Kevin B Rober

US Patent:

7686382, Mar 30, 2010

Filed:

Sep 21, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/533878

Inventors:

Kevin B. Rober - Washington MI, US
Alan L. Browne - Grosse Pointe MI, US
Nancy L. Johnson - Northville MI, US
Jan H. Aase - Oakland Township MI, US

Assignee:

GM Global Technology Operations, Inc. - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B62D 35/00

US Classification:

2961801

Abstract:

Vehicle air dams that include an airflow control member and an active material based actuator for deploying the airflow control member so as to change airflow about the vehicle.

US Patent:

7775582, Aug 17, 2010

Filed:

Dec 9, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/331374

Inventors:

Alan L. Browne - Grosse Pointe MI, US
Kevin B. Rober - Washington MI, US
Nancy L. Johnson - Northville MI, US
James H. Brown - Costa Mesa CA, US

Assignee:

GM Global Technology Operations, Inc. - Detroit MI
Dynalloy, Inc. - Costa Mesa CA

International Classification:

B62D 35/00

US Classification:

2961801, 2961805, 296217

Abstract:

An active air dam adapted for use with a vehicle, includes a deflector pivotally translatable relative to the vehicle, so as to be caused to achieve stowed and deployed conditions, wherein the deflector, when in the deployed condition, is configured to occlude air flow beneath the vehicle, and further includes an active material actuator comprising an active material drivenly coupled to the deflector, and configured to cause the deflector to pivot to one of the stowed and deployed conditions as a result of activating the material, and the vehicle is preferably configured to cause the actuator to pivot the deflector when a pre-determined vehicle or external condition is detected.

US Patent:

8236067, Aug 7, 2012

Filed:

Aug 11, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/189231

Inventors:

Kevin B. Rober - Washington MI, US
Gary L. Jones - Farmington Hills MI, US
Yhu-Tin Lin - Rochester Hills MI, US
James W. Wells - Rochester Hills MI, US

Assignee:

GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Detroit MI

International Classification:

H01M 4/82

US Classification:

296231, 429535

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for assembling a fuel cell stack is disclosed, wherein the apparatus includes a plurality of dunnage cassettes adapted to cooperate with a plurality of containers, a fixture, and an assembly device to simultaneously assemble a plurality of membrane electrode assemblies together with a plurality of bipolar plates.

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:

20070063541, Mar 22, 2007

Filed:

Sep 21, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/533883

Inventors:

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

Assignee:

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC. - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B62D 35/00

US Classification:

296180100

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:

20080217927, Sep 11, 2008

Filed:

Mar 7, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/682898

Inventors:

Alan L. Browne - Grosse Pointe MI, US
Nancy L. Johnson - Northville MI, US
Kevin B. Rober - Washington MI, US
James Y. Khoury - Macomb MI, US

Assignee:

GM Global Technology Operations, Inc. - Detroit MI

International Classification:

E05C 3/12

US Classification:

292 28

Abstract:

A cable system, a latch assembly employing the cable system and processes thereof include a cable comprising at least one section formed of an active material having one end fixedly attached to a connector, wherein the connector is disposed between a first stop and a second stop, the first and second stops fixedly attached to a stationary support and having an aperture for slidably receiving the cable; and an activation device in operative communication with the active material, the activation device being operable to selectively provide an activation signal to the active material and effectuate a change in a length of the cable section formed or a flexural modulus property of the active material. Suitable active materials include shape memory alloys and electroactive polymers.

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:

20120090426, Apr 19, 2012

Filed:

Jun 23, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/166848

Inventors:

Chunhao J. Lee - Troy MI, US
Farzad Samie - Franklin MI, US
Chi-Kuan Kao - Troy MI, US
Kumaraswamy V. Hebbale - Troy MI, US
Dongxu Li - Warren MI, US
Andrew L. Bartos - Clarkston MI, US
Kevin B. Rober - Washington MI, US

Assignee:

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC - Detroit MI

International Classification:

F16H 37/06
F16H 61/00

US Classification:

74665 A

Abstract:

A powertrain system in a hybrid vehicle includes a hydraulic device, a pilot valve, and a regulator valve. The pilot valve is operably connected to the hydraulic device and configured to actuate. The pilot valve includes at least one micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) based device. The regulator valve is operably connected to the pilot valve and the hydraulic device. The regulator valve is configured to direct fluid to the hydraulic device based on the actuation of the pilot valve.