Patents Examined by Ira A. Lazarus
  • Patent number: 5960872
    Abstract: In order to control the temperature of the transmission oil of a motor vehicle driven by a liquid-cooled engine, a coolant/transmission oil heat exchanger is provided. The coolant stream supplied to the heat exchanger is miscible in a thermostatic valve from recooled and non-recooled coolant in order to achieve a desired temperature. Preferably the thermostatic valve is controlled by the temperature of the transmission oil, but it is also possible to have two expanding material elements as control pistons of the thermostatic valve, with one control piston being provided in the oil chamber of the thermostatic valve and the other control piston being provided in the coolant mixing chamber of the thermostatic valve. It is also possible, for purposes of precontrol, to electrically heat at least one of the control pistons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignees: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft, Modine Laengerer & Reich GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhart Huemer, Heinz Lemberger, Winfrid Eckerskorn, Christian Absmeier, Axel Temmesfeld, Victor Brost, Karl Schuetterle, Klaus Kalbacher
  • Patent number: 4768134
    Abstract: An actuator mechanism for a pivoted member which includes a drive crank pivotally connected to a link which, in turn, is pivotally connected to a driven crank for transmitting drive to the driven link and wherein the link cooperates with a stationary pin for ensuring that the link is properly located for continuously providing drive to the driven crank in the proper direction even when the drive crank, link and driven crank are in longitudinal alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Bartley A. Haydu, Steven F. Tregilgas, William E. Carrell