Patents Assigned to Global Technologies LLC
  • Patent number: 7469200
    Abstract: A method has been invented for predicting the build-up of heat, material aging, and subsequent belt separation failure in rolling steel-belted pneumatic tires (20). The procedure employs finite element analysis and a new fatigue crack propagation model that takes output generated by the finite element model to predict distance and time to belt separation in the tire. The finite element model uses input information on tire load, speed and inflation pressure (12) to calculate the temperature and energy release rate at the corresponding tips of the fatigue crack to generate four-dimensional response surfaces of crack-tip energy release rate as a function of crack length, crack-tip circumferential angular position, and crack-tip temperature. The fatigue crack propagation model samples the response surface and is numerically integrated to predict distance and/or time to belt separation failure (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Nero Morman, Jr., Joanna Rakowska, Sheng-Yuan Hsu
  • Patent number: 7467680
    Abstract: A hood 7 is provided for an engine compartment of a motor vehicle including an outer skin 16 and reinforcing ribs 12 connected with the outer skin and imparting rigidity thereto. The ribs 12 have a channel portion 16 mainly formed in an equilateral hexagonal pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: David Edward Mason
  • Patent number: 7467697
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a plurality of accessories associated with a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine having the accessories coupled to an engine crankshaft by an electromagnetic coupling device with a flowable magnetic material disposed between a driving member and a driven member include selectively supplying power to the electromagnetic coupling device in response to at least one operating condition to simultaneously engage or disengage the plurality of engine accessories. Embodiments include a magnetic particle clutch or magnetorheological fluid clutch connected to an engine crankshaft and a plurality of engine accessories that may include an air conditioning compressor, water pump, power steering pump, alternator, and/or supercharger, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Larry D. Elie, John M. Ginder, Clay W. Maranville, Luis Pugliese, Wallace E. Beaber
  • Patent number: 7467616
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine 10 has a cylinder head 11 slideably supporting one or more poppet valves 30. At least a portion of one of the poppet valves 30 in each combustion chamber of the engine 10 forms in combination with one or more secondary electrodes 35, 133, 233, 333, 433 a number of electrode pairs between each of which an electrical discharge is selectively caused to flow so as to initiate combustion in the respective combustion chamber. The electrode pairs may be formed at differing locations within each combustion chamber so as to improve combustion efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Don Andreas Josephine Kees, Stephan Daren Carroll
  • Patent number: 7467564
    Abstract: A system for actuating gear changes in a motor vehicle transmission includes an electric motor including a motor shaft supported for rotation about an axis, first and second actuator drums supported for rotation substantially parallel to the axis, and a drive mechanism including a first power path driveably connecting the motor shaft and the first drum, and a second power path driveably connecting the motor shaft and the second drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Reid Baldwin, David Janson
  • Patent number: 7467532
    Abstract: An apparatus for electromagnetically forming a workpiece. The apparatus includes a solenoid coil for generating an electromagnetic force and a tool for concentrating electromagnetic force against the workpiece. The tool includes an electrically conductive body having an aperture and an insulator disposed in the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Sergey Golovashchenko
  • Publication number: 20080308285
    Abstract: A frame of a sprinkler or nozzle for use in a corrosive service environment. The frame includes a corrosion resistant metal having a passive oxide film that is chemically stable in the service environment. Alternatively, the frame includes a polymer that is inert in the service environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: FM Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Su, John Harrington
  • Patent number: 7464674
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling an internal combustion engine control an actuator in response to variations of intake airflow relative to an average intake airflow to manage induction acoustics. The system and method may include controlling an actuator, such as a throttle valve, to increase intake manifold vacuum in response to intake airflow. In an engine having electronically actuated intake and/or exhaust valves, intake airflow is estimated based on at least engine speed and valve timing and compared to a measured intake airflow to determine a first difference. The measured airflow is divided into a steady-state and transient term or component with a second difference determined based on the transient component and a target value. Throttle valve position is selectively controlled to increase vacuum in response to a combination of the first and second difference to manage induction acoustics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Michelini, Ilya Kolmanovsky
  • Patent number: 7464780
