Abstract: A capacity control valve (17) for use in a clutchless, variable capacity compressor includes a central rod plunger (34) that is shifted axially in one direction, against a spring (39), by an energized coil (40), when the compressor is in a greater than minimum capacity condition. For the minimum capacity position, the rod plunger (34) is released by the de energized coil (40) to be pushed by spring (39) in the opposite direction to a solid, pre determined position. A by pass passage (42) interconnecting a discharge pressure chamber (20) and a suction pressure chamber (26) runs in parallel to the rod plunger (34), normally closed off by its own spring loaded shut off valve (44). When the coil 40 is de energized to release the plunger (34), it engages the shut off valve, opening the by pass passage and opening the discharge pressure chamber (20 to the suction pressure chamber (26).

Abstract: A battery tray assembly is described which has a bottom member and four side walls which are attached to the bottom member thereby forming an enclosure; the enclosure adapted to removably receive a battery therein; one of the walls having integral battery holddown members to retain the battery in position when placed in the enclosure; spaced adjacent to one of the walls a slot for snuggly retaining an electrical control module for modulating the engine performance; a manually operable cover which securely fits over the enclosure and the module when it is placed in the slot, the cover when open facilitates inspection or removal of the battery from the enclosure; integral with the slot for the control module a second enclosure formed of a second bottom member and four sides, the second enclosure adapted to snuggly retain a second module for modulating the performance of the engine; and a second cover being manually removable which fits over the second enclosure.

Abstract: An outwardly opening fuel injector comprises a valve needle movable within a bore provided in a nozzle body and engageable with a seating to control the supply of fuel from the bore. The valve needle is biased towards its seating and is moveable outwardly of the bore to move the valve needle away from its seating. The fuel injector comprises a sleeve member which is moveable with the valve needle, the valve needle and the sleeve member together defining a chamber for fuel such that, in use, fuel pressure within the chamber serves to dilate the sleeve member to reduce fuel leakage from the injector. A surface associated with the valve needle may be engageable with an additional seating defined by the bore to limit outward movement of the valve needle within the bore.

Abstract: An isolator design provides for the isolation of each fuel rail mounting bracket from the intake manifold mounting boss and the screw assembly secures the fuel rail assembly to the intake manifold. The isolator assembly reduces the amount of heat transfer from the hot engine intake manifold to the fuel rail assembly, which in turn transfers heat back to the fuel tank via the fuel return line. The isolation of the fuel rail assembly to the intake manifold is accomplished by an isolator washer placed between the fuel rail mounting bracket and the manifold mounting boss. An isolator sleeve has locking tabs, which snap onto an inside diameter rib on the isolator washer. The mounting screw passes through the isolator washer and isolator sleeve to thereby securely lock each element of the isolator design. The assembly provides a structure for attachment of both isolator parts to the fuel rail mounting bracket.

Abstract: A seat restraint tensioner for a seat restraint system in a vehicle includes a housing for operative connection to vehicle structure and a movable piston disposed in the housing. The seat restraint tensioner also includes a gas generator operatively connected to the housing for expelling a gas to move the piston. The piston includes a passageway extending therethrough to control a rate of stroke of the piston when the gas is generated to apply a force for pulling-down belt webbing of the seat restraint system.

Abstract: A fuel injector comprising a nozzle body defining a first bore and an inwardly opening valve member slidable within the first bore, the valve member being engageable with a first seating to control fuel delivery through a first outlet opening provided in the nozzle body. The valve member is provided with a second bore within which an outwardly opening valve needle is slidable, the valve needle being engageable with a second seating to control fuel delivery through a second outlet opening provided in the valve needle. The fuel injector also comprises first and second control chambers for fuel, whereby fuel pressure within the first and second control chambers controls movement of the valve member and the valve needle away from their respective seatings so as to permit fuel delivery through a selected outlet opening.

