Abstract: A bracket for mounting a speaker in a vehicle. The bracket includes a speaker receiving portion for supporting the speaker, and two diametrically opposed arms extending from the speaker receiving portion. Each of the arms includes a plurality of apertures for receiving fasteners capable of fastening the bracket over a mounting hole of varying size.

Abstract: An addressable monitoring system and method for addressing sensors. In one embodiment, the invention provides an addressable monitoring system for a vehicle. In one embodiment, the system includes a plurality of sensors each having at least one address input; a harness; and a controller. The harness includes a common bus coupled to each of the plurality of the sensors. Each sensor is operable to determine its own address according between the sensor and the harness. The controller sends a signal having address information and control or command information through the harness. The sensor having an address that corresponds to the address information in the signal sent by the controller responds. The system is applicable to a tire pressure monitoring system having multiple sensors, one sensor located on or in each tire. Each sensor may be paired with an addressable initiator located in the proximity of the tire.

Abstract: A drum brake assembly for a vehicle wherein first and second brake shoes are positioned on a backing plate and radially aligned with a drum by a resilient arrangement. The resilient arrangement is characterized by first and second spring each of which have a first helical coil located between a first engagement section and a second engagement section, a second helical coil that extends from a first end of the first engagement section to a second end and a third helical coil that extends from a first end of the second section to second end. The second ends of the first and second engagement sections are connected to the backing plate such that the first and second engagement sections contact the first and second shoes and the second and third helical coils urge the first and second shoes toward the backing plate while the first helical coils urges the first and second shoes toward an actuator and an adjuster to define a rest position for the first and second brake shoes.

Abstract: A disc brake assembly has a support member secured to a vehicle to position a caliper over a rotor. The caliper has a housing with a bore therein for retaining a piston and a first friction member attached thereto in alignment with a first braking surface on the rotor and a bridge that straddles the rotor to position a second friction member in alignment with a second braking surface on the rotor. The bore receives pressurized fluid from a source that acts on the piston to develop an actuation force for moving the first friction member into engagement with the first braking surface and acts on the housing to cause the caliper to move the second friction member into engagement with the second braking surface to effect a brake application. The first and second friction members have a first initial thickness and the rotor has a second initial thickness that are reduced with each brake application.

Abstract: A system and method of joining together first and second electric terminals includes providing the second terminal with an aperture extending therethrough and a notch therein. The first and second terminals are positioned in overlapping relationship with one another so the aperture overlaps the first terminal to provide access to the first terminal through the second terminal, and so the notch overlaps the first terminal. Heat is applied to the first terminal through the aperture in the second terminal to heat the first and second terminals. The end of a solder wire is positioned in engagement with the notch of the heated second terminal to locate the solder wire with respect to the terminals and to melt the solder wire to form a solder pool that contacts the first and second terminals.

Abstract: An adjuster mechanism in a drum brake wherein a rotation of a star wheel on a shaft of an extendable strut is limited to a single increment define the pitch of a plurality of teeth on the star wheel. The limitation is achieved by a lever that is carried by a web of a brake shoe has a first blade that in perpendicular alignment with a first tooth of the plurality of teeth while a second blade is offset from a second tooth and located in a plane that is substantially parallel with the pitch. When the lever is pivoted on the web through a predetermined angle, the first blade slides into engagement with a third tooth while the second blade moves through the offset and into engagement with the second tooth to connect the lever with the star wheel. Any further pivoting of the lever by movement of the web toward the drum results in the lever and star wheel moving together.

Abstract: This invention is characterized by a very compact blower assembly architecture designed to operate at low Reynolds numbers. The assembly includes an impeller with forward-curved blades and a hub that is shaped to minimize the overall package volume of the assembly. The impeller is driven by a low-power, brushed, direct-current motor. A shroud part includes a generally cylindrical inlet that directs the air into the impeller, and a surface that forces the air leaving the impeller to turn from a generally radial and tangential direction to a generally axial and tangential direction. The shroud part directs the air into a single stage of stator blades that reduces the tangential component of the air velocity and produces a static pressure rise.

Abstract: An actuator mechanism in a drum-in-hat park brake having a housing with a first end that engages a first web of a first brake shoe and a second end that engages a second web of a second brake shoe. A lever pivotally retained in the housing has a first end that engages the first web and a second end with a hook thereon for receiving a loop end of a linkage connected to an input member. On receipt of an input force the lever pivots and exert an actuation force on the first and second webs to correspondingly moves first and second friction members associated with the first and second brake shoes into engagement with a drum to effect a brake application.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting drive train vibration. The system includes a programmable controller programmed to generate an output signal based on information from a wheel sensor located to sense the rotational behavior of an individual wheel. The controller is programmed to conduct a period test and a pattern test. A vibration of the drive train is detected in the event that both the period test and the pattern test are satisfied.

