Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Lorraine S. Melotik
  • Patent number: 5813224
    Abstract: The invention discloses a method of reducing the concentration of NO.sub.x in the exhaust streams of internal combustion ignitions wherein a selected producing agent is introduced into the combustion chamber of such an engine via the fuel and/or air feed stream introduced into the combustion chamber. Also disclosed is an apparatus for reducing the concentration of NO.sub.x in the exhaust streams of internal combustion engines having a piston-cylinder assembly having an air fuel mixture contained therein, a means for storing a selective reducing agent selected from the group consisting of ammonia, hydrazine and cyanuric acid and a means for introducing the reducing agent into the lean air/fuel mixture before combustion occurs such that upon combustion of the air/fuel mixture, the reducing agent decomposes to react with one or more products of combustion to produce an engine exhaust stream having a reduced concentration of NO.sub.x.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Vemulapalli Durga Nageswar Rao, Harry Arthur Cikanek
  • Patent number: 5814287
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a catalyst system for treating internal combustion engine exhaust gases, the system having enhanced hydrocarbon trapping efficiency which is particularly advantageous during cold start. The system comprises a hydrocarbon polymerization catalyst, a hydrocarbon trap located downstream of the hydrocarbon (HC) polymerization catalyst, advanced exhaust treatment catalyst. The hydrocarbon polymerization catalyst is capable of forming larger (HC) molecules from smaller HC molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Anthony Adamczyk, Jr., Anthony David Logan
  • Patent number: 5807417
    Abstract: The invention is nitrate-free method to manufacture a blue soda-lime-silica glass composition and improving the ultraviolet light absorption thereof while maintaining a high visible light transmission. The method comprises the steps of: adding colorants, during molten glass formation, consisting essentially of a manganese compound along with a cobalt compound, iron oxide and optionally titanium oxide to a soda-lime-silica base glass composition, and adding no sodium nitrate into the batch during molten glass formation, the materials are adding in quantities sufficient to form said blue glass composition having at a 4.0 mm. thickness: 477-494 dominant wavelength and 6-40% purity of excitation. The blue glass composition, by weight, comprises a base glass composition of: 68 to 75% SiO.sub.2, 10 to 18% Na.sub.2 O, 5 to 15% CaO, 0 to 10% MgO, 0 to 5% Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, and 0 to 5% K.sub.2 O, where CaO+MgO is 6 to 15% and Na.sub.2 O+K.sub.2 O is 10 to 20%; and colorants consisting essentially of: 0.4 to 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Edward Nashed Boulos, James Victor Jones
  • Patent number: 5806752
    Abstract: An open-air brazing method for manufacturing an assembly including at least one aluminum based tube having an internal surface and an external surface, applying an Aluminum Association 4XXX aluminum based filler material to at least a portion of the external surface of the tube, disposing at least one aluminum based component adjacent the filler material, and applying a modified aluminum brazing flux to a joint between the at least one tube and the at least one component to form a precursor assembly, said brazing flux comprising cesium fluoride, lithium fluoride, or their mixture added into a potassium fluoaluminate flux in an amount of at least about 1% by weight of the modified flux. The method further comprises joining the at least one tube and at least one component together in an open-air brazing furnace whereby the temperature is raised from about 450.degree. C. to about 600.degree. C. in about 15 to 20 seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Van Evans, Gerry A. Grab, Nathan Victor Carter, Matthew John Zaluzec
  • Patent number: 5798269
    Abstract: The invention is a sensing method and an oxygen sensor for detecting a change of oxygen partial pressure in an ambient atmosphere. The sensor includes a sensing material selected from metal or its oxides which, when at an elevated temperature and exposed to a gas containing E a changing partial pressures of oxygen, is capable of changing from one metal or metal oxide phase to another such oxide phase and vice versa. Associated with such phase change is a change in a measurable physical property of the material. Heating elements, connectable to a power source, able to maintain a temperature gradient across said sensing material are necessary to maintain the material, during active sensing operation, in at least two of the phases defining a boundary line therebetween which is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the temperature gradient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eleftherios Miltiadis Logothetis, Richard E. Soltis
  • Patent number: 5782947
    Abstract: A method for heating a glass sheet includes the steps of heating a glass sheet to a first predetermined temperature and applying microwave energy to the glass sheet to heat the glass sheet to at least a second predetermined temperature to allow the glass sheet to be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Premakaran Tucker Boaz
  • Patent number: 5783867
