Abstract: A valvetrain for an internal combustion engine of the type that has a combustion chamber, a moveable valve having a seat formed in the combustion chamber, and a camshaft includes a rocker arm assembly, a pivot providing a fulcrum for a rocker arm of the rocker arm assembly, and a latch assembly. An electrical device mounted to the rocker arm assembly receives power or communicates through a circuit that includes an electrical connection formed by abutment between surfaces of two distinct parts. The rocker arm assembly is operative to move one of the two abutting surfaces relative to the other in response to actuation of the cam follower. Forming an electrical connection through abutting surfaces that are free to undergo relative motion may reduce or eliminate the need to run wires to a mobile portion of the rocker arm assembly.

Abstract: A variable speed hybrid electric supercharger assembly is controlled to regulate an adaptive state of charge of an energy storage device and/or to boost an engine based on a performance mode selected by a driver. In one example, a reference state of charge is determined based upon driving characteristics of a vehicle and compared to an actual state of charge of the energy storage device. If the difference indicates a deficit, an operation mode is selected to regenerate the energy storage device. In another example, a planetary gearing arrangement between an engine and an electric motor is configured to increase or decrease power transferred to the supercharger by the engine based upon the performance mode selected by the driver.

Abstract: A valvetrain for an internal combustion engine of the type that has a combustion chamber, a moveable valve having a seat formed in the combustion chamber, and a camshaft includes a rocker arm assembly, a pivot providing a fulcrum for a rocker arm of the rocker arm assembly, and a latch assembly. An electrical device mounted to the rocker arm assembly receives power or communicates through a circuit that includes an electrical connection formed by abutment between surfaces of two distinct parts. The rocker arm assembly is operative to move one of the two abutting surfaces relative to the other in response to actuation of the cam follower. Forming an electrical connection through abutting surfaces that are free to undergo relative motion may reduce or eliminate the need to run wires to a mobile portion of the rocker arm assembly.

Abstract: A valvetrain for an internal combustion engine of the type that has a combustion chamber, a moveable valve having a seat formed in the combustion chamber, and a camshaft includes a rocker arm assembly, a pivot providing a fulcrum for a rocker arm of the rocker arm assembly, and a latch assembly. An electrical device mounted to the rocker arm assembly receives power or communicates through a circuit that includes an electrical connection formed by abutment between surfaces of two distinct parts. The rocker arm assembly is operative to move one of the two abutting surfaces relative to the other in response to actuation of the cam follower. Forming an electrical connection through abutting surfaces that are free to undergo relative motion may reduce or eliminate the need to run wires to a mobile portion of the rocker arm assembly.

Abstract: A valvetrain for an internal combustion engine of the type that has a combustion chamber, a moveable valve having a seat formed in the combustion chamber, and a camshaft includes a rocker arm assembly, a pivot providing a fulcrum for a rocker arm of the rocker arm assembly, and a latch assembly. An electrical device mounted to the rocker arm assembly receives power or communicates through a circuit that includes an electrical connection formed by abutment between surfaces of two distinct parts. The rocker arm assembly is operative to move one of the two abutting surfaces relative to the other in response to actuation of the cam follower. Forming an electrical connection through abutting surfaces that are free to undergo relative motion may reduce or eliminate the need to run wires to a mobile portion of the rocker arm assembly.

Abstract: A valvetrain for an internal combustion engine of the type that has a combustion chamber, a moveable valve having a seat formed in the combustion chamber, and a camshaft includes a rocker arm assembly, a pivot providing a fulcrum for a rocker arm of the rocker arm assembly, and a latch assembly. An electrical device mounted to the rocker arm assembly receives power or communicates through a circuit that includes an electrical connection formed by abutment between surfaces of two distinct parts. The rocker arm assembly is operative to move one of the two abutting surfaces relative to the other in response to actuation of the cam follower. Forming an electrical connection through abutting surfaces that are free to undergo relative motion may reduce or eliminate the need to run wires to a mobile portion of the rocker arm assembly.

Abstract: A boost system for providing boost pressure to an air intake manifold of an engine includes a supercharger having rotors and a supercharger input shaft, an electric motor/generator, and a planetary gear set. The planetary gear set operates to transfer torque between the supercharger input shaft, the electric motor/generator and a crankshaft of the engine. The boost system can have a compact configuration.

Abstract: A variable speed hybrid electric supercharger assembly is controlled to regulate an adaptive state of charge of an energy storage device and/or to boost an engine based on a performance mode selected by a driver. In one example, a reference state of charge is determined based upon driving characteristics of a vehicle and compared to an actual state of charge of the energy storage device. If the difference indicates a deficit, an operation mode is selected to regenerate the energy storage device. In another example, a planetary gearing arrangement between an engine and an electric motor is configured to increase or decrease power transferred to the supercharger by the engine based upon the performance mode selected by the driver.

