Patents Assigned to Global Technologies LLC
  • SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING CLEARANCE OF APPROACHING OVERHEAD STRUCTURE
    Publication number: 20150120178
    Abstract: A vehicle system for detecting low clearance locations may include a controller configured to access a geographical information database configured to maintain a plurality of predefined points of interest defined by a clearance height. The controller may communicate with a first sensor to detect a low clearance structure and determine, via a second sensor, a location of the low clearance structure. The controller may update the geographical information database with the location of the low clearance structure to generate a point of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert B. Kleve, Anthony G. King, Brian Wolski
  • MANUAL LUMBAR PUMP ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20150115678
    Abstract: A pump assembly for a vehicle seatback includes a plurality of air bladders defining a lumbar support. A valve body has an inlet and a plurality of outlets that are coupled with the associated plurality of air bladders. A selection device is operably coupled with the valve body for engaging a select one of the plurality of air bladders with the inlet. A manually compressible air chamber is coupled with the inlet for inflating the select one.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christian J. Hosbach, Adam Sachs, Marc Kondrad, Johnathan Andrew Line, Jason Nisbett, Mandeep Singh Sidhu
  • FUEL SYSTEM CANISTER PURGE CONTROL
    Publication number: 20150120110
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving canister purging during the limited engine operation time in a hybrid electric vehicle. Prior to a transition into an engine-on mode, a canister heater is operated to heat the canister to an optimum temperature based on vehicle operating conditions. Upon transition into the engine-on mode, fuel vapors released from the heated canister are purged to an engine intake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis Seung-Man Yang, Aed M. Dudar
  • ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGER AND CHARGING METHOD
    Publication number: 20150115886
    Abstract: An example electric vehicle charging method includes charging a battery of a vehicle using an external power source, and adjusting the charging based on a predicted amount of charging generated when driving the vehicle from the external power source to a destination. The external power source is at a higher elevation than some point along the route to the at least one destination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Edward Loftus, John Proietty, Oleg Yurievitch Gusikhin, Perry Robinson MacNeille
  • Pilot downshifting system and method
    Patent number: 9017217
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for performing a multiple gear downshift of a transmission gear by transiently operating in an intermediate gear. In response to air mass flow not reaching a threshold for CAC self-cleansing for a set duration, the transmission gear may be downshifted from a higher gear to an intermediate gear, and then to a requested lower gear. Downshifting through an intermediate gear may also be controlled based on the gear shift request and maximum air mass flow levels for engine misfire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kristofor Robert Norman, Shuya Shark Yamada
  • Engine restart strategy
    Patent number: 9020710
    Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle, where the vehicle includes an internal combustion engine and a transmission having a neutral state and an engaged state, includes setting the state of the transmission. The state of the transmission is set as the neutral state or the engaged state based on a restart condition, where the restart condition is one of: (i) a no wheel torque restart condition, and (ii) a wheel torque restart condition. The method additionally includes starting the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Abraham McGee, Ihab S. Soliman, Xiaoyong Wang
  • Bonded sheet molding composite automotive components without surface pre-treatment
    Patent number: 9017796
    Abstract: An automotive assembly comprises a sheet molding composite (SMC) element comprising an SMC sheet body shaped into a generally smooth functional section and at least one generally planar bonding section. The bonding section comprises a textured surface impressed as a result of molding the SMC sheet body in a compression molding tool having a corresponding textured pattern. The textured surface has a predetermined surface roughness for increasing the effective surface area of the bonding section relative to a non-textured surface. The predetermined surface roughness is in a range from 0.25 Ra (?m) to 8.5 Ra (?m). A second element has a secondary bonding surface adjoining the bonding section of the SMC element. An adhesive joins the secondary bonding surface to the bonding section without requiring any pre-treatment of the bonding section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Richard H. Wykoff, Daniel Q. Houston
  • Container holder with adjustable depth
    Patent number: 9016650
    Abstract: A container holder has a base, a container holding top positioned above the base, and a floor which is horizontally slideably mounted between the base and top at an intermediate position above the floor of the base and movable between a first position in which the sliding floor forms an upper floor support and a second position in which the floor of the base supports a container to increase the depth of the container holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy Gene Thurman, Murali Guntur, Manchi Raghunatha
  • Engine control for catalyst regeneration
    Patent number: 9016244
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for injecting water during an engine cylinder deactivation event so as to reduce an exhaust catalyst regeneration requirement following the cylinder deactivation. In one example, water is injected at one or more deactivated engine cylinders to reduce oxidation of the exhaust catalyst. Then, during engine cylinder reactivation, a degree of richness of a combustion air-to-fuel ratio may be reduced to decrease fuel penalty to the engine while reducing NOx emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Joseph Norman Ulrey, Mark Allen Dearth
  • Thin seat flex rest composite cushion extension
    Patent number: 9016783
