Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Tony J Deschutter

Nidamaluri S Nagesh

Chandra S Namuduri

Paul W Alexander

Suresh Gopalakrishnan

Lei Hao

Xiujie Gao

Sanjeev Manubhai Naik

Richard J Skurkis

Kenneth J Shoemaker

James R Spaulding

James Arthur Cole

Craig A Rodriguez

Richard A Knoth

Christopher James Martone

Paul J Boor

Raymond J Sapienza

Daniel Gerald Jones

Daniel W Doubleday

Timothy Patrick Mahoney

Joseph E Safran

A linear actuator associated with an actuator system for a device includes a wire cable fabricated from an active material. The linear actuator couples to the device and to the moveable element. The active material induces strain in the linear actuator in response to an activation signal. The linear actuator translates the moveable element relative to the device in response to the induced strain. An activation controller electrically connects to the linear actuator and generates the activation signal. A position feedback sensor monitors a position of the moveable element.

Actuator system including an active material

An apparatus for measuring a closing velocity of a vehicle door includes a housing, first and second sensors, and a processor. The first sensor is coupled to the housing, has a first detection field, and is configured to generate a first signal when the vehicle door passes through the first detection field. The second sensor is coupled to the housing, has a second detection field, and is configured to generate a second signal when the vehicle door passes through the second detection field. The processor is in operable communication with the first and second sensors and is configured to receive the first and second signals and measure a time period between the receiving of the first and second signals.

Apparatus and method for determining the closing velocity of a vehicle door

A hand tool has two digital video cameras mounted thereon adjacent to a working end of the tool for viewing a work site, which video cameras are connected to a pair of liquid crystal displays (LCDs) mounted on the tool proximate a control end of the tool. The hand tool includes a barrel with a handle at the control end and a control operator for activating the tool, wherein the control operator is in operative relationship with the handle and wherein the working end of the tool is positioned at the end of the barrel opposite the control end of the tool. In an illustrated example, the cameras and LCDs are mounted on a pneumatic nut runner with a T-head tool drive.

Vision-assisted hand tools

A portable air pressure decay test apparatus for leak testing of a sealed system includes a hollow housing, an air pump having an inlet and an outlet disposed in the housing, and a controller disposed in the housing and connected to the pump for controlling the operation of the pump. A test head is mounted on the housing for releasably attaching to an attachment point of a sealed system. The test head is in fluid communication with the outlet of the pump. When the test head is attached to the attachment point of the sealed system, the controller operates the pump to provide pressured air to the sealed system and raise the pressure in the sealed system to a predetermined value. After the predetermined value of pressure is reached, the controller stops the pump and monitors the air pressure in the sealed system for a predetermined time interval to measure an air pressure decay rate. The controller then compares the measured air pressure decay rate with a predetermined air pressure decay rate to indicate if a leak rate of the sealed system is acceptable. The apparatus preferably includes a power source connected to the pump and the controller disposed in the housing. The power source is preferably a removable battery or the like.

Self-contained portable air pressure decay test apparatus

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St. Clair Shores, MI, United States of America

Tony J Deschutter