Abstract: A transmission includes a torque converter and an oil pump for providing fluid. The transmission has a stator shaft and a torque converter hub mounted on the stator shaft, defining an annular chamber between the stator shaft and the torque converter hub. A pump rotor for the oil pump is mounted on the torque converter hub. The torque converter hub extends beyond the pump rotor to fluidly seal the pump rotor from the annular chamber between the torque converter hub and the stator shaft.
Abstract: An active suspension system and method for controlling the height of a vehicle. In an exemplary embodiment, the active suspension system receives information from one or more input sources, including both internal and external vehicle inputs, and uses that information to actively control the vehicle height. By doing so, the active suspension system can reduce aerodynamic drag on the vehicle and improve the vehicle's fuel economy, ride comfort, handling, and other aspects of operation. Some examples of external vehicle inputs that may be used include: short-range road and vehicle information, as well as long-range traffic, road and route information.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 16, 2008
Date of Patent:
May 22, 2012
Assignee:
GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Inventors:
Yunjun Li, Timothy J. Herrick, Nancy McMahon, Steven A. Opiteck, John X. Cui, Loren J. Majersik, Nathan A. Wilmot
Abstract: An engine assembly may include an engine structure, a first intake valve, a first valve lift mechanism, a second intake valve, a second valve lift mechanism, and a boost mechanism. The first intake valve may be located in a first intake port and the first valve lift mechanism may be engaged with the first intake valve. The second intake valve may be located in a second intake port and the second valve lift mechanism may be engaged with the second intake valve and operable in first and second modes. The second intake valve may be displaced to an open position during the first mode and may be maintained in a closed position during the second mode. The boost mechanism may be in communication with an air source and the first intake port and isolated from the second intake port.
Abstract: A floor structure is provided for an automobile body that includes, but is not limited to a floor panel and a seat support structure disposed underneath the floor panel. The floor panel includes, but is not limited to at least two floor sections that adjoin one another in the vehicle longitudinal direction and are configured to be substantially flat, which are disposed offset with respect to one another in relation to the vehicle vertical direction. The seat support structure has at least one transverse structure stabilizing the floor section at least in the area of the higher floor section.
Abstract: A hybrid transmission having an input member, an output member, and a single motor/generator is characterized by a plurality of fixed-ratio modes of operation and at least one electrically variable mode of operation. In the fixed-ratio modes of operation, the speed ratio between the input member and the output member is independent of the speed of the motor/generator. In the electrically variable mode of operation, the speed ratio between the input member and the output member is dependent upon the speed of the motor/generator.
Type:
Application
Filed:
November 12, 2010
Publication date:
May 17, 2012
Applicant:
GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Inventors:
Paul F. Turnbull, Brendan M. Conlon, Alan G. Holmes, Shawn H. Swales
Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine having an exhaust port, an exhaust system for conditioning an engine exhaust stream, a nitrogen oxide (NOx) sensor positioned within the exhaust stream, and a controller. The controller has an out-of-range diagnostic tool for evaluating a range performance of the sensor. The controller detects a predetermined engine-on fuel shutoff event, and then temporarily disables the diagnostic tool during the fuel shutoff event. The fuel shutoff event may be a vehicle deceleration-based event. A selective catalytic reduction (SCR) device may be positioned within the exhaust system, with at least one NOx sensor positioned at the outlet of the SCR device. An additional NOx sensor may be positioned in proximity to the exhaust port. A method for use aboard the above vehicle includes detecting the engine-on fuel shutoff event via the controller, and temporarily disabling the diagnostic tool for the duration of the detected fuel shutoff event.
Type:
Application
Filed:
January 25, 2011
Publication date:
May 17, 2012
Applicant:
GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Inventors:
Janean E. Kowalkowski, Scott T. Feldmann
Abstract: A method for controlling combustion in a multi-cylinder spark-ignition direct-injection internal combustion engine includes determining a desired combustion phasing for maintaining acceptable combustion properties, monitoring combustion phasing of each cylinder, selecting a target combustion phasing corresponding to one of the cylinders having a most retarded combustion phasing, adjusting spark timing in each cylinder not having the most retarded combustion phasing to achieve the target combustion phasing to balance the combustion phasing in all the cylinders at the target combustion phasing, and adjusting an external EGR percentage to converge the balanced combustion phasing in all the cylinders toward the desired combustion phasing.
Abstract: A cooling system is provided for a combustion engine having at least one pressure sensor and a diaphragm. The diaphragm is impermeable to a coolant of the cooling system and in contact with the coolant on a first side. A sensor device of the at least one pressure sensor is arranged separated from the coolant on a second side of the diaphragm located opposite the first side and configured to determine a pressure of the coolant.
Abstract: A method for determining an estimated driving range for a vehicle that uses battery power for vehicle propulsion, where the estimate is in the form of a range of values as opposed to a single value. In one embodiment, the method adds a positive offset value to an initial estimate value to determine an upper limit, and subtracts a negative offset value from the initial estimate value to determine a lower limit. The positive and negative offset values may be determined separately and on a real-time basis so that the extent of the overall estimated driving range may be influenced by the volatility in power consumption and/or power creation.
Type:
Application
Filed:
November 15, 2010
Publication date:
May 17, 2012
Applicant:
GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Inventors:
Christopher A. Kinser, Matthew A. Herrmann
Abstract: A dual drive pump system for rear wheel or front wheel drive automatic transmission in a motor vehicle includes a dual drive pump disposed off-axis of the transmission input shaft axis and driven by a gear train driven by a hub. The dual drive pump is also driven by a gear train driven by an auxiliary motor. Torque multiplication through the gear train allows the dual drive pump to have a smaller displacement while still providing the hydraulic pressure needs of the transmission. Each gear train is connected to the dual drive pump via back-to-back one way clutches (OWC). The dual drive pump may be driven by either an engine or the auxiliary motor depending on the operating conditions of the motor vehicle.
