Abstract: A fan includes a hub configured to be driven by motor to rotate about a fan rotational axis, blades that protrude radially from the hub and a band that surrounds the rotational axis and connects the tips of the blades. The band includes structurally-reinforcing thickened regions that protrude from outer surface of the band in a direction away from the hub. A thickened region is disposed between respective tips of each pair of adjacent blades. Each thickened portion bridges a knit-line of the band.

Abstract: A rotary disc valve is used in a fluid delivery system to control flow of fluid between multiple ports of a valve housing. The valve housing may include a valve body and a lid that closes an open end of the valve body. In addition, the valve may include a diverter and seal assembly that are disposed in the valve housing. The diverter is configured to rotate about a rotational axis and to control fluid flow through the valve housing. The seal assembly provides a dynamic seal that is fluid tight within a plane that is perpendicular to the rotational axis. The diverter, the valve body and the seal assembly cooperate to define a fluid passageway that is coaxial with the rotational axis and passes through the seal assembly.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension pre-load management system is disclosed. At least one suspension component, such as a motorcycle shock absorber, has an expandable chamber that with increased volume of a nearly incompressible fluid increases the suspensions pre-load. In one embodiment the system utilizes a controller, a pressure sensor, a pump, and a number of solenoids in a manifold block to allow a user to set a desired pre-load level. In another embodiment the controller monitors the pressure of the chamber and maintains a desired pre-load setting. In yet another embodiment, the controller identifies a hard braking event such that would cause a brake dive and increases the pre-load to counter act the dive.

Abstract: A fan includes a hub configured to be driven by motor to rotate about a fan rotational axis, blades that protrude radially from the hub and a band that surrounds the rotational axis and connects the tips of the blades. The band includes structurally-reinforcing ribs that protrude from the hub-facing surface of the band. A rib is disposed between respective tips of each pair of adjacent blades. Each rib bridges a knit-line of the band, and has a circumferential dimension that is at least 40 percent of a distance between the respective tips of the adjacent blades.

Abstract: A brake pad having a backing plate, friction lining, and a surface coating adhered to the friction lining. The surface coating may be formulated to generate a transfer layer on a brake rotor faster than the friction lining alone. The surface coating may be adhered to the friction lining in a predetermined design.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump assembly includes a pump housing that encloses a rotor unit that includes an impeller. The pump housing includes an inlet that defines a first passageway that is aligned with the rotor rotational axis, an outlet that defines a second passageway that is aligned with a second axis, and a volute that is provided on an inner surface of the pump housing. An exit opening of the volute faces the outlet and at least a portion of the fluid exiting the volute moves along a volute discharge axis. The volute discharge axis is tangential to a portion of fluid flow exiting the volute at the volute exit opening and is offset relative to the rotational axis. When viewed in a direction perpendicular to the first axis, the second axis is acutely angled relative to the volute discharge axis.

Abstract: An improved ECU for a motor vehicle comprises a housing that includes a top portion and a bottom portion each with an associated gasket. A printed circuit board (PCB) is enclosed between the housing portions. The gaskets provide seals between the housing, portions and respective sides of the PCB and apply balanced forces to each side to minimize strain on the PCB. One or both gaskets may be electromagnetic compliance gaskets.

Abstract: A monitoring and/or control device for an environmental control unit such as a heat pump determines the performance status and whether maintenance is required of a component of the unit for example a compressor during operation of the component. The device includes sensors configured to be situated relative to the compressor so as to receive and signal data from the compressor during operation of the component. In some embodiments, the device includes a vibration detector and a controller coupled to the vibration detector. The controller is configured to (i) receive electrical signals from the vibration detector, (ii) compare the electrical signals to a reference signal, (iii) determine the performance characteristic of the component based on the results of the comparison, and (iv) output a signal corresponding to the performance characteristic of the component to a user display. The controller may also request maintenance and/or order parts automatically.

Abstract: A housing assembly for an electronic circuit including an electronic control unit (ECU) is a low-profile, generally rectangular device that includes a container, a cover that closes an open end of the container, and a printed circuit board disposed in the housing. The container includes an input electrical connector and an output electrical connector formed at opposed ends of the housing. The output electrical connectors includes electrically conductive pins having an irregular shape and that are partially embedded in the container in such a way that each pin has zero degrees of freedom of movement relative to the container.

Abstract: A monitoring and/or control device for an environmental control unit such as a heat pump determines the performance status and whether maintenance is required of a component of the unit for example a compressor during operation of the component. The device includes sensors configured to be situated relative to the compressor so as to receive and signal data from the compressor during operation of the component. In some embodiments, the device includes a vibration detector and a controller coupled to the vibration detector. The controller is configured to (i) receive electrical signals from the vibration detector, (ii) compare the electrical signals to a reference signal, (iii) determine the performance characteristic of the component based on the results of the comparison, and (iv) output a signal corresponding to the performance characteristic of the component to a user display. The controller may also request maintenance and/or order parts automatically.

