Patents by Inventor Ralph J. Unterborn

Ralph J. Unterborn 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).

  • Patent number: 6304018
    Abstract: A stator core for a variable reluctance motor. The stator core having a number of stator lamina joined together in a direction along a longitudinal axis. Each of the stator lamina include a number of circumferentially spaced-apart pole pieces and a circular member joined to each of the pole pieces at an intermediate portion thereof so as to define a flanged portion which extends radially inwardly from the circular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig A. Ham, Ralph J. Unterborn
  • Patent number: 5953957
    Abstract: This invention deals with a system and method for manufacturing a drive gear having a plurality of teeth in cross section where the teeth are situated on a drive shaft in a substantially parallel manner. The drive gear is characterized in that the teeth are substantially parallel to each other and contact mating driven teeth at points which define an arc which is not concentric about an axis of the driven gear. The drive gear is characterized in that it has multi-tooth contact points which do not contact the teeth of the mating gear at exactly the same contact point on the mating teeth, thereby lengthening the life of the driven gear as well as distributing the torque load to a plurality of teeth. A method and procedure for generating a drive gear having the features of the present invention is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Valeo, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig A. Ham, William R. Mack, Ralph J. Unterborn, Jeffrey T. Weller, Peter S. Zhou
  • Patent number: 5829305
    Abstract: This invention deals with a system and method for manufacturing a drive gear having a plurality of teeth in cross section where the teeth are situated on a drive shaft in a substantially parallel manner. The drive gear is characterized in that the teeth are substantially parallel to each other and contact mating driven teeth at points which define an arc which is not concentric about an axis of the driven gear. The drive gear is characterized in that it has multi-tooth contact points which do not contact the teeth of the mating gear at exactly the same contact point on the mating teeth, thereby lengthening the life of the driven gear as well as distributing the torque load to a plurality of teeth. A method and procedure for generating a drive gear having the features of the present invention is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: ITT Automotive Electrical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig A. Ham, William R. Mack, Ralph J. Unterborn, Jeffrey T. Weller, Peter S. Zhou
  • Patent number: 5716279
    Abstract: A motor assembly includes an output shaft having a first central axis, the output shaft including a first coupling member. The motor assembly further includes a secondary shaft having a second central axis, the secondary shaft including a second coupling member which is coupled to the first coupling member, wherein the first central axis and the second central axis are non-colinear when the first coupling member is coupled to the second coupling member during operation of the motor. A method of coupling an output shaft of a motor to a secondary shaft is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: ITT Automotive Electrical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig A. Ham, Ralph J. Unterborn
  • Patent number: 5219049
    Abstract: A vehicle brake having an electrically powered actuator and a parking brake is provided which, in a preferred embodiment, includes an electric motor with a rotor torsionally associated with the actuator for applying brake shoes, springs for returning the brake shoes to a released position, a first friction plate torsionally associated with the rotor, a second friction plate for selective mating with the first friction plate, torsionally fixed with respect to the rotor, a parking brake actuator, a parking brake shaft powered for rotation by the parking brake actuator, and a cam associated with at least one of the friction plates and the parking brake shaft whereby rotation of the parking shaft translates into relative motion between the friction plates to position the friction plates together to lock or release the vehicle brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Ralph J. Unterborn
  • Patent number: 5119523
    Abstract: The passenger side wiper of a tandem pattern system, in order to reach sufficient area of a sloped windshield, must have an effective wiping length that is longer that the space available in which to depress park the wiper along the lower edge of the windshield. In order to achieve this, the passenger side wiper is provided with a blade assembly that extends and retracts in a parallel swinging motion that does not depart unacceptably from the normal blade to arm orientation. The blade retracts automatically, activated by the already provided depressed park action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Ralph J. Unterborn
  • Patent number: 5074613
    Abstract: In a vehicle wiper system of the type having a frame tube fixed to the vehicle body, an improved mounting of a housing to the frame tube includes an inwardly tapered cradle portion on the housing that matches an inwardly tapered mounting portion of the tube, with deformable ribs on the housing cradle that are sheared by the tube when the housing is attached so as to assure solid, intimate contact between the housing and tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph J. Unterborn, Harry C. Buchanan, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5062176
    Abstract: A wiper blade support is joined to a wiper arm by a yielding mechanism that maintains the two in a fixed angular relation during normal wipe, but which yields to allow the wiper blade to move more closely parallel to the windshield lower edge at park. The yielding mechanism includes a leaf spring indirectly joined between the wiper arm and blade support which buckles only when the wiper blade hits the lower edge of the windshield, allowing the compensating blade rotation, but remains flat during normal wipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1991
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph J. Unterborn, Michael J. McClain, Mark M. Benner
  • Patent number: 4263821
    Abstract: A windshield wiper drive mechanism includes an electric motor having a worm shaft which meshes with a gear assembly which is drivingly connected to a crank arm. A windshield wiper transmission link is also connected to the crank arm. The crank arm has an inner diametral bearing surface which is rotatably supported on a pin secured at one end in cantilever fashion to a housing, and an outer diametral bearing surface which is adapted for rotatable support in a cylindrical opening in another housing. The outer bearing surface has axially extending recesses in which a lubricant is retained. When high transmission loads are applied to the crank arm, the pin deflects slightly so that the increased bearing loads are supported on the outer bearing surface to prevent further deflection of the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1981
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jack W. Savage, Ralph J. Unterborn