Abstract: A valvetrain for an internal combustion engine of the type that has a combustion chamber, a moveable valve having a seat formed in the combustion chamber, and a camshaft includes a rocker arm assembly, a pivot providing a fulcrum for a rocker arm of the rocker arm assembly, and a latch assembly. An electrical device mounted to the rocker arm assembly receives power or communicates through a circuit that includes an electrical connection formed by abutment between surfaces of two distinct parts. The rocker arm assembly is operative to move one of the two abutting surfaces relative to the other in response to actuation of the cam follower. Forming an electrical connection through abutting surfaces that are free to undergo relative motion may reduce or eliminate the need to run wires to a mobile portion of the rocker arm assembly.

Abstract: An assembly for controlling air flow to an engine includes a first supercharger (20) and a second supercharger (22). The superchargers are arranged in parallel with one another and in series with the throttle (70) in the air flow to the engine cylinders, and are configured to be operatively connectable with the engine upstream in the air flow to the cylinders. The assembly includes a load device (38) selectively connectable to the first supercharger (20) and selectively alternately operable to provide energy to or receive energy from the first supercharger. The superchargers are configured to be separately selectively operatively connectable with the throttle and the crankshaft to enable different modes of operation.

Abstract: An engine assembly is provided that includes an engine throttle and a supercharger placed in series with one another in air flow to the engine. The throttle and supercharger can be controlled so that throttling losses are selectively distributed across the throttle and/or the supercharger. Throttling losses placed across the supercharger can create torque that can be converted to stored energy.

Abstract: A supercharger (12) with two separate sets of rotors (22, 24) arranged in parallel with one another is provided in an engine assembly. Both sets of rotors are used to boost air flow during high engine air flow conditions, and only one of the sets of rotors is operable to transfer torque generated by the throttling loss pressure drop as stored energy in a load device during low air flow conditions. The captured throttling losses may be electrical energy stored in a battery via a motor/generator such as during vehicle cruising.

Abstract: A supercharger (12) with two separate sets of rotors (22, 24) arranged in parallel with one another is provided in an engine assembly. Both sets of rotors are used to boost air flow during high engine air flow conditions, and only one of the sets of rotors is operable to transfer torque generated by the throttling loss pressure drop as stored energy in a load device during low air flow conditions. The captured throttling losses may be electrical energy stored in a battery via a motor/generator such as during vehicle cruising.

Abstract: An assembly for controlling air flow to an engine includes a first supercharger(20) and a second supercharger (22). The superchargers are arranged in parallel with one another and in series with the throttle (70) in the air flow to the engine cylinders, and are configured to be operatively connectable with the engine upstream in the air flow to the cylinders. The assembly includes a load device (38) selectively connectable to the first supercharger (20) and selectively alternately operable to provide energy to or receive energy from the first supercharger. The superchargers are configured to be separately selectively operatively connectable with the throttle and the crankshaft to enable different modes of operation.

Abstract: An engine assembly is provided that includes an engine throttle and a supercharger placed in series with one another in air flow to the engine. The throttle and supercharger can be controlled so that throttling losses are selectively distributed across the throttle and/or the supercharger. Throttling losses placed across the supercharger can create torque that can be converted to stored energy.

Abstract: An apparatus for positioning a fill nozzle includes an elongated fill pipe assembly. An annular seal is operatively connected within the fill pipe assembly and defines a center aperture. The annular seal is sized to seal around the fill nozzle. First and second annular restrictions are provided within the fill pipe assembly. The first and second annular restrictions define first and second apertures that are sized to sufficiently restrict lateral movement of the fill nozzle within the fill pipe assembly to maintain sealing contact of the annular seal around the fill nozzle.

Abstract: A refueling system is provided that has a door configured to be movable by the nozzle from a closed position that covers the fill opening to an open position that exposes the fill opening. The door has a first portion and a second portion connected with the first portion. The second portion bends with respect to the first portion when the first and the second portions are moved. Bending of the door may help to minimize the packaging space requirements for the system. For example, the door may bend along the length of the fill neck so that it has a smaller lateral dimension in the open position than in the closed position.

Abstract: A fill neck cover for a capless refueling system is provided with a locking mechanism that selectively blocks lateral movement of the cover to prevent access to the filler neck opening and may be selectively unlocked to allow lateral movement of the cover such that the fill nozzle may be inserted into the fill opening.

Abstract: An assembly is provided that has a first component at least partially defining a first generally tubular cavity or channel. A barrier layer is embedded within the first component to separate the first component into an inner layer and an outer layer. The first component has a terminal end at which the barrier layer is exposed to the first cavity. A second component at least partially defines a second cavity. The second component is positioned with respect to the first component such that the first cavity is in communication with the second cavity. A seal is used to seal the second component to the first component substantially at the barrier layer. The barrier layer and the seal thereby block at least some of the first component from permeation from the first cavity. A method is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for positioning a fill nozzle includes an elongated fill pipe assembly. An annular seal is operatively connected within the fill pipe assembly and defines a center aperture. The annular seal is sized to seal around the fill nozzle. First and second annular restrictions are provided within the fill pipe assembly. The first and second annular restrictions define first and second apertures that are sized to sufficiently restrict lateral movement of the fill nozzle within the fill pipe assembly to maintain sealing contact of the annular seal around the fill nozzle.