Showing papers by "Ford Motor Company published in 1988"

Scanning-tunneling-microscope observation of surface diffusion on an atomic scale: Au on Au(111).

Abstract: Time-lapse topography has been done with a scanning tunneling microscope on a clean, annealed Au(111) surface showing the effects of surface diffusion of Au atoms at room temperature. Within several minutes, features such as marks made by a gentle touch of the tunnel tip are seen to change as a result of the diffusion of Au atoms over the surface. The diffusion does not depend on the magnitude or sign of the tunneling current and voltage parameters. These experiments demonstrate the unique ability of the scanning tunneling microscope to obtain directly information about surface diffusion on an atomic scale.

Examination of subchondral bone architecture in experimental osteoarthritis by microscopic computed axial tomography

Abstract: Subchondral bone changes have been proposed as an early event in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. In this study, microscopic computed axial tomography was used to evaluate the subchondral bone structure in femoral heads from a guinea pig model of osteoarthritis. Examination of trabecular bone within the femoral head showed a highly significant increase in bone fraction in the experimental animals. This was due to the development of trabeculae that were thicker and closer together. We conclude that trabecular remodeling may be an early event in this model of osteoarthritis.

I-V characteristics of coupled ultrasmall-capacitance normal tunnel junctions.

Abstract: We present a theoretical study of two ultrasmall-capacitance normal tunnel junctions connected in series and driven by a dc voltage source, using the semiclassical junction approach. We show that the two junctions in series display a voltage offset similar to that of a single junction that is driven by a current source. We also show that two junctions in series can, for the right set of parameters, produce an I-V curve with distinct steps. A parallel array of such series units shows similar behavior. We suggest specific experimental realizations of two junctions in series and the parallel array using a scanning tunneling microscope and a granular array of small metal drops. We also compare our predictions with experiments in the literature.

Aperture-coupled patch antennas with wide-bandwidth and dual-polarization capabilities

Abstract: The authors discuss the design of a wideband, dual-proportion, C-band patch radiator with a 20% bandwidth for input voltage-standing-wave ratio >

Modeling of an internal combustion engine for control analysis

Abstract: Recent activity in nonthermodynamic modeling of automotive internal combustion engines with spark ignition, which are inherently nonlinear, is reviewed A fundamental nonlinear model of the engine is presented, and a linear control-oriented model is derived from the nonlinear process Techniques for experimental verification are examined, and a practical linear engine example incorporating multirate sampling is illustrated >

Gas phase reaction of Cl atoms with a series of oxygenated organic species at 295 K

Abstract: The relative rate technique has been used to determine the rate constants for the reaction of chlorine atoms with a series of oxygenated organic species. Experiments were performed at 295 ± 2 K and atmospheric pressure of synthetic air or nitrogen. The decay rates of the organic species were measured relative to that of ethane or n-butane. Using rate constants of 5.7 × 10−11 cm3 molecule−1 s−1, and 2.25 × 10−10 cm3 molecule−1 s−1 for the reaction of Cl with ethane and n-butane respectively the following rate constants were derived, in units of 10−11 cm3 molecule−1 s−1: propane, (16.0 ± 0.4);i-butane, (15.1 ± 0.9) n-pentane, (31.0 ± 1.6); n-hexane, (34.5 ± 2.3); cyclohexane, (36.1 ± 1.5); methanol, (4.57 ± 0.40); ethanol, (8.45 ± 0.91); n-propanol, (14.4 ± 1.2); t-butylalcohol, (3.26 ± 0.19); acetaldehyde, (8.45 ± 0.79); propionaldehyde, (11.3 ± 0.9); dimethylether, (20.5 ± 0.8); diethylether, (35.6 ± 2.8); and methyl-t-butylether, (16.6 ± 1.2). Quoted errors represent 2σ, and do not include any errors due to uncertainties in the rate constants used to place our relative measurements on an absolute basis. The results are discussed with respect to the mechanisms of these reactions and to previous literature data.

