Patents by Inventor Stanley L. Bower

Stanley L. Bower 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: 20230264595
    Abstract: A fuel cell and battery power management system for a fuel cell-powered vehicle includes an electric traction motor, a traction battery in electrical communication with the electric traction motor, a fuel cell stack in electrical communication with the traction battery and the electric traction motor, and a vehicle control system. The vehicle control system is configured to operate the vehicle with at a first discharge power level and a first charging power level if fuel cell power is sufficient alone to navigate the uphill grade and to build up battery state of charge by charging the traction battery at a second charging power level when the vehicle is approaching an uphill grade if fuel cell power is not sufficient alone to navigate the uphill grade. The vehicle control system is further configured to initiate proactive depletion of the battery SOC to enable powertrain braking and to provide regenerative power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2022
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Naginder GOGNA, Jason MEYER, Walter Joseph ORTMANN, Stanley L. BOWER, JR., Rajit JOHRI
  • Publication number: 20230268526
    Abstract: A protection system for a fuel cell is provided that has two different modes of operation. The protection system includes a fuel cell, a cooling system for the fuel cell that controls the temperature of the fuel cell responsive to a controller. The controller is operable in a first mode of operation when a time T for the next start-up is not known and a second mode of operation when the time T for the next start-up is known. In the first mode, a time TF is the time an estimated future ambient temperature is estimated to fall to near freezing wherein at TF the cooling system purges the fuel cell. In the second mode, at TF the cooling system turns on without starting the fuel cell. The controller turns of the cooling system when the fuel cell stack is warmed to a nominal temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Jason MEYER, Rajit JOHRI, Stanley L. BOWER, JR.
  • Publication number: 20230264572
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a vehicle system including a fuel cell stack and a least one controller. The fuel cell stack configured to provide energy for a vehicle. The at least one controller is programmed to control the fuel cell stack to enter into a zero gross power (ZGP) mode responsive to at least the vehicle exhibiting a negative torque demand for a period that is less than a maximum time duration. The at least one controller is further programmed to control the fuel cell stack to enter into a fuel cell shutdown mode responsive to the at least the vehicle exhibiting a negative torque demand for a period that is greater than maximum time duration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Jason MEYER, Rajit JOHRI, Stanley L. BOWER, JR.
  • Patent number: 10730393
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a hybrid vehicle during operating conditions where vehicle braking is requested. In one example, regenerative braking is allocated to vehicle axles responsive to wheel torques of respective vehicle axles in response to an anti-lock braking system being activated. Additionally, friction braking torque is allocated to vehicle axles responsive to the anti-lock braking system being activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dale Scott Crombez, David John Messih, Yanan Zhao, Ming Lang Kuang, Walter Joseph Ortmann, Joseph Jay Torres, Stanley L. Bower, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10471819
    Abstract: In a hybrid transmission, a traction motor is mounted between a dry clutch module and a manual gearbox. A slave cylinder is mounted within the rotor of the traction motor to reduce axial length. The rotor is fixedly coupled to an engine crankshaft. The stator may be cooled by circulating engine coolant through the housing. The stator and the rotor may be cooled by spraying transmission fluid into a sealed motor cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Anatole Frait, Mark Thomas Weston, Kyle Mattinson, Stanley L. Bower, Keith A. Devereaux, Kevin Mackenzie
  • Publication number: 20190315221
    Abstract: In a hybrid transmission, a traction motor is mounted between a dry clutch module and a manual gearbox. A slave cylinder is mounted within the rotor of the traction motor to reduce axial length. The rotor is fixedly coupled to an engine crankshaft. The stator may be cooled by circulating engine coolant through the housing. The stator and the rotor may be cooled by spraying transmission fluid into a sealed motor cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Steven Anatole Frait, Mark Thomas Weston, Kyle Mattinson, Stanley L. Bower, Keith A. Devereaux, Kevin Mackenzie
  • Publication number: 20190111790
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a hybrid vehicle during operating conditions where vehicle braking is requested. In one example, regenerative braking is allocated to vehicle axles responsive to wheel torques of respective vehicle axles in response to an anti-lock braking system being activated. Additionally, friction braking torque is allocated to vehicle axles responsive to the anti-lock braking system being activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Dale Scott Crombez, David John Messih, Yanan Zhao, Ming Lang Kuang, Walter Joseph Ortmann, Joseph Jay Torres, Stanley L. Bower, JR.
  • Patent number: 6453665
    Abstract: An air/fuel control system and method for controlling an air/fuel ratio entering an engine are disclosed. The system comprises a controller and two sensors. In operation, a first feedback loop is created around the engine to control the oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas. A second feedback loop is created around the engine and emission control device to adjust the air/fuel ratio. An emission control device model is used to modify the air/fuel ratio adjustment. A learned integral bias table, responsive to engine speed and engine load, is provided in the second feedback loop. Entries in the learned integral bias table are modified, one at a time, based upon integrated measurements of the downstream oxygen concentration made while the engine and catalyst are under stable operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley L. Bower, Jr., Donald J. Lewis, Kevin Ronald Carlstrom, Stephen L. Hahn