Patents by Inventor Terry A. Swartzell
Terry A. Swartzell 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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Publication number: 20200331539Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes a vehicle body with a longitudinal axis. The vehicle also includes a rocker inner panel with a first channel having interior and exterior sides. The interior side is secured to the vehicle body. The first channel has a first upper horizontal sidewall, a first lower horizontal sidewall, and a first vertical endwall coupling the first upper and first lower horizontal sidewalls at the interior side. A rocker outer panel is secured to the rocker inner panel. The rocker outer panel includes a second channel, a third channel, and a fourth channel. The second channel is secured to the third channel, and the third channel is secured to the fourth channel. An upper cavity is defined between the second and third channels, an intermediate cavity is defined between the third and fourth channels, and a lower cavity is defined between the second and third channels.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2019Publication date: October 22, 2020Inventors: Richard W. Douglas, Robert Ristoski, Robert N. Saje, Kevin Stang, Terry A. Swartzell
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Publication number: 20200262491Abstract: An assembly for a vehicle to provide load distribution between the body of the vehicle and a battery contained in the vehicle includes a pair of body rockers, the body rockers being spaced apart and being substantially parallel to each other, a plurality of body cross bars that extend between the pair of body rockers, the plurality of body cross bars being spaced apart, substantially parallel to each other, and substantially perpendicular to the body rockers, and a plurality of battery cross bars that extend between the pair of body rockers, the plurality of battery cross bars being spaced apart, substantially parallel to each other, and substantially perpendicular to the body rockers, portions of the battery being located between adjacent battery cross bars. The plurality of battery cross bars, the plurality of body cross bars and the body rockers are configured to delay initiation of rocker plastic deformation.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2019Publication date: August 20, 2020Inventors: Ryan Shannon, Terry A. Swartzell, Thomas M. Siberski, Andrew W. White
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Patent number: 10392053Abstract: A vehicle includes a frame system having a frame rail that extends along and is laterally offset from a longitudinal axis. A body is mounted to the frame system, and includes a rocker panel that extends along the longitudinal axis, and is disposed outboard of the first frame rail. A side load transfer device is positioned between the frame rail and the rocker panel. The side load transfer device is attached to one of the frame rail or the body. The side load transfer device is operable to transfer an applied load from the rocker panel to the frame rail. The applied load being applied to the rocker panel in an inboard direction transverse to the longitudinal axis.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2017Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Jungryoung Kim, Huai-yang Chiang, Hari Prasada Reddy Lingala, Terry A. Swartzell, Jayavardhan Tallapragada, Warren J. Parsons
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Publication number: 20180273100Abstract: A vehicle includes a frame system having a frame rail that extends along and is laterally offset from a longitudinal axis. A body is mounted to the frame system, and includes a rocker panel that extends along the longitudinal axis, and is disposed outboard of the first frame rail. A side load transfer device is positioned between the frame rail and the rocker panel. The side load transfer device is attached to one of the frame rail or the body. The side load transfer device is operable to transfer an applied load from the rocker panel to the frame rail. The applied load being applied to the rocker panel in an inboard direction transverse to the longitudinal axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2017Publication date: September 27, 2018Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Jungryoung Kim, Huai-yang Chiang, Hari Prasada Reddy Lingala, Terry A. Swartzell, Jayavardhan Tallapragada, Warren J. Parsons
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Publication number: 20180265133Abstract: A body-mounted tire blocker assembly can absorb and/or manage energy when a vehicle body assembly is subjected to an external force. This vehicle body assembly may include a vehicle body defining a passenger compartment. The vehicle body further includes a rocker panel defining a first panel end and a second panel end opposite the first panel end. The tire blocker assembly is coupled to the rocker panel and includes a first blocker body and a second blocker body coupled to the first blocker body. The first blocker body is farther from the first panel end than the second blocker body in order to guide a wheel away from the passenger compartment when an external force is applied to the vehicle body.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2017Publication date: September 20, 2018Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Huai-yang Chiang, Vikas V. Joshi, Hari Prasada Reddy Lingala, Warren J. Parsons, Terry A. Swartzell
