Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved glow plug controller. The glow plug controller includes an analog temperature sensor, circuitry for converting an analog temperature signal to digital form, a microprocessor for analyzing temperature and other operating parameters and for controlling glow plugs and monitoring indicators in accordance with algorithms defined in the microprocessor. The temperature and control signals from the microprocessor are converted to analog form and applied to actuate glow plugs and indicators in accordance with determinations made by the microprocessor. A specific embodiment includes a manual override for facilitating operation even if the microprocessor should fail. A false temperature input is provided so that a false temperature representation can be directly applied to the microprocessor for factory and service center testing of microprocessor operation. Glow plug operation is controlled by way of a relay and multiple, independently fused glow plug circuits.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically controlling a solid product delivery mechanism for replenishing the level of solid products in a storage bin which receives and stores the solid products. A mechanical vibration in the storage bin is generated and sensed. Based on the sensed mechanical vibration, an electrical signal is generated and processed to obtain a level signal. The level signal is representative of the fill level of the storage bin. Finally, a control signal is generated based on the level signal to control the delivery of the solid products.

Abstract: A method and system for electronically controlling the location of the formation of ice within a closed loop water circulating unit. A method and system is provided for making ice using supercooled water. When a desired degree of supercooling is reached in the closed loop water circulating unit, a pump associated with the ice-making machine is stopped so as to initiate ice seeding on the ice mold. After the pump is restarted, the supercooled water flows over the seeded molds to rapidly form ice on the ice molds. A method and system is also provided for improving the clarity of the ice. Water is preheated prior to introducing the water to the closed loop water circulating unit. Furthermore, in an ice-making machine having two or more ice molds, a method and system is provided for allowing one mold to act as a condenser in a harvest mode, while simultaneously allowing the remaining molds to act as evaporators in the freezing mode.

Abstract: A linear position sensor includes coextensively positioned primary and secondary windings, each having an elongated core and a coil radially spaced around the core. A cyclically varying signal is applied to the primary winding which develops a signal across the secondary winding due to transformer coupling. A coupling adjustment member varies the amount of transformer coupling and is longitudinally movable with respect to the winding assembly. The relative longitudinal positioning of the coupling member with respect to the winding assembly is determined by measuring the signal developed across the secondary winding. In one embodiment, the windings are similarly configured, are arranged side-by-side and spaced apart; the coupling adjustment member enhances the transformer coupling between the windings which are telescopingly received within the member.

Abstract: A control circuit electrically coupled to the conductive coil of the elongated probe includes an energization circuit for coupling an alternating current signal to the coil. A monitoring circuit monitors a signal from the coil as the alternating current signal is applied to the coil that changes with a degree of overlap between the coupling member and the elongated probe and for providing an output signal related to the relative positions of two moveable members. A feedback control circuit adjusts the alternating current signal coupled to the coil to a control level based on the monitored signal from the monitoring circuit. Use of the feedback control enhances a dynamic range of the output signal from the monitoring circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for aligning a turn signal switch housing with respect to a cancellation pin support bracket includes installation of the bracket on a steering wheel hub. The bracket includes a gauge pin formed in one piece with the steering wheel hub ring bracket. The ring bracket supports cancellation pins to extend at radially displaced positions for registering with the actuator of the turn signal switch assembly. The turn signal switch assembly is supported upon the steering column housing by a mount for adjusting the axial position of the housing. In the preferred embodiment, the gauge pin is carried by the hub-mounted ring bracket and is positioned for engagement with an engagement surface on the turn signal housing adjacent the actuator to be operated by the cancellation pin. The switch housing is slid axially along the steering column housing while supported in a mounting bracket.

