Patents by Inventor Leyi ZHU

Leyi ZHU 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: 11813831
    Abstract: A method of forming an electric machine lamination includes punching a sheet having a first composition to form a cavity and a compressed region at a perimeter of the cavity. The method further includes depositing, within the cavity and on the compressed region, a deposit material having a second composition different than the first composition. The method further includes scanning a beam along the deposit material to form a bound material within the cavity and on the compressed region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Leyi Zhu, Michael W. Degner, Feng Liang
  • Publication number: 20230260685
    Abstract: Magnetic cores including a bonding material having magnetic filler therein is disclosed, as well as devices including the same. The magnetic cores may have superior magnetic properties or adopt the benefits of both soft magnetic composite cores and laminate cores. The magnetic cores disclosed herein exhibit greater relative magnetic permeability in the normalized direction as well as greater saturation flux density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Leyi Zhu, Franco Leonardi, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20230245811
    Abstract: A power inductor includes a housing and a magnetic core disposed in the housing. The core includes a first segment and a second segment spaced apart from each other to define a gap. The first and second segments are supported in the housing such that they are movable relative to each other to increase and decrease the size of the gap. A passive actuator is disposed in the housing and is configured to move the second segment relative to the first segment to increase and decrease the size of the gap. The passive actuator includes a shape-memory alloy configured to expand as temperature of the inductor increases to urge the first and second segments apart to increase the gap and to contract as the temperature decreases so that the first and second segments move towards each other to decrease the gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Myung Ki SUNG, Wanfeng LI, Leyi ZHU
  • Publication number: 20230238838
    Abstract: A stator includes a core and a molded midsection arranged to define a plurality of slots. The stator also includes a plurality of conductors wound within the slots. Portions of the midsection immediately adjacent to the slots include magnetic insulator embedded therein. The magnetic insulator is electrically insulating and has ferrimagnetic ordering. The stator further includes a plurality of non-magnetic wedges disposed between the conductors and an inner diameter surface of the stator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Leyi Zhu, Franco Leonardi
  • Publication number: 20230238163
    Abstract: A core for an electrical apparatus includes a plurality of electrical steel sheets having a ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic coating applied to both sides of the electrical steel sheets. The electrical steel sheets are arranged in a stack to form a laminated stack. The ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic coating is applied to both sides of the electrical steel sheets. The coating may comprise MnZn ferrites, NiZn ferrites, MgMnZn ferrites, CoNiZn ferrites, Co ferrites, Ni ferrites, Yttrium iron garnets (Y3Fe5O12) or other ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic coating materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Leyi ZHU, Franco LEONARDI, Michael W. DEGNER
  • Patent number: 11682932
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Leyi Zhu, Chun Tang, Franco Leonardi, Michael W. Degner
  • Patent number: 11658522
    Abstract: An electric machine includes a stator and a rotor. The stator has a yoke fitted over a ring that has a plurality of teeth with gaps therebetween for fitting metal windings. The ring of teeth has an inner circumference that is closed and to connect the teeth, and an outer circumference with open gaps or slots between the teeth. The metal windings are fitted through the open outer circumference. Regions of the closed inner circumference between the teeth are treated such that the region's magnetic permeability is reduced relative to the remainder of the stator. The reduction in magnetic permeability provides a magnetic flux barrier between the teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Feng Liang, Alfredo R. Munoz, Leyi Zhu, Michael W. Degner
  • Patent number: 11631518
    Abstract: A power inductor includes a housing and a magnetic core disposed in the housing. The core includes a first segment and a second segment spaced apart from each other to define a gap. The first and second segments are supported in the housing such that the they are movable relative to each other to increase and decrease the size of the gap. A fluid having a positive thermal expansion coefficient is disposed in the housing such that expansion and contraction of the fluid due to change in temperature increases and decreases the gap, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Myung Ki Sung, Wanfeng Li, Leyi Zhu
  • Patent number: 11515077
    Abstract: A power system has a power-electronic module that includes a housing defining a looped reservoir, a ferro-magnetic medium sealed within and filling the looped reservoir, and a conductor surrounded by the ferro-magnetic medium. The conductor is coiled within and along the looped reservoir, and has terminals extending out of the reservoir such that the ferro-magnetic medium and conductor form an inductor that opposes changes in magnitude of current flowing through the conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jun Kikuchi, Chuanbing Rong, Leyi Zhu
  • Patent number: 11482902
    Abstract: A stator includes a core and an over-molded midsection arranged to define a plurality of slots, and a plurality of conductors wound within the slots. Portions of the midsection immediately adjacent to the slots have iron particles embedded therein such the portions have magnetic permeability greater than other portions of the midsection lacking the iron particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Franco Leonardi, Leyi Zhu
