Abstract: The present invention relates to a reflector which provides for good ventilation of a light source located in the said reflector and facilitates the passage of the reflector on production lines for the purpose of covering an internal surface of the reflector with powder. To this end, there is proposed according to the invention a reflector in which a reflector and a lamp holder are produced separately, prior to being interlocked. The reflector produced thus comprises a set of supports which are arranged such that a light source subsequently fitted in the reflector can be ventilated in a satisfactory manner. The lamp holder is interlocked with the reflector on the supports by means of centering pins and assembly studs.

Abstract: A motor vehicle headlamp comprises a source, a mirror possessing first and second focal regions, and a converging lens. The source is located in the first focal region and the lens possesses a focus situated in the second focal region. The mirror and the lens have axes which are essentially coincident defining an optical axis of the headlamp, and the headlamp further includes a mask located in the region of the focus of the lens, in order to project a beam an upper cut-off of which is defined by said mask. Finally, the mirror concentrates the light, in the vertical direction, towards a vertical focusing baseline extending substantially horizontally and transversely to the optical axis and passing close to the focus of the lens.

Abstract: The electric machine includes a collector (60), a brush-holder assembly comprising an end cap (26) and a set of members (28, 30, 32, 34) for electrical connection equipped with guide cages (36, 38, 40, 42) suitable for accommodating a respective brush (44), in which a member (64) for limiting the radial displacement of the brushes in the absence of a collector is provided, the dimensions of the limiting member (64) being suitable for obtaining a tight fit of this member on the end cap (26). Application for the mounting of a brush holder for a motor-vehicle starter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming and mounting a sleeve and a thrust member in a bore in a motor/gear drive housing shaft to support the motor/gear drive shaft against radial and axial movement. Gates are formed in the motor/gear drive housing and communicate with separate first and second bores in the housing. A mold core is inserted into the housing and closes off one bore to allow the injection of molten plastic into a cavity formed between the tip end portion of the mold core and the first bore to form an annular sleeve. The annular sleeve has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the end tip portion of the motor/gear drive shaft to be nominally spaced from the outer diameter of the drive shaft, but is supportingly engaged by the drive shaft under radial deformation of the drive shaft.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an aluminum heat exchanger. More particularly, the present invention relates to an aluminum heat exchanger useful for motorized power systems similar to those utilized in the automotive industry for engine heat exchange, including, in particular, radiators. In a preferred method, the flat tubes of the heat exchanger are formed from flat sheet braze material and at least one portion is formed approximately normal to the wide portion (major axis) and parallel to the minor axis of the tube.

Abstract: A heat source is disposed in a thermally conductive mass for imparting heat to the mass. Fluid in a flow path through the mass absorbs heat from the mass. One or more heater elements forming the heat source are disposed in direct contact with the mass. A ground plate connected to a ground terminal is fixedly connected to the heater elements, either on a portion of the heater elements extending exteriorly of the mass, on a portion of the heater elements disposed within the mass, or substantially all the ground plate insert molded in the mass on the heater elements. Alternately, the ground member is insert molded in the mass separate from the heater elements, but connects electrical heater elements to ground through the mass.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for performing heat exchange of a medium by heat conducted to tubes (210) and fins (220), the heat exchanger is configured by assembling the tubes, the fins, tanks (300) and a connector (400) and heating them in a furnace to be brazed into one body, wherein the connector is made of aluminum or its alloy and has a seating face to be brazed to the outer surface of the tank, and when it is determined that the connector has a surface area of X [cm2] and a volume of Y [cm3], they have a relation of X?1.5·(36?Y2)1/3, Y?30.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a blower/evaporator housing case is provided for housing side-by-side a blower that is rotated by a motor and creates an air flow and an evaporator linked with coolant pipes through which a coolant flows in and out so as to completely prevent leakage of condensed water which collects at the evaporator of an automotive air-conditioning system and also to simplify the structure of a locking device used to lock an expansion valve at the evaporator. The blower/evaporator housing case is constituted of two recessed members, i.e., an upper recessed member and a lower recessed member, set on the two sides of a parting line extending along the horizontal direction. The locking device used to lock the expansion valve is formed at joint portions at the edges of the upper and lower recessed members constituting the blower/evaporator housing case.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lighting and indicating device for a motor vehicle, including at least one main light source, associated with a reflector in order to emit a light beam of predetermined photometry along an optical axis through glazing. According to the present invention, the lighting or indicating device includes at least one second light source situated off the optical axis, and reflecting means for reflecting the light rays emitted by the second light source along a direction substantially parallel to the optical axis.

Abstract: The invention concerns an equipment module (22) for a motor vehicle opening panel (12) comprising in particular an interior door trim element (42) and an outer cladding (14) comprising a structural element (20) whereon are directly mounted accessories internal to the opening panel (12), characterized in that the structural element (20) consists of the inner door trim (42).