Abstract: An improved glow plug controller is disclosed. The glow plug controller includes an analog temperature sensor, circuitry for converting an analog temperature signal to digital form, a microprocessor for analyzing temperature and other operating parameters and for controlling glow plugs and monitoring indicators in accordance with algorithms defined in the microprocessor. The temperature and control signals from the microprocessor are converted to analog form and applied to actuate glow plugs and indicators in accordance with determinations made by the microprocessor. A specific embodiment includes a manual override for facilitating operation even if the microprocessor should fail. A false temperature input is provided so that a false temperature representation can be directly applied to the microprocessor for factory and service center testing of microprocessor operation. Glow plug operation is controlled by way of a relay and multiple, independently fused glow plug circuits.

Abstract: A warning module for use with a motor vehicle having multiple sensor inputs and multiple sensor outputs. The inputs are coupled to sensing circuits for monitoring a condition such as engine temperature. The outputs are coupled to one or more light bulbs or other visual indicators which are activated at a lamp flash frequency. A variable frequency oscillator activates an audible output device, preferably a piezoelectric buzzer. The light output levels are diminished for nighttime use. A plastic housing supports a piezo-electric transducer and reverberation plate and achieves a high sound output.

Abstract: An alternator assembly for use with a port fuel injected internal combustion engine including a battery charging system is driven by a turbine assembly mounted in a variable air intake or throttle valve assembly and converts the change in kinetic energy provided by the inlet combustion air movement across the turbine assembly into rotational movement which drives an electrical generating assembly or alternator to generate current which can be used to supplement a conventional vehicle battery charging system.

Abstract: An improved motor driven centrifugal refrigerant compressor is disclosed having a housing enclosing a motor, control electronics and moving parts of the compressor, and a fluid pathway for circulating a mixture of low pressure refrigerant and a lubricant around the pathway, the pathway including a lubricant concentrator for coalescing the lubricant of the mixture to lubricate moving parts of the compressor and the pathway also including a convective heat transfer region to cool the motor and control electronics within the housing.

Abstract: A turboalternator and air flow control assembly for mounting on a combustion air intake of an internal combustion engine comprises a body having an inlet and an outlet defining an air flow path, a nozzle carrier in the body defining a plurality of turbine nozzles spaced arcuately about and generally parallel with a central axis, the nozzles having inlet and outlet ends and forming a portion of the air flow path, a rotor mounted in the body on bearings for rotation on the central axis, the rotor driving an electric generator and including a turbine wheel having blades axially adjacent and radially aligned with said nozzles, a bypass passage in the body and connecting the inlet and outlet separately from the nozzles, and a bypass valve in the bypass passage and operable to control air flow through said bypass passage. Various embodiments including concentric or parallel bypass passage arrangements and having axial or radial gap alternators with permanent magnet rotors are featured.

Abstract: An improved glow plug controller for a diesel engine is disclosed. The glow plug controller has a novel packaging, and means for facilitating rapid and inexpensive assembly. A novel two-chamber tubular housing includes a smaller first chamber having a threaded exterior surface for engagement with a threaded hole in an engine block. This first chamber communicates with a larger second chamber also defined by the housing. A connector bearing conductive connector pins is provided for sealing the open end of the larger chamber. The connector includes a pair of support rails for engaging a piece of circuit board on which glow plug circuitry resides. In assembly, the circuit board is first mounted on the support rails which are subsequently inserted into the larger second chamber when the connector is affixed to the open end of the second chamber. The connector pins are conductively coupled to glow plug circuitry on the circuit board via portions of conductive foil on a surface of the circuit board.

Abstract: Several embodiments of a rotational position sensor having a variable coupling transformer are disclosed. Each sensor employs at least one magnetically permeable transformer core and a primary and secondary coil. The primary coil in coupled to a time varying electrical signal and is mechanically coupled through a transmission to a rotatable shaft whose position is to be measured. As the shaft is rotationally displaced, the primary coil changes orientation thereby changing an output signal induced in the secondary. A detector is coupled to the secondary coil to monitor the output signal and correlate the signal to the shaft's rotational displacement.

