Daniel A Rhule

US Patent:

56035233, Feb 18, 1997

Filed:

Aug 24, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/518913

Inventors:

Daniel A. Rhule - Miamisburg OH
Troy A. Augustine - Kettering OH
Tobias J. Mosler - Troy OH
Dean M. Pepperine - Tipp City OH
Vince Otto - Dayton OH

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B60R 2120
B60R 2122

US Classification:

2807282

Abstract:

An air bag module includes an air bag and an inflator for generating gas to inflate the air bag. An air bag retainer is secured to the air bag. A bias flap is formed separate from the air bag and guides deployment of the air bag. The bias flap includes opposing side walls and at least one tether extending therebetween and connecting the side walls. The air bag and air bag retainer are located between the side walls of the bias flap and the tether extends beneath the air bag and air bag retainer to securely anchor the bias flap to the air bag during air bag deployment.

US Patent:

56476086, Jul 15, 1997

Filed:

Jun 28, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/672596

Inventors:

Alex Scott Damman - Clayton OH
David James Thomas - Ft. Mitchell KY
Mark Thomas Winters - Troy OH
Daniel Allen Rhule - West Mansfield OH
Jeffrey Alan Shepherd - Troy OH

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B60R 2120

US Classification:

2807282

Abstract:

An air bag module includes an axially elongated, extruded housing having a nautilus-shaped profile defined by a single continuously extending spiral-shaped wall. The spiral-shaped wall has first and second free ends and the spiral-shaped wall has a generally continually increasing radius of curvature from the first end to the second end. The housing preferably has a decreased radius portion for holding an inflator therein and an increased radius portion for holding an air bag therein. The decreased radius portion has a radius of curvature which is less than a radius of curvature of the increased radius portion.

US Patent:

52187632, Jun 15, 1993

Filed:

Jul 13, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/912364

Inventors:

Ronald E. Marker - New Lebanon OH
Daniel A. Rhule - New Lebanon OH
Joseph A. Untener - Kettering OH

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B23P 1100

US Classification:

29888092

Abstract:

A method of forming a composite piston assembly for an automotive air conditioning compressor includes providing 1018 steel alloy, solid connecting rod with an aluminum alloy head. An axial receiving bore is provided in the piston head, which is also fabricated of solid bar stock, and includes a frusto-conically-shaped counterbore. The connecting rod includes a positioning collar that defines a tenon received in said bore. A cold swaged tip of the connecting rod flares outward so as to conform to and fill the counterbore and provide a strong fixed attachment joint between the connecting rod and piston head.

US Patent:

56391188, Jun 17, 1997

Filed:

Oct 18, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/544816

Inventors:

Daniel Allen Rhule - Miamisburg OH
Michael Wayne Donegan - Bellbrook OH
James Lloyd Webber - Centerville OH

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B60R 2120

US Classification:

2807431

Abstract:

An air bag module includes an inflation detection device. The air bag module includes an air bag, an inflator for generating inflator gas to inflate the air bag, and a breakable device disposed on the air bag. The breakable device has a broken condition when the air bag is inflated to a properly inflated condition and the breakable device has an unbroken condition when the air bag is inflated to less than the properly inflated condition. Upon air bag deployment, the breakable device is broken when the air bag is inflated to the properly inflated condition and the breakable device remains unbroken when the air bag is inflated to less than the properly inflated condition. Thus, the breakable device verifies that the air bag has been properly inflated after air bag deployment.

US Patent:

57623600, Jun 9, 1998

Filed:

Oct 31, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/741737

Inventors:

Alex Scott Damman - Clayton OH
Daniel Allen Rhule - West Mansfield OH
Mark Thomas Winters - Troy OH

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B60R 2116

US Classification:

2807282

Abstract:

An air bag assembly includes an inflator for discharging inflator gas. The inflator includes upper and lower longitudinal ends and an elongated longitudinal inflator axis. The inflator has a longitudinally elongated solid body portion and also has an outlet end portion located at the upper longitudinal end of the inflator atop the elongated solid body portion. The outlet end portion includes a plurality of discharge ports through which inflator gas is discharged. A base plate is connected to the inflator and extends radially outward therefrom. The base plate is positioned closer to the upper longitudinal end of the inflator than to the lower longitudinal end. The longitudinal inflator axis is generally perpendicular to the base plate to advantageously provide a T-shaped. An air bag is positioned above the base plate for deployment in an upwardly direction away from the base plate. This arrangement allows the outlet end portion of the inflator to distribute inflator gas evenly into the air bag and the longitudinal axis of the inflator to be oriented parallel to the direction of the inflating air bag.

US Patent:

55606482, Oct 1, 1996

Filed:

Aug 24, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/519053

Inventors:

Daniel A. Rhule - Miamisburg OH
John P. Sparkman - Dayton OH

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B60R 2122

US Classification:

280731

Abstract:

A vehicle steering wheel and air bag module assembly includes a steering wheel and an air bag module. The steering wheel has a hub portion and a rim portion and at least one spoke portion connecting the hub portion to the rim portion. The air bag module is mounted to the hub portion and includes an air bag, an inflator for generating gas to inflate the air bag, and a bias apparatus. The bias apparatus is a flexible sheet of material attached to the air bag module and having an upper portion folded atop the air bag such that when the inflation of the deploying air bag is blocked, the upper portion of the bias apparatus biases the air bag partially underneath the rim portion of the steering wheel. In addition, when the inflation of the deploying air bag is unrestrained, the bias apparatus drops downwardly away from the deploying air bag permitting the air bag to freely deploy.

US Patent:

56719450, Sep 30, 1997

Filed:

Jan 26, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/592118

Inventors:

Daniel Allen Rhule - Miamisburg OH
Alex Scott Damman - Clayton OH
Vince Urban Otto - Dayton OH

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B60R 2128

US Classification:

280740

Abstract:

An air bag assembly includes an axially elongated inflator for generating gas. The inflator includes first and second ends and has a gas discharge opening located on the first inflator end. The air bag assembly also includes an air bag deployable upon generation of gas by the inflator. A diffuser cup engages the first inflator end on which the gas discharge opening is located. The diffuser cup diffuses the inflator gas into the air bag such that the inflator gas is spread more evenly into the air bag during air bag inflation. Preferably, the diffuser cup also retains the first inflator end to an end wall of a housing.

US Patent:

54960630, Mar 5, 1996

Filed:

Nov 25, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/352962

Inventors:

James K. Conlee - Dayton OH
Daniel A. Rhule - Miamisburg OH
Joel M. Werbelow - Vandalia OH

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B60R 2128

US Classification:

280739

Abstract:

A particulate impingement device is carried by the air bag and has an impingement surface overlying the vent hole at a spaced relationship away from the vent hole so that the inflation gas exiting the air bag through the vent hole impinges on the impingement surface to deposit particulate by-products within the inflation gas upon the impingement surface.