Mark Anthony 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:

55593798, Sep 24, 1996

Filed:

Oct 14, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/136666

Inventors:

Mark G. Voss - Brighton MI

Assignee:

Nartron Corporation - Reed City MI

International Classification:

H02K 900

US Classification:

310 63

Abstract:

An alternator assembly for use with a port fuel injected internal combustion engine including a battery charging system is driven by a turbine assembly mounted in a variable air intake or throttle valve assembly and converts the change in kinetic energy provided by the inlet combustion air movement across the turbine assembly into rotational movement which drives an electrical generating assembly or alternator to generate current which can be used to supplement a conventional vehicle battery charging system.

US Patent:

55559565, Sep 17, 1996

Filed:

May 27, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/250282

Inventors:

Mark G. Voss - Brighton MI
William O. Harvey - Cadillac MI

Assignee:

Nartron Corporation - Reed City MI

International Classification:

F01M 100

US Classification:

184 616

Abstract:

An improved motor driven centrifugal refrigerant compressor is disclosed having a housing enclosing a motor, control electronics and moving parts of the compressor, and a fluid pathway for circulating a mixture of low pressure refrigerant and a lubricant around the pathway, the pathway including a lubricant concentrator for coalescing the lubricant of the mixture to lubricate moving parts of the compressor and the pathway also including a convective heat transfer region to cool the motor and control electronics within the housing.

US Patent:

52208095, Jun 22, 1993

Filed:

Oct 11, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/776086

Inventors:

Mark G. Voss - Brighton MI

Assignee:

Nartron Corporation - Reed City MI

International Classification:

F25B 4100

US Classification:

622592

Abstract:

An apparatus (10) for cooling a vehicle air conditioning system electrical controller (20) includes a chill block (10) in juxtaposition to the controller (20). The chill block (10) includes a channel (22) that forms a cooling groove in heat exchange relation with the controller (20). The chill block (10) receives a portion of the refrigerant being circulated in the system (12). The portion of the refrigerant received expands in the chill block (10) to a saturated vapor and extracts heat from the controller (20) as the heat of vaporization from such expansion.