Patents by Inventor Peter Maxwell Sarosi
Peter Maxwell Sarosi 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).
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Patent number: 9362551Abstract: The gravimetric and volumetric efficiency of lithium ion batteries may be increased if high capacity materials like tin and silicon may be employed as the lithium-accepting host in the negative electrode of the battery. But both tin and silicon, when fully charged with lithium, undergo expansions of up to 300% and generate appreciable internal stresses which have potential to spall off material from the electrode on each discharge-charge cycle, resulting in a progressive reduction in battery capacity, also known as battery fade. A method of reinforcing such electrode materials by incorporating within them fiber reinforcements or shaped, elongated reinforcements fabricated of shape memory alloy is described. Electrode materials incorporating such reinforcements are less prone to damage under applied stress and so less prone to battery fade.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2011Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Anil K. Sachdev, Mark W. Verbrugge, Xingcheng Xiao, Peter Maxwell Sarosi
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Patent number: 9021801Abstract: Shape memory alloy (SMA) actuating elements are commonly simpler and of lower mass than alternative actuator designs and may find particular application in the transportation industry. Such SMA-powered devices are usually reliable and long-lived but the phase transformations which occur in the SMA alloy and are responsible for its utility are not totally reversible. This irreversibility, a consequence of irrecoverable strain, may progressively degrade the long-term actuator performance as the irrecoverable strain accumulates over many operating cycles. Methods and devices for compensating for these effects and extending the useful cycle life of SMA actuators are described.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2012Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Xiujie Gao, Geoffrey P. McKnight, Guillermo A. Herrera, Christopher B Churchill, Nancy L. Johnson, Alan L. Browne, Peter Maxwell Sarosi, Paul W. Alexander
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Patent number: 9022682Abstract: An assembly for and method of reinforcing interconnection between an active material wire actuator, such as a shape memory alloy wire, and structure, includes the generation and engagement of an enlarged formation affixed to or integrally formed with the actuator.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2012Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Richard J. Skurkis, Paul W. Alexander, Nicholas W Pinto, IV, Xiujie Gao, Nilesh D. Mankame, Peter Maxwell Sarosi, Robin Stevenson, Nancy L. Johnson, Alan L. Browne
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Patent number: 9003788Abstract: An energy harvesting system comprises a first region having a first temperature and a second region. A conduit is located at least partially within the first region. A heat engine configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a shape memory alloy forming at least one generally continuous loop. The shape memory alloy is disposed in heat exchange contact with the first region and the second region. The shape memory alloy is driven to rotate around at least a portion of the conduit by the response of the shape memory alloy to the temperature difference between the first region and the second region. At least one pulley is driven by the rotation of the shape memory alloy, and the at least one pulley is operatively connected to a component to thereby drive the component.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2010Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Paul W. Alexander, Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Patrick B. Usoro, Nilesh D. Mankame, Geoffrey P. McKnight, Peter Maxwell Sarosi, Christopher P. Henry
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Patent number: 8747264Abstract: An energy harvesting system includes a heat engine and a component. The heat engine includes a belt, a first member, and a second member. The belt includes a strip of material and at least one wire at least partially embedded longitudinally in the strip of material. The wire includes a shape memory alloy material. A localized region of the at least one wire is configured to change crystallographic phase between martensite and austenite and either contract or expand longitudinally in response to exposure to a first temperature or a second temperature such that the strip of material corresponding to the localized region also contracts or expands. The first member is operatively connected to the belt and moves with the belt in response to the expansion or contraction of the belt. The component is operatively connected to the first member such that movement of the first member drives the component.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2013Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Paul W. Alexander, Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Nilesh D. Mankame, Xiujie Gao, Geoffrey P. McKnight, Andrew C. Keefe, Peter Maxwell Sarosi, Christopher P. Henry, Patrick B. Usoro
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Publication number: 20140060036Abstract: Shape memory alloy (SMA) actuating elements are commonly simpler and of lower mass than alternative actuator designs and may find particular application in the transportation industry. Such SMA-powered devices are usually reliable and long-lived but the phase transformations which occur in the SMA alloy and are responsible for its utility are not totally reversible. This irreversibility, a consequence of irrecoverable strain, may progressively degrade the long-term actuator performance as the irrecoverable strain accumulates over many operating cycles. Methods and devices for compensating for these effects and extending the useful cycle life of SMA actuators are described.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2012Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Xiujie Gao, Geoffrey P. McKnight, Guillermo A. Herrera, Christopher B. Churchill, Nancy L. Johnson, Alan L. Browne, Peter Maxwell Sarosi, Paul W. Alexander