Abstract: A ball nut has at least one internal bearing race with a first end and second end, and at least one recirculating crossover passage for connecting the first end with the second end of the bearing race to form a continuous recirculating path for a plurality of ball bearings. A method for producing a ball nut includes the steps of forming at least a portion of the ball nut body with a helix passage for receiving a plurality of ball bearings, forming a crossover passage in communication with the helix passage for returning the plurality of ball bearings to an opposite end of the helix passage, and assembling the ball nut body portions to position the helix passage and operable orientation with respect to the crossover passage to define at least one raceway having a single recirculating rotational path for receiving the plurality of ball bearings. The ball nut body can be formed by being drawn, coined, metal injection molded, roll formed, through rolled, stamped and/or overmolded.

Abstract: Torque generating apparatus and method for automotive applications. A brushless DC motor is design optimized to operate at a design voltage, Vs, along an optimal speed/torque profile. A DC/DC converter is provided for supplying power at an alternate voltage, Va, to enable motor operation at speed/torque combinations not on the optimal profile. A switch is provided to enable the motor to be operated selectively at either of the two voltages.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling fluid temperature in a fluid heater apparatus which supplies heat to fluid from a controllable heater element(s) which includes establishing a discharge temperature range between a first high temperature and a second low temperature. The temperature of the fluid is measured and, in response to the measured temperature, activation of the heater elements is controlled to maintain the temperature of the fluid within the temperature range. The heater elements can be independently controllable for temperature control.

Abstract: A drive device includes an electric drive motor, a housing, at least one shaft driven by the drive motor, compensation elements enabling the end play of the shaft to be adjusted or compensated while the shaft is being mounted, and fixing elements which are used to fix the shaft after the end play has been adjusted or compensated. The compensation elements include a spring element which is arranged inside the housing and which axially actuates the shaft. The fixing elements are not accessible from the outer side of the housing.

Abstract: A rotary electrical machine, especially an alternator or an alternator-starter for a motor vehicle, comprises a stator (S), a rotor (R) and permanent magnets incorporated in the rotor and/or the stator, in which the said magnets are formed into at least two groups each of which is defined by a specific type of composition, with each sub-assembly being a combination of a magnet containing rare earths with a ferrite magnet, at least one of the magnets being arranged radially so as to generate an orthoradial magnetic flux.

Abstract: A wiper apparatus for a vehicle windshield has a wiper arm pivot rotatably mounted in a pivot holder fixedly secured to vehicle structure. An end portion of the wiper arm pivot normally extends exteriorly of an impact line defined by surrounding vehicle structure. The wiper arm pivot is axially displayable relative to the pivot holder upon the imposition of an impact load on the exposed end of the wiper arm pivot. An axial displacement biasing member is coupled to the wiper arm pivot for normally biasing the wiper arm pivot to a normal wiper arm wiping position. The axial displacement member returns the wiper arm pivot to the nominal wiping position after the impact load causing axial displacement of the wiper arm pivot has been removed from the wiper arm pivot.

Abstract: An electric motor and method for reducing or eliminating end play. The motor comprises an adjustment member that cooperates with an end lamina member to facilitate reducing end play. The adjustment member is slidably mounted on an armature shaft and inside an aperture of a portion of the end lamina tube to reduce or eliminate end play. Thereafter, the adjustment member is permanently secured to the end lamina tube. In another illustrative embodiment, the movable bearing retainer sets endplay and also retains brushes in an open position prior to, for example, assembly of the motor.

Abstract: A rotating electric machine comprising at least a fan (43) provided with blades providing between them divergent ventilation channels (48) adapted to generate cooling fluid flow through the machine; the angle of incidence (B) of the blades, at the leading edge ranges between 150 degrees and 175 degrees, while the angle of incidence (A) of the blades at the trailing edge ranges between 90 degrees and 165 degrees relative to the tangent to a circle (C) generated during the rotation of the blades, the ratio between the average pitch of the blades (46) and the average length thereof being less than 0.975. The invention is applicable to fans for a motor vehicle alternator.

Abstract: A segmented stator for a permanent magnet motor. The stator includes a plurality of stator segments forming an annular stator yoke and a plurality of stator teeth extending from an edge of the stator yoke. At least one coupling is between adjacent stator segments and shaped to allow movement of adjacent teeth in a so-called loose tooth design. Slot wedges are located between adjacent teeth to prevent the conductive windings from moving out of the slots through the slot openings. The slot wedges also prevent movement of adjacent teeth with respect to one another. The segmented stator can comprise an annular yoke with a plurality of discrete teeth or a plurality of assemblies including a rim section and a tooth section. The slot wedges can be keyed wedges that maintain their position through interlocking and/or can be integrated with a stator bobbin.

Abstract: A reciprocating refrigerant compressor includes a cylinder block having a cylinder bore, and a compression chamber defined within the cylinder bore. A cylinder head has a low-pressure chamber for receiving refrigerant gas to be drawn into the compression chamber, and is coupled to one end face of the cylinder block. A valve plate is arranged between the compression chamber and the low-pressure chamber, and includes an inlet port for guiding the refrigerant from the low-pressure chamber into the compression chamber. An inlet valve opens and closes the inlet port and has an end whose shape is adapted to a shape of the inlet port. The shape of the inlet port is non-circular, and a portion of an opening edge of the inlet port protrudes into the inlet port. Tangential lines drawn from the protruding portions intersect the opening edge of the inlet port at at least two points.