Patents by Inventor Timothy Offerle

Timothy Offerle 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).

  • Power steering assembly mounts with tapered protrusions
    Patent number: 10322750
    Abstract: Example power steering assembly mounts with tapered protrusions apparatus disclosed herein include a power steering assembly. The power steering assembly includes a housing. The housing includes a flexible mount and a rigid mount to attach the power steering assembly to a subframe. The rigid mount includes a tapered protrusion to deform the subframe to reduce movement of the rigid mount relative to the subframe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Offerle, John Dalpiaz, Timothy Snider, Donald Mattern, Matthew Brimmer
  • POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY MOUNTS WITH TAPERED PROTRUSIONS
    Publication number: 20180273088
    Abstract: Example power steering assembly mounts with tapered protrusions apparatus disclosed herein include a power steering assembly. The power steering assembly includes a housing. The housing includes a flexible mount and a rigid mount to attach the power steering assembly to a subframe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Timothy Offerle, John Dalpiaz, Timothy Snider, Donald Mattern, Matthew Brimmer
  • System and method to control hydraulic pump to provide steering and braking assist
    Patent number: 8191974
    Abstract: A method to control a hydraulic pump of a vehicle, the pump coupled to at least a power steering system and a power braking system is provided. The method comprises measuring steering and braking information using a brake sensor and a steering sensor; and adjusting output of said hydraulic pump based on measured information from said sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Offerle, Brian D. Rutkowski, Mujeeb Ijaz, Ken Jackson
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR NOISE CONTROL IN HYDRAULIC PUMPS
    Publication number: 20120020807
    Abstract: A method for attenuating hydraulic pump flow pulses is described. The method includes pumping a fluid at a first hydraulic flow rate to an operating device via the pump, the flow being in the form of discrete fluid pulses. Further, the method includes obtaining values of plurality of parameters related to the pulses produced by the pump and attenuating the pulses by modifying the first hydraulic flow rate to a second hydraulic flow rate based on the obtained values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: CHRISTIAN FERNHOLZ, TIMOTHY OFFERLE, DANIEL TUTTLE, JEFF WILLIAMS
  • System and Method to Control Hydraulic Pump to Provide Steering and Braking Assist
    Publication number: 20070257550
    Abstract: A method to control a hydraulic pump of a vehicle, the pump coupled to at least a power steering system and a power braking system is provided. The method comprises measuring steering and braking information using a brake sensor and a steering sensor; and adjusting output of said hydraulic pump based on measured information from said sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Inventors: Timothy Offerle, Brian Rutkowski, Mujeeb Ijaz, Ken Jackson
  • UTILITY VEHICLE USING BRAKE-STEER ASSISTED TURNING
    Publication number: 20060076828
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling an automotive vehicle includes selecting a brake-steer mode, selecting a transfer case so that the front wheels are driven and the rear wheel are not driven and applying brake-steer to the rear wheels to reduce the turning radius of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Publication date: April 13, 2006
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Timothy Offerle, Hongtei Tseng, Douglas Rhode, Gregory Brown
  • CONTROL SYSTEM FOR BRAKE-STEER ASSISTED PARKING AND METHOD THEREFOR
    Publication number: 20050236894
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling an automotive vehicle includes determining a steering wheel angle, determining a steering wheel direction, determining a steering wheel angular rate and applying brake-steer as a function of steering wheel angle, steering wheel angular rate and steering wheel direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Timothy Offerle, Hongtei Tseng, Douglas Rhode, Gregory Brown
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS OF CONTROLLING AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE USING BRAKE-STEER AS A FUNCTION OF STEERING WHEEL TORQUE
    Publication number: 20050236896
    Abstract: A method of controlling an automotive vehicle having a turning radius includes determining a hand wheel torque and applying brake-steer as a function of hand wheel torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Offerle, Hongtei Tseng, Craig Stephan
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING BRAKE-STEER IN AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE IN A FORWARD AND REVERSE DIRECTION
    Publication number: 20050206232
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling an automotive vehicle includes determining a forward direction and reverse direction of the vehicle and applying brake-steer in a forward position as a function of a first threshold and applying brake-steer in the reverse position as a function of a second threshold different than the first threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Timothy Offerle
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAINTAINING A TRAILER IN A STRAIGHT POSITION RELATIVE TO THE VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20050206233
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling a vehicle with a trailer comprises determining the presence of a trailer, determining a vehicle velocity, determining a steering wheel angle, and determining a rear axle side slip angle. When the rear axle side slip angle is above a predetermined value, the vehicle velocity is above a velocity threshold, and the steering wheel is about zero, brake-steer is applied to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Offerle, Craig Stephan, Douglas Rhode
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREDICTING THE POSITION OF A TRAILER RELATIVE TO A VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20050206225
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling a vehicle includes sensing a current position of the trailer relative to the vehicle, determining a vehicle steering wheel angle, determining a predicted position of the trailer based upon the current position of the steering wheel angle, and displaying to the vehicle driver the current position and the predicted position of the trailer relative to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Offerle, Craig Stephan, Gregory Brown
  • METHOD OF CONTROLLING AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE HAVING A TRAILER USING REAR AXLE SLIP ANGLE
    Publication number: 20050206229
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling a vehicle with a trailer comprises determining the presence of a trailer, determining a vehicle velocity, determining a steering wheel angle, and determining a rear axle side slip angle. When the rear axle side slip angle is above a predetermined value, the vehicle velocity is above a velocity threshold, and the steering wheel is about zero, brake-steer is applied to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Timothy Offerle
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS TO ENHANCE BRAKE-STEER OF A VEHICLE USING A CONTROLLABLE SUSPENSION COMPONENT
    Publication number: 20050206234
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling an automotive vehicle having a controllable suspension component includes applying brake-steer to at least one wheel, generating a suspension control signal in response to the brake-steer signal, and allowing at least one wheel coupled to the suspension component to articulate to reduce the turning radius of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hongtei Tseng, Timothy Offerle, Gregory Brown
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING BRAKE-STEER IN AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE IN REVERSE
    Publication number: 20050209763
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling an automotive vehicle includes generating a reverse direction signal corresponding to a reverse direction of the vehicle and generating brake-steer in response to the reverse direction signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Offerle, Hongtei Tseng, Douglas Rhode, Gregory Brown