Abstract: A method is provided for detecting a level of diesel-exhaust-fluid (DEF) in a reservoir that is operatively connected to a catalyst for a diesel engine. The method is employed in a vehicle in order to facilitate a refill of the reservoir. The method includes sensing a level of diesel fuel in a fuel tank via a sensor operatively connected to the tank. The method also includes determining whether the vehicle is on an incline using the sensed level of diesel fuel in the fuel tank. The method additionally includes determining the level of DEF in the reservoir if the vehicle is determined to be substantially not on an incline. A system is also provided for detecting a level of DEF in the reservoir.
Abstract: In an intake arrangement for a combustion chamber in which a first intake duct produces a substantially rotational flow in the chamber, the flow from a second intake duct is divided into two components. The first component is an axial flow into the chamber and the second component is a rotational flow having the same sense of rotation as the first duct. The first and second components arise from the shaping of a junction region between branches of the second intake duct adjacent the chamber.
Abstract: A fibrous sheet for fuel cell or battery applications is formed by electrospinning a fluorinated ion-conducting polymer solution to form an agglomeration of fibers.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 31, 2011
Publication date:
May 17, 2012
Applicant:
GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Inventors:
Lijun Zou, Timothy J. Fuller, Michael R. Schoeneweiss
Abstract: A control system for a vehicle includes a location identification module, an adjustment triggering module, and an adjustment module. The location identification module identifies a location where an engine of the vehicle is expected to be shut down and later re-started with at least one temperature within a predetermined range of an ambient temperature at the time of the re-start. The adjustment triggering module generates a triggering signal when a vehicle location provided by a global positioning system (GPS) is less than a predetermined distance from the identified location. The adjustment module selectively one of increases and decreases a rate at which a dosing agent is injected into an exhaust system, upstream of a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst, when the triggering signal is generated.
Abstract: A fluid system includes a fluidic device, an electrically-actuated fluid pump having a pump motor, and a control system. The control system controls a speed of the pump using a commanded torque value, and calculates a feedforward torque term as a function of a set of operating values, including a desired fluid line pressure. The control system determines the speed control torque term using pump speed error, and adds the feedforward torque term to the speed control torque term to calculate the commanded torque value. The speed control torque term may be determined using an integral term of a proportional integral derivative (PID) portion of the control system. A method for controlling pump speed includes calculating the feedforward torque term, determining the speed control torque term using a pump speed error, and adding the feedforward torque term to the speed control torque term to calculate the commanded torque value.
Type:
Application
Filed:
November 12, 2010
Publication date:
May 17, 2012
Applicant:
GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Inventors:
Jy-Jen F. Sah, Ali K. Naqvi, Vincent Rawls, Nitinkumar R. Patel
Abstract: A combustion engine is provided with overhead camshafts. The camshafts are mounted in bearings. The cylinder head with camshafts is fixed on a cylinder block via cylinder head screws. Bearing caps are fixed on the cylinder head via bearing cap screws. Each bearing cap comprises three openings for bearing cap screws and additionally a fourth opening for a cylinder head screw.
Abstract: An exhaust gas after treatment system for an engine comprises an oxidation catalyst NOx adsorber wherein an oxidation catalyst compound and a NOx adsorber compound are disposed. A fuel injector is connected to and is in fluid communication with the oxidation catalyst NOx adsorber device for delivery of a hydrocarbon fuel thereto and an air pump is connected to and is in fluid communication with the oxidation catalyst NOx adsorber device for delivery of air thereto. The fuel injector and the air pump supply fuel and air to the oxidation catalyst NOx adsorber device for oxidation thereof and heating of the NOx adsorber compound to a NOx release temperature following shut down of the internal combustion engine.
Type:
Application
Filed:
November 15, 2010
Publication date:
May 17, 2012
Applicant:
GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Inventors:
Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, JR., Joshua Clifford Bedford
Abstract: A method for operating a spark-ignition internal combustion engine includes controlling spark ignition timing responsive to a combustion charge flame speed corresponding to an engine operating point and a commanded air/fuel ratio associated with an operator torque request.
Type:
Application
Filed:
November 16, 2010
Publication date:
May 17, 2012
Applicant:
GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Inventors:
Xiaofeng Yang, Wenbo Wang, Tang-Wei Kuo, Jeffrey M. Kaiser, Chao F. Daniels
Abstract: A fuel cell includes an anode, a cathode, and an ion conducting membrane interposed between the anode and cathode. The ion conducting membrane includes a base layer that has an ion conducting polymer and additive layer that has a metal supported on an oxide support, the oxide support scavenging hydroxyl radicals formed during fuel cell operation.
Type:
Application
Filed:
November 15, 2010
Publication date:
May 17, 2012
Applicant:
GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Inventors:
Ruichun Jiang, Junliang Zhang, Zhongyi Liu, Frank Coms, Craig S. Gittleman
Abstract: A method for controlling a multi-cylinder direct-injection internal combustion engine includes establishing an external exhaust gas recirculation valve from a present position to a target position to achieve a target exhaust gas recirculation, and synchronizing combustion initiation timing with actual exhaust gas recirculation as actual exhaust gas recirculation changes from a first exhaust gas recirculation value corresponding to the present position of the external exhaust gas recirculation valve to a second exhaust gas recirculation value corresponding to the target position of the external exhaust gas recirculation valve.