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Patent number: 10077014Abstract: A body-mounted tire blocker assembly can absorb and/or manage energy when a vehicle body assembly is subjected to an external force. This vehicle body assembly may include a vehicle body defining a passenger compartment. The vehicle body further includes a rocker panel defining a first panel end and a second panel end opposite the first panel end. The tire blocker assembly is coupled to the rocker panel and includes a first blocker body and a second blocker body coupled to the first blocker body. The first blocker body is farther from the first panel end than the second blocker body in order to guide a wheel away from the passenger compartment when an external force is applied to the vehicle body.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2017Date of Patent: September 18, 2018Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Huai-yang Chiang, Vikas V. Joshi, Hari Prasada Reddy Lingala, Warren J. Parsons, Terry A. Swartzell
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Patent number: 9889892Abstract: An attachment for connecting a chassis structure to a hollow beam of a body structure includes a tube nut, a bulkhead, and a bolt. The bulkhead has a cavity surface configured to conform to a cylindrical outer surface of the tube nut. The bulkhead is disposed within the hollow beam and is attached to at least two walls of the hollow beam and to the tube nut. A first portion of the cylindrical outer surface of the tube nut is disposed in close proximity to the cavity surface of the bulkhead. A bottom surface of the tube nut contacts an inner surface of a bottom wall of the hollow beam. The bolt extends from the chassis structure, through a hole formed in the bottom wall of the hollow beam, and into the tube nut to connect the chassis structure to the body structure. The attachment may include a second bulkhead.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2016Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Travis W. Walker, Darek G. Villeneuve, Terry A. Swartzell, Daniel C. Dokter
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Publication number: 20180015961Abstract: An attachment for connecting a chassis structure to a hollow beam of a body structure includes a tube nut, a bulkhead, and a bolt. The bulkhead has a cavity surface configured to conform to a cylindrical outer surface of the tube nut. The bulkhead is disposed within the hollow beam and is attached to at least two walls of the hollow beam and to the tube nut. A first portion of the cylindrical outer surface of the tube nut is disposed in close proximity to the cavity surface of the bulkhead. A bottom surface of the tube nut contacts an inner surface of a bottom wall of the hollow beam. The bolt extends from the chassis structure, through a hole formed in the bottom wall of the hollow beam, and into the tube nut to connect the chassis structure to the body structure. The attachment may include a second bulkhead.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2016Publication date: January 18, 2018Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Travis W. Walker, Darek G. Villeneuve, Terry A. Swartzell, Daniel C. Dokter
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Patent number: 9580106Abstract: A vehicle includes a body structure and a frame rail assembly. The frame rail assembly extends forward from the bulkhead along a longitudinal centerline. The frame rail assembly includes a frame rail defining a rail axis and a reinforcing member. The frame rail defines a longitudinally extending seam and the frame rail extends forward from the bulkhead along the longitudinal centerline. The frame rail further defines an end portion. The reinforcing member is secured to the frame rail at the end portion to increase a stiffness of the frame rail at the end portion. The reinforcing member is configured to limit a stress at the seam, transverse to the rail axis, resulting from a load applied to the end portion of the frame rail and laterally offset from the longitudinal centerline.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2015Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Krishnarao V. Yalamanchili, Mohammed N. Shaik, Terry A. Swartzell, Jayavardhan Tallapragada, Warren J. Parsons
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Patent number: 9555838Abstract: A number of variations may include a rocker system using tunable parts to satisfy a number of load cases. A number of variations may include a rocker system including a vehicle rocker and at least one reinforcement attached to a first side wall or a corner of the rocker.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2014Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Robert N. Saje, Terry A. Swartzell, Robert M. Kielbik
