Abstract: A variable cam follower (1) is provided for changeable transmission of a lifting movement of a cam to valve train elements allocated to the cam follower (1) in an internal combustion engine. The cam follower (1) includes a hydraulic force transmission device (19) with a variable length pressure space (18), which is bounded by a hollow cylindrical recess (15) of a first cam follower part (3) and by a rod (16) guided in the hollow cylindrical recess (15). The rod is part of a second cam follower part (9) that can move telescopically relative to the first cam follower part (3). The pressure space (18) is closable by a slide (21a, 21b) arranged within the cam follower (1) and acted upon by an adjustable control pressure (p), wherein an opening (23), which extends from the pressure space (18) and opens into a channel (20a, 20b), in which the slide (21a, 21b) runs, is formed in a base (13) of the hollow cylindrical recess (15).

Abstract: A hydraulic valve-lash-adjusting element (HVA) for the valve train of an internal combustion engine, wherein: a housing (1) has a blind bore (2) in which a piston (3) is guided with sealing clearance and is in pressure contact with a valve-actuating element (6) and its cam; the piston (3), together with the blind bore (2), defines a high-pressure space (4) while a low-pressure space (5) is located above the piston (3); the pressure spaces (4, 5) are connected by at least one central axial bore in the piston (3), this axial bore being controlled by a control valve arranged in the piston (3), wherein the control valve is designed as an exchange valve (11), with a valve body (12) which is guided in a smooth-running manner in the interior of the piston (3), serves to control an upper and a lower central axial bore (14, 15) and the closing movement in both directions of which is the relative movement of the piston (3) in relation to the valve body (12), which is virtually at a standstill because of its mass mo

Abstract: A variable valve actuation assembly (41) to be mounted about a camshaft (43) including a concentric portion (47) and an eccentric portion (49) which orbits the axis of rotation (A1) of the camshaft and defines an axis (A2). The assembly (41) includes a secondary cam member (51) surrounding the concentric portion (47) and including a cam surface (59,59L). The assembly (41) also includes an arm assembly (61) which surrounds the eccentric portion (49), and defines a longitudinal axis (A3) perpendicular to, and intersecting the axis (A2). The arm assembly (61) can pivot about a pin (71), and at the opposite axial end is pivotally connected to the secondary cam member (51) by means of a pin (75). Rotation of the camshaft (43) causes the arm assembly (61) to pivot about the pin (71) in one direction, rotating the cam member (51) to lift the valve (17), then pivot in the other direction, rotating the cam member (51) in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A servo motor operated rotary air throttle has a driving member connected to the throttle shaft. The motor rotor is connected to the driving member in a lost motion connection. If the throttle is lodged due to ice formation, the motor rotor acquires rotary momentum relative to the driving member during the lost motion rotation and a projection on the rotor impacts the end of a slot in the driving member to impart a momentum pulse to the driving member and throttle shaft and dislodge the throttle.

Abstract: A servo motor operated rotary air throttle has a driving member connected to the throttle shaft. The motor rotor is connected to the driving member in a lost motion connection. If the throttle is lodged due to ice formation, the motor rotor acquires rotary momentum relative to the driving member during the lost motion rotation and a projection on the rotor impacts the end of a slot in the driving member to impart a momentum pulse to the driving member and throttle shaft and dislodge the throttle.

Abstract: Transducer housing for mounting in a port in an engine combustion chamber has a metal diaphragm exposed to the combustion gasses. The pressure of the combustion gasses is transferred through an aluminum coupling disc which deflects a simply supported beam member. The beam member is formed of refractory material having epitaxially grown crystalline piezoresistors formed on one surface of the beam member and connected in a bridge circuit and is secured to a ceramic mounting disc. The aluminum coupling disc has a relatively high coefficient of thermal expansion which maintains a preload on the beam member for improved accuracy in spite of the low thermal expansion of the ceramic mounting disc. In an alternate embodiment, an expansion ring made of a material having a relatively high coefficient of thermal expansion is used to support a mounting disc on which the beam member is supported.

Abstract: A misfire detection system and method for use in conjunction with an internal combustion engine. An engine cylinder has a pressure sensor disposed therein for providing a signal indicative of the pressure in the cylinder's combustion chamber. Compression pressure measurements are obtained at crankshaft angles reached prior to the top dead center position of piston travel. For crankshaft angles greater than that at which top dead center is reached, the pressure measurements are reflected about a vertical axis extending through the top dead center point. The reflected compression pressures for crankshaft angles reached after the top dead center point are subtracted from the actual compression chamber measurements obtained over those crankshaft angles during the power stroke of the engine.

Abstract: A transducer housing for mounting a port in a combustion chamber has a metal diaphragm exposed to the combustion gasses. The pressure of the combustion gasses deflects the diaphragm which locally deflects a simply supported beam. The beam is formed of refractory material having epitaxially grown crystalline piezoresistors formed on one surface of the beam and connected in a bridge circuit. Noble metal foil leads connect to the piezoresistors to form the bridge and provide attachment pads. The pads are noble metal welded to other noble metal foil pads provided on a ceramic substrate to form a sensor subassembly for mounting adjacent the diaphragm to form a transducer.

