Patents by Inventor Terry L. Martin

Terry L. Martin 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: 5218938
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a structural oil pan for use with an internal combustion engine having a crankcase with short side walls of the type that generally do not extend below the center line of the crankcase. The oil pan has internal ribs which slidingly receive lower portions of the main bearing caps. The main bearing caps are fixed, relative to the oil pan with bolts passing through openings in the pan to threadingly engage corresponding openings in the bearing caps. Such an oil pan design allow the crankcase side walls, the crankshaft main bearing caps and the oil pan side walls to be structurally joined to resist vibration and noise generation. Weight savings are recognized by the oil pan of the present invention as the need for an engine block having extended side walls and increased weight is supplanted by a light weight, structurally rigid oil pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William L. Miller, Terry L. Martin, William J. Carney