Abstract: A rotary valve includes a rotary component configured to rotate about an axis of rotation thereof. The rotary component includes a plurality of fluid openings formed at an exterior surface thereof with each of the fluid openings forming a fluid inlet or a fluid outlet into one of a plurality of fluid passageways formed through the rotary component. The rotary component further comprises a valve body rotatably receiving the rotary component therein. The valve body includes a five fluid ports formed therethrough with each of the fluid ports configured to be selectively aligned with one of the fluid openings of the rotary component depending on a rotational position of the rotary component relative to the valve body to allow the rotary valve to operate as a five-way switching valve.

Abstract: A rotary valve includes a valve body including an opening formed therein, a rotary component received within the opening of the valve body with the rotary component configured to rotate relative to the valve body about an axis of rotation thereof, and a sealing assembly including a hard sealing structure and a soft sealing structure disposed between the valve body and the rotary component. The hard sealing structure is formed from a substantially rigid material and is configured to sealingly engage the rotary component. The soft sealing structure is formed from a resiliently deformable material and is configured to sealingly engage the hard sealing structure and the valve body.

Abstract: A rotary valve includes a rotary component configured to rotate about an axis of rotation thereof. The rotary component includes a plurality of fluid openings formed at an exterior surface thereof with each of the fluid openings forming a fluid inlet or a fluid outlet into one of a plurality of fluid passageways formed through the rotary component. The rotary component further comprises a valve body rotatably receiving the rotary component therein. The valve body includes a five fluid ports formed therethrough with each of the fluid ports configured to be selectively aligned with one of the fluid openings of the rotary component depending on a rotational position of the rotary component relative to the valve body to allow the rotary valve to operate as a five-way switching valve.

Abstract: A rotary valve includes a valve body including an opening formed therein, a rotary component received within the opening of the valve body with the rotary component configured to rotate relative to the valve body about an axis of rotation thereof, and a sealing assembly including a hard sealing structure and a soft sealing structure disposed between the valve body and the rotary component. The hard sealing structure is formed from a substantially rigid material and is configured to sealingly engage the rotary component. The soft sealing structure is formed from a resiliently deformable material and is configured to sealingly engage the hard sealing structure and the valve body.

Abstract: A rotary assembly for a centrifugal pump includes a housing, an impeller, a first opening formed in one of the housing or the impeller, a first bushing disposed in the first opening, and a first shaft projection projecting axially from one of the housing or the impeller. The first bushing extends annularly around a central opening thereof and is formed from an elastomeric material. The first shaft projection is received within the central opening of the first bushing. One of the first shaft projection or the first bushing is configured to rotate relative to the other of the first shaft projection or the first bushing during operation of the centrifugal pump.

Abstract: A rotary assembly for a centrifugal pump includes a housing, an impeller, a first opening formed in one of the housing or the impeller, a first bushing disposed in the first opening, and a first shaft projection projecting axially from one of the housing or the impeller. The first bushing extends annularly around a central opening thereof and is formed from an elastomeric material. The first shaft projection is received within the central opening of the first bushing. One of the first shaft projection or the first bushing is configured to rotate relative to the other of the first shaft projection or the first bushing during operation of the centrifugal pump.

Abstract: A Venturi device for producing vacuum from fluids in an engine system has a body defining a Venturi gap separating apart an outlet end of a converging motive section and an inlet end of a diverging discharge section by a lineal distance, and a suction port in fluid communication with the Venturi gap. The converging motive section and the diverging discharge section both gradually, continuously taper toward the Venturi gap, the converging motive section defines a circular-shaped motive inlet and an elliptical- or polygonal-shaped motive outlet, the diverging discharge section defines an elliptical- or polygonal-shaped discharge inlet, and an inner passageway of the converging motive section transitions as a hyperbolic function from the motive inlet to the elliptical- or polygonal-shaped motive outlet.