Abstract: A motor driven actuator having a mechanical stop radially protruding from the motor output shaft which contacts the output mechanism upon reaching an extreme of travel thereby stopping the rotation of the motor by imparting a tangential stopping force thereby stopping the movement of the output mechanism while minimizing forces generated in the actuator drive mechanism.

Abstract: A control system for an engine throttle valve actuator uses an actuator position feedback loop with a compensation factor which applies a reverse voltage having an amplitude based on actuator momentum to a DC motor to effectuate an electrical braking action to achieve high speed response with positional accuracy. A separate position limiting feedback loop is used to prevent excessive actuator excursions. The engine throttle valve is controlled to a selected position by using a throttle valve position feedback loop and a compensation factor to provide a feedback signal to a summing junction.

Abstract: A vehicle engine throttle valve control device (10;121) is applied intermediate the vehicle operator's accelerator pedal (14) and the engine's throttle body (12) to selectively override or modify the operator's ability to control vehicle/engine speed and to assert independent control thereof as a function of various input parameters (49,50,52,54). Linkages (26,28) interconnect opposed ends of a lever (18;136) respectively, with accelerator and throttle. The lever rotates upon a pivot (20;126) which is selectively displaceable to effectively shorten or lengthen the linkage in response to an operator independent signal from a control circuit (42).

Abstract: A torch ignitor for a lean burn internal combustion engine is disclosed in which a small quantity of gaseous fuel is activated by exposure to an electrical arc and injected into the main fuel air charge in the combustion chamber. The arc is established by causing a current to flow to a pair of electrodes which are separated by the application of the torch fuel under pressure to generate the arc. The arc is caused to migrate about the space between the electrodes by the impingement of the fuel flowing through the space.

Abstract: An electrode arrangement for establishing a sustained electrical arc with a low voltage in which a pair of electrodes are initially brought together and then separated while a current is applied. The sustained arc is adapted to activate fuel flowing past the arc, and the flow is vortical so that the arc is caused to migrate around an annular arc gap space. Several geometric configurations of the electrodes include opposing cylindrical shapes having endwise alligned cavities and a generally tapered portions of one electrode received in a generally tapered opening in the other electrode.

Abstract: A servoactuator for a vehicle throttle having a direct current motor driving a speed reducer with the output thereof connected to slidably move a fulcrum member having a lever arm pivoted thereon. The lever arm has a cable to the engine throttle connected to one end and a cable to the vehicle accelerator pedal connected to the other end on the opposite side of the pivot. In one embodiment the speed reducer drives an axial lead screw threaded in the fulcrum member. In a second embodiment the speed reducer output is a slotted crank arm having a pin on the fulcrum member slidably received therein. In a third embodiment the speed reducer output is connected by a two-bar linkage to the fulcrum member. A potentiometer is disposed to have the movable element thereof moved by one end of the lever to provide a throttle position feedback signal for use by an external motor control signal generator. The servoactuator is intended for use with a vehicle traction control system.

Abstract: A vehicle engine throttle valve control device (10) is applied intermediate the vehicle operator's accelerator pedal (14) and the engine's throttle body (12) to selectively override or modify the operator's ability to control vehicle/engine speed and to assert independent control thereof as a function of various input parameters (49,50,52,54). Linkages (26,28) interconnect opposed ends of an assembly of half levers (21,23) with accelerator and throttle. The half levers rotate upon a pivot (20) which is selectively displacable to effectively shorten or lengthen the linkage in response to an operator independent signal from a control circuit (42). A half lever stop (27) fixes the relative positions of the half levers whenever the throttle body is in an off-idle position.

Abstract: Fuel is activated prior to combustion in an engine by an electrical arc established across an annular gap between two electrodes, and sustained for a significant portion of the injection cycle. The vaporized or gaseous fuel is directed through a spiral recess to be caused to flow vortically and cause the arc to migrate about the annular gap to reduce electrode erosion and increase exposure of the fuel to the activating effects of the arc. The arc is formed by separating contacting electrodes which applying a current to the electrodes. One of the electrodes is movable under the influence of the pressurized fuel to cause separation from the other fixed electrode, so that the arc is established as fuel begins flowing. The electrodes have opposing rimmed cavities, with fuel flow shifting the arc radially inwardly, migrating to extend between the inner wall of each cavities, and around which the arc rotates under the influence of the vortical fuel flow.

Abstract: A test apparatus and method is disclosed for a fuel pump mounted on and driven by an engine, the speed of which is controlled by the pressure of fuel supplied thereto wherein the engine continues to be supplied with fuel from the fuel pump during the test. A fluid circuit is provided which is designed to supply fuel to the engine under controlled pressure to permit the engine speed to be controlled independently of the engine throttle position and to permit the flow rate of the fuel to be adjusted to a predetermined value at which the output pressure of the fuel pump may be measured for calibration purposes. The fluid circuitry and necessary measurement circuitry may be mounted within a small, portable housing to allow for field testing of a fuel pump.