Patents by Inventor William W. Shope

William W. Shope 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: 5358066
    Abstract: A drive system for a motor vehicle of the type having a front engine/transmission power unit mounted through engine mounts on a sprung mass portion of the vehicle, a rear drive axle resiliently connected to the sprung mass portion, and a torque beam for reacting drive torque and brake torque from the drive axle to the power unit. The drive system includes a front propeller shaft, a rear propeller shaft, a first universal joint between the power unit and the front propeller shaft, a second universal joint between the drive axle and the rear propeller shaft, a third universal joint between the front and the rear propeller shafts, and a shaft support rotatably connected to one of the front and the rear propeller shafts and rigidly attached to the torque beam. Vibratory forces developed in the front and rear propeller shafts are attenuated by a flexible isolator in the shaft support and by the engine mounts and the resilient connection of the drive axle to the sprung mass portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: William W. Shope