The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 21, 2010
Filed:
Jan. 16, 2008
Nilesh D. Mankame, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Norman K. Bucknor, Troy, MI (US);
Alan L. Browne, Grosse Pointe, MI (US);
Paul W. Alexander, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Brian W. Whitmarsh, Commerce, MI (US);
Nancy L. Johnson, Northville, MI (US);
Stephen W. Powell, South Lyon, MI (US);
Patrick B. Usoro, Troy, MI (US);
Xiujie Gao, Troy, MI (US);
Nilesh D. Mankame, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Norman K. Bucknor, Troy, MI (US);
Alan L. Browne, Grosse Pointe, MI (US);
Paul W. Alexander, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Brian W. Whitmarsh, Commerce, MI (US);
Nancy L. Johnson, Northville, MI (US);
Stephen W. Powell, South Lyon, MI (US);
Patrick B. Usoro, Troy, MI (US);
Xiujie Gao, Troy, MI (US);
GM Global Technology Operations, Inc., Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A servo system includes pressurized fluid, and one or more fluid control devices (FCD) such as a valve or actuator, with at least one FCD having an element with a variable property that varies in response to a stimulus. The FCD controls a flow rate or pressure transmission of the fluid within the servo system. The element may include an active return spring having a variable stiffness. The servo system may operate as an interlock system for a transmission. A method for moving an output load using a servo system includes providing a first FCD with an active element, connecting an output load to a second FCD, activating the active element with a stimulus to vary a property of the active element, transmitting a force from the pressurized fluid to the second FCD, and moving the output load from a first position to a second position in response to the force.