    Abstract: A system, method and vehicle using the same for increasing regenerative power recovered during vehicle deceleration. The system includes first and second sets of vehicle wheels, a controller, an electric machine, a regenerative power source, and a driveline. The electric machine performs as a motor/generator in a first/second mode of operation, respectively. The regenerative power source is electrically coupled to the electric machine and is configured to supply/receive power to/from the electric machine when the electric machine is in the first/second mode of operation, respectively. The driveline is coupled to the electric machine and the first set of vehicle wheels for transferring torque. The driveline includes a controllable coupling apparatus in electronic communication with the controller for selectively coupling, during vehicle deceleration, the electric machine to the second set of vehicle wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brandon Masterson, Walter Ortmann
  • Patent number: 7467033
    Abstract: A control method is disclosed for maintaining a calibrated minimum load for an engine in a vehicle powertrain with an engine. The possibility of engine misfire due to low engine loads is reduced. Further, undesired high temperature of an engine exhaust gas catalytic converter due to prolonged operation of the powertrain at low engine loads is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Miller, Paul Gartner, Carol Okubo, Douglas Martin, Edward Badillo
  • Patent number: 7461628
    Abstract: A method of operating an engine, comprising of performing homogeneous charge compression ignition combustion during a first operating condition, and performing spark ignition combustion during a second operating condition, where an amount of directly injected alcohol in at least one of said homogeneous charge compression ignition combustion and said spark ignition combustion is varied in response to at least an operating parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Blumberg, Leslie Bromberg, Daniel R. Cohn, John B. Heywood, George Davis, Michael Zubeck, Robert Stein
  • Patent number: 7464011
    Abstract: A method for determining compensated addendum and binder surfaces as part of a springback compensated stamping die for producing a stamped part includes modeling of the existing addendum surface and binder surface of the stamping die. The addendum and binder surfaces are modified according to a number of compensatory surface displacements and in-plane rotations required for springback compensation of the finished stamped part. Following this modification, the stamped part may be separated from the addendum and binder without a loss of dimensional accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Feng Ren, Zhiyong Cedric Xia
  • Patent number: 7462121
    Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle powertrain is disclosed. A countershaft transmission in the powertrain delivers power from an engine through countershaft gearing. Electric power from a single motor-generator complements engine power and may drive front traction wheels. Regenerative power is recovered during power delivery to rear traction wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Janson, Reid Baldwin
  • Patent number: 7462129
    Abstract: In one example, a method for controlling powertrain operation in a vehicle is provided, the powertrain having an engine and an automatic transmission, the engine having at least an electrically actuated cylinder valve. The method includes changing gears from a first discreet gear ratio to a second discreet gear ratio of the transmission; and increasing engine torque during a torque phase of said gear change by changing operation of the electrically actuated cylinder valve, and decreasing engine torque during an inertia phase of said gear change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Davor Hrovat, Alex Gibson, Ilya V. Kolmanovsky, James McCallum, Marvin Paul Kraska
  • Patent number: 7461641
    Abstract: An EGR cooling system is provided. The EGR cooling system comprising a plurality of EGR coolers configured to cool the EGR to a plurality of successively lower temperatures, where at least one of the plurality of EGR coolers includes a finned EGR cooler that comprises a plurality of channels for dissipating heat in the EGR, the plurality of channels increasing heat transfer surface area while having sufficient fin spacing to avoid clogging. The EGR cooling system may further comprise a catalyst configured to remove particle matters and/or hydrocarbons from the EGR, the catalyst positioned upstream of at least one of the plurality of EGR coolers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Joseph Styles, John William Hoard, Julia Giuliano, Robert Hornblower Meyer
  • Patent number: 7461626
    Abstract: A powertrain for driving a motor vehicle includes an internal combustion engine including first and second rotors supported for rotation about an axis, a first epicyclic gear unit including a first component fixed against rotation, a first driving component, and a first driven component, a first power path alternately producing a first drive connection between the driven component and the first rotor, and opening said first drive connection, and a second power path producing a second drive connection between the driven component and the second rotor, and opening said second drive connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: John W. Kimes
  • Patent number: D583729
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Domenico Tonello
  • Patent number: D583730
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Domenico Tonello
  • Patent number: D583734
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Domenico Tonello
  • Patent number: D583738
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Domenico Tonello