Patents by Inventor Shaun X. Zhao

Shaun X. Zhao 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: 10378612
    Abstract: A bevel gear set and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The bevel gear set may include a first bevel gear and a second bevel gear. The first and second bevel gears may be spiral bevel gears or hypoid spiral bevel gears. The first and second bevel gears may each have a gear tooth surface having a plurality of teeth formed thereon, such that the teeth of the first bevel gear and the teeth of the second bevel gear are configured to engage in a meshing engagement. The teeth are machined onto the respective gear tooth surface via a face milling process. Each tooth includes a tooth top, a plurality of meshing surfaces, and at least one chamfer. The chamfer may be formed at an abutment edge disposed between the tooth top and a respective meshing surface via a brushing process directly following the machining of the teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Shaun X. Zhao, Bhapinder Puri
  • Publication number: 20180347637
    Abstract: A pinion flange having built-in dampening is disclosed. The pinion flange includes at least one opening through which a ring-shaped damper extends. A ring-shaped support member fits within the opening such that the damper is between the edge surface of the opening in the flange and the support member. A mechanical fastener extends through the opening to connect the pinion flange to other components of the vehicle driveline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventor: Shaun X. Zhao
  • Publication number: 20170299036
    Abstract: A vehicle differential assembly is provided. The vehicle differential assembly includes a differential housing and a differential case rotationally coupled to the differential housing about a first axis. At least one spider gear is coupled to the differential case, the at least one spider gear arranged to rotate about a second axis, the second axis being perpendicular to the first axis. A first side gear is rotationally coupled to the at least one spider gear. A first axle is coupled to first side gear by a first spline, the first side gear being axially movable along the first spline. A first disk assembly is coupled between the first axle and the differential case, the first disk assembly being configured to selectively couple the first axle to the differential case in response to a high torque condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Shaun X. Zhao, Michael J. Palecek, Dan M. Bouman
  • Publication number: 20170261068
    Abstract: A bevel gear set and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The bevel gear set may include a first bevel gear and a second bevel gear. The first and second bevel gears may be spiral bevel gears or hypoid spiral bevel gears. The first and second bevel gears may each have a gear tooth surface having a plurality of teeth formed thereon, such that the teeth of the first bevel gear and the teeth of the second bevel gear are configured to engage in a meshing engagement. The teeth are machined onto the respective gear tooth surface via a face milling process. Each tooth includes a tooth top, a plurality of meshing surfaces, and at least one chamfer. The chamfer may be formed at an abutment edge disposed between the tooth top and a respective meshing surface via a brushing process directly following the machining of the teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Shaun X. Zhao, Bhapinder Puri
  • Patent number: 9689485
    Abstract: A differential assembly for vehicle includes a differential, a prop shaft configured to drivingly couple the differential to a motive power source, a first half shaft configured to drivingly couple the differential to a first road wheel, and a second half shaft configured to drivingly couple the differential to a second road wheel. The differential assembly also includes a first electric machine having a first output shaft and a second electric machine having a second output shaft. The differential assembly additionally includes a first gearing assembly configured to selectively impose a controlled speed ratio between the first half shaft and the first output shaft and a second gearing assembly configured to selectively impose a controlled speed ratio between the second half shaft and the second output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Shaun X. Zhao, Michael J. Palecek
  • Patent number: 9649931
    Abstract: A vehicle differential assembly is provided. The differential assembly including a differential case rotationally coupled to a differential housing. A differential gear set is rotationally coupled to the differential case. A ring gear rotationally coupled to the differential case. A disconnect member operably coupled between the ring gear and the differential case. The disconnect member having a torque transmitting member movable between a coupled and an uncoupled position, wherein the ring gear is rotationally coupled to the differential case when the torque transmitting member is in the coupled position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, LLC
    Inventor: Shaun X. Zhao
  • Publication number: 20160361998
    Abstract: A vehicle differential assembly is provided. The differential assembly including a differential case rotationally coupled to a differential housing. A differential gear set is rotationally coupled to the differential case. A ring gear rotationally coupled to the differential case. A disconnect member operably coupled between the ring gear and the differential case. The disconnect member having a torque transmitting member movable between a coupled and an uncoupled position, wherein the ring gear is rotationally coupled to the differential case when the torque transmitting member is in the coupled position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventor: Shaun X. Zhao