Patents Assigned to Global Technologies LLC
  • Patent number: 7063195
    Abstract: Apparatus for transmitting torque between a power source and a transmission, includes first and second coaxial input shafts, a housing, first bearing rotatably supporting the first input shaft on the housing, clutch assembly, flywheel, support shaft secured to the flywheel and located radially between the first and second input shafts, and second bearing located radially between the second input shaft and the support shaft. The clutch driveably connects and disconnects the flywheel and an input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Berhan
  • Patent number: 7059313
    Abstract: A system is described using a fuel quality sensor or an estimate of fuel volatility for controlling various aspects of engine operation. For example, improved fuel tank leak detection may be achieved using an estimate of fuel volatility obtained from fuel purging operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Allan J. Lippa
  • Patent number: 7059112
    Abstract: An engine diagnostic system for use with an internal combustion engine coupled to a lean NOx trap with a NOx sensor coupled downstream of the trap. Degradation of the NOx sensor is determined by estimated NOx exiting the trap based on engine out NOx and various other operating conditions. When the difference between the measured NOx and estimated NOx is greater than a predetermined value for a predetermined duration, degradation is indicated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Karl Bidner, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Patent number: 7059296
    Abstract: The invention relates to an internal combustion engine comprising a fuel injector (2) for each cylinder; a fuel injection control unit (4) for controlling fuel injection quantity and a piston (5) in each cylinder whose compression action causes a mixture of air and fuel to be ignited. The engine is further provided with inlet and outlet valves (6, 7) and various sensors (12–16) for measuring various engine operating parameters. During compression ignition mode, the control unit (4) is arranged to select a ?-value from a map stored in the control unit, which value is a function of engine load and engine speed, and to compare the actual ?-value with the selected ?-value; whereby the control unit is arranged to adjust the intake manifold pressure as a function of the difference between the said ?-values in order to obtain the selected ?-value. The invention further relates to a method for operating the engine and a computer readable storage device (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hans Strom, Lucien Koopmans
  • Patent number: 7059114
    Abstract: A hydrogen fueled reciprocating spark ignition engine includes a fuel system for providing gaseous hydrogen to the cylinders of the engine and a lean NOx trap coupled to the engine for treating the engine's exhaust. A controller determines when to purge the lean NOx trap and provides gaseous hydrogen to the lean NOx trap during purging by operating the engine fuel rich or injecting hydrogen upstream of the lean NOx trap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Xiaoguo Tang, Joseph Robert Theis, Robert Jay Natkin, Siamak Hashemi, William F. Stockhausen
  • Patent number: 7055640
    Abstract: A fuel cut-off control system (12) for a vehicle (10) is provided. This system (12) includes one or more crash sensors (24) for detecting a fuel cut-off event and for generating a crash signal. These sensors (24) are coupled to a controller (26) and are utilized for transmitting the crash signal thereto. This controller (26) is coupled to a fuel supply system (14) and is intended to temporarily disable the fuel supply system (14) when the controller (26) receives the crash signal. The controller (26) is also coupled to an indicator mechanism (28) and is intended to transmit a cut-off notification signal to the indicator mechanism (28). This indicator mechanism (28) can then display a cut-off notification message to an occupant of the vehicle (10). Finally, the controller (26) also has a reset mechanism (30) coupled thereto. This reset mechanism (30) is intended to be manually operated by the occupant for the purpose of returning the fuel supply system (14) to an operational condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Stephen Cook
  • Patent number: 7058500
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a crankshaft rotatable within an engine block of the engine and at least one camshaft driven by the crankshaft. The crankshaft is fixed to a crankshaft wheel having a plurality of crankshaft wheel marks and at least one crankshaft position indicia. The camshaft is fixed to a camshaft wheel having a predetermined pattern of camshaft wheel marks. A crankshaft sensor is fixed to the engine block for producing a crankshaft signal in response to detection of the crankshaft position indicia. A camshaft sensor is fixed to the engine block for producing camshaft signals in response to detection of the camshaft wheel marks. Rotation of the crankshaft generates a pattern comprising the crankshaft signal and the camshaft signals. A processor compares the generated pattern to a stored reference pattern for determining from such comparison the position of the crankshaft within the engine block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Garth M. Meyer, Kelvin L. Dobbins, George Calvas, Venki Nallaperumal
  • Patent number: 7055202
    Abstract: A machine for rotating a tire disposed on a vehicle. The machine includes a roller and a roller cover. Contaminants on a tire may be captured by the roller cover and disposed of when the roller cover is periodically removed from the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Joseph Marsilio
