Abstract: The apparatus and method includes a panel movable between at least two positions. An electric motor has a rotating armature. A multiple pole magnet is mounted on the armature. A sensor detects the passage of each magnet pole and generates an output signal. A control measures time periods between each pole passage. An average time period is computed over a predetermined number of time periods. The difference between average time periods is computed and compared with a threshold difference to determine if an obstacle is present in the path of movement of the panel. Transient counts are accumulated for increasing average time periods over a number of time period samples as a measurement of the force exerted on an obstacle by the panel to detect an obstacle.

Abstract: The invention proposes an arrangement for the electrical connection of a lamp of the type that is fitted in a support and connected electrically to an electrical power-supply harness by having fixed terminals in contact with connecting terminals carried by a terminal block. The fixed terminals extend laterally outward from the base of the lamp along directions contained in a substantially transverse plane. The terminal block is movably fitted with respect to a support between a locked position in which, the connecting terminals are in electrical contact with the fixed terminals, and an unlocked position in which, the connecting terminals are spaced from the fixed terminals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a subassembly, consisting of a drive shaft (12), a housing (10) with a through-bore (19), through which the drive shaft projects out of the housing and an axial mechanical seal consisting of a rotating seal ring (22) and a counter-ring (20) which forms a seal between the drive shaft (12) and housing (10) components. The invention aims to improve the assembly of the axial mechanical seal and the thermal dissipation from said mechanical seal. To this end, the counter-ring (20) is configured as one single piece with one of the two components (10, 12). This obviates a separate assembly of the counter-ring and allows the heat produced by friction to be dissipated directly into one of the two components.

Abstract: A wiper arm and method for manufacturing a wiper arm provides a body having a first end connectible to and supportable by a drive shaft for imparting oscillatory rotary movement and a second end connectible to and supporting a wiper blade. A torsional region of the body is capable of toggle action and is located between the first and second ends of the body. The toggle action is defined by two stable positions, a primary position and a secondary position, lying spaced at opposite sides of an unstable range of movement, where one of the two stable positions exerts downward pressure on the wiper blade connectible to the body for engagement against a windscreen to be wiped. The torsional region is defined by first and second torsional members initially formed in a relaxed state. Each torsional member has a free end cantilevered outwardly from the first end of the body and spaced from one another. Each torsional member is subsequently flexed into a flexed state such that the free ends engage one another.

Abstract: An apparatus for lighting or indicating purposes in a motor vehicle includes a light guide associated with at least one light source for transporting light rays emitted by the light source from an input face to an output face via and intermediate section of the light guide. The output face of the light guide is contained between two closed lines which define a continuous internal contour and a continuous external contour, and the input face is contained between two further closed lines, also delimiting continuous internal and external contours.

Abstract: Air-diffusion panel for a motor vehicle including at least one air inlet and at least one air duct in communication with the said air inlet and air-distribution means, characterised in that it includes at least one resonant cavity (8) tuned so as at least partially to reduce the airstream noise in the said duct (4, 5, 6).

Abstract: An apparatus for aligning and supporting a rotatable shaft through a plastic molded support member includes an integral boss formed in the plastic molded support allowing insertion of the rotatable shaft to be supported therethrough. At least one bearing is associated with the boss for establishing proper orientation of a rotational axis of the rotatable shaft to be mounted through the boss. At least one bearing is press fit into the boss. In the preferred configuration, a pair of hat-shaped cylindrical bearings are press fit in opposite ends of the boss to define the rotational axis of the shaft to be mounted through the boss.

Abstract: A novel system, surgical method, and tools for performing a total ankle replacement are described. The total ankle replacement system includes the calcaneus in fixation of a lower prosthesis body, thereby significantly increasing the amount of bone available for fixation of the lower prosthesis body and allowing the lower prosthesis body to be anchored with screws. The total ankle replacement system further includes a long tibial stem which can also be anchored into the tibia The novel surgical arthroscopic method allows introduction of ankle prostheses into the ankle joint through an exposure in the tibial tubercle. Various novel surgical instruments, such as a telescoping articulating reamer and a talo-calcaneal jig, which facilitate the novel surgical method, are also described.

Abstract: An improved heat exchanger for an automotive vehicle is disclosed. The heat exchanger typically includes at least one end tank; and a plurality of spaced apart extruded metal tubes with fins between the spaced tubes. The heat exchanger may be single or multi-fluid. In preferred embodiments, the heat exchanger is arranged to have tubes or tube arrangements the improve heat transfer efficiency.

Abstract: A motor vehicle wiper gear motor includes a motor core and a reduction gear base, the core and the base having metal parts. The gear motor has a joint interposed between the core and the base, the joint including a sealing material and at least a metal element in contact with the metal parts of the core and the base.

