Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090127738 | Vehicle component and method for making a vehicle component - A molded article with multi-material or color and soft portions and a method of making the same is disclosed. The molded article comprises a multi injection substrate, and a coverstock or skin. The article is formed by a process wherein the coverstock or skin is secured within the mold, a first material is injected into a first cavity, a retractor member is moved to define a second cavity, and a second material is injected into the second cavity. The first and second materials may be different types of plastic, different colors, or combinations thereof. The first cavity is defined by two mold sections (e.g., a cavity and a core) and the retractor member. The second cavity is also defined by the two mold sections, the retractor member, and the (at least partially) hardened first material. The first material may be configured to couple to the second material by a locking interface provided by recesses and/or projections on the mold sections. A method of forming the flexible skin may include coupling a compressible material to the skin; positioning the skin and compressible material in a mold; and forming a rigid substrate around the skin and compressible material providing a first soft region wherein the compressible material is disposed between the skin and the substrate so that a first soft region is defined by the compressible material. | 05-21-2009 |
20090295011 | Vehicle component and method for making a vehicle component - The invention is also directed to a method for forming a component for a vehicle. The method comprises forming a substrate in a mold by injecting a first resin into a first cavity, reconfiguring a portion of the mold to form a second cavity, and injecting a second resin into a second cavity; providing a flexible member adjacent at least a portion of the substrate to form a cavity between the substrate and the flexible member; coupling at least a portion of the flexible member to the substrate; and introducing a material into the cavity after securing at least a portion of the flexible member to the substrate. The flexible member and the material introduced into the cavity form a cushioned region for the vehicle component | 12-03-2009 |
20100171333 | LOCALIZED DEEP SOFT AREA OF A TRIM PANEL - A trim panel and method of forming a trim panel for a vehicle. The trim panel can include a localized cushioned portion of softness ( | 07-08-2010 |
20100279051 | TRIM PANEL - An apparatus and method for making a trim panel. The method includes providing a preform laminate including a compressible material sandwiched between a flexible skin and a back skin. Positioning the preform laminate in the mold. Placing an insert with the preform laminate in the mold to created a step to establish a seam location and define a secondary area on the preform laminate. Compressing the compressible material by introducing a molten polymeric material to the mold forming a substrate and bonding the substrate to the preform laminate forming the trim component. The preform laminate folds onto itself and creates a crease along the step to simulate the seam and provide a contour change with the appearance of cushioning in the secondary area, and removing the trim panel component from the mold. | 11-04-2010 |
20110139338 | VEHICLE COMPONENT AND METHOD FOR MAKING A VEHICLE COMPONENT - A process for providing a cushioned region ( | 06-16-2011 |
20130216757 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A VEHICLE TRIM COMPONENT VIA CONCURRENT COMPRESSION FORMING AND INJECTION MOLDING - A method of manufacturing a vehicle trim component is provided that includes disposing a fiber panel onto a first surface of a mold cavity. The method also includes compressing the fiber panel between the first surface and a second surface of the mold cavity to form the fiber panel into a desired shape. The method further includes injecting resin into the mold cavity to fill at least one void between the first surface and the second surface adjacent to the fiber panel. | 08-22-2013 |
20150217712 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MOUNTING AN AIRBAG CHUTE ASSEMBLY WITHIN A VEHICLE TRIM COMPONENT - A method of manufacturing a vehicle trim component includes disposing a fiber panel within a mold cavity, and aligning an airbag chute assembly with the fiber panel. The method also includes compressing the fiber panel within the mold cavity to form the fiber panel into a desired shape. At least a portion of the fiber panel is compressed between a surface of the mold cavity and a surface of the airbag chute assembly. | 08-06-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110190088 | SELF-CONTAINED HYDRAULIC TORQUE MODULATING DEVICE - A torque modulating coupling device for operatively linking two shafts has a clutch and a piston disposed in a case. The piston selectively applies force to the clutch in response to hydraulic pressure, and a keyed feature adapted to couple with a corresponding keyed feature associated with at least one of the shafts. The coupling device can be formed with two cases that form an enclosure for the clutch and the piston, trapping the piston forces between the cases. This embodiment allows the device to also act as an axle housing cover. In another embodiment, the case is designed to bolt directly to an axle housing cover, trapping piston forces between the case and the cover. | 08-04-2011 |
