Patents by Inventor Donald M. Flory

Donald M. Flory 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: 5263399
    Abstract: A valving arrangement as provided for a vehicle brake booster wherein an inlet valve has two ring members. The inlet valve, by providing the two ring members, one ring member inserted within another member, is less vulnerable to leaks due to a lack of parallelism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Donald M. Flory, Edward J. De Hoff
  • Patent number: 5207488
    Abstract: A vehicle braking actuated traction control system is provided which includes a bored frame fluidly connected with a master cylinder and a wheel brake. A spring biased plunger with a sealing head slidably mounted within the bore isolates the bore from the master cylinder by axial movement of the plunger in a first direction. A piston operatively associated with the plunger is sealably slidably mounted within the bore for creating a variable control volume in the bore in fluid communication with the wheel brake. The piston is connected with the plunger via a spring which biases the plunger away from the piston. A nut is fixably connected with the piston and a drive screw threadably engaged with the piston is reversibly powered by an electric motor which is responsive to the signals given by a controller which is cognizant of a vehicle wheel condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jerry L. Newton, Donald L. Parker, Donald M. Flory, Timothy A. Haerr
  • Patent number: 5185915
    Abstract: A method of adjusting the length of a vehicle brake booster output rod and assembling the same into the brake booster is provided, the output rod being a thermoplastic or thermoset material that is generally cylindrical in shape with a central longitudinal bore with an axial stop means, and the output rod having an insertable button having a head with an attached stem, the booster having a housing with a central opening surrounding the output rod with a surrounding first formed surface for mounting a master cylinder, the method including piloting a cutting tool by inserting an elongated member into the bore of the output rod, orienting the cutting tool by mating a fixture locationally associated with the cutting tool on the first formed surface of the vacuum booster housing, preloading the output rod with the elongated rod by contacting means with the elongated rod to simulate a spring load of a master cylinder, cutting the output rod with the cutting tool to the correct dimension, removing the elongated memb
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Craig A. Osterday, Douglas L. Osterfeld, Thomas R. Baumaster, Timothy M. Welch, Michael P. Trego, Donald M. Flory
  • Patent number: 5086690
    Abstract: A peripheral sealed interlock for a dual diaphragm tandem vacuum booster with front and rear housings is provided. An outer radial peripheral end of a divider of the inventive interlock is greatly simplified and in the preferred embodiment a bead of a secondary diaphragm is allowed to seal on a rear housing member as well as with the periphery of the divider. The interlock provides a simplified design allowing independent compression of primary and secondary diaphragm beads while at the same time providing an interlock which require lower compression for assembly and sealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Donald M. Flory, Clark D. Moore, Craig A. Osterday, Edward J. De Hoff
  • Patent number: 5054370
    Abstract: A power booster assembly, has a dual-durometer reaction disc instead of the disc having a single durometer value throughout. The disc has an outer annular portion of a higher durometer value than the durometer value of the disc inner center portion. The higher durometer value is preferably on the order of 80 durometer and the lower durometer value is preferably on the order of 45 durometer. The outer annular portion transmit part of the reaction force to the booster power wall, and the inner center portion transmit the remainder of the reaction force to the reaction piston and thence to the booster input member. The disc may be made as a unitary part or may be made in two parts with the inner center portion being later inserted into and mechanically interlocked with the outer center portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Craig A. Osterday, Donald M. Flory
  • Patent number: 5031404
    Abstract: The invention provides a brake booster including in a preferred embodiment a housing, first and second annular flexible diaphragms spaced from one another forming a sealed second chamber within the housing and a sealed first chamber between the first diaphragm and the first end of the housing, a generally annular shaped power piston for connection with the master cylinder piston, a chamber valve seat separating the first and second chambers, an inlet valve slidably mounted within the power piston, and a control valve spring biased away from the power piston and connected with the pedal linkage and being slidably and sealably mounted within first end of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Donald M. Flory, Craig A. Osterday, Edward J. DeHoff, Donald E. Schenk, Jon E. Miller
  • Patent number: 5018798