Abstract: An apparatus for driving a piston with fluid power is disclosed. The apparatus includes a fluid filled cylinder having an inner and an outer wall and defining a longitudinal axis. A piston is slidably positioned in the cylinder to move along a path of travel parallel to the longitudinal axis. A magnet is coupled to the piston for movement with the piston, The apparatus further includes a pump in fluid communication with the cylinder and being selectively actuated to intermittently pump pressurized fluid into the cylinder to apply force to and move the piston in a first direction along the path of travel. A fluid releasing apparatus is provided to release fluid from the cylinder to move the piston in a direction opposite the first direction. The apparatus also includes a Hall effect sensor situated at a location along the outer wall of the cylinder for sensing a position of the piston by sensing a magnetic field associated with the magnet at the location of the sensor.

Abstract: A gas density sensor having a prism in contact with a fluid whose density is determined. A light source shines light into the prism. The light is reflected off prism surfaces in contact with the fluid. As the fluid density changes, the amount of light reflecting off these surfaces changes depending upon fluid density. A detector placed to receive light reflecting off the surfaces determines density from sensed light.

Abstract: A protective control box is disclosure for providing protection for a starter system and other components of equipment, such as vehicles, incorporating internal combustion engines. Improved starter protection apparatus and circuitry using frequency to voltage conversion disables a starter motor from starting the internal combustion engine when engine speed exceeds a pre-determined level. The starter cannot be re-actuated until and unless engine speed has fallen below a second lower pre-determined speed level. The protection box includes a lockout solenoid which in turn selectively locks out the main starter solenoid in accordance with the foregoing conditions. A wait-to-start lamp and associated comparator and latching circuitry is provided for actuating the wait lamp in response to initiation of glow plug controller pre-glow operation, and for subsequently extinguishing the lamp. Once extinguished, the lamp cannot be re-actuated until and unless the ignition has been toggled.

Abstract: A magnetic motor is shown having magnetic members situated in relatively close proximity to each other; relative movement between the magnetic members is brought about by bringing the temperature of at least one of the magnetic members to the curie temperature thereof, and subsequent relative movement between the magnetic members is brought about by having the temperatures of all of the magnet members less than the curie temperatures thereof.

Abstract: An environmental control system includes a refrigeration loop including a two-stage variable speed centrifugal compressor having a low pressure compressor in flow communication with a high pressure compressor and having an inlet and an outlet, a condenser having an inlet connected with the compressor outlet and an outlet, an evaporator having an inlet connected with the condenser outlet and an outlet connected with the compressor inlet and an expansion valve connected between the condenser outlet and the evaporator inlet, and a selectively operative bypass valve in flow communication with the low pressure compressor discharge and the compressor inlet for partially recirculating a portion of the low pressure compressor discharge back to the compressor inlet to regulate compressor flow balance.

Abstract: A warning module for use with a motor vehicle having multiple sensor inputs and multiple sensor outputs. The inputs are coupled to sensing circuits for monitoring a condition such as engine temperature. The outputs are coupled to one or more light bulbs or other visual indicators which are activated at a lamp flash frequency. A variable frequency oscillator activates an audible output device, preferably a piezo-electric buzzer. The light output levels are diminished for nighttime use. A plastic housing supports a piezo-electric transducer and reverberation plate and achieves a high sound output.

Abstract: An electronic reostat circuit having a pulse width modulated output for controlling energization of resistive device .[.such as a vehicle dashboard illumination lamp.].. .[.A.]. .Iadd.According to one aspect of the invention a .Iaddend.comparator circuit compares a reference signal adjusted by a user with an alternating signal, preferably a saw tooth waveform, and generates a pulse width modulated output whose duty cycle varies directly with the size of the reference signal. .Iadd.According to another aspect of the invention, .[.The.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.reference signal is generated by a tapped resistor array wherein contacts on the array are coupled to ground by a rotary switch contact which can be adjusted by the user. By raising and lowering the reference signal, the duty cycle can be changed from a minimum to maximum and thereby produce a minimum and maximum lamp illumination signal.