Patents by Inventor Christopher C. Chappell
Christopher C. Chappell has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10525957Abstract: A vehicle includes a plurality of brake assemblies configured to control braking of a respective wheel of the vehicle. The brake assemblies includes a first brake assembly integrated with a smart actuator unit including a first actuator controller and a first electro-mechanical actuator that is configured to adjust a brake force applied to a first wheel coupled to the first brake assembly. A second brake assembly excludes an actuator controller and has installed therein a second electro-mechanical actuator that is configured to adjust a brake force applied to a second wheel coupled to the second brake assembly. At least one electronic actuator driver unit is remotely located from the first and second brake assemblies, and is configured to output a high-power signal that drives the first and second electro-mechanical actuators in response to receiving a digital command signal from the first actuator controller.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2016Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Alan J. Houtman, Christopher C. Chappell, Kevin S. Kidston, Paul A. Kilmurray, Eric E. Krueger, Patrick J. Monsere, Brandon C. Pennala, Michael C. Roberts, Steven J. Weber
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Patent number: 10507816Abstract: A vehicle with a fault tolerant electronic brake-by-wire (BBW) system includes a plurality of brake assemblies that control braking of a respective wheel of the vehicle. The brake assemblies include a first brake assembly and a second brake assembly. The first brake assembly is integrated with at least one enhanced brake actuator assembly including a first electronic actuator driver circuit in signal communication with a first electro-mechanical actuator. The first brake assembly is configured to adjust a brake force applied to a first wheel of the vehicle. The second brake assembly is integrated with at least one enhanced smart brake actuator assembly including a first actuator controller in signal communication with a second electronic actuator driver circuit. The second electronic actuator driver circuit is in signal communication with a second electro-mechanical actuator that is configured to adjust a brake force applied to a second wheel of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2016Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Paul A. Kilmurray, Eric E. Krueger, Brandon C. Pennala, Christopher C. Chappell, Alan J. Houtman, Kevin S. Kidston, Patrick J. Monsere, Michael C. Roberts, Steven J. Weber
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Patent number: 10501063Abstract: A vehicle includes a plurality of brake assemblies and a plurality of electrical power circuits. Each brake assembly includes an electro-mechanical actuator configured to adjust a torque force applied to a wheel of the vehicle. The electrical power circuits are located remotely from one another. Each power circuit is configured to drive a respective actuator. The vehicle further includes a first electronic brake system (EBS) controller and a second EBS controller. The first EBS controller is configured to output a first data command signal to control a first group of power circuits among the plurality of power circuits. The second EBS controller is configured to output a second data command signal to control a second group of power circuits among the plurality of power circuits. The second group excludes the power circuits from the first group.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2016Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Eric E. Krueger, Brandon C. Pennala, Christopher C. Chappell, Alan J. Houtman, Kevin S. Kidston, Patrick J. Monsere, Michael C. Roberts, Paul A. Kilmurray, Steven J. Weber
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Patent number: 10239531Abstract: A vehicle includes a fault-tolerant braking system that controls a brake assembly which is configured to adjust a braking force applied to one or more wheels. The fault-tolerant braking system further includes a brake-by-wire (BBW) system and a vehicle control module (VCM). The BBW system is configured to control the brake assembly in response to a braking request. The VCM is configured to detect a fault of at least one of the brake assembly and the BBW system. In response to detecting the fault, the VCM selectively operates the vehicle between a normal operating mode and at least one degraded driving mode that limits operation of at least one of the vehicle engine and the vehicle transmission compared to the normal operating mode.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2017Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Paul A. Kilmurray, Alan J. Houtman, Christopher C. Chappell, Brandon C. Pennala
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Patent number: 10156313Abstract: A device for venting a hose is disclosed. In some embodiments, the device includes a housing having a cylindrical sidewall and an endwall, the sidewall defining an inner housing surface and an outer housing surface, an opening extending through the sidewall, and a hose retention system extending from the inner housing surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2017Date of Patent: December 18, 2018Assignees: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, CADILLAC RUBBER & PLASTICS INCInventors: Christopher C. Chappell, Craig R. Brooks, Lynn Boelstler, Thomas John Sanday, David Joseph Wojciechowski, William R. Gale
