Patents by Inventor GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC 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).

  • Publication number: 20130099555
    Abstract: A wheel for a motor vehicle is provided. The wheel includes at least one spoke, and a swallowtail profile disposed on the spoke. The wheel also includes a spoke module with swallowtail encompassing regions, which are configured to be pushed onto the swallowtail profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
  • Publication number: 20130092107
    Abstract: A wax-type thermostat for the cooling system of an internal combustion engine (ICE) is provided. The cooling system includes a radiator and a coolant loop circuit linking the radiator to the internal combustion engine, and having a by-pass conduit. The thermostat includes a thermostat body with a radiator inlet, an ICE inlet, via the by-pass conduit, and an ICE outlet. The thermostat further includes a piston integral to a closure element that opens or close a thermostat internal pathway connecting the radiator inlet to the ICE outlet, and a wax chamber thermally connected to the coolant within the thermostat body. The thermostat includes a first spring to return the closure element towards its closing position, and means for moving the piston when a volume variation in the wax occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
  • Publication number: 20130092240
    Abstract: A back pressure valve for a fuel cell stack assembly is disclosed, wherein the valve includes a solenoid disposed thereon, an energization of the solenoid causing a generation of heat in a valve flap to facilitate a melting of ice that has formed in the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
  • Publication number: 20130093217
    Abstract: In a motor vehicle, in particular an automobile, with a rear underbody structure is provided. The motor vehicle includes as base and two longitudinal beams, spaced apart from one another, connected with a transverse beam at least in the front and rear region. The motor vehicle includes spring plates for supporting spiral springs. At least the transverse beam arranged in the rear region of the underbody structure is constructed as a hollow profile, a covering wall of which is formed from at least two individual carrier profiles which are connected with one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
  • Publication number: 20130095251
    Abstract: A flow field plate or bipolar plate for a fuel cell that includes a combination of non-stoichiometric and a conductive material that makes the bipolar plate conductive, hydrophilic and stable in the fuel cell environment. The non-stoichiometric and the conductive material can be deposited on the plate as separate layers or can be combined as a single layer. Either the non-stoichiometric layer or the conductive layer can be deposited first. In one embodiment, the conductive material is gold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
  • Publication number: 20130093211
    Abstract: A car body, for example, a front or rear frame is provided. The car body includes at least one crossmember and at least one pair of left and right braces that are arranged at least substantially symmetric to the crossmember. The car body also includes a shear element that is designed for absorbing shear forces during a collision and that is mounted on a brace of the pair, wherein no shear element is provided symmetrically thereto on the other brace of this pair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
  • Publication number: 20130088043
    Abstract: A motor vehicle having a windshield, A-pillars laterally enclosing the windshield and a window cross member connected to the A-pillars is provided. The window cross member supports a lower edge of the windshield in that it comprises a support section touching the windshield. The window cross member includes a point of action fastened to the A-pillar, which is offset in the direction of a surface normal of the windshield against the support section. The window cross member also includes a compressible section that connects the point of action with the support section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
  • Publication number: 20130088886
    Abstract: A headlamp assembly of a vehicle with a headlamp fastening device is described. The headlamp assembly has a transparent headlamp cover on a front side. A headlamp housing is closed on the front side by the headlamp cover. The headlamp assembly is configured to mechanically connect with the vehicle body via the headlamp fastening device. The headlamp fastening device has a guide rail, on which the headlamp assembly is arranged so as to be pivotable contrary to the direction of travel and so as to be able to be withdrawn in the direction of travel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
  • Publication number: 20130090830
    Abstract: A subject matter of the application relates to a method for determining a speed of a vehicle. In one embodiment, the method includes ascertaining a first value of a distance traveled by the vehicle within a time interval on the basis of data ascertained by at least one first revolution sensor of a first tire of the vehicle and a second revolution sensor of a second tire of the vehicle; ascertaining a second value of a distance traveled by the vehicle within a time interval on the basis of data ascertained by a position-determining device; and comparing the ascertained first value and the ascertained second value. If a deviation between the ascertained first value and the ascertained second value exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the method includes classifying a speed determined on the basis of the ascertained second value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
  • Publication number: 20130088050
    Abstract: An arrangement of a water box and a drain is provided for draining off water from a region between a windshield and an engine hood in a motor vehicle. The water box can include a depression with an upwardly directed water-directing region. The drain can include a drain valve housing with a drain valve. The drain valve of the drain is arranged above the water-directing region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
  • Publication number: 20130088046
    Abstract: In the case of a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger motorcar, with a body in which at least one opening, such as a door opening, a trunk opening or the like is provided, which can be closed off by a pivotably articulated covering element, such as a door, a tail gate, a trunk lid or the like, which has an outer skin and a support structure and at least one function element arranged in between, which is connected to the outer skin, the function element is provided to stiffening structures and directly connected to the support structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
  • Publication number: 20130087304
