Patents Assigned to Ford Motor Company
  • WET-ON-WET TWO-TONE PAINTING
    Publication number: 20090074968
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method and system of painting an article having two or more base coats, and to articles prepared in accordance therewith. In at least one embodiment, the method comprises applying a primer composition to a first and second area of the article; applying a first base composition to the first area of the article; curing the primer composition and the first base composition to form a primer and a first base coat; masking at least a portion of the first base coat; applying a second base composition to the second area of the article; removing the masking; applying a clear coat composition to the first and second area of the article; and curing the second base and the clear coat compositions. In at least one embodiment, the article is a vehicle and the compositions are applied via automated spray equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Alyson Marie Dunlop, Aaron M. Fiala, Christopher Anthony Tallon, Jacob Braslaw, John Michael Purcell, Mary Ellen Rosenberger, Stephen Joseph Barrett, James Scott Gilland, Samuel A. Smith, Timothy S. Young, Warren Phillip Bullock
  • Multi-spindle positioning apparatus
    Patent number: 7503108
    Abstract: A spindle positioning apparatus for a robotic manipulator. The spindle positioning apparatus includes a mounting plate assembly, first and second spindles, and an actuator mechanism. The first spindle is disposed on the mounting plate assembly in a fixed position. The second spindle is disposed on the mounting plate assembly and is movable with respect to the first spindle. The actuator mechanism is adapted to move the second spindle with respect to the first spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Isaac Zolotarev, Richard Lorenz, Al Marrocco, Lou LaPlante
  • System and method for measuring surface appearance of a surface
    Patent number: 7499811
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein include a system and method for measuring a surface appearance of a surface. An appearance sensor is positionable about a surface and is configured to measure the surface appearance. A surface relationship sensor senses the distance between the appearance sensor and the surface. The appearance sensor is then positioned about the surface based on the sensed distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Francis M. Migda, Jacob Braslaw, John Purcell
  • Rotary Fill Member for a Die Assembly
    Publication number: 20090049879
    Abstract: A rotary fill slide assembly for a sheet metal forming die that has a working element that performs an operation on a portion of a sheet metal blank. The rotary fill slide assembly has a motor that is controlled based upon a press cycle timing mechanism. The rotary fill slide is assembled to the die to fill a space adjacent to a portion of the blank when the blank is in position for the working element to perform the operation on the blank. A linkage connects the motor to the rotary fill slide. The motor drives the linkage in synchronization with the press cycle to fill the space during the period of time that the working element performs the operation on the blank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Joseph Pierre Genereux, Diane Xu
  • Computer System for Financing Ownership of a Vehicle
    Publication number: 20090055310
    Abstract: A computer system for financing ownership of a vehicle is disclosed. The computer system includes a computer application for implementing the following steps on a computer: calculating an amount financed of a RIC or loan for financing the purchase and ownership of a first vehicle at or before inception of the purchase; at or before inception of the purchase, determining a first payment amount for each of a plurality of first payments to occur before a decision point and a second payment amount for each of a plurality of second payments to occur after the decision point, the first payment amount being a predetermined percent lower than the second payment amount; and prompting contact of the customer based on the decision point to promote trade-in of the first vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Anand Chandran, Kirk Zumhoff, Mark Kaczynski, Robert Earl Pence, Bob H. Rieth
  • HUMIDITY GAS CONDITIONER
    Publication number: 20090047552
    Abstract: A system and method for conditioning the temperature of at least one fluid stream that is passed through a fuel cell stack is provided. The system comprises a system module, at least one inlet and a conditioning device. The system module is operable to humidify the fluid stream to a reach a predetermined humidity level that corresponds to a predetermined temperature. The one inlet of the fuel cell stack receives the fluid stream at a first temperature that is different from the predetermined temperature. The fuel cell stack includes at least one outlet operable to present coolant having a temperature that is different from the first temperature of the fluid stream. The conditioning device is operable to receive the fluid stream and the coolant and present the fluid stream to the coolant to change the first temperature of the fluid stream to be equal to the predetermined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Shazad Mahmood Butt, Matthew N. Zuehik, Jaswant - Jas Dhillon, Joseph Stanek, Scott Aaron Black, James A. Adams
  • Fuel economy control system and control strategy
    Patent number: 7490000
    Abstract: An alternative fuel vehicle having a fuel economy control module with associated logic that allows the vehicle to operate in a fuel economy mode based on a desired fuel economy preference. The fuel economy control logic is in electrical communication with a vehicle system controller (VSC) and may be integrally formed as a sub-module within the VSC. A fuel economy control switch controlled by the fuel economy control logic toggles between an on and an off position to enable or disable a fuel economy mode. A fuel economy control selector allows a user to select a desired fuel economy mode preference once the fuel economy control switch is on. The fuel economy mode selected represents a predefined desired fuel economy preference such as a distance per amount of fuel consumed, or alternatively, a percentage of a balance between a fuel economy operation and a fuel performance operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Shahid Siddiqui, Allen Duan, Vijay Garg, Joseph Stanek, Elaine Chen, Ramakrishna Raju, Steven Schondorf, Floyd Cadwell, George Dolan, Jeffrey Boismier
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECIRCULATING UNUSED FUEL IN FUEL CELL APPLICATION
    Publication number: 20090035618
    Abstract: A system and method for delivering an input fluid stream through a fuel cell stack and discharge an unused fluid stream is provided. An inlet of the fuel cell stack is adapted to receive the fluid stream. An ejector is configured to combine the supply fluid stream and the unused fluid stream to generate the input fluid stream and control the flow of the input fluid stream to the fuel cell stack. A blower is configured to control the flow of the unused fluid stream to the ejector. A bypass valve is configured to control the flow of the unused fluid stream to the blower and to the ejector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Fred G. Brighton, Kurt David Osborne, Milos Milacic
  • Vehicle lower grille
    Patent number: D586267
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Addam Ebel, Solomon H. Song, Darrell Paul Behmer, Moray Stuart Callum
  • Vehicle front bumper cover
    Patent number: D586708
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Richard K. Gresens, James E. Grake, Shawn Wehrly
  • Vehicle front bumper cover
    Patent number: D586709
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: George Saridakis, Douglas Gaffka, William Mangan
  • Vehicle exterior
    Patent number: D587171
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Gordon Platto, Xitij Mistry, Aram Kasparian, Patrick Schiavone
  • Vehicle front bumper cover
    Patent number: D588053
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Richard Woolley, Earl Lucas, Dean Carbis, Dong Park, Michael Boyd
  • Vehicle front bumper cover
    Patent number: D588508
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Richard Woolley, Earl Lucas, Dean Carbis, Dong Park, Michael Boyd
  • Vehicle rear bumper cover
    Patent number: D588509
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Richard Woolley, Earl Lucas, Dean Carbis, Dong Park, Michael Boyd
  • Vehicle rear bumper cover
    Patent number: D588510
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Richard Woolley, Earl Lucas, Dean Carbis, Dong Park, Michael Boyd
  • Vehicle hood
    Patent number: D588511
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Solomon H Song, Darrell Paul Behmer, Moray Stuart Callum
  • Vehicle running board
    Patent number: D588514
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Conrad Michael Kudelko, Michael Henry Maj, Adrian Nicholas Alexander Elliott, James Krizman
  • Vehicle wheel cover
    Patent number: D588515
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Stephan Lamm, Todd Willing
  • Vehicle lower grille
    Patent number: D589853
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: George Saridakis, Douglas Gaffka, Robert Jensen