20120180596 | ELECTRONICALLY TRIGGERED LOCKING DIFFERENTIAL - An electronically triggered locking differential includes a differential case, at least one pinion gear and a pair of side gears. A clutch pack is disposed between one of the side gears and the differential case and retards relative rotation between the differential case and the side gear. A cam member is disposed adjacent the clutch pack so that the clutch pack engages when the cam member ramps up. An engagement shaft has one end engaged with the cam member and an opposite end extending through the differential case and engaged with a sprocket. A magnetic coil and flux conductor magnetically couple the sprocket to the differential case when the coil is energized. This coupling retards rotation of the engagement shaft and the cam member relative to the gear case, initiating engagement of the clutch pack to lock the differential. | 07-19-2012 |
20130130860 | LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL USING FACE GEARS AND A PINION HOUSING - A differential includes a differential case; a side gear; a pinion configured for meshing engagement with the side gear; and a pinion housing configured to support the pinion. The pinion housing includes a first face; a second face opposing the first face; a first projection located on the first face; and a second projection located on the second face. The pinion housing also includes an aperture or hole extending radially inwardly from an outer radial surface of the generally annular ring; and a channel extending from the first face to the second face, wherein the channel is substantially radially aligned with the aperture or hole. In embodiments, the pinion housing includes one or more transfer formations configured to transfer torque from the differential case, and the pinion housing is configured to permit movement in an axial direction between a pair of side gears. | 05-23-2013 |
20140141921 | DIFFERENTIAL CASE HAVING LOCK PINS IN-LINE WITH CLUTCH EAR GUIDES - A differential gear mechanism constructed in accordance to one example of the present disclosure can include a differential case, a clutch pack and a plurality of lock pins. The differential case can include a first differential case portion that defines a first output shaft opening and includes a plurality of clutch ear guides and a plurality of lock pin engaging surfaces. The clutch pack can include a plurality of annular plates that are interleaved between a plurality of annular friction disks. At least one of the annular plates and annular friction disks can include a plurality of radially extending plate ears that are received by the corresponding plurality of clutch ear guides. The plurality of lock pins can be received by the plurality of first lock pin engaging surfaces of the first differential case at locations in-line with the clutch ear guides. | 05-22-2014 |
20140179481 | DIFFERENTIAL HAVING TWO-PIECE CASE SPLIT THROUGH PLANETARY CARRIER WALL - A differential gear mechanism constructed in accordance to one example of the present disclosure can include a planetary gear assembly having a plurality of planetary gears rotatably mounted on a corresponding plurality of planetary gear shafts. A first differential case portion can have a plurality of first planetary gear shaft mounting surfaces. A second differential case portion, separately formed from the first differential case portion can have a plurality of second planetary gear shaft mounting surfaces. A differential gear assembly can be arranged in at least one of the first and second differential case portions. The first and second plurality of gear shaft mounting surfaces can cooperate to mount the corresponding plurality of planetary gear shafts in an assembled position. | 06-26-2014 |
20140179484 | DIFFERENTIAL HAVING EXTERNALLY MOUNTED PLENUM - A differential gear mechanism can include a differential casing, a piston and an externally mounted plenum assembly. The differential casing can have a differential gear set configured to selectively rotate a first axle shaft and a second axle shaft. The piston can be slidably disposed in the differential casing and configured to actuate a clutch assembly. The externally mounted plenum assembly can include a plenum assembly housing, a hydraulic coupling and a motor mounted on the plenum assembly housing. The plenum assembly housing can define an axle opening configured to receive one of the first and second axle shafts therethrough. The hydraulic coupling can be arranged on the plenum assembly housing at the axle opening. The motor can be configured to pump hydraulic fluid from the externally mounted plenum assembly, through the hydraulic coupling and into the differential casing to act onto the piston. | 06-26-2014 |
