Abstract: The invention concerns rainwater sensors for windshields. In one embodiment, a first, inner, conductive film is applied to the inner surface of the windshield, and a second film, of same size and shape as the first, is applied to the outer surface. However, a narrow strip is removed from the second film, forming a gap which divides the second film into parts 1 and 2. The resulting structure forms two capacitors, namely: (1) inner film plus part 1, and (2) inner film plus part 2. The impedance of one capacitor is monitored. When rain occurs, it falls into the gap between parts 1 and 2, and acts as a resistor, bridging part 1 to part 2. This bridging adds a new impedance in parallel with the first capacitor, thereby changing the effective impedance. This change indicates the presence of rain.

Abstract: A wiper system for a motor vehicle window includes a wiper arm, a permanent magnet motor, a linkage connecting the motor with the wiper arm, and a switching mechanism. The wider arm is adapted to be rotatably mounted on a vehicle body for operable movement between first and second end wipe positions. The motor is of the three brush permanent magnet type, the brushes being a high speed brush, a low speed brush and a common brush. The switching mechanism is responsive to wider blade position and is closed, electrically connecting the high speed brush with the low speed brush, thereby achieving an intermediate speed, in at least one end wipe position.

Abstract: A fault controller for a brake system includes a control display having a plurality of identifying labels displayed thereon corresponding to predetermined brake system fault mode options. A plurality of switches corresponding to the identifying labels and selectively setable to activate and deactivate conditions are on the control display. Fluid control valves are disposed along brake lines between the master cylinder and the wheel brakes. There are electrical connections between the switches and fluid control valves wherein setting one of the switches to the activate condition activates a corresponding fault mode of the brake system. An enable switch on the controller, if included, must be set to an "enable" condition for the fault controller to affect brake operation.

Abstract: A power drive moves a movable closure between an open position and a closed position with respect to a portal defining a passage through a barrier. The power drive can include an elongated drive member connected to the movable closure and a ball nut drive assembly for selectively moving the drive member longitudinally to position the movable closure between the open position and the closed position with respect to the passage through the barrier. The barrier can define at least a portion of a stationary structure or a vehicle, where the passage allows access within the structure or the vehicle. The movable closure can include a sliding door, hatch, window, roof panel or the like. The elongated drive member can be a compound drive member having at least one gear or tooth-like member extending helically around in uniformly spaced turns about a core of the drive member to form a rigid or resilient screw-like portion capable of being driven by operable engagement with the recirculating ball nut drive assembly.

Abstract: An electric motor, such as a motor for operating a worm drive, has a rear bearing and rear bearing support in the form of a sleeve bearing which is received within a rearwardly facing axial opening formed in the end of the motor armature shaft. The bearing receives one end of a non-rotating pin which has its opposite end secured to the rear end wall of the motor and thus supports the armature shaft on the end wall. Minor misalignments are provided for by aligning movements of the bearing support pin accompanied by slight bending of the end wall of the motor case. In another embodiment, the pin is provided with a spherical end received within a conforming or mating recess and providing for pivotal aligning movement of the bearing support pin with respect to the motor case. The bearing may also be shouldered or flanged so that thrust forces on the shaft are transmitted to an adjacent shoulder on the bearing support pin.

Abstract: A windshield wiper system having variable frequency induction motor control for reducing wipe speed at reversal points includes an induction motor, a wiper and blade assembly operatively connected to the motor, a sensing means for detecting when the position of the wiper and blade assembly is within a preselected range of one of the reversal points, and a motor control responsive to the control signal generated by the sensing means for causing the motor to reduce wipe speed during the preselected range prior to the reversal point to reduce pattern growth, noise, and water expulsion. The sensing means takes the form of a cam or plate operated switch driven by the induction motor. The control signal derived from the cam operated switch is provided as an input to a voltage controlled oscillator, whose variable frequency output is used to vary the frequency of the excitation voltage applied to the windings of the three phase induction motor.

