Patents by Inventor Thomas E. Ganley

Thomas E. Ganley 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: 8452473
    Abstract: A powertrain system includes an internal combustion engine and an electric machine coupled via a torque transfer device to a transmission. A method for operating the powertrain system to transfer torque to a driveline includes establishing an operating torque security limit that is a default torque security limit. The operating torque security limit is set to an override limit when engine speed is less than a threshold speed. A torque security fault is detected only when a combined torque output from the internal combustion engine and the electric machine to the torque transfer device deviates from an operator torque request by an amount greater than the operating torque security limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Thomas E. Ganley, Sean W. McGrogan, Jeong J. Park, Anthony H. Heap
  • Patent number: 8437937
    Abstract: A method for operating a powertrain system including a torque machine coupled to a drive wheel of a vehicle includes determining a regenerative braking capacity of the powertrain system. In response to a net operator torque request including a braking torque request, a friction braking torque command to operate a friction brake system and a regenerative braking torque request for the torque machine are coincidentally generated, a torque command is generated for controlling operation of the torque machine in response to the regenerative braking torque request, and the friction braking torque command is adjusted by an amount corresponding to a difference between the braking torque request and the regenerative braking torque request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Thomas E. Ganley, Sean W. McGrogan, William R. Cawthorne, Hanne Buur, Alexander K. Rustoni, Anthony H. Heap
  • Publication number: 20120310454
    Abstract: A powertrain system includes an internal combustion engine and an electric machine coupled via a torque transfer device to a transmission. A method for operating the powertrain system to transfer torque to a driveline includes establishing an operating torque security limit that is a default torque security limit. The operating torque security limit is set to an override limit when engine speed is less than a threshold speed. A torque security fault is detected only when a combined torque output from the internal combustion engine and the electric machine to the torque transfer device deviates from an operator torque request by an amount greater than the operating torque security limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Thomas E. Ganley, Sean W. McGrogan, Jeong J. Park, Anthony H. Heap
  • Publication number: 20120109479
    Abstract: A method for operating a powertrain system including a torque machine coupled to a drive wheel of a vehicle includes determining a regenerative braking capacity of the powertrain system. In response to a net operator torque request including a braking torque request, a friction braking torque command to operate a friction brake system and a regenerative braking torque request for the torque machine are coincidentally generated, a torque command is generated for controlling operation of the torque machine in response to the regenerative braking torque request, and the friction braking torque command is adjusted by an amount corresponding to a difference between the braking torque request and the regenerative braking torque request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Ganley, Sean W. McGrogan, William R. Cawthorne, Hanne Buur, Alexander K. Rustoni, Anthony H. Heap