Abstract: An oil drain plug and wireless oil level sensor assembly is provided including an oil drain plug having a shaft and a head, the shaft having external threads and an axial passage extending axially therein in communication with at least one radial passage extending through the shaft from the axial passage to an exterior of the shaft. An oil level sensor includes a housing having an annular mounting portion defining an aperture extending there through for receiving the shaft of the oil drain plug. A pressure transducer is in fluid communication with the aperture and connected to a circuit and a battery disposed within the housing that provide wireless signals representative of the oil level.

Abstract: A tensioner device for a belt or chain defines a housing defining a bore with a plunger disposed in the bore. A spring is engaged with the plunger for biasing the plunger in an outward direction. The housing further includes an oil chamber connected to an oil passage in communication with the oil chamber for delivering pressurized oil to the oil chamber, wherein when the oil chamber is pressurized the pressurized oil applies a counter force opposing a force of the spring.

Abstract: A tensioner device for a belt or chain defines a housing defining a bore with a plunger disposed in the bore. A spring is engaged with the plunger for biasing the plunger in an outward direction. The housing further includes an oil chamber connected to an oil passage in communication with the oil chamber for delivering pressurized oil to the oil chamber, wherein when the oil chamber is pressurized the pressurized oil applies a counter force opposing a force of the spring.

Abstract: An oil drain plug and wireless oil level sensor assembly is provided including an oil drain plug having a shaft and a head, the shaft having external threads and an axial passage extending axially therein in communication with at least one radial passage extending through the shaft from the axial passage to an exterior of the shaft. An oil level sensor includes a housing having an annular mounting portion defining an aperture extending there through for receiving the shaft of the oil drain plug. A pressure transducer is in fluid communication with the aperture and connected to a circuit and a battery disposed within the housing that provide wireless signals representative of the oil level.

Abstract: A drainable container system for a vehicle includes a container having an exterior surface and defining an interior cavity configured for storing a fluid, and a drain hole configured for draining the fluid from the cavity. The hole has a central longitudinal axis that is substantially perpendicular to the surface. The system includes a drain plug, wherein the plug is insertable into the hole along the axis into a locked position so that the fluid does not drain, and removable from the hole along the axis when disposed in an unlocked position so that the fluid drains. The system includes a locking element configured for preventing rotation of the plug within the hole about the axis when the plug is disposed in the locked position, wherein the element is formed from a metal that is substantially elastic at a temperature of from about ?40° C. to about 10° C.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include a centrifugal pump assembly including a pump housing defining a cavity and an impeller disposed within the cavity, the impeller being affixed to a shaft. The pump housing includes an inner surface having a geometric pattern configured in increase a turbulence of a fluid flow over the inner surface. The impeller includes one or more blades and a shroud. The inner surface of the pump housing and the shroud of the impeller define a leakage path.

Abstract: A fastening apparatus includes a compression limiting member having a dowel portion and a belleville washer portion. A first member defines a first hole, a second member defines a second hole, a third member defines a third hole, and the dowel portion defines a fourth hole. The second member is between the first and third members, and the dowel portion extends through the second hole. The dowel portion is substantially rigid to prevent excessive compression of the second member between the first and third members. The belleville washer portion is elastically compressed between the second and third members such that the washer portion biases the second member toward the first member.

Abstract: A drainable container system for a vehicle includes a container having an exterior surface and defining an interior cavity configured for storing a fluid, and a drain hole configured for draining the fluid from the cavity. The hole has a central longitudinal axis that is substantially perpendicular to the surface. The system includes a drain plug, wherein the plug is insertable into the hole along the axis into a locked position so that the fluid does not drain, and removable from the hole along the axis when disposed in an unlocked position so that the fluid drains. The system includes a locking element configured for preventing rotation of the plug within the hole about the axis when the plug is disposed in the locked position, wherein the element is formed from a metal that is substantially elastic at a temperature of from about ?40° C. to about 10° C.

Abstract: A central direct injection (DI) cylinder head is configured with an intake valvetrain and an exhaust valvetrain separated by an uncovered central DI valley. The uncovered central DI valley limits oil flow from the high side chamber to the low side chamber and PCV transfer. Oil drainage and additional PCV transfer between the intake and exhaust chambers is provided by drain/vent passages integrally cast into the casting of the cylinder head. The drain/vent passages may be of varying configuration, and may be located between an injector port of a first cylinder set and a spark plug port of an adjacent cylinder set, or at either or both ends of the cylinder head. A method is provided to form a casting of the cylinder head as described herein, including casting of a plurality of drain/vent passages between the first chamber and the second chamber of the cylinder head.

Abstract: An assembly includes a first component connectable to a second component by a fastener extending through respective openings in the first component and in the second component. The assembly includes a compression load limiter housed in the opening of the first component and having a passage adapted to allow the fastener to extend therethrough. The compression load limiter is adjustable due to an adjustment feature configured to cause the load limiter to translate within the opening of the first component to span a gap between the first component and the second component. The load limiter bears at least a portion of a compression load of the fastener when the fastener is inserted in the respective openings of the first and the second components to secure the first component to the second component.

