Patents Assigned to Global Technologies LLC
  • Seating arrangement
    Patent number: 7380859
    Abstract: The invention relates to a seat row arrangement for a vehicle, comprising two outer seats (5) and a central seat (4). It is defined in that the central seat (4d) can be displaced forward and/or rearward from the normal position between the two outer seats (5d) into a front and/or a rear seat position. It is thus possible for the vehicle occupants in the seat row to obtain more comfortable seat positions, which are offset in the longitudinal direction. The effect is produced immediately on displacing the central seat (4d), since the shoulders of the vehicle occupants are now no longer arranged in a row. Because the vehicle occupants are now no longer sitting directly shoulder to shoulder, the vehicle occupants have greater shoulder room and there is an immediate increase in their freedom of movement and feeling of space in the offset seat position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Geoffrey Gardiner
  • Rollover component test fixture and methodology
    Patent number: 7380436
    Abstract: The invention is an apparatus for simulating attributes of a vehicle during a certain inertial event. The apparatus comprises a rigid shell, an occupant compartment surrounded by the rigid shell, and a carriage supporting the occupant compartment and the rigid shell. The test apparatus transforms the vehicle into a system of reusable components. The rigid body shell eliminates damage to body components by protecting the occupant compartment. The invention also provides a method of simulating a tripped rollover event of a vehicle with the test apparatus and a cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Robert McCoy
  • Method and system for transient airflow compensation in an internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 7380447
    Abstract: A method for determining airflow to a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, such airflow passing to the cylinder through an intake manifold. The method includes providing a model of the intake manifold, such model providing a relationship between expected output airflow from the intake manifold in response to airflow into the intake manifold; determining from the model the expected output airflow from the intake manifold from a previous commanded airflow into the intake manifold; determining a compensation airflow required for the input airflow to the intake manifold to drive the expected output from the intake manifold towards the desired cylinder airflow; and providing such compensation airflow to the intake manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies. LLC
    Inventors: John Rollinger, Paul Pietrzyk, Karen Willard, Michael Cullen, Rob Ciarrocchi, Jeff A. Doering
  • Support seal for positive retention of catalytic converter substrate and method therefor
    Patent number: 7378060
    Abstract: A support seal for use with a catalytic converter having a housing, which includes an inlet end cone, an outlet end cone, and a shell forming an internal chamber, and catalytic substrate disposed within the internal chamber. The support seal has an “L” shaped cross-section including a radial portion and an axial portion, at least one portion for supporting and retaining the catalytic substrate within the internal chamber. The axial and radial portion of the “L” shaped seal can be preloaded to provide support to the substrate in the axial and radial directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Satyadeo Narain Sinha, Charles Bryant Porter
  • Engine control system with mixed exhaust gas oxygen sensor types
    Patent number: 7377104
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle traveling on the road is shown. The system includes a first cylinder; a second cylinder; a linear exhaust gas sensor coupled exclusively to said first cylinder; a switching exhaust gas sensor coupled exclusively to said second cylinder; and a controller configured to perform a decontamination cycle where one of said first cylinder and second cylinder produces a reductant rich exhaust and the other of said first and said second cylinder produces an oxygen rich exhaust, where an air-fuel ratio of one of said first and second cylinder is adjusted in response to said linear sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Imad Makki, James Kerns, Stephen Smith
  • Driver selectable steering ratios
    Patent number: 7377356
    Abstract: A steering system (10) for a vehicle including a steerable wheel (12) defining a steering angle (20), a powered actuator (14) controlling the steering angle (20) and a steering wheel (16) providing a driver input control angle. A ratio of the driver input control angle to the steering angle (20) defines a steering ratio. The steering system (10) also includes a controller (18) selectively varying the steering ratio that directs the powered actuator (14) to change the steering angle (20) along one of at least two steering ratio graphs, and a control (60) manually selectable by a driver of the vehicle that communicates with the controller 18 for selecting one of the steering ratio graphs. A first one of the graphs (50) varies as a function of the driver input control angle in a manner that is different than that of a second one of the graphs (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Marcus Turner, Ian Hulme
  • System and method for exhaust heat generation using electrically actuated cylinder valves and variable stroke combustion cycles
    Patent number: 7377236
    Abstract: A method for operating an engine having at least a first and second cylinder, including operating the first cylinder with a spark timing more retarded than a spark timing of a second cylinder; and operating one of said first cylinder and second cylinders with a first number of strokes per cycle different from other cylinders of the engine for at least one combustion cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis Reed, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Injection strategy to maximize efficiency in gaseous engine
    Patent number: 7377267
    Abstract: A method is provided for an engine capable of burning gaseous fuel, the engine also including a combustion chamber, a fuel supply system with at least one fuel tank, at least one intake valve, and at least one exhaust valve, an injector to directly inject gaseous fuel into the combustion chamber, and an exhaust oxygen sensor. The method comprises directly injecting fuel from the injector into the chamber at a variable supply pressure which decreases as fuel tank pressure decreases; and adjusting at least one of an injection time and duration based at least on said variable pressure and information from the exhaust oxygen sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brad Boyer, William Stockhausen
