Patents Assigned to GM
  • Patent number: 9359011
    Abstract: An attachment assembly is configured to couple a panel assembly to a support member. The attachment assembly includes a first attachment member and a second attachment member movably coupled to the first attachment member. As such, the second attachment member is configured to move relative to the first attachment member. The second attachment member defines a cavity portion. The attachment assembly further includes a locking member movably coupled to the first attachment member between an unlocked position and a locked position. When the locking member is in the unlocked position, the second attachment member is movable with respect to the first attachment member. In the locked position, the locking member is at least partially disposed in the cavity portion, thereby fixing the position of the second attachment member with respect to the first attachment member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Hojjat Fathollahi
  • Patent number: 9359035
    Abstract: A foldable bicycle is provided in its self-propelled use position in its folded-out state, for transporting and for storage in its folded-up state and in both its folded-out and folded up states has fixing components for maintaining the reliability of these states, and in its folded-up state it has significantly lower space demand as compared to its folded-out state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Gábor Gerencsér
  • Patent number: 9359176
    Abstract: A movement device is configured for moving a payload. The movement device includes a first support, a second support, and an intermediate support. The intermediate support is operatively disposed between the first support and the second support. The intermediate support is jointed to the first support at two first joints and jointed to the second support at two second joints. The second support is configured for supporting the payload. The intermediate support is jointed to the second support at two second joints. The first joints are pivotable about a respective first axis of rotation such that the intermediate support moves relative to the first support. The second joints are pivotable about a respective first axis of rotation such that the second support moves relative to the intermediate support. Each of the first axes of rotation are in spaced and generally parallel relationship to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Dalong Gao, Robert J. Scheuerman
  • Patent number: 9362542
    Abstract: One example of a lithium ion battery component is a lithium ion battery separator including a planar microporous polymer membrane and a chelating agent bonded to the planar microporous polymer membrane through a linking group. The chelating agent is bonded such that the permanent dipole moment of the chelating agent is oriented perpendicular to the plane of the planar microporous polymer membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ion C. Halalay, Timothy J. Fuller, Zicheng Li
  • Patent number: 9359796
    Abstract: A locking arrangement for a pivotable lid of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The locking arrangement includes an axially displaceable guided bolt which releasably engages with the lid. A rotatably mounted rocker is coupled to the bolt. A slotted link guide is arranged on a circumferential side of the rocker about its axis of rotation. The slotted link guide has a channel and a sliding element which is guided therein. The channel has an engagement position and counteracts movement of the sliding element out of the engagement position against a predetermined passage direction. The locking arrangement can be alternately brought into and out of engagement with the lid through successive axial displacements in order to lock or unlock the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Heiko Betzen, Markus Frommann
  • Patent number: 9359933
    Abstract: A thermostatic valve assembly for a cooling system of an internal combustion engine provided with a radiator is provided. The thermostatic valve assembly includes a valve body having an inlet from the radiator, an inlet from the engine and an outlet to the engine. A main valve plate opens and closes the pathway of a cooling fluid from the radiator. A wax element is placed in a chamber of the valve body in fluid communication with the inlets and the outlet. The wax element has a piston mechanically connected to the main valve plate at a distal end. A main spring keeps the main valve plate closed until a target temperature of the cooling fluid coming from the engine is reached. An auxiliary valve plate opens and closes a direct pathway of the cooling fluid from the radiator to the chamber in which the wax element is placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Luca Borgia, Carmine Pezzella
  • Patent number: 9359976
    Abstract: An engine assembly includes an intake assembly, a spark-ignited internal combustion engine, and an exhaust assembly. The intake assembly includes a charge air cooler disposed between an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) mixer and a backpressure valve. The charge air cooler has both an inlet and an outlet, and the back pressure valve is configured to maintain a minimum pressure difference between the inlet of the charge air cooler and an outlet of the backpressure valve. A dedicated exhaust gas recirculation system is provided in fluid communication with at least one cylinder and with the EGR mixer. The dedicated exhaust gas recirculation system is configured to route all of the exhaust gas from the at least one cylinder to the EGR mixer for recirculation back to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Edward J. Keating, Rodney E. Baker
  • Patent number: 9361739
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a computer and logic executable by the computer. The logic is configured to read an odometer value from a storage system. The odometer value corresponds to an accrued mileage obtained from an odometer. The accrued mileage is determined at a beginning of a current driving event. The logic is also configured to read an odometer value for the vehicle from another storage system. The odometer value from the other storage system corresponds to an accrued mileage obtained from the storage system at the beginning of a driving event that precedes the current driving event. The logic is further configured to compare the odometer value from the storage system to the odometer value from the other storage system and calculate a reduction value from the difference, upon determining the odometer value from the other storage system is greater than the odometer value from the storage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: William A. Biondo, David T. Proefke, Kevin E. Fondaw
  • Patent number: 9358956
    Abstract: A vehicle wiper assembly includes a wiper blade having a length, and an active material disposed along the length of the wiper blade and coupled thereto. The active material includes a shape memory alloy material with a crystallographic phase that is changeable between austenite and martensite, and is elastically deformable and operatively applies a spring force against a portion of the wiper blade when the crystallographic phase is martensite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas W. Pinto, IV, Scott R. Webb, Alan L. Browne, Paul W. Alexander, Xiujie Gao, Nancy L. Johnson, Wendell G. Summerville, John A. Cafeo