Abstract: A fuel delivery module integrates a fuel rail, with its associated connections, features and components, with the injectors for one bank of a direct injection engine. When the module is secured to the engine, loading springs between the inlet ends of the injectors and abutments in the mounting recesses accommodate variations in manufacturing and assembly tolerances to provide adequate but not excessive loading of the injectors against associated seats of the engine. Manufacturing and assembly costs are reduced by the use a module with injectors pre-installed. Also, the module may be pretested in a suitable test fixture prior to installation to assure proper flow and spray development from each of the injectors. The module may integrate other components also, such as intake air passages, EGR passages and coolant passages and their associated components. Various examples of injector loading springs are described.

Abstract: A system is provided for de-gassing a material. The system includes a vessel and a material distributor. The vessel has an internal chamber in which a vacuum can be maintained. The material distributor is located inside the internal chamber and is adapted to distribute the material to be degassed as a thin film along at least one wall of the vessel in such a way that exposure of the thin film to vacuum within the internal chamber causes entrained air or other gasses from the material to be withdrawn from the thin film. Also provided is a method for degassing a material. Preferably, a material distributor is inserted into a vessel where degassing of a material is to be performed. The material distributor can comprise an inlet for the material to be degassed, a scaling lip, a film-forming lip, and a material distribution cavity. The sealing lip is adapted to sealingly engage at least one wall of the vessel. The film-forming lip is spaced apart from the sealing lip.

Abstract: A plastic fuel tank including a hollow plastic tank body and a variable length plastic strut in the hollow tank body. A pair of flat plastic sheets are vacuum formed at a forming temperature in upper and lower mold cavities to the shape of upper and lower plastic shells. The plastic strut includes an upper foot, a lower foot, and a coupling means operable to support the upper foot on the lower foot for back and forth linear translation against a controlled resistance. With the mold cavities separated, the plastic strut is interposed between the upper and lower shells. The mold cavities are closed to form the hollow tank body by fusion bonding the upper and lower shells at respective attachment flanges on each. When the tank body thereafter cures and shrinks, the plastic strut is squeezed between the upper and lower shells against the controlled resistance of the coupling means to fusion bond the upper and lower feet of the strut to the shells.

Abstract: A two-component bracket and drive washer combination which provides secure holding of a magnetic sensor while automatically setting an optimal air gap, wherein operation is very quick, easy and reliable and wherein the air gap setting is precisely repeated each time a magnetic sensor is replaced or re-installed. A main bracket component has an aperture and a drive wall at one end of the aperture. A sensor body is connected to the main bracket component and is allowed to touch a reluctor. A reaction bracket has a reaction wall in the aperture opposite the drive wall and is restrained from moving. A drive washer is provided with teeth having a pitch whereby as the washer is pressed between the drive and reaction walls along a transverse axis, the main bracket component is forced to move along a longitudinal axis, thereby moving the sensor body in relation to the reluctor an amount precisely equal to a desired air gap.

Abstract: A non-thermal plasma reactor element is provided comprising a multi-cell stack prepared from a plurality of formed building blocks of dielectric material, the walls of the building blocks defining a cell having an exhaust passage for flowing gas to be treated therethrough. A conductive print forming an electrode and connector is disposed on at least one wall of each of the cells and outer insulative plates, disposed on opposite ends of the multi-cell stack, are provided to protect the conductive print. The simplified design eliminates the need for spacers between individual cells, thus reducing the total number of components. Use of a three-dimensional conductive print further simplifies preparation by eliminating the need for a secondary conductive print along the edge of the multi-cell stack after assembly.

Abstract: A device for rejecting noise in an ion-sense ignition knock signal compares an integrated knock signal to a peak knock signal multiplied by a time factor to determine the presence of noise. A bandpass filter coupled to an engine's spark plug through ion-sensing circuitry generates a filtered knock signal. The filtered knock signal is passed through a rectifier to produce a rectified knock signal. The rectified knock signal is then passed through an integrator and a peak detector to produce an integrated knock signal and a peak knock signal, respectively. The peak knock signal is multiplied by a predetermined time factor and the result is compared to the integrated knock signal. If the result is less than the integrated knock signal, then no noise disturbance occurred and the integrated knock signal is passed on to a knock detector.

