Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Lorraine S. Melotik
  • Patent number: 5922294
    Abstract: This invention is a sulfur-resistant, high surface area and temperature stabilized anatase crystal form of a mixed-oxide of titania and alumina comprising at least 40% molar amount titania. The mixed-oxide is made by co-hydrolysis of a mixture of the alkoxides of titanium and aluminum. The mixed oxide is useful as a catalyst support for treating exhaust gases generated by a diesel or gasoline internal combustion engine of automotive vehicles. The catalyst support may contain catalytic materials like precious metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohinder S. Chattha, Clifford Norman Montreuil
  • Patent number: 5911809
    Abstract: A swash plate type compressor having a cylinder block with cylinder bores disposed parallel to the axis of the cylinder block. A rotary shaft rotatably mounted within the cylinder block carries an aluminum swash plate. The swash plate is fixed in the rotary shaft and has two facial surfaces and an end surface. The swash plate has a coating preferably between 0.8 to 2.5 microns, of a tin/cobalt coating of at least 0.2 wt% cobalt and the balance being tin. A piston reciprocally fitted within the cylinder bore contains shoes which slideably intervene between the piston and the swash plate facial surfaces and reciprocate the piston and the swash plate facial surfaces and reciprocate the pistons by rotation of the swash plate. The coating on the swash plate permits the use of low silicon alloy aluminum without the need of metal plating or high finish polishing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Carl Edward Cordy
  • Patent number: 5906667
    Abstract: A method sculpturing from sheet material a vacuum formed glass mold. The sheet material is cut into a plurality of sections that are combined into laminated structure is that is welded together and mounted on a mold base. The top surfaces of the individual sections are machined to form a glass forming surface that can be used to vacuum form glass that conforms to the shape of the forming surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Frank Edward Moulding, Gerald Post, Eugene Stankiewicz
  • Patent number: 5894054
    Abstract: The present invention is an aluminum assembly comprising at least two components brazed to each other. The assembly comprises: at least a first aluminum based component having a coating of a zinc-antimony alloy having at least 1.0 wt. % antimony applied to a region of a surface of the component which is to be joined to a second aluminum based component; and at least one second aluminum based component disposed adjacent to the coating; whereby the at least first aluminum based component and the at least second aluminum based component are joined together during a controlled atmosphere brazing (CAB) process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Mohan R. Paruchuri, Dongkai Shangguan
  • Patent number: 5876673
    Abstract: The invention is a sensing method and an oxygen sensor for detecting a change of oxygen partial pressure in an ambient atmosphere through a change of a measurable physical property of a sensing material. 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. The sensor also includes an electrical heating source, connectable to a power source, maintaining a temperature gradient across the sensing material since it is critical that the sensing material exist in at least two phases during active sensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eleftherios Miltiadis Logothetis, Richard E. Soltis
  • Patent number: 5876680
    Abstract: This invention is a bimetallic catalyst comprising tungsten oxide and platinum in critical amounts on a mostly .gamma.-alumina support material. It is particularly optimal for use in lean-burn engine exhaust systems, including gasoline and diesel, where it efficiently reduces NOx in the exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohinder S. Chattha, Robert J. Kudla, T. E. Hoost
  • Patent number: 5871690
    Abstract: Low temperature electrical solder compositions (by weight percent) having between 45-60% Sn; 25-40% Pb; 5-15% Bi; and 0.5-2.5% In. Preferably, the solder compositions have a melting temperature of about 154.degree.-162.degree. C. The solder compositions have microstructure similarly to Sn/Pb eutectic microstructure which makes them have excellent properties like higher yield strength and better creep resistance providing long term reliability to solder joints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Achyuta Achari, Mohan R. Paruchuri, Dongkai Shangguan
  • Patent number: 5866498
    Abstract: The present invention broadly relates to a catalyst for promoting the oxidation-reduction reactions of the exhaust gases produced by an internal combustion engine wherein the catalyst comprises; tungsten oxide, a basic metal oxide, and a noble metal. More narrowly, the present invention relates to a catalyst for promoting oxidation-reduction reactions with the exhaust gases produced by internal combustion engine wherein the catalyst comprises; a composite oxide comprised of a refractory oxide, tungsten oxide in juxtaposed relation with the refractory oxide, and a basic metal oxide in juxtaposed relation with the tungsten oxide; and arrayed on the composite oxide a noble metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohinder S. Chattha, Somasundaram Subramanian, William L. H. Watkins
  • Patent number: 5863803
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for modulating flux of combustibles reacting with oxygen impinging on a calorimetric gas sensor. The method includes the steps of enclosing a sensing element and a reference element of a calorimetric gas sensor with an apparatus having at least one aperture to allow combustibles to enter and impinge on the sensing element and reference element, periodically restricting the aperture of the apparatus to modulate the flux of combustibles entering at a predetermined frequency to produce an AC output signal from the calorimetric gas sensor, and measuring the sensor output at the frequency at which the aperture is restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Margherita Zanini-Fisher, Jacobus H. Visser, E. M. Logothetis
  • Patent number: 5858483
    Abstract: A bilaminate window glass assembly for an automotive vehicle includes at least one pane forming a window glass, a non-breakable frame disposed adjacent about at least a portion of a perimeter of the pane and a panel bonded to one side of the frame and the pane to form a bilaminate window glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Narayanan Ramanujam
  • Patent number: 5855974
