Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Other

James A Webster

Tomasz R Warzecha

Michael D Hanna

Michael L Holly

Anil Kumar Sachdev

Mark T Riefe

Michael J Walker

Christopher J Mettrick

Cheryl A Garrison

Ronnie T Brown

Kee Hyuk Im

Lisa G Devoe

James Wojciechowski

Donna Y Sekulovski

Daniel D Rodrigues

An automotive vehicle includes a body having a passenger compartment and at least one pedal box for controlling vehicle acceleration or braking. The pedal box is movably coupled to an interior structural point disposed within the passenger compartment and movable between first and second positions with respect to the structural point. At least one pedal, actuatable by an occupant, is coupled to the pedal box. The vehicle additionally includes an actuator operably coupled to the pedal box and configured to selectively move the pedal box between the first position and the second position. The vehicle further includes at least one controller. The controller is configured to, in response to satisfaction of a first operating condition, control the actuator to move the pedal box to the first position, and, in response to satisfaction of a second operating condition, control the actuator to move the pedal box to the second position.

Pedal assembly for a vehicle

A brake rotor comprising a brake pad wear surface; a hat surface; and a decorative insert comprising an insert material, the decorative insert disposed on the brake pad wear surface, the hat surface, or both; wherein at least one of a friction coefficient between the decorative insert and a brake pad is substantially the same as a friction coefficient between the brake pad wear surface and the brake pad, a wear rate of the decorative insert is substantially the same as or greater than a wear rate of the brake pad wear surface, or a wear rate of the decorative insert is substantially the same as or greater than a wear rate of the hat surface; and at least a portion of the decorative insert is visible on the brake pad wear surface, the hat surface, or both.

Brake rotor with decorative insert

A ferritically nitrocarburized rotational member of a vehicle brake is disclosed, including a rotational member having a friction surface configured for braking engagement with a corresponding friction material. A compound zone is disposed at the friction surface. An exposed surface of the compound zone is exposed to an atmosphere. The area of the exposed surface includes from about 0 percent to about 14 percent graphite.

Friction brake component and method for manufacturing the same

A method is disclosed for forming a brake rotor including a desired custom marking having a predetermined size and shape. The method includes applying a chemical treatment to a marking portion of a surface of the rotor. The marking portion has a size and shape corresponding to the predetermined size and shape of the desired custom marking. The chemical treatment is configured to affect, in a predetermined manner, an ability of a stimulus, to which the rotor is to be exposed, to alter properties of the rotor. The method also includes exposing the rotor, having the chemical treatment applied thereto, to the stimulus. The stimulus alters properties of the rotor at the marking portion differently than the stimulus alters properties of the rotor at other portions of the rotor adjacent the marking portion, thereby forming physical differences in the rotor, which, being visually perceptible, form the custom marking.

Brake rotors having a custom designer feature and methods for forming the same

A brake rotor for an automotive vehicle braking system includes a brake rotor hat having a generally circular mounting portion, a generally cylindrical wall connected to the mounting portion and being generally symmetrical about an axis, and first and second pluralities of fingers extending radially outward from the wall. Each of the first plurality of fingers and each of the second plurality of fingers has a respective terminal end portion. The terminal end portions of the first plurality of fingers are coplanar about a first plane. The terminal end portions of the second plurality of fingers are not coplanar about the first plane, and are coplanar about a second plane that is parallel with the first plane. A rotor cheek may be cast around the fingers.

Brake rotor and method of manufacturing the same

In accordance with exemplary embodiments, a wheel assembly is provided for a vehicle. The wheel assembly includes a knuckle having a tapered inner surface to interface with an outer flange of a bearing. A threaded fastener retains the bearing within the knuckle. A wheel hub couples to an inner flange of the bearing permitting rotation of the wheel hub relative to the knuckle.

Vehicle wheel assembly having a self-retaining bearing

A steering knuckle for a vehicle includes a metal body having a first portion defining a bore therethrough and a second portion extending longitudinally from said first portion. The steering knuckle also includes a ceramic insert disposed with the first portion and the second portion and surrounding the bore. A method of forming the steering knuckle includes disposing the ceramic insert within a cavity of a mold, sufficiently filling the cavity with a molten metal to contact and envelop the ceramic insert with the molten metal, and solidifying the molten metal so as to surround the ceramic insert with the metal body to thereby form the steering knuckle.

Steering knuckle and method of forming same

A hydroformed drum brake shoe assembly for a vehicle and method of making same includes a hydroformed drum brake shoe. The hydroformed drum brake shoe assembly also includes a friction lining secured to the hydroformed drum brake shoe. The hydroformed drum brake shoe is a monolithic structure being integral, unitary, and one-piece.

Hydroformed drum brake shoe assembly for vehicles and method of making same

A hydroformed steering knuckle assembly for a vehicle and method of making same includes a hydroformed main body. The hydroformed steering knuckle assembly also includes at least one component secured to the hydroformed main body. The hydroformed main body is a hydroformed monolithic structure being integral, unitary, and one-piece.

Hydroformed steering knuckle assembly for vehicles and method of making same

Support for attaching binoculars to a tripod

A device to secure binoculars to a tripod having a rectangularly shaped base plate of a durable material, a rectangularly shaped compressible resilient pad made of a high density closed cell foam material operably attached to the top side of the base, a holding plate situated centrally to the resilient pad and operably attached to the base, the holding plate securing the central point of an elongated flexible holding strap. The opposite ends of the strap emerging from under the holding plate provide a pair of loops to receive the monocular barrels of a pair of binoculars. The ends of the straps pass through individual openings at each end of the base not covered by the pad. At each end of the holding strap is a hook type cloth fastening material and a loop type cloth fastening material, each end of the strap passing through a respective oval opening to return on itself, the hook and loop fastening means engaging, thus securing the binoculars in place. Centrally located on the bottom side of the base is a blind threaded opening to receive a threaded bolt attached to the tripod.

Device to secure binoculars to a tripod

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for securing a cycle pump. The apparatus consists of a C-shaped holding means adjustably adopted so as to be tightly fitted around the pump body. Lips protrude from the C-shaped holding means and are adaptably fitted to receive a locking means. A cover means is fittingly adapted to permit entry of the lips through the cover means, whereupon the shoulder of the cover is forced against the pump head. This causes the pump body and head to become wedged into the cycle frame pegs. Placing a lock through the lips, which contains holes, prevents the pump from becoming unwedged, thus securing the pump.

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Shelby Township, MI, United States of America

James A Webster