Abstract: A proximity switch assembly includes first and second proximity switches comprising first and second proximity sensors and a tactile feature disposed between the first and second proximity switches. The assembly also includes controlling circuitry detecting an object on the tactile feature based on sensed signals from the first and second proximity sensors and preventing activation of the first and second switches when an object is detected on the tactile feature. The assembly further includes a resting pad having a third sensor, wherein the control circuitry detects an object with the first sensor and an object on the resting pad and determines activation of the first and second proximity switches based on the detected objects.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 29, 2012
Date of Patent:
March 17, 2015
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Stuart C. Salter, Pietro Buttolo, Cornel Lewis Gardner
Abstract: A multiple speed power transmission comprising: an input shaft, an output shaft, a first epicyclic gearing assembly with five rotating members, a second epicyclic gearing assembly with three rotating members, two clutches, and four brakes capable of producing nine forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio when clutches and brakes are applied in combinations of two.
Abstract: A method and system for detecting the presence of a carrier mounted on the rear of a motor vehicle or of an object carried by the carrier that may cause damage or a malfunction of a rear wiper system of the motor vehicle. If a potentially obstructing situation is determined to be present, the rear wiper system is deactivated to prevent it malfunctioning or being damaged by the obstruction. A user of the vehicle may be provided with a message that an obstruction has been detected and the user may control whether the wiper system is deactivated. The obstruction may be sensed by monitoring the amount of current drawn by a wiper motor, by an ultrasonic sensor, or by a rear-view camera.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 20, 2013
Date of Patent:
March 17, 2015
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Themi Philemon Petridis, Nils Schloesser
Abstract: Silver electroplating baths having certain sulfide compounds and methods of electrodepositing a silver-containing layer using these baths are disclosed. Such electroplating baths are useful to provide silver-containing solder deposits having reduced void formation and improved within-die uniformity.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 30, 2012
Date of Patent:
March 17, 2015
Assignees:
Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials LLC, Dow Global Technologies LLC
Inventors:
Duane R. Romer, Elissei Iagodkine, Inho Lee
Abstract: A curable composition including (a) at least one cyclic diamine, (b) at least one non-heterocyclic amine that has a pKa value of approximately 9.5 to about 12 at 25° C. for the most basic amine group in the non-heterocyclic amine molecule, (c) at least one epoxy resin, and (d) at least one alkylated phenol; (i) wherein the equivalents of the amine hydrogens from the cyclic diamine compared to the total amine hydrogens from both the cyclic diamine and the non-heterocyclic amine in the composition are greater than about 5%; (ii) wherein the ratio of the equivalents of the total amine hydrogens in the composition to the equivalents of the total epoxies in the composition is greater than or equal to about 1; and (iii) wherein the alkylated phenol is in an amount greater than about 10 wt % of the curable composition.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 16, 2010
Date of Patent:
March 17, 2015
Assignee:
Dow Global Technologies LLC
Inventors:
Marvin L. Dettloff, James R. Lowrey, Hemant A. Naik, Maurice J. Marks
Abstract: A park-brake actuator includes a cam including first serrations and an open-ended slot, a piston including second serrations displaceable relative to the cam in response to variable pressure applied to the piston, a spring, and a rod including a pin urged by the spring toward the slot and contact with the first and second serrations, the pin moved by piston displacement from the slot, onto one of the first serrations to a flat-tow position.
Abstract: Copolymers, especially multi-block copolymer containing therein two or more segments or blocks differing in tacticity, are prepared by polymerizing propylene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, or another C4-8 ?-olefin in the presence of a composition comprising the admixture or reaction product resulting from combining: (A) a first metal complex olefin polymerization catalyst, (B) a second metal complex olefin polymerization catalyst capable of preparing polymers differing in tacticity from the polymer prepared by catalyst (A) under equivalent polymerization conditions, and (C) a chain shuttling agent.
Abstract: A system includes a vehicle-based processor configured to receive a wireless vehicle-locate request from a remote device. The processor is also configured to receive an instruction from the remote device relating to selection of an outputtable tone and output, through use of one or more external vehicle sound systems, a selected tone in accordance with the instruction.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 28, 2013
Date of Patent:
March 17, 2015
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Robert Bruce Kleve, John Robert Van Wiemeersch
Abstract: A camera system and method of assisting a driver of vehicle for off-road mode use is provided. The camera system includes one or more cameras located on the vehicle to generate images of ground near the vehicle. The generated images are displayed to the driver when the vehicle is detected to be operating off-road and are prevented from being displayed when not off-road. A steering wheel direction indicator may also be displayed to the driver.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 21, 2010
Date of Patent:
March 17, 2015
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Anthony Pupin, Maher Ghneim, Thomas Richard Wroblewski, Hermann J. Salenbauch, Benny Vann, Noah Barlow Mass, Kerry Peter Baldori
Abstract: Epoxy resin compositions that include an epoxy resin component that includes at least one epoxy resin and a solvent blend that includes methyl ethyl ketone and glycol methyl ether acetate are provided. The compositions are well-suited for use in the fabrication of prepregs and composite electrical laminates made therefrom.
Abstract: An exhaust-gas aftertreatment system (1) for a motor vehicle having a turbocharged internal combustion engine (2) comprises a large-volume lean NOx trap (5) which is connected by means of a short connecting pipe (4) to an outlet of the turbocharger (3), wherein the lean NOx trap (5) has a first region (6) for the storage and/or reduction of NOx and oxidation of NO to form NO2 and/or reduction of hydrocarbon and/or carbon monoxide in the exhaust gas, and a downstream second region (7) for the storage and/or reduction of nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas.
