Patents Represented by Attorney Ralph E. Smith
  • Patent number: 7980983
    Abstract: An improved hydraulically locking limited slip differential assembly for a drivetrain of a motor vehicle having a fluid pump external to a differential carrier and arranged for preventing slip between the wheels by selectively pressurizing a differential clutch internal to the carrier, and a controller arranged for selectively activating the fluid pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Edward V. Schrand, Charles R. Pajtas
  • Patent number: 7983050
    Abstract: An electronics module for automotive vehicles includes a housing; an electrical connector having a commercial standard electrical connector footprint mounted on the housing; and an electronics assembly including commercial standard communication bus electronics contained in the housing, the electronics assembly being electrically connected to the electrical connector. The electronics module is adapted to be plugged into a power distribution unit of an automotive vehicle in order to control power distribution components of the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: John M. Gaynier, Alexander Eyhorn
  • Patent number: 7975796
    Abstract: An axle disconnect system for selectively connecting or disconnecting a wheel-side shaft and a differential-side shaft having a common axis of rotation in a drivetrain of a motor vehicle. In the axle disconnect an output gear is splined to the wheel-side shaft on an outside diameter of the wheel-side shaft, and a translatable collar is splined to the output gear on an outside diameter of the output gear. The collar is arranged to be translated along the common axis of rotation for splined connection with the differential-side shaft while retaining the splined connection with the output gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventor: Dongfeng Guo
  • Patent number: 7922048
    Abstract: A spare tire carrier for a vehicle may structurally entail a base, a mounting flange extending from the base, a vertical support post extending from the base, a light support post attached to the vertical support post, a threaded stud that engages a front surface of the base to support a spare tire. A tether, which may be secured to the base with a fastener, may lie largely concealed within the base and have additional studs or bolts which may protrude through a front surface of the base and further support a spare tire. A plurality of strength ribs may join the mounting flange and the base, while the base, the first mounting flange, vertical support post extending from the base, and plurality of strength ribs may be a single cast magnesium part. The tether may be of another high strength material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Stephen M. Smith, Theron Shaw, Christopher J. Duke, Terence P. Grace, Michael R. Uhlmeyer, Stephen D. Logan, David M. Langer
  • Patent number: 7918332
    Abstract: The present invention is a conveyor arrangement for a stamping die employed within a stamping press. The conveyor arrangement has a fixed conveyor with a protruding end, wherein the fixed conveyor is mounted on the die for receiving and shuttling stamped parts from the die. The conveyor arrangement also has a moveable conveyor with a supported first end and a cantilevered second end, wherein the moveable conveyor is arranged for positioning the second end under the fixed conveyor's protruding end for receiving and shuttling stamped parts from the fixed conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Donald R. Vaughn, Jr., Mark A. Frondal, Charles J. Abramson
  • Patent number: 7919942
    Abstract: A wiper system for a vehicle includes a first wiper assembly, a second wiper assembly spaced apart from the first wiper assembly, and a controller in communication with at least one of the first wiper assembly and the second wiper assembly. The controller controls at least one of the first wiper assembly and the second wiper assembly based on at least one of an aerodynamic characteristic of the vehicle and a soiling characteristic of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Michael F. Donoughe, Stacie N. Farina
  • Patent number: 7913822
    Abstract: A shock assembly includes a first tube having a cylindrical wall with an inner surface and an outer surface. A second tube is received within the first tube and includes a cylindrical wall having an inner surface and an outer surface. A piston assembly is received within the second tube and includes a piston rod and a piston that is selectively movable relative to the first tube and the second tube. A height-sensing device is disposed within the first tube between the inner surface of the first tube and the outer surface of the second tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Edward Haney, Scott A. Bone, James M. Stevens, Christopher W. Olsen, Joel Donahue
  • Patent number: D637538
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Jon Paul Gaudreau, Mark C. Trostle, Lance D. Wagner
  • Patent number: D637539
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Christopher S. Welch, Klaus Busse, James P. Mantua
  • Patent number: D637540
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Zulf Ali, Kashayar Honarkhah, Timothy W. Anness
  • Patent number: D637541
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Zulf Ali, Kashayar Honarkhah, Timothy W. Anness
  • Patent number: D641289
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Sung Yeah Song, Mark Moushegian, Michael H. Nicholas
  • Patent number: D641297
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventor: Nicholas Vardis
  • Patent number: D641503
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Scott Krugger, Mark T. Allen, Ralph V. Gilles, Timothy W. Anness
  • Patent number: D641662
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Irina Zavatski, Lance R. Wagner
  • Patent number: D641672
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Ernest F. Willoughby, James P. Mantua, Klaus Busse
  • Patent number: D641673
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Dan M. Zimmermann, Mark C. Trostle, Lance R. Wagner
  • Patent number: D641674
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Simeon Wang K. Kim, Stephen J. Sowinski
  • Patent number: D641675
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Simeon Wang K. Kim, Stephen J. Sowinski
  • Patent number: D641679
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventor: Nicholas Vardis