Patents Assigned to Ford Motor Company
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Publication number: 20230382212Abstract: A vehicle windshield includes a glass sheet and an overlay extending around a periphery of the glass sheet. The overlay includes a plurality of optical windows defined therein. A seal extends along a path delineated by the plurality of optical windows. The optical windows are sized to allow light to pass through the overlay.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2023Publication date: November 30, 2023Applicant: Ford Motor CompanyInventors: Steven Angus, Tom F. Boettger, Jeffrey R. Rowland, Stephanie Ross, Roger Jones
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Patent number: 11820057Abstract: A tool for driving a threaded fastener includes a driver head, a motor, and an injector. The driver head includes a spindle rotatable about an axis. A distal end of the spindle defines a plurality of drive surfaces configured to engage mating drive surfaces on the fastener to rotate the fastener about the axis. The driver head defines a fluid passage having an outlet proximate to the distal end of the spindle. The motor is drivingly coupled to the spindle to rotate the spindle about the axis. The injector is coupled to an inlet of the fluid passage and configured to feed a liquid insulator through the fluid passage.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2022Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventors: Christopher William Coyne, Samuel Jeffrey Tomlinson
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Patent number: 11816859Abstract: A method for determining a location of a vehicle including one or more image sensors in a manufacturing environment includes determining, when a key cycle transition condition of the vehicle and a vehicle gear transition condition of the vehicle are satisfied, a location parameter of the vehicle based on an image including a location tag and a previous image obtained from the one or more image sensors. The method includes determining a vehicle time period based on the image and the previous image. The method includes validating a manufacturing routine of the vehicle when the location parameter satisfies a location condition and the vehicle time period satisfies a time condition.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2021Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventors: Joseph Stanek, Allen R. Murray, Fahad Liaqat, Daniel Robert Taylor, Sikder Imam, Charles Robert Maxwell Zine
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Patent number: 11801640Abstract: A post-processing system includes a rinse tank, a robot arm, a locking fixture, and a controller. The robot arm is configured to engage and move a workpiece. The locking fixture includes a platform support structure and a clamping assembly. The controller is in communication with the robot arm and the platform locking fixture. The controller is configured to instruct the robot arm to move the workpiece from a workstation to the rinse tank, instruct the robot arm to move the workpiece from the rinse tank to the platform support structure, and instruct the clamping assembly to secure the workpiece onto the platform support structure after the workpiece has been moved to the platform support.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2021Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventors: Hadi Atwi, Richard Moore
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Patent number: 11799368Abstract: A varnish injection system includes a varnish injector including a base, a nozzle extending from the base, and a spacer disposed on the nozzle, and an electric motor including a stator, a wire, and an insulating layer between the stator and the wire. The nozzle is arranged to deposit varnish between the stator and the insulating layer. The nozzle and the stator define a gap therebetween when the spacer engages the stator.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2022Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventor: Xiaogang Zhang
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Patent number: 11794435Abstract: A method of forming a compact includes removing material from a workpiece, transferring metallic dust released during the material removal into a conduit, operating a plurality of slide gates to selectively control movement of the dust from the conduit to either one of a primary collector and a back-up collector, drawing the dust through the conduit to a compactor, and compacting the dust in the compactor.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2019Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventor: Frank Bishop
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Patent number: 11780505Abstract: A hybrid structural assembly for a motor vehicle includes a casting and a structural inlay. The casting includes a plurality of structural components joined together in a casting process to form structural load paths and extending in a plurality of directions in a 3D space. The casting includes a cast-allowable alloy material. The structural inlay is secured to at least one of the structural components. The structural inlay includes a material having at least one of a higher ductility and a higher toughness than the cast-allowable alloy material.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2021Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventors: Jamil M. Alwan, Djamal Eddine Midoun, Nathan Kristofor Tardif, Sudip Sankar Bhattacharjee, Petros Frantzeskakis
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Publication number: 20230266738Abstract: A method includes obtaining unprocessed data from a plurality of sensors mounted on one or more plant equipment, normalizing the unprocessed data to generate normalized data, converting the unprocessed data from a time domain to a frequency domain to generate a frequency domain signal, detecting a performance anomaly associated with the one or more plant equipment based on the normalized data and a change index routine, and determining a primary cause from among one or more causes of the performance anomaly based on the frequency domain signal and one or more rules.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2022Publication date: August 24, 2023Applicant: Ford Motor CompanyInventors: Harishankar Rajendran, Chandra Sekhar Jalluri, B. Sai Kishore, Jasper Blackful, Loren Gardner, Nimalkumar Sundarakumar, Mike Walker, Paul Christopher Shaw, Dan Accetta, V. Raghavan, Richard James Furness
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Patent number: 11735937Abstract: Methods and apparatus for vehicle-based drone charging are disclosed herein. A vehicle-based drone charging apparatus includes a charging device to be operatively coupled to a vehicle. The charging device is to charge a drone in response to the drone being operatively coupled to the charging device. The vehicle-based drone charging apparatus further includes a communication interface to be operatively coupled to the vehicle. The communication interface is to broadcast use information associated with the charging device. The use information includes location information associated with a location of the vehicle and fee information associated with a cost for use of the charging device.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2016Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventors: Cynthia M. Neubecker, Brad Ignaczak, Somak Datta Gupta, Brian Bennie
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Publication number: 20230216383Abstract: A varnish injection system includes a rotatable mount, an electric motor supported by the rotatable mount, the electric motor including a stator and a wire, and a varnish injector including a base and a nozzle extending from the base, the nozzle defining an axis extending vertically therethrough. The electric motor is rotatable by the rotatable mount to a nonzero angle relative to the axis extending vertically through the nozzle. The nozzle is arranged to deposit varnish into a gap defined between the stator and the wire when the rotatable mount rotates the electric motor to the nonzero angle.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2022Publication date: July 6, 2023Applicant: Ford Motor CompanyInventor: Xiaogang Zhang
