Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Gary L Villeneuve

Muhammad E Abdallah

Sreten Zakula

Gary J Hazelton

Grant William Brady

Thomas Wollstadt

Srinivas Chilpuri

Ruihua Han

Michael S Cochran

Arjinder Singh

A method for position correction of a machine relative to a work piece. The machine may be provided with an end effector. The work piece may be engaged with the end effector. A force or a moment resulting from engaging the work piece with the end effector may be measured. A pose error may be determined from the force and/or the moment, wherein the pose error may define a misalignment of the end effector. The end effector may be repositioned an amount equal to the pose error to correct the misalignment. One application may involve torqueing nuts with a nut runner, which may be accomplished through the use of an automated machine such as a robot.

Self-corrective nut running for robotic applications

A system and method for automating an assembly process of threading a tube-nut onto a threaded connector. The system includes a robot having a force sensor and a tube-nut runner tool coupled to the robot and having a tool head with a rotatable socket therein. The method includes engaging the socket to the tube-nut under force control using the force signal from the force sensor. The tool controller causes the socket to rotate the tube-nut where the tool controller controls the torque and/or angle displacement of the tool head to tighten the tube-nut on the threaded connector. The method also includes disengaging the tool head from the tube-nut after the tube-nut is properly tightened onto the threaded connector under force control to ensure that the end member is properly disengaged from the tube-nut.

Force-control enabled automation of tube-nut assembly applications

An internal combustion engine having an engine body and an acoustic and thermal cover assembly are provided. The engine body includes an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) pipe extending therefrom and the acoustic and thermal cover assembly is positioned adjacent to the engine body. The acoustic and thermal cover assembly includes a first section and a second section extending along the engine body. The assembly further includes an acoustic and thermal shield extending along the first section, a plastic shell extending along the second section, the acoustic and thermal shield and plastic shell forming a cover, and an insulating layer positioned between the cover and the engine body.

Acoustic and thermal cover assembly

A compressor includes a shaft assembly including a thrust disk disposed on a main shaft and a housing having a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions adapted to receive the shaft assembly and enclose the shaft assembly therebetween, wherein the shaft assembly is rotatably disposed within the housing, and wherein at least one of the first portion and the second portion includes a shaft assembly retention feature for receiving the thrust disk to regulate a motion of the shaft assembly.

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Clarkston, MI, United States of America

Gary L Villeneuve