  • One piece isolator and step pad
    Patent number: 7377564
    Abstract: An automobile bumper including an isolator including one or more step surfaces integrally formed on the isolator. The step surface(s) may provide a gripping surface for permitting a user to step on for loading and unloading objects from the automobile. A fascia cover may be attachable to the isolator and include a cutout for allowing the step surface(s) to protrude through the cutout to prevent direct contact of the user's foot with the fascia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jennifer Baffy, Irfan Sharif, Mark Nygren, Michael Musleh, Vince R. Mahe
  • System and method for controlling an engine having a power take off output device
    Patent number: 7377103
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a power take off device connected to an internal combustion engine is presented. According to the method, power take off speed control may be improved and the possibility of engine stalling may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Songping Yu, Thomas M. Luther, Michael J. Cullen
  • Theme-based system and method for classifying documents
    Patent number: 7376635
    Abstract: A classification system (10) having a controller (12), a document storage memory (14), and a document input (16) is used to classify documents (20). The controller (12) is programmed to generate a theme score from a plurality of source documents in a plurality of predefined source documents. A theme score is also generated for the unclassified document. The unclassified document theme score and the theme scores for the various classes are compared and the unclassified document is classified into the classification having the nearest theme score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Damian Porcari, Thomas Anthony Montgomery, Bryan Roger Goodman
  • Variable event valvetrain operation during an engine start
    Patent number: 7373923
    Abstract: A method for improving engine starting for an engine having a variable event valvetrain is described. According to one aspect of the description, valve timing is adjusted during a start to reduce engine emissions and fuel consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nate R. Trask, Thomas W. Megli
  • Body side weather-strip flange for eliminating red rust corrosion
    Patent number: 7374227
    Abstract: A vehicle weather strip flange configured to eliminate corrosion for a predetermined time period. The flange may include at least one indented area disposable against a vehicle body and an opening for insertion of a fastener for attaching the flange to the vehicle body. The indented area may include a predetermined depth for maintaining an un-indented area of the flange at a predetermined distance from the vehicle body. The un-indented area of the flange may include exposed inner areas facing toward the vehicle body and exposed outer areas facing away from the vehicle body. The predetermined distance may permit the exposed inner and outer areas to be coated by a corrosion protection liquid for thereby eliminating corrosion from the un-indented area for the predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Erik Kilian
  • Method and system to mitigate pump noise in a direct injection, spark ignition engine
    Patent number: 7373924
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling a fuel pressurizing system in a direct-injection, spark-ignition engine is disclosed such that the ticking sound of a solenoid valve in the high pressure pump is disabled at certain engine operating conditions. The fuel pressurizing system includes two pumps in series: a low pressure lift pump and a high pressure pump. Based on an engine operating parameter (speed, load, temperature, fuel delivery rate, as examples) the high pressure fuel pump is disabled when the engine operating parameter is below a threshold. The disablement of the pump is accomplished by turning off the normally-open solenoid valve on the inlet side of the high pressure pump, particularly at low speed and/or low torque conditions, e.g., idle, when the ticking of the injector is particularly noticeable. When the pump is disabled, fuel is supplied to the fuel injectors at lift pump pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Krengel, Mansour Beshay, Deanna Hoffman
  • Non-axisymmetrical wheel cover retention apparatuses and assemblies
    Patent number: 7374249
    Abstract: The device, a wheel cover assembly, covers at least a portion of a wheel. The wheel cover assembly is secured to the wheel by a lug nut having a flange. The wheel cover assembly has a wheel cover which has an inner surface and an outer surface. The wheel cover assembly also has a plurality of lug wells. Each lug well includes a plurality of extensions extending from the inner surface of the wheel cover to the distal end of the lug well. The extensions have an engagement leg at the distal end of the lug well. Additionally, at least one of the engagement legs is non-axisymmetrical with respect to the remaining engagement legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Paul Willmer
  • Switch feel measurement apparatus
    Patent number: 7373844
    Abstract: A measuring system that relate to the measurement of relatively small one degree of freedom mechanisms, such as pivoting and rotary switches, is disclosed. In particular end effectors and a kit for assembling various end effector assemblies is disclosed, that allow for accurate measurement of torque versus angular displacement curves for various types of pivoting and rotary switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yifan Chen, Pietro Buttolo, Basavaraj Tonshal, James Rankin, II, Gary Strumolo
  • Oil level indicating system for internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 7373912
    Abstract: An oil level indicating system for an internal combustion engine includes an indicator passageway extending through a cylinder block, cylinder head and up through a ported boss extending through an upper engine cover. The ported boss is sealingly engaged with the cylinder head of the engine so as to prevent fugitive oil from entering indicator passageway, thereby preventing erroneous oil level readings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daryl Self, Jamie Mink, Paul Reinhart, Dave Frayne
  • Vehicle hood
    Patent number: D569316
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Simon Spearman-Oxx, Ehab Kaoud
  • Vehicle side mirror
    Patent number: D569774
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Gresens, James Grake, Shawn Wehrly
  • Automotive grille
    Patent number: D570258
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Smith, Edward Golden, Craig Metros, Jeffrey Nowak, Steven Gilmore