Abstract: A Venturi device for producing vacuum from fluids in an engine system has a body defining a Venturi gap separating apart an outlet end of a converging motive section and an inlet end of a diverging discharge section by a lineal distance, and a suction port in fluid communication with the Venturi gap. The converging motive section and the diverging discharge section both gradually, continuously taper toward the Venturi gap, the converging motive section defines a circular-shaped motive inlet and an elliptical- or polygonal-shaped motive outlet, the diverging discharge section defines an elliptical- or polygonal-shaped discharge inlet, and an inner passageway of the converging motive section transitions as a hyperbolic function from the motive inlet to the elliptical- or polygonal-shaped motive outlet.

Abstract: Aspirators are disclosed herein that include a body defining a Venturi gap between an outlet end of a converging motive section and an inlet end of a diverging discharge section and have a suction port in fluid communication with the Venturi gap. The converging motive section defines a circular-shaped motive inlet and defines an elliptical- or polygonal-shaped motive outlet, and the diverging discharge section defines an elliptical- or polygonal-shaped discharge inlet. In one embodiment, the converging motive section defines an inner passageway that transitions as a hyperbolic function from the circular-shaped motive inlet to the elliptical- or polygonal-shaped motive outlet and the elliptical- or polygonal-shaped motive outlet has an area that is less than the area of the circular-shaped motive inlet.

Abstract: Wastegate assemblies and turbocharger assemblies including the wastegate assemblies are described. The wastegate assemblies include a housing enclosing both an actuator and a valve. The valve is operatively coupled to the actuator and the housing terminates with a crush seal. The housing also includes a mounting member connectable to a turbocharger to place the crush seal in sealing engagement with a wastegate opening in the turbocharger. The turbocharger assemblies include a housing enclosing a turbine and a compressor wheel that are operatively coupled together on a common shaft that defines an axis of rotation, and have a wastegate assembly removably mounted to an outlet end of the housing proximate the turbine and extending therefrom in a direction away from the turbine and the compressor wheel. Here, the wastegate assembly has a longitudinal axis that is parallel to the axis of rotation.

Abstract: Pressure piston actuators and systems for control of wastegate in a turbocharger pressure that include the pressure piston actuators are disclosed. The pressure piston actuator includes a housing defining a chamber and a pathway leading to the chamber, a piston disposed within the chamber, a rod connected to the piston by a ball-and-socket joint, and a spring disposed in the chamber to bias the piston, and hence the rod, into a retracted position. Then, when fluid is introduced into the chamber, the fluid applies pressure to the piston. Once the pressure overcomes the bias of the spring, the piston, and hence the rod, moves into an extended position. For the system, the pressure piston actuator has the connector on the end of the rod opposite the ball-and-socket joint connected to the valve portion of a wastegate of a turbocharger.

Abstract: A tire pressure maintenance apparatus and system is disclosed. The apparatus and system comprises a high pressure reservoir and a pressure regulator secured to the high pressure reservoir. A high pressure relief valve is also provided. The high pressure reservoir is circumferentially continuous. Further, the pressure regulator has a passive valve in fluid communication with the high pressure reservoir and the pressure regulator opens at a low pressure point and closes at a high pressure point.

Abstract: A variable flow valve with position feedback is disclosed. The variable flow valve includes a housing having an inlet port and a discharge port and one or more control ports, and also includes a piston connected to a primary valve to open and close fluid communication between an inlet port and a discharge port of the housing. The housing and the piston intermesh to define an inner chamber and an outer chamber each in fluid communication with its own control port. A control port valve opens and closes at least one of the control ports to control access to a source of pressure change. A position sensor is part of the position feedback and communicates the position of the primary valve, relative to the discharge port, to a controller that operates the control port valve to hold the primary valve in a position where the discharge port is partially open.

