Patents by Inventor Roy A. Ford

Roy A. Ford 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: 10145277
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine for an automotive vehicle has an intake manifold receiving fresh air via an inlet duct. The engine includes a crankcase. A turbocharger is provided having a compressor with an inlet coupled to the inlet duct and an outlet coupled to the intake manifold. A first vent line couples the crankcase with the compressor inlet. A second vent line couples the crankcase with the compressor outlet and intake manifold. The second vent line has a valve blocking air flow into the crankcase and allowing air flow out from the crankcase. The first vent line comprises a dual-acting valve having a first flow capacity into the crankcase and a second flow capacity out from the crankcase which is greater than the first flow capacity. Thus, crankcase ventilation is optimized for both engine idle and high engine load conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher W. Newman, Roy A. Ford
  • Publication number: 20170306814
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine for an automotive vehicle has an intake manifold receiving fresh air via an inlet duct. The engine includes a crankcase. A turbocharger is provided having a compressor with an inlet coupled to the inlet duct and an outlet coupled to the intake manifold. A first vent line couples the crankcase with the compressor inlet. A second vent line couples the crankcase with the compressor outlet and intake manifold. The second vent line has a valve blocking air flow into the crankcase and allowing air flow out from the crankcase. The first vent line comprises a dual-acting valve having a first flow capacity into the crankcase and a second flow capacity out from the crankcase which is greater than the first flow capacity. Thus, crankcase ventilation is optimized for both engine idle and high engine load conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher W. Newman, Roy A. Ford
  • Patent number: 9771841
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine for an automotive vehicle has an intake manifold receiving fresh air via an inlet duct. The engine includes a crankcase. A turbocharger is provided having a compressor with an inlet coupled to the inlet duct and an outlet coupled to the intake manifold. A first vent line couples the crankcase with the compressor inlet. A second vent line couples the crankcase with the compressor outlet and intake manifold. The second vent line has a valve blocking air flow into the crankcase and allowing air flow out from the crankcase. The first vent line comprises a dual-acting valve having a first flow capacity into the crankcase and a second flow capacity out from the crankcase which is greater than the first flow capacity. Thus, crankcase ventilation is optimized for both engine idle and high engine load conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher W. Newman, Roy A. Ford
  • Publication number: 20160115911
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine for an automotive vehicle has an intake manifold receiving fresh air via an inlet duct. The engine includes a crankcase. A turbocharger is provided having a compressor with an inlet coupled to the inlet duct and an outlet coupled to the intake manifold. A first vent line couples the crankcase with the compressor inlet. A second vent line couples the crankcase with the compressor outlet and intake manifold. The second vent line has a valve blocking air flow into the crankcase and allowing air flow out from the crankcase. The first vent line comprises a dual-acting valve having a first flow capacity into the crankcase and a second flow capacity out from the crankcase which is greater than the first flow capacity. Thus, crankcase ventilation is optimized for both engine idle and high engine load conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher W. Newman, Roy A. Ford
  • Patent number: 9272864
    Abstract: A sheet jam access assembly in combination with a finisher transport assembly having a main transport cover, is used with a digital printer. First and second axles with idler nip rollers are mounted on the transport assembly for movement away from the process path. First and second drive nip rollers are mounted for driven rotation on the transport assembly. A jam access cover pivots on the main transport cover from a closed to an open position. First and second hinges each have a first outer leaf on the jam access cover connected by a hinge pin to an inner leaf which translates transverse to the process direction. The hinge axis is spaced apart from the cover axis. A cam plate base portion translates parallel to the process direction. First and second ramps adjacent the axles extend away from the base portion at an angle to the process direction. A slot extends through the first inner leaf at an angle to the process direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ron Edward Dufort, Arthur Harold Kahn, Brian Roy Ford
  • Publication number: 20150352862
    Abstract: A sheet jam access assembly is used with a digital printer having a finisher transport assembly with a main transport cover. First and second axles with idler nip rollers are mounted on the transport for movement away from the process path. First and second drive nip rollers are mounted for driven rotation on the transport. A jam access cover pivots on the main transport cover from a closed to an open position. First and second hinges each has a first outer leaf on the jam access cover connected by a hinge pin to an inner leaf which translates transverse to the process direction. The hinge axis is spaced apart from the cover axis. A cam plate base portion translates parallel to the process direction. First and second ramps adjacent the axles extend away from the base portion at an angle to the process direction. A slot extends through the first inner leaf at an angle to the process direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Ron Edward Dufort, Arthur Harold Kahn, Brian Roy Ford
  • Patent number: 8607768
    Abstract: A system for improving PCV flow of an engine is presented. The system can reduce engine oil consumption when an engine is exposed to lateral or centripetal force. In one example, the system includes a mechanically operated valve that acts to limit PCV flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frank Acierno Valencia, Thomas Edward Smith, Roy Ford
  • Publication number: 20120048248
    Abstract: A system for improving PCV flow of an engine is presented. The system can reduce engine oil consumption when an engine is exposed to lateral or centripetal force. In one example, the system includes a mechanically operated valve that acts to limit PCV flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Frank Acierno Valencia, Thomas Edward Smith, Roy Ford
  • Patent number: 7472902
    Abstract: An apparatus that is useful for acquiring and conveying a sheet includes a plenum having an opening for coupling a vacuum source to the plenum, a slide plate having a stop member positioned proximate a drop box opening in the slide plate, and a drop box adapted to slide within the drop box opening until a portion of the drop box engages the stop member so that the drop box is slidably installed in the slide plate. The apparatus may be used in an electrostatographic printing machine to improve top sheet acquisition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth Paul Moore, Brian Roy Ford, Timothy Gordon Shelhart