Mark E Voss

US Patent:

7607717, Oct 27, 2009

Filed:

Sep 21, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/533883

Inventors:

Alan L. Browne - Grosse Pointe MI, US
Nancy L. Johnson - Northville MI, US
Kevin B. Rober - Washington MI, US
Mark A. Voss - Richmond MI, US
Tadge J. Juechter - Troy MI, US
Edward D. Moss - Commerce Township MI, US

Assignee:

GM Global Technology Operations, Inc. - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B62D 35/00

US Classification:

2961801

Abstract:

A reversibly deployable spoiler for a vehicle comprises a body and an active material in operative communication with the body. The active material, such as shape memory material, is operative to change at least one attribute in response to an activation signal. The active material can change its shape, dimensions and/or stiffness producing a change in at least one feature of the active spoiler airflow control device such as shape, dimension, location, orientation, and/or stiffness to control vehicle airflow and downforce to better suit changes in driving conditions such as speed, while reducing maintenance and the level of failure modes. An activation device, controller and sensors may be employed to further control the change in at least one feature of the active spoiler airflow control device such as shape, dimension, location, orientation, and/or stiffness. A method for controlling vehicle airflow selectively introduces an activation signal to initiate a change of at least one feature of the device that can be reversed upon discontinuation of the activation signal.

US Patent:

8382192, Feb 26, 2013

Filed:

Oct 14, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/578594

Inventors:

Alan L. Browne - Grosse Pointe MI, US
Nancy L. Johnson - Northville MI, US
Kevin B. Rober - Washington MI, US
Mark A. Voss - Canton MI, US
Tadge J. Juechter - Troy MI, US
Edward D. Moss - Commerce Township MI, US

Assignee:

GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B62D 35/00

US Classification:

2961801

Abstract:

A reversibly deployable spoiler for a vehicle comprises a body and an active material in operative communication with the body. The active material, such as shape memory material, is operative to change at least one attribute in response to an activation signal. The active material can change its shape, dimensions and/or stiffness producing a change in at least one feature of the active spoiler airflow control device such as shape, dimension, location, orientation, and/or stiffness to control vehicle airflow and downforce to better suit changes in driving conditions such as speed, while reducing maintenance and the level of failure modes. An activation device, controller and sensors may be employed to further control the change in at least one feature of the active spoiler airflow control device such as shape, dimension, location, orientation, and/or stiffness. A method for controlling vehicle airflow selectively introduces an activation signal to initiate a change of at least one feature of the device that can be reversed upon discontinuation of the activation signal.

US Patent:

20100112924, May 6, 2010

Filed:

Nov 3, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/611322

Inventors:

Paul W. Alexander - Ypsilanti MI, US
Xiujie Gao - Troy MI, US
Alan L. Browne - Grosse Pointe MI, US
Mark A. Voss - Richmond MI, US
Derek L. Patterson - Shelby Township MI, US
John N. Owens - Franklin MI, US
James Holbrook Brown - Costa Mesa CA, US
Brian D. Hu - Upland CA, US

Assignee:

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC. - Detroit MI
DYNALLOY, INC. - Costa Mesa CA

International Classification:

B60H 1/00

US Classification:

454 70

Abstract:

A pressure relief valve includes a housing and vane that is movable to one of an open position and a closed position. A linear actuator mechanically couples between the movable vane and the housing. The linear actuator is a wire device fabricated from a shape memory alloy. An actuable latching system is configured to retain the movable vane in one of the open position and the closed position for an indeterminate time period.

US Patent:

20100330894, Dec 30, 2010

Filed:

Nov 4, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/612112

Inventors:

Paul W. Alexander - Ypsilanti MI, US
Xiujie Gao - Troy MI, US
Alan L. Browne - Gross Pointe MI, US
Mark A. Voss - Richmond MI, US
Derek L. Patterson - Shelby Township MI, US
Lei Hao - Troy MI, US
Chandra S. Namuduri - Troy MI, US
James Holbrook Brown - Costa Mesa CA, US
Aragorn Zolno - Whittier CA, US
John N. Owens - Franklin MI, US
Alexander Millerman - Bloomfield Hills MI, US
Kevin B. Rober - Washington MI, US
Suresh Gopalakrishnan - Farmington Hills MI, US
Sanjeev M. Naik - Troy MI, US

Assignee:

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC. - Detroit MI
DYNALLOY, INC. - Costa Mesa CA

International Classification:

B60H 1/26

US Classification:

454 70, 454 75, 454162

Abstract:

A vent assembly is disposed within an interior space of a vehicle for opening and closing fluid communication between the interior space and an exterior of the vehicle. The vent assembly includes a housing defining a plurality of openings and a plurality of vanes disposed in the openings. An actuator mechanism moves the vanes between an open position and a closed position, and includes a shaped memory alloy (SMA) member for actuating the vanes between the open and closed positions. The SMA member is activated when a hatch of the vehicle is open to move the vanes into the open position and thereby open fluid communication between the interior space and the exterior to alleviate excessive air pressure buildup during closure of the hatch.

