Alan W Miller

US Patent:

6619276, Sep 16, 2003

Filed:

Aug 28, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/230017

Inventors:

Alan S. Miller - Farmington Hills MI
David Thomas Hanner - Milford MI

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

F02M 2506

US Classification:

123572, 181204

Abstract:

An orifice muffler is designed to minimize the sound pressure level of noise emanating from control orifices in the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system of an automotive vehicle engine. The muffler is formed as an elongated tube having imperforate sidewalls and inlet and outlet end walls. The outlet end wall has a single orifice sized to provide a control exhaust gas flow thorough the muffler while the inlet end wall has at least two orifices of differing sizes. The inlet orifices are operative to pass the controlled gas flow and to create destructive wave interference between the flow streams thorough the muffler to minimize noise caused by turbulent flow. Various optional features of the muffler construction are also disclosed.

US Patent:

6631779, Oct 14, 2003

Filed:

Feb 20, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/788832

Inventors:

Will Watson - Southfield MI
Alan L. Miller - Ithaca NY
Drew A. Sundquist - Canton MI
Roger T. Simpson - Ithaca NY
Diane K. Ducklow - Farmington MI
Joseph W. Beckerman - Livonia MI
Dan J. Showalter - Plymouth MI

Assignee:

BorgWarner, Inc. - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

B60K 17344

US Classification:

180248

Abstract:

An on demand vehicle drive system monitors vehicle performance and operating conditions and controls torque delivery to the vehicle wheels. The system includes a plurality of speed and position sensors, a transfer case having primary and secondary output shafts driving primary and secondary axles and a microcontroller. The sensors include a vehicle speed sensor, a pair of primary and secondary drive shaft speed sensors, and brake and driveline status sensors. The transfer case includes a modulating electromagnetic clutch controlled by the microcontroller which is incrementally engaged to transfer torque from the primary output shaft to the secondary output shaft. When the speed of either the front or the rear drive shafts overruns, i. e. , exceeds, the speed of the other drive shaft by a predetermined value related to the vehicle speed, indicating that wheel slip is present, clutch current is incrementally increased to increase clutch engagement and torque transfer to the secondary axle. When wheel slip is reduced below the predetermined value the current to the clutch is incrementally reduced.

US Patent:

6834741, Dec 28, 2004

Filed:

Mar 24, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/396767

Inventors:

Alan S. Miller - Farmington Hills MI
Paolo Comello - Brampton, CA

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI
Tesma Engine Technologies - Concord

International Classification:

F02B 7700

US Classification:

180313, 123198 E

Abstract:

A cover assembly for an engine includes at least one relatively large mounting wall portion potentially subject to induced vibrations that transmit undesirable noise or sound to the exterior of the engine. To reduce the vibration and resulting noise, a pair of vibration damping plates is attached to the interior of the mounting wall portion and urged against the wall portion. The damping plates may be made from untreated steel when mounted in a lubricating oil atmosphere which serves to protect the plates against oxidation. The plates have different thicknesses selected to provide differing vibration frequency responses that act to create damping between the plates and the associated cover wall portion.

US Patent:

7441533, Oct 28, 2008

Filed:

May 7, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/745147

Inventors:

Alan S. Miller - Farmington Hills MI, US

Assignee:

GM Global Technology Operations, Inc. - Detroit MI

International Classification:

F01M 9/10
F02B 77/04

US Classification:

123198E, 123 9038, 181205

Abstract:

A cover assembly is provided, such as a camshaft cover or valve cover, for an internal combustion engine. The cover assembly includes a cover member with a contoured surface. An acoustic barrier member is generally coextensive with the cover member and at least partially approximates the contoured surface. An elastic member is mounted with respect to the acoustic barrier member and spans at least a portion of the acoustic barrier member. A plate member is mounted with respect to the elastic member and is operable to retain the elastic member and the acoustic barrier member with respect to the cover member. The plate member spans substantially the entirety of the elastic member.

US Patent:

7497297, Mar 3, 2009

Filed:

Aug 1, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/632352

Inventors:

Will Watson - Southfield MI, US
Alan L. Miller - Ithaca NY, US
Drew A. Sundquist - Canton MI, US
Roger T. Simpson - Ithaca NY, US
Dan J. Showalter - Plymouth MI, US

Assignee:

BorgWarner, Inc. - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

B60K 17/344

US Classification:

180248

Abstract:

An on demand vehicle drive system monitors vehicle performance and operating conditions and controls torque delivery to the vehicle wheels. The system includes a plurality of speed and position sensors, a transfer case having primary and secondary output shafts driving primary and secondary axles and a microcontroller. The sensors include a vehicle speed sensor, a pair of primary and secondary drive shaft speed sensors, and brake and driveline status sensors. The transfer case includes a modulating electromagnetic clutch controlled by the microcontroller which is incrementally engaged to transfer torque from the primary output shaft to the secondary output shaft. When the speed of either the front or the rear drive shafts overruns, i. e. , exceeds, the speed of the other drive shaft by a predetermined value related to the vehicle speed, indicating that wheel slip is present, clutch current is incrementally increased to increase clutch engagement and torque transfer to the secondary axle. When wheel slip is reduced below the predetermined value the current to the clutch is incrementally reduced.

US Patent:

8473185, Jun 25, 2013

Filed:

Aug 18, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/858681

Inventors:

Yujiro Suwa - Cammerce Township MI, US
Alan S. Miller - Farmington Hills MI, US
Robert W. Riegel - Shelby Township MI, US

International Classification:

F02D 28/00
G06F 19/00

US Classification:

701111, 12340618, 12340621

Abstract:

An engine control system includes a determination module and a detection module. The determination module, based on an engine vibration signal generated by an engine vibration sensor, determines a frequency of engine vibration and determines a crankshaft position corresponding to the engine vibration. The detection module detects engine oil aeration and starvation when the frequency and crankshaft position are greater than predetermined thresholds, respectively.

US Patent:

20100313860, Dec 16, 2010

Filed:

Jun 15, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/484400

Inventors:

Alan S. Miller - Farmington Hills MI, US
Timothy L. Gibbs - Bloomfield Hills MI, US

Assignee:

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC. - Detroit MI

International Classification:

F02B 25/06
F02F 11/00

US Classification:

123573, 123574, 277591

Abstract:

A gasket for an internal combustion engine comprises a sheet portion and a PCV impaction surface formed in the sheet portion. The PCV impaction surface is configured to extend across, and partially close, a crankcase ventilation system passage. A plurality of apertures extend through the PCV impaction surface and are configured to allow crankcase gas to flow freely in the crankcase ventilation system passage while the PCV impaction surface is configured to separate oil droplets from the crankcase gas by impaction of the droplets with the surface.

US Patent:

20130104817, May 2, 2013

Filed:

Oct 26, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/281504

Inventors:

Alan S. Miller - Farmington Hills MI, US

Assignee:

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC - Detroit MI

International Classification:

F01M 13/00

US Classification:

123 4186

Abstract:

An engine assembly includes an engine structure, an air intake assembly and a crankcase ventilation assembly. The engine structure defines a cylinder bore, an intake port and a crankcase. The air intake assembly is in communication with the intake port. The crankcase ventilation assembly includes a housing and a baffle located within the housing. The housing defines an inlet in communication with the crankcase and an outlet in communication with the air intake assembly. Apertures in the baffle define a first characteristic flow rate and spacing between the baffles and housing defines a second characteristic flow rate. In one arrangement, the first and second characteristic flow rates are offset from one another. In another arrangement, the first and second characteristic flow rates are equal to or offset from one another and are each greater than a maximum blowby flow rate of the engine assembly.