Patents by Inventor Richard M. Kleber

Richard M. Kleber 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: 9525316
    Abstract: A method and system is provided to join the wire ends of a stator by placing a crimpable element on a wire end pair such that the wire ends of the wire end pair are surrounded by the crimpable element, and deforming the crimpable element using a crimping tool to form a crimped joint. The crimped joint is configured to provide an electrical connection between the wire ends of the wire end pair. The wire ends may be retained in substantial contact with each other by the crimpable element. The wire end portion of the stator may be immersed in a molten solder bath to form a solder joint joining the wire end pair comprising a crimped joint. The stator may be configured as a bar pin stator including a plurality of bar pins defining the wire ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Richard M. Kleber
  • Patent number: 9463665
    Abstract: A wheel barrier assembly is disclosed for creating a physical barrier between a wheel hub, a wheel and a plurality of lugs securing the wheel to the wheel hub. The wheel barrier assembly may include a plate extending between the wheel hub and the wheel to insulate the wheel from the wheel hub. The wheel barrier assembly may also include a plurality of collets extending through the wheel and secured to the plate to insulate the wheel from the lugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Richard M. Kleber, Ravi Verma
  • Patent number: 9397539
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a rotor assembly includes assembling shorting end rings onto conductor bars through a steel laminate stack. The ends of the steel laminate stack are immersed into a bath containing molten metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Richard M. Kleber, John S. Agapiou
  • Patent number: 9316276
    Abstract: A number of variations may include a brake disc may include a hub portion and a cheek portion. The hub portion may include a receiving flange for mechanically engaging the cheek portion. The cheek portion may include an upper cheek and a lower cheek connected and separated by a web, and an inner flange extending radially inward from the upper cheek to mechanically engage and communicate with the receiving flange of the hub portion such that the hub portion and the cheek portion form a single brake disc. The inner flange may include a at least one spline tooth circumferentially arranged around the inner flange and constructed and arranged to facilitate the mechanical engagement of the receiving flange and the inner flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Richard M. Kleber, Tomasz Warzecha, Silviu A. Pepescu, Mark T. Riefe
  • Patent number: 9219399
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a rotor for an induction motor includes disposing a first flux material on a plurality of first exposed ends of a respective plurality of conductor bars of a rotor core. A second flux material is disposed on a first end face of the rotor core. A first portion of a conductive material is cast over the plurality of first exposed ends to form a first shorting end ring to electrically and mechanically connect the plurality of conductor bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Richard M. Kleber, Michael D. Hanna
  • Patent number: 9174274
    Abstract: A multi-piece sound dampened brake rotor comprises a relatively light weight hub with a hub flange and a heavier rotor body with a sound damping insert and a rotor body flange. The hub and rotor body are attached at their flanges. The flanges may be mechanically attached such as with bolts. Or the hub and rotor may be attached by casting the hub of a lower melting metal alloy against the rotor body and rotor body flange. The rotor body may have vanes for air cooling and a sound damping insert may be incased in either or both body portions sandwiching the vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Hanna, Richard M. Kleber, Mohan Sundar, Thomas C. Zebehazy
  • Patent number: 9127734
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment of a brake rotor includes a cheek member, an intermediate portion, and a hub member. The intermediate portion may be located between the cheek and hub members, and may extend from either the cheek member or the hub member. The intermediate portion may have an exposed section with multiple openings located in the exposed section. The intermediate portion may also have multiple blades extending from inner surfaces of all or some of the openings. The blades cause airflow to pass through the openings to cool the intermediate portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Hanna, Richard M. Kleber, Ronnie T. Brown, Charon L Morgan
  • Patent number: 9083221
