Patents by Inventor David C. Caples
David C. Caples 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).
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Patent number: 11577649Abstract: An active outside rear view system for a vehicle includes a support structure mounted to an exterior surface of the vehicle. A rear view device is movably affixed to the support structure. A linkage extends from a first end to a second end, where the first end of the linkage is movably affixed to an aerodynamic enclosure and the second end of the linkage is movably affixed to the support structure. An actuator is engaged with the linkage and moves the aerodynamic enclosure between at least a first position and a second position different from the first position. The aerodynamic enclosure is independently movable relative to the rear view device and the support structure. The aerodynamic first position and the second position provide differing aerodynamic characteristics to the active outside rear view system.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2020Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventor: David C. Caples
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Patent number: 11440597Abstract: A rear wing for a motor vehicle includes a first end, a second end, and an aerodynamic surface including a pressure side extending between the first end and the second end, a first end plate is arranged at the first end, and a second end plate is arranged at the second end. At least one of the first end plate and the second end plate includes a selectively deployable aerodynamic surface.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2020Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Andrew T. Cunningham, Adam Golembeski, Alexander N. Nastov, David C. Caples, Joel P. Ruschman
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Publication number: 20220099114Abstract: A flow conditioning device includes a body portion having first and second ends and an interior surface defining a channel extending from the first end to the second end, and one or more flow conditioning elements disposed within the channel. Each of the one or more flow conditioning elements is integrally formed with the interior surface of the body portion, and may be a respective flow straightening tube, a flow straightening vane, a hole array plate, a turning vane, a swirling vane, a helical ridge formed along a respective longitudinal segment of the interior surface, or another configuration. The body portion and the one or more flow conditioning elements may be formed by an additive manufacturing process, and may optionally be made of the same material.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2020Publication date: March 31, 2022Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Jeffrey Harris, Andrew T. Cunningham, Zachary P. Steffes, Thomas Curtis, Qigui Wang, David C. Caples
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Publication number: 20220063501Abstract: An active outside rear view system for a vehicle includes a support structure mounted to an exterior surface of the vehicle. A rear view device is movably affixed to the support structure. A linkage extends from a first end to a second end, where the first end of the linkage is movably affixed to an aerodynamic enclosure and the second end of the linkage is movably affixed to the support structure. An actuator is engaged with the linkage and moves the aerodynamic enclosure between at least a first position and a second position different from the first position. The aerodynamic enclosure is independently movable relative to the rear view device and the support structure. The aerodynamic first position and the second position provide differing aerodynamic characteristics to the active outside rear view system.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2020Publication date: March 3, 2022Inventor: David C. Caples
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Publication number: 20220041228Abstract: A rear wing for a motor vehicle includes a first end, a second end, and an aerodynamic surface including a pressure side extending between the first end and the second end, a first end plate is arranged at the first end, and a second end plate is arranged at the second end. At least one of the first end plate and the second end plate includes a selectively deployable aerodynamic surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2020Publication date: February 10, 2022Inventors: Andrew T. Cunningham, Adam Golembeski, Alexander N. Nastov, David C. Caples, Joel P. Ruschman
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Patent number: 10457341Abstract: A vehicle including a vehicle body having a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the first end is configured to face oncoming airflow. An underbody extending between the first and second ends of the vehicle body and the underbody including a first lateral edge, an opposing second lateral edge and a central region defined therebetween. At least one aerodynamic member on the underbody, the at least one aerodynamic member having at least one aerodynamic surface wherein the at least one aerodynamic surface includes at least one curved triangular channel configured to cause airflow to separate over a trip edge of the at least one curved triangular channel to create a low pressure vortex region within the curved triangular channel.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2018Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Daniel L. Riggs, David C. Caples
