Patents by Inventor Rick L. Williams
Rick L. Williams 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).
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Patent number: 10690176Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for cooling a piston arranged within a cylinder of an engine. Oil received from a connecting rod bearing and crank journal interface may be continuously transferred via an internal conduit in a connecting rod coupled to the piston wherein the internal conduit is formed within a hollow flange of the connecting rod. The oil may then be sprayed in a continuous manner via an external nozzle to an underside of the piston, enabling continuous piston cooling as the piston travels from a top-dead-center (TDC) position to a bottom-dead-center position (BDC) and back.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2015Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Thomas G. Leone, Jeffrey Eliot Chottiner, Rick L. Williams
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Patent number: 10138840Abstract: A surface of a piston and/or a cylinder head and/or a cylinder bore of an internal combustion cylinder with selectively applied plasma transferred wire arc coating which acts as a thermal barrier improving fuel efficiency and reducing fuel emissions and a method of producing the plasma transferred wire arc coating on a surface of a piston and/or cylinder head and/or a cylinder bore of a compression ignition and/or spark ignition engine.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2015Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: William Charles Ruona, Rick L. Williams, Thomas G. Leone, Clifford E. Maki
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Patent number: 10093042Abstract: An engine cylinder head comprising an internal metal structure formed from a metal material and an external polymer composite structure formed from a polymer composite material, wherein the external polymer composite structure at least partially surrounds the internal metal structure.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2015Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Rick L. Williams, Mark Michael Madin, Christopher Donald Wicks, Clifford E. Maki
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Patent number: 10018245Abstract: A bumper for a pendulum that cannot inadvertently become loose is disclosed. The pendulum has at least one and preferably a pair of spaced apart, elongated bumpers. The elongated bumpers generally have an L-shape. The pendulum is comprised of two halves. L-shaped channels are formed in each pendulum half. The bumpers are fitted into channels of the same shape formed in the pendulum halves. When the two halves are fitted together, the L-shaped bumper is captured therebetween. Each pendulum half includes an elevated central area and a pair of recessed areas with each recessed area formed on one side of the elevated area. Side walls are formed at the intersections of the elevated area and the recessed areas. A base wall is formed along the lower edge of the elevated area. The bumper ends extend from the elevated area beyond the side walls and base wall.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2015Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: John Edward Brevick, Jeffrey Eliot Chottiner, Rick L. Williams, Paul Edward Ostrander, Frank Hanson, Brian M. Brown
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Patent number: 9982747Abstract: In one or more embodiments, a damper hub assembly includes a hub with a through-aperture defined by an aperture wall and to receive therein a portion of a crankshaft, the aperture wall including face and back surfaces and a wall surface positioned there-between, and an insert contacting the face and back surfaces and the wall surface.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2015Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Rick L. Williams
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Patent number: 9976625Abstract: A pendulum crankshaft for an internal combustion engine includes a pendulum crankshaft having pendulum crank cycloid inserts. The inserts may be formed from high graded hardened steel while the crankshaft may be formed from conventional iron. The pendulum crankshaft includes a crankshaft having pendulum-holding ears. A cycloid insert-receiving aperture is formed in each of said ears for receiving a cycloid insert. Each of the cycloid inserts has a cycloid path formed therethrough. The pendulum is movably attached to the ears by a rolling pin fitted through the cycloid paths of the ears and captured between the cycloid paths formed in each half of the pendulum. Each half of the pendulum includes recessed areas on which the cycloid paths are formed. A pin is provided between each cycloid insert and the ear into which it is inserted to restrict rotation of the cycloid insert with respect to the ear.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2014Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: John Edward Brevick, Wayne Paul Woodside, Jeffrey Eliot Chottiner, Rick L. Williams
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Patent number: 9970385Abstract: A cylinder block for an engine includes a first composite portion having a first surface adjacent to a first recess, a second composite portion having a second surface adjacent to a second recess, and a cylinder liner received by the first and second recesses and positioned between the first and second portions. The first surface is adapted to mate with the second surface along a plane extending through the cylinder liner.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2015Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Clifford E. Maki, Rick L. Williams, Robert Gordon Rentschler, Stefan Quiring
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Patent number: 9939044Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 29, 2015Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: John Edward Brevick, Jeffrey Eliot Chottiner, Rick L. Williams, Michael A. Kopmanis
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Patent number: 9803685Abstract: It is common for crankshafts of internal combustion engines to have main bearing journals provided between each of the conrod bearing journals. However, to reduce engine friction, the fewest main bearing journals that can be used while still meeting the design targets is preferred. A crankshaft for an in-line, four-cylinder engine, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, has three main bearing journals. Bridges, one each located between first and second conrod bearing journals and between third and fourth conrod bearing journals. The bridges have a cross-section with at least two concavities to improve the strength of the bridge compared to, for example, a cylindrical bridge, without greatly increasing the mass of material used in the bridge. Furthermore, a locus of a centroid of cross sections through the bridge are not coincident with an axis of rotation of the crankshaft, but instead is displaced toward the nearer conrod bearing journal.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2016Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Rick L. Williams, Jeffrey Eliot Chottiner