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a rotor assembly includes placing a generally cylindrical rotor core in a die. The rotor core has axial grooves spaced about a perimeter of the rotor core. The grooves may be formed by stacked laminated disks. Material is cast around the annular rotor core in the die such that the cast material forms conductor bars that fill the grooves and first end ring portions at opposing ends of the rotor core connected with the conductor bars. Each of the first end ring portions has substantially a first axial width. The rotor core with cast conductor bars and cast first end ring portions is then removed from the die. A respective second end ring portion is welded to each of the cast first end ring portions to form end ring assemblies. Each second end ring portion has a second axial width greater than the first axial width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Richard M. Kleber, John S. Agapiou
  • Publication number: 20150167763
    Abstract: A number of variations may include a brake disc may include a hub portion and a cheek portion. The hub portion may include a receiving flange for mechanically engaging the cheek portion. The cheek portion may include an upper cheek and a lower cheek connected and separated by a web, and an inner flange extending radially inward from the upper cheek to mechanically engage and communicate with the receiving flange of the hub portion such that the hub portion and the cheek portion form a single brake disc. The inner flange may include a at least one spline tooth circumferentially arranged around the inner flange and constructed and arranged to facilitate the mechanical engagement of the receiving flange and the inner flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Richard M. Kleber, Tomasz Warzecha, Silviu A. Pepescu, Mark T. Riefe
  • Patent number: 9033398
    Abstract: One embodiment includes providing a contiguous tubular member including at least one of a first material or a second material, so that the tubular member has a wall thickness that varies along the length of the tubular member; bending the tubular member; and hydroforming the tubular member into a part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Mark W. Verbrugge, Anil K. Sachdev, Robert R. Mayer, Richard M. Kleber
  • Patent number: 8994242
    Abstract: An induction motor has a rotor core including a plurality of conductor bars and a shorting end ring having a plurality of grooves aligned with and mated to the first ends of the conductor bars. The rotor core further includes a cylindrically shaped steel laminate stack including a plurality of longitudinal grooves distributed around the periphery of the steel laminate stack. The conductor bars are each located in one of the plurality of longitudinal grooves and each includes a first end projecting from a first end of the steel laminate stack. The rotor core further includes an end sheet located to the end of the steel laminate stack, the end sheet including a retention feature configured to retain the shorting end ring to the end sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Richard M. Kleber
  • Patent number: 8910371
    Abstract: A rotor for an induction motor includes a rotor core having first and second ends and a plurality of conductor bars. Each conductor bar has a respective first end extending beyond the first end of said rotor core. Each first exposed end has a respective enclosed opening. The rotor also includes an end ring comprising a casting of material flowed between the respective first ends of the conductor bars and through the respective closed openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Richard M. Kleber, Thomas A. Perry, John S. Agapiou
  • Publication number: 20140238597
    Abstract: A method for assembling a composite pressure vessel includes disposing a sealant into each of a plurality of annular slots defined in an exterior surface of a body portion of an end cap. The end cap is aligned with an end portion of a tubular member such that the exterior surface of the body portion of the end cap abuts an interior surface of the tubular member. A force is applied to the tubular member having the end cap aligned with the end portion of the tubular member. The force is applied while rotating the tubular member. The force deforms the tubular member such that the end portion conforms to the plurality of annular slots defined in the body portion of the end cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Richard M. Kleber, John E. Carsley, Hamid G. Kia, Chen-Shih Wang, Ce Sun, Elisabeth J. Berger, Stephan Fell, Valentin Schultheis
  • Patent number: 8757423
    Abstract: A composite pressure vessel assembly method includes fitting an end portion of a tubular member into an annular slot formed in an end cap. Sealant may be in the annular slot. The end cap includes an annular groove in an exterior surface of the end cap body portion. A first material layer is formed on an exterior surface of the tubular member. The first material layer includes a first composite material including fibers oriented circumferentially to the tubular member. A second material layer is formed on the first material layer with a portion of the second material layer being disposed into the annular groove, and includes a second composite material including fibers oriented axially to the tubular member. A third material layer is formed adjacent the second material layer and in the annular groove, and includes a third composite material including fibers having an orientation circumferential to the tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Richard M. Kleber, John E. Carsley, Hamid G. Kia, Chen-Shih Wang, Ce Sun, Elisabeth J. Berger, Stephan Fell, Valentin Schultheis
