Patents by Inventor Michael Spurling |

Michael Spurling | 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: 20200298911
    Abstract: Systems are provided for a structural element. In one example, a system comprises a structural element arranged between a steering column and a front bumper, wherein the structural element at least partially surrounds the steering column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Marius Sawatzki, Stefan Schneider, Michael Spurling, Joergen Hilmann, Dominik Mueller, Daniel Meckenstock
  • Patent number: 10723340
    Abstract: A brake booster is mounted on a forward bulkhead of a motor vehicle having two elements, a first element being securely connected to the brake booster whilst a second element is securely connected to the bulkhead. The two elements are restrained against vertical movement relative to one another by at least one connector which is deformed or fails upon a movement of the brake booster upward relative to the bulkhead. An actuator is movably mounted to the bulkhead below the brake booster and rearward of a gearbox housing such that rearward movement of the gearbox housing during a frontal collision presses against the actuator and moves the actuator upward to apply pressure to the brake booster, the pressure causing the brake booster to move upward relative to the bulkhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Meckenstock, Marius Sawatzki, Michael Spurling
  • Patent number: 10690037
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a coupling device and enclosure for an interface through which exhaust gas flow. The coupling device secures two sides of the interface to one another and the enclosure surrounds the interface and seals exhaust gases within the enclosure in an event that the interface becomes separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Meckenstock, Marius Sawatzki, Michael Spurling
  • Publication number: 20200156705
    Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) includes an inverter control system connected to a transmission such that the connection secures the inverter control system to the transmission during operation while allowing limited pivoting or rotating of the inverter control system relative to the transmission during a frontal collision to modify the translational motion and reduce or avoid loading of rigid objects or components between the inverter control system and the vehicle cabin or occupant compartment. Positioning of an electric cable conduit or connector near or adjacent to the pivot or rotational axis reduces translational force on the conductors to reduce or avoid damage during a frontal collision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Marius Sawatzki, Daniel Meckenstock, Michael Spurling
  • Patent number: 10633030
    Abstract: An exemplary brake booster device includes a brake booster mounted on a vehicle component, and an actuator lever that, in response to a force applied to the actuator by a gearbox housing, pivots to move the brake booster upward. An exemplary method includes pivoting an actuator lever about a pivot axis under a force effect in an X direction resulting from a gearbox housing, and, during the pivoting, using the actuator lever apply a force in a Z direction to a module mounted on a bulkhead to alter a position of the module mounted on the bulkhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Meckenstock, Marius Sawatzki, Istvan Somogyvari, Michael Spurling
  • Publication number: 20200122559
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a powertrain mount assembly. The assembly comprises a tether configured to block movement of a powertrain component relative to a support frame in the event of a vehicle collision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Spurling, Matthew David George Shynn, Daniel Meckenstock, Marius Sawatzki
  • Publication number: 20200102017
    Abstract: A vehicle mount may comprise a member attach to a frame of a vehicle. Another mount member may comprise limbs. A space between limbs may receive an arm attachable to a component of the vehicle. The second member may attach to the first member such that the space between the first and second limbs forms an opening for receipt of the arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Spurling, Joergen Hilmann, Dominik Mueller, Daniel Meckenstock, Marius Sawatzki
  • Patent number: 10596893
    Abstract: A vehicle transmission apparatus, for an automotive vehicle that has a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, is contained within an engine compartment of the vehicle and includes a vehicle transmission and a roll initiator operable to rotate the vehicle transmission about the lateral axis of the vehicle. The roll initiator is attached to vehicle transmission and has a projecting portion that is arranged to engage with a structure within the engine compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Spurling, Daniel Meckenstock, Marius Sawatzki, Simon Jesse, Herbert Gonska, Dongpeng Kou, Wayne Vinh Lam
  • Publication number: 20200079431
    Abstract: A road vehicle having a powertrain is provided with a powertrain catcher apparatus comprised of a powertrain catcher and a transverse structural member having a weakened region against which the powertrain catcher reacts when the powertrain is moved rearwardly due to a collision. The powertrain catcher has a punch portion which punches through the weakened region to form an aperture with which the punch portion remains tightly engaged to restrain vertical and transverse movement of the powertrain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Duncan Stainer, Michael Spurling, Burak Yazici, Muhammet Balyemez, Onur Dalli, Gary Lansdowne, Ian James
  • Patent number: 10562386
