Abstract: An electric machine assembly including a stator core and a rotor is provided. The stator core defines a cavity. The rotor is sized for insertion within the cavity and defines a plurality of magnet pockets each sized to receive a magnet in a central pocket region between an outer pocket region and an inner pocket region. The inner pocket region is a receptacle for coolant to thermally communicate with the magnet. The outer pocket region may be filled with an epoxy to prevent fluid communication between the outer pocket region and the central pocket region. The magnet may be sized such that there is no gap between the magnet and edges of the central pocket region.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 20, 2018
Publication date:
September 26, 2019
Applicant:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Chun Tang, Feng Liang, Wei Wu, Michael W. Degner
Abstract: A vehicle includes a roof, a floor spaced from the roof, and sides spaced from each other in a cross-vehicle direction. The sides extend from the roof to the floor. Front seats and rear seats are supported by the floor. A beam is spaced from the roof and the floor and extends between the front and rear seats from one side to the other side in the cross-vehicle direction.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 23, 2018
Publication date:
September 26, 2019
Applicant:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
MOHAMED RIDHA BACCOUCHE, RAHUL ARORA, SAEED DAVID BARBAT
Abstract: A vehicle thermal management system including an electric powertrain, a single thermal loop, and a controller is provided. The electric powertrain includes a high voltage battery. The single thermal loop is for managing thermal conditions of the high voltage battery and a vehicle cabin and may include a climate control system, a blower, and a front evaporator in fluid communication with the vehicle cabin. The controller is programmed to, responsive to detection of a climate control system off request, output a command to direct the blower to push air through a heater core to the vehicle cabin at a predetermined temperature such that a temperature within the vehicle cabin is maintained at a predetermined temperature and refrigerant continues to flow through the front evaporator. The system may include a vehicle cabin temperature sensor and an ambient temperature sensor, each in electrical communication with the controller.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 21, 2018
Publication date:
September 26, 2019
Applicant:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Alan Gutowski, Curtis Mark Jones, William Stewart Johnston, Manfred Koberstein
Abstract: A vehicle steering system includes a first sensor sensing a pinion angle of a handwheel and a second sensor sensing a torsion bar windup angle. An autonomous steering module generates a steering command having an input torque signal. A steering angle controller is configured to determine a filtered handwheel acceleration based on the pinion angle and the windup angle. The steering angle controller also determines an offset torque based on the filtered handwheel acceleration. Further, the steering angle controller applies the offset torque to the input torque signal to define a refined torque signal that compensates for inertia and off-center mass of the handwheel.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 15, 2017
Date of Patent:
September 24, 2019
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Erick Michael Lavoie, Darrel Alan Recker, Michael Richard Johnson
Abstract: A vehicle includes a seatback having a rear-mounted and rotationally operable tray table selectively operable between a plurality of rotational positions. An actuator is coupled to the seatback and the tray table, wherein in response to a decelerating impact, the actuator applies a generally downward force that biases the tray table toward a safety position against a back surface of the seatback.
Abstract: A sun visor fitting for holding sunglasses or other objects in a readily accessible position along the face of sun visor includes a body having a mounting section, a visor pin, a first clip and a second clip projecting from the first clip.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 29, 2017
Date of Patent:
September 24, 2019
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
John Andrew Stakoe, Ahmad Miqdadi, Ryan Kurrle, Daniel Ryan Bechlem, Michael Murphy McElroy, Andrew Dayton Phillips
Abstract: An apparatus for holding various items such as a drink cup and a smart phone, includes a plunger and a holding device. The plunger includes a proximal end and a distal end. The holding device is carried on the distal end of the plunger. The holding device includes a first jaw and a second jaw opposed to the first jaw. A method of gripping an item in the apparatus is also disclosed.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 4, 2018
Date of Patent:
September 24, 2019
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Mario Alejandro Medina Huerta, Jorge Arturo Ortiz Flores
Abstract: An electrified vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, an electric machine electrically coupled to a battery pack through an inverter. Further, the inverter includes a capacitor with an internal cooling channel. A method is also disclosed.
Abstract: A seat for a vehicle is provided. The seat comprises a lock device having an unlocked position and a locked position and an unlock groove disposed on a seat back. The unlock groove is in communication with the lock device and configured to receive a tongue of a seatbelt, and the lock device is unlocked when the tongue is inserted into the unlock groove.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 22, 2017
Date of Patent:
September 24, 2019
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies LLC
Inventors:
Josh Zheng, Qingsong Ma, Bob Wang, Laurence Yin, Sophie Yan
Abstract: A vehicle includes a windshield, a barrier, a barrier actuator drivably coupled to the barrier, and a computer in communication with the barrier actuator. The barrier is movable between a retracted position exposing the windshield and an expanded position extending along a portion of the windshield. The computer is programmed to, upon determining that a risk of objects striking the windshield exceeds a threshold while the vehicle is traveling, instruct the barrier actuator to move the barrier from the retracted position to the expanded position.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 16, 2017
Date of Patent:
September 24, 2019
Assignee:
FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Inventors:
Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Swadad A. Carremm, Aed M. Dudar
Abstract: A system and method for controlling the electrical power consumption of selected consumers of an electric vehicle limits power to consumers in dependence upon the prevailing charge state of a battery that is provided for driving the vehicle. The electric power consumption of high current consumers is adjusted to use an available residual amount of energy in an efficient manner. Consumers may be selected and corresponding power limits or reduction factors for the consumers and associated battery states of charge via a vehicle graphical user interface.
Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for activating a universal exhaust gas oxygen (UEGO) sensor activation during each of a pre-delivery phase and a post-delivery phase of a vehicle. In one example, a method may include during the pre-delivery phase, following an engine start, using a lower current flowing via a heater coupled to the UEGO sensor to heat the UEGO sensor and during the post-delivery phase, following an engine start, once exhaust temperature reaches a threshold temperature, using a higher current flowing via the heater coupled to the UEGO sensor to heat the UEGO sensor.
Abstract: An operating system for a motor vehicle door includes a handle that is displaceable between a latching position, a first unlatching position and a second unlatching position. The operating system also includes a latch mechanism including a latch and a cooperating receiver. The operating system further includes a mechanical connection feature connecting the handle to the latch whereby the motor vehicle door may be unlatched by displacing the handle.
Abstract: A multilayer encapsulant film having at least two layers includes a first layer comprising an encapsulant resin, and a second layer comprising an encapsulant resin and at least one down-converter, such as a rare-earth organometallic complex. The down-converter may be present in an amount of at least 0.0001 wt % based on the total weight of the encapsulant film. Further layers of a multilayer encapsulant film may or may not include a down-converter. Preferably, a multilayer encapsulant film contains at least one layer with at least one down-converter and at least one layer without a down-converter. Such multilayer down-converting films may be used in an electronic device, such as a PV module.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 4, 2013
Date of Patent:
September 24, 2019
Assignees:
DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC, ROHM AND HAAS COMPANY
Inventors:
John A. Naumovitz, Hongyu Chen, Yan Huang, Ada Yu Zhang, Zhi Xu
Abstract: A trim panel such as an end panel for an instrument panel of a motor vehicle, has a body including an exposed face and a flange that interfaces with an elastomeric seal on the motor vehicle. At least one tubercle is provided on that flange. A method of installing a trim panel on a motor vehicle adjacent to an elastomeric seal is also disclosed. Tubercles on the flange gently push the elastomeric seal away from the flange during installation protecting the surface of the elastomeric seal from marring or other damage during the installation process.
Abstract: An apparatus for protecting against damage to a vehicle during a low speed collision. The apparatus includes a headlamp adapted to breakaway to provide the vehicle with front end compliance for pedestrian protection. To avoid causing further damage to vehicle components during the low speed collision, a compressible stopper, such as a foam block, is provided for simultaneously engaging the headlamp and a component of the vehicle during the rearward movement of the headlamp as a result of the collision. Related methods are also disclosed.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 29, 2016
Date of Patent:
September 24, 2019
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Aileen M. DeVoe, Rajarathinam Jayachandran, Paul Ribai, Bhimaraddi Venkaraddi Alavandi, Erika Kristin Low, Oliver O. Nwankwo
Abstract: First and second sets of data are collected in a vehicle from respective data sources. Each of the first and second sets of data are provided for determinations respectively selected from first and second categories of autonomous vehicle operations. A determination is made to take an autonomous action selected from the first category of autonomous vehicle operations. Data is used from each of the first and second data sets relating respectively to the first and second categories of autonomous vehicle operations to determine the autonomous action.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 19, 2015
Date of Patent:
September 24, 2019
Assignee:
FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Inventors:
Gerald H. Engelman, Alex Maurice Miller, Richard Lee Stephenson, Levasseur Tellis, Timothy D. Zwicky
Abstract: A computer-implemented method of displaying vehicle range includes receiving input corresponding to a level of charge remaining in a vehicle having at least a partial electric power source usable for vehicle locomotion. The method also includes determining a maximum remaining range which the vehicle can travel based at least on the level of charge. The method further includes displaying a maximum range boundary overlaid on a map, including at least an indicator at the center of the range indicating a current location of the vehicle.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 6, 2011
Date of Patent:
September 24, 2019
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Ryan Skaff, Derek Hartl, Paul Aldighieri, Jeffrey Allen Greenberg, David L. Watson, Dale Gilman, Craig Sandvig, Leslie Bodnar, Leann Kridner, Angela L. Watson
Abstract: A seatbelt retractor includes a housing and a spool rotatably supported by the housing. A torsion bar has a first end and a second end. The first end of the torsion bar is fixed to the spool, and the second end of the torsion bar is fixable relative to the housing. The seatbelt retractor includes a magnet and a rotor disposed adjacent the magnet. One of the magnet and the rotor being fixed relative to the spool and the other of the magnet and the rotor being rotatable relative to the spool. The rotor includes a conductive material.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 17, 2017
Date of Patent:
September 24, 2019
Assignee:
FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Inventors:
Jeffrey Tien Vo, Brian Robert Spahn, Benjamin Yilma
Abstract: A console assembly includes a base, a transmission shifter, a guideway and an armrest. The transmission shifter is carried on the base and is displaceable between a plurality of transmission mode defining positions and a storage position. The armrest is carried on the base by a guideway and is displaceable by sliding motion between a home position and a deployed position.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 22, 2018
Date of Patent:
September 24, 2019
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Jason Michael Keenan, Ryan Mathew Sandor