Patents by Inventor Michael W. Degner

Michael W. Degner 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: 11837939
    Abstract: An electric machine includes a housing, a stator, an oil film, and at least one first seal. The housing has an internal surface defining an internal cavity. The stator has an outer peripheral surface and is disposed within the internal cavity such that a clearance gap is defined between an outer peripheral surface and the internal surface. The oil film is disposed within the clearance gap and is in contact with the internal surface and the outer peripheral surface. The at least one first seal is disposed along a first end of the stator and is configured to retain the oil film within the clearance gap along the first end of the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Franco Leonardi, Prasad Dev Hanumalagutti, Michael W. Degner
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11796574
    Abstract: An electrical current sensing arrangement includes a busbar, a dielectric material containing therein a magnetic field sensor, and a ferromagnetic over-mold encapsulating a portion of the busbar and the dielectric material. The dielectric material is disposed against the busbar such that the magnetic field sensor is spaced away from the busbar and the ferromagnetic over-mold is not between the busbar and the magnetic field sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Wolf, Michael W. Degner, Franco Leonardi, Seth Avery
  • Patent number: 11799361
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Man Prakash Gupta, Franco Leonardi, Alfredo R. Munoz, Michael W. Degner, Prasad Dev Hanumalagutti
  • Patent number: 11772507
    Abstract: An energy facility, such as a charge station operable for charging electrified vehicles, includes a controller. The controller controls the energy facility to charge at a current time an EV present at the charge station with electricity stored in an onsite battery of the charge station in response to an amount of renewable energy expected to be available at the charge station at a future time during which the EV is expected to not be present at the charge station exceeding an available electricity storage capacity of the onsite battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Lan Yu, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20230290546
    Abstract: A permanent magnet formed by additively manufacturing magnetic phases and buffer phases is disclosed. The buffer phase(s) may improve performance, enhance mechanical properties and allow the magnet to better tolerate stresses such that defects such as cracking do not occur or are less likely to occur. The buffer phase may be a magnetic or non-magnetic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Wanfeng Li, Chuanbing Rong, Michael W. Degner
  • Patent number: 11757147
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric machine, a battery, an inverter, and a controller. The controller switches the inverter at a switching frequency selected to generate an AC current to heat the battery, adjusts a d-axis current of the electric machine to increase a battery heating power, and adjusts a q-axis current of the electric machine according to the adjusted d-axis current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yang Xu, Jiyao Wang, Silong Li, Joseph Sherman Kimmel, Michael W. Degner
  • Patent number: 11742770
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a traction battery and a converter. The converter includes a switch and first and second busbars electrically connected in parallel between the traction battery and the switch. The second busbar has an inductance less than the first busbar and includes a resistor having a resistance at least an order of magnitude greater than a resistance of the first busbar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Krishna Prasad Bhat, Chingchi Chen, Michael W. Degner, Man Prakash Gupta
  • Publication number: 20230264577
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle and associated inverter configured for powering two different types of external loads include first and second phase/line legs combined with a first neutral leg coupled to a vehicle chassis, and a second floating neutral leg that is not coupled to the vehicle chassis. The first/second phase legs and first neutral leg are coupled to a first receptacle configured to receive a corresponding plug to power a first load, such as a power tool or accessory. The first/second phase legs and the second neutral leg are coupled to a second receptacle configured to receive a corresponding plug to power a second load, such as a home or building having an earth grounding electrode. The inverter may include an isolation transformer between the loads and the traction battery, and/or may be configured to provide single phase, split-phase, or three-phase power for either or both of the neutral connections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Xi LU, Krishna Prasad BHAT, Ke ZOU, Chingchi CHEN, Michael W. DEGNER
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11728702
    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: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Franco Leonardi, Michael W. Degner, Chun Tang, Edward Chan-Jiun Jih, Kewei Xiao
  • Publication number: 20230253843
    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: April 21, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Franco Leonardi, Chuanbing Rong, Chun Tang, Wanfeng Li, Michael W. Degner
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20230231427
    Abstract: An electric machine for an electrified vehicle includes a stator core configured to receive a plurality of windings. The stator core including a plurality of interchangeable stacked laminations arranged in sub-stacks. The sub-stacks having an outer diameter surface divided into circumferential quadrants, each quadrant having a cutout extending inwardly at a predetermined depth and radial position to define a serpentine cooling path on the outer surface of at least a portion of the sub-stacks. The sub-stacks are circumferentially rotated relative to each other such that two quadrants have a first cutout orientation, and the two other quadrants have a second cutout orientation, the first cutout orientation is different than the second cutout orientation and when rotated in sequence each cutout aligns to form the continuous serpentine cooling path in a quadrant of the stator core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: 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
  • Publication number: 20230187130
    Abstract: Permanent magnets and methods of making the same are disclosed herein. The permanent magnets include a 3D-printed, i.e., additively manufactured, framework and an infiltrate such that there is a discrete magnetic phase and a discrete non-magnetic phase or two discrete magnetic phases. The infiltrate may provide superior strength, elasticity or magnetic properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Wanfeng Li, Michael W. Degner
  • Patent number: 11677283
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Wolf, Franco Leonardi, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20230170120
    Abstract: Permanent magnets and method of making the same are provided. The magnets include a magnetic layer having an insulation layer disposed thereon. The insulation layer is formed via additive manufacturing techniques such as laser melting such that that it has discrete phases including a magnetic phase and an insulating phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Wanfeng Li, Franco Leonardi, Michael W. Degner
  • Patent number: 11658533
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Franco Leonardi, Michael W. Degner, Prasad Dev Hanumalagutti, Myung Ki Sung
  • 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