Texas Instruments Corporation

Leo Marcoux

Peter G Berg

Youn H Ting

Carlton E Sanford

Bernard M Kulwicki

Richard L Jenne

Lawrence E Cooper

Douglas B Strott

Thomas E Evans

George J Lombardo

Benjamin A Barber

An automotive transmission control is shown having pressure switches to sense the state of actuation of solenoid valves to provide logic signals to a microprocessor type of transmission control. The pressure switches, which sense the pressure of hydraulic fluid used to actuate the solenoid valves, use a dished shaped metallic diaphragm characterized in that the pressure-deflection curve of the center of the diaphragm has minimal hysteresis and reflects that the diaphragm is relatively stiff having a positive coefficient of pressure with increasing deflection up to and above a range of set point pressures within which the effective spring rate of the diaphragm changes with the diaphragm being relatively supple but having little or no negative coefficient of pressure. In a first embodiment a housing is shown in which a conductive lead pattern is molded in the housing with a plurality of switching stations. Each switching station has a circular diaphragm formed with an annular flat berm portion which lies on a portion of the conductive lead pattern and is sealed by an 'O' ring biased against the berm by a sleeve which interfaces with the hydraulic fluid. An electrically conductive rivet is placed beneath the diaphragm within a specific distance from a plane on which the berm lies so that a circuit will be closed upon sufficient deflection of the diaphragm. The housing mounts electrical contacts for energizing the solenoid valves and a pin connector coupled to the conductive lead pattern. Other embodiments are shown using diaphragms having the same pressure-deflection curve.

Automotive transmission control system and improved longevity therefor

A dual condition responsive switch is shown including first and second discs each having convex-concave surface configurations on opposite sides thereof adapted to invert its configuration upon being subjected to selected conditions. A motion transfer member extends from the second disc to an electric switch. At a first range of conditions the first disc prevents actuation of the switch, at a second range of conditions the curvature of the first disc has inverted allowing actuation of the switch while at a third range of conditions the curvature of the second disc has inverted resulting in deactuation of the switch.

Dual condition responsive electrical switch

A resistor particularly useful as a multiphase, self-regulating fluid heater has passages extending through a body of ceramic resistance material of positive temperature coefficient of resistivity (PTC) for heating fluid adapted to pass therethrough. Several embodiments are provided with electrically conductive coatings formed on inner walls of the passages with the passage walls defining thin webs of the resistance material having uniform thickness from end to end. The passages are arranged in a plurality of sets with the conductive coating on the walls of the passages of each set interconnected and adapted for electrical connection with a respective electrical phase. The passages of the sets are alternated relative to one another throughout the body with a passage of one set immediately adjacent only to passages of other sets. The passages are configured in different embodiments including hexagonal, triangular and rectangular as seen in plan view showing one end of the body. Other embodiments have electrically conductive coatings formed on opposite end faces of the body. In one embodiment the coating on one face serves as a common connection while the coating on the other face is separated into portions electrically isolated form one another with each portion adapted to be electrically connected to a respective phase. The latter embodiment is particularly suited for a wye electrical connection while the former embodiments are well suited for delta connections. In another embodiment, particularly suited for a delta connection, the conductive portions on one face are angularly disposed a selected amount relative to the conductive portions on the other face.

Multipassage, multiphase electrical heater

A heater system for a diesel fuel filter comprises a housing, a self-regulating electrical resistance heater element of positive temperature coefficient of resistivity arranged in heat-transfer relation to thermally conducting components to form a heater means, the heater means being mounted within the housing so that diesel fuel passes directly over and around the various thermally conducting components of the heater means to elevate the temperature of the fuel as it passes to the filter to deter clogging of the filter by paraffin or other fuel components which may solidify in the fuel at lower temperatures, and electrically conducting means which extend from the housing in sealed relation to the housing for electrically connecting the heater means to a source of electrical power.

Diesel fuel filter system

A self regulating heater for use in an early fuel evaporation (EFE) system for an automotive engine includes a thermally conductive thick metal radiator body having a heat receiving side an opposite side provided with a plurality of heat-disturbing fins for transferring heat to a fuel heating zone. A plurality of self-regulating ceramic electrical resistance having a positive temperature coefficient of resistivity (PTC) each have a first side bonded by an electrically and thermally conductive adhesive to a first side of a thin thermally and electrically conductive metal plate. The plate has a limited portion thereof secured, for example, by a screw, in electrically conductive relation to the radiator body with the opposite side of the thin plate in closely spaced, facing, heat-transfer relation to the heat receiving side of the radiator body. Coil springs engage the opposite side of each of the discs to connect the heater discs in an electric circuit for energizing the discs to supply heat to the radiator body. A thermally conductive filler material is disposed in the space between the opposite side of the plate and the radiator body to enhance heat transfer to the body. A thermally conductive cover cooperates with the body to enclose the heater discs and a thermally conductive, electrically insulating compound fills the space between the cover and body to improve heat transfer from both sides of the discs to the radiator body. The thin plate permits the heater discs to move relative to the radiator body during thermal expansion and contraction of the body.