    Abstract: In a method for reversible assembly of a semiconductor electronic flip-chip device to an electrical interconnecting substrate, a filled thermoplastic adhesive is interposed between an active face of the flip-chip device and a bond site on the substrate. Electrical connection is established between the flip-chip device and the substrate and, generally simultaneously, adhesive bonding between them is established via viscous flow of the filled thermoplastic adhesive above its glass transition temperature, followed by cooling of the adhesive. The adhesive can be reheated to free the flip-chip device of its adhesive bond to the substrate. The filled thermoplastic adhesive includes a low expansion filler in a binder matrix. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the binder matrix is poly(aryl ether ketone) having the chemical formula ##STR1## where n is from 5 to 150 and R is selected from suitable divalent moieties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Robert Edward Belke, Bethany Walles, Michael G. Todd, Brian J. Hayden
  • Patent number: 5783153
    Abstract: The invention is a sensing method and an oxygen sensor for detecting a change of oxygen partial pressure in an ambient atmosphere. The sensor includes a sensing material selected from metal or its oxides which, when at an elevated temperature and exposed to a gas containing a changing partial pressures of oxygen, is capable of changing from one metal or metal oxide phase to another such oxide phase and vice versa. Associated with such phase change is a change in a measurable physical property of the material. Heating elements, connectable to a power source, able to maintain a temperature gradient across said sensing material are necessary to maintain the material, during active sensing operation, in at least two of the phases defining a boundary line therebetween which is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the temperature gradient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eleftherios Miltiadis Logothetis, Richard E. Soltis
  • Patent number: 5779534
    Abstract: A multiple stage airflow diffuser apparatus for spreading the airflow to provide a uniform airflow in a plenum. The diffuser includes a plurality of diffuser stages positioned in a spaced, nested relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Kunec
  • Patent number: 5776845
    Abstract: The invention is a green soda-lime-silica glass composition having excellent ultra violet absorbing ability while having a relatively high light transmittance. The colorants of the glass composition consist essentially of: greater than 0.5 to 1.5 wt. % total iron oxide as Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 ; wherein the weight ratio of Fe.sup.+2 /Fe.sup.+3 is less than 0.35; 0.10 to 2.00 wt. % manganese compound as MnO.sub.2 ; and optionally any of: up to 1.00 wt. % titanium oxide as TiO.sub.2, up to 1.00 wt. % cerium oxide as CeO.sub.2 ; up to 1.00 wt. % vanadium oxide as V.sub.2 O.sub.5 ; and up to 0.20 wt. % chromium oxide as Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3 ; the glass composition having, at 4.0 mm. thickness: 55 to 80% light transmittance using Illuminant A with less than 46% ultra violet transmittance measured over the range of 300 to 400 nanometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Edward Nashed Boulos, James Victor Jones
  • Patent number: 5771962
    Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly including at least one aluminum based tube having an internal surface and an external surface, an aluminum based lithium-magnesium composition cladding applied to either one of the internal surface and external surface of the tube, and at least one aluminum based component disposed adjacent the cladding, a modified aluminum brazing flux applied to a joint between the surface and one component. The modified aluminum brazing flux comprises cesium fluoride, lithium fluoride, or both. Preferably, the cladding further comprises cesium. To manufacture the heat exchanger assembly, the tube and component are joined together with flux applied in the area of the joint using a controlled atmosphere brazing (CAB) process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Timothy Van Evans, Henry Mehraban, Matthew John Zaluzec, Gerry A. Grab
  • Patent number: 5772972
    Abstract: The invention is an automotive catalyst system for treating internal combustion engine exhaust gases. The system comprises a hybrid system of hydrocarbon trapping material and palladium based three-way catalyst material, the hydrocarbon trapping material being capable of adsorbing hydrocarbons present in said internal combustion exhaust gases and substantially maintaining adsorbance of the adsorbed hydrocarbons until after the palladium based three-way catalyst material reaches a temperature at which it is capable of oxidizing the hydrocarbons. The palladium based three-way catalyst is carried on a substrate, which may be the trapping material, in an amount of between about 100-500 g palladium/ft.sup.3 of substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Scott Hepburn, Hung-Wen Jen, Harendra Sakarlal Gandhi, Klaus Otto
  • Patent number: 5766562
    Abstract: The invention is a method for treating exhaust gases generated by a diesel engine by providing a sulfur-tolerant lean-NOx catalyst in an exhaust gas passage of the engine and contacting the catalyst with the exhaust gases. The sulfur-tolerant lean-NOx catalyst comprises a support of titania aerogel; and loaded thereon, using impregnation techniques from a solution of their precursors, at least 0.25 weight percent precious metal selected from platinum, palladium, rhodium, or mixtures thereof. The method converts the hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides into more desirable gases. In particular, the NOx is converted to N.sub.2 and O.sub.2 over the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohinder S. Chattha, Tjenga E. Hoost, Robert J. Kudla
  • Patent number: 5758496