  • Patent number: 11437897
    Abstract: An electric machine includes a plurality of planar laminations stacked to form an electrical steel rotor having openings defining magnet pockets and adjacent inner side pockets. The adjacent inner side pockets define a center bridge therebetween and have blasted surface portions such that compressive stress layers are induced along edges of the center bridge to strengthen the center bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Leyi Zhu, Edward Chan-Jiun Jih, Feng Liang, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20220231560
    Abstract: A stator includes a core and an over-molded midsection arranged to define a plurality of slots, and a plurality of conductors wound within the slots. Portions of the midsection immediately adjacent to the slots have iron particles embedded therein such the portions have magnetic permeability greater than other portions of the midsection lacking the iron particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: Franco Leonardi, Leyi Zhu
  • 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: 11362552
    Abstract: An electric machine rotor including a first stamped rotor lamination and a first stamped sheet of a material different than the first stamped rotor lamination is provided. The first stamped rotor lamination may define a pair of magnet pockets. The first stamped sheet may be coplanar with and scarf jointed to the first stamped rotor lamination to define a center bridge between the magnet pockets that has a magnetic permeability less than, and a mechanical strength greater than, the first stamped rotor lamination. The rotor may further include a second stamped sheet of a material different than the first stamped rotor lamination coplanar with and scarf jointed to the first stamped rotor lamination to define a top bridge adjacent to one of the magnet pockets at a perimeter of the rotor that has a magnetic permeability less than, and a mechanical strength greater than, the first stamped rotor lamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Leyi Zhu, Feng Liang, Michael W. Degner
  • Patent number: 11205941
    Abstract: Methods for tuning properties of electric machines are disclosed. A method for reducing core loss in an electric machine includes punching a plurality of laminations from one or more electrical steel sheets that results in one or more cut edges. The method further includes assembling the laminations into a core such that an outer perimeter surface of the core is defined by the cut edges. The method further includes peening the outer perimeter surface to remove residual stresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Leyi Zhu, Feng Liang, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20210339520
    Abstract: A method of forming an electric machine lamination includes punching a sheet having a first composition to form a cavity and a compressed region at a perimeter of the cavity. The method further includes depositing, within the cavity and on the compressed region, a deposit material having a second composition different than the first composition. The method further includes scanning a beam along the deposit material to form a bound material within the cavity and on the compressed region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Leyi ZHU, Michael W. DEGNER, Feng LIANG
  • Publication number: 20210288565
    Abstract: A rotor includes a rotor core lamination. The rotor core lamination includes a first metal alloy that at least partially defines adjacent magnet pockets proximate an outer periphery of the rotor core lamination. The rotor core lamination further includes a second metal alloy different than the first metal alloy that forms at least a portion of a bridge that extends between the magnet pockets. The rotor core lamination further includes permanent magnets disposed in the magnet pockets at opposing sides of the second metal alloy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Leyi ZHU, Michael W. DEGNER, Feng LIANG
  • Publication number: 20210280368
    Abstract: A three-dimensional magnetic printer includes at least one induction head assembly including an induction heater to heat magnetic material to form an alloy melt and at least one nozzle operable to eject the alloy melt, a coating apparatus, and a base aligned with the at least one nozzle. The induction head assembly deposits at least one alloy melt layer and the coating apparatus forms at least one insulating layer onto the base in accordance with a predetermined pattern to form a three-dimensional article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chuanbing Rong, Feng Liang, Leyi Zhu, Michael W. Degner
  • Patent number: 11065857
    Abstract: A method of forming an electric machine lamination includes punching a sheet having a first composition to form a cavity and a compressed region at a perimeter of the cavity. The method further includes depositing, within the cavity and on the compressed region, a deposit material having a second composition different than the first composition. The method further includes scanning a beam along the deposit material to form a bound material within the cavity and on the compressed region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Leyi Zhu, Michael W. Degner, Feng Liang
  • Publication number: 20210210277
    Abstract: A power system has a power-electronic module that includes a housing defining a looped reservoir, a ferro-magnetic medium sealed within and filling the looped reservoir, and a conductor surrounded by the ferro-magnetic medium. The conductor is coiled within and along the looped reservoir, and has terminals extending out of the reservoir such that the ferro-magnetic medium and conductor form an inductor that opposes changes in magnitude of current flowing through the conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Jun Kikuchi, Chuanbing Rong, Leyi Zhu