  • Patent number: 9360053
    Abstract: A clutch is configured to transfer torque between a first element and a second element. The first element is coupled to a reaction plate and the second element is coupled to a friction plate disposed opposite the reaction plate. The friction plate includes a plate element, a friction layer, and a plurality of compressible members. The friction layer is fixedly attached to the plate element and defines a plurality of grooved voids. The compressible members are disposed in the grooved voids of the friction layer and fixedly attached to the plate element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Gregory Mordukhovich
  • Publication number: 20160152287
    Abstract: An aerodynamically effective attachment part or spoiler extension is disclosed. The spoiler extension includes a guide arrangement having a first guide element formed between the spoiler extension and a base body of the spoiler arrangement. Transfer of the spoiler extension is guided from a release position, in which the spoiler extension is detachable from the base body, along at transfer direction into a locking position, in which the spoiler extension is secured on the base body. The spoiler extension includes a securing element able to secure the spoiler extension automatically on the base body of the spoiler arrangement in the locking position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Michael FUCHS, Friedrich HEIN
  • Publication number: 20160152236
    Abstract: A method, control unit and computer program product is disclosed for executing an evasive maneuver of a motor vehicle. If an obstacle is detected in the vehicle's path, the evasive maneuver is initiated and a nominal trajectory is calculated. Control devices of the motor vehicle are actuated in such a way that the motor vehicle drives along the nominal trajectory under normal road conditions. The evasive maneuver is executed as calculated if the motor vehicle moves along the nominal trajectory. An alternative trajectory, which is actually possible with respect to the driving dynamics under the given road conditions, is calculated based on the reaction of the motor vehicle to the actuation of its control devices if the motor vehicle does not move along the nominal trajectory. The evasive maneuver is executed along the alternative trajectory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Boliang YI, Frank BONARENS
  • Publication number: 20160152203
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided that has two side bolsters and a central seat part arranged between the latter. Further provided are adjusting devices for adjusting the side bolsters on the sides facing the central seat part. A side airbag is integrated into one side bolster of the side bolsters, on its side facing away from the central seat part. A non-elastic seat cover is provided for this side bolster. The seat cover has an airbag seam. The seat cover is elastically attached in the area of an end facing away from the side airbag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Joerg WIEGELMANN, Günter FLECKENSTEIN, Juergen NILIUS
  • Publication number: 20160152117
    Abstract: A fragrance dispenser is provided to be disposed in the cabin of a motor vehicle, while maintaining a structurally simple configuration and uncomplicated mountability for the dispenser. The dispenser is to ensure an efficient improvement of the fragrance equipment in the cabin of the motor vehicle. The fragrance dispenser may be disposed in the cabin of a motor vehicle integral or arranged with interior trim that detachably accommodates the dispenser. The dispenser may have a housing for accommodating the fragrances, and the housing may further have at least one opening for dispensing the fragrances from the housing. The fragrance dispenser may also have an electric heater for heating the fragrances located in the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Fredrik BACKMAN, Valter SKIBINSKI, Jun Hyuck EOH
  • Patent number: 9353655
    Abstract: An engine control system includes a cylinder control module and a pump control module. The cylinder control module selectively deactivates cylinders of an engine. In response to a determination that at least one of the cylinders is deactivated, the pump control module: selectively increases a target displacement for an oil pump that is driven by a balance shaft of the engine; and selectively adjusts displacement of the oil pump based on the target displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy T. Demarest, Ronald J. Pierik, Eric D. Staley
  • Patent number: 9353812
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment may include a product including a first brake rotor cheek having a first body and at least a first outer surface. A first hardened region may extend from the first outer surface towards the center of the body. In one embodiment, the first hardened region may include a nitro-carburized ferrous metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Hanna, Mohan Sundar
  • Patent number: 9352613
    Abstract: A wheel for a motor vehicle is provided. The wheel includes at least one spoke, and a dovetail profile disposed on the spoke. The wheel also includes a spoke module with dovetail encompassing regions, which are configured to be pushed onto the dovetail profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Niels Loeb, Darren Luke, Franz Schwenk
  • Patent number: 9353694
    Abstract: An engine control system of a vehicle includes a first temperature module, a second temperature module, and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) control module. The first temperature module determines a temperature of gas within an intake manifold of an engine. The second temperature module determines a temperature of an EGR conduit that is coupled to the intake manifold. The EGR control module reduces opening of an EGR valve when the temperature of the gas and the temperature of the conduit is greater than a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: B. Jerry Song, Gregory J. York, Jon C. Wasberg, Josef J. Correia, Timothy Ward Athan
  • Patent number: 9353734
    Abstract: A load-carrying active material assembly and a method of preparing such an active material assembly suitable for attachment to a movable component of a mechanism is described. The assembly includes a shape memory alloy (SMA) element, a connector adapted to engage the moveable component mechanically crimped to the SMA element, and a filler material disposed intermediate the connector and SMA element. The filler may be a solder or a polymer. Methods for appropriately distributing the filler material and for promoting good adhesion of the filler to the SMA element and the connector are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Strom, Nancy L. Johnson, Nilesh D. Mankame, Jason R. Spenny
  • Patent number: D757631
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Stuart Jamieson