  • Patent number: 8758873
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a product including an annular portion including a frictional surface and a first flange portion extending from the frictional surface, wherein the first flange portion comprises a first face, a second face, and a third face; and a hub portion and a second flange portion extending from the hub portion, wherein the second flange portion engages the first face, the second face, and the third face of the first flange portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Richard M. Kleber, Michael D. Hanna
  • Publication number: 20140132105
    Abstract: An induction motor has a rotor core including a plurality of conductor bars and a shorting end ring having a plurality of grooves aligned with and mated to the first ends of the conductor bars. The rotor core further includes a cylindrically shaped steel laminate stack including a plurality of longitudinal grooves distributed around the periphery of the steel laminate stack. The conductor bars are each located in one of the plurality of longitudinal grooves and each includes a first end projecting from a first end of the steel laminate stack. The rotor core further includes an end sheet located to the end of the steel laminate stack, the end sheet including a retention feature configured to retain the shorting end ring to the end sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Richard M. KLEBER
  • Publication number: 20140077639
    Abstract: A method and system is provided to join the wire ends of a stator by placing a crimpable element on a wire end pair such that the wire ends of the wire end pair are surrounded by the crimpable element, and deforming the crimpable element using a crimping tool to form a crimped joint. The crimped joint is configured to provide an electrical connection between the wire ends of the wire end pair. The wire ends may be retained in substantial contact with each other by the crimpable element. The wire end portion of the stator may be immersed in a molten solder bath to form a solder joint joining the wire end pair comprising a crimped joint. The stator may be configured as a bar pin stator including a plurality of bar pins defining the wire ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Richard M. Kleber
  • Patent number: 8671559
    Abstract: A method and system is provided to join the wire ends of a stator by placing a crimpable element on a wire end pair such that the wire ends of the wire end pair are surrounded by the crimpable element, and deforming the crimpable element using a crimping tool to form a crimped joint. The crimped joint is configured to provide an electrical connection between the wire ends of the wire end pair. The wire ends may be retained in substantial contact with each other by the crimpable element. The wire end portion of the stator may be immersed in a molten solder bath to form a solder joint joining the wire end pair comprising a crimped joint. The stator may be configured as a bar pin stator including a plurality of bar pins defining the wire ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Richard M. Kleber
  • Patent number: 8643241
    Abstract: An end ring assembly for a rotor, wherein the rotor is rotatable about a central longitudinal axis, includes a plurality of annular sheets stacked adjacent one another. Each of the plurality of annular sheets has a first surface and a second surface spaced opposite the first surface. The end ring assembly also includes a braze material sandwiched between and joining only a first portion of the first surface of each of the plurality of annular sheets, and a corresponding second portion of the second surface of a respective adjacent one of the plurality of annular sheets without joining an entirety of the first surface of each of the plurality of annular sheets and the second surface of the respective adjacent one of the plurality of annular sheets. A method of forming the end ring assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Richard M. Kleber, David R. Sigler, James G. Schroth
  • Publication number: 20130323525
    Abstract: An automotive product having a plurality of components coated with a refractory interface coating and method for making the same are provided. The automotive product may include at least a first component and a second component configured to interconnect and engage one another. The first component may be composed of a first high-density material. The second component may be formed of a second lower-density material. A refractory interface coating may be applied at the interconnection between the first and second components to provide an enhanced surface finish to limit friction, prevent metallurgical bonding between the first material and second material, provide a barrier against galvanic corrosion, and provide a thermal barrier between the first component and second component to guard against thermal deformation or change in dimension of the second component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Silviu A. Popescu, Richard M. Kleber, James A. Webster, Mark T. Riefe, Tomasz Warzecha, David Begleiter