Patents Assigned to Global Technologies LLC
  • Method and system for controlling engine vacuum production
    Patent number: 9175626
    Abstract: A method for controlling engine vacuum production is disclosed. In one example, one or more air sources to an engine intake manifold are closed so as to increase an amount of air drawn from another air source. The method may increase a rate of vacuum supplied to a vacuum actuated device so as to improve operation of the vacuum actuated device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Catalyst assembly including an intermetallic compound of iridium and tungsten
    Patent number: 9178220
    Abstract: A catalyst assembly having a substrate including an intermetallic compound of W and Ir. The weight ratio of W to Ir is in a range between a first ratio and a second ratio. A catalyst includes at least one noble metal is supported on and contacts the substrate. The first ratio may be in the range of 48:52 and the second ratio may be in the range of 51:49.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Pietrasz, Jun Yang, Mark S. Sulek
  • Fiber composite support for vehicular components
    Patent number: 9174537
    Abstract: A vehicular instrument panel having a reinforcement that includes a plurality of chopped carbon fibers within a nylon resin, a substrate coupled to the reinforcement comprising a plurality of chopped carbon and chopped glass fibers within a nylon resin, and a steering column bracket defined from the substrate comprising a plurality of chopped carbon fibers within a nylon resin. The bracket engages a steering column such that the substrate and bracket support the steering column. The plurality of chopped carbon and glass fibers in the substrate can be segregated such that the carbon fibers and the glass fibers are each substantially concentrated within respective driver-side and passenger-side portions of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Webb, Kalyanaraman Bharathan, Tim Beard, Bernard Gerard Marchetti
  • Formation in hollow extruded vehicle frame component for subassembly attachment and method of forming the same
    Patent number: 9174680
    Abstract: A frame component of a vehicle, such as a header beam that couples between the A-pillars of a vehicle frame, includes an extruded hollow member having top and bottom exterior walls and side walls that together enclose an elongated internal volume of the hollow member. A pair of interior walls extends along the internal volume separating outer load sections adjacent to the side walls from a central attachment section. The outer load sections are void of apertures for supporting continuous load paths. A formation on the bottom exterior wall protrudes into the internal volume in the central attachment section. The formation includes an inset surface angled, located, and otherwise configured for attaching a subassembly to the frame component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Joyce, Christopher John May, Jack Lashbrook
  • Approach for engine control and diagnostics
    Patent number: 9175625
    Abstract: Embodiments for an engine exhaust are provided. In one example, a method comprises adjusting a fuel injection amount based on a fractional oxidation state of a catalyst, the fractional oxidation state based on reaction rates of a plurality of exhaust gas species throughout a catalyst longitudinal axis and a set of axially-averaged mass balance and energy balance equations for a fluid phase and a washcoat of the catalyst, and further based on feedback from a downstream air-fuel ratio sensor. In this way, a simplified catalyst model may be used to control air-fuel ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Pankaj Kumar, Imad Hassan Makki, Dimitar Petrov Filev
  • Method for operating a vehicle
    Patent number: 9175660
    Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle system is provided. The method includes activating a starter-generator rotationally coupled to a crankshaft output in an internal combustion engine while combustion operation in the internal combustion engine is inhibited, operating the starter-generator to drive the crankshaft in a predetermined speed range while combustion operation in the internal combustion engine is inhibited, and activating combustion operation in a cylinder of the internal combustion engine in response to a combustion activation trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Uwe Gussen, Frederic Stefan, Thomas Rambow, Goetz-Philipp Wegner
  • Methods and systems for assisted direct start control
    Patent number: 9175658