Abstract: A device for controlling a 4-phase 8-stator pole/6 rotor pole switched reluctance machine includes a microcontroller, a converter circuit for energizing the stator windings of the switched reluctance machine, four Hall sensors adapted to detect rotor position to a resolution of 15 mechanical degrees, a phase current sensor, and a phase voltage sensor. The controller is programmed to implement a rotor position estimator for generating an estimated rotor position signal corresponding to the position of the rotor. The estimator is implemented using an observer-based state variable motor model, and is responsive to the measured phase voltage, the measured phase current, and the transitions generated by the Hall sensors. The estimated rotor position signal is determined by running the observer model in parallel with the physical motor.

Abstract: A system and method for sealing a windshield washer reservoir is illustrated comprising a one-piece molded cap and strap. The one-piece cap and strap comprises integrally molded and mating hinge members which facilitate hingeably mounting the cap onto the strap after they have been separated from each other. This facilitates providing a sealing system and method having some of the advantages of a one-piece molded construction, while at the same time permitting the user to experience the advantages of a two-piece hinge construction. In another embodiment, an integrally molded cam defining a cam surface and a mating engaging surface are provided which cooperate to not only separate the cap from the strap, but also to cause the pin associated with the cap to be guided into the socket such that when the cap is actuated from an open position to a closed position, the integrally molded cap and strap become separated and substantially simultaneously hingeably mounted together.

Abstract: A clip member is configured for selective engagement with a receiving member having an aperture and a predetermined material thickness between a front surface and a back surface. The clip member includes a base surface and pair of substantially parallel tangs projecting outwardly from the base surface with each tang having an engaging barb. A pair of cantilevered spring tabs are adjacent the tangs and extend from the base surface substantially parallel thereto. The spring tabs have a tab engaging surface projecting above the base surface defining a distance to a barb engagement surface less than the thickness of the receiving member. When the clip member is pressed into the aperture, the tangs are bent as they enter through the front surface. The tab engaging surfaces engage the front surface of the receiving member before the barb engagement surfaces reach the rear surface. The spring tabs deflect with further movement of the clip member into the receiving member and develop a spring load therebetween.

Abstract: A blade for a vehicle engine-cooling fan assembly having a curved planform and a high-lift airfoil. The planform has a first region adjacent the root of the blade with forward curvature, a second region adjacent the tip of the blade with backward curvature, and an intermediate region disposed between the first region and the second region with substantially straight curvature. The airfoil has a leading edge; a rounded, bulbous nose section adjacent the leading edge; a trailing edge; a curved pressure surface extending smoothly and without discontinuity from the nose section to the trailing edge; a curved suction surface extending smoothly and without discontinuity from the nose section to the trailing edge; and a thin, highly cambered aft section formed adjacent the trailing edge and between the pressure surface and the suction surface.

Abstract: A closure system for a motor vehicle includes a closure, a closure frame, an electric motor, a control switch, an electric power source, first and second displacement sensors, temperature sensor, voltage sensor of the power source and a microprocessor. The first and second displacement sensors each operably generate a signal indicative of the one of closure movement and output shaft rotation. The microprocessor is electrically connected to the control switch, the electric motor, the first and second displacement sensors, the temperature sensor and the voltage sensor of the power source. The microprocessor includes electrically connecting the motor with the power source responsive to a condition of the control switch. The microprocessor also has means for converting temperature sensed to an electrical signal indicative of the temperature.

Abstract: A wiping system and method for wiping a windshield is shown. The wiping system comprises frictional material or a wiper material which is applied directly to either a wiper blade or a windshield in at least one reversal area on the windshield where the wiping blade is driven from a first direction to a second direction which is generally opposite that of the first direction. The wiper material is coated or integrally formed as part of the windshield in the reversal areas to facilitate increasing the friction between an edge of the wiper blade and a surface of the windshield which, in turn, facilitates causing the blade to flip from a first wipe side to a second wipe side, thereby reducing or eliminating "chisel chatter" problems of the past.

Abstract: A power closure system for a motor vehicle includes a closure, a closure frame, an electric motor, a first displacement sensor and a microprocessor. The electric motor has an output shaft. The closure frame defines a seated position of the closure. The displacement sensors both indicate rotation of the drive motor output shaft, with the second sensor being offset from the first sensor. The microprocessor includes means for measuring a first time for the output shaft of the motor to rotate a predetermined amount using signals from the first sensor. The microprocessor also includes means for measuring a second time for the output shaft of the motor to rotate a predetermined amount using signals from the first sensor. As well, the microprocessor includes means for establishing a reference, or limiting, time signal for the second time signal using the first time signal. The microprocessor has means for comparing the second signal to the reference or limit signal.

