Patents by Inventor Sen J. Zhou

Sen J. Zhou 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: 11873878
    Abstract: A noise vibration harshness reduction assembly includes a housing, a component, and an axial ring. The component is supported via the housing and movable relative to the housing. The axial ring is disposed axially along the component. The axial ring is configured to attenuate axial sound inducing vibrations in response to operation of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Sen J. Zhou, Pavan Kumar Patruni, Venu G. Ganti, Craig D. Reynolds, Dhanasekar Baladhandapani, Hung-Yih I. Du
  • Publication number: 20230012162
    Abstract: A noise vibration harshness reduction assembly includes a housing, a component, and an axial ring. The component is supported via the housing and movable relative to the housing. The axial ring is disposed axially along the component. The axial ring is configured to attenuate axial sound inducing vibrations in response to operation of the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Sen J. Zhou, Pavan Kumar Patruni, Venu G. Ganti, Craig D. Reynolds, Dhanasekar Baladhandapani, Hung-Yih I. Du
  • Patent number: 11543017
    Abstract: A sound reduction assembly includes a housing and a component supported via the housing. The component is movable relative to the housing. The sound reduction assembly includes a ring coupled to the component and the housing. The ring is configured to attenuate sound inducing vibrations in response to operation of the component. The ring includes a flange fixed relative to the housing to maintain a position of the ring relative to the component which maximizes attenuation of the sound in response to operation of the component. A method of utilizing a ring to attenuate sound inducing vibrations in response to operation of a component inside of a housing. A torque is selected to be applied to the ring. A stiffness of the ring is determined based on a stiffness-torque curve utilizing the selected torque to maximize attenuation of the sound. The ring is manufactured to meet the determined stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Sen J. Zhou, John Miller, Martin G. Foulkes, Jeffrey D. Curtis, Jack M. Gayney
  • Patent number: 11517980
    Abstract: A method of laser welding a steel substrate and a ductile iron substrate is disclosed along with a laser welded assembly that may be formed by practicing the disclosed method. The disclosed laser welding method involves forming a laser weld joint between the steel and ductile iron substrates. The laser weld joint includes a fusion zone comprised of austenite ferrous alloy that has a composition derived from intermixing molten portions of the steel and ductile iron substrates as part of the laser welding process. The austenite ferrous alloy that constitutes the fusion zone of the laser weld joint has a carbon content of 2 wt % or more and a nickel equivalent of 60% or more and can be achieved without preheating the steel and ductile iron substrates prior to welding or using a filler wire to introduce a foreign metal into the molten substrate material created by the laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Huaxin Li, Sen J. Zhou
  • Publication number: 20220213955
    Abstract: A sound reduction assembly includes a housing and a component supported via the housing. The component is movable relative to the housing. The sound reduction assembly includes a ring coupled to the component and the housing. The ring is configured to attenuate sound inducing vibrations in response to operation of the component. The ring includes a flange fixed relative to the housing to maintain a position of the ring relative to the component which maximizes attenuation of the sound in response to operation of the component. A method of utilizing a ring to attenuate sound inducing vibrations in response to operation of a component inside of a housing. A torque is selected to be applied to the ring. A stiffness of the ring is determined based on a stiffness-torque curve utilizing the selected torque to maximize attenuation of the sound. The ring is manufactured to meet the determined stiffness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Sen J. Zhou, John Miller, Martin G. Foulkes, Jeffrey D. Curtis, Jack M. Gayney
  • Publication number: 20200246917
    Abstract: A method of laser welding a steel substrate and a ductile iron substrate is disclosed along with a laser welded assembly that may be formed by practicing the disclosed method. The disclosed laser welding method involves forming a laser weld joint between the steel and ductile iron substrates. The laser weld joint includes a fusion zone comprised of austenite ferrous alloy that has a composition derived from intermixing molten portions of the steel and ductile iron substrates as part of the laser welding process. The austenite ferrous alloy that constitutes the fusion zone of the laser weld joint has a carbon content of 2 wt % or more and a nickel equivalent of 60% or more and can be achieved without preheating the steel and ductile iron substrates prior to welding or using a filler wire to introduce a foreign metal into the molten substrate material created by the laser beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Huaxin Li, Sen J. Zhou