    Abstract: An anti-lock braking system (ABS) actuator isolation valve and method of utilization thereof is provided to ensure that a braking system master cylinder, which is normally connected with wheel brake cylinder and isolated from the same when the braking system is an ABS mode, is never fluidly exposed with a displacement cylinder, which can alternatively be connected with the wheel brake cylinder when the braking system is in the ABS mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Donald L. Parker, Donald M. Flory
  • Patent number: 4946199
    Abstract: Mechanism for attaching a high pressure tube to an opening in a housing using a tapered opening into which a high pressure tube is inserted. A fitting has one end positioned about the tube end and is then press fitted not only to the housing on an outer diameter fitting section but also inwardly against the tube end as well as the other fitting end being press fitted to the housing to further secure the fitting to the housing, all of the press fits providing high pressure seals. The fitting other end also provides for prealignment of a fitting cross passage with a housing side passage so that high pressure fluid flowing between the tube and the side passage has minimal directional change in passing from the cross passage to the side passage. The fitting other end is adapted to receive press fitting force in axial alignment with the fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Carl E. Goubeaux, Donald M. Flory
  • Patent number: 4932728
    Abstract: A vehicle braking system having a wheel lock control arrangement with isolation valves, solenoid, and brake control valves for the system. In one arrangement, each wheel brake and isolation valve has its own solenoid and control valve. Additionally, the isolation valve is configured in a manner to prevent premature drop out from isolation and to prevent any flow from a master cylinder brake apply pressure circuit to a pump pressure circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Donald E. Schenk, Schuyler S. Shaw, Edward J. DeHoff, Scott A. Baughman, Donald M. Flory, Timothy A. Haerr, Donald L. Parker, Thomas B. Taylor, George N. Villec
  • Patent number: 4924755
    Abstract: A hydraulic booster in which the booster piston return spring is formed as a tubular conduit to conduct hydraulic supply pressure to a closed center valve. Upon actuation, the valve opens to permit supply pressure to flow into the power chamber and by valving action controls the exhaust of pressure from the power chamber so as to establish the desired actuating pressure therein. The tubular conduit forming the power piston return spring and transporting the supply pressure to the closed center valve permits a shorter overall axial length of the hydraulic booster by accommodating the movement of the supply pressure chamber at the closed center valve. It also permits less charged supply pressure leakage by accommodating a better pressure seal arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Donald M. Flory
  • Patent number: 4822112
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel brake system having a service braking section and a wheel lock control (ABS) section is provided. Under certain conditions the wheel lock control section may not be able to generate sufficient pressure to operate the vehicle wheel brakes when the master cylinder output pressure has been isolated from the wheel brakes. When such conditions occur, the displacement piston of the ABS control section moves to open a bypass valve which connects master cylinder output pressure to the vehicle wheel brake even though the ABS system has isolated it from that wheel brake. The bypass valve is a two-stage orifice valve arrangement which provides orifice control of master cylinder pressure during initial brake actuation and provides two stage valve opening action when the master cylinder output pressure is to be delivered to the wheel brake to actuate that brake irrespective of the attempted control of the wheel brake by the ABS section of the brake system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: David F. Reuter, Dewey F. Mort, Donald M. Flory
  • Patent number: 4799715
    Abstract: Various embodiments of mechanism for attaching a high pressure tube to an opening in a housing using a tapered opening into which a high pressure tube end is inserted. A securing device is positioned about the tube end and the securing device is press fitted into place in the opening so that it is press fitted not only to the housing on an outer diameter portion but also inwardly against the tube end, sealing the opening and the tube so as to hold about 5,000 p.s.i. pressure and also securing the tube against forces tending to move the tube axially or rotationally so as to loosen the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1989
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Carl E. Goubeaux, Donald M. Flory
  • Patent number: 4770449
    Abstract: Various embodiments of mechanism for attaching a high pressure tube to an opening in a housing using a tapered opening into which a high pressure tube end is inserted. A securing device is positioned about the tube end and the securing device is press fitted into place in the opening so that it is press fitted not only to the housing on an outer diameter portion but also inwardly against the tube end, sealing the opening and the tube so as to hold about 5,000 p.s.i. pressure and also securing the tube against forces tending to move the tube axially or rotationally so as to loosen the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1988
