Roger N Rademacher

US Patent:

54621909, Oct 31, 1995

Filed:

Jan 23, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/376251

Inventors:

Shelly L. Lienhart - Holt MI
Roger J. Rademacher - Holt MI

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B65D 5516

US Classification:

220375

Abstract:

A fuel cap tether apparatus on a motor vehicle having a body panel with an access opening or port therein, a fuel tube including a neck behind the access opening, a fuel door mounted on the vehicle for pivotal movement between open and closed positions exposing and concealing, respectively, the access opening, and a fuel cap closing the fuel tube neck and removable therefrom in response to twisting of the fuel cap relative to the fuel tube neck. The fuel cap tether apparatus includes a string-like flexible tether having a first end rigidly connected to the vehicle and a second end connected to the fuel cap such that the latter is rotatable relative to the tether and a hook on the fuel door disposed laterally outboard of the body panel surrounding the fuel tube access opening when the fuel door is in its open position. After the fuel cap is removed, the tether is hung in the hook and the fuel cap released. Under the influence of gravity, the fuel cap is suspended by the tether vertically below the hook and correspondingly laterally outboard of the body panel.

US Patent:

20140257607, Sep 11, 2014

Filed:

Mar 5, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/785413

Inventors:

- Detroit MI, US
Roger Joseph Rademacher - Holt MI, US
Craig J. Hawkins - Howell MI, US

Assignee:

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B60W 20/00

US Classification:

701 22, 903902, 180 65265

Abstract:

A vehicle includes an engine having autostart functionality, a source of fluid pressure when the engine is off, a flow control solenoid that outputs a variable clutch pressure, a transmission, an electric motor, and a controller. The transmission includes a clutch in fluid communication with the solenoid. The clutch applies via the clutch pressure to establish a first gear launch state. The motor is powered via a rechargeable energy storage system. The controller executes a method to transmit pulse width modulation (PWM) control signals to the solenoid upon detection of a set of conditions triggering the autostart event to lower clutch pressure to a first calibrated level. Restart of the engine is commanded, and the clutch pressure increases toward a second calibrated level while engine speed is increasing. The controller discontinues the PWM control signals and increases clutch pressure to line pressure when the input speed exceeds a calibrated threshold.