuates the mechanisms in both valve opening and valve closing directions and thus avoids the need to provide return springs as are generally required in cam driven mechanisms to bias the mechanisms toward a valve closed position. However, the crank driven mechanisms of the invention require the oscillating cams to pivot onto the base circle portion during a dwell period in order to provide periods of valve closed engine operation even when the valves are set for maximum opening stroke. Thus, increased motion of the actuating mechanism or a smaller angular extent of the valve lift portions of the oscillating cams is required as compared to a cam driven mechanism.

Abstract: A suspension damper system is provided. The damper system includes a damper with a damper rod, a portion of which extends from the proximal end of the damper. The damper rod includes a bore and an electrode disposed within the bore. A fastener for securing the damper rod to a vehicle is also provided. The fastener is disposed over the damper rod and includes a circumferential groove. An electrical connector which includes an electrically conducting terminal is connected to the electrode. The connector includes a lock which mates with the groove in the fastener and includes a ground terminal which is connected to the damper rod.

Abstract: A fuel pump comprising a pumping plunger reciprocable within a bore, and a drive arrangement for driving the pumping plunger. The drive arrangement includes a compressible load transmission arrangement for transmitting movement of the drive arrangement to the pumping plunger. The load transmission arrangement comprises first and second surfaces which define, therebetween, a chamber for fluid. The fuel pump also comprises supply means for permitting the chamber to be supplied with fluid, in use, and control means for controlling the flow of fluid from the chamber.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for diagnosing the condition of an automotive HVAC refrigerant compressor based on information contained within the signal produced by a high-side pressure sensor provided for system control purposes. The output signal of the pressure sensor is divided into its DC and AC components, with the DC component being used for system control purposes, and the AC component being used for diagnosing the condition of the compressor. Pulsations of the AC component (which conventionally are removed by filtering for control purposes) correspond to individual piston stroke cycles. The pulsations indicate compressor operation and are counted for purposes of determining the actual compressor speed. Since existing pressure sensor information is utilized to verify compressor operation and to determine compressor speed, the system cost impact due to the diagnostic evaluation is minimal.

Abstract: An electric power steering assist mechanism with an isolated output shaft for a motor vehicle. An output shaft has a steering hand wheel disposed on an upper end and has an opposing lower end ultimately operably connected to the steerable wheels of the motor vehicle. The output shaft is concentrically received and rotatably supported within a tubular speed reducing gear, which is driven by a worm gear connected to an electric motor. An elastomeric isolator is disposed within an annular space between the speed reducing gear and the output shaft to provide compliance in the steering assist mechanism between the gears and the output shaft thereby reducing vibrations.

Abstract: An ignition system for an internal combustion engine includes an ignition coil coupled to a spark plug in a combustion chamber of the engine, and a switch responsive to an ignition control signal for causing a primary current to flow through a primary winding (16) of the ignition coil. A control circuit is configured to generate the ignition control signal so as to produce a plurality of sparks at the spark plug during a combustion event in the cylinder. A secondary current trip circuit in sensing relation to the secondary winding is configured to generate secondary current trip signal when the secondary current decays down past a secondary current trip threshold. The control circuit is further configured to trigger a recharge event of the multicharge operation in response to the secondary current trip signal, thereby minimizing variability in terms of the amount of energy delivered to the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A fuel injector comprising a nozzle body defining a bore within which an outer valve member is slidable, the outer valve member being engageable with a first seating to control fuel injection from a first outlet opening provided in a nozzle body. The outer valve member is provided with a through bore within which an inner valve member is slidable, the inner valve member being engageable with a second seating to control fuel injection through a second outlet opening provided in the nozzle body. The fuel injector further comprises first and second control chambers for fuel whereby, in use, movement of the inner and outer valve members away from their respective seatings is controlled by controlling fuel pressure within the first and second control chambers so as to permit fuel delivery from a selected outlet opening.

Abstract: Improved motor position detection circuitry based on commutation pulse counting, including a pulse recognition circuit, a pulse counting circuit, and a start pulse rejection circuit for rendering the position detection circuitry insensitive to start-up pulses associated with motor turn-on. The start pulse rejection circuit detects an off-to-on transition of a motor controller, and renders the position detection circuitry insensitive to start-up pulses generated in a predefined time window coinciding with the detected off-to-on transition. In a first mechanization, the start pulse rejection circuit maintains a nominal bias voltage at an input of the pulse recognition circuit for the duration of the predefined time window. In a second mechanization, the start pulse rejection circuit renders the pulse counting circuit insensitive to pulses produced by the pulse recognition circuit for the duration of the predefined time window.

