Patents Assigned to Ford Motor Company
  • Ultrasonic applicators with UV light sources and methods of use thereof
    Patent number: 10792693
    Abstract: A method of controlling application of material onto a substrate is provided. The method includes ejecting an ultraviolet (UV) curable material through a plurality of micro-applicators in the form of atomized droplets. At least one UV light source is positioned adjacent to the plurality of micro-applicators and the atomized droplets are irradiated with UV light by the at least one UV light source and curing of the atomized droplets is initiated. The atomized droplets are deposited onto a surface of the substrate and a UV cured coating on the surface is formed thereon. The UV curable material may include a photolatent base catalyst such that the atomized droplets deposited onto the surface continue to cure after being irradiated with the at least one UV light source. The at least one UV light source can include a UV light ring, a UV light emitting diode, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Christopher Michael Seubert, Mark Edward Nichols, Kevin Richard John Ellwood, Wanjiao Liu
  • Methods and apparatus to adjust an advertising rate of a device to reduce battery usage
    Patent number: 10796513
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to adjust an advertising rate of a device to reduce battery usage are described herein. An example method includes determining a distance of a device from a vehicle based on a signal, determining a state of motion of the device, and adjusting an advertising rate of the signal based on the distance and state of motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Arthur Thomas Bianchi, Kevin F. Militello, John Van Wiemeersch
  • DEBURRING EQUIPMENT FOR BLANK PILE
    Publication number: 20200306918
    Abstract: A device for deburring edges of a pile of metal blanks includes a first roller, a second roller, at least one motor, and a main body. The first roller is supported for rotation about a first axis. The second roller is supported for rotation about a second axis. The at least one motor is drivingly coupled to the first and second rollers to rotate the first roller in a first rotational direction and the second roller in a second rotational direction that is opposite the first rotational direction. The main body supports the first roller, the second roller, and the at least one motor. The main body is movable about a periphery of the pile of metal blanks and is configured to permit contact between the first and second rollers and the edges of the pile of metal blanks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Adrian Llamas, Jesus Alejandro Grageda Miranda
  • LIQUID GUAYULE NATURAL RUBBER AS A PROCESSING AID
    Publication number: 20200308375
    Abstract: A rubber composite comprises at least one of a natural and a synthetic rubber polymer and a plasticizer comprising a liquid natural rubber. The liquid natural rubber may be liquid guayule natural rubber. The rubber composite is substantially free of petroleum crude oil. Also provided are methods of making a rubber composite material including liquefying at least one of a guayule solid natural rubber and a guayule latex to form a liquid guayule natural rubber, mixing the liquid guayule natural rubber with at least one of a natural and a synthetic rubber polymer to form a rubber mixture, and vulcanizing the rubber mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Janice Lisa Tardiff, Cindy Sofia Barrera-Martinez, Katrina Cornish, Xianjie Ren
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC DETECTION OF ENTRAPPED GAS BUBBLE LOCATION AND REPAIRING THE SAME IN DISPENSED ADHESIVES, SEALANTS, AND MASTICS
    Publication number: 20200309657
    Abstract: A method of detecting a defect in an applied volume of material includes detecting a pressure discontinuity during dispensing the volume of material along a predetermined path on a substrate. The pressure discontinuity is indicative of the defect in the applied volume of material. The location of the defect along the predetermined path is function of a start time of the pressure discontinuity and the size of the defect is a function of a time duration of the pressure discontinuity. The method can further include determining whether or not to repair the defect as a function of the location and the size of the defect in the applied volume of material. The method includes repairing the defect by re-directing the material applicator to the location of the defect and dispensing additional material at the location of the defect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Ahmad Rezaei Mojdehi, David John Hill, Jim Derry
  • Method and system for detecting misalignment of a front end accessory drive belt
    Patent number: 10774739
    Abstract: The present discloser is directed toward a method for detecting misalignment of a belt for a front end accessory drive system. The method includes acquiring, by a plurality of optical sensors, multiple images of the belt arranged on a series of pulleys of the drive system. The belt includes a contrast element that is detectable by the optical sensors system and is visually distinct from a color of the belt. The method further includes analyzing, by way of a controller, data indicative of the acquired images to determine whether the contrast element is present in the captured images, and identifying the belt as being misaligned in response to the contrast element being in at least one of the acquired images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Matthew Breneman
  • Minimum quantity lubrication thread tap
    Patent number: 10773323
