Patents by Inventor Franco Leonardi

Franco Leonardi has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20220209606
    Abstract: A winding assembly for a stator has a plurality of bridges each including an arcuate center section extending circumferentially over an end surface of a core at a first axial level relative thereto, first and second necks contiguous with respective first and second ends of the center section and extending therefrom axially away from the end surface, and first and second blocks contiguous with the respective necks and connected to the respective terminals of a pair of conductors at a second axial level farther from the end surface than the first axial level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Franco Leonardi, Becky Sue Morris, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20220200365
    Abstract: An electric machine stator includes a soft magnetic yoke having a cylindrical yoke body extending along a central axis, with an outer surface and an inner periphery defining a central opening about the central axis, and a plurality of soft magnetic stator teeth. Each stator tooth defines a first set of air pockets, and a second set of air pockets. An electric machine rotor and permanent magnet material with air pockets are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Leyi ZHU, Chun TANG, Franco LEONARDI, Michael W. DEGNER
  • Patent number: 11292675
    Abstract: An apparatus for destacking a blank from a stack of blanks includes an electromagnetic-suction device including a primary suction device and an electromagnetic device, where the primary suction device is integrated with the electromagnetic device. The apparatus includes an auxiliary suction device proximate to the electromagnetic-suction device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan John Gillard, Franco Leonardi, Matthew Meier, Patrick McCleer
  • Publication number: 20220069646
    Abstract: An electric machine rotor that is configured to rotate about a first axis includes a plurality of plates and plurality of permanent magnets. The plurality of plates are stacked along the first axis. Each of the plates defines V-shaped pairs of cavities. Each V-shaped pair of cavities defines a pole arc angle. Each cavity has a permanent magnet pocket and a magnetic field guide chamber extending radially outward from the permanent magnet pocket relative to the first axis. Offset angles between the magnetic field guide chambers and the permanent magnet pockets vary within each plate. The plates are stacked such that the permanent magnet pockets between adjacent plates are axially aligned and such that the magnetic field guide chambers between adjacent plates are axially offset. Each permanent magnet extends through a set of permanent magnet pockets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Chun Tang, Franco Leonardi, Michael W. Degner, Jacob Krizan
  • Publication number: 20220045560
    Abstract: An electric machine includes a stator formed from a plurality of stacked laminations and defining a center bore and a rotor disposed within the center bore. The rotor is configured to output a rotational torque in response to an input current delivered to the stator. At least one of the stacked laminations of the stator includes a pattern of perforations disposed at a yoke portion of the stator to attenuate structure-bore transmission of vibration during operation of the electric machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher Wolf, Franco Leonardi, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20220029508
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to thermal management for an electric machine, such as an electric motor, of an electrified vehicle. An example assembly includes a stator having a core and a jacket at least partially surrounding the core. The jacket radially encloses a slot and is configured to permit fluid to flow within the slot from a first face of the stator to a second face of the stator. The assembly further includes a first end cover covering the first face of the stator. The first end cover has an inlet port and is configured to direct fluid from the inlet into the slot. Further, the assembly includes a second end cover covering the second face of the stator and configured to direct fluid that exits the slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Man Prakash Gupta, Franco Leonardi, Alfredo R. Munoz, Michael W. Degner, Prasad Dev Hanumalagutti
  • Publication number: 20220021254
    Abstract: A rotor for an electric machine includes pairs of magnets with a bridge region therebetween. Lamination that comprise the rotor may define openings in the bridge region between the magnets of each of the pairs. A clip may be installed in the openings and a bonding material may fill the remainder of the bridge region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Franco LEONARDI, Michael W. DEGNER, Chun TANG, Edward Chan-Jiun JIH, Kewei XIAO
  • Patent number: 11224975
    Abstract: A method of separating a blank from a stack of blanks is provided and includes grasping a first blank and moving the first blank away from a plurality of blanks. At least one additional blank from the plurality of blanks is adhered to the first blank to form a sub-stack of blanks and at least one impulse electrically generated force (EGF) is applied to separate the at least one additional blank from the first blank. The first blank may be grasped by a device with a force F1, and the at least one impulse EGF may be less than the force F1. Also, the at least one impulse EGF may be applied to separate the at least one additional blank from the first blank by passing a pulse of current through an EGF generator positioned adjacent the first blank and inducing an EGF within the plurality of blanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Franco Leonardi, Michael Degner, S. George Luckey, Jr., Chris Wolf, Alan Gillard
  • Patent number: 11228216
    Abstract: A stator for an electric machine is formed in stratified layer forming a core having axial slots, and a plurality of hurdle-shaped conductors. Each conductor includes first and second uprights disposed in the slots, and a bridge connecting the uprights and extending circumferentially over a core end surface. The first upright is radially closer to a core central axis than the second upright. Each bridge steps radially outward from the first upright to the second upright. Radially adjacent bridges nest next to one another without crossing over one another. A junction between the first end of the bridge and the first upright defines a radially outward-facing ledge, and a junction between the second end and the second upright defines a radially inward-facing ledge. Each bridge passes over the outward-facing ledge of its radially inwardly adjacent conductor and passing over the inward-facing ledge of its radially outward adjacent conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Franco Leonardi, Becky Sue Morris, Michael W. Degner
  • Patent number: 11152825
    Abstract: A rotor for an electric machine includes pairs of magnets with a bridge region therebetween. Lamination that comprise the rotor may define openings in the bridge region between the magnets of each of the pairs. A clip may be installed in the openings and a bonding material may fill the remainder of the bridge region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Franco Leonardi, Michael W. Degner, Chun Tang, Edward Chan-Jiun Jih, Kewei Xiao
  • Patent number: 11108303
