Patents Represented by Attorney Charles R. White

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  • Steering column with selectively adjustable and preset preferred positions
    Patent number: 4691587
    Abstract: A steering column assembly for a vehicle which provides an infinite number of column positions within a field of motion and a larger field of motion than existing mechanism with memory set for all possible column positions with automatic return to retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1987
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Robert M. Farrand, Thomas J. Milton, William R. McDow
  • Hydraulic damper for vehicles with variable orifice piston valving for varying damping force
    Patent number: 4685545
    Abstract: Rebound and compression damping action of this hydraulic damper is set by rotating a selector plate within the damper piston to a number of positions to control orifice selection in parallel to flow through the disk plate pack and thereby control the rate of oil flow through the piston during rebound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1987
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne V. Fannin, Harry C. Buchanan, Jr.
  • Engine cooling fan and fan shrouding arrangement
    Patent number: 4685513
    Abstract: Compact fan and shroud package for radiators with fan blades curved rearwardly to position rotating shroud at optimized distance from radiator for improved air flow through radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1987
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Richard E. Longhouse, Nick Vona
  • Concentric motor electric power steering for rack and pinion gear with center take-off
    Patent number: 4683971
    Abstract: An electric power assisted rack and pinion steering gear for steering the dirigible wheels of a vehicle comprising a rack housing with an end-mounted electric motor telescopically receiving and linearly driving a rack-screw assembly through ball nut and spur gearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1987
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Westercamp, Donald J. Kurecka, David C. Yeack
  • Hard bar bumper for vehicles
    Patent number: 4679837
    Abstract: A high strength and low mass hard bar bumper assembly which has an interior bulk head to maximize beam face support for minimizing face dishing which maintains beam section shape by tying the flanges together and which transfers the impact loads from the beam face to the beam flanges. In the preferred embodiment, a hollow cylinder is used as the tie bolt and a resilient opened-celled bulkhead spacer is used to transfer loads from the face through the hollow tie bolt to the flanges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1987
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Dean M. Bayer, Larry J. McCoy, Chris A. Thomason, Thomas P. Tranbarger, Marco E. Rodriguez
  • Power steering gear with two-way check valve
    Patent number: 4673051
    Abstract: This double acting check valve allows hydraulic power steering oil to flow from the power steering pump through the valve to the power steering gear in normal operation. During an impact load at the tire, the piston in the gear forces the oil from the gear to the check valve which controls or meters the oil flow and pressure so that the impact is not transmitted back to the steering wheel. In the event that the impact load is severe and pressures build up within the power steering gear, as a result, the blow off valve opens to allow such back flow to reduce or eliminate damage to the gear housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1987
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Richard S. Darling, Stanley R. Goodrich, Jr., Alan D. Holzhausen
  • Resilient mount for telescopic struts
    Patent number: 4673192
    Abstract: An upper mount for a steerable suspension strut incorporating a ball bearing assembly provided with an outer race which is spherical in the region of the balls. The cage of the ball bearing assembly is formed of flexible material which is retained against an inner race and which comprises an upper section for covering the ball bearing and a lower section for closing the ball bearing opening. With this construction, a gimbal or cardan-type connection is provided between the strut and the mounting tower of the vehicle body work for improved support of a steerable road wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1987
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Krehan, Werner Oppelt
  • Spark plug shield and boot seal assembly
    Patent number: 4671586
    Abstract: A rotationally interlocked heat shield and spark plug boot seal assembly with internal air flow cooling passages that also provide fluid drains to keep the boot seal dry. The shield doubles as a boot seal removal tool for service and grounds to the cylinder head instead of the spark plug giving good feel when engaging the spark plug clip. Corona and dielectric puncture is reduced by grounding the shield and coating the internal diameter of the shield with a suitable conductive layer of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Richard R. DeBolt
  • Adaptive ride hydraulic damper with piston rod dress cap
    Patent number: 4660688
    Abstract: Adaptive ride air suspension strut with internal actuator within hollow piston rod which is operatively connected to a computer control system through electrical bulkhead and high pressure seal which is connected to by cables leading upwardly therefrom through a special wire routing and sealing type dress cap fitted to the hollow end of the strut to guide and direct the cables to a plug connected to the control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1987
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew M. Spisak, Robert L. Adduci
  • Hydraulically damped dual sleeve air spring suspension
    Patent number: 4655438
    Abstract: A dual path rolling lobe air spring suspension strut with the inner rolling lobe air seal eliminating air pressurization of the strut to eliminate the strut mount as a leak path and so that the sealing of air within the air spring in the vicinity of the strut rod is eliminated so that the strut rod scraper lip and air pressurization of the strut valving is eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: David S. Cameron
  • Electric motor driven rack and pinion steering gear with take-off from axially slidable nut
    Patent number: 4653602