Abstract: Aspirators are disclosed herein that include a body defining a Venturi gap between an outlet end of a converging motive section and an inlet end of a diverging discharge section and have a suction port in fluid communication with the Venturi gap. The converging motive section defines a circular-shaped motive inlet and defines an elliptical- or polygonal-shaped motive outlet, and the diverging discharge section defines an elliptical- or polygonal-shaped discharge inlet. In one embodiment, the converging motive section defines an inner passageway that transitions as a hyperbolic function from the circular-shaped motive inlet to the elliptical- or polygonal-shaped motive outlet and the elliptical- or polygonal-shaped motive outlet has an area that is less than the area of the circular-shaped motive inlet.

Abstract: Wastegate assemblies and turbocharger assemblies including the wastegate assemblies are described. The wastegate assemblies include a housing enclosing both an actuator and a valve. The valve is operatively coupled to the actuator and the housing terminates with a crush seal. The housing also includes a mounting member connectable to a turbocharger to place the crush seal in sealing engagement with a wastegate opening in the turbocharger. The turbocharger assemblies include a housing enclosing a turbine and a compressor wheel that are operatively coupled together on a common shaft that defines an axis of rotation, and have a wastegate assembly removably mounted to an outlet end of the housing proximate the turbine and extending therefrom in a direction away from the turbine and the compressor wheel. Here, the wastegate assembly has a longitudinal axis that is parallel to the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A tire pressure maintenance apparatus and system is disclosed. The apparatus and system comprises a high pressure reservoir and a pressure regulator secured to the high pressure reservoir. A high pressure relief valve is also provided. The high pressure reservoir is circumferentially continuous. Further, the pressure regulator has a passive valve in fluid communication with the high pressure reservoir and the pressure regulator opens at a low pressure point and closes at a high pressure point.

Abstract: Turbochargers are disclosed that have a braking system to brake the rotation of an electrically conductive compressor wheel within the turbocharger. The brake system includes the electrically conductive compressor wheel, which is connected to a turbine by a common shaft, one or more electromagnets positioned proximate to the compressor wheel, and a control circuit electrically coupled to the one or more electromagnets to turn the one or more electromagnets on or off to provide braking action to the compressor wheel. Systems including such a turbocharger and methods utilizing such turbochargers are also included herein.

Abstract: Pressure piston actuators and systems for control of wastegate in a turbocharger pressure that include the pressure piston actuators are disclosed. The pressure piston actuator includes a housing defining a chamber and a pathway leading to the chamber, a piston disposed within the chamber, a rod connected to the piston by a ball-and-socket joint, and a spring disposed in the chamber to bias the piston, and hence the rod, into a retracted position. Then, when fluid is introduced into the chamber, the fluid applies pressure to the piston. Once the pressure overcomes the bias of the spring, the piston, and hence the rod, moves into an extended position. For the system, the pressure piston actuator has the connector on the end of the rod opposite the ball-and-socket joint connected to the valve portion of a wastegate of a turbocharger.

Abstract: A variable flow valve with position feedback is disclosed. The variable flow valve includes a housing having an inlet port and a discharge port and one or more control ports, and also includes a piston connected to a primary valve to open and close fluid communication between an inlet port and a discharge port of the housing. The housing and the piston intermesh to define an inner chamber and an outer chamber each in fluid communication with its own control port. A control port valve opens and closes at least one of the control ports to control access to a source of pressure change. A position sensor is part of the position feedback and communicates the position of the primary valve, relative to the discharge port, to a controller that operates the control port valve to hold the primary valve in a position where the discharge port is partially open.

Abstract: A collet quick connect fluid coupling includes a self-centering structure that is received within a channel (36) in a pilot (32). The channel and self-centering leg (28) ensures the collet (26) is approximately centered within the housing (22) as a tube (38) is moved into the housing. This prevents misalignment of the collet relative to the tube (38). In a preferred embodiment, the collet (26) has a ramp (30) on an inwardly facing surface that cams along a surface on the pilot (32), assisting the collet (26) in expanding when a tube (38) is moved into a housing (22).