Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for a pass-through dongle for accessing and interacting with vehicle performance and status data. The dongle includes a first connector for plugging into an OBD-II connector of a vehicle. A wireless connection may be established between the dongle and a mobile device that provides access to and interactivity with the vehicle performance and status data. A second connector comprising the dongle is configured to receive an auxiliary device that is configured to access vehicle status data by way of the OBD-II connection. The dongle simultaneously establishes the wireless connection with the mobile device and provides the auxiliary device with access to the vehicle performance and status data. In some embodiments, the dongle is configured to operate in conjunction with a vehicle diagnostic communication system that includes a vehicle performance system whereby the vehicle performance and status data may be interactively accessed.

Abstract: A system and methods are provided for a hydrocarbon absorbing air filter system to arrests evaporative hydrocarbon emissions from an intake duct of an internal combustion engine. The system comprises an air filter box that includes an air inlet to an air filter disposed inside the air filter box. A hydrocarbon trap outside the air filter box and in fluid communication with the air filter absorbs evaporative hydrocarbon emissions leaking from the air intake duct when the engine is not operating. The hydrocarbon trap includes an outer housing that couples with an inner housing and a hydrocarbon absorbing pad within an interior between the outer and inner housings. Ports in the inner housing allow hydrocarbon emissions to be arrested by the hydrocarbon absorbing pad. A conduit extends from the hydrocarbon trap to the air intake duct of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for a reinforced V-bank air filter to remove contaminants from air within interior building environments. The reinforced V-bank air filter includes a V-bank filter element comprising a relatively large filter medium that is routed around the outside of multiple pleat supports. The pleat supports are vertically disposed and distributed at intervals between a top end plate and a bottom end plate supporting the V-bank filter element. Side rails enable attaching opposite ends of the V-bank filter element to the V-bank air filter. Seats in the top and bottom end plates maintain V-configurations of the V-bank filter element. The pleat supports and side rails enable removing the V-bank filter element from the V-bank air filter for servicing. The V-bank filter element can be cleaned by using a water hose to flush contaminants from the filter element and then allowing the filter element to dry.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for a reusable multi-pocket air filter to remove contaminants from air within interior building environments. The reusable multi-pocket air filter comprises a multiplicity of reusable filter bags for filtering an airstream. A frame supports the filter bags within an HVAC system. The filter bags are arranged parallel to one another and extend downstream of the frame when the airstream flows into the filter bags. Elongated openings in the frame allow the airstream to flow through the frame into the filter bags. The elongated openings include filter bag retainers for individually coupling the filter bags with the frame. The filter bags can be removed from the frame for servicing without removing the frame from the HVAC system. The filter bags can be cleaned by removing them from the multi-pocket air filter, flushing contaminants from the filter bags, and allowing the filter bags to dry.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for a reusable multi-panel air filter to remove contaminants from air within interior building environments. The reusable multi-panel air filter comprises a multiplicity of reusable filter panels for filtering an airstream. A frame supports the filter panels within an HVAC system. The filter panels are angled with respect to one another to form adjacent V-configurations. Elongated openings in the frame allow the airstream to flow into the V-configurations and through the filter panels. Seats in top and bottom end plates of the frame maintain the V-configurations of the filter panels. The filter panels can be removed from the frame for servicing without removing the entire frame from the HVAC system. The filter panels can be cleaned by removing them from the multi-panel air filter, flushing contaminants from the filter panels, and allowing the filter panels to dry.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for an air filter box for conducing filtered air to an air intake of an internal combustion engine. The air filter box includes a housing that communicates an airstream to an air filter in an interior of the housing. An opening in the housing retains a mount portion of the air filter. A tapered female surface bordering the opening receives a tapered male surface of the mount portion. The tapered surfaces establish an airtight seal when the air filter is installed into the interior of the air filter box. The mount portion includes a locking lip and an insertion stop flange. The insertion stop flange prevents the mount portion from traveling too far into the interior of the air filter box. The locking lip engages with an internal edge of the tapered female surface when the tapered male surface contacts the tapered female surface.