Abstract: Method for measuring a fluid flow, in particular an air flow (L), flowing in a flow canal to an engine (VM) or from an engine (VM), by means of a fluid mass measuring means (3) connected to an evaluation means (2), wherein in a regularly performed cycle an operational parameter (D1, D2, . . . , Dn) characterizing the operating status of the engine (VM) is recorded, the data (M1, M2, . . . , Mn) supplied by the fluid mass measuring means (3) are recorded, at least one extreme value (Ep, En) is determined from the data (M1, M2, . . . , Mn) recorded since the beginning of a time period (t1, t2, . . . , tn), an average value (Wma) is determined from the recorded data (M1, M2, . . . , Mn), a pulsation amplitude (P1, P2, . . . , Pm) is determined by dividing the extreme value (Ep) by the average value (Wma), and the average value (Wma) is corrected by multiplying it by a correction factor (K11, K12, . . . , Kmn) which is selected in dependence on the operational parameter (D1, D2, . . .

Abstract: A vehicle closure has a deck lid latch that includes a disabling lever that is automatically engaged to disable the deck lid latch when the deck lid latch is unlatched. The disabling lever must be reset manually to restore normal latching operation of the deck lid latch. The disabling lever is reset manually by a control knob that is difficult to operate to avoid inadvertent resetting.

Abstract: A drive assembly for a toothed rack and channel track type of power liftgate attaches the liftgate lift rod to the toothed rack indirectly, through a shoe-yoke assembly that transfers axial loads, but isolates the rack from non axial reactive loads transferred through the lift rod. A rigid yoke fits closely within axially spaced ends of a notch in the rack, but has a clearance elsewhere from the outside of the rack. The outside of the yoke is closely surrounded by a shoe, which provides a close fitting, slidable bearing layer with the inside of the channel track, maintaining the yoke to rack clearance. The maintenance of the yoke-rack clearance prevents the transmission of undesired reactive loads back to the rack through the yoke.

Abstract: A potentiometer position indicator for an automotive HVAC system belt drive has a means that passively realigns the turning wiper and fixed ring of the potentiometer if the potentiometer wiper becomes misaligned relative to the belt. A slip clutch interposed between the final gear of a gear reduction mechanism and the potentiometer wiper contacts a hard stop and is shifted back to an aligned position as the belt is shifted to either of its limit positions, thereby automatically realigning the two.

Abstract: A method for determining a dimension in a motor is described. By applying Fourier analysis, a sequence of terms is obtained. Since the fifth harmonic is the most undesirable term, the minimization of the fifth harmonic term will make resultant waveform closer to sine wave. Based upon the above, a determination of an angle &dgr; is described, wherein the fifth harmonic term of the sequence of terms is minimized. An electric motor having a rotor and a set of slot on said rotor surface having a set of magnets with a width &dgr; along the circumference of said rotor surface is described. The width &dgr; is determined by a method that includes applying Fourier analysis thereby a sequence of terms is obtained. Since the fifth harmonic is the most undesirable term, the minimization of the fifth harmonic term will make resultant waveform closer to sine wave. Based upon the above, a determination of an angle &dgr; is described, wherein the fifth harmonic term of the sequence of terms is minimized.

Abstract: A brake vacuum booster assembly is provided that includes a power piston with a two-piece member movable relative thereto for opening a valve when a brake pedal is applied. The two-piece member includes a cylinder and a cylinder cap. The cylinder has a passageway vented to atmosphere for providing air to air chamber in the booster. An electric actuator is retained within a cavity in the cylinder for coacting with the valve to more quickly open the valve during a rapid brake pedal apply. A cylinder cap is connected to an end of the cylinder for retaining the electric actuator within the cavity. The cylinder cap has an opening aligned with the passageway. A retaining mechanism is arranged between the cylinder and the cylinder cap for preventing axial and rotational movement of the cylinder cap relative to the cylinder to securely retain the electric actuator within the cavity and maintain alignment of the opening and passageway.