Abstract: A fuel injection system and method includes a cylinder head having an injector port. A fuel injector has a first end and a second end, the second end being received in the injector port. A fuel rail includes a socket for receiving the first end of the fuel injector. A spring assembly is coupled between the fuel rail and the injector to bias the injector toward the cylinder head. The spring assembly includes a housing, a spring in the housing, and a viscous material at least partially surrounding the spring in the housing. The spring assembly utilizes a squeeze film effect to resist movement of the injector in a direction toward the fuel rail. Preferably, the spring is comprised of a plurality of alternatingly-oriented disc springs, and the viscous material is a grease.

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 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 low cost high side supply shut down circuit that operates to deactivate the power supply of a central supply, such as to pressure regulators, solenoid valves, etc., as parts of non-repairable electro-hydraulic transmission modules in the event of a malfunction, e.g. a low side driver circuit failure. The supply voltage is connected to the high side of a fuse. The load circuits receive power or no power depending on the operating condition of the fuse. Coupled across the fuse is a fuse trigger status detection circuit as part of a diagnostics and control module. The diagnostics and control module is connected to the input of a shut down low side output driver circuit. The attached low side loads have individual detection circuits that are coupled to the diagnostics and control module as well as their enable inputs.

Abstract: Guide pins for retaining a caliper in an anchor of a disc brake assembly. The guide pins are characterized by a cylindrical body having a first end and a second end with a first diameter section that extends from the first end separated by a shoulder from a second diameter section that extends from the second end. The cylindrical body has a threaded axial bore that extends from a face on the second end toward the first end. A bolt has a shaft with threads thereon which mate with the threaded axial bore in the cylindrical body. A bushing is concentrically located on the shaft and in a corresponding axial opening in an ear that extends from the anchor. Torque applied to the bolt acts on and brings the bushing into engagement with the face on the second end of the cylindrical body however as the bushing has a greater length than the width of the axial opening of the ear, a desired gap is developed between a head on the bolt, the second end and the ear.

Abstract: A master cylinder (12,212) including a housing (40,40a) with a bore (42,42a) for retaining a piston assembly (100,200) to define a first chamber (54) that is connected to wheel brakes (14,14′) in a first brake circuit and a second chamber (56) that is connected to wheel brakes (18,18′) in a second brake circuit. The piston assembly (100,200) includes a sleeve (102,202) and a concentric cylindrical body (110,210) whose respective first and second end surface areas define a first effective area (D1) while the second end surface area of the cylindrical body (110,210) defines a second effective area (D2) within the bore (42,42a).

Abstract: A device for securing a hydraulic modulator to a vehicle includes a base for receiving a portion of the hydraulic modulator and a clamp movably connected to the base and movable between a first position, wherein the portion of the hydraulic modulator can be positioned on the base, and a second position, wherein the clamp is closed over the base to secure the portion of the hydraulic modulator to the base. The clamp includes a projection that extends over the base when the clamp is in the first position so that when the projection is engaged by the portion of the hydraulic modulator, the projection will automatically move the clamp from the first position toward the second position. In one aspect of the invention, the clamp is hinged to the base.

Abstract: A device for securing a hydraulic modulator to a vehicle includes a base for receiving a portion of the hydraulic modulator and a clamp movably connected to the base and movable between a first position, wherein the portion of the hydraulic modulator can be positioned on the base, and a second position, wherein the clamp is closed over the base to secure the portion of the hydraulic modulator to the base. The clamp includes a projection that extends over the base when the clamp is in the first position so that when the projection is engaged by the portion of the hydraulic modulator, the projection will automatically move the clamp from the first position toward the second position. In one aspect of the invention, the clamp is hinged to the base.

Abstract: High efficiency and low noise is achieved in an automotive engine-cooling fan assembly by flaring the inlet to the shroud barrel, and shaping the tips of the fan blades to conform to the shape of the inlet. Separation of the flow entering the fan is reduced by extending the flare over the axial extent of the blade tip, and tip clearance losses are reduced by controlling recirculation along the entire blade tip. Blade rake is used to minimize fan deflection, thereby allowing the use of small tip clearances, which further enhance performance.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake booster (12) having a housing (100,200) with a first bore (102) separated from a second bore (104). The first bore (102) retains a power piston (50) and the second bore (104) retains a control valve (60). The first bore (102) is connected by a passage (112) to the second bore (104) that is connected to a source of pressurized supply fluid (24). In responsive to a desired braking force being applied to the input member (30,30′), the lever arrangement (80) moves the control valve (60) to allow controlled pressurized supply fluid to be communicated from the second bore (104) by way of passage (12) to the first bore (102).

