Abstract: A valve for an automotive vehicle emission system is provided which includes a valve housing with an inlet communicating the valve housing with an air pump; an outlet fluidly communicating the valve with a catalytic converter, the outlet having a check valve preventing flow from an engine exhaust conduit through the valve to the air pump; an upper diaphragm in the valve housing creating a first chamber in the housing which is fluidly exposed to the inlet; a lower diaphragm in the housing creating a second chamber between itself and the first diaphragm, the lower diaphragm forming a third chamber between itself and the housing generally opposite the first chamber; a sealing wall located within the housing separating the second chamber from the inlet, the sealing wall having a surface forming a valve seat with the lower diaphragm, dividing the inlet from the second chamber; a spring urging the lower diaphragm toward the first chamber; and a valve stem connecting the upper and lower diaphragms wherein the air pr

Abstract: Control of a fuel quantity and an air quantity delivered to an exhaust gas heater is provided by determining a desired heater air quantity and a desired heater air/fuel ratio both of which may vary over multiple control states, by commanding an air rate in accord with the desired heater air quantity, by adjusting the commanded air quantity in accord with a sensed actual air quantity, and by commanding a fuel quantity in accord with the desired heater air/fuel ratio and either the desired heater air quantity or the sensed actual air quantity.

Abstract: Control of a fuel rate and an air rate delivered to an exhaust gas heater over successive control periods by determining and periodically updating a desired heater air quantity and a desired heater air/fuel ratio, by commanding an air rate in accord with the desired heater air quantity, by adjusting the commanded air rate in accord with a sensed actual air rate, and by commanding a fuel quantity in accord with the desired heater air/fuel ratio and the sensed actual air rate or the desired heater air quantity. A quantity of excess fuel is purged from the system at the end of a control period and provided in usable form to the engine. Compensation for fuel residue in the system is made at the start of subsequent control periods.

Abstract: A fuel pressure regulator controls the pressure differential across a nozzle which is subject to variations in exhaust gas backpressure having a solenoid actuated valve member which is actuable in response to signals from a controller to establish a predetermined fuel pressure across the nozzle consistent with a control strategy. A pressure dependent valve actuator is operable on the valve member, independently of the solenoid, to adjust the valve opening and, as such, the fuel pressure at the nozzle to adjust the fuel pressure in response to exhaust gas.

Abstract: A pressure regulating valve assembly includes a valve body mounting an electric solenoid assembly. The solenoid assembly controls the fluid pressure in a chamber defined in the valve body. Fluid in the chamber is biased against a deflectable disc which controls fluid flow through the valve assembly. Control of electric current to the solenoid assembly controls fluid pressure in the chamber and, thus, fluid flow through the valve assembly. When utilized with a damper and a controller, the present valve assembly provides continuously variable damping in real time.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine air-fuel ratio control method and apparatus wherein a most favorable parameter selected from the group consisting of air, fuel, and recirculated exhaust gas is adjusted in response to detected deviation of the air-fuel ratio away from the desired ratio. Supplemental control is provided by means of the remaining parameters in the event that the most favorable parameter runs out of authority.

Abstract: A single fuel metering valve directs fuel to a plurality of charge delivery injectors.

Abstract: In a fuel injection system for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, a plurality of injection nozzles discharge fuel adjacent the engine inlet ports, and a single injector meters the fuel to all of the injection nozzles. The injector may include an annular valve surface, a plurality of discharge passages opening through the valve surface to direct fuel to the nozzles, and a single valve member associated with the valve surface to control fuel delivery to the discharge passages. The injector may include a rectifier valve that admits air to the discharge passages when the valve member precludes fuel delivery to the discharge passages. The fuel discharge lines that connect the injector discharge passages to the nozzles may be surrounded by air lines.

Abstract: A method for recalibration of parametric relationships used in exhaust gas recirculation EGR control. When such recirculation would typically be inactive, relationships between parameters are measured, such relationships being normally measurable only with inactive EGR. New information from those measurements is combined with information from previous calibrations to provide update information necessary for subsequent EGR control.

Abstract: A remote control lever module comprising a support including a bearing and a lever including a shaft pivotably supported by the bearing for oscillation about the shaft axis between a nonactuating position and actuating positions. The lever further includes an actuating arm extending from the shaft at an angle thereto for moving the shaft between the nonactuating position and the actuating positions and a return spring acting on the lever when the shaft is in the actuating positions to urge the shaft to the nonactuating position. Magnets are fixed on the shaft and movable therewith to provide a movable magnetic field of varying strength in an effective zone adjacent one side of the shaft.