Abstract: A camshaft cover mounts to a cylinder head and defines cavities for oil control valves that adjust the position of camshafts via camshaft phaser assemblies. The cavities are positioned above the camshafts when the camshaft cover is mounted to the cylinder head. A feed passage communicates pressurized fluid from the cylinder head to the cavities when the camshaft cover is mounted to the cylinder head. Control passages communicate fluid from the cavities to the camshaft phaser assemblies when the camshaft cover is mounted to the cylinder head.

Abstract: The present invention reduces the overheating of sealed oil gear cases and excessive charge air temperatures at high engine speeds in automotive supercharger use by providing liquid cooling of one or more of the housings of a supercharger. Cooling the front cover of the supercharger will reduce the gear case temperatures under boost. Cooling the bearing housing will also reduce gear case temperatures in the adjacent gear case. Cooling the rotor housing, in combination with cooling of the rotors by a separate system, will maintain more uniform clearances under continuous boost, as with racing and autobahn applications. Cooling may be by traditional liquid coolant or with oil, and with separate or combined systems. The invention discloses liquid coolant systems for controlling sealed gear case lubricant temperatures as well as supercharger charge air temperatures if desired. Combined coolant handling and flow systems and their advantages are also disclosed.

Abstract: A camshaft cover mounts to a cylinder head and defines cavities for oil control valves that adjust the position of camshafts via camshaft phaser assemblies. The cavities are positioned above the camshafts when the camshaft cover is mounted to the cylinder head. A feed passage communicates pressurized fluid from the cylinder head to the cavities when the camshaft cover is mounted to the cylinder head. Control passages communicate fluid from the cavities to the camshaft phaser assemblies when the camshaft cover is mounted to the cylinder head.

Abstract: A central direct injection (DI) cylinder head is configured with an intake valvetrain and an exhaust valvetrain separated by an uncovered central DI valley. The uncovered central DI valley limits oil flow from the high side chamber to the low side chamber and PCV transfer. Oil drainage and additional PCV transfer between the intake and exhaust chambers is provided by drain/vent passages integrally cast into the casting of the cylinder head. The drain/vent passages may be of varying configuration, and may be located between an injector port of a first cylinder set and a spark plug port of an adjacent cylinder set, or at either or both ends of the cylinder head. A method is provided to form a casting of the cylinder head as described herein, including casting of a plurality of drain/vent passages between the first chamber and the second chamber of the cylinder head.

Abstract: A fastening apparatus includes a compression limiting member having a dowel portion and a belleville washer portion. A first member defines a first hole, a second member defines a second hole, a third member defines a third hole, and the dowel portion defines a fourth hole. The second member is between the first and third members, and the dowel portion extends through the second hole. The dowel portion is substantially rigid to prevent excessive compression of the second member between the first and third members. The belleville washer portion is elastically compressed between the second and third members such that the washer portion biases the second member toward the first member.

Abstract: A rotor assembly for a supercharger assembly is provided. The rotor assembly includes at least one lobe defining at least one cavity. The at least one cavity is configured to contain a fluid operable to cool the at least one lobe. A supercharger incorporating the rotor assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A housing for a supercharger assembly is provided having an inner wall at least partially defining a rotor cavity. A layer is formed from a sacrificial polymeric material and is provided on at least a portion of the inner wall. The layer is operable to provide approximately zero running clearance and improve scuff resistance between the first and second rotors and the inner wall. The sacrificial polymeric material is applied to the inner wall by insert molding to form the layer. A method of forming the housing is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention reduces the overheating of sealed oil gear cases and excessive charge air temperatures at high engine speeds in automotive supercharger use by providing liquid cooling of one or more of the housings of a supercharger. Cooling the front cover of the supercharger will reduce the gear case temperatures under boost. Cooling the bearing housing will also reduce gear case temperatures in the adjacent gear case. Cooling the rotor housing, in combination with cooling of the rotors by a separate system, will maintain more uniform clearances under continuous boost, as with racing and autobahn applications. Cooling may be by traditional liquid coolant or with oil, and with separate or combined systems. The invention discloses liquid coolant systems for controlling sealed gear case lubricant temperatures as well as supercharger charge air temperatures if desired. Combined coolant handling and flow systems and their advantages are also disclosed.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a dual rotor supercharger includes a pair of rotor housings. Each housing has an air inlet end and an air outlet adjacent a drive end. Each rotor housing contains a pair of coacting rotors with a pair of engaged timing gears operative to rotate the rotors on parallel axes in their housings to pump air from the inlet ends to the outlets of their respective housings. A drive housing encloses the two pairs of timing gears connected within the drive housing for simultaneously rotating the rotors in each rotor housing for delivering air through the outlets of their respective housings. At least one drive member is directly connected with one of the rotors and operative to rotate all of the rotors through the connected timing gears. Various alternative embodiments of the superchargers and operating mechanisms are disclosed.

Abstract: A rotor assembly for a supercharger assembly is provided. The rotor assembly includes at least one lobe defining at least one cavity. The at least one cavity is configured to contain a fluid operable to cool the at least one lobe. A supercharger incorporating the rotor assembly is also disclosed.