20140179485 | LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL - A limited slip differential assembly includes a planetary gear assembly, a differential case, a differential gear assembly and a hydraulic clutch assembly. The differential case is coupled for rotation with a portion of the planetary gear assembly. The differential gear assembly is arranged within the differential case and includes a first side gear and a second side gear for coupling with first and second drive wheels of a vehicle, respectively. The hydraulic clutch assembly includes a clutch pack and a clutch actuator. Pressurized hydraulic fluid from a transmission pump is selectively provided to the clutch pack to actuate the clutch pack between an open configuration, in which the side gears rotate independently, and a fully closed configuration, in which the side gears rotate together such that the first and second drive wheels rotate at a same speed. | 06-26-2014 |
20150031490 | DIFFERENTIAL HAVING STEEL HYDRAULIC TRANSFER BUSHING - A differential gear mechanism constructed in accordance to one example of the present disclosure can include a differential casing defining first and second output shaft openings. The differential casing can have a case housing portion that defines fluid porting therein. The case housing portion including a hub extending therefrom. The hub can have an inner hub portion and an outer hub portion. The outer hub portion can be stepped down from the inner hub portion. The hub can include a stepped annular face at a transition between the inner and the outer hub portions. A hydraulic transfer bushing can be received by the outer hub of the case housing portion. The hydraulic transfer bushing can define fluid porting therein. The hydraulic transfer bushing can be disposed on the outer hub at a location where the fluid communication porting is fluidly connected to the fluid porting of the case housing portion. | 01-29-2015 |
20150038278 | COMPACT DIFFERENTIAL GEAR MECHANISM HAVING A DENSELY PACKED PINION BEVEL GEAR ARRAY - A compact bevel differential gear mechanism with pinion bevel gears arranged in a tightly packed array is disclosed. The compact bevel differential gear mechanism includes first and second side bevel gears that are co-axially aligned along an axis of rotation. The compact bevel differential gear mechanism also includes an array of pinion bevel gears mounted between the first and second side bevel gears. The pinion bevel gears intermesh with the first and second side bevel gears to form a torque transfer arrangement configured for transferring torque between the pinion bevel gears and the first and second side bevel gears and for allowing the first and second side bevel gears to rotate at different rotational speeds with respect to one another. Each of the pinion bevel gears has an actual gear face angle value that is within +/−10 percent of a target gear face angle value. The target gear face angle value is equal to 360 degrees divided by twice the total number of pinion bevel gears provided in the array of pinion bevel gears. | 02-05-2015 |
20150111684 | DIFFERENTIAL HAVING PISTON HOUSING INTEGRATED WITH DIFFERENTIAL CASE - A differential gear mechanism constructed in accordance to one example of the present disclosure can include a differential casing having a first differential case portion that defines a first output shaft opening and a second differential case portion that defines a second output shaft opening. The first differential case portion can include an annular pocket formed thereon and defined by an outer circumferential wall, an inner circumferential wall and an end wall. A piston can be slidably disposed in the annular pocket and configured to actuate a clutch assembly. A first and a second side gear can be rotatably mounted within the differential casing. The first and second side gears can be co-axially aligned along an axis of rotation of the differential casing. | 04-23-2015 |
20150119181 | CLUTCH SYSTEM - A clutch system selectably connects a vehicle rear axle to a motor. The clutch system includes an intermediate shaft to fixably attach to a side gear of a differential for rotation therewith. A case of the differential is connected to the motor via a gear train. Another side gear of the differential is affixed to an output shaft, and the output shaft extends through a center of rotation of an armature of the motor to connect to a road wheel of a vehicle. A clutch is to selectably connect the intermediate shaft to another output shaft connected to another road wheel of the vehicle. An actuator is to actuate the clutch to an engaged state and thereby selectably connect the intermediate shaft to the other output shaft. The output shaft, the other output shaft, and the motor rotate independently when the clutch is not in the engaged state. | 04-30-2015 |
