Patents by Inventor Gerald R. Thom

Gerald R. Thom 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).

  • Axle with variable volume sump
    Patent number: 8707826
    Abstract: An axle having a variable volume sump. The axle includes an axle housing that defines a gear chamber and a separate reservoir. The gear chamber and the reservoir are in fluid communication with each other via an opening. A regulator is located adjacent the opening. The regulator is operable to assume a first closed position that obstructs the opening when a temperature in the axle is below a predetermined value, and is also operable to assume a second open position that places the gear chamber and the reservoir in fluid communication via the opening when the temperature is above the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Lourens M. Jacobs, Gerald R. Thom, Joseph P. Elser, Muhammad Hamid Iqbal
  • AXLE WITH VARIABLE VOLUME SUMP
    Publication number: 20110162482
    Abstract: An axle having a variable volume sump. The axle includes an axle housing that defines a gear chamber and a separate reservoir. The gear chamber and the reservoir are in fluid communication with each other via an opening. A regulator is located adjacent the opening. The regulator is operable to assume a first closed position that obstructs the opening when a temperature in the axle is below a predetermined value, and is also operable to assume a second open position that places the gear chamber and the reservoir in fluid communication via the opening when the temperature is above the predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: Lourens M. Jacobs, Gerald R. Thom, Joseph P. Elser
  • Vehicle structure having cross members overlapped by apertured rails
    Publication number: 20040150208
    Abstract: A vehicle structure includes a combination of hydro-formed, generally tubular shaped rails joined by an overlapping joint to a two-piece cross member. The overlapping joint is formed between a rail aperture and the cross member. To retain the structural strength lost by removing material from the rails, a weld joint is formed about the total perimeter of contact between the rail aperture and the cross member. The cross member includes a shoulder area formed to nest within the rail aperture. The two-piece cross member assembly reduces total parts while providing a plurality of cross member geometries and the necessary tolerance flexibility at the rail connections. The cross member is formed of two generally C-shaped members having butted or overlapping mating surfaces joined by a perimeter weld joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventors: Brian Nathan, Gerald R. Thom, Brian A. Enck, Rajesh Koli, Stephen Fraczek, Rama Vallurupalli, Ram Bhandarkar