    Abstract: An electric machine includes a stator with a core having an end face and a plurality of conductors forming windings that extend adjacent to the end face defining end turns having a toroidal outline. The end turns are formed to define at least one channel in the end turns that traverses the end turns for increasing a surface area for fluid contact and directing a flow of fluid along the toroidal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Franco Leonardi, Prasad Dev Hanumalagutti, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20210249915
    Abstract: A stator for an electric machine is fabricated by assembling a core and first and second winding assemblies. The first winding assembly (FWA) is fabricated by a 3D printing process and includes a plurality of U-shaped conductors (hairpins) having respective end-turns arranged in mutually axially-nested relationship to each other to form a ring, and further having two uprights disposed in one of the slots of the core. End-turns connect respective pairs of the uprights and are disposed adjacent to an end surface of the core, distal ends of the uprights projecting axially beyond an opposite end surface of the core. The second winding assembly (SWA) includes a plurality of bridges forming a second ring Opposite ends of each bridge define terminals that mate with ends of the uprights. The SWA further includes an electrically non-conductive casing in which at least one of the bridges is embedded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael W. Degner, Franco Leonardi, Becky Sue Morris
  • Publication number: 20210234423
    Abstract: An electric machine for an electrified vehicle includes a stator core configured to receive a plurality of windings and an overmolded midsection formed about the stator core. The midsection also defines a first interlocking feature disposed near an end face of the stator core. The electric machine also includes an end cap defining at least a portion of a coolant channel and a second interlocking feature configured to engage the first interlocking feature and create a fluid seal to retain fluid within the coolant channel. The coolant channel is further arranged to encase end portions of the plurality of windings and direct circulating coolant across the end portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Franco LEONARDI, Michael W. DEGNER, Prasad Dev HANUMALAGUTTI, Myung Ki SUNG
  • Publication number: 20210225586
    Abstract: A method of processing an anisotropic permanent magnet includes forming anisotropic flakes from a hulk magnet alloy, each of the anisotropic flakes having an easy magnetization direction with respect to a surface of the flake and combining the anisotropic flakes with a binder to form a mixture. The method further includes extruding or rolling the mixture without applying a magnetic field such that the easy magnetization directions of the anisotropic flakes align to form one or more layers having a magnetization direction aligned with the easy magnetization directions of the anisotropic flakes, and producing the anisotropic permanent magnet from the layers having the magnetization direction such that the anisotropic permanent magnet has a magnetization with. a specific orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Wanfeng LI, Chuanbing RONG, Franco LEONARDI, Michael W. DEGNER
  • Publication number: 20210152043
    Abstract: A stator for an electric machine is formed in stratified layer forming a core having axial slots, and a plurality of hurdle-shaped conductors. Each conductor includes first and second uprights disposed in the slots, and a bridge connecting the uprights and extending circumferentially over a core end surface. The first upright is radially closer to a core central axis than the second upright. Each bridge steps radially outward from the first upright to the second upright. Radially adjacent bridges nest next to one another without crossing over one another. A junction between the first end of the bridge and the first upright defines a radially outward-facing ledge, and a junction between the second end and the second upright defines a radially inward-facing ledge. Each bridge passes over the outward-facing ledge of its radially inwardly adjacent conductor and passing over the inward-facing ledge of its radially outward adjacent conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Franco Leonardi, Becky Sue Morris, Michael W. Degner
  • Patent number: 10998787
    Abstract: An electric machine includes a stator core defining slots and hairpins disposed in the slots. The hairpins are selectively joined at connections to form windings that include at least first and second radial layers. Each connection is disposed in one of the layers. The connections are staggered such that the connections of the first layer are circumferentially offset from the connections of the second layer to increase clearance for tooling that forms the connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Franco Leonardi, Feng Liang
  • Publication number: 20210111613
    Abstract: An electric machine includes a plurality of printed layers arranged to form a stator having an outer periphery and teeth extending radially inward from the outer periphery. Each of the printed layers includes discrete portions of metal and discrete portions of insulation. The discrete portions of insulation define a contiguous network of insulative boundaries separating discrete cells formed by the discrete portions of the metal. A volume of the discrete cells within the outer periphery is greater than a volume of the discrete cells within the teeth such that a reluctance of the teeth is greater than a reluctance of the outer periphery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Franco Leonardi, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20210075280
    Abstract: A rotor for an electric machine includes a core comprised of stacked laminations that define pockets between a hub portion and a pole portion. Each of the pockets are configured to receive magnetic material and define center cavities between regions of magnetic material to eliminate a flux leakage path between the magnetic materials. A cured mixture including an epoxy and a magnetic powder is disposed within the center cavities. The magnetic material may include sintered magnets and a cured mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Franco Leonardi, Chuanbing Rong, Chun Tang, Wanfeng Li, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20210028662
    Abstract: A rotor for a permanent magnet electric machine has a lamination stack formed from a plurality of laminations arranged in a stack defining a void having a magnet-receiving portion and at least one flux barrier portion contiguous therewith. A magnet is disposed in the magnet-receiving portion, and some but not all of the laminations forming the stack include a positioner projecting into the flux barrier portion such that the positioners form a series of spaced-apart shelves retaining the magnet within the magnet-receiving portion. The shelves are spaced apart from one another by one or more of the laminations having no positioner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chun Tang, Franco Leonardi, Michael W. Degner, Chuanbing Rong
  • Publication number: 20200395801
    Abstract: A rotor for an electric machine includes pairs of magnets with a bridge region therebetween. Lamination that comprise the rotor may define openings in the bridge region between the magnets of each of the pairs. A clip may be installed in the openings and a bonding material may fill the remainder of the bridge region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Franco LEONARDI, Michael W. DEGNER, Chun TANG, Edward Chan-Jiun JIH, Kewei XIAO