Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Other

David R Staley

Bryan K Pryor

Eric W Schneider

Leonard Griffiths

William Conrad Albertson

Alan William Hayman

Mike M McDonald

Matthew J Snider

John C Schultz

Frederick J Rozario

Kevin J Storch

Eric D Staley

Morena Bruno

Roxann M Bittner

James Joseph Mazzola, Iii

Karl R Gilgenbach

Robert M Olree

Rolland Dominic Giampa

James M Hart

Daryl A Wilton

Vijay A Ramappan

Ion C Halalay

William R Rodgers

Robert S McAlpine

Thomas A Spix

Charles K Buehler

Su-Chee Simon Wang

Joseph J Moon

Timothy Karnjate

Robert Gallon

Gregory J York

Han-Sheng Lee

Timothy L Neal

Marie-Christine G Jones

Roberto Argolini

Jeremy T Demarest

Bryant G Hammond

Phillip B McGrath

Lawrence O Murray

Bryce E Mazzola

Brian D White

Colin S Yager

A sealing interface configured to prevent galvanic corrosion of a container having parts made of dissimilar materials includes a first part, a second part, and a sealant. The first part has a first sealing surface and a first exterior surface substantially perpendicular to the first sealing surface. The second part has a second sealing surface and a second exterior surface substantially perpendicular to the second sealing surface. One of the parts includes an external sealing chamfer on the respective sealing surface extending to the respective exterior surface. The sealant at least fills a space formed between the external sealing chamfer and the sealing surface of the other of the parts when the parts are connected, forming a barrier between the parts such that the exterior surfaces of the parts are not in contact and are separated by the sealant. The exterior surfaces may be flush when the parts are connected.

Sealing interface for corrosion protection

An oil drain plug and wireless oil level sensor assembly is provided including an oil drain plug having a shaft and a head, the shaft having external threads and an axial passage extending axially therein in communication with at least one radial passage extending through the shaft from the axial passage to an exterior of the shaft. An oil level sensor includes a housing having an annular mounting portion defining an aperture extending there through for receiving the shaft of the oil drain plug. A pressure transducer is in fluid communication with the aperture and connected to a circuit and a battery disposed within the housing that provide wireless signals representative of the oil level.

Adaptation of a wireless oil level sensor to an oil pan drain plug

A tensioner device, includes a housing defining a cylindrical bore. A plunger is disposed in the bore and has a non-cylindrical outer surface. A spring is engaged with the plunger for biasing the plunger in an outward direction and an oil passage is in communication with the cylindrical bore for delivering pressurized oil to the bore. The non-cylindrical outer surface provides hydraulic clearance areas between the plunger and the bore to provide improved damping without high damping force.

High damping low force hydraulic strut tensioner

A control methodology for a wireless oil level sensor includes mounting a wireless oil pressure sensor to the oil plug of an engine. The oil pressure sensor detects a pressure which is used to determine a volume or level of oil in the oil pan. The oil level sensor can include an accelerometer sensor that can be excited by the vibration caused by the starting of the engine to 'wake up' the sensor. The sensor can take an initial pressure reading at start up and associate the pressure reading with an oil level that can then be transmitted to a vehicle control unit. The sensor can remain idle until the accelerometer sensor no longer detects engine vibrations. The sensor is activated to take pressure readings at predetermined time intervals and to transmit an associated oil level to the vehicle central processor unit until a predetermined time period has expired.

Control methodology for wireless fluid level sensor

A seal retention assembly is disclosed. The seal retention assembly includes a cover defining an aperture along a longitudinal axis. The seal retention assembly further includes a seal coupled to the cover adjacent to the aperture. The seal retention assembly also includes a retention device cooperating with the cover and the seal to secure the seal in engagement with the cover. In addition, a seal is disclosed. The seal includes a body portion, with the body portion including a first side and a second side opposing each other along a longitudinal axis. The body portion also includes an outer periphery disposed between the first and second sides and faces away from the longitudinal axis. The seal further includes a first retainer extending from at least one of the outer periphery and the first and second sides for securing the body portion to a cover.

Seal retention assembly and a seal

A vehicle and a compression load limiter assembly for the vehicle are disclosed. The assembly includes a first component defining a first hole along a first axis to present a first wall radially spaced from the first axis. The assembly also includes a second component defining a second hole along a second axis to present a second wall radially spaced from the second axis. The first and second holes generally align with each other to couple together the first and second components. The assembly further includes a load limiter member including a first body portion engaging one of the first and second walls when disposed in one of the first and second holes. The first body portion has a radially compliant feature to allow movement of the load limiter member within one of the first and second holes in response to a force being applied to the load limiter member.