Abstract: An approach for controlling a turbocharger bypass valve is disclosed. In one example, the turbocharger bypass valve is opened during engine cold start conditions to reduce turbocharger speed. The approach may reduce noise produced by the turbocharger during engine start and warm-up.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 20, 2011
Date of Patent:
March 17, 2015
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Robert Andrew Wade, Fadi Maroun Naddaf, Joseph P. Whitehead, Jason Eugene Devries
Abstract: The invention provides polyolefin blend compositions of polar and/or non-polar polymers, with at least one functionalized polyolefin polymer selected from the group consisting of: amine functionalized, hydroxyl functionalized, imide functionalized, anhydride functionalized, or carboxylic acid functionalized polyolefin polymers. The invention also provides methods for making the functionalized polyolefin polymer. The invention also provides for materials and articles containing at least one component prepared from such compositions.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 17, 2007
Date of Patent:
March 17, 2015
Assignee:
Dow Global Technologies LLC
Inventors:
H. Craig Silvis, Stephen F. Hahn, David F. Pawlowski, Patricia Ansems, Laura K. Mergenhagen, Hamed Lakrout, Ashish Batra, Laura Bauerle Weaver, Lawrence J. Effler, Katja Oswald
Abstract: A process for regenerating a titanium silicalite catalyst by contacting the fouled titanium silicalite catalyst with a regeneration solution that includes at least one oxidizing agent.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 3, 2012
Date of Patent:
March 17, 2015
Assignee:
Dow Global Technologies LLC
Inventors:
Hannah L. Crampton, Philip J. Carlberg, Cesar E. Meza
Abstract: A hydrocarbon and NOx trap and related apparatus and methods for reducing cold-start NOx emissions from an engine are provided. In one embodiment a trap includes a first, topmost layer, exposed to an exhaust gas flow path of exhaust gases from an engine, the first layer comprising a zeolite, a second layer, substantially covered by the topmost layer, the second layer comprising a NOx adsorbing material and a monolithic substrate, directly supporting the second layer and indirectly supporting the first layer, the substrate providing a substantially rigid structure of the trap. In this way, engine emissions, such as NOx and hydrocarbons may be adsorbed over the exhaust trap at low temperature and then thermally released, limiting cold start emissions beyond engines that only include a lean NOx trap.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 15, 2009
Date of Patent:
March 17, 2015
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Giovanni Cavataio, Jason Aaron Lupescu, Shane Elwart, James Michael Kerns, Michael James Uhrich
Abstract: A pretreated titanium silicalite with MFI structure (TS-1) catalyst which has been pretreated with methanol, and then optionally filtered and optionally air-dried to form a pretreated activated TS-1 catalyst. The activated TS-1 may be used in an epoxidation reaction with no additional methanol added and has equivalent activity to TS-1 used with large excesses of methanol. By removing the need for additional methanol during the reaction, the losses of epichlorohydrin from solvolysis are minimized significantly.
Abstract: A punch including a shearing edge formed on an outer periphery of the punch, a cutting edge formed on the distal end of the punch and at least two ramp surfaces provided between the shearing and cutting edges. Each of the ramp surfaces extend at an angle from the distal end to a recessed portion of the shearing edge. The shearing edge, cutting edge and ramp surfaces cooperate to partially form a hole in a part and retain a slug in the hole. A method of forming a hole and a slug control system for a hydro-piercing operation is disclosed.
Abstract: Methods and systems for indicating brake booster degradation when braking is suspended may include comparing expected brake booster vacuum with measured brake booster vacuum, and indicating a fault when the difference between the two values exceeds a threshold. In one example, the expected brake booster vacuum is computed differently depending on whether intake manifold vacuum or vacuum from one or more vacuum-powered pumps dominates evacuation of the brake booster. Expected brake booster vacuum may be computed based on expected brake booster mass air flow and brake booster volume; when measured brake booster vacuum is less than intake manifold vacuum, expected brake booster mass air flow may be computed as a function of intake manifold vacuum and measured brake booster vacuum, whereas expected brake booster mass air flow may be computed based on flow characteristics of the pump(s) when measured brake booster vacuum is not less than intake manifold vacuum.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 16, 2012
Date of Patent:
March 17, 2015
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Ralph Wayne Cunningham
Abstract: A status indicator and reminder system for a temporary mobility kit for use in a vehicle having a tire pressure monitoring system. A tire sealant containing temporary mobility kit is fittable within the vehicle. A controller coupled to the temporary mobility kit and the tire pressure monitoring system will generate a service warning signal for the temporary mobility kit in response to information provided by the tire pressure monitoring system. The service warning signal will be provided at a message center in the vehicle to apprise the driver of the need to service the temporary mobility kit. The status indicator and reminder system may also utilize inputs from a power load monitor and a trailer brake controller system to generate and display a service warning signal at the message center.
Abstract: A drive device includes a first one-way coupling including a cam plate, pocket plate and struts, a second one-way coupling including a second cam plate driveably connected to the pocket plate, second pocket plate extending in a partial circular arc and secured to the cam plate, and second struts for opening and closing a drive connection between said second plates, and electromagnets for causing the second struts to close said drive connection.