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Carl E. Goubeaux, Donald M. Flory
  • Patent number: 4768843
    Abstract: A vehicle braking system having a wheel lock control arrangement with isolation valves for each wheel brake and either three or four solenoid and brake control valves for the system. In one arrangement, each wheel brake and isolation valve has its own solenoid and control valve. In other arrangements two front wheel brakes have separate solenoid controlled operating valves and the two rear wheel brakes have a single solenoid controlling operating valve controlling both isolation valves. Traction control is incorporated into the system so that a wheel brake required braking for traction control purposes may be applied by pump pressure without the vehicle brakes themselves having to be applied through service braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Scott A. Baughman, Donald M. Flory, Timothy A. Haerr, Donald L. Parker, Thomas B. Taylor, George N. Villec
  • Patent number: 4765659
    Abstract: Various embodiments of mechanism for attaching a high pressure tube to an opening in a housing using a tapered opening into which a high pressure tube end is inserted. A securing device is positioned about the tube end and the securing device is pressed fitted into place in the opening so that it is press fitted not only to the housing on an outer diameter portion but also inwardly against the tube end, sealing the opening And the tube so as to hold about 5,000 p.s.i. pressure and also securing the tube against forces tending to move the tube axially or rotationally so as to loosen the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Carl E. Goubeaux, Donald M. Flory
  • Patent number: 4754604
    Abstract: A hydraulic booster in which the booster piston return spring is formed as a tubular conduit to conduct hydraulic supply pressure to a closed center valve. Upon actuation, the valve opens to permit supply pressure to flow into the power chamber and by valving action controls the exhaust of pressure from the power chamber so as to establish the desired actuating pressure therein. The tubular conduit forming the power piston return spring and transporting the supply pressure to the closed center valve permits a shorter overall axial length of the hydraulic booster by accomodating the movement of the supply pressure chamber at the closed center valve. It also permits less charged supply pressure leaking by accomodating a better pressure seal arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1988
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Donald M. Flory
  • Patent number: 4387569
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake booster which has an input valve control member acting through a controlled rate spring and through a lever pivoted on the booster housing in the power chamber to move a spool valve in a bore parallel to the power piston so that the input is strictly through the spring. The lever has no connection to the power piston. The control valve is hydraulically unbalanced to a release position and is also urged to the release position by a valve spring. This maintains a proportion between the input force due to the reaction spring, through which input force is applied, and booster pressure. Upon power runout or failure the input and reaction piston overtravels and contacts the output rod to move that rod without moving the power piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1983
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Donald M. Flory, Denny L. Peeples
  • Patent number: 4248135
    Abstract: A hydraulic power booster system in which a hydraulic power brake booster has hydraulic ratio changing mechanisms. The ratio is established by trapping hydraulic fluid in a chamber with an input piston having a larger effective area than an output piston forming movable chamber walls. A ratio piston or sleeve exposed to booster power pressure and the trapped pressure is moved upon power runout, causing the booster ratio to change as the ratio of these pressures change, providing a smooth transition from a high ratio toward a 1:1 ratio as the booster shifts to manual operation from hydraulic power operation. These are three booster modifications shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1981
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Denny L. Peeples, Donald M. Flory
  • Patent number: 4181064
    Abstract: The brake booster is connected in the hydraulic circuit containing the vehicle's power steering system. It is placed downstream of the power steering gear. A multi-functional accumulator/relief valve is provided. This valve functions as the flow restriction seat portion of the control valve to normally operate the booster, provides pressure relief to limit boost pressure to a predetermined maximum, and operates to controllably release pressure of an accumulator to the booster in the event that the power steering pump is not able to adequately perform as a pressure source for the brake booster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1980
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Donald M. Flory