Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Richard E Jayroe

Ronald L Harkrader

Lawrence A Staat

Oday F Hassan

Michael J Boulos

Stephan A Stearns

Adam D Myers

Paula L Payne

A hollow beam for incorporation in an automotive vehicle frame is useful as a transmission cross member extending between side rails of the automotive vehicle frame. The hollow beam has first and second U-shaped channels, each comprising a base wall and a pair of side walls extending transversely from the base wall. The channel members are made of a thermosetting polyester which is reinforced with glass fibers. The side walls of the second channel are received within the sidewalls of the first channel and adhered thereto with epoxy to form a rigid, relatively light weight beam. The beam has figure-8 shaped aluminum inserts proximate the ends thereof for attaching the beam to the side rails of the automotive vehicle frame.

Hollow beams for incorporation in automotive vehicle frames

A mount for a rack and pinion steering gear on a body structure of a motor vehicle including a horizontal tubular boss on the steering gear parallel to a longitudinal centerline of the body structure, a tubular sleeve rigidly clamped to the body structure inside of the tubular boss having a pair of rigid flanges at opposite ends thereof, and an elastomeric bushing on the tubular sleeve between the rigid flanges. The elastomeric bushing has a tubular body bonded to the tubular sleeve and a plurality of integral linear splines compressed radially between the tubular sleeve and an inside cylindrical wall of the tubular boss. The linear splines flex resiliently to suppress the transfer of linear vibrations from the steering gear to the body structure. The angular separation between the linear splines controls the stiffness or reaction rate of the mount in a plurality of directions perpendicular to a longitudinal centerline of the tubular boss so that the mount can be constructed with relatively more compliance in directions which yield positive vehicle performance characteristics.

Mount for rack and pinion steering gear

An intermediate shaft seal for installation at an opening in a dash panel of a vehicle remove extra space includes an inner shell, an overmold and a bushing assembly. The bushing assembly includes a pair of bushings and is disposed within the inner shell to rotatably support an intermediate shaft of a steering column of a vehicle. The inner shell includes a rigid base plate and sealing ridges for mounting against a dash panel of a vehicle and providing a seal against water, fumes and dirt intrusion. The overmold engages locking features on the inner shell and forms air gaps therebetween cooperating with the sealing ridges and bushings to establish a sound attenuating structure. The inner shell and the overmold include cooperating sinuous shaped sections allowing angular flexibility of the seal for installation in various model vehicles.

Intermediate shaft dash panel seal

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Rochester Hills, MI, United States of America

Richard E Jayroe