Transmission clutch loop transfer control

Abstract: A method for controlling the transfer of load from one friction element to another friction element while making a gear ratio change in an automatic transmission. The synchronous engine speed is increased by slipping the offgoing clutch. A constant is calculated from known speed ratios of the gear set, engine inertia, the difference in engine speed from synchronous speed and a constant that corresponds to the output torque at the end of the torque phase of the gear ratio shift. The time rate of change of the offgoing clutch torque is calculated and the clutch pressures are changed in accordance with the calculated torque slope.

Electrically controllable valve etched from silicon substrates

Abstract: An electrically controllable valve etched from two silicon substrates includes an inlet orifice communicating with two outlet orifices through a channel etched into the substrates. A mesa, in operative alignment with the inlet orifice, is suspended between the channel and a sealed recess by a diaphragm. The mesa has a permanent magnet attached thereto in operative alignment with a flat helical coil deposited on another substrate which seals the recess. Electronic control circuitry passes current through the coil in an appropriate direction to deflect the mesa in a corresponding direction for either opening or closing the valve. Equalized pressure is maintained on opposing mesa surfaces by a passageway communicating between the sealed recess and an outer surface of the valve thereby minimizing the force required to operate the valve.

2-Dimensional particle tracking velocimetry (PTV): technique and image processing algorithms

Abstract: An automated particle track velocimeter (PTV) was constructed to determine the fluid velocity field in a transparent test section (an engine throttle body assembly is used as an example) by analyzing images of scattered light from hollow nylon particles as they move with the flow. The light from individual particles was imaged on an SIT vidicon at video rates, digitized on an FG100CD frame buffer board and analyzed automatically in an IBMPC/AT. The essence of this technique is a novel processing algorithm which converts particle track segments to flow velocity vectors at the rate of 2–3 images/minute with this hardware. An application of the technique to a gas phase flow (≅ 6.5 m/s) through this throttle body assembly is presented.

Rapid thermal annealing of superconducting oxide precursor films on Si and SiO2 substrates

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method of preparing a superconducting metal oxide film on silicon and silicon dioxide substrates. More particularly, the method comprises depositing by physical vapor deposition a superconducting metal oxide precursor directly on the substrate and then subjecting it to rapid thermal annealing in an oxygen atmosphere.

Analysis of bending effects in sheet forming operations.

Abstract: Description des algorithmes pour les cas de deformation plane et de deformation axisymetrique dans les operations de formage des toles. Presentation des resultats numeriques

Automotive system for dynamically determining road adhesion

Abstract: A system for determining the road adhesion of a tire installed on a road wheel of an automotive vehicle operating on a roadway includes a road wheel turn angle measuring means (24), a vehicle speed measuring means (22) and a steering force measuring means (26). Information regarding turn angle, vehicle speed and steering force are fed into a processor (16) which determines the road adhesion of the tire.

Kinetics of the gas phase reaction of chlorine atoms with a series of alkenes, alkynes and aromatic species at 295 K

Abstract: The relative rate technique was used to determine the rate constants for the reaction of chlorine atoms with a series of unsaturated organic species. Experiments were performed at 295 ± 2 K and atmospheric pressure of synthetic air. The decay rates of the organic species were measured relative to that of ethane, or n -butane. Using rate constants of 5.7 × 10 −11 , and 2.25 × 10 −10 cm 3 molecule −1 s −1 for the reaction of chlorine with ethane and n -butane respectively, the following rate constants were derived, in units of 10 −11 cm 3 molecule −1 s −1 : ethene, 12.1 ± 0.7; propene, 32.2 ± 1.3; allene, 43.8 ± 2.6; acetylene, 7.07 ± 1.1; methylacetylene, 26.8 ± 1.6; ethylacetylene, 38.9 ± 1.3; benzene, o -xylene, 13.5 ± 1.0; m -xylene, 12.0 ± 1.4; p -xylene, 13.3 ± 0.8. The results are discussed with respect to the previous literature data and to the mechanisms of these reactions.

