Daimlerchrysler Corporation

Chrysler Group LLC

James M Culp

Troy M Cornell

Hai Gu

Mark J Kirschmann

Gerald F Burke

Terry L Blanchard

Nicolaos Tapazoglou

Douglas L Nieset

A system for mounting a duct to a port mounting in an engine where the port mounting has an opening and a mounting surface that surrounds the opening. The system includes a flange with a tongue portion that mates with a shoulder of a mounting rail that does not extend over the mounting surface of the port mounting, which allows for easy installation in locations with limited space.

Exhaust flange with pressure clamp mounting rail

A dual-sectioned automotive propeller shaft features a weakened area in a first section. Under an axial load, the first section buckles transversely to a longitudinal axis of the shaft to absorb substantially all of the energy exerted against the shaft. A second section of the shaft is thereby isolated from consequences of the axial load enabling its placement and proximity to other components mounted to the undercarriage of the vehicle.

Energy absorbing propeller shaft system

Growing community of inventors

Rochester Hills, MI, United States of America

James M Culp