Patents Assigned to Global Technologies LLC
  • Packaging of thermistor in a battery assembly
    Patent number: 9178196
    Abstract: A battery assembly having a plurality of battery modules capable of powering a traction motor of a vehicle. First and second end frames are provided on the battery modules. A plurality of battery cells is disposed between the first and second end frames. The first end frame of one of the battery modules has a first pocket. The second end frame of an adjacent battery module has a second pocket. The first and second pockets are aligned when the battery assembly is assembled to define a receptacle. A thermistor is disposed in the receptacle. The thermistor extends through the first pocket of the first end frame and at least partially into the second pocket of the second end frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Giriraj Srinivasan, Patrick Daniel Maguire, Kanchana Pentapati
  • 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
  • Cement to make thermal shock resistant ceramic honeycomb structures and method to make them
    Patent number: 9174158
    Abstract: An improved ceramic honeycomb structure is comprised of at least two separate smaller ceramic honeycombs that have been adhered together by a cement layer comprised of a cement layer has at least two regions of differing porosity or cement layer where the ratio of toughness/Young's modulus is at least about 0.1 MPa·m1/2/GPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Aleksander J. Pyzik, Nicholas M. Shinkel, Arthur R. Prunier, Jr., Janet M. Goss, Kwanho Yang
  • 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
  • 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
  • Method of inferring start-up misfires due to the build-up of ice and melt water in the intake system of a vehicle engine
    Patent number: 9175619
    Abstract: Methods are provided for determining ice formation during cruising under cold weather conditions at the intake manifold or throttle body of an engine system and for enabling engine misfire diagnostics upon detection of dissipation of the formed ice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Patrick Whitehead, Craig Alan Smith, Timothy Robert Gernant, Robert Sarow Baskins, Gregory Joseph Pawlak
  • Internal heat exchanger with integrated receiver/dryer and thermal expansion valve
    Patent number: 9175883
    Abstract: A HVAC system including a multi-function unit for conditioning and controlling the flow of refrigerant. The multi-function unit may be contained within a housing that houses a receiver/dryer, integral heat exchanger and thermal expansion valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Manfred Koberstein, Mitali Chakrabarti, Steven L. Lambert, Stephen Patrick Lepper, Angelo Patti
  • 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
  • Method for operating an internal combustion engine with gas as a fuel
    Patent number: 9175599
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine is provided. The method comprises, during low and medium load conditions, introducing fuel from a fuel tank by intake pipe injection into at least one intake air line coupled to at least one cylinder, and during high load conditions, introducing the fuel from the fuel tank by direct injection into the at least one cylinder. In this way, the method of fuel delivery may be optimized based on the load conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Ulrich Kramer
  • 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
  • Method and system for an intake humidity sensor
    Patent number: 9175642
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting an engine operating parameter based on an output of a humidity sensor during a compressor bypass valve event. When the compressor bypass valve is closed, a current output of the sensor is used for the adjustments. When the compressor bypass valve is opened, such as to mitigate surge, an output of the sensor stored from before the opening of the bypass valve is used for the adjustments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Timothy Joseph Clark, Evangelos Skoures, Richard E. Soltis
  • Process for telomerization of butadiene using a mono-orthoalkoxy substituted catalyst
    Patent number: 9174905
    Abstract: A process for the telomerization of butadiene comprises reacting 1,3-butadiene and an alkanol, in the presence of a catalyst promoter and an alkoxydimerization catalyst comprising a Group VIII transition metal and a triarylphosphine ligand, which includes one phenyl that is mono-ortho-alkoxy substituted and at least one other phenyl including at least one substituent that withdraws electrons from the phosphorus atom. The product includes an alkoxy-substituted octadiene, which may then be used to produce 1-octene. The catalyst shows improved stability, activity and selectivity toward the alkoxy-substituted octadiene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: John R. Briggs, Jasson T. Patton, Daryoosh Beigzadeh, Peter M. Margl, Henk Hagen, Sonet Vermaire-Louw
  • 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
  • Vacuum-actuated wastegate
    Patent number: 9175783
    Abstract: Embodiments for vacuum generation are provided. In one example, a method comprises when boost is below a threshold, generating vacuum with an actuator in a first position by flowing air from a compressor outlet to an intake manifold through a first ejector, and when boost is above the threshold, generating vacuum with the actuator in a second position by flowing air from the compressor outlet to a compressor inlet through a second ejector. In this way, vacuum may be generated by more than one ejector via actuation of a common actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Eric Rollinger, David Bell, Joseph Norman Ulrey, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Redundancy for automated vehicle operations
    Patent number: 9174649
    Abstract: A vehicle sub-system controller is configured to receive a first message and a second message, wherein the first message includes at least a command for the controller, and the second message includes at least a target value for the controller to achieve. A fault may be detected with respect to the first message; and an adjustment to the sub-system may be locally determined in the sub-system controller to achieve the target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Rajit Johri, Andrew Brown, Scott J. Lauffer, Sarra Awad Yako, Shane Elwart, Douglas Scott Rhode, Alex Maurice Miller, Tobias John Pallett, John A. Lockwood
  • Remote vehicle monitoring
    Patent number: 9175966
    Abstract: A monitoring device receives an aerial image, data relating to a vehicle and a request for an image of the vehicle. The vehicle is located in the image. A portion of the aerial image that includes the vehicle and/or information based thereon is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas R. Martin, Kenneth J. Miller