Patents by Inventor Thomas E. Rau

Thomas E. Rau 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: 5031873
    Abstract: A vehicular powertrain mount assembly comprising two metal bracket members and a volume of a resilient elastomeric material sandwiched between and adhesively bonded to the two brackets. An epoxy adhesive is used in bonding the metal to the elastomer producing a bond having a minimum tensile rupture strength of 3,000 Newtons when tested by ASTM D-429.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas E. Rau
  • Patent number: 4987679
    Abstract: A vehicular powertrain mount assembly comprising two metal bracket members and a volume of a resilient elastomeric material sandwiched between and adhesively bonded to the two brackets. An epoxy adhesive is used in bonding the metal to the elastomer producing a bond having a minimum tensile rupture strength of 3,000 Newtons when tested by ASTM D-429.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas E. Rau
  • Patent number: 4894108
    Abstract: A composite leaf spring for a motor vehicle has an elongated body of layers of epoxy coated fibers extending in the longitudinal direction of the spring. The composite fiber/adhesive body is formed and cured to provide sufficient strength and flexibility to suspend the vehicle. A synthetic fiber pad is fixed adjacent the end of the spring for engagement with the spring hanger of the suspension system to resist wear of the body at the interface with the hanger. In the preferred embodiment, the pad is a woven fabric of aramid fibers at least some of which extend substantially normal to the wear interface. A specific double plane weave fabric including a warp/fill fiber ratio of approximately 7:1 provides superior results. Epoxy resin is preferred for the adhesive both for the body of the spring and for pre-impregnation of the pad. In the related method, the pre-impregnated pad is applied to the mold contoured to correspond to the shape of the spring and elongated fibers are layered in the mold over the pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: David S. Richard, John E. Mutzner, John F. Eilerman, Thomas E. Rau