Patents by Inventor Michael A. Kopmanis

Michael A. Kopmanis 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: 20230027255
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward a tooling assembly for a machine having an automatic tool changing system. The tooling assembly includes a holder, a tool body, and an internal passage defined within and extending through the holder and the tool body. The holder includes a machine interface configured to engage with a spindle of the machine. The internal passage is operable to have a coolant fluid flow within, and has a stem channel and a curved channel extending from the stem channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: David Stephenson, Timothy G. Beyer, Michael A. Kopmanis, David Ozog, William E. Dowling, JR.
  • Patent number: 11491594
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward a tooling assembly for a machine having an automatic tool changing system. The tooling assembly includes a holder, a tool body, and an internal passage defined within and extending through the holder and the tool body. The holder includes a machine interface configured to engage with a spindle of the machine. The internal passage is operable to have a coolant fluid flow within, and has a stem channel and a curved channel extending from the stem channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: David Stephenson, Timothy G. Beyer, Michael A. Kopmanis, David Ozog, William E. Dowling, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11274979
    Abstract: A method for determining residual stress in a selectively hardened parts including an unhardened region adjacent to a hardened region is provided. The method includes obtaining a Barkhausen Noise (BN) value for the unhardened region and selecting a corresponding absolute residual stress value from a correlation between BN values and absolute residual stress values. The selected absolute residual stress value accurately estimates the absolute residual stress in the hardened region of the selectively hardened part. In variations of the method the unhardened region is surrounded by the hardened region, the hardened region is a laser hardened region and the unhardened region is not laser hardened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Michael A. Kopmanis
  • Publication number: 20210041308
    Abstract: A method for determining residual stress in a selectively hardened parts including an unhardened region adjacent to a hardened region is provided. The method includes obtaining a Barkhausen Noise (BN) value for the unhardened region and selecting a corresponding absolute residual stress value from a correlation between BN values and absolute residual stress values. The selected absolute residual stress value accurately estimates the absolute residual stress in the hardened region of the selectively hardened part. In variations of the method the unhardened region is surrounded by the hardened region, the hardened region is a laser hardened region and the unhardened region is not laser hardened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Applicant: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Michael A. Kopmanis
  • Patent number: 10816414
    Abstract: A method for determining residual stress in a selectively hardened parts including an unhardened region adjacent to a hardened region is provided. The method includes obtaining a Barkhausen Noise (BN) value for the unhardened region and selecting a corresponding absolute residual stress value from a look-up table. The selected absolute residual stress value accurately estimates the absolute residual stress in the hardened region of the selectively hardened part. In variations of the method the unhardened region is surrounded by the hardened region, the hardened region is a laser hardened region and the unhardened region is not laser hardened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Michael A. Kopmanis
  • Patent number: 10639763
    Abstract: A method of grinding a surface of a crankshaft is provided. The method includes grinding the surface of the crankshaft by a grinding wheel, and polishing the surface of the crankshaft ground by the grinding wheel by oscillating a polishing wheel in a transverse direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Michael A. Kopmanis
  • Publication number: 20200116576
    Abstract: A method for determining residual stress in a selectively hardened parts including an unhardened region adjacent to a hardened region is provided. The method includes obtaining a Barkhausen Noise (BN) value for the unhardened region and selecting a corresponding absolute residual stress value from a look-up table. The selected absolute residual stress value accurately estimates the absolute residual stress in the hardened region of the selectively hardened part. In variations of the method the unhardened region is surrounded by the hardened region, the hardened region is a laser hardened region and the unhardened region is not laser hardened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Michael A. Kopmanis
  • Publication number: 20190218634
    Abstract: A method for laser-hardening a shaft for a vehicle includes applying laser light energy in a repeating pattern to a journal surface. The method further includes, responsive to the repeating pattern being applied completely around the shaft, applying laser light energy to the surface in a pattern different than the repeating pattern to form an overlap surface pattern that defines a tapered ramp having a corresponding hardness less than a hardness corresponding to the repeating pattern alone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Nathaniel HANSEN, Michael A. KOPMANIS
  • Publication number: 20190210174
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward a tooling assembly for a machine having an automatic tool changing system. The tooling assembly includes a holder, a tool body, and an internal passage defined within and extending through the holder and the tool body. The holder includes a machine interface configured to engage with a spindle of the machine. The internal passage is operable to have a coolant fluid flow within, and has a stem channel and a curved channel extending from the stem channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: David Stephenson, Timothy G. Beyer, Michael A. Kopmanis, David Ozog, William E. Dowling, JR.
