Patents by Inventor DONALD G. STRAITIFF

DONALD G. STRAITIFF 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: 10048157
    Abstract: A balancing device, a uniformity device and an apparatus including the balancing device and the uniformity device are disclosed. Each of the balancing device and the uniformity device includes at least one multi-axis transducer. Methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Android Industries LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Lawson, Robert Reece, Barry A. Clark, Donald G. Straitiff
  • Patent number: 9821615
    Abstract: A system is disclosed. The system includes a processing station for processing at least one of a tire and a wheel prior to joining the tire and the wheel for forming a tire-wheel assembly. The processing station includes one of a tire lubricating sub-station and a wheel lubricating sub-station. A lubrication conditioning system is fluidly-coupled to the processing station. The lubrication conditioning system includes: a lubricant reservoir, a lubricant temperature modifier arranged at least proximate to the lubricant reservoir, a lubricant temperature sensor arranged within a cavity formed by the lubricant reservoir and a controller communicatively-coupled to both of the lubricant temperature modifier and the lubricant temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Android Industries LLC
    Inventors: Donald G. Straitiff, Barry A. Clark, Lawrence J. Lawson, Joshua J. Hicks, Robert Reece, David H. Larson
  • Patent number: 9630462
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing a tire-wheel assembly including a tire and a wheel that removes entrapments between a bead seat of the wheel and bead of the tire is disclosed. The apparatus includes a tire-wheel assembly exerciser having a tire-engaging portion. The tire-engaging portion includes at least one tire-engaging device that is adjustably-connected to a base portion. A system is disclosed. A method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Android Industries LLC
    Inventors: Robert Reece, Barry A. Clark, David H. Larson, Ramsey Richard Niazy, Donald G. Straitiff, Lawrence J. Lawson, Joshua J. Hicks
  • Patent number: 9618425
    Abstract: A system for determining road force uniformity of a tire is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of imaging devices and a computer communicatively-coupled to the plurality of imaging devices. The plurality of imaging devices images a plurality of surfaces of the tire as the tire-wheel assembly is rotated about an axis of rotation. The computer receives images captured by the plurality of imaging devices in order for the computer to extract data from the images such that the computer may execute a road force uniformity simulation algorithm for the purpose of algorithmically simulating road force uniformity of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Android Industries LLC
    Inventors: Barry Allan Clark, Donald G. Straitiff, Robert Reece
  • Publication number: 20150013453
    Abstract: A balancing device, a uniformity device and an apparatus including the balancing device and the uniformity device are disclosed. Each of the balancing device and the uniformity device includes at least one multi-axis transducer. Methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Lawson, Robert Reece, Barry A. Clark, Donald G. Straitiff
  • Publication number: 20140360677
    Abstract: A system is disclosed. The system includes a processing station for processing at least one of a tire and a wheel prior to joining the tire and the wheel for forming a tire-wheel assembly. The processing station includes one of a tire lubricating sub-station and a wheel lubricating sub-station. A lubrication conditioning system is fluidly-coupled to the processing station. The lubrication conditioning system includes: a lubricant reservoir, a lubricant temperature modifier arranged at least proximate to the lubricant reservoir, a lubricant temperature sensor arranged within a cavity formed by the lubricant reservoir and a controller communicatively-coupled to both of the lubricant temperature modifier and the lubricant temperature sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Donald G. Straitiff, Barry A. Clark, Lawrence J. Lawson, Joshua J. Hicks, Robert Reece, David H. Larson
  • Publication number: 20140340511
    Abstract: A system for testing an implement is disclosed. The system includes: a computing resource, an implement rotating device, a light emitting device and a light receiving device. The implement rotating device rotatably-supports the implement. The implement rotating device is communicatively-coupled to the computing resource. The light emitting device is communicatively-coupled to the computing resource. The light receiving device is communicatively-coupled to the computing resource. The implement rotating device and the implement are arranged between the light emitting device and the light receiving device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Android Industries LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Lawson, Donald G. Straitiff, Barry A. Clark, Ramsey Richard Niazy
  • Publication number: 20140305598
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing a tire-wheel assembly including a tire and a wheel that removes entrapments between a bead seat of the wheel and bead of the tire is disclosed. The apparatus includes a tire-wheel assembly exerciser having a tire-engaging portion. The tire-engaging portion includes at least one tire-engaging device that is adjustably-connected to a base portion. A system is disclosed. A method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Android Industries LLC
    Inventors: Robert Reece, Barry A. Clark, David H. Larson, Ramsey Richard Niazy, Donald G. Straitiff, Lawrence J. Lawson, Joshua J. Hicks
  • Publication number: 20140132740
    Abstract: A system for determining road force uniformity of a tire is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of imaging devices and a computer communicatively-coupled to the plurality of imaging devices. The plurality of imaging devices images a plurality of surfaces of the tire as the tire-wheel assembly is rotated about an axis of rotation. The computer receives images captured by the plurality of imaging devices in order for the computer to extract data from the images such that the computer may execute a road force uniformity simulation algorithm for the purpose of algorithmically simulating road force uniformity of the tire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Android Industries LLC
    Inventors: Barry Allan Clark, Donald G. Straitiff, Robert Reece
  • Patent number: 8579381
    Abstract: An annular centering ring centers a wheel on a hub. The hub has a circular outer surface and an outer end face. The wheel has a central opening defined by a circular wall. The annular centering ring has an annular mounting flange structure that seats upon the circular outer surface and the outer end face of the hub, and a centering skirt structure that is engaged by the circular wall of the wheel when the wheel is installed onto the hub so that the centering skirt structure is flexed and occupies the annular space between the circular outer surface of the hub and the central opening of the wheel to thereby center the wheel upon the hub in readiness for installation of a plurality of lug nuts. The centering skirt structure is captured in a press-fit relationship between the wheel and hub, or can be extruded away during the installation of the wheel onto the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Donald G. Straitiff
  • Publication number: 20120319460
    Abstract: An annular centering ring centers a wheel on a hub. The hub has a circular outer surface and an outer end face. The wheel has a central opening defined by a circular wall. The annular centering ring has an annular mounting flange structure that seats upon the circular outer surface and the outer end face of the hub, and a centering skirt structure that is engaged by the circular wall of the wheel when the wheel is installed onto the hub so that the centering skirt structure is flexed and occupies the annular space between the circular outer surface of the hub and the central opening of the wheel to thereby center the wheel upon the hub in readiness for installation of a plurality of lug nuts. The centering skirt structure is captured in a press-fit relationship between the wheel and hub, or can be extruded away during the installation of the wheel onto the hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: DONALD G. STRAITIFF