Patents by Inventor Wesley Burkman

Wesley Burkman 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: 20230268576
    Abstract: A traction battery assembly includes a conduit having an interior that carries a thermal management fluid. A thermal bridge extends into the conduit and spans across the interior from a first side of the conduit to an opposite, second side of the conduit. A traction battery thermal transfer method includes positioning a thermal bridge relative to a conduit such that the thermal bridge extends across an interior of the conduit from a first side of the conduit to an opposite, second side of the conduit, and moving a thermal management fluid through the conduit to exchange thermal energy with the thermal bridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventor: Wesley Burkman
  • Patent number: 11491932
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle electrical system includes, among other things, a contactor enclosure, and contactor contacts housed within the contactor enclosure. A resistor is housed within the contactor enclosure or is housed within a relay enclosure outside the contactor enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wesley Burkman, Baojin Wang
  • Publication number: 20210221309
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle electrical system includes, among other things, a contactor enclosure, and contactor contacts housed within the contactor enclosure. A resistor is housed within the contactor enclosure or is housed within a relay enclosure outside the contactor enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Wesley Burkman, Baojin Wang
  • Patent number: 11018329
    Abstract: A battery assembly includes a plurality of cells stacked to form an array and a plurality of spacers each disposed between an adjacent pair of the cells. Each cell includes at least one terminal. Each of the spacers includes a retainer extending from an edge portion of the spacer. The retainers are configured to orient and engage a busbar for connecting the terminals of an adjacent pair of cells. The battery assembly may also include a busbar module. The busbar module may engage with the retainers to hold the busbar module to the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wesley Burkman, Francisco Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20190385804
    Abstract: An exemplary contactor assembly includes, among other things, a movable contact that transitions relative to a plurality of stationary contacts back and forth between a closed position and an open position. The movable contact contacts at least one of the stationary contacts with an initial contact surface and then a final contact surface when the movable contact is in the closed position. An exemplary contactor transitioning method includes, among other things, changing areas of contact between a movable contact and a plurality of stationary contacts when the movable contact is in a closed position with the plurality of stationary contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventor: Wesley Burkman
  • Publication number: 20190139716
    Abstract: An exemplary contactor assembly includes, among other things, a moveable contact that moves back and forth between an electrically coupled position with a plurality of stationary contacts, and an electrically decoupled position with the stationary contacts. A support structure is configured to limit flexing of the moveable contact when in the electrically coupled position. An exemplary support method includes, among other things, transitioning a moveable contact from an electrically decoupled position to an electrically coupled position with a plurality of stationary contacts. The method further includes limiting a flexing movement of the moveable contact with a support structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventor: Wesley Burkman
  • Patent number: 10262810
    Abstract: An exemplary contactor assembly includes, among other things, a moveable contact that moves back and forth between an electrically coupled position with a plurality of stationary contacts, and an electrically decoupled position with the stationary contacts. A support structure is configured to limit flexing of the moveable contact when in the electrically coupled position. An exemplary support method includes, among other things, transitioning a moveable contact from an electrically decoupled position to an electrically coupled position with a plurality of stationary contacts. The method further includes limiting a flexing movement of the moveable contact with a support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Wesley Burkman
  • Publication number: 20180233724
    Abstract: A battery assembly includes a plurality of cells stacked to form an array and a plurality of spacers each disposed between an adjacent pair of the cells. Each cell includes at least one terminal. Each of the spacers includes a retainer extending from an edge portion of the spacer. The retainers are configured to orient and engage a busbar for connecting the terminals of an adjacent pair of cells. The battery assembly may also include a busbar module. The busbar module may engage with the retainers to hold the busbar module to the array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Wesley BURKMAN, Francisco FERNANDEZ
  • Patent number: 9972815
    Abstract: A battery assembly includes a plurality of cells stacked to form an array and a plurality of spacers each disposed between an adjacent pair of the cells. Each cell includes at least one terminal. Each of the spacers includes a retainer extending from an edge portion of the spacer. The retainers are configured to orient and engage a busbar for connecting the terminals of an adjacent pair of cells. The battery assembly may also include a busbar module. The busbar module may engage with the retainers to hold the busbar module to the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wesley Burkman, Francisco Fernandez
  • Patent number: 9631547
    Abstract: A vehicle is disclosed that has multiple coolant paths selected by control of a valve. A valve system is configured to direct coolant from an engine to a heat exchanger according to a difference between a temperature associated with the engine and a temperature associated with the heat exchanger. The valve system is also configured to direct coolant from the engine to an electric heater and to, in response to a heat demanded from the heat exchanger being greater than a heat capability of the electric heater, request the engine to run. A method is disclosed for controlling a valve to change from an isolation position in which the valve isolates coolant circulating through an electric heater and the valve from coolant circulating through an engine to a non-isolation position in which the valve directs coolant from the engine to the electric heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Angel Fernando Porras, William David Treharne, Paul Stephen Bryan, Scott James Thompson, Wesley Burkman
  • Publication number: 20150221915
    Abstract: A battery assembly includes a plurality of cells stacked to form an array and a plurality of spacers each disposed between an adjacent pair of the cells. Each cell includes at least one terminal. Each of the spacers includes a retainer extending from an edge portion of the spacer. The retainers are configured to orient and engage a busbar for connecting the terminals of an adjacent pair of cells. The battery assembly may also include a busbar module. The busbar module may engage with the retainers to hold the busbar module to the array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Wesley BURKMAN, Francisco FERNANDEZ
  • Publication number: 20140109872
    Abstract: A vehicle is disclosed that has multiple coolant paths selected by control of a valve. A valve system is configured to direct coolant from an engine to a heat exchanger according to a difference between a temperature associated with the engine and a temperature associated with the heat exchanger. The valve system is also configured to direct coolant from the engine to an electric heater and to, in response to a heat demanded from the heat exchanger being greater than a heat capability of the electric heater, request the engine to run. A method is disclosed for controlling a valve to change from an isolation position in which the valve isolates coolant circulating through an electric heater and the valve from coolant circulating through an engine to a non-isolation position in which the valve directs coolant from the engine to the electric heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Angel Fernando Porras, William David Treharne, Paul Stephen Bryan, Scott James Thompson, Wesley Burkman