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Patent number: 10144402Abstract: A vehicle includes a plurality of brake assemblies and a plurality of electronic brake system (EBS) controllers. The brake assemblies each include an electro-mechanical actuator configured to adjust a torque force applied to a wheel of the vehicle. The EBS controllers are located remotely from one another. Each EBS controller has integrated therein an electronic actuator driver unit that includes an electronic power circuit configured to drive at least one of the electro-mechanical actuators. A first EBS controller is configured to drive a first group of electro-mechanical actuators, and a second EBS controller is configured to drive a second group of electro-mechanical actuators that exclude the electro-mechanical actuators of the first group.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2016Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Brandon C. Pennala, Christopher C. Chappell, Paul A. Kilmurray, Patrick J. Monsere, Eric E. Krueger, Alan J. Houtman, Kevin S. Kidston, Michael C. Roberts, Steven J. Weber
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Publication number: 20180283592Abstract: A device for venting a hose is disclosed. In some embodiments, the device includes a housing having a cylindrical sidewall and an endwall, the sidewall defining an inner housing surface and an outer housing surface, an opening extending through the sidewall, and a hose retention system extending from the inner housing surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2017Publication date: October 4, 2018Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, CADILLAC RUBBER & PLASTICS INCInventors: Christopher C. Chappell, Craig R. Brooks, Lynn Boelstler, Thomas John Sanday, David Joseph Wojciechowski, William R. Gale
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Patent number: 10086806Abstract: A vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a vehicle system. The vehicle system includes a brake-by-wire portion, which also includes a controller. The controller can cause a forced coastdown of the vehicle. The forced coastdown includes performing analyzing conditions of the vehicle system to determine whether the vehicle is in a stable state and to determine an amount of energy available to the vehicle system and automatically applying the forced coastdown when the vehicle is not in the stable state and the amount of energy is less than or equal to a threshold for continued manual operation of the vehicle. The forced coastdown also includes utilizing brake pressure to reduce a speed of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2016Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Brandon C. Pennala, Paul A. Kilmurray, Christopher C. Chappell
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Publication number: 20180194353Abstract: A vehicle includes a fault-tolerant braking system that controls a brake assembly which is configured to adjust a braking force applied to one or more wheels. The fault-tolerant braking system further includes a brake-by-wire (BBW) system and a vehicle control module (VCM). The BBW system is configured to control the brake assembly in response to a braking request. The VCM is configured to detect a fault of at least one of the brake assembly and the BBW system. In response to detecting the fault, the VCM selectively operates the vehicle between a normal operating mode and at least one degraded driving mode that limits operation of at least one of the vehicle engine and the vehicle transmission compared to the normal operating mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2017Publication date: July 12, 2018Inventors: Paul A. Kilmurray, Alan J. Houtman, Christopher C. Chappell, Brandon C. Pennala
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Publication number: 20180093648Abstract: A brake pedal emulator extends and is connected between a support structure and a brake pedal along a centerline. The emulator includes a hydraulic cylinder, a piston head, and a variable flow communicator. An outer casing of the cylinder engages one of the structure and the pedal. The piston head engages the other of the structure and the pedal, and the communicator is carried between the casing and the piston head. A first chamber is defined at least in-part by the casing and a first side of the piston head, and a second chamber is defined at least in-part by the casing and an opposite second side of the piston head. The piston head is in sealed and slides with respect to the casing, and the communicator is adapted to provide fluid communication between the first and second chambers that varies with axial displacement of the piston head.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2016Publication date: April 5, 2018Inventors: Brandon C. Pennala, Alan J. Houtman, Paul A. Kilmurray, Christopher C. Chappell, Grant A. Browning, Robert J. Payton, JR., Jordan M. Krell
