Abstract: A power inverter includes an array of stacked cards each having switches arranged to transform direct current from a battery into alternating current (AC). Each of the cards also includes a first terminal attached to some of the switches and configured to pass AC therefrom to a first electric machine, and a second terminal attached to other of the switches and configured to pass AC therefrom to a second electric machine. First and second substrates of the power inverter sandwich the switches and terminals.
Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for supplying cooling oil to a piston of an engine cylinder. In one example, a method may include repeatedly activating an oil supply only during a part of a cylinder cycle synchronous with a reciprocating motion of the piston. In particular, supply of cooling oil may be initiated by displacing a poppet valve arranged within a piston cooling assembly via a reciprocating motion of the piston.
Abstract: A vehicular lighting assembly (and methods of making the same) that includes a parabolic reflector; a translucent lens element; and a light source configured to emanate light that strikes an interior surface of the reflector and exits the assembly through the element. Further, an interior surface of the lens element comprises one or more fluted regions that are substantially invisible and configured to refract light from the source away from oncoming vehicles. In addition, the fluted region can be within, on, or integral with, the interior and/or exterior surfaces of the lens element in certain configurations.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 15, 2016
Date of Patent:
November 26, 2019
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Stuart C. Salter, Aaron Bradley Johnson, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Stephen Kenneth Helwig
Abstract: A connection assembly in a vehicle comprises a bracket including a sliding groove; and a connector including a base plate configured to be received in the sliding groove of the bracket. The base plate or an inner wall of the sliding groove has a raised portion and a through hole on the raised portion. At a locked position, the base plate is at least partially received in the sliding groove and contacts the inner wall of the sliding groove under a pressure via the raised portion.
Abstract: One general aspect includes a cap for a the overflow reservoir bottle, including a lower cup having a syncline void, said syncline void having by a wall extending above and below at least one surface of the lower cup. The cap also includes an upper cup with an anticline projection nesting adjacent to the syncline void of the lower cup, and said upper cup affixed to the lower cup, with at least one vent to permit gas to traverse the overflow reservoir bottle.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 22, 2016
Date of Patent:
November 26, 2019
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Ali Alsayyed, Robert Alex Mitchell, Sandy Corbett, Scott Russo, Jeannette Madej Richards
Abstract: A method may comprise: positioning a pressure control valve (PCV) at an outlet of a fuel rail; positioning a volume control valve (VCV) at an inlet of a high pressure pump; and in response to an exhaust particulate matter (PM) level deviating from a target PM level, adjusting a fuel ratio of a first fuel and a second fuel delivered to an engine, and opening one of the PCV and the VCV. In this way, the fuel oxygen content may be adjusted to maintain a PM at or below a target level without a DPF over a broad range of engine designs and operating conditions, while maintaining fuel economy.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 14, 2016
Date of Patent:
November 26, 2019
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Eric Matthew Kurtz, Christopher Polonowski, James Eric Anderson, Werner Willems, Nan Robarge
Abstract: An aqueous polymer dispersion, a process of preparing the aqueous polymer dispersion, and an aqueous coating composition comprising the aqueous polymer dispersion; and the aqueous coating composition capable of providing coating films with good properties including coffee resistance and early block resistance.
Abstract: A turbocharger compressor and method are provided including a first coolant passage in thermal contact with an inlet configured to direct the charge gas toward an impeller; and second, third, and fourth coolant passages respectively in thermal contact with impeller, volute, and diffuser regions. All of the coolant passages are fluidically coupled with a heat exchanger. One or more of the coolant passages are configured such that coolant flows in an upstream direction relative to a general flow direction of charge gas through the compressor.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 1, 2017
Date of Patent:
November 26, 2019
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Liangjun Hu, David Curtis Ives, Eric Warren Curtis, Jianwen James Yi
Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing a cylinder valve deactivation mechanism in an engine system having cam-actuated valves. Movement of a latch pin of the deactivation mechanism is inferred from an induction current generated by a solenoid coupled to the latch pin, and the inferred movement is used to diagnose operation of cylinder valve deactivation mechanism. The inferred movement and a profile of the induction current is also used to estimate camshaft and crankshaft timing for improved cylinder fuel delivery in the absence of a camshaft sensor.