US Patent:

20100332035, Dec 30, 2010

Filed:

Jun 14, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/814841

Inventors:

Xiujie Gao - Troy MI, US
Lei Hao - Troy MI, US
Paul W. Alexander - Ypsilanti MI, US
Alan L. Browne - Grosse Pointe MI, US
Derek L. Patterson - Shelby Township MI, US
Mark A. Voss - Richmond MI, US

Assignee:

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC. - DETROIT MI

International Classification:

G05B 9/02

US Classification:

700275

Abstract:

A method for executing mechanical overload protection to prevent commanding a control signal to a linear actuator that may mechanically overload the linear actuator when an overload condition of the linear actuator is detected, the linear actuator utilized for controlling a movable element associated with the linear actuator responsive to the control signal, includes monitoring an overload condition based on position change of the movable element associated with the linear actuator during an integration period and excess energy during the integration period, de-energizing the linear actuator when an overload condition has been detected, monitoring an overload retry counter based on the number of cycles the overload condition is detected, comparing the overload retry counter to an overload retry threshold, an reenergizing the linear actuator when the overload retry counter is less than the overload retry threshold and maintaining de-energizing of the linear actuator when the overload retry counter is at least the overload retry threshold.

US Patent:

20210060882, Mar 4, 2021

Filed:

Aug 29, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/555762

Inventors:

- Detroit MI, US
William R. RODGERS - Bloomfield Township MI, US
Mark A. VOSS - Richmond MI, US
Terrence WATHEN - Sterling Heights MI, US

Assignee:

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B29D 28/00
B29C 70/30
B29C 35/16
B29C 35/02
B29C 70/34

Abstract:

A method is provided for forming a near-net thermoplastic composite component includes co-spraying a mixture comprising a thermoplastic polymer material and a chopped reinforcing material deposited onto at least one region associated with a tool having a first temperature and defining a near-net component shape. The mixture and adjacent tool is heated to a second temperature while the mixture is on the tool. The first temperature is below the solidification temperature of the thermoplastic polymer material and the second temperature is above the solidification temperature. Then, the mixture is exposed to a negative pressure to promote removal of gases from the mixture and put under compressive force to densify the mixture. The thermoplastic polymer material melts and flows. The tool is cooled to the first temperature and removing the mixture to form the near-net thermoplastic composite component having randomly oriented chopped reinforcement material distributed within a thermoplastic polymer matrix.

US Patent:

20150377077, Dec 31, 2015

Filed:

Oct 22, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/520398

Inventors:

Kevin J. Laboe - Birmingham MI, US
Daniel E. Hornback - Davisburg MI, US
Mark G. Voss - Franksville WI, US

International Classification:

F01K 23/10
F01K 13/02

Abstract:

A Rankine cycle for recovering waste heat from an engine includes a Rankine cycle circuit having a pump, a heat exchanger, an expansion device, a cooling device and a bypass circuit. The bypass circuit selectively provides a flow path for working fluid to bypass the expansion device, and includes a flow control valve actuated by a working fluid pressure differential to selectively open or close the bypass flow path. The expansion device includes a drive member directly coupled to a front end accessory drive (FEAD) of the engine such that a rotational speed of the expansion device is dictated by engine speed and the expansion device is free from separate speed control. The expansion device provides torque to the FEAD via the drive member when the system is in a waste heat recovery mode thereby reducing engine load and improving fuel economy.

US Patent:

20140349560, Nov 27, 2014

Filed:

Jul 10, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/328149

Inventors:

- Detroit MI, US
- Costa Mesa CA, US
Alan L. Browne - Grosse Pointe MI, US
Mark A. Voss - Richmond MI, US
Derek L. Patterson - Shelby Township MI, US
Lei Hao - Troy MI, US
Chandra S. Namuduri - Troy MI, US
James Holbrook Brown - Costa Mesa CA, US
Aragorn Zolno - Whittier CA, US
John N. Owens - Franklin MI, US
Alexander Millerman - Bloomfield Hills MI, US
Kevin B. Rober - Washington MI, US
Suresh Gopalakrishnan - Farmington Hills MI, US
Sanjeev M. Naik - Troy MI, US

International Classification:

B60J 9/04
B60H 1/24
B60H 1/00

US Classification:

454 75

Abstract:

A vent assembly is disposed within an interior space of a vehicle for opening and closing fluid communication between the interior space and an exterior of the vehicle. The vent assembly includes a housing defining a plurality of openings and a plurality of vanes disposed in the openings. An actuator mechanism moves the vanes between an open position and a closed position, and includes a shaped memory alloy (SMA) member for actuating the vanes between the open and closed positions. The SMA member is activated when a hatch of the vehicle is opened to move the vanes into the open position and thereby open fluid communication between the interior space and the exterior to alleviate excessive air pressure buildup during closure of the hatch.