Abstract: A method of operating a fuel tank isolation valve. The fuel tank isolation valve has a first port, a second port, an electric actuator, and a valve body. The first port is in fluid communication with a fuel vapor collection canister. The second port is in fluid communication with a fuel tank. And the electric actuator moves the valve body to control fluid communication between the first and second ports. The method includes supplying a first electric signal to the electric actuator such that the valve body permits substantially unrestricted fuel vapor flow between the first and second ports, supplying a second electric signal to the electric actuator such that the valve body substantially prevents fuel vapor flow between the first and second ports, and supplying a third electric signal to the electric actuator such that the valve body provides restricted fuel vapor flow between the first and second ports.

Abstract: A system and method for performing a leak verification test to test the evaporative emission space for leakage comprising self-calibrating the purge valve, closing the evaporative emission space to atmosphere and an intake system of the engine and monitoring for conditions calling for aborting the test, performing a leak determination test, and entering a sleep mode while the engine continues to run.

Abstract: An engine cooling module 10 includes a shroud 12 having at least one fan opening 15 and at least one additional opening 18 in the wall generally adjacent to the fan opening to permit air to pass though the shroud 12. A fan 14 is coupled to the shroud to permit air moved by the fan to pass through the shroud 12. An electric motor drives the fan. Closure structure 20 is movable to prevent and permit air flow through the additional opening 18. An actuator 28 moves the closure structure 20 from a closed position, covering the additional opening 18, to an opened position, uncovering the additional opening 18. A sensor 34 detects ram air at the shroud 12. A controller 32 receives a signal from the sensor 34 indicating the initial presence of ram air and, in response thereto, sends a signal to the actuator 28 to move the closure structure 20 to the opened position.

Abstract: A turbomachine for moving air includes a shroud 12 disposed about an axis A. The shroud 12 has a pair of opposing faces 14 and 16 defining a gap 18 therebetween. The opposing faces are disposed generally transversely with respect to the axis. A rotor assembly 13 is mounted for rotation about the axis. The rotor assembly has a plurality of blades 22 with tips of the blades being coupled to an annular band 30. At least a portion 32 of the annular band is disposed in the gap 18. Seal structure 36 extends from each opposing face of the shroud and into the gap to reduce swirl and minimize air leakage across the gap.

Abstract: A method of operating a fuel tank isolation valve and a canister vent valve. The fuel tank isolation valve has a first port, a second port, an electric actuator, and a valve body. The first port is in fluid communication with a fuel vapor collection canister. The second port is in fluid communication with a fuel tank. The electric actuator moves the valve body to control fluid communication between the first and second ports. And the canister vent valve controls ambient fluid flow with respect to the fuel vapor collection canister.

Abstract: An automotive emission control valve, such as an EGR valve, has a solenoid for operating a valve element. The solenoid has a stator and an armature. The armature is guided within a sleeve and includes a damping ring disposed to act between the armature and the sleeve to damp motion of the armature within the sleeve.

Abstract: An automotive emission control valve, such as an EGR valve, has a solenoid for operating a valve element. The solenoid has a stator and an armature. A pole piece of the stator is cooperatively associated with a wall of the armature and comprises a channel that is annular about, and concentric with, a centerline of armature motion. In radial cross section the channel is defined by radially inner and outer walls that form an open throat for the channel, allowing an end portion of the armature wall to move within the channel as the armature is displaced along the centerline. Various constructions for the inner and outer walls are disclosed, including tapers for both walls.

Abstract: A choke 10, for suppressing radio-frequency interference of a brush-type motor, includes a single wire having a portion 15 wound about a coil axis A to define a plurality of coils 14 including two outermost coils 16 and 18. An attaching structure 20 extends from each outermost coil and is disposed generally transverse with respect to the coil axis. Each attaching structure is constructed and arranged to be inserted through an associated opening in a supporting structure and to be bent so as secure the choke to the supporting structure. An elongated end portion 22 extends from each attaching structure so as to be spaced from and generally parallel to the coil axis. The elongated end portions extend in opposite directions. One of the elongated end portions is constructed and arranged to be directly electrically connected to an electrical connector of a motor and the other of the elongated end portions is constructed and arranged to be in electrical connection with a brush of the motor.

Abstract: An electronic component is provided that includes a printed circuit board having first and second battery contacts. A battery clip having a bottom portion is connected to the first battery contact. The battery clip also includes a top portion spaced from the printed circuit board with a tab extending from the top portion in a downward direction toward the printed circuit board. A coin cell battery is arranged between the battery clip and the second battery contact. The present invention battery clip biases the battery into engagement with the second battery contacts with the tab. The second battery contacts may be provided by a solder bump or a printed circuit preferably arranged in a criss-cross waffle shaped pattern. The battery clip is secured to the first battery contacts preferably by applying a solder paste that is heated to electrically join the battery clip to the first battery contacts.

Abstract: Various embodiments of air control valves are disclosed. Each has a mechanism, controlled by a solenoid and by the difference between fluid pressure at its inlet and fluid pressure at its outlet, for allowing communication between an air pump and an exhaust gas treatment system as long as fluid pressure at the outlet does not exceed fluid pressure at the inlet by more than a predetermined difference during absence of a predetermined electric energization of the solenoid, for disallowing communication between the air pump and the gas treatment system during presence of the predetermined electric energization of the solenoid, and for disallowing communication between the air pump and the gas treatment system whenever fluid pressure at the outlet exceeds fluid pressure at the inlet by more than the predetermined difference.