    Abstract: A thread tap includes a shaft and teeth. The shaft includes helical passages from the threading end to the base end of the shaft. Each passage opens through an aperture in the threading end. A second tap includes a cap and the shaft includes an axially extending passage. The cap is coupled to the threading end and at least partially defines apertures in fluid communication with the passage and the exterior of the tap. A third tap includes teeth spaced apart by a plurality of linear flutes. The shaft includes a central passage and a plurality of flute passages. Each flute passage extends radially outward from a common location in the central passage to a corresponding one of the flutes. The central passage is closed to a terminal end of the threading end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Michael Habel, Ethan Hughey, Shibu Philipose, David Stephenson
  • Via designs for removing water in fuel cell stacks
    Patent number: 10770736
    Abstract: Structures and methods are disclosed for removing water, and particularly for preventing ice blockages, in solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells comprising reactant vias that fluidly connect a reactant transition region to a reactant port. Water can be removed from the reactant via by making its surface superhydrophobic while incorporating at least one additional via with a hydrophilic surface in parallel therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignees: Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Alireza Roshanzamir, Yunsong Yang
  • Multidiameter cutting tool having balanced minimum quantity lubrication flow and method of manufacturing a multidiameter cutting tool
    Patent number: 10766080
    Abstract: A cutting tool and method of manufacturing a tool including determining desired flowrates to cutting edges. The method includes calculating pressure drop and passage dimensions for each of an nth-number of passages to the cutting edges based on In=(Pn*Ann)/(?n*Ln), wherein In is nth-passage flow rate, Pn is nth-passage pressure drop, Ann is nth-passage cross-sectional area raised to a power n, the power n being equal to 1 or 0.5, ?n is nth-passage resistivity, and Ln is nth-passage length. The method includes forming the nth-passages in the tool open to each cutting edge based on the nth-passage dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Ethan Hughey, David Stephenson
  • SYSTEMS FOR APPLYING ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE TAPE TRACES TO A SUBSTRATE AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF
    Publication number: 20200281079
    Abstract: A system for forming a conductive tape trace on a substrate includes a segment feeder arm configured to feed segments of conductive tape to the substrate and a segment placement armature configured to grasp and position the conductive tape segments in a predetermined pattern on the substrate. The conductive tape segments include a plurality of conductive tape bend segments and at least one conductive tape branch segment. The segment placement armature is configured to position and overlap the plurality of conductive tape bend segments on the substrate to form a conductive tape bend and position the at least one conductive tape branch segment in contact with and extending from the conductive tape bend. A roller can be included and be configured to apply a force onto the conductive tape segments positioned on the substrate. A welder that welds the conductive tape segments together can also be included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Galen Keith Thomas
  • METHOD FOR EVALUATING AN ADHESIVE FOR A VEHICULAR JOINT
    Publication number: 20200279026
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward a method that includes simulating, by an adhesive analytic model, transformation of at least one vehicular joint joined by a selected adhesive based on one or more system variables, and outputting, by the adhesive analytic model, an adhesive analysis identifying deformation for the selected adhesive along the at least one vehicular joint based on the simulated transformation and a deformation rating scale.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Edgar Edward Donabedian, Scott Christopher Sterbenz, Thomas Norton, Darrin Neil Wagner, Forrest W. Eddings
  • Steering wheel alignment apparatus for aligning a vehicular steering wheel
    Patent number: 10760905
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward a steering wheel alignment apparatus that includes a sensor, a sensor housing, an anchor portion, and a weighted portion. The sensor is configured to measure an angular position of the steering wheel. The sensor housing defines a cavity to hold the sensor. The anchor portion extends from the sensor housing and is configured to engage with a low portion of a steering wheel. The weighted portion extends from the anchor portion to bias the sensor housing toward the low portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: John Posey, Todd Sobieralski, Dan Lockwood, Richard Cason
  • Methods and apparatus to enable vehicle-to-vehicle guidance and tracking
    Patent number: 10755580
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to enable vehicle-to-vehicle guidance and tracking are disclosed. An example method includes transmitting, from a first vehicle, a first message to a second vehicle. The first message requests the second vehicle to become a leader vehicle. The example method further includes receiving a second message from the second vehicle. The second message includes leader information indicative of a travel path of the second vehicle. The example method also includes receiving authorization from the second vehicle for the first vehicle to follow the second vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Gopichandra Surnilla, Daniel A. Makled, Hao Zhang
  • Dynamic characterization system for measuring a dynamic response
    Patent number: 10753823