Abstract: An arrangement for locking the steering shaft of a motor vehicle, includes a blocking device and a toothed ring which is arranged on the steering shaft and in which a blocking element, which is arranged so that it can be displaced from an unlocked position into a locked position, of the blocking device engages. To allow the blocking device to be attached to the steering device of the vehicle in question and exchanged in a simple manner and to ensure that the blocking device cannot be removed in the locked state of the blocking element, the blocking device, which is provided with a housing, is releasably connected to a flange, which is attached to the steering device, via an adapter part. The flange has a recess which is designed in such a manner that the adapter part, for fitting of the blocking device, can be inserted in a partial area of the recess and can then be displaced along a guide into its limit position.

Abstract: An electric motor unit of a motor vehicle includes a brush holder plate assembly. The plate assembly has a brass insert, a radiator, and an electronic card positioned adjacent the radiator. The plate assembly also includes a plastic over-molding molded to portions of the brass insert. An outer peripheral edge of the over-molding extends perpendicularly from a surface of the over-molding to surround at least a portion of the radiator.

Abstract: The invention concerns a tube (1) internally divided into two longitudinal channels (16) by a median spacer (9). In an end zone (4) penetrating a fluid box (19), the tube is deformed so as to be widened in its transverse section and shortened on either side of the spacer in the direction thereof. The space requirement of the fluid box in the longitudinal direction of the transverse sections of the tubes, and consequently the space requirement of the whole heat exchanger, can thereby be reduced relatively to the maximum space requirement of the array formed by the tubes and the separators (5) stacked therewith. The invention is applicable to cooling radiators of engines powering motor vehicles.

Abstract: A refrigerant-fluid circuit has a compressor, a condenser serving as heat sink and a first evaporator serving as cold source. The circuit also has a second evaporator and the refrigerant fluid is made to flow either only in the first evaporator, or in the two evaporators, depending on the cooling power required.

Abstract: The invention concerns an optical detection system (2) for vehicles, in particular motor vehicles, comprising a camera optics (4, 6) disposed on the vehicle, and a control device (8) for controlling the focus and/or image frame of the camera optics (4, 6), wherein the control device (8) is suited for coupling to a signal transmitter (34, 36, 38, 60), such that the focus and/or the image frame of the camera optics (4, 6) can be controlled in dependence on the signals which can be generated by the signal transmitter (34, 36, 38, 60). The invention also concerns a control device (8) and a method for an optical detection system (2).

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: A dashboard, in particular for motor vehicle, includes at least a three-dimensional element (2) extending longitudinally and designed to constitute a reinforcement against impact and to enable equipment items to be incorporated (1) in the dashboard. The three-dimensional element (2) includes a body (3), designed in volume and provided with housings (4) for the equipment items (1), arranged in the volume of the body (3), and a substantially planar component (5), co-operating with the body to close at least some of the housings.

Abstract: An optical moisture detector for determining a value corresponding to ambient light conditions and comparing that value to a predetermined value. The detector includes an optical moisture sensor and a processor. The optical moisture sensor can be a photo array, a CCD or a CMOS. The processor can be a microprocessor. The processor can emit a control signal to engage or disengage a light generating device based on the result of the comparison of the value to the predetermined value.

Abstract: An end play restriction wedge restricts the end play of a rotatable shaft with respect to a housing. The end play restriction wedge includes a female-wedge housing and a male wedge. The female-wedge housing has a U-shaped cross-section defined by an intermediate wall and outwardly extending side walls connected adjacent each end of the intermediate wall. The intermediate wall has a thrust plate surface along one side and an angled ramp along an opposite side. The angled ramp and outwardly extending side walls define a tapered aperture extending through the housing with an enlarged opening adjacent a first end of the housing. The male wedge is positioned adjacent the enlarged opening of the housing to be driven into the tapered aperture in response to an external force acting on an outer end of the wedge.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stabilization circuit of a magnet switch for a starter in which an electronic switch of a starter which starts an engine installed in a vehicle is stable-operated. In the present invention, a current is prevented to flow to a pull-in coil and holding coil when disconnecting a key switch using a diode which is capable of flowing a current in a normal direction and preventing a flow of a current in a reverse direction, so that it is possible to accurately return a plunger to its original state. Therefore, the operation of a motor unit is stopped by opening two contact points. In the case that a key switch is turned on by connecting a diode between the contact points and the pull-in coil, the pull-in coil and holding coil are magnetized, and in the case that the key switch is turned off, the current is not flown to the pull-in coil and holding coil, so that the pull-in coil and holding coil are not magnetized.