Abstract: A purge valve has a novel seal element on the head end of a reciprocating valve member that features a frustoconical projection for improved noise attenuation and sealing against a flat annular surface of a valve seat. As the projection comes to closed position against the seat surface, it flexes slightly so that the sealing diameter of its rounded free end contracts, to wipe the seat surface. In one embodiment, the seal element is provided with another projection that absorbs impact upon the valve member coming to maximum open position. In another embodiment, an elastomeric damper element is provided on an end of a pole piece of a solenoid assembly to absorb impact of the valve member as it comes to its maximum open position.

Abstract: A high efficiency fan and stator arrangement for generating an airflow through a heat exchanger is disclosed herein. The fan is rotated about its rotational axis by an electric motor, and includes eight blades extending radially from a hub to a circular band. Each fan blade has a stagger angle and chord lengths which vary along the span of the blades. Each fan blade also includes a trailing edge having a flat surface extending along the edge. The flat surfaces of each fan blade are coincident with a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis. The fan produces an airflow when rotated about the rotational axis, wherein a component of the airflow occurs at a first angle to the rotational axis. The fan support has a central bearing support and twenty elongated airfoils extending radially outward from the bearing support. Each airfoil has substantially the same length as the fan blades and includes a curved airflow guiding surface having a leading edge and a trailing edge downstream from the leading edge.

Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for tuning an air induction system of an internal combustion engine in which an expansion chamber is combined with a Helmholtz resonator tuned to resonate at the engine speed whereat the expansion chamber would otherwise cause an engine torque decline, the combined effects tuning the system over the entire operational range of speeds of the engine.

Abstract: An electrical connector adapted to be operatively connected to a wall outlet and to continuous outlet cables. The connector includes an insulated housing, neutral, ground and line contact means for making contact with the neutral, ground and line wires of the outlet cable, and a rotatable plug to be operatively connected to the wall outlet and for making contact to the neutral, ground, and line contact means.

Abstract: The purge valve embodies a solenoid that has a linear force vs. current characteristic acting on the armature. Effects of hysteresis are minimized by certain constructional features and the manner of operating the valve. Several embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An EGR valve is well-suited for use in a diesel engine by employing a butterfly-type valve operated by a torque motor. Sealing of the butterfly blade to the wall of the passage through the valve body utilizes a sealing ring that is mounted in a groove of the passage wall. The blade and the sealing ring are self-aligned at assembly, and the groove is cooperatively defined by two body segments that are fitted axially together to capture the sealing ring. Two additional rings are used between the sealing ring and the sides of the groove. In certain embodiments, the axis of the passage in the vicinity of the groove is straight; in others, it has a 45 degree offset so that portions of the axis to opposite sides of the groove are non-collinear.

Abstract: A canister purge flow regulator for regulating the purging of a fuel vapor collection canister to the engine. The purge flow regulator has in the purge flow path, two parallel branch paths, and an associated valve for each branch path. The two valves are operatively related for motion in unison by an actuating mechanism. When the two valves are closed, manifold vacuum is applied in opposite senses, thereby canceling the effect of variations in manifold vacuum on opening of the purge flow regulator. The actuating mechanism senses the differential pressure drop across an orifice in the flow path to automatically adjust the valves to maintain the purge flow commanded by an electric signal input to a solenoid.

Abstract: An on-board diagnostic system for an evaporative emission control system of an internal combustion engine powered vehicle employs a positive displacement reciprocating pump to create in evaporative emission space a pressure that differs significantly from ambient atmospheric pressure. The pump is powered by using engine intake manifold vacuum to force an intake stroke during which both an internal spring is increasingly compressed and a charge of ambient atmospheric air is created in an air pumping chamber space. Vacuum is then removed, and the spring relaxes to force a compression stroke wherein a portion of the air charge is forced into the evaporative emission space. The pump operation is under the control of a computer that contains an algorithm for operating the pump in particular modes of operation to arrive at a decision concerning integrity of the evaporative emission space against leakage.

Abstract: Differential flow sensing through respective flow path portions of a system for detecting leakage from an evaporative emission control system. A series flow path comprises a first flow sensor for sensing the entire output flow of an impeller pump used to positively pressurized the system under test, a second sensor in a portion of the series flow path that is downstream of the first flow sensor, and a calibrated orifice downstream of the second flow sensor. A branch circuit to the evaporative emission space under leakage test tees into the aforementioned series circuit between the first flow sensor and the second flow sensor. A differential amplifier receives signal from the respective sensors. Any difference in sensed flows, once the pressure has been brought to a predetermined pressure, is output by the differential amplifier to signify leakage in an amount correlated with the sensed difference in the flows.