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Patent number: 8656714Abstract: Actuation assemblies for and methods of activating a thermally actuated active material actuator utilizing wireless transmissions of energy.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2012Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Nicholas W Pinto, IV, Paul W. Alexander, Alan L. Browne, Nilesh D. Mankame, Peter Maxwell Sarosi, Andrew M. Mance, Nancy L. Johnson, Marten Wittorf
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Publication number: 20140026555Abstract: An energy harvesting system includes a heat engine and a component. The heat engine includes a belt, a first member, and a second member. The belt includes a strip of material and at least one wire at least partially embedded longitudinally in the strip of material. The wire includes a shape memory alloy material. A localized region of the at least one wire is configured to change crystallographic phase between martensite and austenite and either contract or expand longitudinally in response to exposure to a first temperature or a second temperature such that the strip of material corresponding to the localized region also contracts or expands. The first member is operatively connected to the belt and moves with the belt in response to the expansion or contraction of the belt. The component is operatively connected to the first member such that movement of the first member drives the component.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2013Publication date: January 30, 2014Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Paul W. Alexander, Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Nilesh D. Mankame, Xiujie Gao, Geoffrey P. McKnight, Andrew C. Keefe, Peter Maxwell Sarosi, Christopher P. Henry, Patrick B. Usoro
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Patent number: 8607562Abstract: A heat engine includes a first rotatable pulley and a second rotatable pulley spaced from the first rotatable pulley. A shape memory alloy (SMA) element is disposed about respective portions of the pulleys at an SMA pulley ratio. The SMA element includes first spring coil and a first fiber core within the first spring coil. A timing cable is disposed about disposed about respective portions of the pulleys at a timing pulley ratio, which is different than the SMA pulley ratio. The SMA element converts a thermal energy gradient between the hot region and the cold region into mechanical energy.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2011Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Dynalloy, Inc.Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Andrew C. Keefe, Paul W. Alexander, Peter Maxwell Sarosi, Guillermo A. Herrera, James Ryan Yates
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Patent number: 8590303Abstract: An energy harvesting system comprises a first region having a first temperature and a second region having a second temperature. A conduit is located at least partially within the first region. A heat engine configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a shape memory alloy forming at least one generally continuous loop. The shape memory alloy is disposed in heat exchange contact with the first region and the second region. A carrier surrounds the conduit such that the carrier is driven to rotate around the conduit by the shape memory alloy in response to the temperature difference between the first region and the second region.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2010Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Paul W. Alexander, Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Patrick B. Usoro, Geoffrey P. McKnight, Peter Maxwell Sarosi, Christopher P. Henry
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Publication number: 20130240096Abstract: A shape memory alloy element is disclosed that is configured to undergo a graded phase change along a dimension of the shape memory alloy element in response to thermal stimulus. This graded phase change produces a graded displacement response of the shape memory element.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2012Publication date: September 19, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC.Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Peter Maxwell Sarosi
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Patent number: 8470193Abstract: Magnetorheological (MR) fluids are disclosed herein. An example of the MR fluid includes a carrier fluid, magnetic particles disposed in the carrier fluid, and non-magnetic particles disposed in the carrier fluid. The non-magnetic particles are particles of a shape memory alloy having an Austenite finish temperature (Af) that is lower than a temperature encountered in an application in which the MR fluid is used so that the shape memory alloy exhibits stress-induced superelasticity.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2012Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Peter Maxwell Sarosi, John C. Ulicny
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Publication number: 20130157125Abstract: The gravimetric and volumetric efficiency of lithium ion batteries may be increased if high capacity materials like tin and silicon may be employed as the lithium-accepting host in the negative electrode of the battery. But both tin and silicon, when fully charged with lithium, undergo expansions of up to 300% and generate appreciable internal stresses which have potential to spall off material from the electrode on each discharge-charge cycle, resulting in a progressive reduction in battery capacity, also known as battery fade. A method of reinforcing such electrode materials by incorporating within them fiber reinforcements or shaped, elongated reinforcements fabricated of shape memory alloy is described. Electrode materials incorporating such reinforcements are less prone to damage under applied stress and so less prone to battery fade.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2011Publication date: June 20, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Anil K. Sachdev, Mark W. Verbrugge, Xingcheng Xiao, Peter Maxwell Sarosi