Abstract: A pleated filter preparation system is provided for accurately counting pleats along a continuous sheet of pleated filter material and cutting the sheet into filter strips to be formed into filters. The pleated filter preparation system includes a pleat driver having multiple drive gears that engage with the pleats of the pleated filter material to move the pleated filter material through the system. A pleat counter counts peaks and valleys of each pleat comprising the pleated filter material so as to identify a target pleat to be cut. The pleat counter clamps and stretches the target pleat to distinguish the target pleat among the other pleats. A punch cut station cuts the target pleat to form a filter strip having a desired number of pleats. A pleat compressor compresses the filter strips to a predetermined size and then ejects the filter strips into a suitable container or bin.

Abstract: A filter oil composition and a method for removing airborne molecular contaminants from air are provided. The composition includes a first portion comprising paraffinic oil by volume of the composition, a second portion comprising polyalphaolefin by volume of the composition, and a third portion comprising red dye by volume of the composition. Applying the filter oil composition to a cotton air filter material causes tackiness throughout the air filter material, thereby enhancing filtration of air passing through the filter. The composition generally is substantially non-reactive, has excellent oxidation stability, possesses good thermal stability, and retains a suitable viscosity at a normal operating temperature of an automobile engine. In an embodiment, the composition comprises 96.74% paraffinic oil by volume, 3.20% polyalphaolefin by volume, and 0.06% red dye by volume. The viscosity of the composition at 100 degrees-C ranges between substantially 7.2 and 7.6 centistokes (cSTs).

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for an oil filter-leak pressure-test station. The oil filter-leak pressure-test station comprises an air pump, a pressure gauge, a vent valve, an overflow reservoir, and a manifold configured to receive an oil filter. The oil filter-leak pressure-test station is configured to apply a desired internal air pressure to an oil filter for observing the oil filter assembly for any potential leaks, such as along a seal ring, rolled seam or a nut-end. The oil filter-leak pressure-test station is also configured to be mounted in a vise or similar mechanical attachment for observation to determine the extent or existence of any leak in the oil filter. The oil filter-leak pressure-test station may also be submerged in water using a submersion reservoir, so as to determine the existence and location of any leaks.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for a portable mass airflow (MAF) training module configured to simulate an air intake into an internal combustion engine. An in-line blower draws an airflow through an air filter by way of a first air duct and a second air duct. A throttle assembly is coupled between the first air duct and the second air duct. The throttle assembly includes a throttle plate that may be rotated to regulate the airflow. The power output of the in-line blower is variable to simulate the air intake of various sizes of the internal combustion engine. A MAF sensor and a duct velocity sensor are configured to provide airflow information. The portable MAF training module enables a practitioner to select a desired throttle setting and observe a resultant mass airflow through the portable MAF training module that is measured by the MAF sensor.

Abstract: A turbo-boost controlled intake system is disclosed that provides a driver of a vehicle with greater control over vehicle performance. The turbo-boost controlled intake system includes a control module that is coupled with an aircharger air intake. The control module instructs an electronic control unit of the vehicle to increase manifold pressure to a higher level before releasing the pressure through a waste gate so as to provide a greater power output of the engine. The turbo-boost controlled intake system further includes a wiring harness and a signal adjuster. The wiring harness couples the control module with a turbo inlet pressure sensor, a manifold absolute pressure sensor, and an electronic control unit of the vehicle. The signal adjuster includes a rheostat that enables manual adjustment of the power output of the engine.

