Montaplast of North America, Inc.

Basf Se Corporation

Sascha Klausen

Ankur Bhosale

Raymond Ballou

Wolfgang Kern

Jeffrey Elliott

Andrew Kowalski

Robert Wolf

Ankur M Bhosale

A method of forming a structural oil pan via lost core molding is disclosed. The structural oil pan comprises a bracket portion configured for mounting to the vehicle, a pan portion integrated with the bracket portion and defining an oil reservoir, and a structural section formed via lost core molding and defining a cavity. The method comprises the step of lost core molding by forming a metal core, molding the bracket portion and/or the pan portion about the metal core, and removing the metal core to form the structural section in at least one of the bracket portion and the pan portion. The method also includes co-molding the bracket portion and the pan portion together to form the structural oil pan.

Method of forming a structural oil pan via lost core molding

An active grille shutter for regulating airflow towards a vehicle heat exchanger. A frame adjacent the heat exchanger has a first mount with bores, a second mount, and an opening between the mounts to allow air to pass through. An end cap secures to the second mount and has bores. Vanes extend across the opening between opposing ends with a receiver at each end. Bearings are provided with couplers extending into and attached to the receivers, and a shafts extending into the bores. A linkage interconnects the bearings at one of the ends such that the vanes rotate concurrently. An actuator attached to the frame adjacent the first mount is coupled to one of the end cap bearings and rotation imparts rotation to the vanes by the linkage to concurrently rotate the vanes within the opening to regulate airflow through the opening towards the heat exchanger.

Active grille shutter and shutter subassembly for use with active grill shutters

An active grille shutter assembly includes a frame adapted to be connected to a portion of a vehicle and forming at least one opening therein and a plurality of shutters disposed in and extending across the at least one opening and being pivotally connected to the frame. The active grille shutter assembly also includes at least one linkage connected to the shutters and an actuator supported by the frame and being connected to one of the shutters to move the at least one linkage to open and close the shutters as a unit.

Active grille shutter assembly

Growing community of inventors

Waterford, MI, United States of America

Sascha Klausen