Abstract: An efficient axial flow fan comprises a central hub, a plurality of blades, and a band, and is designed to operate in a shroud and induce flow through one or more heat exchangers—in an automotive engine cooling assembly, for example. The fan blades have a radial distribution of pitch ratio that provides high efficiency and low noise in the non-uniform flow field created by the heat exchanger(s) and shroud. The blade has either no sweep, or is swept backward (i.e. opposite the direction of rotation) in the region between the radial location r/R=0.70 and the tip (r/R=1.00). The blade pitch ratio increases from the radial location r/R=0.85 to a radial location between r/R=0.90 and r/R=0.975, and then decreases to the blade tip.

Abstract: An adjustment arrangement for a non-servo drum brake having a hydraulic actuator that engages a first web of a first brake shoe and a second web of a second brake shoe. The hydraulic actuator on receiving a hydraulic input develops an actuation force for moving the first and second brake shoes from a rest position into engagement with a rotatable member to effect a brake application. An extendible member, that is connected to the first web and the second web, is extendable to define a running clearance in a rest position between the first and second brake shoes and the rotatable member. A lever arm, that is mounted on the first web, engages the extendable member. A resilient member extends between the lever to the second web to urge the first and second webs into engagement with the hydraulic actuator. The lever arm pivots on the first web as the first web moves through the running clearance during a brake application.

Abstract: An exhaust gas sensor includes a housing and a sensor element supported by the housing. The sensor element includes a support member having an exhaust side, a reference side, and an aperture extending through the support member between the exhaust side and the reference side. The sensor element further includes an exhaust-side electrode on the exhaust side of the support member. The exhaust-side electrode is electrically connected to a contact on the reference side of the support member via a lead extending through the aperture. The aperture is sealed around the lead such that gas cannot pass through the aperture. The support member is oriented substantially parallel to the flow of exhaust gases when the exhaust gas sensor is installed on a vehicle. The sensor further includes a contact pin in the housing that engages the contact and biases the sensor element against a portion of the housing.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake booster (12) for use in a brake system (10) having a first housing (100) with a first bore (102) separated from a second bore (104). The first bore (102) retains a power piston (118) and the second bore (104) retains a control valve arrangement (170). A push rod (30) of an input arrangement (49) is connected to the power piston (118) and linked to the control valve arrangement (170) by a lever arrangement (50). A second housing (200) encloses the control valve arrangement (170), lever arrangement (50) and a projection (117) that extends from the power piston (118) to define a cavity or relief chamber (202) having a permanent low pressure. The input arrangement (49) supplies the control valve arrangement (170) with an input force in response to a braking force applied to the push rod (30) to regulate the communication of pressurized supply fluid from the second bore (104).

Abstract: A method and system of activating a safety device of a vehicle having x, y and z-axes. The method includes generating a y-acceleration signal representative of the acceleration of the vehicle in the y-axis, generating an angular-rate signal representative of the angular velocity of the vehicle with respect to the x-axis, calculating a vehicle angle having a relationship to the angular-rate signal and being representative of the angle of the vehicle about the x-axis, determining an angular-rate threshold having a relationship to the vehicle angle and the y-acceleration signal, comparing the angular-rate signal to the angular-rate threshold, and activating a safety device when the magnitude of the angular-rate signal is greater than the angular-rate threshold.

Abstract: A motor housing assembly houses a motor having a casing defining an axial length and an output shaft extending from the casing. The assembly includes a housing defining a cavity with an open end for receiving the motor and a partially closed end opposite the open end. The housing has a length larger than the axial length of the casing such that the entire casing of the motor can be received within the cavity. The assembly further includes an end cap configured to substantially close the open end of the housing and retain the motor in the housing, a first isolator member configured to be sandwiched between the casing and the end cap to substantially isolate the motor from both the housing and the end cap, and a second isolator member configured to be sandwiched between the casing and the housing to substantially isolate the motor from the housing.

Abstract: A brake system (10) having a brake booster (12) that is responsive to an operator brake input for providing a first input force to a master cylinder (13) to develop a first brake application and is responsive to a hydraulic input for providing a second input force to a master cylinder (13) to develop a second brake application. An electronic control unit (ECU) (40) receives first input signals from sensors (19) indicative of a speed for each wheel (14,14′,18,18′) in a brake system of the vehicle. The ECU (40) supplies a pump (42) with an operational input signal when a sensed wheel speed indicates a wheel lock may occur between a wheel and a surface during a brake application and simultaneous activates a decay valve (17) to release pressurized fluid from actuation of the wheel brake associated with the wheel.

Abstract: An electrical circuit for selectively operating a vehicle parking brake (16) with the energizing and de-energizing of a coil (50) of a solenoid valve (30) in response to an operator input. The electrical circuit comprising a source of electrical energy (V Bat), an operator actuable switch (47) connected by line (59) to the coil (50) and a first microprocessor (49) which in turn is connected by an electronically controllable switch (45) through a low side driver (51) to connect line (57) from coil (50) with a ground (55) and a second microprocessor (53) connected to the first microprocessor (49) and electronically controllable switch (45) for detecting erroneous first microprocessor (49) operation.