Abstract: A fuel injector comprising a nozzle body having a first bore defining first and second seatings, an outer valve needle being slidable within the first bore and engageable with the first seating to control fuel flow from a first outlet opening. The outer valve needle is provided with a second bore within which an inner valve needle is slidable, the inner valve needle being engageable with the second seating to control fuel delivery through a second outlet opening. The outer valve needle includes a deformable region which is shaped such that, in use, when the outer valve needle is urged against the first seating, the outer valve needle deforms. The deformable region may be shaped such that, in use, when the outer valve needle is urged against the first seating, the outer valve needle deforms to close the first outlet opening.

Abstract: According to the present invention a latch assembly for use in an adjustable vehicle roof panel assembly including a roof panel which is driven by a motor drive unit and a cable is provided. The latch assembly utilizes a simple mechanical release mechanism which is designed to hold the roof panel in a sealed position and disengages mechanically utilizing the power roof motor instead of having a separate solenoid or motor drive unit. The release mechanism includes a latch arm and a latch catch member which are rotatably mounted so that actuation of the power roof motor causes a release member to mechanically trigger the latch arm causing rotation thereof which leads to disengagement between the latch arm and the latch catch member. Once the latch arm and the latch catch member disengage, a rear end of the roof panel is free to travel with a channel in the base.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly supports a number of terminals as they extend through a wall such as one might find in a headlamp housing to mate with mating terminals outside the housing. The electrical connector assembly includes an elongated conduit or housing for supporting the terminals as they extend through the wall, where the conduit has a flange extending radially outwardly from one end of the conduit. The connector assembly also includes a seal having a jacket portion extending around the conduit adjacent the flange, and a skirt portion extending radially outwardly from the conduit and over the flange to effect a seal between the electrical connector assembly and the wall.

Abstract: An inflatable curtain structure for deployment within the interior of a transportation vehicle. The curtain structure includes a main body portion and an inflatable portion above the main body portion. The curtain structure is attached to the roof rail of the vehicle at locations of attachment extending in a hinge forming pattern between the main body portion and the inflatable portion above the main body portion such that upon inflation of the inflatable curtain structure the inflatable portion disposed above the main body portion expands in cushioning relation between the roof rail and the occupant.

Abstract: A filter for use in a fuel injection device, the filter having a bore extending along at least a part of its length and comprising a plurality of channels formed in its outer surface, the channels defining, with a housing part for the filter, passages for fuel flowing from an inlet end of the filter to an outlet end of the filter. Each of the channels is in fluid communication with an adjacent one of the channels by means of a clearance passage. The filter also comprises a plurality of radially extending recesses formed at the inlet and outlet ends of the filter, each of the radially extending recesses being in fluid communication with a channel and defining, at least in part, a plurality of inlet and outlet passages for fuel flowing into and out of the channels respectively.

Abstract: A ferroelectric/pyroelectric sensor that employs a technique for determining a charge output of a pyroelectric element of the sensor by measuring the hysteresis loop output of the element several times during a particular time frame for the same temperature. An external AC signal is applied to the pyroelectric element to cause the hysteresis loop output from the element to switch polarization. Charge integration circuitry, such as a combination capacitor and operational amplifier, is employed to measure the charge from the element. A mechanical shutter is not used, and thus the charge integration output from the element is directly proportional to the incident radiation thereof.

Abstract: An elongated terminal strip has a series of terminals, each having a compliant portion engaged laterally between a first and second portion which electrically engage to respective electrical components having a tendency to vibrate. Each compliant portion extends longitudinally with respect to the terminal strip between two adjacent cut lines. A plurality of leading and trailing slots extend longitudinally within the compliant portions and are disposed alternately through one then the other adjacent cut lines. The step of dispensing or cutting the terminal away from the terminal strip exposes the slots along the cut edge enabling the flexing capability of the compliant portion.

Abstract: A fuel injector comprising a valve needle slidable within a bore, a surface associated with the valve needle being exposed to the fuel pressure within a control chamber and an electromagnetically actuable control valve controlling communication between the control chamber and a low pressure chamber. The injector also comprises a damping arrangement arranged to damp pressure waves applied to the low pressure chamber.