Patents by Inventor Raymond J. Sapienza

Raymond J. Sapienza 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: 9709081
    Abstract: A method of testing a pressurized liquid fluid for dissolved gasses includes evacuating both a first tank and a second tank. A test volume of a pressurized liquid fluid is introduced into the first tank. An initial absolute pressure in the second tank is sensed, and then fluid communication between the first tank and the second tank is opened to allow the pressurized fluid to flow from the first tank into the second tank, thereby de-pressurizing the fluid. The de-pressurized fluid in the second tank is maintained for a pre-defined out-gassing period, to allow any gasses in the de-pressurized fluid to separate from the de-pressurized fluid. A final absolute pressure in the second tank is sensed. A difference between the final absolute pressure and the initial absolute pressure is correlated to a volume of gasses released from the de-pressurized fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Raymond J Sapienza
  • Publication number: 20170102015
    Abstract: A method of testing a pressurized liquid fluid for dissolved gasses includes evacuating both a first tank and a second tank. A test volume of a pressurized liquid fluid is introduced into the first tank. An initial absolute pressure in the second tank is sensed, and then fluid communication between the first tank and the second tank is opened to allow the pressurized fluid to flow from the first tank into the second tank, thereby de-pressurizing the fluid. The de-pressurized fluid in the second tank is maintained for a pre-defined out-gassing period, to allow any gasses in the de-pressurized fluid to separate from the de-pressurized fluid. A final absolute pressure in the second tank is sensed. A difference between the final absolute pressure and the initial absolute pressure is correlated to a volume of gasses released from the de-pressurized fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Raymond J. Sapienza
  • Patent number: 9347482
    Abstract: A method of tensioning a park brake system of a vehicle includes providing an adjustment mechanism having a nut in threaded engagement with a rod that defines a signal to noise ratio therebetween. The nut is advanced on the rod to remove slack until torque applied to the nut indicates that the park cables include a tension equal to an offset tension level. The nut is then retracted on the rod to introduce slack into the park cables and reduce the tension in the park cables to a target slack tension level. A signal to noise ratio between the nut and the rod is improved so that the cable tension may be predicted by the torque required to turn the nut on the rod, thereby allowing a torque indicating tool to measure the tension in the park cables my measuring the torque required to turn the nut on the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Raymond J. Sapienza, Robbie D. Cannon
  • Publication number: 20140190290
    Abstract: A method of tensioning a park brake system of a vehicle includes providing an adjustment mechanism having a nut in threaded engagement with a rod that defines a signal to noise ratio therebetween. The nut is advanced on the rod to remove slack until torque applied to the nut indicates that the park cables include a tension equal to an offset tension level. The nut is then retracted on the rod to introduce slack into the park cables and reduce the tension in the park cables to a target slack tension level. A signal to noise ratio between the nut and the rod is improved so that the cable tension may be predicted by the torque required to turn the nut on the rod, thereby allowing a torque indicating tool to measure the tension in the park cables my measuring the torque required to turn the nut on the rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Raymond J. Sapienza, Robbie D. Cannon
  • Publication number: 20120199214
    Abstract: A brake modulator is disclosed herein. The brake modulator includes, but is not limited to an electronic-brake-control-modulator portion including a processor and a hydraulic portion associated with the electronic-brake-control-modulator portion. The hydraulic portion includes a primary circuit extending through the hydraulic portion to receive hydraulic brake fluid. The hydraulic portion also includes a secondary circuit extending within the hydraulic portion to receive the hydraulic brake fluid. The secondary circuit is in fluid communication with the primary circuit. The hydraulic portion further includes a valve between the primary circuit and the secondary circuit. The valve is electronically actuatable and controls movement of fluid between the primary circuit and the secondary circuit. The processor is operatively coupled to the valve and configured to perform an automatic cycling of the valve in response to an actuating event during assembly of the vehicle to evacuate the secondary circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Josef MACK, Raymond J. SAPIENZA, Brian D. COTTON, Phanu AMATYAKUL, Paul S. SHAUB, Frank J. PICHLER, JR., Elizabeth A. CONLIN
  • Patent number: 6826957
    Abstract: A portable air pressure decay test apparatus for leak testing of a sealed system includes a hollow housing, an air pump having an inlet and an outlet disposed in the housing, and a controller disposed in the housing and connected to the pump for controlling the operation of the pump. A test head is mounted on the housing for releasably attaching to an attachment point of a sealed system. The test head is in fluid communication with the outlet of the pump. When the test head is attached to the attachment point of the sealed system, the controller operates the pump to provide pressured air to the sealed system and raise the pressure in the sealed system to a predetermined value. After the predetermined value of pressure is reached, the controller stops the pump and monitors the air pressure in the sealed system for a predetermined time interval to measure an air pressure decay rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher James Martone, Daniel W. Doubleday, Daniel Gerald Jones, Paul J. Boor, Raymond J. Sapienza, James Arthur Cole, Joseph E. Safran, Tony J. Deschutter
  • Publication number: 20040173005
    Abstract: A portable air pressure decay test apparatus for leak testing of a sealed system includes a hollow housing, an air pump having an inlet and an outlet disposed in the housing, and a controller disposed in the housing and connected to the pump for controlling the operation of the pump. A test head is mounted on the housing for releasably attaching to an attachment point of a sealed system. The test head is in fluid communication with the outlet of the pump. When the test head is attached to the attachment point of the sealed system, the controller operates the pump to provide pressured air to the sealed system and raise the pressure in the sealed system to a predetermined value. After the predetermined value of pressure is reached, the controller stops the pump and monitors the air pressure in the sealed system for a predetermined time interval to measure an air pressure decay rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventors: Christopher James Martone, Daniel W. Doubleday, Daniel Gerald Jones, Paul J. Boor, Raymond J. Sapienza, James Arthur Cole, Joseph E. Safran, Tony J. Deschutter