Abstract: In an injector adapted to deliver a charge of fuel and air directly into the combustion chamber of a two-stroke cycle engine, a single solenoid coil has an armature mechanism that sequentially opens both a fuel metering valve and a charge delivery valve.

Abstract: An injector has a single tapered valve controlling fuel flow to a plurality of outlet passages. The entrance to each outlet passage has an orifice surrounded by a raised valve seat. Each valve seat is separated from the other valve seats by a recessed space. The valve pivots as it is displaced from the valve seat to allow fuel flow through the outlet passages, and is constrained against other motion within the injector. The valve seats are clustered beneath the free end of the valve. The orifices are sized to compensate for the unequal lift of the tapered valve from the valve seats.

Abstract: A system and method of limiting the wheel slip of a driven wheel of a vehicle to a maximum allowable value so as to maximize the driven wheel tractive force is described. The driven wheel tractive force represented by an expression including the engine intake air flow area, a load variable function and the speed of an undriven wheel is continually monitored. The value of the monitored tractive force at the time the driven wheel slip reaches a maximum allowable value is identified and stored. When the slip exceeds the maximum allowable value, an intake air flow area is limited to a value determined to return the driven wheel tractive force to the identified tractive force at the maximum allowable wheel slip value.

Abstract: This invention relates to a traction control system for a vehicle that combines the control of both air and fuel delivered to the vehicle engine for limiting the slip of the vehicle driven wheels.

Abstract: An electro-hydraulic pressure regulating valve including a control pressure chamber, an annular supply pressure port connected to the control pressure chamber and having a first seat area, an annular exhaust port connected to the control pressure chamber and having a second seat area equal to the first seat area, an armature valve plate spring biased to a supply seated position closing the supply pressure port with the exhaust port open, and an electric solenoid operative when selectively energized to create a solenoid EMF for moving the armature plate to an exhaust seated position closing the exhaust port with the supply pressure port open. The armature plate has a circular cut-out therein aligned with the centers of the annular supply pressure and exhaust ports and the differential pressure area of the armature plate in the supply seated and the exhausted seated positions is equal to substantially only the first and second seat areas.

Abstract: An electro-hydraulic pressure regulating valve including a tubular valve body, a partition in the valve body dividing the latter into a valve chamber and a solenoid chamber, a valve sleeve in the valve chamber with a piston slidable in the sleeve and defining a bias pressure chamber between the piston and the partition and a control pressure chamber on the opposite side of the piston, closed center regulating ports on the piston and the valve sleeve for regulating a supply pressure to a control pressure in the control pressure chamber, a bias pressure orifice between a supply pressure port and the bias pressure chamber, a fluid strainer between the supply pressure port and the bias pressure orifice, a relief orifice in the partition between the bias pressure chamber and a fluid sump, and a solenoid operated valve normally closing the relief orifice and operative when energized to open the relief orifice.

Abstract: A drive-by-wire engine control system in which the engine is set to an idle operating mode when the force applied to the accelerator pedal is zero even though the accelerator pedal is in an off-idle position.

Abstract: An electromagnetic fuel injector has a thin orifice director plate, mounted downstream of the orifice passage defined when the solenoid actuated valve of the injector is in the open position relative to its associated valve seat, for controlling static flow from the injector. The thin orifice director plate is provided with upset angled portions having the flow orifice formed at right angles therethrough to direct the jets of fuel flow, as desired, relative to the axis of the spray tip discharge passage of the injector. Preferably, the length (L) to diameter (D) ratio of each flow orifice is 0.5 or less.

Abstract: An electromagnetic fuel injector is provided with a tapered armature valve plate operatively positioned by means of a locator so that it is arranged so as to, in effect, pivot from a spring biased position at which it seats against a valve seat associated with a plurality of orifice discharge passages located concentrically about the axis of the injector to a second position adjacent to the working surface of the pole piece means of the associate solenoid. Preferably, the electromagnetic fuel injector is of the bottom feed type whereby it can be supplied with fuel in excess of the amount to be injected, with the flow path of fuel being arranged so that the excess fuel will purge vapors from the injector and cool the solenoid coil therein.

Abstract: A pressure regulator assembly, suitable for controlling the flow of compressed natural gas to fuel an internal combustion engine, has a small primary valve positioned by a regulator diaphragm to control the flow at high supply pressures and a large secondary valve to provide additional flow area at low supply pressures. Flow to the primary valve passes through a chamber having a restricted aperture from the inlet, and a control diaphragm responsive to the pressure in the chamber opens the secondary valve when the primary valve reaches its maximum flow capacity and the pressure in the chamber approaches the regulated pressure.