Abstract: A low-profile tank isolation valve mounts on a wall of a fuel tank to enclose an opening in the tank wall through which an inlet port of the valve is communicated to tank headspace. An electric actuator is selectively energized to selectively operate an armature to cause a closure to seat on, and unseat from, a valve seat. The armature is a cylindrical walled tube that is disposed within a central through-hole of the actuator and is selectively positioned along a straight axis coincident with the tube axis. An element that operatively relates the armature to the closure constrains vapor flow through the valve to pass through the armature tube when the closure is unseated. The seat, closure, and element are all disposed within the actuator through-hole.

Abstract: A motor is provided which is configured to have at least a portion thereof received in an interior of a cover to reduce noise of the motor. The interior is defined by an inner peripheral surface of the cover. The motor includes a generally cylindrical housing having a closed end and an opened end disposed opposite the closed end. A brush card assembly is provided and includes a brush card and a cover support structure coupled with the brush card. The brush card and cover support structure close the opened end of the housing. The cover support structure has a plurality of resilient members extending from the opened end towards the closed end of the housing, with each resilient member being generally adjacent to an outer surface of the housing and being biased away from the outer surface of the housing.

Abstract: An electric motor 10 includes a motor housing 12 defining an internal cavity 15. A brush card assembly 24, a commutator 26 and an armature assembly 18 are provided in the cavity 15. The commutator 26 cooperates with the brush card assembly 24 to resupply electric current to the armature assembly 18. Permanent magnet structure 44 is provided in the housing 12 to generate a magnetic field to cause rotation of the armature assembly 18. A FET 52 is mounted with respect to the housing 16 so as to be in heat exchange relation therewith. A gate terminal G of the FET is constructed and arranged to receive pulse width modulation output from an electronic control unit 64 which is remote from the motor so as to enable able the motor to operate at more than one speed. A method of integrating a FET in a motor is also provided.

Abstract: An automotive emission control valve, such as an EGR valve, has a solenoid for operating a valve element. The solenoid stator has an annular air gap disposed within an electromagnet coil. An annular wall of an armature is disposed in the air gap. The armature is displaced by magnetic flux in the air gap. The air gap is cooperatively defined by juxtaposed walls of the stator that are spaced radially a distance greater than radial thickness of the annular wall of the armature. The annular wall of the armature is disposed radially intermediate the stator walls and spaced from each stator wall. The radially inner stator wall is tapered. Lost-motion is present between the armature and valve element so that initial armature displacement is not transmitted to the valve element. Dimensions of the stator walls and armature at the air gap may be selected to improve linearity of operation.

Abstract: A motor and fan structure 10 includes direct current motor assembly 18 having a stator assembly 20 including a flux plate 22 and permanent magnet structure 24 mounted on the flux plate 22. The flux plate 22 defines one end of the motor assembly and define a magnetic flux path of the motor assembly. The motor assembly also includes a generally cylindrical armature assembly 32 defining another end of the motor assembly. The armature assembly is radially wound with windings 40, and an outermost part of the armature assembly and at least a portion of the windings is exposed to the environment. The structure includes a fan 12 having a generally cylindrical hub 14 receiving and covering the outermost part and the portion of the windings of the armature assembly. The hub 14 has a plurality of blades 16 extending therefrom. Thus, the weight and axial length of the motor assembly can be reduced since no case is required to cover the armature assembly yet the armature assembly is protected by the fan hub.

Abstract: An air induction system comprises a flow body and a filter housing. A pleated filter support (10) is connected to the housing (FIG. 1). A filter (14) is supported by the pleated filter support (10), thereby supporting pleats on the filter (FIG. 1). The pleated filter support may comprise support members (22) that define a pleated shape (FIG. 1).

Abstract: A motor control circuit for use in a motor circuit includes a varying duty cycle pulse width modulation circuit and a switch. The varying duty cycle pulse width modulation circuit is operable to generate a PWM signal having a varying duty cycle, wherein an average of said varying duty cycle corresponds to a desired motor speed. The switch has a control input operably coupled to the pulse width modulation circuit to receive the PWM signal therefrom. The switch further includes first and second terminals, the first terminal adapted to be coupled to a coil of the motor circuit, the switch operable to selectively electrically connect and disconnect the first and second terminals based in part on the PWM signal received by the control input.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine exhaust emission control system has a module for conveying exhaust gas from an engine exhaust system to an engine intake system. Flow is measured by the difference between pressures at opposite sides of an orifice in the exhaust gas flow path. A valve selectively restricts the flow path. Passages communicate pressure reading ports of a pressure sensor to opposite sides of the orifice. One passage comprises a tube having an end portion passing through a through-hole in a side wall of the flow path in alignment with the orifice in the flow path and containing an orifice member that faces the flow path orifice to reduce turbulence in the pressure communicated through it to the sensor.

Abstract: A manifold assembly comprises an air intake manifold (42) having at least one duct (70) communicating air to an engine and a fuel conduit (46) having at least one fuel injector (54A) for communicating fuel to the engine (52) (FIG. 2). The fuel conduit (46) comprises at least a first fuel injector (54A) and a second fuel injector (54B) extending from the fuel conduit (46) wherein the first fuel injector (54A) extends in a direction transverse to the second fuel injector (54B). At least one support member (50A) comprises at least one duct passage (62C) in communication with the at least one duct and at least one fuel injector port passage (53C) in communication with the at least one fuel injector (54C) (FIG. 2A). The fuel injector port passage (53C) has a predetermined length greater than the length of the duct passage (62C) (FIG. 2A).

Abstract: A diffuser for an air mass flow controller for fuel cells that includes a housing, an inlet, a first bank of outlets, and a second bank of outlets. The housing has walls, which define a volume. The inlet is disposed along a first axis and is coupled to a first one of the walls. The first bank of outlets is disposed along a second axis and is coupled to a second one of the walls. The first bank of outlets is in fluid communication with the inlet. The second bank of outlets is disposed along a third axis and is coupled to the second wall. The second bank of outlets is in fluid communication with the inlet and the first bank of outlets.