Patents by Inventor Wanfeng LI

Wanfeng LI 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: 20260188571
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a spatially varying permanent magnet with enhanced resistance to demagnetization is provided. The method starts by aligning magnetic particles in a powder form using an alignment fixture. The electromagnet's pole pieces are configured with materials of varying magnetic permeabilities to control the magnetic field's orientation and strength. By adjusting these properties, the magnetic particles are aligned in different regions of the magnetizable material to create spatially varying magnetic properties. Finally, the permanent magnet is formed with at least one inclined easy axis in specific regions, which increases its resistance to demagnetization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2024
    Publication date: July 2, 2026
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Wanfeng Li, Franco Leonardi, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20260120945
    Abstract: A method for forming magnets includes compacting particles of a metallic powder to form a magnet with homogeneous coercivity. The method further includes thermal gradient annealing the magnet to selectively promote grain growth within the magnet such that grain size of the magnet decreases in a direction of a temperature gradient corresponding to regions of lower temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2024
    Publication date: April 30, 2026
    Inventors: Wanfeng Li, Chuanbing Rong, Michael W. Degner
  • Patent number: 12424891
    Abstract: A rotor for an electric machine includes a core comprised of stacked laminations that define pockets between a hub portion and a pole portion. Each of the pockets are configured to receive magnetic material and define center cavities between regions of magnetic material to eliminate a flux leakage path between the magnetic materials. A cured mixture including an epoxy and a magnetic powder is disposed within the center cavities. The magnetic material may include sintered magnets and a cured mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2025
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Franco Leonardi, Chuanbing Rong, Chun Tang, Wanfeng Li, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20250285793
    Abstract: Magnets having various portions of different densities and resistivities are disclosed. In a refinement, the various portions may have the same composition but different physical structures. Unique dies may be used to during processing, such as during sintering to manufacture the magnets. The die may include conductive and non-conductive surfaces that contact the green magnetic powder mixture during sintering such that the electrical current applied to the magnetic powder mixture is managed by the conductive and non-conductive surfaces to provide unique and complex magnets. Methods of manufacturing the magnets with the dies such as field assisted sintering, i.e., spark plasma sintering, are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2025
    Publication date: September 11, 2025
    Inventors: Wanfeng Li, Michael W. Degner
  • Patent number: 12381026
    Abstract: Methods and systems for demagnetizing a rotor. The method includes, in one example, adjusting a position of magnetic poles mounted on a frame in a demagnetization system in relation to a first electric machine rotor, and decreasing the magnetization of the first electric machine rotor via operation of the demagnetization system to generate an electromagnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wanfeng Li, Franco Leonardi, Michael Degner
  • Patent number: 12334255
    Abstract: Magnets having various portions of different densities and resistivities are disclosed. In a refinement, the various portions may have the same composition but different physical structures. Unique dies may be used to during processing, such as during sintering to manufacture the magnets. The die may include conductive and non-conductive surfaces that contact the green magnetic powder mixture during sintering such that the electrical current applied to the magnetic powder mixture is managed by the conductive and non-conductive surfaces to provide unique and complex magnets. Methods of manufacturing the magnets with the dies such as field assisted sintering, i.e., spark plasma sintering, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wanfeng Li, Michael W. Degner
  • Patent number: 12327669
    Abstract: A power inductor includes a housing and a magnetic core disposed in the housing. The core includes a first segment and a second segment spaced apart from each other to define a gap. The first and second segments are supported in the housing such that they are movable relative to each other to increase and decrease the size of the gap. A passive actuator is disposed in the housing and is configured to move the second segment relative to the first segment to increase and decrease the size of the gap. The passive actuator includes a shape-memory alloy configured to expand as temperature of the inductor increases to urge the first and second segments apart to increase the gap and to contract as the temperature decreases so that the first and second segments move towards each other to decrease the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Myung Ki Sung, Wanfeng Li, Leyi Zhu
  • Publication number: 20250174396
    Abstract: Permanent magnets and methods of making the same are disclosed herein. The permanent magnets include a 3D-printed, i.e., additively manufactured, framework and an infiltrate such that there is a discrete magnetic phase and a discrete non-magnetic phase or two discrete magnetic phases. The infiltrate may provide superior strength, elasticity or magnetic properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2025
    Publication date: May 29, 2025
    Inventors: Wanfeng Li, Michael W. Degner
  • Patent number: 12243683
    Abstract: Permanent magnets and method of making the same are provided. The magnets include a magnetic layer having an insulation layer disposed thereon. The insulation layer is formed via additive manufacturing techniques such as laser melting such that it has discrete phases including a magnetic phase and an insulating phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wanfeng Li, Franco Leonardi, Michael W. Degner
  • Patent number: 12237105
