Patents by Inventor George T. Washburn

George T. Washburn 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).

  • Switchable water pump control systems and methods
    Patent number: 9097172
    Abstract: An engine control system for a vehicle comprises a pump control module and a heating request determination module. The pump control module disengages a switchable water pump from an engine upon startup of the engine. The heating request determination module generates a heat request signal that indicates whether heating of a passenger cabin of the vehicle has been requested based on ambient air temperature, humidity of ambient air, and a status of an air conditioner clutch. The pump control module selectively engages the switchable water pump after the heat request signal is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: George T. Washburn
  • Engine cooling system for a vehicle
    Patent number: 8430071
    Abstract: An engine cooling system for a vehicle, and method of operation, includes both an engine driven main coolant pump that may be disengaged by a clutch and an electrically driven auxiliary coolant pump, where each can be used separately or they can be used together to control the amount of coolant flow through the engine cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael H. Carlson, George T Washburn
  • SWITCHABLE WATER PUMP CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS
    Publication number: 20110048390
    Abstract: An engine control system for a vehicle comprises a pump control module and a heating request determination module. The pump control module disengages a switchable water pump from an engine upon startup of the engine. The heating request determination module generates a heat request signal that indicates whether heating of a passenger cabin of the vehicle has been requested based on ambient air temperature, humidity of ambient air, and a status of an air conditioner clutch. The pump control module selectively engages the switchable water pump after the heat request signal is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: George T. Washburn
  • Engine Cooling System for a Vehicle
    Publication number: 20110005474
    Abstract: An engine cooling system for a vehicle, and method of operation, includes both an engine driven main coolant pump that may be disengaged by a clutch and an electrically driven auxiliary coolant pump, where each can be used separately or they can be used together to control the amount of coolant flow through the engine cooling system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael H. Carlson, George T. Washburn