Abstract: An electrical switch (10) or fused switch for electrical distribution systems has a housing (12, 14); first and second spaced apart straps (16, 18), coupled to the housing; and a pair of opposed blades (22, 24) pivotally coupled to the first strap and straddling both straps. The blades (22, 24) are capable of relative pivotal movement from an open position spaced from the second strap to a closed position in contact therewith. A blade extension (30) is coupled to the blades between the straps. The switch has first and second biasing elements (26, 28), which may be leaf springs, each coupled to a respective blade, each of which biases the respective blade toward the first and second straps at a first bias force level when the respective blade is in the closed position and at a second, lower bias force level when the respective blade is in the open position. A fastener (32) slidably passes through each of the blades, the blade extension and the biasing elements.

Abstract: An on-board diagnostic system for an evaporative emission control system of an internal combustion engine powered vehicle employs a positive displacement reciprocating pump to create in evaporative emission space a pressure that differs significantly from ambient atmospheric pressure. The pump is powered by using engine intake manifold vacuum to force an intake stroke during which both an internal spring is increasingly compressed and a charge of ambient atmospheric air is created in an air pumping chamber space. Vacuum is then removed, and the spring relaxes to force a compression stroke wherein a portion of the air charge is forced into the evaporative emission space. The rate at which the pump reciprocates to alternately execute intake and compression strokes indicates the pressure and flow through a leak in the evaporative emission space. Detection of this rate serves as a measurement of leakage for the purpose of distinguishing integrity of the evaporative emission space from non-integrity.

Abstract: A single speed, two pole permanent magnet motor has compact brush card assembly mounted within the volume form by a plurality of ring shaped laminations forming the armature to allow the height of the motor to much less than a standard motor. In addition, there is shown a two speed, four pole permanent magnet motor having a height much less than a standard two speed motor. In each motor there are electrically connected to the supply lines a choke means and across each supply line is a capacitor for suppressing radio frequency interference.

Abstract: The valve has a one-piece guide and valve seat member and a one-piece valve member that is guided by a bushing lining the guide of the guide and seat member. The valve is operated by a duty-cycle modulated waveform, and when the valve is operated in the closing direction, a gap is introduced into the waveform. The valve head and valve seat are configured to cause sonic flow through the valve when the valve is open and the pressure differential across it exceeds a certain minimum.

Abstract: A rigid connector tube telescopically engages the fuel rail and the inlet of a top-feed fuel injector. Various embodiments of such connector tubes are disclosed. Such connector tubes enable a top-feed fuel injector to be used in an integrated air-fuel system where a fuel rail is integrally formed with a manifold such that the fuel supply ports of the fuel rail are in fixed spatial relation to the fuel injection ports of the manifold.

Abstract: Leakage from a portion of a canister purge system which includes a fuel tank and a vapor collection canister is detected by closing off that portion and then positively pressurizing it by means of an air pump. The air that is pumped by the air pump is split into two separate paths, one to pressurize the closed-off portion of the system, and the other to flow through a known orifice. A differential flow meter compares the flow through one path with that through the other to determine if there is leakage.

Abstract: The effective area of a Helmholtz resonator used to tune the manifold is varied in accordance with engine speed to improve the engine-torque speed curve. The organization and arrangement of air intake passage, plenum chamber, runners, and Helmholtz resonator is also advantageous.

Abstract: An ac drive controller including a phase assembly for each phase of a polyphase supply to a motor, each phase assembly including an invertor module and a corresponding filter module. The electrical interconnections between each filter module and each invertor module occur through electrically conductive clips and corresponding bus bars to which the electronic switching devices in the invertor are also connected. The filter and invertor module interconnections are located as close as possible to the points where the electronic switching devices are connected to the buses to minimize stray reactances while allowing for simplified assembly and servicing of the controller.

Abstract: A load base (10) with a housing (12) having at least one channel (14) for slidable insertion and capture of a wire lug (38), a tongue (26) having a cantilever structure attached to the housing (12) proximal the channel (14), which blocks removal of the lug (38) from the channel (14). The housing (12), channel (14) and tongue (26) are preferably integrally formed. The wire lug (38) has a unitary lug body (40) with a wire aperture (42) for receipt of a cable (34) and a platform (46). A fuse clip (48) is directly attached to the wire lug platform (46).