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Publication number: 20180056961Abstract: A vehicle includes a plurality of electronic brake system (EBS) controllers configured to detect at least one braking event, and a plurality of brake assemblies. Each brake assembly is coupled to a respective wheel of the vehicle and includes an enhanced smart actuator. The enhanced smart actuator further includes an electro-mechanical actuator, and at least one power circuit. The electro-mechanical actuator is configured to adjust a torque force applied to the respective wheel. The at least one electronic power circuit is configured to output a high-frequency switched high-power current drive signal that drives the electro-mechanical actuator. The EBS controllers control a first group of enhanced smart actuators independently from a second group of enhanced smart actuators that exclude the enhanced smart actuators of the first group.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2016Publication date: March 1, 2018Inventors: Eric E. Krueger, Brandon C. Pennala, Christopher C. Chappell, Alan J. Houtman, Kevin S. Kidston, Patrick J. Monsere, Michael C. Roberts, Paul A. Kilmurray, Steven J. Weber
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Publication number: 20180056965Abstract: A vehicle includes a plurality of brake assemblies configured to control braking of a respective wheel of the vehicle. The brake assemblies includes a first brake assembly integrated with a smart actuator unit including a first actuator controller and a first electro-mechanical actuator that is configured to adjust a brake force applied to a first wheel coupled to the first brake assembly. A second brake assembly excludes an actuator controller and has installed therein a second electro-mechanical actuator that is configured to adjust a brake force applied to a second wheel coupled to the second brake assembly. At least one electronic actuator driver unit is remotely located from the first and second brake assemblies, and is configured to output a high-power signal that drives the first and second electro-mechanical actuators in response to receiving a digital command signal from the first actuator controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2016Publication date: March 1, 2018Inventors: Alan J. Houtman, Christopher C. Chappell, Kevin S. Kidston, Paul A. Kilmurray, Eric E. Krueger, Patrick J. Monsere, Brandon C. Pennala, Michael C. Roberts, Steven J. Weber
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Publication number: 20180056960Abstract: A vehicle includes a plurality of brake assemblies and a plurality of electrical power circuits. Each brake assembly includes an electro-mechanical actuator configured to adjust a torque force applied to a wheel of the vehicle. The electrical power circuits are located remotely from one another. Each power circuit is configured to drive a respective actuator. The vehicle further includes a first electronic brake system (EBS) controller and a second EBS controller. The first EBS controller is configured to output a first data command signal to control a first group of power circuits among the plurality of power circuits. The second EBS controller is configured to output a second data command signal to control a second group of power circuits among the plurality of power circuits. The second group excludes the power circuits from the first group.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2016Publication date: March 1, 2018Inventors: Eric E. Krueger, Brandon C. Pennala, Christopher C. Chappell, Alan J. Houtman, Kevin S. Kidston, Patrick J. Monsere, Michael C. Roberts, Paul A. Kilmurray, Steven J. Weber
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Publication number: 20180056959Abstract: A vehicle includes a plurality of brake assemblies and a plurality of electronic brake system (EBS) controllers. The brake assemblies each include an electro-mechanical actuator configured to adjust a torque force applied to a wheel of the vehicle. The EBS controllers are located remotely from one another. Each EBS controller has integrated therein an electronic actuator driver unit that includes an electronic power circuit configured to drive at least one of the electro-mechanical actuators. A first EBS controller is configured to drive a first group of electro-mechanical actuators, and a second EBS controller is configured to drive a second group of electro-mechanical actuators that exclude the electro-mechanical actuators of the first group.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2016Publication date: March 1, 2018Inventors: Brandon C. Pennala, Christopher C. Chappell, Paul A. Kilmurray, Patrick J. Monsere, Eric E. Krueger, Alan J. Houtman, Kevin S. Kidston, Michael C. Roberts, Steven J. Weber
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Publication number: 20180056964Abstract: A vehicle includes a plurality of brake assemblies, and a brake request input device. Each brake assembly is coupled to a respective wheel of the vehicle and is configured to control braking of the respective wheel. The brake request input device is configured to output an electronic brake request signal indicating a request to brake at least one of the wheels. Each brake assembly has integrated therein an enhanced smart actuator unit that includes an electronic actuator controller configured to control a braking torque applied to the respective wheel in response to receiving the brake request signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2016Publication date: March 1, 2018Inventors: Brandon C. Pennala, Christopher C. Chappell, Alan J. Houtman, Paul A. Kilmurray, Eric E. Krueger, Kevin S. Kidston, Michael C. Roberts, Steven J. Weber, Patrick J. Monsere