Vehicle and a compression load limiter assembly for the vehicle

A first target module determines a first target output pressure of an engine oil pump based on a speed of the engine oil pump and an oil temperature. A second target module, based on a runtime period of an engine, sets a second target output pressure of the engine oil pump to one of greater than and equal to the first target output pressure. A third target module, based on an engine load, sets a third target output pressure of the engine oil pump to one of greater than and equal to the first target output pressure. A selection module selects one of the second and third target output pressures, sets a selected target output pressure based on the selected one of the second and third target output pressures, and controls displacement of the engine oil pump based on the selected target output pressure.

Oil pump control systems and methods

A hydraulic cam phaser includes at least one of an advance chamber and a retard chamber for receiving hydraulic fluid for advancing or retarding a rotational position of the camshaft. The hydraulic actuation system includes a hydraulic accumulator in selective communication with the at least one of the advance and retard chambers of the hydraulic cam phaser. A first system oil pump provides lubrication oil to the valvetrain system, and the hydraulic actuation system includes a second oil pump for supplying oil to the hydraulic accumulator. The second oil pump is controlled with a clutch device connecting the second oil pump to the engine drive system. The internal combustion engine includes a controller which controls actuation of the clutch device to actuate the clutch device during deceleration of the vehicle.

Efficient phaser actuation supply system

A combination usable together in an automotive vehicle includes an engine block, a cover, and a band clamp. The engine block includes an opening configured to provide access to an interior volume, a first flange having a periphery that surrounds the opening, and a first engagement surface disposed proximate the first flange. The cover includes a second flange disposed around a periphery of the cover, and a second engagement surface disposed proximate the second flange, the second engagement surface configured to mate with the first engagement surface, wherein when the first engagement surface and the second engagement surface are disposed in engagement with each other the first flange and the second flange in combination define an exterior surface having a first profile. The band clamp includes an interior surface with a second profile that is complementary with the first profile.

Containment assembly for flowable materials

An engine assembly includes an engine cover having a pump cavity through which fluid is pumped. A liner is configured to line the pump cavity to protect the engine cover from erosion due to the pumped fluid. The engine cover can be a composite material. The liner may be a composite material as well, or, in some embodiments, can be steel or another suitable material. A method of assembling an engine includes securing a liner to an engine cover so that the liner lines a pump cavity of the engine cover to protect the engine cover from erosion at the pump cavity.

Engine assembly with pump cavity liner and method of assembling an engine

An engine front cover assembly includes a plastic engine cover. A metal insert is secured within the plastic engine cover and defines a bore configured to receive a rotating engine component. A seal is located in a seal seat defined within the bore of the metal insert and configured to sealingly engage the rotating engine component. The metal insert is overmolded within the plastic engine cover and serves as a datum point to properly locate the seal relative to the rotating engine component.

Engine front cover with rotational support insert

A drainable container system for a vehicle includes a container having an exterior surface and defining an interior cavity configured for storing a fluid, and a drain hole configured for draining the fluid from the cavity. The hole has a central longitudinal axis that is substantially perpendicular to the surface. The system includes a drain plug, wherein the plug is insertable into the hole along the axis into a locked position so that the fluid does not drain, and removable from the hole along the axis when disposed in an unlocked position so that the fluid drains. The system includes a locking element configured for preventing rotation of the plug within the hole about the axis when the plug is disposed in the locked position, wherein the element is formed from a metal that is substantially elastic at a temperature of from about &#x2212;40&#xb0; C. to about 10&#xb0; C.

Drainable container system

A seal alignment system includes an engine block, a cover component spaced apart from the engine block and defining a first bore therethrough, and a crankshaft protruding from the engine block and extending through the first bore, wherein the crankshaft is rotatable about a central longitudinal axis and has an outer surface. The seal alignment system also includes an annular seal spaced apart from the engine block and defining a second bore therethrough, and an alignment device configured for coaxially aligning the annular seal with the central longitudinal axis so that the crankshaft extends through the second bore and the annular seal abuts the outer surface.

Seal alignment systems

An engine oil change detection control system is provided. The system includes an armature position module that monitors a solenoid armature position based on a position signal. A solenoid control module selectively generates a solenoid control signal and estimates a delay time based on the solenoid control signal and the armature position. An engine oil change detection module detects an engine oil change event based on the delay time.

Engine oil change detection systems and methods

A control system includes an oil pump module and a diagnostic module. The oil pump module, based on engine operating conditions, selectively generates a first mode request signal to initiate a first transition from operating an oil pump of an engine in one of a first pressure mode and a second pressure mode to operating the oil pump in another one of the first pressure mode and the second pressure mode. The second pressure mode is different from the first pressure mode. The diagnostic module, based on when a driver starts the engine, selectively generates a second mode request signal to initiate consecutive transitions from operating the oil pump in the second pressure mode to operating the oil pump in the first pressure mode. The diagnostic module diagnoses a pump fault when a first oil pressure change associated with the consecutive transitions is less than a first predetermined pressure change.

Growing community of inventors

Flushing, MI, United States of America

David R Staley