Patents by Inventor James A. Springer

James A. Springer 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: 7793941
    Abstract: A device for sealing between a first component and a second component is disclosed. The first component has a groove and the groove has a first wall and a second wall. The annular body includes a first side configured to selectively contact the first wall of the groove, a second side opposite the first side configured to selectively contact the second wall of the groove, a first surface in contact with the second component, and a second surface opposite the first surface. A lip is bonded to the second surface and extends at least partially around the second surface of the annular body. A pressure acting on the first side of the annular body forces the second side to contact the second wall of the groove, and a pressure acting on the second side of the annular body forces the first side to contact the first wall of the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Springer, Patrick M. Gibson
  • Patent number: 7478709
    Abstract: A vibration damper apparatus has two substantially freely rotatable inertia members disposed within a rotatable hub. Each of the members has a wide semi-cylindrical portion and a narrow semi-cylindrical portion with the wide portion of the first damper member being axially aligned with the narrow portion of the other damper member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond J. Haka, James A. Springer, Robert S. Samanich
  • Publication number: 20080174074
    Abstract: A device for sealing between a first component and a second component is disclosed. The first component has a groove and the groove has a first wall and a second wall. The annular body includes a first side configured to selectively contact the first wall of the groove, a second side opposite the first side configured to selectively contact the second wall of the groove, a first surface in contact with the second component, and a second surface opposite the first surface. A lip is bonded to the second surface and extends at least partially around the second surface of the annular body. A pressure acting on the first side of the annular body forces the second side to contact the second wall of the groove, and a pressure acting on the second side of the annular body forces the first side to contact the first wall of the groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: JAMES A. SPRINGER, Patrick M. Gibson
  • Patent number: 7213682
    Abstract: A hydraulic fluid storage apparatus for a transmission has a main sump and a secondary sump. The secondary sump is connected with the main sump through a restricted flow passage. The fluid within the main sump is subjected to centrifugal forces by rotating components within the transmission, such that at high speeds and high levels in the main sump, the restricted passage is closed by a centrifugal dam thereby resulting in fluid storage within the secondary sump. The fluid storage in the secondary sump returning to the main sump when the speed of the rotating components is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick M. Gibson, James A. Springer, David J. Varda
  • Patent number: 7163095
    Abstract: A clutch assembly includes a hub with a hub friction surface and an inner surface that cooperate to define a cavity. A damper member is situated within the cavity and is in contact with the hub friction surface. The damper member is rotatable with respect to the hub so that relative movement between the damper ring and the hub friction surface results in energy absorption and dissipation to minimize unwanted clutch vibration. The damper ring is located inside the clutch hub so that it does not adversely affect transmission packaging. The clutch assembly preferably includes a member configured to direct lubricant along an inner diameter of the damper member so that it subsequently flows between the damper ring and the hub friction surface and through holes in the hub to lubricate clutch plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: James A. Springer, Robert S. Samanich, Raymond J. Haka, Joel M. Maguire, Peter E. Devlin
  • Patent number: 7099995
    Abstract: A data storage control unit is coupled to one or more host devices and to one or more physical storage units. Data is stored in one of the storage units and, for data integrity, copied to another storage unit. An updated state of the copy process (metadata) is maintained and updated in metadata tracks in a memory of the storage controller and periodically destaged to corresponding metadata tracks of a storage unit. If the copy process is interrupted, such as by a power failure, an error handling routine commences. Track state fields associated with each in-memory metadata track are initialized to an ‘invalid’ state and background staging of metadata tracks from the storage unit to the memory. After a track is staged, the associated track state field is changed to a ‘valid’ state. If a request is received to access a track of copy state data and the track has been staged (as indicated by the state of the associated track state field), the track is accessed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James A. Springer, Yu-Cheng Hsu, Gilad Sharaby, Aaron S. Mahar, Angelique R. Budaya
  • Patent number: 5201587
    Abstract: A thrust bearing having an integral axially oriented resilient means provides a gap between unloaded thrust surfaces. The gap is sufficiently large to prevent bearing rollers from contacting both thrust surfaces simultaneously. Providing such a gap reduces noise from unloaded thrust bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: James A. Springer