Raman investigation of palladium oxide, rhodium sesquioxide and palladium rhodium dioxide

Abstract: Raman spectra were obtained from PdO, Rh2O3 and PdRhO2 thin films formed by oxidizing foil samples. Polarization measurements allow symmetry species assignments to be made for the lines from the corundum phase of Rh2O3 and from PdRhO2, which has a delafossite structure.

Compact integrated engine induction air/fuel system

Abstract: An essentially unitary all plastic intake manifold has two essentially L-shaped sections (16,18) facing one another to form a U-shaped assembly, the upper section (16) including an air throttle body (36) integral with an air plenum (34) in turn integral with a plurality of laterally spaced tuned manifold runners (54), the lower section (18) having an equal number of laterally spaced manifold runners (58) connected to engine cylinder head intake ports, and a fuel system (63) formed integral with the lower runners (58) and including a fuel pressure regulator (74) and fuel supply and return lines (66,70) serially connecting fuel injector receiving cups (76) providing a bottom feed of fuel to the injectors (86) and a constant purge of fuel from the cups (76), for efficient engine operation.

The Effect of Restraining Force on Shape Deviations in Flanged Channels

Abstract: Quantitative relationships have been obtained between restraining force and shape deviations, such as springback and side wall curl, in flanged channels made of SKDQ and high strength streets. It is observed that shape deviation is greatly reduced if the applied restraining force is beyond the yield strength of the material. However, due to the restriction of die entrance and punch corners, this condition cannot be readily achieved in the conventional bead system as side wall fracture intervenes. To circumvent this constraint, a so-named “intermediate restraining” process has been developed to form high quality flanged channels in one single operation. The suggested process is displacement controlled and, in practice, should be applicable to any material once its physical properties are known.

Windshield wiper and control system

Abstract: A windshield wiper system for continuously controlling position and velocity of a wiper blade as it sweeps across the windshield. The blade is coupled directly to a motor having an encoder for continuously generating actual position pulses related to blade movement across the windshield. Desired position pulses are continuously generated which are related to desired blade position during the sweep. Both desired and actual position pulses are accumulated or counted such that desired and actual blade position are continuously known during the sweep. An error signal is generated by comparing accumulated desired and actual position pulses. Motor speed is corrected in response to the error signal for continuously correcting blade position and velocity.

Reconstruction of a 3-dimensional flow field from orthogonal views of seed track video images

Abstract: A first generation automated 3-d particle tracking velocimeter was constructed. It measures the velocity (all 3 components simultaneously) of the fluid by imaging the light scattered from nylon particles, which move with the flow. The images are captured into two SIT cameras at video rates. The cameras are to orthogonal positions and the computational algorithms necessary to reconstruct the 3-d velocity information from these two 2-d projections are discussed. An example of the application of the technique to the gas-phase flow (≅ 6.5 m/s) through a transparent model of an engine throttle-body assembly (3 × 3 × 3 cm test section) is presented.

Remoldable, wood-filled acoustic sheet

Abstract: This invention is directed to a thermoplastic composition comprising polyolefin resin, cellulosic particulate and crosslinked elastomeric rubber microparticles, which composition can be extruded into sheets and subsequently remolded into three dimensional, thermoplastic articles having sound-deadening properties. Preferably, the polyolefin is polypropylene homopolymer and the cellulosic particulate is woodflour.

Process for forming anti-reflective coatings comprising light metal fluorides

Abstract: This invention is directed to a process for forming coatings comprising light metal fluorides on a substrate. More particularly, the coating comprising light metal fluorides is preferably made using sol-gel techniques and may comprise a concentration gradient of the light metal fluorides across the thickness of the coating to provide it with unique anti-reflective properties.