Visteon Global Technolgoies, Inc.

Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Behr Process Corporation

Sunil Palakodati

James Richard Robertson

Miles Anthony Poole

Leonard Ludovic Hamacher

Jill Dawn Ehnes

Nicholas Robert Thompson, Jr

Mohan R Paruchuri

David C Reuter

Madhu Nambiar

Scott Thomas Parkhill

Bruce Allen Bowling

Edward Francis McElmeel, Jr

Ronald Theis

Udit Patel

Balaji Bharadwaj

Abha Tiwari

Edward Fowlkes

Matthew Yanosek

A sales person at a retail store which traditionally does not sell paint assists a consumer in selecting and purchasing a non-paint product and thereafter employs a computer terminal and display in conjunction with a website operated by a paint manufacturer to provide a paint color recommendation to the consumer. The sales person may thereafter respond to consumer selection of a particular paint color by employing an on-line electronic ordering tool to transmit a paint order to an order processing terminal located at a paint manufacturer facility. Thereafter, the paint manufacturer may proceed to process the order, perform tinting and shaking steps to formulate paint of the particular color, package the tinted paint, and cause the packaged paint to be shipped to the consumer.

Methods and apparatus for selling paint products in stores that traditionally do not sell paint

Methods and apparatus for selling paint products in stores which traditionally do not sell paint

A composite tubular housing for an automotive steering system, preferably an electronic power assist steering system, is formed of seamless metal tube section welded into an integral component. The housing includes a rack section and a pinion section having an opening that is welded to the rack section. A yoke section is formed of a tube having an end that is welded to the rack section opposite the pinion section. The pinion section may contain a drive pinion coupled to a steering wheel of the vehicle. The housing may also include sections for an assist pinion coupled to an electric motor, and a yoke which are attached to the rack section apart from the drive pinion.

Automotive steering mechanism housing

A center console for a motor vehicle comprising a stationary housing mounted within the vehicle. The housing includes an open center defined between opposing ends and has a console body mounted within the open center of the housing. The console body is rotatable about a longitudinal axis running through the console body and is mounted such that an operator may remove the body from the frame. Also, at least two longitudinal side walls of the rotating body are visible within the open center and the console body may be rotated such that alternate side walls may be positioned in an uppermost position with respect to the center console. Thus, a user may exchange the console body for another and access multiple sides of the console body, regardless of which is in the uppermost position.

Pivotable and interchangeable console

A steering gear assembly includes a pinion defining a pinion axis and a rack defining a rack axis. A bearing assembly includes a roller bearing biased against the rack to generate a normal force pressing the rack into engagement with the pinion. The bearing assembly engages an outer surface of the rack at two points circumferentially spanning a large angle to provide improved support. The roller bearing is preferably a plurality of ball bearings engaging an outer race. A deformable member may be utilized that is positioned between the outer race and the rack housing. The deformable member may comprise a series of O-rings which providing a force biasing the outer race towards the pinion.

Yoke bearing providing improved support

An assisted steering system is provided. In preferred embodiments, the system has driver and assist pinions that are out of phase with each other. As a tooth of the driver pinion is fully engaged with a rack tooth, a tooth of the assist pinion is only partially engaged with a tooth of the rack. Preferably, the driver and assist pinions have differing rack speeds and numbers of teeth.

Assisted steering system with out-of-phase driver and assist pinions

A hydraulic pump &lsqb;,&rsqb; for use in a power steering system includes a power steering fluid chamber &lsqb;,&rsqb; for receiving power steering fluid from a fluid source. The power steering fluid chamber &lsqb;,&rsqb; is in fluid communication with a fluid passageway &lsqb;,&rsqb; which transfers fluid to a pressure wave attenuator &lsqb;,&rsqb; for receiving power steering fluid from the power steering fluid chamber &lsqb;,&rsqb; such that fluid borne noise in the power steering system is minimized.

Hydraulic gear pump power pack for a power steering system with an integral pressure wave attenuator for fluid noise reduction

An electro-hydraulic power steering system having a motor, a pump, and a control module all formed as an integral unit. The motor is shaft coupled to the pump and the pump housing and the motor housing are sealingly attached to prevent any fluid leakage. The control module is sealingly attached to the pump housing to prevent any fluid leakage. The control module is in electrical communication with the motor in order to drive a motor shaft and operate the hydraulic pump. The entire unit is submersible and can operate when submersed.

Submersible electro-hydraulic powerpack for underhood automotive steering applications

A hydraulic pump &lsqb;,&rsqb; for use in a power steering system includes a power steering fluid chamber &lsqb;,&rsqb; for receiving power steering fluid from a fluid source. The power steering fluid chamber &lsqb;,&rsqb; is in fluid communication with a first fluid conduit &lsqb;,&rsqb; and a second fluid conduit &lsqb;,&rsqb; each of which has different lengths. A pressure valve attenuator &lsqb;,&rsqb; has two ports, one in communication with the first fluid conduit &lsqb;,&rsqb; and one in communication with the second fluid conduit &lsqb;,&rsqb; for receiving power steering fluid from the power steering fluid chamber &lsqb;,&rsqb; such that fluid borne noise in the power steering system is minimized.

Hydraulic gear pump power pack for a power steering system with separate flow paths for fluid noise reduction

An electro-hydraulic gear pump power pack [10], including a gear pump [12] and a motor [16], are secured together to form a single assembly. The gear pump [12] has a gear drive [14] that is in rotational communication with a drive shaft [18] extending from the motor [16]. An insert coupling device [20] is constructed of a plastic material and is slip fit onto the drive shaft [18] to dampen vibrations and fluctuations between the shafts [14, 18] and thereby minimize fluid borne noise in the pump [12].

Motor shaft to gear pump coupling device for fluid borne noise reduction

A hydraulic vane pump (10), including a top section (12), a middle section (14), a vane rotor assembly (16) and a bottom section (18) secured together to form a single assembly. The vane pump (10) has a fluid feed chamber (20) to supply fluid directly to the top of a bore (32) formed in the middle section (14). Fluid from the feed chamber (20) also passes through a bypass chamber (28) into a fluid pocket (24) in the bottom section (18) and into the bottom of the bore (32). A vane rotor assembly (16) is used to force fluid from the bore (32) out the outlet chamber (26). By supplying fluid to both the top and bottom of the bore (32) cavitation is reduced. By feeding fluid from a single side of the hydraulic vane pump (10), packaging requirements are minimized.

Growing community of inventors

Canton, MI, United States of America

Sunil Palakodati