    Abstract: A method for providing a diamond film on a scribing wheel useful for scribing glassy materials in order to increase its wear resistance. The method comprises sequential steps which include pre-treating the surface of the scribing wheel and thereafter depositing the diamond film on the pretreated scribing wheel by a chemical vapor deposition process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ching-Hsong Wu, Timothy J. Potter, Michael Alan Tamor, Richard Lawrence Allor
  • Patent number: 5851940
    Abstract: The invention is a soda-lime-silica glass composition which is blue in color and having improved UV and IR absorption. The spectral properties of the blue glass at a 4.0 mm. Thickness include: 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 0 is 10 to 20%; and colorants consisting essentially of: 0.4 to 2.0% total iron oxide as Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0.15 to 2.00% manganese oxide as MnO.sub.2 ; 0.005 to 0.025% cobalt oxide as Co, and 0 to 1.00% titanium oxide as TiO.sub.2. The glass is useful for automotive or architectural applications. It preferably is made by a nitrite-free method which may desirably involve the use of a reducing agent during melting operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Edward Nashed Boulos, James Victor Jones
  • Patent number: 5846502
    Abstract: A catalyst system for converting hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides contained in exhaust gas generated by an internal combustion engine. The catalyst system comprises: first, second, and third catalyst bricks arranged in series in an exhaust gas passage of an internal combustion engine downstream of an exhaust gas manifold. The first brick has the smallest volume and is closely coupled to an exhaust gas manifold of the engine and the first catalyst brick is positioned adjacent to and spaced apart from the second catalyst brick by a predetermined distance of no more than 10 inches. Each catalyst brick individually comprises a substrate material coated with a metallic catalyst carried on a porous support, wherein the metallic catalyst provided on the first brick comprises palladium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Mary Comben Bourke
  • Patent number: 5837212
    Abstract: The invention is a nitrogen oxide trap comprising a porous support; and catalysts consisting of manganese and potassium loaded on 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 and releases the nitrogen oxides during decreased oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 17, 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: 5833921
    Abstract: Electrical solder compositions (by weight percent) having between 43-58% Sn; 38-52% Bi; and at least one of: 5-15%Sb; 1-4.0% Cu; 2% In; and 1-2% Ag, and having a melting temperature 133.degree.-167.degree. C. The solders are lead-free and have low melting points making them particularly useful for applications wherein components being joined involve thermoplastic substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Mohan R. Paruchuri, Dongkai Shangguan
  • Patent number: 5831145
    Abstract: A method of introducing selectivity to a non-selective gas sensor for determining an amount of a gas of interest contained in a measurement gas wherein the non-selective gas sensor responds not only to the gas of interest but also to other interfering gases contained in the measurement gas, the method includes the steps of periodically modulating a specified flux of a measurement gas at a first predetermined frequency, periodically modulating a specified flux of a gas of interest at a second predetermined frequency, adding the modulated flux of the gas of interest to the modulated flux of the measurement gas, exposing a non-selective gas sensor to the combination of the modulated flux of the measurement gas and the modulated flux of the gas of interest, measuring a sensor output of the non-selective gas sensor at zero frequency (DC) and at specified frequencies (AC), and determining an original concentration of the gas of interest in the measurement gas from the measured sensor output at zero frequency and at
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eleftherios M. Logothetis, Michael D. Hurley, Richard E. Soltis
  • Patent number: 5827345
    Abstract: A method for heating, forming and tempering a glass sheet including the steps of heating at least one glass sheet to at least a first predetermined temperature, applying microwave energy to the glass sheet to heat the glass sheet to at least a second predetermined temperature, forming the glass sheet to a predetermined configuration, and cooling an outer surface of the glass sheet to at least a third predetermined temperature to temper the glass sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Premakaran Tucker Boaz, Gary W. Sitzman
  • Patent number: 5823044
    Abstract: A method for determining an amount of a gas of interest contained in a measurement gas includes the steps of periodically modulating a specified flux of a measurement gas at a first predetermined frequency, periodically modulating a specified flux of a specified gas that can react non-linearly with the gas of interest at a second predetermined frequency, adding the modulated flux of the specified gas to the modulated flux of the measurement gas, passing the mixture of the two modulated gas fluxes through a reactor where the gas of interest reacts with the specified gas to produce a third gas, exposing a gas sensor that can respond to the third gas present in the gas mixture after the reactor, measuring the sensor output at zero frequency (DC) and at specified frequencies (AC), and determining the original concentration of the gas of interest in the measurement gas from the measured sensor output at zero frequency and at the specified frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eleftherios M. Logothetis, Michael D. Hurley, Richard E. Soltis
  • Patent number: 5824993
    Abstract: A novel arrangement for electrically heating the lower section of an automobile glazing unit is disclosed. An embodiment of the arrangement includes a heating grid pattern employing vertical shorting bars to prevent complete inoperability of individual heating conductors. An alternate embodiment of the arrangement includes heating conductors of varying electrical resistance to achieve greater heat generation at desired locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Chrysochoos, Adrian G. Vanoostveen
  • Patent number: 5813764
    Abstract: A catalytic differential gas combustible microcalorimeter sensor for monitoring the exhaust gas conversion for monitoring the exhaust gas conversion efficiency of a catalytic converter. The catalytic calorimetric sensor disclosed includes a sol-gel processed washcoat and sol-processed catalytically active metal particles. Sol-gel processing creates a washcoat with high surface area and controlled porosity which increases the sensitivity, durability, and reproducibility of the resultant sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacobus Hendrik Visser, Chaitanya Kumar Narula, Margherita Zanini-Fisher