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a vehicle engine coupled to a stepped-gear-ratio transmission. One example method comprises, in response to a first vehicle moving condition, shutting down the engine and at least partially disengaging the transmission while the vehicle is moving; and during a subsequent restart, while the vehicle is moving, starting the engine using starter motor assistance and adjusting a degree of engagement of a transmission clutch to adjust a torque transmitted to a wheel of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alex O'Connor Gibson, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Gopichandra Surnilla, Joseph Norman Ulrey, Roger Lyle Huffmaster, Peter John Grutter, Yuji Fujii, Gregory Michael Pietron, Seung-Hoon Lee
  • Hydrocarbon trap and method for manufacture
    Patent number: 9174163
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon (HC) trap positioned in an intake conduit of an engine is provided. The HC trap includes a stack of consecutively layered polymeric sheets with at least a portion of the sheets impregnated with a HC vapor adsorption/desorption material, the stack of sheets extending from a first exterior surface to a second exterior surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew George Bellis, Roger Khami, David S. Moyer, Erik Henry Hermann
  • Method and system to coach driver of manual transmission vehicle
    Patent number: 9174573
    Abstract: A coaching system for drivers of vehicles monitors the power dissipation of a manual transmission clutch and, when the energy dissipated during an event is excessive, suggests modified driving technique. The system may monitor launch events, shift events, and steady state driving. The system may adjust the energy threshold at which a suggestion is provided based on vehicle weight or road gradient. The system may also adjust the energy threshold when an estimate of clutch temperature is elevated. The suggestion may be provided on a graphic display or may be provided verbally over a speaker. In some cases, the suggested may also be conveyed to a third party outside the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Michael Pietron, Yuji Fujii, James William Loch McCallum, Christian Meyer, Seunghoon Lee
  • Approach for controlling exhaust gas recirculation
    Patent number: 9175616
    Abstract: Various embodiments related to controlling EGR in an engine are disclosed. In one embodiment, a first EGR amount is supplied to a cylinder at a first temperature and a first engine speed and load. Further, at the first engine speed and load, as engine temperature increases from the first temperature to a second temperature, a first fuel amount is injected after exhaust valve closing and before intake valve opening while a second EGR amount is supplied to the cylinder that is greater than the first EGR amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jianwen James Yi, Steven Wooldridge, Brad Alan VanDerWege, Shiyou Yang, Thomas A. McCarthy
  • Methods and systems providing driveline braking
    Patent number: 9174633
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, driveline braking may transition from regenerative braking to engine braking to reduce the possibility of battery degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Seung-Hoon Lee, Gregory Michael Pietron, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Alex O'Connor Gibson, Dennis Craig Reed
  • Multi-speed transmission
    Patent number: 9175748
    Abstract: A transmission gearing arrangement produces eleven forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio by selective engagement of three shift elements in various combinations. One embodiment includes four simple planetary gear sets, four clutches, and two brakes. Another embodiment includes two axis transfer gear pairs, three simple planetary gear sets, four clutches, and two brakes. Each of these embodiments may include a one way brake such that the first shift is non-synchronous. A third embodiment includes four simple planetary gear sets, four brakes, and two clutches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Daniel Goleski, Donald Edward Hoffman, Robert Scott Lippert
  • Cargo area retention system
    Patent number: 9174582
    Abstract: A vehicular cargo retention system includes a first cargo retention rail pivotally coupled with a load floor. A second cargo retention rail is pivotally coupled with the load floor. The first cargo retention rail is configured to rotate to a position above the second cargo retention rail. First and second shelves are operably coupled to a vehicle seatback. The first and second shelves are operable between a stowed position, wherein each of the first and second shelves is generally coplanar with the seatback, and a deployed position, wherein the first and second shelves extend generally horizontally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Annette Lynn Huebner, Artur Sakarian, Ryan Welch, Kristin Ann Hellman
  • Viscous brake for driveline heating
    Patent number: 9174612
    Abstract: Embodiments for heating a vehicle driveline are provided. One example method for a vehicle comprises heating a fluid with kinetic vehicle energy in response to a vehicle braking request, and directing the fluid to a driveline component. In this way, kinetic vehicle energy during a vehicle braking event may be used to heat a driveline component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William Charles Ruona, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Intake system having a silencer device
