Michael R O'Rourke

US Patent:

20040144437, Jul 29, 2004

Filed:

Jan 8, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/753530

Inventors:

Nicholas Kaltsounis - Rochester Hills MI, US
Mathew Darrah - Royal Oak MI, US
Michael O'Rourke - Rochester Hills MI, US
Mary Cortese - Troy MI, US

International Classification:

F16L055/04

US Classification:

138/030000

Abstract:

A self-dampening vessel is disclosed for use with any fluid system. The vessel receives a fluid and encounters pressure pulsations, flow distribution problems, noises and/or vibrations from changes in the fluid pressure. To combat these undesired effects without the use of a separate damper, the vessel comprises a tubular member having opposing sides and opposing ends. The sides of the tubular member may vary in shape, but the sides are typically connected by rounded ends. When subjected to pressure changes, the tubular member adapts and expands or retracts from a neutral position. Furthermore, the ends of the tubular member may include an opening with an endcap attached to cover the opening. The endcap includes a port for mating the vessel to a fluid source. Alternative, the ends may be sealed and an outer surface of the tubular member may include the port integrally.

US Patent:

44777710, Oct 16, 1984

Filed:

Jun 21, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/390406

Inventors:

Louis L. Nagy - Warren MI
David S. Eddy - Romeo MI
Michael J. O'Rourke - Sterling Heights MI

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

G01R 2704

US Classification:

324 585C

Abstract:

Conductive particulates in the form of soot are collected from diesel engine exhaust gases on a porous wall monolithic ceramic filter in such a way that the soot is somewhat uniformly distributed throughout the filter. The filter is housed in a chamber having a property of a microwave resonant cavity and the cavity is excited with microwave energy. As the particulates are collected the cavity appears to the microwaves to have an increasing dielectric constant even though the matter being accumulated is conductive rather than dielectric so that as collected on the porous filter it has the property of an artificial dielectric. The response of the cavity to the microwave energy is monitored to sense the effect of the dielectric constant of the material within the cavity to provide a measure of the soot content in the filter.

US Patent:

49165925, Apr 10, 1990

Filed:

Aug 17, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/394916

Inventors:

Michael F. Sultan - Troy MI
Michael J. O'Rourke - Sterling Heights MI

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B60Q 126

US Classification:

362 80

Abstract:

A central high mounted stoplight arrangement for a motor vehicle that utilizes an optical prism coupler mounted on the rear deck lid at the center thereof for receiving and projecting light rays to the rear of the vehicle.

US Patent:

45448809, Oct 1, 1985

Filed:

Nov 15, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/671594

Inventors:

Louis L. Nagy - Warren MI
Michael J. O'Rourke - Sterling Heights MI

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

G01R 2704

US Classification:

324 585R

Abstract:

A microwave probe for measuring the amount of soot or water in engine crankcase oil and/or detecting the level of oil comprises a coaxial cable having a tip including five substantially parallel wires shorted together at one end and connected at the other end to the coaxial cable, one of the wires being connected to the center wire of the coaxial cable and the other four wires being connected to the sheath of the coaxial cable. The size and geometry of the wires is selected so that the impedance of the tip when immersed in oil substantially matches the impedance of the coaxial cable.

US Patent:

58279601, Oct 27, 1998

Filed:

Aug 28, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/919644

Inventors:

Michel Farid Sultan - Troy MI
Charles Robert Harrington - Troy MI
Michael James O'Rourke - Warren MI
Antonio Buddy Catalan - Sterling Heights MI

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

G01F 168

US Classification:

7320426

Abstract:

A low cost, bi-directional manifold air flow sensing device based on sensed temperature differential due to airflow achieves improved sensitivity and frequency response by eliminating the heater element of the conventional sensor topology, and operating the sensor elements at a relatively higher current so that each temperature sensing element heats both itself and the other temperature sensing element. The sensitivity is significantly increased due to the increased current in the sensor elements, and the frequency response is significantly increased due to closer spacing of the sensor elements. With this new topology, the sensor elements are said to be mutually heated. In a particularly advantageous mechanization, the sensing device includes two separate pairs of upstream and downstream sensing elements, and the sensing elements are connected in the four legs of a Wheatstone bridge. The sensitivity is doubled since sensor elements are connected in each of the bridge legs, and performance and cost are improved through the elimination of off-chip bridge components. A simple, low cost, temperature compensation circuit compensates for ambient temperature variations.

US Patent:

45438234, Oct 1, 1985

Filed:

Nov 15, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/671600

Inventors:

Louis L. Nagy - Warren MI
Michael J. O'Rourke - Sterling Heights MI

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

G01R 2704

US Classification:

73304C

Abstract:

A microwave probe for measuring the amount of soot or water in engine crankcase oil and/or detecting the level of oil comprises a coaxial cable having a tip including five substantially parallel wires shorted together at one end and connected at the other end to the coaxial cable, one of the wires being connected to the center wire of the coaxial cable and the other four wires being connected to the sheath of the coaxial cable. The size and geometry of the wires is selected so that the impedance of the tip when immersed in oil substantially matches the impedance of the coaxial cable.

US Patent:

53437608, Sep 6, 1994

Filed:

Jul 9, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/910913

Inventors:

Michel F. Sultan - Troy MI
Joseph L. Kenty - Birmingham MI
Michael J. O'Rourke - Warren MI

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

G01F 174
G01N 2902

US Classification:

7386104

Abstract:

A gas vapor sensor indicates the relative concentrations and flow rate of a gas mixture. Acoustic noise is generated within a closed chamber by the gas mixture flowing therethrough or by ambient noise sources. The chamber has a fundamental resonant frequency which varies with the vapor concentration. Acoustic frequency components of the noise corresponding to the resonant frequency of the chamber are sharply reinforced and dominate the acoustic spectrum within the chamber. The spectrum is detected and frequency filtered by a pair of dissimilar parallel filters to produce two attenuated outputs. The difference between the attenuated outputs indicates the resonant frequency and is a measure of the vapor concentration. The strength of the acoustic spectrum together with the measured vapor concentration indicates the flow rate of the mixture.

US Patent:

45033846, Mar 5, 1985

Filed:

Apr 28, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/372470

Inventors:

Louis L. Nagy - Warren MI
Michael J. O'Rourke - Sterling Heights MI

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

G01R 2704

US Classification:

324 61P

Abstract:

A microwave probe for measuring the amount of soot or water in engine crankcase oil and/or detecting the level of oil comprises a coaxial cable having a tip including five substantially parallel wires shorted together at one end and connected at the other end to the coaxial cable, one of the wires being connected to the center wire of the coaxial cable and the other four wires being connected to the sheath of the coaxial cable. The size and geometry of the wires is selected so that the impedance of the tip when immersed in oil substantially matches the impedance of the coaxial cable.