    Abstract: A particulate and exhaust emission control system for a vehicle (10) having a diesel engine (12). The control system has a particulate trap (24) connected to the exhaust manifold (22) of the diesel engine, an additive tank (30) for storing a fuel additive decomposed by the engine's combustion process to form a reducible metal oxide capable of depressing the ignition temperature of the carbon particulates collected by the particulate trap (24) and a metering mechanism (34) responsive to the adding of diesel fuel to the vehicle's fuel tank (28) to add a quantity of the fuel additive to the diesel fuel in the fuel tank (28) to maintain a predetermined ratio of the fuel additive to the diesel fuel in the tank. The metal oxide depressing the ignition temperature of the carbon particulates collected by the particulate trap (24) to a temperature obtained by the particulate trap during selected operating parameters of the diesel engine (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Vemulapalli D. N. Rao, Harry A. Cikanek
  • Patent number: 5759220
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a method for manufacturing shaped laminated glass panes comprising an inner glass sheet, and intermediate layer such as thermoplastic material and an outer glass sheet. The method comprises providing a layer of silicate water-based paint on at least a portion of a glass sheet surface which is to bear against the intermediate layer, drying the paint at moderate temperature to remove water and cure the paint, placing the glass sheets together so that the surfaces which are to bear against the intermediate layer are in proximity with one another and are parallel, bending the glass sheets simultaneously into a final shape at elevated temperature, and cooling the glass sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Premakaran Tucker Boaz
  • Patent number: 5758489
    Abstract: The invention is a nitrogen oxide trap comprising a porous support; and catalysts comprising platinum and lithium loaded on the porous support, the lithium being present in a high loading of at least 10 weight percent based on the weight of the porous support. The trap may be used in an internal combustion engine exhaust gas catalyst system. During lean-burn operation of the engine the trap sorbs nitrogen oxides (NOx) and releases the nitrogen oxides during decreased oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas, the desorbed NOx being converted to N.sub.2 and O.sub.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Hepburn, William L. H. Watkins
  • Patent number: 5756192
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a glass substrate having deposited thereon an electroconductive coating useful for defrosting the glass. The coating comprises three layers. The first layer deposited on the glass is selected from the group consisting essentially of: (a) silicon oxide and (b) silicon nitride and it is deposited on at least a portion of a surface of the glass substrate. The second layer comprises an electrically conductive material selected from the group consisting essentially of (a) aluminum doped zinc oxide and (b) gallium doped zinc oxide. It is deposited on at least a portion of the first layer in a thickness of at least 1 micron. This second layer has a sheet resistance of less than 20 ohms per square. A third layer comprising a protective material is deposited on and is at least coextensive with the second layer. It is deposited in a thickness of at least 10 microns and is selected from the group of materials consisting essentially of: (a) fluorine doped tin oxide, and (b) silicon nitride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Richard Lee Crawley, Kenneth Edward Nietering, James William Proscia
  • Patent number: 5753192
    Abstract: The invention is a nitrogen oxide trap comprising a porous support loaded with 6-15 wt. % strontium oxide and thereon, a mixture of: 0.5-5 wt. % precious metal catalyst selected from platinum, palladium, rhodium or mixtures thereof loaded, 3.5-15 wt. % zirconium and 15-30 wt. % sulfate, where preferably the ratio of zirconium to sulfate ranges from about 1:1 to 1:7; each wt. % being individually based on the weight of the support. The trap may be used in an internal combustion engine exhaust gas catalyst system. During lean-burn operation of the engine the trap sorbs nitrogen oxides (NOx) and releases the nitrogen oxides during decreased oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas, the desorbed NOx being converted to N.sub.2 and O.sub.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Dobson, Carolyn Parks Hubbard, William Lewis Henderson Watkins
  • Patent number: 5750082
    Abstract: The invention is a nitrogen oxide trap separate catalyst phases. One of the phases is platinum on a porous support and another is alkali metal or elements and alkaline earth elements on another porous support. The phases may be provided as an intimate mixture or as layers in the trap. The trap may be used in an internal combustion engine exhaust gas catalyst system. During lean-burn operation of the engine the trap adsorbs nitrogen oxides and releases the nitrogen oxides during decreased oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Scott Hepburn, Eva Thanasiu, William Lewis Henderson Watkins, Carolyn Parks Hubbard, Douglas A. Dobson, Haren Sakarlal Gandhi
  • Patent number: 5743793
    Abstract: An airflow diffuser apparatus for controlling the airflow exiting a filter unit used in a paint booth. The airflow diffuser apparatus includes a diffuser formed of a plate positioned underneath the filter unit to diffuse the airflow exiting the filter unit to provide a more uniform airflow in the paint booth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven James Parks, Ernest Henry Tong