Abstract: A rotary valve has a valve plug that is rotatable in a valve body about a rotational axis. Surface features of the valve plug and surface features of the valve body cooperate to provide a bearing by which the valve plug is rotatably supported with respect to the valve body. In addition, each of the valve plug and the valve body include a plurality of annular projections that encircle the plain bearing and axially overlap one another so as to form a labyrinth that surrounds the bearing. The labyrinth forms a fluid path that collects abrasive particles suspended in the fluid passing through the valve, whereby wear of the valve is reduced.

Abstract: An environmental control unit, such as an HVAC or heat pump unit, includes a housing which contains four main components: a blower which draws air into the housing via an air inlet and exhausts air from the housing via an air outlet; a first heat exchanger that exchanges heat through the air and is located between the air inlet and the blower; a second heat exchanger, which exchanges heat through water and is disposed in the second area of the housing; and a compressor. The environmental control unit having a predetermined set of parts can be arranged in multiple configurations to meet installation requirements, where configurations include air entering from the left side or, alternatively, from the right of the environmental control unit. The configurations utilize the same parts and provide front-facing access to fluid connections and the control board.

Abstract: A fan module for a vehicle engine cooling system includes a pair of co-axial, counter-rotating, axial flow fans. Each fan is supported on and driven by a dedicated downstream motor, and each motor is supported by a dedicated shroud. The shroud that supports the first motor includes a barrel, a motor carrier that is surrounded by the barrel, and vanes that extend between the barrel and the motor carrier. For each vane, a line that extends between the vane nose and the vane tail is angled relative to the fan rotational axis, and the angle is selected to minimize air flow losses through the shroud.

Abstract: A multi-port rotary plug valve may be used in a fluid delivery system of a vehicle to control flow of coolant fluid between a radiator, an electric drive motor, a battery, vehicle electronics, and one or more bypass lines. The valve may include a valve body that has ports at two or more levels along a height dimension of the valve body and a plug assembly that is rotatably disposed in the valve body. In addition, the valve may include a single-piece, conical seal disposed between the valve body and the plug assembly that is free of seams or joints.

Abstract: A rotary disc valve is used to control fluid flow within a fluid delivery system. The valve may include a valve body having multiple ports that are connected to the system. In addition, the valve may include a diverter and seal assembly that are disposed in the valve body. The seal assembly includes first and second seal subassemblies. The first subassembly has first through openings that are axially aligned with the diverter through openings. The second subassembly is axially stacked with the first subassembly and includes second through openings that are axially aligned with valve body subchambers associated with the ports. A first static seal is disposed between the diverter and the first subassembly, a second static seal is disposed between the valve body and the second subassembly, and a dynamic seal is disposed between the first subassembly and the second subassembly.

Abstract: A carrier includes first and second container portions that are assembled together to provide a structure the supports and retains a capacitor. The first container portion and the second container portion are assembled together in a configuration in which the edges of the first wall structures face corresponding ones of the edges of the second wall structures, and the edges of the first wall structures are overlapping with respect to the corresponding ones of the edges of the second wall structures when the carrier is viewed in side view.

Abstract: A multi-port rotary plug valve may be used in a fluid delivery system of a vehicle to control flow of coolant fluid between a radiator, an electric drive motor, a battery, vehicle electronics, and one or more bypass lines. The valve may include a valve body that has radial ports at two or more levels along a height dimension of the valve body. In addition, the valve may include a plug assembly that is rotatably disposed in the valve body. The plug assembly may be made of first and second plug portions that cooperate to control fluid flow through the valve body. The valve allows valve configurations in which fluid passes between ports disposed at different axial levels of the valve body, and other configurations in which fluid passage is restricted to a single level depending on a rotational position of the plug assembly relative to the valve body.

Abstract: A capacitor carrier assembly includes a carrier, a capacitor disposed in the carrier and electrically conductive connection terminals. The connection terminals support the carrier with respect to another electronic component or device such as a printed circuit board, retain individual carrier portions in an assembled configuration, and provide an electrical connection between the capacitor and the electronic component. Each connection terminal includes an elastic member that protrudes from a surface of the connection terminal and engages the carrier, and regions of serrations provided on opposed edges of the terminal that engage the carrier, and a flange that protrudes from the surface in a direction perpendicular to the first surface. An edge of the flange includes an insulation displacement contact (IDC) joint for connection to the capacitor leads.

Abstract: A brake pad having a surface coating operable to enhance the bedding-in process during normal operation. The surface coating may be formulated using one or more materials found in a friction lining of the brake pad. The surface coating may be formulated using only non-metal materials.

Abstract: A carrier is configured to house a capacitor that includes a casing, a first capacitor lead that protrudes from the casing and a second capacitor lead that protrudes from the casing. The carrier includes a first container portion and a second container portion. The first container portion and the second container portion have the same shape and dimensions, and when assembled together, define an interior space that receives and retains the capacitor therein.