    Abstract: A powertrain includes an engine, an exhaust system including an exhaust passageway in fluid communication with the engine, an exhaust gas heat exchanger, a transmission having a transmission cooling system, a transmission heat exchanger, a heater core, a pump, and an engine coolant circuit. The engine coolant circuit provides fluid communication between the engine, the exhaust gas heat exchanger, the transmission heat exchanger, the heater core, and the pump. The exhaust gas heat exchanger is operatively connected to the exhaust system and configured to transfer heat between the engine coolant circuit and the exhaust system. The transmission heat exchanger is operatively connected to the transmission cooling system and configured to transfer heat between the engine coolant circuit and the transmission cooling system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
  • Publication number: 20130090806
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for operating a driver assistance system of a vehicle is provided. The method comprises the following steps. A determination is made as to whether another road user is located in a range of a current immediate vicinity of the vehicle. If it is determined that at least one other road user is located in the range of the current immediate vicinity of the vehicle, a priority condition of the vehicle is assessed with respect to the at least one other road user. A determination is also made as to whether a possible violation of the assessed priority condition by the at least one other road user is imminent. If it is determined that a possible violation of the assessed priority condition by the at least one other road user is imminent, a signal is output automatically to the at least one other road user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
  • Publication number: 20130081918
    Abstract: A powertrain includes an engine, a transmission, a pump for providing pressurized hydraulic fluid and a launch clutch connected between the engine and the transmission for coupling the engine to the transmission when the launch clutch is in an engaged condition and for decoupling the engine from the transmission when the launch clutch is in a disengaged condition. A device is rotationally coupled to the engine and to the pump. The device is translatable along an axis between a first position and a second position. The device moves the launch clutch to the engaged condition when in the first position and does not move the launch clutch to the engaged condition when in the second position. A piston in communication with the pressurized hydraulic fluid provided by the pump is configured to translate the device along the axis between at least one of the first and second positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
  • Publication number: 20130082485
    Abstract: A shading system is provided, such as an overhead shading system for a panoramic window of a motor vehicle, which includes, but is not limited to a holding frame for attachment to a motor vehicle body. The holding frame exhibits a cross member, a first longitudinal member joined with the cross member, and a second longitudinal member joined with the cross member, a transverse strip guided so that it can slide from the first longitudinal member and second longitudinal member in order to activate a shading device coupled with the cross member and transverse strip, such as a roller blind or window shade, for at least partially covering a window opening bordered by the holding frame and transverse strip, and a guide connected with the holding frame, in particular a guiding rope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
  • Publication number: 20130081776
    Abstract: A method for forming a casted component using a porous structure. The casted component may include a visible design feature formed in part by the casted component and in part by a body material also forming other parts of the component. The casted component may be a brake rotor having a mixed-material composite formed in part by the casted component and in part by a body material also forming other parts of the rotor. The porous structure can include a ceramic foam or a metal mesh.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
  • Publication number: 20130084204
    Abstract: A method of making a permanent magnet and a permanent magnet. The method includes providing combining a core material and a surface material so that the surface concentration of dysprosium, terbium, or both in the surface material is high while simultaneously keeping the bulk concentration of dysprosium, terbium, or both low. From this, the magnet has a non-uniform distribution of dysprosium, terbium or both. Varying approaches to preparing the combined core and surface materials may be used to ensure that the surface powder effectively wraps around the core powder as a way to achieve the high surface concentration and low bulk concentration. In one form, the core material may be made from a neodymium-iron-boron permanent magnet precursor material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
  • Publication number: 20130074789
    Abstract: A wax-type thermostat for the cooling system of an internal combustion engine (ICE) provided with a radiator and a coolant loop circuit linking the radiator to the ICE, and a by-pass conduit. The thermostat comprises a thermostat body with one inlet from the radiator, one inlet from the ICE, and one outlet to the ICE. The thermostat further comprises a closure element integral to a first piston that closes or opens a thermostat internal pathway running from the inlet from the radiator to the outlet to the ICE, a main wax chamber thermally connected to the coolant within the thermostat body, and a spring to return the closure element towards its closing position. Also provided is a first means for moving the first piston when a volume variation in the wax occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
  • Publication number: 20130080028
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for operating an internal combustion engine comprising: monitoring a value of a temperature parameter of a diesel particulate filter of the internal combustion engine; monitoring a value of an operating parameter of the internal combustion engine indicative of an engine load; using the monitored value of the engine load parameter to determine a threshold value of the diesel particulate filter temperature parameter; testing whether the monitored value of the diesel particulate filter temperature parameter exceeds the determined threshold value thereof; and diagnosing that the diesel particulate filter is overheated if the test returns positive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
  • Publication number: 20130074795
    Abstract: One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method for controlling an automatic start-stop mechanism for an internal combustion engine. The method comprises providing a turbocharger temperature, comparing the turbocharger temperature with a constant and, if the turbocharger temperature is greater than the constant, deactivating the automatic start-stop mechanism of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC