Leslie Paul Branum

Address:

5622 Larkins Dr, Troy, MI 48085

VIN:

1J8GR48K57C623066

Make:

JEEP

Model:

GRAND CHEROKEE

Year:

2007

US Patent:

48319163, May 23, 1989

Filed:

Jun 1, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/056058

Inventors:

Keith V. Leigh-Monstevens - Troy MI
Leslie P. Branum - Troy MI
David C. Barker - Utica MI

International Classification:

F16J 110

US Classification:

92129

Abstract:

A piston assembly including a plastic piston defining a socket at its rear face and a metallic annular insert member positioned within the socket and receiving the piston rod of the piston assembly in acting to increase the effective area over which the loading from the piston rod is applied to the plastic piston so as to allow the plastic piston to be used in environments where it might otherwise fail due to the high stress loading. The annular insert also includes prongs struck from the main body portion of the insert member and coacting with an annular shoulder on the piston rod to preclude axial withdrawal of the piston rod from the piston and further includes an annular flange portion which acts to facilitate positioning of the insert member in the socket in the piston and further acts to define the fully retracted or extended position of the piston in coaction with a snap ring on the inner periphery of the associated cylinder.

US Patent:

49986090, Mar 12, 1991

Filed:

Jan 16, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/466051

Inventors:

Richard A. Nix - Auburn Hills MI
Leslie P. Branum - Sterling Heights MI
Mark W. Rei - Sterling Heights MI
Michael L. Schwartz - Troy MI

Assignee:

Automotive Products plc - Warwickshire

International Classification:

F16D 2512
F16D 2508

US Classification:

192109F

Abstract:

A damper for use in a hydraulic clutch actuator to attenuate vibrations transmitted from the crankshaft of the engine of the associated vehicle to the clutch pedal. The baffle includes an elongated cylindrical housing positioned in the conduit interconnecting the master and slave cylinders of the actuator coaxial with the axis of the conduit and including a spring biased piston mounted in the bore of the housing. The housing is open at its rear end and closed at its front end by an end wall defining an outlet port for the damper and the piston includes a central through passage defining the inlet port of the damper at the rear end of the through passage. A baffle is provided at the front end of the piston to provide a circuitous path between the central passage of the piston and the outlet port of the damper. In an alternate embodiment, the damper further includes the male half of a quick connect coupling so as to facilitate the use of the damper in a clutch actuator of the type including separate prefilled modules which are connected by the quick coupler following installation of the separate modules.

US Patent:

56553722, Aug 12, 1997

Filed:

Jun 19, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/663857

Inventors:

Leslie P. Branum - Troy MI
Pamela B. D'Hulster - Fair Haven MI

Assignee:

Automotive Products (USA), Inc. - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

F15B 700
B60T 1126

US Classification:

60583

Abstract:

A master cylinder assembly including an elongated tubular shell defining a bore sized to slidably receive a piston, an opening at one of the shell for passage of a piston rod for driving engagement with the piston, a high pressure outlet proximate the other closed end of the shell for connection to a conduit connecting to a slave cylinder, and a shell fitting in the form of a socket formed in the closed end wall of the shell. The assembly further includes a spout defining a plug fitting at one end for coupling insertion into the socket of the shell and a fitting at its other end for connection to a hose for connection to a remote reservoir, and an integral reservoir structure including a main body bowl portion and a spout formed integral with the lower end of the bowl portion and defining a plug at its free end for insertion into the socket in the end wall of the shell. If it is desired to provide a remote reservoir assembly, the spout is positioned in the socket of the shell and suitably secured in position and if it desired to provide an integral reservoir assembly the spout portion of the integral reservoir assembly is positioned in the socket of the shell.

US Patent:

48562823, Aug 15, 1989

Filed:

May 12, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/049133

Inventors:

Keith V. Leigh-Monstevens - Troy MI
Leslie P. Branum - Troy MI

Assignee:

Automotive Products plc - Warwickshire

International Classification:

B60T 1128

US Classification:

60589

Abstract:

A master cylinder of the center feed type including a cylinder defining an axially extending pressure chamber and including a reservoir port proximate the front end of the cylinder for connection with a fluid reservoir; a piston slidably positioned in the cylinder and adapted for coaction with a piston rod extending into the rear end of the cylinder; a valve assembly in the pressure chamber including a valving member proximate the reservoir port and a valve stem secured to the valving member and extending axially rearwardly in the pressure chamber; and a retainer on the front end of the piston. The retainer includes a socket at its rear end for telescopic receipt of a reduced diameter nose portion on the front end of the piston and includes a plurality of rearwardly extending finger portions including head portions at their free, rear ends defining camming surfaces which coact with a camming surface defined by the head portion of the valve stem to cammingly separate the free ends of the finger portions in response to axial insertion of the head portion of the valve stem therebetween so as to snappingly connect the valve stem to the piston assembly in response to relative axial movement therebetween. The retainer is ultrasonically welded to the nose portion of the piston and coacts with the piston to define an annular outwardly opening seal groove at the interface of the retainer and the piston.

US Patent:

49812025, Jan 1, 1991

Filed:

Mar 17, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/169446

Inventors:

Keith V. Leigh-Monstevens - Troy MI
Leslie P. Branum - Sterling Heights MI
Brian D. Mabee - Warren MI

Assignee:

Automotive Products plc - Warwickshire

International Classification:

B60K 4122
B60K 4128

US Classification:

192 92

Abstract:

A control system for a motor vehicle of the type including a clutch and an manual gearbox. The control system includes an electric power module for shifting the gearbox, an electric power clutch assembly for engaging and disengaging the clutch, an electric throttle control assembly, and a control module arranged to control the gearbox power module, the clutch power module, the clutch power assembly, and the throttle control assembly in response to receipt of an operator instigated shift command signal. The control module initially operates to disable the throttle control system and disengage the clutch, thereafter operates to energize the gearbox power module in a sense to shift the gearbox to the selected position, and thereafter operates to reengage the clutch and restore operator control of the throttle control assembly. In one form of the power clutch assembly, an electric motor is positioned within the clutch housing in concentric relation to the clutch shaft and includes a screw drive assembly which is operative to move the clutch release bearing linearly to engage and disengage the clutch. In another form of power clutch assembly, an electric motor powers a hydraulic master cylinder and the output of the master cylinder is delivered to a slave cylinder associated with the clutch to engage an disengage the clutch in response to energization of the motor.

US Patent:

53202031, Jun 14, 1994

Filed:

Mar 12, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/667883

Inventors:

Darrin F. Wilber - Smiths Creek MI
Julie A. Hartig - Waterford MI
Richard A. Nix - Auburn Hills MI
Leslie P. Branum - Troy MI
Michael L. Schwartz - Troy MI

Assignee:

Automotive Products plc - Warwickshire

International Classification:

F16D 2512

US Classification:

192109F

Abstract:

A damper for use in a hydraulic clutch actuator to attenuate vibrations transmitted from the crankshaft of the engine of the associated vehicle to the clutch pedal. The baffle includes an elongated cylindrical housing positioned in the conduit interconnecting the master and slave cylinders of the actuator coaxial with the axis of the conduit and including a spring biased piston mounted in the bore of the housing. The housing is open at its rear end and closed at its front end by an end wall defining an outlet port for the damper and the piston includes a central through passage defining the inlet port of the damper at the rear end of the through passage. A baffle is provided at the front end of the piston to provide a circuitous path between the central passage of the piston and the outlet port of the damper. The front face of the baffle includes a hemispherical surface which deflects attenuations entering the housing from the slave cylinder and routes the attenuations through the circuitous path defined by the baffle.

US Patent:

48174688, Apr 4, 1989

Filed:

Jun 18, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/064099

Inventors:

Keith V. Leigh-Monstevens - Troy MI
Edward L. Tury - Brighton MI
Leslie P. Branum - Troy MI
Gregg A. Thoe - Farmington MI

Assignee:

Ap Aero, Inc - Sterling Heights MI

International Classification:

G05G 900

US Classification:

74335

Abstract:

An electric shift apparatus for controlling a motor vehicle manual transmission. The apparatus includes a power module adapted to be bolted to the housing of the transmission, a control module adapted to be positioned in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, and a gear selector assembly positioned on the steering column assembly of the vehicle. The operator selects a transmission position by movement of an appropriate gear lever on the steering column, a signal corresponding to the selected position is transmitted to the control module, the control module compares this signal to a signal provided by limit switches in the power module indicating the instantaneous position of the transmission, and the control module generates a signal to the power module coded to impart the specific combination and sequence of crossover and shift movements to the transmission select lever required to move the select lever from its indicated crossover and shift position to the crossover and shift positions corresponding to the operator selected position. The required linear movement of the shift lever is provided by a ball screw assembly powered by a first electric motor and the required angular or crossover movement of the select lever is provided by a speed reduction unit driven by a second electric motor.

US Patent:

50921258, Mar 3, 1992

Filed:

Apr 6, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/506596

Inventors:

Leslie P. Branum - Troy MI
David L. Wrobleski - Romeo MI

Assignee:

Automotive Products plc - Warwickshire

International Classification:

B60T 1100

US Classification:

60589

Abstract:

An annular elastomeric seal, a piston utilizing the seal, and a fluid cylinder assembly utilizing the seal. The seal includes an axially forward portion defining a circumferentially inner and a circumferentially outer deflectable lip seal and an axially rearward portion defining a circumferentially inner and a circumferentially outer arcuate heel seal. When positioned in an annular groove in a piston and with the piston slidably received in the bore of a cylinder, the annular seal provides fluid pressure sealing at the deflectable lip seals, provides secondary fluid pressure sealing at the arcuate heel seals, provides air sealing at the arcuate heel seals, and functions at the arcuate heel seals to preclude the entry of contaminants into the sealing interfaces. The seal is especially effective when employed in a hydraulic pressure cylinder of the center feed type since it allows the usage of a single annular seal positioned in a singular annular groove in the piston.