Patents by Inventor Wesley Edward Burkman

Wesley Edward 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: 20180043847
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes a contactor including a coil and relay, a traction battery, a load, and a controller configured to transfer current from the traction battery through the coil to pre-charge the load without causing the relay to close such that a voltage drop across the relay falls below a threshold value, and subsequently cause the relay to close.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Wesley Edward BURKMAN, Robert BOLDUC, Benjamin A. TABATOWSKI-BUSH, Arnold Kweku MENSAH-BROWN
  • Publication number: 20180043783
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes a relay and coil of a contactor. The relay is configured to transfer current between a traction battery and an electrical load when closed. The system also includes a controller configured to operate a switch such that current flow from the traction battery through the coil and switch, and bypassing the relay, causes the relay to close to permit pre-charging of the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Benjamin A. TABATOWSKI-BUSH, Arnold Kweku MENSAH-BROWN, Wesley Edward BURKMAN, Robert BOLDUC
  • Patent number: 9853435
    Abstract: An exemplary busbar assembly includes a first layer, and a second layer having a portion that contacts the first layer and a portion that is spaced from the first layer to provide an opening between the first layer and the second layer. An exemplary method of managing thermal energy includes contacting a first layer and a second layer in a first area of a busbar, and separating, in a second area of the busbar, the first layer from the second layer to provide an opening between the first layer and the second layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Wesley Edward Burkman
  • Patent number: 9713965
    Abstract: An example method includes intentionally precharging a powertrain of an electric vehicle for an first time period that is different than a second precharge time period. An example electric vehicle assembly includes a precharge contactor transitionable back and forth between an open state and a closed state, a first main contactor, a second main contactor, and a controller configured to selectively close the second main contactor after the precharge contactor has been closed for a first time period that is different than a second precharge time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wesley Edward Burkman, Ryan J. Skaff, Karin Lovett, Bryan Michael Bolger
  • Patent number: 9660379
    Abstract: An exemplary vehicle connector assembly includes, among other things, a first housing, and a second housing configured to selectively engage the first housing in a first position to accommodate a first take-out location. The first housing is further configured to engage the second housing in a second position to accommodate a second take-out location different than the first take-out location. An exemplary electrical connection method includes, among other things, securing a first housing of a connector to a second housing in a first position to accommodate a first take-out location. The first housing is securable to the second housing in a second position to accommodate a second take-out location instead of the first take-out location. The first position circumferentially offset from the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Wesley Edward Burkman
  • Publication number: 20170125785
    Abstract: A fuse assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a housing, a fuse received within a receptacle of the housing and a retention device configured to retain the fuse within the receptacle and cover a conductive surface of the fuse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Wesley Edward Burkman, Eric Scott Smolen
  • Publication number: 20170028857
    Abstract: A charging system for a high voltage battery includes a pair of contactors each electrically connected to one of positive and negative terminals of the battery and configured to enable charging of the battery when closed; and a controller programmed to generate a notification indicating that one of the contactors is welded closed based on port voltage values achieved while issuing a predetermined sequence of open and close commands to the contactors after charge completion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Philip Michael Gonzales, Vineeth Seshadri Kallur, Masahiro Kimoto, Wesley Edward Burkman, Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush
  • Patent number: 9478779
    Abstract: A traction battery assembly is provided which may include first and second arrays spaced apart and each having a plurality of battery cells. The battery cells may each have a positive and a negative terminal on a cell face facing the other array. The cells may be oriented in tilted stacks such that the terminals of at least one of the cells of the first array are aligned with oppositely charged terminals of two different cells of the second array. The assembly may also include a frame supporting and orienting the cells such that the cells of the arrays are tilted at opposing and inversely equal angles which are based on a width and length of each battery cell to facilitate the alignment of the terminals of at least one of the cells of the first array with the oppositely charged terminals of two different cells of the second array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Wesley Edward Burkman
  • Publication number: 20160056430
    Abstract: A traction battery assembly is provided which may include first and second arrays spaced apart and each having a plurality of battery cells. The battery cells may each have a positive and a negative terminal on a cell face facing the other array. The cells may be oriented in tilted stacks such that the terminals of at least one of the cells of the first array are aligned with oppositely charged terminals of two different cells of the second array. The assembly may also include a frame supporting and orienting the cells such that the cells of the arrays are tilted at opposing and inversely equal angles which are based on a width and length of each battery cell to facilitate the alignment of the terminals of at least one of the cells of the first array with the oppositely charged terminals of two different cells of the second array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventor: Wesley Edward Burkman
  • Publication number: 20150329006
    Abstract: An example method includes intentionally precharging a powertrain of an electric vehicle for an first time period that is different than a second precharge time period. An example electric vehicle assembly includes a precharge contactor transitionable back and forth between an open state and a closed state, a first main contactor, a second main contactor, and a controller configured to selectively close the second main contactor after the precharge contactor has been closed for a first time period that is different than a second precharge time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Wesley Edward Burkman, Ryan J. Skaff, Karin Lovett, Bryan Michael Bolger