Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Carl Eric Fonville

Michael A Karram

Michael R Thelen

Louis P Begin

Leonard Griffiths

Edward J Billings

John G Dorrough

Timothy J Johnson

Curt R Danielewicz

Dipak R Patel

Eric A Nordling

Roland C Hawkins

Scott Igram

David M Miller

Abhay R Bhandari

A fastening arrangement includes a tray having an outwardly extending tray flange with a first hole therein, a cover having a generally U-shaped portion and a cover flange extending outward therefrom with a second hole therein. The cover is disposed atop the tray with the generally U-shaped portion disposed in contact with the tray flange and the cover flange disposed a predetermined height above the tray flange with the first and second holes aligned with each other. A spacer having a third hole therethrough is disposed between the tray flange and the cover flange with the third hole aligned with the first and second holes. A fastener arrangement has a shaft extending through the first, second and third holes, a head formed on a first shaft end, a threaded portion on a second shaft end, and a nut engaged with the threaded portion.

Flange fastening and sealing arrangement for exterior thermal protection of a battery pack

A multi-piece seal assembly for use in a torque converter of a motor vehicle includes an inner ring, an outer ring, and an elastomer compensation layer disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring. The inner and outer rings are made from a composite wear material. Tabs on the inner and outer ring interlock with matching slots on the elastomer compensation layer.

Multi-piece sealing assembly

An oil pan assembly for a vehicle is provided which reduces and the movement of the oil pan relative to the engine block, and reduces the mechanical strain on the Room Temperature Vulcanizing (RTV) layer between the oil pan and the engine block. The oil pan assembly includes a brace and an oil pan having a base and sidewalls, and optionally an oil pan cover. The oil pan may include a peripheral flange operatively configured to be coupled to an engine block. The brace may be affixed to the oil pan about the peripheral area of the oil pan.

Oil pan assembly

A seal is adapted to be received in an annular groove in a first member and is compressed against a groove bottom by a second member that defines a gap between the first and second members. The seal includes a reinforcement member and an elastomer body over-molded on the reinforcement member. The reinforcement member is disposed on an outboard side of the elastomer body and the elastomer body extends both above and below the reinforcement member. The compression of the seal causes the elastomer body to deform such that the reinforcement member provides a reinforcement substantially along the entire gap to prevent the elastomer body of the seal from being extruded through the gap.

Seal for pressurized fluid and open interface gap

A turbocharger for an internal combustion engine includes a bearing housing with a bearing bore and a thrust wall. The bearing housing includes a journal bearing disposed within the bore. The turbocharger also includes a shaft supported by the journal bearing for rotation about an axis within the bore. The turbocharger also includes a turbine wheel fixed to the shaft and configured to be rotated about the axis by the engine's post-combustion gasses. The turbocharger additionally includes a compressor wheel fixed to the shaft and configured to pressurize an ambient airflow. Furthermore, the turbocharger includes a thrust bearing assembly pressed onto the shaft and configured to transmit thrust forces developed by the turbine wheel to the thrust wall. Pressing the thrust bearing assembly onto the shaft minimizes radial motion between the thrust bearing assembly and the shaft. An internal combustion engine employing such a turbocharger is also disclosed.

Control of balance drift in turbocharger rotating assembly

Methods and apparatus are provided for vehicle windshield washing-wiping and wiper de-icing. Primary nozzles provide washing fluid to the windshield during normal operations and secondary nozzles bathe the wiper arms with washing fluid to de-ice the wipers during a de-icing mode. Washing fluid is drawn from a reservoir and delivered to the nozzles by a pump. When the outside air temperature T is greater than Tc, the critical temperature for ice formation, the wipers and washing-wiping proceed normally with washing fluid delivered to the primary nozzles for windshield washing. When T&#x2266;Tc and the wipers are not moving, a washer fluid supply line valve delivers washing fluid to the secondary nozzles to de-ice the wipers. The wiper motor, washing fluid pump and valve are operated by a controller based on inputs from wiper position and air temperature sensors, using predetermined information stored in on-board memory.

Windshield wiper de-icing

An electromagnetic solenoid is provided with a bobbin having a generally cylindrical body and a pair of radially outwardly extending end flanges each disposed at opposite ends of the generally cylindrical body. The pair of end flanges each have an inner face facing one another and an outer face facing away from one another. The inner and outer faces of the pair of end flanges have a plurality of grooves formed in a surface thereof. The grooves provide for enhanced retention of an over-mold that seals a coil within the bobbin assembly.

Integrated interlock feature for overmolded coil and bobbin

An internal combustion engine comprises an intake system to deliver a compressed intake charge thereto. A venturi assembly is disposed in the intake system and defines a venturi defining a low pressure zone 'Z' for the intake charge passing therethrough. An annular exhaust gas recirculation conduit distribution passage extends circumferentially about an inlet annulus of an intake manifold and receives diverted exhaust gas from an exhaust system for delivery to the intake charge through exhaust gas recirculation diffuser passages disposed at circumferentially spaced locations about the annular exhaust gas recirculation conduit distribution passage.