Abstract: A filter oil composition and a method for removing airborne molecular contaminants from air are provided. The composition includes a first portion comprising paraffinic oil by volume of the composition, a second portion comprising polyalphaolefin by volume of the composition, and a third portion comprising red dye by volume of the composition. Applying the filter oil composition to a cotton air filter material causes tackiness throughout the air filter material, thereby enhancing filtration of air passing through the filter. The composition generally is substantially non-reactive, has excellent oxidation stability, possesses good thermal stability, and retains a suitable viscosity at a normal operating temperature of an automobile engine. In an embodiment, the composition comprises 96.74% paraffinic oil by volume, 3.20% polyalphaolefin by volume, and 0.06% red dye by volume. The viscosity of the composition at 100 degrees-C ranges between substantially 7.2 and 7.6 centistokes (cSTs).

Abstract: A hydrocarbon absorbing air filter box is provided for absorbing evaporative hydrocarbon emissions from an air intake duct of an internal combustion engine. A combined mass airflow sensor and hydrocarbon trap comprising the hydrocarbon absorbing air filter box includes a duct supporting a hydrocarbon absorbing sheet within an interior of a housing. The duct communicates an airstream from an air filter to the air intake duct during operation of the internal combustion engine. An opening in the housing receives a mass airflow sensor into the duct, such that the mass airflow sensor is disposed within the airstream. Guide vanes extending across the duct reduce air turbulence within the airstream passing by the mass airflow sensor. Ports disposed along the duct allow the evaporative hydrocarbon emissions to be drawn into the interior and arrested by the hydrocarbon absorbing sheet when the internal combustion engine is not operating.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for an air cleaner to be mounted onto an air inlet of an internal combustion engine. The air cleaner comprises an air filter that includes a filter medium disposed between a curved base and a cover. The curved base provides an interface between the air filter and the air inlet, and comprises a shape that provides clearance between the curved base and an electric choke installed onto a carburetor comprising the air inlet. The cover secures the air filter and the curved base to the air inlet such that an airstream is drawn through the filter medium and is conducted into the air inlet. A raised portion of the cover is configured to cooperate with the curved base to ensure a desired volume of the airstream is available to the air inlet at substantially all engine speeds.

Abstract: A turbo-boost controlled intake system is disclosed that provides a driver of a vehicle with greater control over vehicle performance. The turbo-boost controlled intake system includes a control module that is coupled with an aircharger air intake. The control module instructs an electronic control unit of the vehicle to increase manifold pressure to a higher level before releasing the pressure through a waste gate so as to provide a greater power output of the engine. The turbo-boost controlled intake system further includes a wiring harness and a signal adjuster. The wiring harness couples the control module with a turbo inlet pressure sensor, a manifold absolute pressure sensor, and an electronic control unit of the vehicle. The signal adjuster includes a rheostat that enables manual adjustment of the power output of the engine.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for a portable mass airflow (MAF) training module configured to simulate an air intake into an internal combustion engine. An in-line blower draws an airflow through an air filter by way of a first air duct and a second air duct. A throttle assembly is coupled between the first air duct and the second air duct. The throttle assembly includes a throttle plate that may be rotated to regulate the airflow. The power output of the in-line blower is variable to simulate the air intake of various sizes of the internal combustion engine. A MAF sensor and a duct velocity sensor are configured to provide airflow information. The portable MAF training module enables a practitioner to select a desired throttle setting and observe a resultant mass airflow through the portable MAF training module that is measured by the MAF sensor.

Abstract: A throttle control system and methods are disclosed that provide a driver of a vehicle with greater control over engine functions and vehicle performance. The throttle control system processes input signals from a throttle pedal of the vehicle and sends modified throttle position signals to a throttle body of the vehicle so as to increase throttle responsiveness of the vehicle. The throttle control system includes a control module, a wiring harness, and a signal adjuster. The wiring harness electrically couples the control module with the throttle pedal and the throttle body. The control module sends signals directly to the throttle body of the engine, bypassing an electronic control unit of the vehicle. The signal adjuster includes a rheostat that enables manual adjustment of the throttle responsiveness of the vehicle. A control dial coupled with the rheostat facilitates hand operation of the rheostat.