Abstract: A method for assembling a rotating X-ray tube, the X-ray tube having a cathode for emitting electrons, and a rotor and a bearing assembly for facilitating rotation of an anode. The method includes using an interference fit assembly between the bearing assembly and the rotor to provide a joint having balance retention. The using interference fit assembly further includes selecting a rotor hub of the rotor having a coefficient of thermal expansion which results in a composite coefficient of thermal expansion for the rotor assembly which closely matches that of a shaft of the bearing assembly. An interference fit joint between a shaft extending from a bearing assembly and a rotor hub is also disclosed, wherein the joint is completed without using any mechanical fasteners or metallurgical bonding, yet can carry all of the operational loads placed on the joint.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a coolant pump having an axially directed rotary pumping element which is functionally housed between upstream and downstream stators which function to straighten the flow and recover fluid velocity, both before and after work has been performed on the fluid by the rotary pumping element.

Abstract: A direct injection engine is coupled to a vacuum brake booster wherein vacuum created from engine pumping is used to supplement driver braking force. The brake booster is coupled through a check valve to the engine intake manifold. A method is disclosed for estimating pressure in the brake booster based on operating conditions. A method is also disclosed for estimating operating parameters based on measured brake booster pressure. Further, a method is disclosed for diagnosing degradation, or monitoring, a brake booster pressure sensor based on operating conditions. In addition, a method is disclosed for diagnosing degradation in other vehicle and engine sensors based on measured brake booster pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a crankshaft (1) for a reciprocating internal combustion engine, in which the connecting rods are mounted, with an eccentric sleeve (4) connected in between, on the crankshaft journal (3) of a crankshaft (1). A rotation of the eccentric sleeve (4) with respect to the crankshaft journal (3) therefore leads to a change in the effective length of the connecting rod. The rotation of the sleeve (4) is brought about via an electric or hydraulic motor (7) which drives a worm (6) which engages in an outer toothing (5) of the sleeve (4). By means of the active drive, rotation of the sleeve (4) is ensured even if the auto-rotation is impaired due to the occurrence of wear. Furthermore, a self-locking design of the worm gear has the effect of the sleeve (4) being retained in its set position when the drive (7) is switched off.

Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a rear body opening that is closed by an upwardly-pivoting liftgate assembly that itself defines, when in a closed position, a secondary opening whose lowermost portion achieves a height on the vehicle significantly below the vehicle's beltline. The liftgate assembly also includes a pivotally-mounted liftglass assembly for closing the secondary opening, thereby permitting limited access through the secondary opening into an interior space of the vehicle. When the liftglass assembly is in its closed position, the lowermost edge of the liftglass assembly extends downwardly on the vehicle to a height significantly lower than the vehicle beltline. A raised feature of the liftglass assembly, preferably having a color and surface finish that is coordinated with a painted body surface, defines a step that is substantially aligned with the vehicle beltline to thereby aesthetically substantially continue the vehicle beltline across the rear of the vehicle.

Abstract: A reciprocating internal combustion engine balancing system includes multiple reciprocating balancers attached to the cylinder block at the front and rear ends of the crankshaft. The balancers are driven by cams integrated with the crankshaft cheeks which reciprocate the balancers at 180 crankshaft degrees out of phase with each other so that the pitching couple associated with an engine such as an inline 5 cylinder engine will be cancelled.

Abstract: An arrangement of a flex circuit relay (7) is provided which in a preferred embodiment has a first substrate (16) and a second substrate (40). The substrates (16), (40) have conductive membranes (17), (50) connected thereto. The second substrate (40) has a contact portion (44). Adjacent to contact portion (44) is a ferritic member (48). A coil (22) is provided having wire windings wrapped around a core. The coil (22) provides a magnetic field to cause the second substrate (40) to move between a first position spaced away from the first substrate (16) and a second position spaced adjacent to the first substrate (16) against a flexural force of the second substrate (40).

Abstract: A vehicle bed assembly including a frontwall, a pair of sidewalls, a backwall, and a bed portion. The walls and the bed portion include stiffening ribs that cooperatively allow the bed assembly to be easily cleaned and allow the bed assembly to be formed from relatively lightweight material. The vehicle bed assembly further includes side mounting assemblies which allow the assembly to be secured to the vehicle frame.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling EGR rats of an internal combustion engine includes measuring a mass airflow passing to the intake throttle and a desired mass airflow. An error signal is produced representative of a difference between the measured mass airflow and the desired mess airflow. A pair of control signals is produced in response to such produced error signal. One of the pair of control signals is used to adjust the intake throttle to control mass airflow through such intake throttle. The other one of the pair of control signals is used to adjust EGR flow through the EGR valve. The pair of control signals operates the intake throttle and the EGR valve to drive the error signal to a null. In one embodiment, one of the control signals used to adjust the EGR valve is used to provide such adjustment only when the intake throttle is in a position to provide substantially maximum mass airflow through such intake throttle to the intake of the engine.

Abstract: An automotive engine arrangement 7 is provided having a VCT unit 96 wherein a lubrication oil restrictor 152 is incorporated with the VCT unit oil filter 127. The arrangement 7 of the present invention allows for VCT unit oil filter 127 to be installed in a cylinder head 18 of an automotive engine block 10 wherein placement of the VCT unit oil filter 127 in the appropriate location automatically installs the restrictor.

Abstract: A method for operating a variable compression ratio internal combustion engine includes the steps of determining a compression ratio operating state of the engine and inferring the air pressure within the engine's intake manifold, based at least in part on the compression ratio operating state of the engine.

Abstract: A remote speaker system (14) for an automotive vehicle (10) has a holder (22) fixedly mounted within the vehicle (10). A speaker assembly (19) having a speaker housing (20) coupled to holder (22) and a speaker (26) coupled within the housing (20). A receive circuit (48) is coupled within the housing (20) and is electrically coupled to the speaker (26). A control circuit has an audio receiver generating audio signals and a transmit circuit (44) transmitting a wireless communication signal in response to the audio signal. The receive circuit (48) receives the wireless communication signal and converts the wireless communication signal into an audio electrical signal. The speaker converts the audio electrical signal into an audible signal.

Abstract: A dual coil, dual lift electromechanical valve actuator (10) that provides a closed valve position (P1), first high lift position (P2), and second low lift position (P3) wherein the second low lift position of the valve (20) is maintained without the need for supply of electrical current to the actuator.

Abstract: A method of detecting objects with a night vision system is provided. The night vision system includes a light source and a camera. The method includes activating the light source as a sequence of light pulses wherein each light pulse is increasing in intensity for a predetermined number of pulses to form a pulse train. The camera is activated as a corresponding sequence of detection windows wherein each of the windows corresponds to one of the light pulses for receiving reflected light resulting from the corresponding light pulse. The light pulses and detection windows are configured such that a time delay between each corresponding light pulse and detection window is increasing throughout the pulse train. In another variation, the camera gain is increased throughout the pulse train. In yet another variation, the light pulses have constant amplitude, the camera gain is constant for all pulses, and the number of camera gain windows increases as the delay increases.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling combustion in a direct injection spark ignition internal combustion engine inject fuel directly into a combustion chamber in a wide-angle, hollow-cone spray to form a vortex that draws fuel vapor out of the spray to form a combustible fuel-air mixture at a spark location outside the hollow-cone spray. Various piston combustion bowl configurations further enhance the stability of the vortex and reduce fuel impingement on the piston surface while providing a desired compression ratio. Cylinder airflow is controlled to produce substantial swirl flow resulting in a more compact fuel cloud around the spark location to reduce over-mixing and improve robustness to cycle-to-cycle variation in the mixing process.