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Publication number: 20190291790Abstract: A vehicle including a vehicle body having a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the first end is configured to face oncoming airflow. An underbody extending between the first and second ends of the vehicle body and the underbody including a first lateral edge, an opposing second lateral edge and a central region defined therebetween. At least one aerodynamic member on the underbody, the at least one aerodynamic member having at least one aerodynamic surface wherein the at least one aerodynamic surface includes at least one curved triangular channel configured to cause airflow to separate over a trip edge of the at least one curved triangular channel to create a low pressure vortex region within the curved triangular channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2018Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Daniel L. Riggs, David C. Caples
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Patent number: 10323443Abstract: A vehicle includes a first member and a second member moveable relative to the first member. A compliant member is compressible between the first member and the second member. A compression control device is attached to one of the first member and the second member for engaging another of the first member and the second member, or the compliant member. The compression control device is moveable between a first position and a second position. When disposed in the first position, the compression control device is not engaged with the first member, the second member, or the compliant member, and allows compression of the compliant member into a first compressive state. When disposed in the second position, the compression control device is engaged with one of the first member, the second member, or the compliant member, and is operable to compress the compliant member into a second compressive state.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2015Date of Patent: June 18, 2019Assignee: GM Global Technolgy Operations LLC.Inventors: Richard A. Berger, David C. Caples, Jeffrey L. Konchan
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Patent number: 10059386Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes a body having an occupant compartment. The vehicle additionally includes a windshield frame coupled to the body and disposed at a fore portion of the occupant compartment. The windshield frame has an upper periphery. The vehicle also includes a roof disposed to selectively cover the occupant compartment. The roof has an extended position in which the roof covers the occupant compartment and a retracted position in which the roof does not cover the occupant compartment. The vehicle further includes an airfoil coupled to the windshield frame by a linkage. The linkage has a stowed position and a deployed position. In the deployed position the airfoil projects above the upper periphery of the windshield frame with a gap therebetween. In the stowed position the airfoil does not project above the upper periphery of the windshield.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2017Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventor: David C. Caples
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Patent number: 9849923Abstract: A dual-strake assembly can be coupled to the underbody of the vehicle in order to maximize the downforce-to-drag ratio, thereby enhancing the vehicle aerodynamic efficiency. The dual-strake assembly includes a first strake and a second strake having different curvatures. The second strake has a chord length. Each of the first and second strakes has a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge. The first edges of the first and second strakes are spaced apart from each other so as to define a gap, which has a gap distance measured from the first edge of the first strake to the first edge of the second strake. The gap distance is equal to or less than twenty-five percent of the chord length. The camber of the first strake is less than the camber of the second strake.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2016Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: David C. Caples, Richard A. Berger
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Publication number: 20170305479Abstract: A dual-strake assembly can be coupled to the underbody of the vehicle in order to maximize the downforce-to-drag ratio, thereby enhancing the vehicle aerodynamic efficiency. The dual-strake assembly includes a first strake and a second strake having different curvatures. The second strake has a chord length. Each of the first and second strakes has a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge. The first edges of the first and second strakes are spaced apart from each other so as to define a gap, which has a gap distance measured from the first edge of the first strake to the first edge of the second strake. The gap distance is equal to or less than twenty-five percent of the chord length. The camber of the first strake is less than the camber of the second strake.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2016Publication date: October 26, 2017Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: David C. Caples, Richard A. Berger
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Publication number: 20160305170Abstract: A vehicle includes a first member and a second member moveable relative to the first member. A compliant member is compressible between the first member and the second member. A compression control device is attached to one of the first member and the second member for engaging another of the first member and the second member, or the compliant member. The compression control device is moveable between a first position and a second position. When disposed in the first position, the compression control device is not engaged with the first member, the second member, or the compliant member, and allows compression of the compliant member into a first compressive state. When disposed in the second position, the compression control device is engaged with one of the first member, the second member, or the compliant member, and is operable to compress the compliant member into a second compressive state.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2015Publication date: October 20, 2016Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Richard A. Berger, David C. Caples, Jeffrey L. Konchan