  • Patent number: 7055313
    Abstract: A method for controlling reductant added to an exhaust of an engine having a lean NOx catalyst and a particulate filter adjusts a reductant amount during particulate filter regeneration. The method adjusts the reductant amount to account for reducing agents released from the particulate filter that are experienced by the lean NOx catalyst. In addition, management of particulate filter regeneration is based on both an estimated amount of stored particles and conditions of the lean NOx catalyst. In this way, operation of both the particulate filter and the lean NOx catalyst can be optimized. Also, termination of particulate filter regeneration is determined based on operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: John David Russell
  • Patent number: 7055483
    Abstract: A system and method to control engine valve timing so that an internal combustion engine may be quickly started. Electromechanical valves are controlled to allow an engine to start with reduced cranking time. The method controls intake and exhaust valves without an explicit four-stroke engine cycle during a start.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald J. Lewis, John D. Russell, Nate Trask
  • Publication number: 20060115690
    Abstract: A high operating temperature sealed assembly positioned between high thermal expansion solid components. The assembly has a seal-forming material with a glass matrix phase and a crystalline phase. The glass matrix composition consists essentially by mol percent of about 56<SiO2<75; 11<BaO<30; and 2<MgO<14.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Publication date: June 1, 2006
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Gary Crosbie
  • Patent number: 7051547
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air conditioning system for motor vehicles, which contains a connection piece for a pressure switch/pressure sensor, said connection piece being suitable for evacuating and filling the air conditioning system after the removal of the pressure switch/pressure sensor, so that the two normally separate functions are combined in one connection piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dietmar Boehme, Dietmar Fischer, Uwe Heinz
  • Patent number: 7054737
    Abstract: A dual coil half bridge converter adapted to be coupled to a dual coil actuator of a cylinder valve in an internal combustion engine is described. In one example, the converter has a first and second capacitor and a voltage source, where the converter is actuated via switches to individually energizing coils in said dual coil actuator. A voltage regulator is also shown for maintaining midpoint voltage during unequal loading of different actuator coils in the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Degner, John Grabowski
  • Patent number: 7054738
    Abstract: Algorithms for real-time estimation of the engine friction torque in a vehicle powertrain are disclosed. Engine friction torque is estimated at start and at engine idle. Recursive and computationally efficient algorithms allow prediction of friction torque for a wide range of speeds and loads even with few new measured points by taking into account physical dependencies used for adaptation of the sites of the look-up tables (static maps). The algorithms make it possible to avoid drivability problems that could result from errors in estimating engine friction torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Alexander A Stotsky
  • Patent number: 7051831
    Abstract: An apparatus 10 which allows a transmission 18 to be selectively shifted from a parked gear arrangement to another gear arrangement when the fuel door 13 is closed and the brake pedal 22 is depressed, and which allows a parked vehicle 12 to remain stationary as fuel is being delivered to a fuel tank 33.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Allen Scholer, Anthony Wayne Renko
  • Patent number: 7051705
    Abstract: A control system parameter monitor determines a difference between a desired and estimated or measured parameter value, applies a weighting factor to the difference, and selects a control strategy based on the weighted difference. The weighting factor generally reflects the confidence in the accuracy of the parameter value determined by the parameter monitor. The weighting factor may be determined based on one or more engine or ambient operating conditions or parameters, or based on statistical analyses of monitor values and/or control system parameter values, for example. In one embodiment, an engine torque monitor for an electronic throttle control system uses percent torque deviation and rate of change to select an appropriate weighting factor and determine whether a deviation between desired and estimated or measured torque selects an alternative control strategy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey Allen Doering
  • Patent number: 7051514
    Abstract: A method of controlling exhaust emission oxides of nitrogen (NOx) from an internal combustion engine (ICE) includes the steps of determining when an engine speed is below a first predetermined level, and controlling an oxygen displacement valve (ODV) such that at least a portion of exhaust gas generated by the ICE is directed into an intake air flow of the ICE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Shawn Midlam-Mohler
  • Patent number: D521434
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Henrik Fisker, John Paxton, David Woodhouse
  • Patent number: D522941
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Craig Metros, Patrick J. Schiavone, Tyler Jon Blake
  • Patent number: D523384
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Craig Metros, Patrick J. Schiavone, Tyler Jon Blake