Abstract: A replacement kit for replacing an electrical device coupled to a vehicle via a plurality of vehicle lead wires. The replacement kit includes a replacement electrical device, a plurality of lead wires extending from the replacement electrical device, and a housing assembly for protecting a spliced connection formed with the lead wires to create an electrical connection between the electrical device and the vehicle. The housing assembly includes a base having a plurality of individually isolated bores extending therethrough. Each bore is capable of housing a spliced connection of a respective vehicle lead wire and a respective replacement electrical device lead wire, and each bore has therein a plurality of seal rings to form a substantially water-tight seal around the associated portion of the spliced connection. The housing assembly also includes a cap secured to the base. Preferably, the electrical device and the replacement electrical device are oxygen sensors.

Abstract: A method of detecting the improper mounting of a sensor on a motor vehicle includes monitoring the output signals of the sensor, determining the noise levels in the output signals, and comparing the noise levels from the output signals to a threshold noise value to determine if the sensor is properly mounted. Preferably, the method monitors the output signals of a first sensor and a second sensor, determines the noise levels in the output signals being emitted by each of the sensors, and compares the noise levels of the first sensor to the noise levels of the second sensor to determine if the sensors are properly mounted.

Abstract: A method and system of controlling a vacuum-driven actuator in a vehicle. The method includes determining an amount of vacuum available to actuate the actuator, determining whether the available vacuum is sufficient to actuate the actuator, actuating the actuator only when the available vacuum is sufficient, and preventing actuation of the actuator when the available vacuum is insufficient.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake booster has a housing with a stepped bore for retaining a cylindrical piston and a control bore for retaining a control valve. The cylindrical piston defines, with the stepped bore, an output chamber, a relief chamber and a power chamber; and includes a second stepped bore for a reaction piston. The reaction piston includes an axial bore, receiving a plunger defining an actuation chamber and a poppet valve. The input force initially moves the plunger and poppet valve to interrupt communication between the actuation and relief chambers; and thereafter moves the plunger to pressurize fluid in the actuation chamber, creating an input signal. The input signal activates the control valve; generating a regulated pressurized fluid, supplied directly to a second set of wheel brakes and acts on the cylindrical piston, to pressurize operational fluid supplied to a first set of wheel brakes.

Abstract: A control valve (10) having a plunger (64) with a stem having a flange defined by a first diameter (66) loosely located in a first diameter (58) of a bearing (50) and a second diameter (68) sealingly located in a second diameter (56) of the bearing (50). A space between the flange and the bearing (50) defining a dampening chamber (82) such that on movement of plunger (64) toward an actuation chamber (54), fluid is drawing through a controlled flow path (x) into the dampening chamber (82). Under certain operational conditions, fluid pressure in the actuation chamber (54) maybe subjected to oscillation and the fluid in the dampening chamber (82) cancels the effect to the oscillation such that plunger (64) remains in a substantially stationary position corresponding to an input force applied thereto to effect a brake application.

Abstract: A disc brake having a ball-in-ramp actuator retained in a caliper for supplying a piston with a static clamping force to move first and second friction members into frictional engagement with a rotor to effect a parking brake application. The clamping force is transmitted from the ball-in-ramp actuator into the piston through an adjustment screw mechanism. The disc brake being susceptible to a thermal expansion and a thermal contraction and as a result the effect of the clamping force applied to bring the first and second friction members into engagement with the rotor may change during a time period that the parking brake application is initiated until it is terminated.

Abstract: A method for measuring the volume of hydraulic fluid in the secondary circuit of a braking system, especially in an accumulator, through the use of a Hall-effect magneto resistive device. A secondary hydraulic circuit includes an accumulator (11, 137), an electric motor (71, 101) driven hydraulic pump (73, 143), and appropriate valving (133) for supplying braking force hydraulic pressure from a master cylinder to one or more wheel cylinders. There is a secondary hydraulic circuit supply path for each wheel brake cylinder and each path includes a first normally open solenoid actuable valve (41, 43, 57, 59, 97, 149) providing a brake fluid path from the master cylinder to the wheel brake cylinder and a first normally closed solenoid actuable valve (61, 65, 67, 69, 139, 141) selectively opening during an anti-lock event to provide a path to bleed fluid from the associated wheel cylinder to the accumulator (11, 137).

Abstract: A drum-in-hat park brake assembly for a vehicle wherein first and second brake shoes are retained and aligned on a backing plate by first and second pins. The first and second shoes are moved into engagement with a drum by a force applied to an actuator by a cable assembly. The backing plate is characterized by a flange having a slot therein and the cable assembly is characterized by a cable with a fitting on a first end that has a stem with an annular rib thereon. The stem passes is passed through the slot while the annular rib engages the flange to limit the movement of the first end of the cable toward the actuator and to limit the movement of the first end toward the actuator mechanism to prevent the lever from being axially moved past a position of rest and change the radial alignment between the first and second brake shoes and the backing plate by the action of a release spring.