Patents Represented by Attorney BrooksGroup
  • Patent number: 8329356
    Abstract: A fuel cell microporous layer including a plurality of porous particles wherein at least 90% of intruded volume by mercury porosimetry is introduced into pore size diameters ranging from about 0.43 ?m to about 0.03 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Jeanette E. O'Hara
  • Patent number: 8318119
    Abstract: A high-surface area fine particle dispersal of LaMnO3 or a promoted derivation of LaMnO3 may be prepared by the citrate method. The amount of citric acid used to complex the constituent metal cations into citrate complexed mixed metal compounds may range from about 40 mol % to about 100 mol % in excess of stoichiometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Gongshin Qi, Wei Li
  • Patent number: 8316830
    Abstract: A valve module for a combustion engine breathing system, and products and systems using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Keefover, Murray F. Busato
  • Patent number: 8313871
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a product comprising a fuel cell stack comprising at least one coolant header, and at least one heater at least partially disposed in the at least one coolant header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Dirk Wexel, Jurgen Thyroff, Bernd Peter Elgas
  • Patent number: 8277594
    Abstract: A shape memory polymer microfiber material coupled to a base portion and coated with a dry adhesive in which the tips of the microfibers may be modified to achieve superhydrophobicity. The resultant surface of the material may be altered between to an adhesive state from a superhydrophobic state as the shape memory polymer transforms from its permanent shape to a temporary shape. The shape memory polymer microfiber material may be reversibly coupled to one or more substrates when in the adhesive state and uncoupled when in the superhydrophobic state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Tao Xie, Ruomiao Wang
  • Patent number: 8277986
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention comprises a fuel cell bipolar plate comprising a substrate comprising a first face, a reactant gas flow field defined in the first face, the reactant gas flow field comprising a plurality of lands and channels, and a plurality of microgrooves formed in the first face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Thomas A. Trabold, Gayatri Vyas Dadheech, Mahmoud H. Abd Elhamid, Yan Zhang, Keith E. Newman, Jeffrey A. Rock, Steven J. Spencer
  • Patent number: 8268274
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention may include a product comprising a catalyst combination comprising a perovskite catalyst and a second catalyst that is not a perovskite catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Chang H Kim, David B. Brown, Wei Li, Steven J. Schmieg, Gongshin Qi
  • Patent number: 8251163
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes an application of multilayer thermo-reversible dry adhesives in climbing devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Tao Xie, Xingcheng Xiao
  • Patent number: 8245758
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for manufacturing a coulomb damped disc brake rotor, including the steps of: (A) providing a mold having the general shape of the coulomb damped disc brake rotor; (B) placing a coulomb damper insert having a generally annular body and at least one tab extending generally radially from the generally annular body, wherein the at least one tab operates to locate the coulomb damper insert within the mold, and wherein the at least one tab at least partially defines an orifice with its major axis generally coincident with the periphery of the coulomb damped disc brake rotor; and (C) causing casting material to enter the mold to substantially encapsulate the coulomb damper insert with the casting material to form a rotor cheek of the coulomb damped disc brake rotor. A coulomb damper insert and coulomb damped disc brake rotor are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Hanna, James G. Schroth
  • Patent number: 8246808
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment includes a method of selectively electroplating an electrically conductive coating on portions of a first face of a bipolar plate for use in a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell. The first face of the bipolar plate defines at least one reactant gas flow channel and a plurality of lands adjacent the at least one channel. The electrically conductive coating may be selectively electroplated on a plurality of first portions of the lands leaving second portions of the lands uncoated by the electrically conductive coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Mahmoud H. Abd Elhamid, Gayatri Vyas Dadheech, Youssef M. Mikhail
  • Patent number: 8236129
    Abstract: One embodiment provides an attachment pad including a multilayer thermo-reversible adhesive including a shape memory polymer layer and a dry adhesive layer underlying the shape memory polymer layer, the multilayer thermo-reversible adhesive having a curved surface when the shape memory polymer layer is below its glass transition temperature and unaffected by a load; and a means for evenly applying a load and/or detaching force on the perimeter of the multilayer thermo-reversible adhesive including a spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Tao Xie, Xingcheng Xiao, Ruomiao Wang
  • Patent number: 8232011
    Abstract: One aspect of the invention includes the discovery that pinholes in the membrane of the membrane electrode assembly may be caused by hygroexpansive ratcheting. In one embodiment of the invention, a fuel cell stack including a plurality of cells each having a membrane electrode assembly each including a membrane manufactured by an extrusion method and operated so that the rate of drying during humidity cycling is sufficiently low to reduce or eliminate build up stresses in the membrane electrode assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael K. Budinski, Craig S. Gittleman, Yeh-Hung Lai, Christopher Lewis, Daniel Miller
  • Patent number: 8231755
    Abstract: One embodiment includes an application of multilayer thermo-reversible dry adhesives in robotic handling of objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Tao Xie, Richard Michael Schreck, Xingcheng Xiao
  • Patent number: 8230684
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a combustion engine breathing system including a compressor valve for use with a biturbo system and cylinder deactivation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew B. Delavan
  • Patent number: 8231773
    Abstract: A method of treating electrically conductive nanoparticles using a dynamic processing electrochemical cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Junliang Zhang, Susan G. Yan, Frederick T. Wagner
  • Patent number: 8226915
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a method of treating a gas stream comprising flowing the gas stream over a hydrocarbon reduction and NOx reduction catalyst first, and thereafter flowing the gas over a perovskite and NOx trap material for NOx oxidation and storage. In one embodiment, the hydrocarbon reduction and NOx reduction catalyst may include palladium. In one embodiment, the perovskite catalyst may have the general formula ABO3, AA?BO3, ABB?O3, or AA?BB?O3. The perovskite catalyst may be the only catalyst or a second non-perovskite catalyst may include at least one of palladium, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium or a catalyst system including one or more of the same or alloys thereof. In one embodiment, the NOx trap material may include at least one of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals such as barium, calcium, potassium, or sodium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Gongshin Qi, Chang H Kim, Wei Li
  • Patent number: 8221938
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment includes a fuel cell component having comprising a carbon chain, and a material grafted to the coating/surface, wherein the material includes ionic or polar groups. One embodiment includes composite plates which include carbon that can be activated and treated to make their surface hydrophilic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Mahmoud H. Abd Elhamid, Youssef M. Mikhail, Gayatri Vyas Dadheech
  • Patent number: 8210232
    Abstract: A method including: placing a first insert and a second insert in a casting mold and wherein the first insert and second insert including a plurality of connecting posts extending in between so that the first insert and second insert are in spaced-apart relationship in the mold, each of the first insert and the second insert including a first material; casting a molten second material into the casting mold so that the second material flows between the first insert the second insert and solidifying the second material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Houchun Xia
  • Patent number: 8198349
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment discloses a polymer system including a shape memory polymer material and a graphene material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: GL Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Xingcheng Xiao, Tao Xie, Yang T. Cheng
  • Patent number: 8198369
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment of the invention includes grafting a thermoplastic hot melt adhesive material to a shape memory polymer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Tao Xie