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat defining a seating area and an actuation assembly. An elongate flexible member includes a first end pivotally coupled to the seat and a second end operably coupled with the actuation assembly. The elongate flexible member is pivotally moveable between raised and lowered positions and operable between a retracted position and an extended position. The elongate flexible member enlarges the effective seating area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Harry Zhong, John W. Jaranson, Daniel Ferretti, Grant A. Compton, Kevin VanNieulande
  • Vehicle and powertrain control based on rearward approaching object
    Patent number: 9020732
    Abstract: A vehicle may include a sensor configured to detect a rearward approaching object and at least one controller configured to cause the vehicle to accelerate in response to the sensor detecting a rearward approaching object while the vehicle is moving forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Pilutti, Peter Gyumyeong Joh, Matthew Y. Rupp, Dorian Jack Spero, Aaron L. Mills
  • Fluorescence method for determining occlusion in enclosed spaces
    Patent number: 9018599
    Abstract: A method of sensing scale build up on piping exposed to wellbore fluids, which includes the steps of sensing the build up of scale on the wall an injector pipe using fluorescence detection, generating a signal representative of the relative scale build up on injector pipe wall, and communicating that signal to a remote location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Thomas E. Kreschollek, Rida S. Al Horr, Steven R. Erskine
  • Thin seat leg support system and suspension
    Patent number: 9016784
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat defining a seating area. An internal flex member is disposed in the seat. An external flex member is proximate a forward edge of the seat. A first actuation assembly is operably coupled to the internal flex member to raise a portion of the seat. A second actuation assembly translates the external flex member between a retracted position and an extended position that enlarges the effective seating area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Daniel Ferretti, John W. Jaranson, Grant A. Compton
  • Self-crushing polyurethane systems
    Patent number: 9018271
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide for polyurethane flexible foams that do not require a post production crushing step. These “self crushing” flexible foams neither collapse, skin peel, nor form voids upon demolding, and yet maintain excellent physical properties such as uniform cell sizes, high quality surface appearance, compression set, resistance to fatigue, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Alessia Battistini
  • Dynamometer vehicle operating mode control
    Patent number: 9020659
    Abstract: A vehicle and a method of controlling a dynamometer mode operation of a vehicle that includes requesting the dynamometer mode; monitoring for at least one non-dynamometer vehicle operating condition; if at least one of the non-dynamometer vehicle operating conditions is detected, prohibiting dynamometer mode; and if none of the non-dynamometer vehicle operating conditions is detected, operating the vehicle in dynamometer mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John W. Harris, Mark D. Malone, Marian S. Chupa, Chad E. Griffin, William N. Mansur, Mark R. Laleman
  • Hydraulic brake system for a motor vehicle and fault condition detection for same
    Patent number: 9020691
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a hydraulic brake system for a motor vehicle and a method for the detection of a fault condition of the hydraulic brake system. An electronic control device determines at least one pressure value of the brake fluid of the brake system and at least one volume value of the brake master cylinder associated with the pressure value during an operation of a brake master cylinder. The electronic control device compares the determined pressure value and volume value with at least one pair of pressure-volume reference values for the detection of a fault condition of the brake system, wherein at least two different fault conditions of the brake system can be differentiated based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Svensson, Rudolf Daniels
  • Internal combustion engine with exhaust-gas aftertreatment arrangement and method for operating an internal combustion engine of said type
    Patent number: 9016046
    Abstract: A method, comprising purging a storage catalytic converter of stored NOx by diverting only a portion of incoming exhaust flow around the catalytic device while increasing injection of reductant to the storage catalytic converter; and responsive to the diverting, adjusting injection of an ammonia-containing fluid into recombined exhaust flow upstream of an SCR catalytic converter. Bypass of the storage catalytic converter reduces available oxygen and air flow through the storage catalytic converter, providing a more advantageous environment for reduction of NOx in the storage catalytic converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jan Harmsen, Frank Linzen
  • High pressure fuel pump
    Patent number: 9016263
    Abstract: A high pressure fuel pump for use with an internal combustion engine and a method of operation of a high pressure fuel pump are disclosed. The high pressure fuel pump may include a supply chamber and a pump chamber separated by a passage in sealing arrangement with a disk. The disk may have one or more holes therethrough and be rotatable in order to place the holes in the disk in varying degrees of alignment with the passage to allow respective, varying amounts of fuel to flow through the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Zeng, Vince Paul Solferino, Patrick Brostrom, Kyi Shiah
  • Energy conversion system for a vehicle
    Patent number: 9018796
    Abstract: An energy conversion system transfers energy between an energy source, or storage unit, and an electric device via a first port and a second port and at least one of receives and provides energy via a third port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chingchi Chen, Michael Degner
  • Inflatable/deflatable seat with stowable collapsing frame
    Patent number: 9016778
    Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly comprises a base having an upper rim and a receptacle below the rim, a seatback having upper and lower sections operable at an intermediate hinge between opened and closed positions and frame members operably coupling the base with the seatback, and operable between a use position, wherein the seatback is above the base, and a stowed position, wherein the seatback is in front of and below the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kristin Ann Hellman, Ryan Welch, Christopher Harold Stone, Jeffrey M. Nowak, Artur Sakarian, Annette Lynn Huebner