Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Leonard Griffiths

David R Staley

Roxann M Bittner

Michael A Karram

Carl Eric Fonville

Gary J Hazelton

David A Wulbrecht

Shawn Michael Owen

Xin Ouyang

Deividas R Alksninis

Baisong Feng

A bolt compression limiter includes a Belleville disc that applies a load to a flange of a bolt assembly and a component that applies a load to a limiter positioned within the flange, the limiter being shy of the top surface of the flange. The load applied to the flange is a first proportion and the load applied to the limiter is a second proportion of the total load applied when a bolt of the bolt assembly is tightened.

Bolt compression limiter

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 rotary working component for use in a pump, compressor, blower or the like having an impeller, rotor, fan blade or other similar component includes a metallic insert and a composite structure overmolded on the metallic insert. The metallic insert can include an aperture adapted to mount the rotary working component to a drive shaft and a fluted catenoid or truncated spherical or spheroid outer surface having smooth contours between fluted regions thereof.

Metallic insert with smooth contours for use with composite working members

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

An assembly includes a first component and a second component. A sealant is disposed between the first component and the second component. The second component has a recess on a second surface of the second component opposite the first surface of the second component. A composite fastener has a threaded portion and a head portion. The head portion has a retention clip on a side of the head portion that faces the second surface of the second component when the threaded portion is received in aligned openings of the first component and the second component so that the retention clip is received in the recess when the composite fastener is turned. A method of attaching a first component and a composite component is provided.

Assembly with composite fastener for attaching components with sealant and method of attaching same

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

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

A sealed assembly includes a first component having a first flange, and a second component having a second flange matable with the first flange. The sealed assembly also includes a sealant disposed between and along the first flange and the second flange such that the first component is sealingly mated to the second component. The sealed assembly further includes a wire disposed within the sealant, wherein the wire is configured for unsealing the second component from the first component. A method of unsealing the sealed assembly is also disclosed.

Sealed assemblies and methods of unsealing same

A polymeric vessel includes a first shell formed from a thermoplastic polymer and including a weld stub, and a second shell formed from the thermoplastic polymer and including a weld anvil matable with the weld stub. The polymeric vessel also includes a friction weld joint joining the weld stub and the weld anvil, and a coupling element interconnecting the first shell and the second shell and spaced apart from the friction weld joint.

Polymeric vessel

A fastening apparatus includes a compression limiting member having a dowel portion and a belleville washer portion. A first member defines a first hole, a second member defines a second hole, a third member defines a third hole, and the dowel portion defines a fourth hole. The second member is between the first and third members, and the dowel portion extends through the second hole. The dowel portion is substantially rigid to prevent excessive compression of the second member between the first and third members. The belleville washer portion is elastically compressed between the second and third members such that the washer portion biases the second member toward the first member.

Fastening system

A PCV device for recirculation of crankcase air has a structural member with a tubular, substantially linear internal flow passage characterized by a length and diameter with a ratio of length to diameter that attenuates noise and acts as a restrictive orifice to at least partially control flow volume therethrough. A PCV system for an engine includes a structural member as described above placed in fluid communication with a passage member to partially form a flow path between an interior portion of an engine crankcase and an air intake portion of the engine. The flow path has an absence of any flow restriction with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the structural member.

Growing community of inventors

Fenton, MI, United States of America

Leonard Griffiths