1. A gas recirculation system for improving engine braking in an internal combustion engine having an intake valve, an exhaust valve, and a cylinder, said gas recirculation system comprising:
an exhaust manifold operatively connected to the cylinder through the exhaust valve;
an intake manifold operatively connected to the cylinder through the intake valve; and
a gas recirculation passage adapted to recirculate gas from said exhaust manifold to said intake manifold during an engine braking event.
2. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for controlling the flow of recirculated gas to the engine cylinder, said flow control means operatively connected to said exhaust manifold.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein said flow control means comprises a turbocharger.
4. The system of claim 2, wherein said turbocharger is selected from the group consisting of: a variable geometry turbocharger, a wastegated turbocharger, and a fixed geometry turbocharger.
5. The system of claim 3, wherein said flow control means further comprises a flow control device located downstream of said turbocharger.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein said flow control device is an exhaust brake operative between a fully open position and a fully closed position.
7. The system of claim 2, further comprising a gas recirculation valve disposed in said gas recirculation passage.
8. The system of claim 7, said gas recirculation valve operative between a fully open position and a fully closed position.
9. The system of claim 7, said valve having a first position for selectively recirculating gas from said exhaust manifold to said intake manifold through said gas recirculation passage during the engine braking event, and a second position for directing gas through said flow control means.
10. A method of improving engine braking using gas recirculation in an internal combustion engine having an intake valve, an exhaust valve, an intake manifold, an exhaust manifold, and a cylinder, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a gas recirculation passage connecting the exhaust manifold to the intake manifold; and
recirculating gas from the exhaust manifold to the intake manifold through the gas recirculation passage during an engine braking event.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:
providing a valve disposed in the gas recirculation passage; and
selectively operating the valve during the engine braking event.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of operating the valve comprises the step of opening the valve during the engine braking event.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of providing an external gas recirculation event.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of operating the valve comprises the step of closing the valve during the engine braking event.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of providing an internal gas recirculation event.
16. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of using the recirculated gas to clean the intake manifold.
17. A method of improving operation of an internal combustion engine based on at least one engine operating parameter, said method comprising the steps of:
measuring the engine operating parameter;
providing gas recirculation during at least two engine processes selected from the group consisting of: engine braking operation, cleaning operation, and positive power exhaust gas recirculation operation; and
controlling the flow of the recirculated gas based on the value of the engine operating parameter.
18. A gas recirculation system for improving engine braking in an internal combustion engine having an intake valve, an exhaust valve, and a cylinder, said gas recirculation system comprising:
an exhaust manifold operatively connected to the cylinder through the exhaust valve;
an intake manifold operatively connected to the cylinder through the intake valve;
a gas recirculation passage adapted to recirculate gas from said exhaust manifold to said intake manifold during an engine braking event;
a turbocharger operatively connected to said exhaust manifold; and
a flow control device located downstream of said turbocharger.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein said turbocharger is selected from the group consisting of: a variable geometry turbocharger, a wastegated turbocharger, and a fixed geometry turbocharger.
20. The system of claim 18, wherein said flow control device comprises an exhaust brake operative between a fully open position and a fully closed position.
21. The system of claim 18, further comprising a gas recirculation valve disposed in said gas recirculation passage.
22. The system of claim 21, said gas recirculation valve operative between a fully open position and a fully closed position.
23. The system of claim 21, said gas recirculation valve having a first position for selectively recirculating gas from said exhaust manifold to said intake manifold through said gas recirculation passage during the engine braking event, and a second position for directing gas through said turbocharger.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A steering column assembly comprising:
an outer jacket extending along a longitudinal axis;
an inner jacket slideably disposed in said outer jacket for telescoping movement relative to said outer jacket along said longitudinal axis;
a sleeve disposed between said inner and outer jackets along said longitudinal axis for exerting a predetermined frictional force on said inner jacket opposing the telescoping movement; and
a filler formed from a liquid thermosetting composition disposed between said sleeve and said outer jacket for securing said sleeve to said outer jacket and for maintaining the predetermined frictional force exerted by said sleeve on said inner jacket.
2. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said filler comprises the reaction product of a resin and a cross-linking agent.
3. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said resin is further defined as an epoxy and said cross-linking agent is further defined as an anhydride.
4. A steering column assembly comprising:
an outer jacket extending along a longitudinal axis;
an inner jacket slideably disposed in said outer jacket for telescoping movement relative to said outer jacket along said longitudinal axis;
a sleeve disposed between said inner and outer jackets along said longitudinal axis for exerting a predetermined frictional force on said inner jacket opposing the telescoping movement and said sleeve defining at least one groove; and
a filler disposed in said at least one groove between said sleeve and said outer jacket for securing said sleeve to said outer jacket and for maintaining the predetermined frictional force exerted by said sleeve on said inner jacket.
5. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein said sleeve defines an outer perimeter and said at least one groove extends around said outer perimeter of said sleeve.
6. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein said sleeve defines an outer perimeter and wherein said at least one groove is further defined as a plurality of grooves spaced from one another around said outer perimeter of said sleeve.
7. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein said outer jacket defines a hole aligned with said grove and in communication with said groove.
8. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein said sleeve defines an overflow gap in communication with said at least one groove.
9. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein said sleeve has a unitary configuration.
10. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein said sleeve includes a plurality of segments and at least one hinge coupled between each of said segments for adjusting the predetermined frictional force exerted on said inner jacket opposing the telescoping movement.