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Publication number: 20230216382Abstract: A varnish injection system includes a varnish injector including a base, a nozzle extending from the base, and a spacer disposed on the nozzle, and an electric motor including a stator, a wire, and an insulating layer between the stator and the wire. The nozzle is arranged to deposit varnish between the stator and the insulating layer. The nozzle and the stator define a gap therebetween when the spacer engages the stator.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2022Publication date: July 6, 2023Applicant: Ford Motor CompanyInventor: Xiaogang Zhang
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Publication number: 20230216384Abstract: An electric motor includes a stator, an insulating layer, and a wire. The stator includes a first circular laminate and a second circular laminate. The first laminate includes a first finger having a distal end extending toward a center point of the first circular laminate. The second laminate includes a second finger having a distal end extending toward a center point of the second circular laminate. The first and second fingers define a wall. The distal ends of the first and second fingers define a space therebetween. The insulating layer extends along the wall and into the space. The insulating layer is spaced from the distal end of the second finger. The wire extends along the insulating layer below the distal ends of the first and second fingers.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2022Publication date: July 6, 2023Applicant: Ford Motor CompanyInventor: Xiaogang Zhang
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Publication number: 20230216385Abstract: A varnish application system includes an electric motor, a clamp, and a varnish injector. The clamp includes a beam, a first end plate fixed to the beam and engageable to a first end of the electric motor, and a second end plate releasably connected the beam and engageable to a second end of the electric motor. The varnish injector is arranged to apply varnish to the electric motor when the clamp engages the electric motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2022Publication date: July 6, 2023Applicant: Ford Motor CompanyInventor: Xiaogang Zhang
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Patent number: 11691521Abstract: Vehicles can be equipped to operate in both autonomous and occupant piloted mode. Refueling stations can be equipped to refuel autonomous vehicles without occupant assistance. Refueling stations can be equipped with a fueling control computer that communicates with vehicles via wireless networks to move vehicles between waiting zones, service zones and served zones. Refueling stations can include liquid fuel, compressed gas and electric charging.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventors: Shiqi Qiu, Oliver Lei, Jayanthi Rao, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
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Patent number: 11691322Abstract: A mold apparatus for forming a molded part includes a mold body, a mold cavity formed in said mold body, a plurality of valve gates associated with said mold body, and a controller in communication with said plurality of valve gates. The controller is programmed to time opening of each valve gate based on a selected flow rate required to eliminate weld lines in the product.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2022Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventors: Junko Pauken, Haoliang Michael Sun
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Publication number: 20230191703Abstract: A post-processing system includes a rinse tank, a robot arm, a locking fixture, and a controller. The robot arm is configured to engage and move a workpiece. The locking fixture includes a platform support structure and a clamping assembly. The controller is in communication with the robot arm and the platform locking fixture. The controller is configured to instruct the robot arm to move the workpiece from a workstation to the rinse tank, instruct the robot arm to move the workpiece from the rinse tank to the platform support structure, and instruct the clamping assembly to secure the workpiece onto the platform support structure after the workpiece has been moved to the platform support.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2021Publication date: June 22, 2023Applicant: Ford Motor CompanyInventors: Hadi Atwi, Richard Moore
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Patent number: 11679459Abstract: A locating fixture that includes a base, an adjustable locating member, a plurality of indicia, a restraining member and a lower substructure. The base includes a raised platform having a mounting aperture. The adjustable locating member is disposed within the mounting aperture and includes a part locating feature and a position indicator fixedly attached to the adjustable locating member. The plurality of indicia is located on the raised platform adjacent to the adjustable locating member. The position indicator cooperates with the plurality of indicia to determine a vertical position of the adjustable locating member. The restraining member is cooperatively engaged with the adjustable locating member. The lower substructure is configured to allow for longitudinal and lateral translation of the base. The base is translatably mounted to the lower substructure.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2021Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventors: Erik Riha, Michael Dean Blodgett, Dennis Cedar
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Publication number: 20230182268Abstract: A tool includes an input portion, socket, arm, and sleeve. The input portion receives input torque about an axis. The socket is axially spaced apart from the input portion and configured to rotate a nut about the axis. The socket defines first and second apertures that extend through opposite ends of the socket into the socket cavity. A slot is open to the socket cavity and extends axially between the first and second apertures through a perimeter of the socket. The arm connects the input portion to the socket for common rotation. The arm does not extend completely about the axis. The sleeve includes a lower portion rotatable about the socket between a first position, in which the slot is open through a side of the tool, and a second position, in which the lower portion closes the slot to inhibit spreading of the socket.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2021Publication date: June 15, 2023Applicant: Ford Motor CompanyInventor: Michael T. Selleck
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Patent number: 11673177Abstract: A mold assembly for a hot stamping die is provided. The mold assembly includes a mold having a body defining a cavity and a removable channel insert. The removable channel insert is positioned in the cavity and has a curved shape. The removable channel insert also includes a plurality of projections integrating the insert with the body. The removable channel insert is configured to form inlets and outlets for fluid in the hot stamping die upon removal of the insert.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2020Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventor: Varinder Singh Saini
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Patent number: 11673220Abstract: A locating fixture includes an adjustable locating member for supporting and restraining a part. The adjustable locating member allows for rotational and translational adjustment for aligning to a particular part configuration. The adjustable locating member utilizes a plurality of indicia and a position indicator to assist in the alignment of the adjustable locating member to a desired position, which is then restrained at a desired position by a restraining element.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2021Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventors: Erik Riha, Michael Dean Blodgett