Exhaust gas recirculation system for an internal combustion engine

An annular seal for sealing between a cylindrical probe and a bore includes a radially inward-facing sealing portion having a first contact height, a radially outward-facing sealing portion having a second contact height, where the first contact height is greater than the second contact height. The seal further includes a vertical-loading portion, and a sloped deformation portion that extends between the vertical-loading portion and the radially outward-facing sealing portion.

Annular seal with trapezoidal cross-section

A t-joint assembly includes a gasket having first and second ends, and a substantially elongated body having a profile. The first end includes an enlarged tapered section having a distal tip and a force-transfer surface disposed substantially perpendicular to the body. The assembly also includes a first component having a channel with a profile and a reaction surface configured to respectively complement the profile and accept the force-transfer surface of the gasket. The first component also has a first sealing surface arranged substantially parallel to the reaction surface, and a second sealing surface arranged substantially perpendicular to the reaction surface. The t-joint assembly additionally includes second and third components, each having a sealing surface. Inserting the gasket into the channel and assembling the three components compresses the gasket against the channel, and the tip of the gasket against the reaction surface, to thereby seal the t-joint.

Gasket-end feature for sealing a T-joint assembly

The present invention provides novel acoustic bumpers that can dampen vibrations and control noise transmission from an engine front cover, or other component. In one embodiment, the front cover carries a water pump and internal water distribution passages and covers an overhead camshaft drive mechanism and an oil pump mounted on the engine block. Noise control of unsupported cover central portions is provided by acoustic bumpers carried on inside cover bosses and engaging surfaces in accessible locations on the engine block front face or on associated components. The acoustic bumpers may be doughnut shaped annular rings having identical coaxial locating recesses on opposite sides for error-free installation. A central web between the recesses includes an axially located retainer hole. Each bumper may be mounted on a pillar on the inside cover face that includes a fastener receiving blind hole centrally located on a raised circular boss.

Acoustic bumpers with engine front cover hidden mounting

A wrap-around cover or noise muffler of oil and temperature resistant noise absorbing resilient elastomer covers the front and sides of a front mounted engine oil pump forming a pump and muffler assembly. The muffler absorbs vibrations and reduces the transfer of noise frequencies from the oil pump to an engine front cover that covers the pump. Additionally, the front of the muffler is shaped to fill the gap and engage the front cover in compression between the oil pump and the rear surface of the front cover, thereby damping vibrations of the front cover adjacent to the oil pump and to an accessory drive pulley that rotates ahead of the front cover for driving accessories.

Engine with oil pump muffler and noise damper

An engine bracket assembly may include a first mounting portion, a second mounting portion, and a support member. The first mounting portion may fix a first end of the bracket assembly to the engine and the second mounting portion may fix a second end of the bracket assembly to the engine. The support member may support an engine component and may be disposed between and coupled to the first and second mounting portions. The coupling between the first and second mounting portions and the support member may provide relative displacement between the first mounting portion and the support member in a longitudinal direction extending from one of the first and second mounting portions toward the other of the first and second mounting portions during thermal expansion of the bracket assembly.

Engine including a self-adjusting thermally compliant bracket

A pipe fitting assembly is provided for an intake manifold defining a generally cylindrical bore and having at least one tab portion defining at least one groove. The pipe fitting assembly includes a fitting member having a generally cylindrical portion configured for insertion into the bore such that the fitting member is rotatable between a first and second position. At least one flange is formed on the fitting member and is operable to engage the at least one groove when the fitting member is rotated from the first position to the second position, thereby preventing the removal of the cylindrical portion from the bore. A tube member is also provided having a first end mounted with respect to the fitting member and a second end mounted with respect to the intake manifold. The tube member is operable to retain the fitting member in the second position.

Clock and anchor pipe fitting and method

A thermally responsive regulator valve assembly and exhaust gas recirculation system for an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold and an exhaust system is provided. The exhaust gas recirculation system includes an exhaust gas recirculation passage selectively interconnecting the exhaust system and the intake manifold. An exhaust gas recirculation valve is disposed in fluid communication with the exhaust gas recirculation passage and operates to selectively and variably communicate recirculated exhaust gas to the intake manifold. A thermally responsive regulator valve assembly is disposed at least partially within the exhaust gas recirculation passage and the intake manifold. The thermally responsive valve assembly is sufficiently configured to variably restrict flow of the recirculated exhaust gas from the exhaust gas recirculation passage to the intake manifold when the flow of inlet air within the intake manifold is sufficiently low and/or the temperature of the inlet air is sufficiently high.

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Carl Eric Fonville