Self-regulating electric heater for use in an early fuel evaporation

A fuel filter system for a diesel engine has filter means mounted in a housing so that diesel fuel flows through the filter as it passes to the engine and has self-regulating electrical resistance heater means mounted in the housing so that, particularly when the engine is started at low ambient temperatures, the fuel flows directly over the contacts, terminals and heater elements of the heater means for elevating the temperature of the fuel as it passes through the filter without risk of over heating the fuel, thereby to safely deter clogging of the filter by paraffin or other fuel components which may solidify in the fuel at relatively low engine starting temperatures.

A carburetion system for providing improved cold start engine operation comprises a carburetor having an air-fuel passage, an air inlet to the passage, a fuel inlet to the passage for mixing fuel and air in the passage, and an outlet from the passage for delivering a mixture of air and vaporized fuel to the engine. A heater comprising a ceramic resistor body of a material of positive temperature coefficient of resistivity has a plurality of passages extending through the body and has means directing electrical current through the body for heating the body. The heater is mounted at the outlet of the air fuel passage of the carburetor with the heater body passages aligned with the air-fuel passage to pass the air-fuel mixture through the heater passages in heat-transfer relation to the body to facilitate vaporization and mixing of the fuel in the air-fuel mixture.

Early fuel evaporation of carburetion system

A carburetion system for providing improved cold start engine operation comprises a carburetor having an air-fuel passage, an air inlet to the passage, a fuel inlet to the passage for mixing fuel and air in the passage, and an outlet from the passage for delivering a mixture of air and vaporized fuel to the engine. A heater comprising a ceramic resistor body of a material of positive temperature coefficient of resistivity has a plurality of passages extending through the body and has means directing electrical current through the body for heating the body. The heater is mounted at the outlet of the air-fuel passage of the carburetor with the heater body passages aligned with the air-fuel passage to pass the air-fuel mixture through the heater passages in heat-transfer relation to the body to facilitate vaporization and mixing of the fuel in the air-fuel mixture.

Early fuel evaporation carburetion system

A carburetion system for improving cold starting of an automotive engine comprises a carburetor having an air-fuel passage, an air inlet to the passage, a fuel inlet to the passage for mixing fuel and air in the passage, and an outlet from the passage for delivering a mixture of an air and vaporized fuel to the engine. A heater comprising a ceramic resistor body of a material of positive temperature coefficient of resistivity has a plurality of relatively large passages extending in a pattern in spaced side-by-side relation to each other through the body between opposite ends of the body for defining thin webs of the resistor material between adjacent body passages. The heater is mounted at the outlet of the carburetor air-fuel passage with the heater passages aligned with the air-fuel passage to pass the air-fuel mixture through the heater passages in heat transfer relation to the body. Ohmic contacts are disposed on the inner walls of the heater body passages to provide a large area of ohmic contact to the resistor material. The ohmic contacts in alternate body passages are connected together at one end of the body while the ohmic contacts in the other body passages are connected together at the opposite end of the body, each group of interconnected ohmic contacts being connected to a system terminal extending around the side of the resistor body for directing electrical current through the thin webs of resistor material between ohmic contacts of opposite polarity in adjacent body passages, whereby the heater means is more efficiently operable in a 12 volt automotive power supply system to heat the air-fuel mixture for achieving improved fuel vaporization promptly after initiation of engine operation and for achieving improved flow of the air-fuel mixture to the engine.

High efficiency early fuel evaporation carburetion system

A system for monitoring usage of seat belt means in a motor vehicle includes electrically operable visual signaling means and electrically operable audible signaling means. A first switch is operable in response to initiation of motor vehicle operation for connecting the signaling means to an electrical power supply in the vehicle. An additional switch is operable in response to fastening of the vehicle seat belt means for preventing operation of the audible signaling means when the seat belt means are properly fastened. A pair of first electrical resistors of positive temperature coefficient of resistivity which are adapted to display a sharp increase in resistivity when heated to predetermined operating temperatures are arranged in series between the vehicle power supply and the visual and audible signaling means respectively for terminating operation of said signaling means individually when said first resistors are heated to said operating temperatures. A third electrical resistor of positive temperature coefficient of resistivity which displays a sharp increase in resistivity when heated to a predetermined operating temperature is arranged to be connected to said vehicle power supply on initiation of vehicle operation and is disposed in selected heat-transfer relation to said first resistors for heating said first resistors to their operating temperatures with a selected time delay after initiation of motor vehicle operation, thereby to terminate operation of said signaling means after said time delay even if said vehicle seat belt means have not been properly fastened. A control device particularly adapted for use in such seat belt monitoring systems includes a casing having a cavity and having a plurality of slots extending into the casing cavity. Three terminals are disposed in respective casing slots to dispose one end of each terminal within said cavity. The pair of first resistor elements are disposed in the casing cavity to electrically engage respective terminals and the second resistor is disposed in the cavity in heat-transfer relation to the first resistors to electrically engage each of the first resistors and to electrically engage a third terminal. A fourth terminal disposed in a fourth casing slot also electrically engages the second resistor and a cover secured to the casing retains the resistors and terminals in assembled relation. This control device is therefore adapted to be conveniently combined with existing automotive switch means to economically provide seat belt monitoring systems as above-described.

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Rehoboth, MA, United States of America

Leo Marcoux