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for measuring a dynamic response of a machine. The system includes a vibration mechanism, an accelerometer, a controller and a casing. The vibration mechanism is operable to generate an excitation signal, and the accelerometer is operable to measure dynamic energy in response to the excitation signal and output a dynamic response signal indicative of the dynamic energy. The controller includes a communication interface and operates the vibration mechanism to output the excitation signal and transmit a vibration input signal based on the excitation signal by way of the communication interface. The casing houses the vibration mechanism and the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Youssef Ziada, David Stephenson
  • DUAL TORQUE AND INJECTION MOLDING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20200262116
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Christopher William Coyne, Samuel Jeffrey Tomlinson
  • Cylinder bore having variable coating
    Patent number: 10746128
    Abstract: Engine blocks and methods of forming the same are disclosed. The engine block may comprise a body including at least one cylindrical engine bore wall having a longitudinal axis and including a coating extending along the longitudinal axis and having a coating thickness. The coating may have a middle region and first and second end regions, and a plurality of pores may be dispersed within the coating thickness. The middle region may have a different average porosity than one or both of the end regions. The method may include spraying a first porosity coating in a middle longitudinal region of the bore and spraying a second porosity coating in one or more end regions of the bore. The first porosity may be greater than the second porosity and the first and second porosities may be formed during the spraying steps. The pores may act as wells for lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Clifford E Maki, Larry Dean Elie, Timothy George Beyer, Arup Kumar Gangopadhyay, Hamed Ghaednia, James Maurice Boileau
  • Method and system for monitoring machine health to improve machine cycle time impact
    Patent number: 10739754
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward a method for monitoring health of a machining tool operable in a machining state to form a workpiece and a non-machining state. The method includes determining whether a machine health routine is to be performed based on a machine health record stored by the control system, and retrieving a non-machining cyclic schedule, in response to the machine health routine having to be performed, where the non-machining cyclic schedule defines a timetable for performing one or more maintenance routines. The method further includes identifying a primary maintenance routine from among the one or more maintenance routines based on the non-machining cyclic schedule, and scheduling the machine health routine with the primary maintenance routine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Chandra Jalluri, Himanshu Rajoria, David Paul Low, Annette Januszczak, Paul Frederick Krotke, Stephen John Hermiller
  • Method and system for measuring seal contact
    Patent number: 10731978
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward a method for measuring a seal gap between a closing member and a fixed member. The method includes applying a liquid agent having transferable properties along one or more regions of a stamping member to form one or more base marks. The stamping member is one of the closing member or the fixed member. The method further includes engaging the closing member with the fixed member, disengaging the closing member from the fixed member, and assessing a seal gap between the closing member and the fixed member based on one or more remnant patterns formed on an imprinted member. The imprinted member is the other one of the closing member and the fixed member, and the remnant patterns are formed by the transfer of the liquid agent from the base marks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Hossein J Sadri, Steve Juszczyk
  • Localized tempering of carburized steel
    Patent number: 10730144
    Abstract: A method for joining a carburized steel workpiece to a cast iron workpiece is provided that includes tempering a localized area of the carburized steel workpiece, machining the localized area to reduce carbon content, and welding the carburized steel workpiece to the cast iron workpiece at the localized area. The tempering may be performed by induction heating and results in a hardness profile of the localized area of less than 50 HRC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Paul John Bojanowski, Tony Hayden
  • Below freezing start-up method for fuel cell system
    Patent number: 10714771
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for starting up a fuel cell system from starting temperatures below 0° C. The methods apply to systems comprising a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack whose cathodes comprise an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst and whose anodes comprise both a hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) catalyst and an oxidation evolution reaction (OER) catalyst. In the methods, from the beginning of starting up until the fuel cell temperature reaches 0° C., the fuel cell stack current is kept sufficiently low such that the current density drawn does not exceed the stack's capability for the oxidation evolution and the oxygen reduction reactions to occur at the anode and cathode respectively (i.e. current density drawn is less than the stack's maximum OER/ORR current density).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignees: Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company, Nissan Motor Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Michael Procter, Yosuke Fukuyama, Richard Fellows, Takeshi Shiomi, Laura Iwan