20150133254 | ELECTRONICALLY ACTUATED LOCKING DIFFERENTIAL HAVING NON-ROTATING STATOR AND ARMATURE - An electronically actuated locking differential for an automotive vehicle includes a gear case, a pair of side gears disposed within the gear case and operatively adapted for rotation with a corresponding pair of axle half shafts, and a lock plate disposed within the gear case and operably associated with one of the side gears and being movable axially relative to the one of the side gears. The electronically actuated locking differential also includes a return spring disposed within the gear case and cooperating with the lock plate to bias the lock plate axially away from one of the side gears and an electronic actuator cooperating with the lock plate, the electronic actuator having a non-rotating stator disposed about a portion of the gear case, an electromagnetic coil associated with the stator, and a non-rotating armature coupled to the lock plate and being axially movable relative to the stator. | 05-14-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090075046 | AQUEOUS BASED COATING WITH ATTRACTIVE BARRIER AND OPTICAL CHARACTERISTICS - An improved coating composition including a polymeric component and synthetic clay. The coating composition is particularly useful for coating a polymeric substrate, such as a styrenic polymeric substrate. One particular preferred application involves coating a closed cell foam extruded styrenic polymeric insulation panel with the coating composition, thereby realizing attractive barrier properties and optical characteristics from the coating. | 03-19-2009 |
20090202829 | Long Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastic Concentrate and Method for Its Preparation - Disclosed is a process to make a long fiber-reinforced thermoplastic concentrate wherein a continuous fiber strand is coated with an aqueous melt-kneaded thermoplastic dispersion, dried, and chopped. | 08-13-2009 |
20100087555 | QUALITY POLYMER FOAM FROM FLUORINATED ALKENE BLOWING AGENTS - Alkenyl aromatic polymer foam comprising a polymer matrix containing one or more polymer and defining a plurality of cells having an average cell size wherein: (a) the alkenyl aromatic polymer foam has: —(i) an average cell size that is in a range of 0.02 and 5 millimeters; —(ii) a density of 64 kilograms per cubic meter or less; —(iii) an open cell content less than 30 percent; and—(iv) a cell size variation of 30% or less; and wherein the foam further comprises one or more fluorinated alkene blowing agent at a concentration of 0.03 moles or more and 0.3 moles or less per 100 grams of polymer foam. | 04-08-2010 |
20100099783 | ALKENYL AROMATIC FOAM WITH LOW SOLUBILITY HYDROFLUOROCARBON - Prepare a closed-cell alkenyl aromatic polymer foam by an extrusion process using a blowing agent composition that contains at least 30 weight-percent of the chlorine-free hydrofluorocarbon blowing agent such that the foam has a density of 48 kilograms per cubic meter or less, contains more than 50 weight-percent styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer based on total polymer weight and at least eight weight-percent of a chlorine-free hydrofluorocarbon blowing agent that has a lower solubility in polystyrene than 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134). | 04-22-2010 |
20110039064 | FLEXIBLE CONDUCTIVE POLYMERIC SHEET - An electrically conductive article including a substrate and at least one electrically conductive layer disposed on the substrate. The conductive layer may include a thermoplastic resin and from about 1 to 30 weight percent of at least one conductive additive based on a total weight of the thermoplastic resin and the at least one conductive additive. The conductive article may have a surface resistance between 0.001 to 20Ω at a test distance of 2.54 cm (1 inch). | 02-17-2011 |
20130018117 | MACHINABLE THERMALLY INSULATING POLYMERIC FOAM - Provide a foamable polymer composition containing: (i) a thermoplastic polymer matrix and a blowing agent, (a) the thermoplastic polymer matrix containing a styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer having a weight-averaged molecular weight in a range of 90,000 to 150,000 and polymerized acrylonitrile concentration in a range of five to twenty weight-percent relative to total polymer matrix weight; and (ii) a blowing agent containing water, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluouroethane and at least one of difluoromethane and 1,1-dilluoroethane; (b) cooling the foamable polymer composition to a foaming temperature; and (c) extruding the foamable polymer composition and allowing the blowing agent to expand the foamable polymer composition into a polymeric foam having an average vertical cell size in a range of 0.5 millimeters to 1.8 millimeters and a density in a range of 24 to 40 kilograms per cubic meter and a Normalized Roughness Quotient of 3.5 or less in a Milled Surface Test. | 01-17-2013 |
20150267020 | CELL SIZE ENLARGING AGENT FOR STYRENIC FOAM - A styrenic polymer foam contains a polymer composition in the form of a continuous matrix defining multiple cells therein, the polymer composition contains a first polymer and second polymer, the first polymer being a maleic anhydride-grafted high density polyethylene and the second polymer being a styrenic polymer resin that is free of grafted maleic anhydride. The first polymer contains on average 0.05 or more weight-parts of grafted maleic anhydride based on total weight of the first polymer and the concentration of first polymer in the polymer composition is sufficient to provide at least six weight-parts of grafted maleic an hydride per million weight parts of the polymer composition. | 09-24-2015 |