Mark J Walters

US Patent:

D491109, Jun 8, 2004

Filed:

Jan 6, 2003

Appl. No.:

29/173768

Inventors:

Mark Walters - Royal Oak MI

Assignee:

DaimlerChrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

1211

US Classification:

D12110

US Patent:

7030745, Apr 18, 2006

Filed:

May 21, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/850752

Inventors:

Thomas E. Utter - Royal Oak MI, US
Mark A Walters - Macomb MI, US
Ryan M. Frakes - Bloomfield Hills MI, US
Thomas H Tu - Troy MI, US
M. Scott Buck - Commerce Township MI, US
David A. Osinski - Sterling Heights MI, US

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B60C 23/00

US Classification:

340447, 340442

Abstract:

Methods and apparatus are provided for detecting when a spare wheel (SP) is used to replace a previously rolling wheel on a vehicle, where each wheel can transmit wheel ID and motion status signals. The apparatus comprises a receiver, a memory for storing information relating wheel ID and location, a processor coupled to the receiver and memory for analyzing the wheel signals to determine if the SP is rolling, and a timer coupled to the processor that measures how long the SP has been rolling. When the SP has been rolling for predetermined time T, the processor looks at the motion status signals from remaining wheels to determine which is stopped, and then modifies the information stored in the memory to associate the SP ID with the wheel location formerly occupied by the now stopped wheel and associate the stopped-wheel ID with the storage location for the spare.

US Patent:

7097187, Aug 29, 2006

Filed:

Dec 19, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/741220

Inventors:

Mark Walters - Royal Oak MI, US
Stephen T Lim - Farmington Hills MI, US
Kirt M Bennett - Linden MI, US

Assignee:

DaimlerChrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

B60G 21/04

US Classification:

280124128, 280124103

Abstract:

An independent suspension system is provided for coupling a set of wheels to a vehicle body structure. The system includes independently pivotable swing arms, a shock absorber assembly, a joining arm and tie rods. The swing arms are attached to the vehicle body structure and to a respective wheel and the shock absorber assembly is mounted to the vehicle structure. The shock absorber assembly includes a biasing element and a linkage coupled to the joining arm and the biasing element. The suspension system further includes a tie rod connecting each swing arm to the joining arm. The joining arm is arranged to move in a lengthwise vehicle direction under control of the biasing element in response to road input to both wheels, and rotate about an attachment point without lengthwise movement to allow the tie rods to translate in opposite lengthwise direction in response to leaning of the vehicle.

US Patent:

7218209, May 15, 2007

Filed:

Mar 16, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/082097

Inventors:

Thomas E. Utter - Royal Oak MI, US
Mark A Walters - Macomb MI, US
John G Maxgay - Rochester Hills MI, US
John Liddell Turner - White Lake MI, US
Stephen C Kirsch - Sterling Hights MI, US

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B60C 23/00

US Classification:

340442, 340447, 731462

Abstract:

A method and apparatus are provided for determining pressure within a tire mounted to a vehicle, wherein the tire is coupled to a tire pressure monitoring system including a sensor coupled to a transmitter, the sensor configured to sense tire pressure and the transmitter configured to transmit the sensed tire pressure to a receiver. First, a first tire pressure is sensed. Then, a calculation is made as to whether the sensed first tire pressure is greater than a predetermined pressure threshold, equal to the predetermined pressure threshold, or less than the predetermined pressure threshold. Next, an indication is provided external to the vehicle that the sensed first tire pressure is greater than a predetermined pressure range, within the predetermined pressure range, or less than the predetermined pressure range.

US Patent:

20040159505, Aug 19, 2004

Filed:

Dec 19, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/741760

Inventors:

Mark Walters - Royal Oak MI, US
Stephen Lim - Farmington Hills MI, US
Kirt Bennett - Linden MI, US

International Classification:

F16D051/00

US Classification:

188/076000

Abstract:

An improved brake system is provided for a motor vehicle. The system includes a rotor attached to a rim of a wheel and a caliper assembly mounted to a hub of the wheel. The caliper is arranged to retain a friction element and operatively engage the friction element against the rotor.