  • Publication number: 20190143398
    Abstract: An automotive shaft fillet treating method including laser hardening a green machined fillet surface to a uniform depth d to induce compressive stresses into the surface, the surface extending the entire length l between outer edges of two undercut regions of the fillet, and applying additional compressive stress to the laser hardened surface via fillet rolling such that the uniform depth d is maintained along the entire length l during a subsequent grinding operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Nathaniel Hansen, Phillip Schroeder, Roger L. Moyer, Michael A. Kopmanis
  • Publication number: 20190143472
    Abstract: A method of grinding a surface of a crankshaft is provided. The method includes grinding the surface of the crankshaft by a grinding wheel, and polishing the surface of the crankshaft ground by the grinding wheel by oscillating a polishing wheel in a transverse direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the crankshaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Michael A. Kopmanis
  • Patent number: 10161014
    Abstract: A method of crankshaft laser hardening includes grinding one or more surfaces of a green crankshaft to produce a green ground crankshaft and to define journal geometry thereon prior to hardening of the surfaces to avoid loss of compressive stresses associated with grinding a hardened crankshaft. The method also includes laser hardening the surfaces of the green ground crankshaft to induce compressive stresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Michael A. Kopmanis
  • Patent number: 9939044
    Abstract: A pendulum absorber fixed to the crankshaft of an engine comprises a pendulum and a pendulum carrier attached to the pendulum carrier attachment boss of the crankshaft. The first preferred embodiment provides a crankshaft web having spaced apart part pendulum carrier attachment bosses that define a carrier groove. The second preferred embodiment provides an arrangement similar to that of the first embodiment but the attachment bosses extend further away from the web. The third preferred embodiment provides a pendulum carrier having a flat portion and a cylindrical portion. The fourth preferred embodiment provides a carrier engagement portion that includes a deck and two lateral attachment bosses having curved surfaces. The carrier includes two outwardly-extending attachment arms. The fifth preferred embodiment provides a web having a pendulum carrier engagement portion that includes a machined groove and machined attachment bosses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Edward Brevick, Jeffrey Eliot Chottiner, Rick L. Williams, Michael A. Kopmanis
  • Publication number: 20170343038
    Abstract: An automotive shaft includes a journal having a crest-to-crest contact surface area defined by and between undercut regions of the shaft, an entirety of the crest-to-crest contact surface area being laser hardened to a depth no greater than 1 mm to form a layer that does not contain unhardened portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventor: Michael A. Kopmanis
  • Publication number: 20170198368
    Abstract: A method of crankshaft laser hardening includes grinding one or more surfaces of a green crankshaft to produce a green ground crankshaft and to define journal geometry thereon prior to hardening of the surfaces to avoid loss of compressive stresses associated with grinding a hardened crankshaft. The method also includes laser hardening the surfaces of the green ground crankshaft to induce compressive stresses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventor: Michael A. Kopmanis
  • Patent number: 9541158
    Abstract: A pendulum assembly comprises a cold forged steel pendulum or cold formed steel pendulum attached to a cold forged steel carrier or cold formed steel carrier. The carrier is attached to the crankshaft. The pendulum assembly includes a first outer steel plate, a second outer steel plate, and an intermediate steel plate. The stamped plates are formed from flat sheet steel to provide the pendulum shape and features. The outer steel plates are attached to the intermediate steel plate by any of a variety of methods. The pendulum carrier of the disclosed inventive concept is comprised of one or more steel plates that are also cold forged or cold formed from steel to provide the pendulum carrier shape and features. Alternatively, the pendulum carrier may include two cold forged or cold formed portions attached together or three cold forged or cold formed portions attached together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Edward Brevick, Jeffrey Eliot Chottiner, Rick L. Williams, Michael A. Kopmanis
  • Publication number: 20160273615
    Abstract: A pendulum assembly comprises a cold forged steel or cold formed steel pendulum attached to a cold forged steel or cold formed steel carrier. The carrier is attached to the crankshaft. The pendulum assembly includes a first outer steel plate, a second outer steel plate, and an intermediate steel plate. The stamped plates are formed from flat sheet steel to provide the pendulum shape and features. The outer steel plates are attached to the intermediate steel plate by any of a variety of methods. The pendulum carrier of the disclosed inventive concept is comprised of one or more steel plates that are also cold forged or cold formed from steel to provide the pendulum carrier shape and features. Alternatively, the pendulum carrier may include two cold forged or cold formed portions attached together or three cold forged or cold formed portions attached together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: John Edward Brevick, Jeffrey Eliot Chottiner, Rick L. Williams, Michael A. Kopmanis
  • Patent number: 9321140
    Abstract: A machine grinding system is provided for machine grinding the main bearing journals, pin bearing journals, the post surface, gear-fit wall surface, and the flywheel flange surfaces of a four cylinder crankshaft. The system includes three operating stations, each operating station only requiring one machine to maintain the desired production rate. The first operating station machine grinds the main bearing journals, post surface, and gear-fit wall surface; the second operating station machine grinds the pin journals; and the third operating station machine grinds the thrust bearing surfaces and the flywheel flange surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Michael A Kopmanis
  • Publication number: 20150038059
    Abstract: A machine grinding system is provided for machine grinding the main bearing journals, pin bearing journals, the post surface, gear-fit wall surface, and the flywheel flange surfaces of a four cylinder crankshaft. The system includes three operating stations, each operating station only requiring one machine to maintain the desired production rate. The first operating station machine grinds the main bearing journals, post surface, and gear-fit wall surface; the second operating station machine grinds the pin journals; and the third operating station machine grinds the thrust bearing surfaces and the flywheel flange surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Michael A. Kopmanis
  • Publication number: 20030097747
    Abstract: A method of machining a part including clamping the part on a chuck, while the part is clamped on the chuck, orienting the part with an OD-type grinding tool and grinding a ball track on the part, and while the part is still clamped on the chuck, orienting the part with a cutting tool and cutting an outer surface of the part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventor: Michael A. Kopmanis