    Abstract: Permanent magnets and methods of making the same are disclosed herein. The permanent magnets include a 3D-printed, i.e., additively manufactured, framework and an infiltrate such that there is a discrete magnetic phase and a discrete non-magnetic phase or two discrete magnetic phases. The infiltrate may provide superior strength, elasticity or magnetic properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wanfeng Li, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20240420879
    Abstract: Methods and systems for demagnetizing a rotor. The method includes, in one example, adjusting a position of magnetic poles mounted on a frame in a demagnetization system in relation to a first electric machine rotor, and decreasing the magnetization of the first electric machine rotor via operation of the demagnetization system to generate an electromagnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2023
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Inventors: Wanfeng Li, Franco Leonardi, Michael Degner
  • Publication number: 20240355514
    Abstract: A permanent magnet formed by additively manufacturing magnetic phases and buffer phases is disclosed. The buffer phase(s) may improve performance, enhance mechanical properties and allow the magnet to better tolerate stresses such that defects such as cracking do not occur or are less likely to occur. The buffer phase may be a magnetic or non-magnetic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2024
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Inventors: Wanfeng Li, Chuanbing Rong, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20240249877
    Abstract: A method of processing an anisotropic permanent magnet includes forming anisotropic flakes from a bulk magnet alloy, each of the anisotropic flakes having an easy magnetization direction with respect to a surface of the flake and combining the anisotropic flakes with a binder to form a mixture. The method further includes extruding or rolling the mixture without applying a magnetic field such that the easy magnetization directions of the anisotropic flakes align to form one or more layers having a magnetization direction aligned with the easy magnetization directions of the anisotropic flakes, and producing the anisotropic permanent magnet from the layers having the magnetization direction such that the anisotropic permanent magnet has a magnetization with a specific orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2024
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Inventors: Wanfeng LI, Chuanbing RONG, Franco LEONARDI, Michael W. DEGNER
  • Patent number: 12046399
    Abstract: A permanent magnet formed by additively manufacturing magnetic phases and buffer phases is disclosed. The buffer phase(s) may improve performance, enhance mechanical properties and allow the magnet to better tolerate stresses such that defects such as cracking do not occur or are less likely to occur. The buffer phase may be a magnetic or non-magnetic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wanfeng Li, Chuanbing Rong, Michael W. Degner
  • Patent number: 11948733
    Abstract: A method of processing an anisotropic permanent magnet includes forming anisotropic flakes from a hulk magnet alloy, each of the anisotropic flakes having an easy magnetization direction with respect to a surface of the flake and combining the anisotropic flakes with a binder to form a mixture. The method further includes extruding or rolling the mixture without applying a magnetic field such that the easy magnetization directions of the anisotropic flakes align to form one or more layers having a magnetization direction aligned with the easy magnetization directions of the anisotropic flakes, and producing the anisotropic permanent magnet from the layers having the magnetization direction such that the anisotropic permanent magnet has a magnetization with a specific orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Wanfeng Li, Chuanbing Rong, Franco Leonardi, Michael W. Degner
  • Patent number: 11923133
    Abstract: Permanent magnets and method of making the same are provided. The magnets include a magnetic layer having an insulation layer disposed thereon. The insulation layer is formed via additive manufacturing techniques such as laser melting such that that it has discrete phases including a magnetic phase and an insulating phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wanfeng Li, Franco Leonardi, Michael W. Degner
  • Patent number: 11920224
    Abstract: A magnet structure includes columnar grains of rare earth permanent magnet phase aligned in a same direction and arranged to form bulk anisotropic rare earth alloy magnet having a boundary defined by opposite ends of the columnar grains and lacking triple junction regions, and rare earth alloy diffused onto opposite ends of the bulk anisotropic rare earth alloy magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wanfeng Li, Feng Liang, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20240071666
    Abstract: Permanent magnets and method of making the same are provided. The magnets include a magnetic layer having an insulation layer disposed thereon. The insulation layer is formed via additive manufacturing techniques such as laser melting such that that it has discrete phases including a magnetic phase and an insulating phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Wanfeng Li, Franco Leonardi, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20240055168
    Abstract: Magnets having various portions of different densities and resistivities are disclosed. In a refinement, the various portions may have the same composition but different physical structures. Unique dies may be used to during processing, such as during sintering to manufacture the magnets. The die may include conductive and non-conductive surfaces that contact the green magnetic powder mixture during sintering such that the electrical current applied to the magnetic powder mixture is managed by the conductive and non-conductive surfaces to provide unique and complex magnets. Methods of manufacturing the magnets with the dies such as field assisted sintering, i.e., spark plasma sintering, are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Wanfeng Li, Michael W. Degner
  • Publication number: 20230412010
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for producing a rotor element for a rotor of an electric machine. The method includes screen printing at least one permanent magnetic material and a non-permanent magnetic material to form the rotor element, simultaneously sintering the permanent magnetic material and the non-permanent magnetic material, and magnetizing the permanent magnetic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Raphael Koch, Wanfeng Li