    Abstract: An electric power assisted rack and pinion steering gear for steering the dirigible wheels of a vehicle comprising a rack housing with an end mounted electric motor which rotatably drives a ball nut screw on which a ball nut is mounted for linear movement; the ball nut is mounted in the gear housing and is attached to manually driven rack and provides a carrier forming steering gear output to the tie rods connected to the dirigible wheels of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William S. Anders, Steven J. Hallman
  • Vehicle suspension strut with lower rotary bearing cup assembly for a dirigible road wheel
    Patent number: 4648623
    Abstract: A lower bearing air strut which moves the point of steering rotation of a dirigible road wheel to the bottom of the reservoir of the strut. This provides improved support between the road wheel assembly and the air strut and allows the air spring to be leak tested prior to vehicle assembly. The upper mount is fixed to the mounting tower by a retainer ring so it does not rotate and provides improved sealing of the upper extremity of the air spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: David S. Cameron
  • Preloaded ball nut and screw assembly and method of manufacture
    Patent number: 4643041
    Abstract: A ball nut and screw assembly preadjusted and preloaded by injecting a liquefied pressurized thermoset resin through a mold and into the area between adjacent ball nuts and allowing the thermoset resin to cure and harden while pressurized. After hardening, the mold is removed and the external preload supplied to the resin is maintained by a hardened preload ring formed by the epoxy ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Robert L. Benton
  • Strut damper with base valve and cup retention
    Patent number: 4633983
    Abstract: Suspension strut and damper assembly in which the cylinder tube of the hydraulic damper carries a base valve which has arcuately spaced foot pads on the lower surface thereof which seat within the confines of the base cup in a manner so as to limit movement of the cylinder tube relative to the base cup and reservoir tube extending upwardly therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1987
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Richard A. Horvath, William E. Rank, James E. Whelan
  • Viscous clutch for engine cooling fan
    Patent number: 4630721
    Abstract: A viscous fan clutch which employs a dynamic blocker ring positioned inside of the clutch between the pump plate and the clutch plate in such a manner that the fluid flow path is directed and not left to chance. The blocker ring, in effect, hydraulically separates the drive portion of the clutch from the pump and viscous fluid storage portion. The divider ring due to its location will provide support outboard of the bearing providing optimized durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1986
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Gary L. Johnston, Harvey J. Lambert
  • Strip roll forming energy absorbing device
    Patent number: 4630716
    Abstract: Energy is absorbed by bending a sheet metal strip around three rollers as the strip is pulled by one end. Two of the rollers turn on fixed shafts and are spaced so that the third roller cannot pass between them. The sheet metal strip is bent around the floating roller and both ends of the strip are passed between the two rollers on fixed shafts. Applying a force to one end of the strip draws the floating roller against the other two rollers with the strip between them. Continued force application draws the strip through the rollers, first bending it in one direction, then the opposite and back again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1986
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel P. Faust
  • Bumper for vehicle, especially motor vehicles, and method of manufacture
    Patent number: 4623182
    Abstract: Bumper for motor vehicles consisting of two half-shell-shaped profile members made of synthetic material, which are connected at their end flanges by welding to form a closed hollow profile, and with fastening elements for attaching the bumper to the vehicle body, which are disposed on the half-shell-shaped profile member adjacent to the body, characterized by the fact that the profile member adjacent to the body has at each fastening point an opening with integral side locking arms and the fastening elements have molded counterlocking elements which can be releasably engaged with the locking arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1986
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hans-Gerhard Trabert, Claus P. Scharf
  • Method of sealing a hydraulic power steering gear and rotary valve therefor
    Patent number: 4615092
    Abstract: Seal wear of hydraulic power steering gear housing is reduced by forcing relative motion to occur between the seal and the control valve whose material is typically more wear resistant than the material of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1986
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis J. Richard
  • Internal pressurized vehicle suspension strut assembly
    Patent number: 4615512
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension strut in which an internal elastomer sleeve is used as an air/oil separator bladder. Air pressure introduced to the chamber formed by the sleeve will expand the sleeve creating a pressure in the hydraulic fluid which acts on the area differential of the piston to create an adjustable lifting force for vehicle height control. Also as the strut works going into jounce, shock absorber oil displaced by the rod is taken up by the air volume trapped inside of the air sleeve. A main suspension spring is mounted to and around the reservoir tube of the strut which may be steerable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1986
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Roger E. Hoke
  • Molded plastic bumper and mounting bracket assembly
    Patent number: 4586738
    Abstract: A unitized bumper assembly for direct attachment to support structure within a vehicle comprising an elongated resilient blow molded hollow shell with continuous walls made from thermoplastic material to predetermined width and height and forming an air-tight cell. The assembly has laterally spaced bracket means encapsulated in said inner face during blow molding which accommodates fastener means for connection of said shell to a vehicle whereby a load of predetermined magnitude to said shell between said brackets is dissipated by the inward deflection of said shell as a deflecting beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1986
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Gary M. Butler, Frank J. Bakewicz