    Abstract: A motor vehicle includes an engine assembly housed in a bay, a subframe adjacent a bottom of the bay, a bulkhead adjacent a rear of the bay, and a catch structure extending laterally across the bay above the subframe and adjacent an upper end of the bulkhead. A lower catch hook is coupled to the engine assembly and configured to engage the subframe and transfer load from the engine assembly to the subframe when the engine assembly moves toward the bulkhead during a collision. An upper catch hook is coupled to the engine assembly and configured to engage the catch structure and transfer load from the engine assembly to the catch structure when the engine assembly moves toward the bulkhead during the collision. The catch structure may be a cable connected to left and right suspension towers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Spurling
  • Patent number: 10549784
    Abstract: An exemplary brake booster device includes, among other things, a brake booster mounted on a vehicle component, and an actuator that, in response to a force applied to the actuator by a gearbox housing, pivots to move the brake booster upward. The actuator includes at least two pivot elements spaced from each other, and a displacement mounted in a jointed manner between the at least two pivot elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Meckenstock, Marius Sawatzki, Istvan Somogyvari, Michael Spurling
  • Publication number: 20190337378
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a fuel line attachment. In one example, a system comprises a fuel line attachment assembly comprising a fixed portion and a movable portion, wherein the movable portion is shaped to slide along a recess of the fixed portion in response to a vehicle collision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Spurling, Luis Pinheiro, Frank Kotthoff, Scott Holmes
  • Publication number: 20190337568
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a deflector. In one example, a system includes a first engine bay component comprising a deflector with a deflection surface shaped to engage a second engine bay component to rotate the first engine bay component and mitigate contact between the first engine bay component and a third engine bay component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Spurling, Luis Pinheiro, Scott Martin
  • Publication number: 20190277191
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for one or more deflector elements coupled to an engine. In one example, a system includes a deflector element physically coupled to an interface at which edges of an engine head and an engine block join, wherein the deflector element extends around a portion of the edge and a screw boss, where the screw boss bulges out from the edges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Spurling, Daniel Meckenstock, Marius Sawatzki
  • Patent number: 10408178
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a fuel rail for use with an internal combustion engine. The fuel rail includes a plurality of fingers extending away from the fuel rail. The fingers are configured to interface with adjacent engine parts under crash conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Spurling, David Luz, Romulo Prado Barbieri, Felipe Sahade, Thomaz Ernesto Savio
  • Publication number: 20190210444
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward a vehicle transmission apparatus for an automotive vehicle having a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis. The apparatus is contained within an engine compartment of the vehicle, and includes a vehicle transmission and a roll initiator operable to rotate the vehicle transmission about the lateral axis of the vehicle. The roll initiator is attached to vehicle transmission and has a projecting portion that is arranged to engage with a structure within the engine compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Spurling, Daniel Meckenstock, Marius Sawatzki, Simon Jesse, Herbert Gonska, Dongpeng Kou, Wayne Vinh Lam
  • Publication number: 20190210652
    Abstract: An assembly for an electrified vehicle having a housing containing a transmission, and a vehicle component positioned in a longitudinal direction between the housing and a passenger compartment, includes a deflector configured for mounting to the housing and having a deflection face configured to deflect the vehicle component and/or the housing away from the passenger compartment during a frontal collision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Marius SAWATZKI, Daniel MECKENSTOCK, Michael SPURLING, Bradley STAINES, Kriste TOMOVSKI, Mansoor MALIK
  • Publication number: 20190184804
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a powertrain support mount assembly. In one example, the powertrain support mount assembly comprises a first bracket and a second bracket, the second bracket comprising an engagement feature shaped to engage with the first bracket during a vehicle collision, which adjusts a load of the second bracket to decouple from the engage and avoid contacting an auxiliary component adjacent to the powertrain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Matthew Shynn, Brad Staines, Michael Spurling, Vlad Sunjerian, Alan Thorpe, Peter Brook, Jonathan Horseman, Matthew Sykes
  • Publication number: 20190009768
    Abstract: An exemplary brake booster device includes, among other things, a brake booster mounted on a vehicle component, and an actuator that, in response to a force applied to the actuator by a gearbox housing, pivots to move the brake booster upward. The actuator includes at least two pivot elements spaced from each other, and a displacement mounted in a jointed manner between the at least two pivot elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel Meckenstock, Marius Sawatzki, Istvan Somogyvari, Michael Spurling
  • Publication number: 20190009767
    Abstract: An exemplary brake booster device includes a brake booster mounted on a vehicle component, and an actuator lever that, in response to a force applied to the actuator by a gearbox housing, pivots to move the brake booster upward. An exemplary method includes pivoting an actuator lever about a pivot axis under a force effect in an X direction resulting from a gearbox housing, and, during the pivoting, using the actuator lever apply a force in a Z direction to a module mounted on a bulkhead to alter a position of the module mounted on the bulkhead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel Meckenstock, Marius Sawatzki, Istvan Somogyvari, Michael Spurling