Abstract: A wireless charging arrangement has primary side circuitry including a voltage source, switches, and a primary coil arranged to couple with a secondary coil. The primary side circuitry forms a series resonant converter when transferring power from the primary coil to the secondary coil. The wireless charging arrangement also includes a controller to selectively activate the switches to cause the transferring such that for each fundamental cycle, a pair of consecutive active resonant cycles have same polarity.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 23, 2018
Date of Patent:
November 26, 2019
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Shuitao Yang, Fan Xu, Baoming Ge, Lihua Chen, Mohammed Khorshed Alam
Abstract: A side pillar air curtain guide includes a main body having a ramp receiver and an air curtain ramp insert connected to the main body. The air curtain ramp insert is of honeycomb construction.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 23, 2018
Date of Patent:
November 26, 2019
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Diego Fabricio Villacres Mesias, Alfredo Cuevas Vega, Hector Hernandez Hernandez, Robert Ralph Armitage, Jr., Amy Marie Boardman
Abstract: A vehicle includes a combustion engine (CE) and electric machine (EM) coupled to an energy storage system (ESS) and a controller, which are configured to maximize ESS/battery charge recovery during high performance operation. The controller commands the CE to generate power exceeding road load power and power demand (PD), to recharge the ESS at a maximum rate for rapid ESS charge recovery. Responsive to the PD, the CE generates a maximum power to drive the EM to recharge the ESS at a maximum rate during acceleration, deceleration, and when maintaining velocity of the vehicle, and to generate positive torque and discharge the ESS when PD and road load power exceeds CE maximum power, according to the PD, road load power, and maximum ESS charge rate. Power regeneration during deceleration may also be enabled for the electric machine and/or regenerative brakes, which further maximizes ESS SoC recovery during high performance operation.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 21, 2017
Date of Patent:
November 26, 2019
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Patrick Gordon Collins, Anthony Boyko, Lars Niklas Pettersson, Matthew L. West
Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) and method of operation includes a thermal management system (TMS) that maintains optimal battery temperature operating ranges. The TMS includes a controller, heater, pump, and valves that control a flow rate of a convective fluid about the battery and other components. The TMS responds to battery temperature and differential signals, converting them into pump speed and heater signals utilizing a fuzzy logic multidimensional membership function (MF) that improves performance while reducing energy consumption by generating real-time, smoothed pulse width modulated (PWM) pump speed and heater signals. The MF capability requires less processing power than prior systems, which in turn enables improved response time to battery thermal and temperature rate changes during HEV operation.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 12, 2017
Date of Patent:
November 26, 2019
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Xu Wang, Chuan He, Changjian Hu, Kenneth Jon Cunningham
Abstract: A vehicle passenger door comprises: (a) an interior door trim panel; (b) a bracket connected to the interior door trim panel comprising: an elongated middle portion; a first end portion; and a second end portion opposite the first end portion; wherein both the first and second end portions have a first width at a first point and a second width wider than the first width at a second point parallel to the first width, the first point being closer to the elongated middle portion than the second point; and (c) an integrated window regulator carrier comprising: a vertical channel recessed into an interior facing side; a first receiver receiving the first end portion of the bracket disposed at a first side of the vertical channel; and a second receiver, opposing the first receiver, receiving the second end portion of the bracket at a second side of the vertical channel.
Abstract: Crosslinkable polymeric compositions comprising: (a) a polymer blend comprising: (1) 10 to 94 weight percent, based on the total weight of the crosslinkable polymeric composition, of an ethylene-based interpolymer having the following properties: (i) a density of 0.93 g/cm3 or less, (ii) a melt index (I2) at 190° C. of greater than 0.2 g/10 minutes, and (iii) a shear thinning ratio (V0.1/V100) at 190° C. and 10% strain of less than 8; and (2) 5 to 90 weight percent, based on the total weight of the crosslinkable polymeric composition, of a high-pressure polyethylene; and (b) 0 to less than 40 weight percent, based on the total weight of the crosslinkable polymeric composition, of a filler, where the ethylene-based interpolymer of component (a) is not prepared in a high-pressure reactor or process. Additionally, the polymer blend has the following properties: (i) a shear thinning ratio (V0.1/V100) at 190° C.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 13, 2016
Date of Patent:
November 26, 2019
Assignee:
Dow Global Technologies LLC
Inventors:
Bharat I. Chaudhary, Rennisha Wickham, Morgan M. Hughes, Juan C. Tuberquia
Abstract: A system includes a computer programmed to receive image data of an exterior of a vehicle from an external image device. The computer is further programmed to, upon determining that a difference between the received image data and stored baseline image data exceeds a threshold, actuate the vehicle to navigate to a car wash location.
Abstract: A vehicle includes a clutch to couple a motor and transmission, and a controller that, in response to a regenerative braking request and a temperature being within a first range, partially capacitizes the clutch for regenerative torque transfer therethrough with slip, and in response to another regenerative braking request and the temperature being within a second range less than the first, fully capacitizes the clutch prior to regenerative torque transfer therethough to preclude slip.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 4, 2016
Date of Patent:
November 26, 2019
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Walter Joseph Ortmann, Bernard D. Nefcy, Todd McCullough, Christopher Alan Lear, Daniel Scott Colvin
Abstract: A device for controlling a restricted mode of a vehicle is provided. The device includes a controller that is configured to receive an input indicative of a request to change a vehicle state from a fully operational mode to a restricted mode and to transmit a first control signal indicative of a request to limit at least one of vehicle speed and vehicle acceleration. The controller is further configured to monitor a distance traveled by a driver when the vehicle is in the restricted mode and to compare the distance traveled to a predetermined distance limit. The controller is further configured to transmit a second control signal to remove the request to limit the at least one of the vehicle speed and the vehicle acceleration in response to determining that the distance traveled exceeds the predetermined distance limit.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 23, 2016
Date of Patent:
November 26, 2019
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Thomas Lee Miller, Brian Bennie, Eric L. Reed, Lisa Therese Boran
Abstract: A sensor apparatus includes a housing, a LIDAR sensor attached to the housing, a window attached to the housing, and a film covering the window and removable from the window. The window may be cylindrical. The film may be a first film, and the sensor apparatus may include a second film covering the first film and removable from the first film.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 3, 2017
Date of Patent:
November 26, 2019
Assignee:
FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Inventors:
Mark Edward Nichols, Cindy Anne Peters, Sabrina Louise Peczonczyk, Kerrie Nikaido Holguin
Abstract: A table of engine torque correction factors is used to compensate for noise factors. In a hybrid vehicle, the motor is used to measure engine torque during periods of constant transmission input shaft torque. By comparing the measured input torque to the requested engine torque, a controller can update the table of correction factors to compensate for changes in the noise factors. A service procedure may be implemented that systematically provides the controller an opportunity to update many values in the table.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 28, 2017
Date of Patent:
November 26, 2019
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Chen Zhang, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Yanan Zhao, Ming Lang Kuang