Patents by Inventor Gerald J. Zalewski

Gerald J. Zalewski 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).

  • Manual clutch assembly and service tool
    Patent number: 7698795
    Abstract: An assembly tool for installing a clutch pressure plate and clutch housing of a manual clutch on the flywheel of an engine includes a bell shaped housing which receives and pivotally supports a plurality of fingers having outwardly directed claws. A coaxial cylindrical portion of the bell shaped housing includes male threads which receive a complementarily threaded collar which may be rotated to engage, radially extend and retract the fingers. Internal threads in the cylindrical portion of the housing receive a complementarily threaded portion of a push rod. The push rod includes a thrust bearing at an end that engages the fingers of the pressure plate and may be rotated to engage, retract and extend the pressure plate. A method of clutch housing installation utilizing the tool is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Brock, Mark R. Chapman, Gerald J. Zalewski
  • MANUAL CLUTCH ASSEMBLY AND SERVICE TOOL
    Publication number: 20080276768
    Abstract: An assembly tool for installing a clutch pressure plate and clutch housing of a manual clutch on the flywheel of an engine includes a bell shaped housing which receives and pivotally supports a plurality of fingers having outwardly directed claws. A coaxial cylindrical portion of the bell shaped housing includes male threads which receive a complementarily threaded collar which may be rotated to engage, radially extend and retract the fingers. Internal threads in the cylindrical portion of the housing receive a complementarily threaded portion of a push rod. The push rod includes a thrust bearing at an end that engages the fingers of the pressure plate and may be rotated to engage, retract and extend the pressure plate. A method of clutch housing installation utilizing the tool is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: THOMAS A. BROCK, MARK R. CHAPMAN, GERALD J. ZALEWSKI