    Patent number: 9175648
    Abstract: An intake silencer device is described herein. The intake silencer device includes an outer housing and a plurality of sequential arranged expansion chambers separated by walls. The intake silencer device further includes an inner tube positioned in each of the sequential chambers, each of the inner tubes including an opening providing fluidic communication between an interior of the tube and the corresponding expansion chamber, a size of the openings increasing in size sequentially in a downstream direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Victor Dobrin, Aamir Asgharali Marvi, Darrell Dwight Huddleston, Lloyd Anthony Bozzi
  • Electrochemical device including amorphous metal oxide
    Patent number: 9178219
    Abstract: In one or more embodiments, an electrochemical device includes a substrate having a substrate surface; an amorphous metal oxide layer supported on the substrate surface; and a noble metal catalyst supported on the amorphous metal oxide layer to form a catalyst layer. The amorphous metal oxide layer may contact only 25 to 75 percent of the substrate surface. The amorphous metal oxide layer may include less than 10 weight percent of crystalline metal oxide. In certain instances, the amorphous metal oxide layer is substantially free of crystalline metal oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jun Yang, Patrick Pietrasz, Chunchuan Xu, Richard E. Soltis, Mark S. Sulek, Robert F. Novak
  • Driver prompting braking system and method
    Patent number: 9174575
    Abstract: A driver prompting braking system includes a detection device adapted to sense at least one object in front of the vehicle; a detection system interfacing with the detection device, the detection system adapted to detect the at least one object; and a brake coaching system interfacing with the detection system, the brake coaching system adapted to determine a brake application timing for an operator of the vehicle to avoid the object and optimize fuel economy of the vehicle. A driver prompting braking method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kurt Mitts, Aaron L. Mills, Dale Scott Crombez, Daniel A. Gabor
  • Methods and systems for providing transient torque response
    Patent number: 9175629
    Abstract: A method and system for providing a suitable engine torque response during a transient condition is presented. In one example, when a desired inlet manifold pressure is greater than a throttle inlet pressure of a first throttle, a second throttle positioned upstream from the first throttle is opened to increase the throttle inlet pressure. The method may provide an appropriate torque response while minimizing impact on fuel economy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Matthew John Gerhart, Julia Helen Buckland, Suzanne Kay Wait, Michael Howard Shelby, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, John Eric Rollinger, Gopichandra Surnilla, Naginder Gogna
  • Azide crosslinked and physically crosslinked polymers for membrane separation
    Patent number: 9174175
    Abstract: The present invention appreciates that compounds comprising ester linkages and nitrogen-containing moieties that are at least divalent (e.g., urea, urethane, amide, etc.) can be crosslinked with azides to form membranes that are resistant to CO2 plasticization, that are selective for acid gases relative to nonpolar gases such as hydrocarbons, and that have high acid gas flux characteristics. The resultant membranes have stable structure and stable separation properties at higher temperatures and pressures. The membranes are compatible with many industrial processes in which polar gases are separated from nopolar gases. In an exemplary mode of practice, the membranes can be used to separate acid gases from the hydrocarbon gases in natural or non-acid gas components of flue gas mixtures (e.g., N2, O2, etc.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Scott T. Matteucci, Clark H. Cummins, William J. Kruper, Harry Craig Silvis
  • Intumescent, halogen-free, silicon-phosphorus-nitrogen based polymeric flame retardant
    Patent number: 9175223
    Abstract: This invention provides intumescent, halogen-free, polymeric, silicon-phosphorus-nitrogen (SPN) flame retardant, a process for their preparation, and systems, compositions and articles into which they are incorporated. The inventive intumescent, halogen-free, SPN polymer compositions afford good flame retardant performance at a lower loading compared to conventional phosphorus and nitrogen based intumescent flame retardant compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Journey L. Zhu, Given Jing Chen, Jinder Jow, Kenny Chun Hui Su, Ping Wei, Chen Wang