Abstract:
The invention concerns a method which consists in providing the passenger compartment (H) with calories derived from a hot reservoir (18) of a heat pump (12) comprising a refrigerant fluid circuit (14) drawing calories from a cold reservoir (16) to transfer them to the hot reservoir (18). At the cold reservoir (16) calories derived from a recycled air stream from the passenger compartment are drawn. The cold reservoir (16) comprises a refrigerant fluid/heat transfer liquid thermal exchanger (24) thermally coupling the main circuit (14) to a first heat transfer liquid auxiliary circuit (26) capable of being selectively connected to an external heat exchanger (30) and a cold thermal exchanger (32). Air stream circuits comprise an intake for recycled air from the passenger compartment, an air outlet to the outside of the vehicle, first means for connecting the recycled air intake upstream of the cold thermal exchanger (32) and second means for connecting downstream of said cold thermal exchanger (32) to the external outlet.
Abstract:
An electrical ground detection circuit (10) having a first capacitor (18) and a second capacitor (20) which selectively receives a certain amount of voltage. The certain amount of voltage decreases by a certain amount during a period of time, as the capacitor (18) charges. The circuit (10) further includes a controller (16) which measures this period of time and which utilizes this measured period of time to determine whether an electrical assembly (12) is coupled to an electrically grounded member (14).
Abstract:
A switching power supply circuit includes a PWM drive circuit (12) that performs the PWM driving of a switching element (Q1) at a duty ratio (D) commensurate with an input target voltage (VS), and generates from an input voltage (VB) an output voltage (VTL) whose target value is the target voltage (VS), by the PWM drive circuit (12) driving the switching element (Q1). The switching power supply circuit further includes a control circuit (13) and a target voltage limiting circuit (14) that together fix the duty ratio (D) regardless of the target voltage (VS), when a difference between the input voltage (VB) and the target voltage (VS) is less than or equal to a predetermined constant value (a).
Abstract:
A rotor for an alternator is provided which has the benefits of a thin bobbin, as well as the benefits of a single contact steel core, thereby increasing the dissipation of heat and maximizing the space for winding the field coil to increase the overall power provided by the rotor and alternator. The rotor includes a bobbin assembly having a hollow cylinder with a first end and a second end, a first end cap attached to the first end of the cylinder and a second end cap attached to the second end of the cylinder. The bobbin assembly further includes a metallic sleeve fitted inside the hollow cylinder and providing support to the hollow cylinder.
Abstract:
The present invention is generally directed a steering column housing. The steering column housing comprising a steering shaft (16), a column housing (18) and a steering wheel (20). The column housing is designed to collapse in an axial direction away from the vehicular operator in the event of a vehicular impact. The column housing is provided with a collapsible region that collapses axially and also absorbs energy as it collapses. Additionally, the support brackets attached to the column housing is fastened to a guide retainer clip. The guide retainer clip attaches the column housing to motor vehicle during normal operations and guides the movement of the column housing away from the vehicular operator during a vehicular impact.
Abstract:
An adapter (16) provides for mounting an object on plastic. The adapter (16) comprises a body (30) coupled with at least two feet (34). The feet (34) are weldable to the surface of the plastic while the plastic is in a molten state. The adapter (16) also includes a coupling mechanism (32) coupled with the body (30). The coupling mechanism (32) is operable to couple the object with the adapter (16).
Abstract:
A vehicle impact sensing system includes one or more sensor elements (38) capable or directly detecting vehicle deformation occuring as a consequence of the impact event. Upon deformation of the sensor element (38), the control module (36) receives impact signals from the sensor elements and discriminates between impact events that warrant deployment of a passive restraint, such as a side air bag (26), and those that do not.
Abstract:
A four-stroke reciprocating internal combustion engine (10) includes at least one combustion chamber (19) defined by a cylinder (11), a piston (16) and a cylinder head (17). Each combustion chamber (19) is in fluid communication with at least one intake port (18) containing an intake valve (20) and an intake flow motion generating device for creating an intake flow near the intake port (18) and an exhaust port (22) containing an exhaust valve (24) that opens during the intake stroke at part load and an exhaust flow motion generating device for creating an exhaust flow near the exhaust port (22). An engine controller processes signals from at least one sensor and outputs a control signal to a variable valve lift and timing system for operating each intake and exhaust valve such that an exhaust residual flow is inducted through at least one exhaust port (22) into the combustion chamber (19) and air or air/fuel mixture is simultaneously inducted through at least one intake port (18) into the combustion chamber (19). This produces a stratified exhaust gas and air-fuel mixture that includes: (i) recirculated exhaust gas that rotates about a vortex axis that extends parallel to the axis of the piston (16) in a first portion of the combustion chamber (19) adjacent the exhaust port (20) and (ii) an air/fuel mixture that rotates about a vortex axis that extends parallel to the axis of the piston (16) in a second portion of the combustion chamber (19) adjacent the intake port (20).
Abstract:
An efficient method of supplying a first series of suspension struts for a first vehicle 12A and a second series of suspension struts for a second vehicle 12B. The method includes providing a first series 20A of pressure vessels for the first vehicle and a second series 20B of pressure vessels for the second vehicle. Each pressure vessel defines an outer cavity 36 with an effective fluid volume. The effective fluid volume of the pressure vessels of the first series is smaller than the effective fluid volume of the pressure vessels of the second series. The method also includes providing a series of hydraulic tubes 24 for the first vehicle and for the second vehicle, wherein each hydraulic tube is adapted to be located within the outer cavity of the pressure vessel of the first series and alternatively within the outer cavity of the pressure vessel of the second series.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a process and a device for forming a planiform piece intended, in particular, for the interior fittings of motor vehicles, in which a layer of support material (1) is covered, at least on one of its faces (2) and in the area of a portion (3), at least, of its contour, or so-called portion to be bordered, with a cladding sheet (4) and said support (1) is cut along said portion to be bordered (3) in such a way that said cladding (4) projects from said support (1) in the area of said portion. According to the invention, a cutting tool (5) is pre-positioned between said cladding (4) and said support (1) along said portion to be bordered (3) and said cutting is effected with said cutting tool (5), when the support (1) is covered by the cladding (4).