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Publication number: 20120216526Abstract: An energy harvesting system in thermal communication with a hot region and a cold region includes a hot end heat engine in thermal communication with the hot region, a cold end heat engine in thermal communication with the cold region, and an intermediate heat engine disposed between the hot end heat engine and the cold end heat engine. The hot end heat engine includes a hot end shape memory alloy (SMA) element, the cold end heat engine includes a cold end SMA element disposed, and the intermediate heat engine includes an intermediate SMA element. A hot side of the intermediate SMA element is in thermal communication with a cold side of the hot end SMA element. A cold side of the intermediate SMA element is in thermal communication with a hot side of the cold end SMA element.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2011Publication date: August 30, 2012Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, John Andrew Shaw, Christopher Burton Churchill, Andrew C. Keefe, Geoffrey P. Mc Knight, Paul W. Alexander, Peter Maxwell Sarosi, Nilesh D. Mankame, Wayne Brown, Guillermo A. Herrera, Richard J. Skurkis
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Publication number: 20120216523Abstract: An energy harvesting system for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a heat engine that operates using a shape memory alloy active material. The shape memory alloy member may be in thermal communication with a hot region at a first temperature and a cold region at a second temperature lower than the first temperature. The shape memory alloy material may be configured to selectively change crystallographic phase between martensite to austenite and thereby one of contract and expand in response to the first and second temperatures. A driven component, such as an electric generator, may be selectively coupled with the heat engine through a coupling device, which may be controlled via a controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2011Publication date: August 30, 2012Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Nilesh D. Mankame, Paul W. Alexander, John Andrew Shaw, Christopher Burton Churchill, Andrew C. Keefe, Geoffrey P. Mc Knight, Guillermo A. Herrera, Jeffrey W. Brown, Peter Maxwell Sarosi, Richard J. Skurkis
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Publication number: 20120216524Abstract: A heat engine includes a first rotatable pulley and a second rotatable pulley spaced from the first rotatable pulley. A shape memory alloy (SMA) element is disposed about respective portions of the pulleys at an SMA pulley ratio. The SMA element includes first spring coil and a first fiber core within the first spring coil. A timing cable is disposed about disposed about respective portions of the pulleys at a timing pulley ratio, which is different than the SMA pulley ratio. The SMA element converts a thermal energy gradient between the hot region and the cold region into mechanical energy.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2011Publication date: August 30, 2012Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Paul W. Alexander, Anderw C. Keefe, Guillermo A. Herrera, Peter Maxwell Sarosi, James RYan Yates
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Publication number: 20120198835Abstract: An assembly for and method of reinforcing interconnection between an active material wire actuator, such as a shape memory alloy wire, and structure, includes the generation and engagement of an enlarged formation affixed to or integrally formed with the actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2012Publication date: August 9, 2012Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Richard J. Skurkis, Paul W. Alexander, Nicholas W. Pinto, IV, Xiujie Gao, Nilesh D. Mankame, Peter Maxwell Sarosi, Robin Stevenson, Nancy L. Johnson, Alan L. Browne
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Publication number: 20120174573Abstract: A multi-segmented active material actuator producing a variable, tailored, or staged/staggered stroke in response to an activation signal, including a plurality of segments joined in series, having differing constituencies and geometric configurations, and presenting differing activation thresholds, activation periods/rates, and/or strokes as a result.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2012Publication date: July 12, 2012Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Richard J. Skurkis, Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Nilesh D. Mankame, Xiujie Gao, Peter Maxwell Sarosi
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Publication number: 20120137672Abstract: Actuation assemblies for and methods of activating a thermally actuated active material actuator utilizing wireless transmissions of energy.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2012Publication date: June 7, 2012Applicant: GM BLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATION LLCInventors: Nicholas W. Pinto, IV, Paul W. Alexander, Alan L. Browne, Nilesh D. Mankame, Peter Maxwell Sarosi, Andrew M. Mance, Nancy L. Johnson, Marten Wittorf
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Publication number: 20110165981Abstract: An energy harvesting system includes a heat engine and a component. The heat engine includes a belt, a first member, and a second member. The belt includes a strip of material and at least one wire at least partially embedded longitudinally in the strip of material. The wire includes a shape memory alloy material. A localized region of the at least one wire is configured to change crystallographic phase between martensite and austenite and either contract or expand longitudinally in response to exposure to a first temperature or a second temperature such that the strip of material corresponding to the localized region also contracts or expands. The first member is operatively connected to the belt and moves with the belt in response to the expansion or contraction of the belt. The component is operatively connected to the first member such that movement of the first member drives the component.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2010Publication date: July 7, 2011Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Paul W. Alexander, Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Nilesh D. Mankame, Xiujie Gao, Geoffrey P. McKnight, Andrew C. Keefe, Peter Maxwell Sarosi, Christopher P. Henry, Patrick B. Usoro