Patents by Inventor David W. Mikels

David W. Mikels 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).

  • Patent number: 7938222
    Abstract: An independently suspended, driven axle shaft set in which the axle shafts are asymmetric with respect to each other, wherein the asymmetry provides mitigation of powerhop. The asymmetric axle shafts are asymmetrically selected such that the relative torsional stiffness therebetween is different by a ratio substantially between about 1.4 to 1 and about 2.0 to 1. The asymmetry may be provided by any known modality that alters torsional stiffness and is compliant with operational load demands of the axle shafts, as for example the axle shafts having the same length, but differing cross-sectional diameters; or by the axle shafts having the same cross-sectional diameters, but differing lengths; or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: David W. Mikels, Young-Jin Seo
  • Patent number: 7874398
    Abstract: An independently suspended, driven axle shaft set in which the axle shafts are driven by a differential which is rigidly connected to the body of the motor vehicle by a rearward torque arm, whereby powerhop is mitigated thereby. Where the axle shafts are torsionally asymmetric with respect to each other, the differential is a limited slip differential and the relative torsional stiffness therebetween is different by a ratio substantially between about 1.4 to 1 and about 2.0 to 1, wherein powerhop is mitigated synergistically by both the rearward torque arm and the asymmetric axle shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: David W. Mikels, David M. Caldwell, Young-Jin Seo
  • Publication number: 20090160152
    Abstract: An independently suspended, driven axle shaft set in which the axle shafts are driven by a differential which is rigidly connected to the body of the motor vehicle by a rearward torque arm, whereby powerhop is mitigated thereby. Where the axle shafts are torsionally asymmetric with respect to each other, the differential is a limited slip differential and the relative torsional stiffness therebetween is different by a ratio substantially between about 1.4 to 1 and about 2.0 to 1, wherein powerhop is mitigated synergistically by both the rearward torque arm and the asymmetric axle shafts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: David W. Mikels, David M. Caldwell, Young-Jin Seo
  • Publication number: 20090159359
    Abstract: An independently suspended, driven axle shaft set in which the axle shafts are asymmetric with respect to each other, wherein the asymmetry provides mitigation of powerhop. The asymmetric axle shafts are asymmetrically selected such that the relative torsional stiffness therebetween is different by a ratio substantially between about 1.4 to 1 and about 2.0 to 1. The asymmetry may be provided by any known modality that alters torsional stiffness and is compliant with operational load demands of the axle shafts, as for example the axle shafts having the same length, but differing cross-sectional diameters; or by the axle shafts having the same cross-sectional diameters, but differing lengths; or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: David W. Mikels, Young-Jin Seo