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Publication number: 20170234359Abstract: It is common for crankshafts of internal combustion engines to have main bearing journals provided between each of the conrod bearing journals. However, to reduce engine friction, the fewest main bearing journals that can be used while still meeting the design targets is preferred. A crankshaft for an in-line, four-cylinder engine, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, has three main bearing journals. Bridges, one each located between first and second conrod bearing journals and between third and fourth conrod bearing journals. The bridges have a cross-section with at least two concavities to improve the strength of the bridge compared to, for example, a cylindrical bridge, without greatly increasing the mass of material used in the bridge. Furthermore, a locus of a centroid of cross sections through the bridge are not coincident with an axis of rotation of the crankshaft, but instead is displaced toward the nearer conrod bearing journal.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2016Publication date: August 17, 2017Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Rick L. Williams, Jeffrey Eliot Chottiner
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Patent number: 9719461Abstract: An engine includes a cylinder block defining at least one main bearing bulkhead adjacent to a cylinder, and a crankshaft rotatably housed within the block by a main bearing. A bulkhead insert has a cap portion, and an insert portion provided within the bulkhead. The insert portion has having first and second end regions connected by first and second straps. Each strap having a flanged beam cross section. The first and second ends of the insert portion are configured to connect a main bearing cap column to a cylinder head column. Each of the first and second end regions define at least one protrusion having a surface substantially normal to engine combustion and reactive loads. The cap portion is configured to mate with the first end region at the main bearing cap column and support the main bearing.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Clifford E. Maki, Jeffrey Eliot Chottiner, Rick L. Williams, Mark W. Thibault, James Douglas Ervin, James Maurice Boileau, Bryan McKeough
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Patent number: 9714677Abstract: In one or more embodiments, a coated connecting rod includes a first head including a first aperture, a second head including a second aperture, and a body connecting the first and second heads along a longitudinal axis, wherein the first head further includes face and back thrust surfaces abutting the first aperture and an anti-friction coating partially contacting at least one of the face and back thrust surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2014Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Rick L. Williams
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Patent number: 9657809Abstract: A crankshaft comprising a cheek, a torsion-absorbing pendulum pivotally coupled to the cheek, and a rotational speed actuated brake to oppose motion of the pendulum relative to the cheek. The brake is configured to provide greater opposition to the motion at lower rotational speeds than at higher rotational speeds.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2015Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Gregory Michael Pietron, Jeffrey Eliot Chottiner, John Edward Brevick, Matthew David Hammond, Rick L. Williams
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Patent number: 9644568Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for forming an engine comprising a thermoset composite engine block. One example method includes reinforcing the engine block with a plurality of metal strips, wherein a first portion of the plurality of metal strips are positioned in a substantially transverse direction of the engine block and a second portion of the plurality of metal strips are positioned in a substantially longitudinal direction of the engine block. The plurality of metal reinforcing strips may provide additional reinforcement to the engine block.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2015Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Clifford E. Maki, Larry Dean Elie, Kevin Durand Byrd, Rick L. Williams, Wolfram Buschhaus, Matthew John Zaluzec
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Patent number: 9541158Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 19, 2015Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: John Edward Brevick, Jeffrey Eliot Chottiner, Rick L. Williams, Michael A. Kopmanis
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Patent number: 9512897Abstract: A pendulum crankshaft assembly for an internal combustion engine includes a pendulum carrier, a pendulum and rolling pins. The carrier and the pendulum have kidney-shaped rolling pin tracks. The rolling pin tracks are kidney-shaped and thus are defined by opposed curved side walls and opposed end walls. The pendulum carrier has an ear extending therefrom to which the pendulum is attached. The pendulum comprises a first half and a second half, each half being positioned on the sides of the ear. At any given time in operation, the gap between the rolling pin and the opposed walls of the rolling pin tracks is never greater than 0.5 mm. The pendulum carrier is attached to a cheek of the crankshaft by a pair of opposed fasteners.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2014Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: John Edward Brevick, Wayne Paul Woodside, Jeffrey Eliot Chottiner, Rick L. Williams, Frank Hanson
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Publication number: 20160341148Abstract: A cylinder block for an engine includes a first composite portion having a first surface adjacent to a first recess, a second composite portion having a second surface adjacent to a second recess, and a cylinder liner received by the first and second recesses and positioned between the first and second portions. The first surface is adapted to mate with the second surface along a plane extending through the cylinder liner.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2015Publication date: November 24, 2016Inventors: Clifford E. MAKI, Rick L. WILLIAMS, Robert Gordon RENTSCHLER, Stefan QUIRING
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Publication number: 20160327119Abstract: A bumper for a pendulum that cannot inadvertently become loose is disclosed. The pendulum has at least one and preferably a pair of spaced apart, elongated bumpers. The elongated bumpers generally have an L-shape. The pendulum is comprised of two halves. L-shaped channels are formed in each pendulum half. The bumpers are fitted into channels of the same shape formed in the pendulum halves. When the two halves are fitted together, the L-shaped bumper is captured therebetween. Each pendulum half includes an elevated central area and a pair of recessed areas with each recessed area formed on one side of the elevated area. Side walls are formed at the intersections of the elevated area and the recessed areas. A base wall is formed along the lower edge of the elevated area. The bumper ends extend from the elevated area beyond the side walls and base wall.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2015Publication date: November 10, 2016Inventors: John Edward Brevick, Jeffrey Eliot Chottiner, Rick L. Williams, Paul Edward Ostrander, Frank Hanson, Brian M. Brown
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Publication number: 20160319902Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2015Publication date: November 3, 2016Inventors: John Edward Brevick, Jeffrey Eliot Chottiner, Rick L. Williams, Mike A. Kopmanis
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Publication number: 20160312853Abstract: In one or more embodiments, a damper hub assembly includes a hub with a through-aperture defined by an aperture wall and to receive therein a portion of a crankshaft, the aperture wall including face and back surfaces and a wall surface positioned there-between, and an insert contacting the face and back surfaces and the wall surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2015Publication date: October 27, 2016Inventor: RICK L. WILLIAMS