Patents Represented by Attorney D. J. Harrington
  • Patent number: 4643269
    Abstract: A power steering system for an automotive vehicle including a power steering gear, a fluid pressure pump for developing steering pressure and an electromagnetic clutch for connecting the pump to an engine driven pulley at low vehicle speeds and for disabling the pump at high vehicle speeds, and an electric circuit that prevents activation and deactivation of the pump during turning maneuvers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Carlo Arciero, Mohammed K. Mynuddin
  • Patent number: 4430908
    Abstract: A powertrain includes a hydrokinetic torque converter driven from an electric motor that has an idle speed up to about half of its maximum speed. Three planetary gear sets, the first of these having two sets of planetary pinions mounted on a carrier for rotation, are located in the torque transmission path between the coupling and a differential. The transmission and motor are coaxial with the driveshaft of the vehicle. One-way brakes operate to fix elements of the gear sets against rotation to the transmission housing when torque is transmitted from the motor to the differential. Hydraulically actuated clutches and a brake band produce three forward speed ratios and a reverse drive ratio. The brake band and one clutch can be adapted to produce hill braking and regenerative braking during operation in the first two forward speed ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1984
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Thomas R. Stockton
  • Patent number: 4418777
    Abstract: The electric motor and transmission that apply power to the drive wheels of a vehicle are supplied with hydraulic fluid to lubricate the transmission and to cool the motor by a common fluidic circuit. The annular space between the motor shaft and a driveshaft provides a passage wherein fluid is distributed to the motor and the transmission under pressure. The rotor of the motor has axial passages through which the fluid flows from a radial passage connecting the annular space with the passages. At each axial end of the rotor fluid exiting the rotor, is thrown outward onto the inner surfaces of the stator windings. The fluid returns to a common sump by gravity from the motor and transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1983
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Thomas R. Stockton
  • Patent number: 4414862
    Abstract: A planetary gear arrangement has mutually meshing first and second planetary pinion sets journalled on a carrier that is fixed to the input shaft. The first planet pinion set meshes also with a sun gear fixed to the output shaft; the second planet pinion set meshes with a ring gear. A slidable clutch can driveably connect the ring gear to the carrier for reverse drive operation and a cone clutch can fix the ring gear against rotation for forward drive operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1983
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Eugen Svab
  • Patent number: 4414733
    Abstract: A rotary magazine holds cutting tool inserts, each having multiple cutting edges. The magazine is rotated to a first station where the inserts are removed, transferred to a machine tool and returned after use. Each unused cutting edge of the inserts is successively advanced to a reference position on the magazine. A pneumatically operated device lifts the inserts from the magazine and rotates them into position for machining. A pneumatically operated gearwheel advances the position of the cutting edges with respect to the reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1983
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Adam M. Janotik, Lawrence P. Kazyak
  • Patent number: 4406125
    Abstract: A supercharger has a high pressure engine exhaust gas passage, a control gas duct communicating with the high pressure passage and a valve for opening and closing communication between the high pressure passage and the control gas duct. A turbine rotor is mounted at one end of driveshaft; a compressor rotor is mounted at the opposite axial end. Air at ambient conditions is admitted to the compressor rotor which is driven through the driveshaft from the turbine. The air is compressed and pumped into the intake manifold of a spark ignition engine. The valve operates to increase the flow rate of control gas at low engine speeds and to decrease the flow rate of control gas at high engine speeds. The control gas enters the mainstream of exhaust gas that flows in the turbine inlet duct thus restricting the area of the inlet duct when engine speed is low and increasing the exhaust gas flow rate when engine speed is high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1983
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Christian J. Rahnke
  • Patent number: 4401326
    Abstract: A quick-connect coupling for connecting and hydraulically sealing two tubes that carry fluid has a cage fixed to the end of one tube and a garter spring retained in the cage. The second tube, which can be fitted over the first tube, has a flared end, which, when forced into contact with the spring, causes the spring to expand until it clears the flared end after which it contracts. During the contraction process a snap ring fitted on the outer surface of the cage is dislodged abruptly and produces a positive indication that the tubes have been properly connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1983
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Mark A. Blair
  • Patent number: 4397171
    Abstract: A sheet metal blank is placed at the entrance of a die having a splined interior contour. A punch having a conjugate splined surface enters and passes longitudinally through the die. The splines are formed by passing the blank and punch through the die within an annular space whose contour defines the final spline configuration. Alternatively, preformed splines having a large pressure angle and full corner radii are reformed by multiple passes through dies whose configurations vary to produce shallow pressure angle splines and tight corner radii.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1983
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Sang-Kee Suh, Gotz S. Hauser, Harry T. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4384608
    Abstract: A compression air conditioning system adapted to cool air within the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle can be reversed to function as a heat pump for heating the compartment. The system includes a first heat exchanger located within the compartment wherein the refrigerant is vaporized in the air conditioning mode and condensed during the heating mode. An electrical resistance heater is energized for a short period after starting the engine during which time the various heat sources may be inadequate to heat the passenger compartment air sufficiently. A diverter valve regulates flow through the refrigerant lines so that flow in either the heating or cooling mode is always in the same direction through the lines and the system components. A second heat exchanger located outside the compartment operates as a condenser during the cooling cycle and as an evaporator during the heating cycle. Three sources of heat energy can be used within the second exchanger to heat the refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1983
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: John A. Scarlett, Joseph R. Akerman
  • Patent number: 4373618
    Abstract: A brake device actuated by motion of the shift lever during selection of the reverse gear operating condition has a check plate pivotably mounted on the gearbox housing and actuated by a selector finger of the shift lever. The check plate engages one arm of a lever during the reverse gear selection motion and causes the lever to pivot thereby causing a second arm of the lever to pivot a baffle plate. The over-running shaft has a rotor fixedly mounted thereon which causes an oil stream to flow as the shaft turns. The baffle plate is made to pivot into an obstructing position within the oil stream whereby the over-running shaft is braked. A second embodiment forms the baffle so that it obstructs the oil stream and deflects it onto the rotor thereby increasing the braking effect on the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1983
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Gustav Sabel
  • Patent number: 4360317
    Abstract: A supercharger for compressing air supplied to an engine, wherein the energy of the exhaust gas is used to increase the pressure of the air admitted to the engine, has a rotor with radially extending vanes that define a plurality of rotating cells therebetween. Exhaust gas inlet and outlet ports at one axial end of the rotor and air inlet and outlet ports at the opposite end of the rotor admit engine exhaust gas and ambient air to the rotor cells and permit the flow of exhaust gas and compressed air from the rotor cells. The inlet and exhaust ports of the exhaust gas port plate are correspondingly equal in size and symmetrically disposed around the rotor circumference. The inlet and exhaust ports of the air port plate are unsymmetrically arranged around the rotor circumference and are of unequal size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1982
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: James K. Vallance, Christian J. Rahnke