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Publication number: 20180056962Abstract: A vehicle with a fault tolerant electronic brake-by-wire (BBW) system includes a plurality of brake assemblies that control braking of a respective wheel of the vehicle. The brake assemblies include a first brake assembly and a second brake assembly. The first brake assembly is integrated with at least one enhanced brake actuator assembly including a first electronic actuator driver circuit in signal communication with a first electro-mechanical actuator. The first brake assembly is configured to adjust a brake force applied to a first wheel of the vehicle. The second brake assembly is integrated with at least one enhanced smart brake actuator assembly including a first actuator controller in signal communication with a second electronic actuator driver circuit. The second electronic actuator driver circuit is in signal communication with a second electro-mechanical actuator that is configured to adjust a brake force applied to a second wheel of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2016Publication date: March 1, 2018Inventors: Paul A. Kilmurray, Eric E. Krueger, Brandon C. Pennala, Christopher C. Chappell, Alan J. Houtman, Kevin S. Kidston, Patrick J. Monsere, Michael C. Roberts, Steven J. Weber
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Publication number: 20180050672Abstract: A vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a vehicle system. The vehicle system includes a brake-by-wire portion, which also includes a controller. The controller can cause a forced coastdown of the vehicle. The forced coastdown includes performing analyzing conditions of the vehicle system to determine whether the vehicle is in a stable state and to determine an amount of energy available to the vehicle system and automatically applying the forced coastdown when the vehicle is not in the stable state and the amount of energy is less than or equal to a threshold for continued manual operation of the vehicle. The forced coastdown also includes utilizing brake pressure to reduce a speed of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2016Publication date: February 22, 2018Inventors: Brandon C. Pennala, Paul A. Kilmurray, Christopher C. Chappell
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Publication number: 20180043866Abstract: A brake pedal assembly of a brake emulator includes a resiliently flexible arm constructed and arranged to include a flexibility that mimics, at least in-part, a pre-determined braking force profile. The flexible arm includes opposite first and second end portions and a pivot point disposed there-between.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2016Publication date: February 15, 2018Inventors: Patrick J. Monsere, Brandon C. Pennala, Christopher C. Chappell, Paul A. Kilmurray
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Publication number: 20180043876Abstract: A vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a brake-by-wire sub-system, which includes a controller. The controller receives a request to enter a service mode. In response to the request to enter the service mode, the controller determines whether a vehicle is in a stable state based on comparing at least one system condition against at least one threshold. When the vehicle is in the stable state, the controller causes the brake-by-wire sub-system to enter into the service mode. Further, the controller monitors the at least one system condition against predefined parameters to determine that the vehicle is maintaining the stable state while in the service mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2016Publication date: February 15, 2018Inventors: Alan J. Houtman, Paul A. Kilmurray, Brandon C. Pennala, Christopher C. Chappell
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Publication number: 20180037207Abstract: A brake pedal apparatus for actuating a vehicle brake assembly includes a stationary structure, a brake pedal emulator assembly, and an emulator override device. The brake pedal emulator assembly includes a brake pedal operatively engaged to the stationary structure, and a brake pedal emulator operatively engaged between the stationary structure and the brake pedal along a centerline. The brake pedal emulator is configured to electrically operate the brake assembly. The emulator override device includes a mechanical linkage operatively engaged to the brake assembly, and a latch configured to selectively connect and disconnect the mechanical linkage from the brake pedal emulator assembly. The mechanical linkage is configured to mechanically operate the brake assembly via at least in-part movement of the brake pedal along the centerline.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2016Publication date: February 8, 2018Inventors: Brandon C. Pennala, Michael C. Roberts, Christopher C. Chappell