Patents by Inventor Thomas Joseph Cusumano

Thomas Joseph Cusumano 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: 11912166
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for controlling output of a fuel cell that generates electrical power for an electric machine that propels a vehicle. In one example, a driver demand power reduction is anticipated and output of the fuel cell is adjusted before the driver demand power is reduced so that a greater amount of electric charge may be stored in an electric energy storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Beck, Walter Joseph Ortmann, Kenneth James Miller, Thomas Joseph Cusumano
  • Publication number: 20200391615
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for controlling output of a fuel cell that generates electrical power for an electric machine that propels a vehicle. In one example, a driver demand power reduction is anticipated and output of the fuel cell is adjusted before the driver demand power is reduced so that a greater amount of electric charge may be stored in an electric energy storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: David Beck, Walter Joseph Ortmann, Kenneth James Miller, Thomas Joseph Cusumano
  • Patent number: 9947945
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack is housed within a fuel cell stack enclosure. Air is used to ventilate the fuel cell stack enclosure. The air may be pulled from an air stream used to cool a high voltage battery. The air may also be pulled from a vehicle compartment such as a vehicle trunk or vehicle cabin. Filters are used to remove particulate matter from the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Cusumano, Deborah Diane Pittman, Donald Paul Alessi, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9353672
    Abstract: An exemplary cooling system includes, among other things, a first pump to supply coolant to a cylinder head or cylinder block of an engine, a second pump to supply coolant to a cylinder block or cylinder head of the engine. A control unit governs the first pump and second pump. Fluid return channels recirculate coolant to the pumps. The first and second pumps are arranged to backflow coolant through the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Peter Bilezikjian, Kenneth J. Jackson, Valerie Anne Nelson, Thomas Joseph Cusumano, Elmer Sidney Foster
  • Publication number: 20160031292
    Abstract: A vehicle climate control system includes a condenser, a compressor, and a loop fluidly connecting the condenser and compressor. The system also includes a valve arrangement disposed within the loop. The valve arrangement includes a thermal expansion valve integrated with a solenoid valve. The solenoid valve has a powered closed state to prevent fluid flow into an evaporator and a non-powered open state to allow fluid flow through the thermal expansion valve into the evaporator. The evaporator is for cooling a cabin. The system further includes a controller programmed to, in response to a request for cooling of the cabin, command the solenoid valve from the powered state to the non-powered state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Mark G. SMITH, Kenneth J. JACKSON, Thomas Joseph CUSUMANO
  • Patent number: 9079582
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine and a non-selectable-gear transmission having an electric machine mechanically coupled to the engine. The vehicle may have one or more controllers programmed to, in response to a request for passive neutral mode, pull-down the engine and inhibit engine pull-up while disabling the electric machine such that the vehicle coasts with minimal rotational inertia and electrical losses. The one or more controllers may be further programmed to, in response to a subsequent request for drive mode during the passive neutral mode, permit engine pull-up while enabling the electric machine such that the vehicle resumes drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Cusumano, Stefan Paul Pototschnik, Jonathan Andrew Butcher, Paul Stephen Bryan
  • Publication number: 20150066261
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine and a non-selectable-gear transmission having an electric machine mechanically coupled to the engine. The vehicle may have one or more controllers programmed to, in response to a request for passive neutral mode, pull-down the engine and inhibit engine pull-up while disabling the electric machine such that the vehicle coasts with minimal rotational inertia and electrical losses. The one or more controllers may be further programmed to, in response to a subsequent request for drive mode during the passive neutral mode, permit engine pull-up while enabling the electric machine such that the vehicle resumes drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Cusumano, Stefan Paul Pototschnik, Jonathan Andrew Butcher, Paul Stephen Bryan
  • Publication number: 20150007783
    Abstract: An exemplary cooling system includes, among other things, a first pump to supply coolant to a cylinder head of an engine, a second pump to supply coolant to a cylinder block of the engine, a control unit that governs the first pump and second pump, and at least two fluid return channels to recirculate coolant to the pumps. The first and second pumps are arranged to backflow coolant through the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: John Peter Bilezikjian, Kenneth J. Jackson, Valerie Anne Nelson, Thomas Joseph Cusumano, Elmer Sidney Foster
  • Publication number: 20090191805
    Abstract: A fuel cell stack is housed within a fuel cell stack enclosure. Air is used to ventilate the fuel cell stack enclosure. The air may be pulled from an air stream used to cool a high voltage battery. The air may also be pulled from a vehicle compartment such as a vehicle trunk or vehicle cabin. Filters are used to remove particulate matter from the air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Cusumano, Deborah Diane Pittman, Donald Paul Alessi, JR.