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Publication number: 20160375936Abstract: A vehicle includes a body structure and a frame rail assembly. The frame rail assembly extends forward from the bulkhead along a longitudinal centerline. The frame rail assembly includes a frame rail defining a rail axis and a reinforcing member. The frame rail defines a longitudinally extending seam and the frame rail extends forward from the bulkhead along the longitudinal centerline. The frame rail further defines an end portion. The reinforcing member is secured to the frame rail at the end portion to increase a stiffness of the frame rail at the end portion. The reinforcing member is configured to limit a stress at the seam, transverse to the rail axis, resulting from a load applied to the end portion of the frame rail and laterally offset from the longitudinal centerline.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2015Publication date: December 29, 2016Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Krishnarao V. Yalamanchili, Mohammed N. Shaik, Terry A. Swartzell, Jayavardhan Tallapragada, Warren J. Parsons
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Patent number: 9440682Abstract: A product comprising a mixed material longitudinal rail system for a vehicle and a method of making the same.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2014Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Robert N. Saje, Terry A. Swartzell, Artur Wyszynski, Robert M. Kielbik, Keith J. Saari
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Patent number: 9233720Abstract: A product comprising a lateral beam system which may include a 4-bar beam having a first bend forming a constant sweep across the length of the lateral beam creating a vertical arc and a second bend forming a constant sweep across the length of the lateral beam creating a horizontal arc and which may also include a plurality of brackets which may be attached to the 4-bar beam and wherein the lateral beam system may be attached to a vehicle at an angled toward the front of the vehicle and a method of making the same.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2014Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Robert N. Saje, John C. Johnson, Terry A. Swartzell, Kevin J. Lindsey
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Publication number: 20150210330Abstract: A motor compartment structure for a vehicle includes an intermediate joint welded to a forward region of a cab of the vehicle. Also included is an upper motor compartment rail having a forward end and a rearward end, the rearward end mechanically fastened to the intermediate joint.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2014Publication date: July 30, 2015Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Hesham A. Ezzat, Marcel R. Cannon, Mark A. Nelson, John T. Freiwald, Terry A. Swartzell
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Publication number: 20150001876Abstract: A number of variations may include a product including a secondary dash including a center portion constructed and arranged to be attached to a primary dash of a vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2013Publication date: January 1, 2015Inventors: Robert N. Saje, Artur Wyszynski, Terry A. Swartzell, Johnny Ristoski
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Publication number: 20150001887Abstract: A number of variations may include a product including a rocker end plate attached to at least one of a rocker, a rear rail or an outer stamping for a vehicle rear rail.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2014Publication date: January 1, 2015Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Robert N. Saje, John C. Johnson, Terry A. Swartzell
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Publication number: 20150001886Abstract: A product comprising a lateral beam system which may include a 4-bar beam having a first bend forming a constant sweep across the length of the lateral beam creating a vertical arc and a second bend forming a constant sweep across the length of the lateral beam creating a horizontal arc and which may also include a plurality of brackets which may be attached to the 4-bar beam and wherein the lateral beam system may be attached to a vehicle at an angled toward the front of the vehicle and a method of making the same.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2014Publication date: January 1, 2015Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Robert N. Saje, John C. Johnson, Terry A. Swartzell, Kevin J. Lindsey
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Publication number: 20150001891Abstract: A product comprising a mixed material longitudinal rail system for a vehicle and a method of making the same.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2014Publication date: January 1, 2015Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Robert N. Saje, Terry A. Swartzell, Artur Wyszynski, Robert M. Kielbik, Keith J. Saari
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Publication number: 20150001892Abstract: A number of variations may include a rocker system using tunable parts to satisfy a number of load cases.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2014Publication date: January 1, 2015Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Robert N. Saje, Terry A. Swartzell, Robert M. Kielbik
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Publication number: 20150001884Abstract: A number of variations may include a product including a front hinge pillar for a vehicle, wherein the front hinge pillar is a non-joined, one piece of continuous cast material.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2013Publication date: January 1, 2015Inventors: Robert N. SAJE, Keith J. SAARI, Artur WYSZYNSKI, Terry A. SWARTZELL