Abstract: A windshield wiper system for automotive vehicles includes a mechanism for causing a wiper blade assembly to swing, relative to the wiper arm, between an extended position of the wiper blade assembly and a retracted position of the wiper blade assembly. More specifically, the mechanism causes a link, which is attached to the wiper blade assembly, to swing as the wiper arm moves into and out of the hidden park position. A first embodiment includes a "four-bar linkage" which transfers to oscillatory movement of a drive arm of a wiper system to pivotal movement of the link over a limited range of motion of the drive arm corresponding to movement of the wiper blade assembly into and out of the hidden park position. A second embodiment includes a cam element which selectively engages a fixed pin over a range of motion of the drive arm corresponding to movement of the wiper blade assembly into and out of the hidden park position.

Abstract: An apparatus is responsive to a reaction force of intermeshing gear members that transmit force through an angle. The gear members include an elongated enveloped worm with a longitudinally extending axis of rotation and an output gear with an axis of rotation offset from and perpendicular to the longitudinally extending axis of the worm gear. The worm gear is movable axially in response to a predetermined reaction force or predetermined torque force. At least one biasing member is disposed adjacent one end of the worm gear, and preferably both ends of the worm gear, for centering the worm gear with respect to the output gear when subjected to a force below the predetermined reaction force or predetermined torque force.

Abstract: An airfoil defining the shape of the blades of a vehicle engine-cooling fan assembly. The airfoil has a leading edge; a rounded, bulbous nose section adjacent the leading edge; a trailing edge; a curved pressure surface extending smoothly and without discontinuity from the nose section to the trailing edge; a curved suction surface extending smoothly and without discontinuity from the nose section to the trailing edge; and a thin aft section formed adjacent the trailing edge and between the pressure surface and the suction surface. The aft section has a camber at its location of maximum camber of between 5 and 12% of the chord of the airfoil.

Abstract: An electric motor driven fan particularly for use on motor vehicles where water may be splashed into and onto the fan motor, includes a labyrinth-like seal in which a pair of concentric rings are formed on an integral with the fan hub and extend toward the drive motor defining an annular space therebetween, and the motor mounting bracket is provided with a non-rotating ring concentric to the pair of rings on the hub and extending from the bracket into the annular space, thereby preventing direct splash in or straight line intrusion of water into the space between the motor housing and the hub.

Abstract: A closure system for a motor vehicle includes a closure, a closure frame, an electric motor, a control switch, an electrical power source, first and second displacement sensors, a temperature sensor, a current sensor for a current being drawn by the electric motor, and a microprocessor. The first and second displacement sensors each operably generate a signal indicative of closure movement. The microprocessor is electrically connected to the control switch, the electric motor, the first and second displacement sensors, the temperature sensor and the current sensor. The microprocessor electrically connects the motor with the power source responsive to a condition of the control switch. The microprocessor also converts the temperature sensed to an electrical signal indicative of the temperature, and converts the current sensed to an electrical signal indicative of motor current.

Abstract: A clutch selectively transmits torque and rotary motion from a spindle having an axis of rotation to a drum. First and second shoe members disposed radially between the spindle and the drum move radially with respect to the axis of rotation between an engaged position and a disengaged position with respect to the drum. The first and second shoe members are responsive to acceleration for moving into the engaged position and responsive to rotational speed for moving into the disengaged position. A biasing spring normally maintains the first and second shoe members in the disengaged position when the spindle is at rest.

Abstract: A windshield wiper system in which a flexible cantilever arm to which a wiper blade is attached is preloaded against a rigid support. An additional preload is induced in the cantilever arm as the wiper system is installed on a vehicle with the wiper blade in the horizontal inwipe position and bearing against the windshield. This creates an initial separation between the cantilever arm and the rigid support. As the rigid support and the cantilever arm move together from the horizontal inwipe position to the vertical outwipe position, the separation between the rigid support and the cantilever arm decreases, so that, with the increased contact between the rigid support and the cantilever arm, there is a change in the cantilever arm support location and a shortening of the cantilever arm beam.