Patents by Inventor James Wayne Lowe

James Wayne Lowe 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).

  • Patent number: 6899377
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle is provided having a body being assembled by a joining process line from a plurality of workpieces joined into a plurality of subassemblies according to the steps of providing templates arranged in a predetermined alignment to form a process line, with each template being generated from a defined set of standardized task stations which are operative to perform a joining process on a workpiece of the subassemblies, fixturing workpieces in a workpiece presenter provided in the task stations, at least one workpiece presenter including a tooling plate removably connected and precision located on a platform of a workpiece presenter, and sequentially joining the workpieces together to form the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Abid Ghuman, John E. Robertson, James Wayne Lowe, Marsha J. Rosso, Michael W. Pitt
  • Publication number: 20040055147
    Abstract: A process line for fabricating an assembly from a plurality of subassemblies generated from various workpieces is provided, which includes a plurality of standardized task stations for performing a work process on a workpiece, at least first and second templates, with each of the templates comprising a defined set of standardized task stations, and with each of the sets including a predetermined arrangement of the standardized task stations and being operative to perform a work process on a workpiece, and a combination of templates including at least the first and second templates arranged in predetermined alignment to form the process line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventors: Abid Ghuman, James Wayne Lowe, Marsha J. Rosso, Kirk E. Sanborn
  • Publication number: 20040056498
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle is provided having a body being assembled by a joining process line from a plurality of workpieces joined into a plurality of subassemblies according to the steps of providing templates arranged in a predetermined alignment to form a process line, with each template being generated from a defined set of standardized task stations which are operative to perform a joining process on a workpiece of the subassemblies, fixturing workpieces in a workpiece presenter provided in the task stations, at least one workpiece presenter including a tooling plate removably connected and precision located on a platform of a workpiece presenter, and sequentially joining the workpieces together to form the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventors: Abid Ghuman, John E. Robertson, James Wayne Lowe, Marsha J. Rosso, Michael W. Pitt
  • Publication number: 20040055131
    Abstract: A method of assembling on a common process line a plurality of discrete assemblies is provided including providing a plurality of standardized task stations, determining at least first and second templates, each template being operative to perform an operation on a plurality of workpieces, combining at least the first and second templates in a predetermined alignment to form a process line, presenting a first assembly workpiece to be operated on by the task stations of at least the first template to form a first assembly, and presenting a second assembly workpiece to be operated on by the task stations of at least the first template to form a second assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventors: Abid Ghuman, James Wayne Lowe, Marsha J. Rosso, Kirk E. Sanborn
  • Patent number: 6606784
    Abstract: A pallet system 10 for use in a manufacturing process. The pallet system includes several pallets 14 which are adapted to receive and support a portion of a product, such as a vehicle underbody 12. The system 10 uses simplified pallets 14 having externally actuated clamping assemblies 62, 64, 66, and 68. A docking station 16 receives the pallets 14 and includes a pair of robots 24, 26 which detect the proper positioning of the underbody 12 upon the pallet 14 and externally activate the clamping assemblies 62, 64, 66, and 68 thereby securing the underbody 12 to the pallet 14. A controller 82 is communicatively connected to the robots 24, 26 and activates a conveyor assembly 20 which transports the pallet 14 to manufacturing stations 21 once the underbody 12 is properly secured to the pallet 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brad Huff, Joseph L. La Pres, James Wayne Lowe