Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Visteon Global Technolgoies, Inc.

Ford Motor Company Limited

Visteon Corporation

Ford Gloabl Technologies, LLC

Brian James Andonian

Jacob Martin Povirk

Jihong Guo

Gregory James Stout

Bing Zheng

Dennis William Isken, Ii

Stuart C Salter

Joseph Jay Torres

Kenneth G Walega

Muqtada Husain

Patrick Meloche

Maged Radamis

Yasser Hindi

Paul Kenneth Dellock

David Brian Glickman

Annette Lynn Huebner

Hussein H Berry

Yixin Yao

Xiaohong Nina Duan

Michael K Liubakka

Jeffrey Robert Seaman

Andrew Monticello

Clive McKenzie

Joseph Daniel

Gustavo Luis Garcia

John Robert Saieg

Gary M Pietrzyk

Kevin M Sullivan

Richard Simon Boerema

David Alan Robertson

Edwin D Robertson

Hihong Guo

Aaron Kleinhans

Zhesheng Li

Systems and methods for operating a power take off of a vehicle are described. In one example, operation of the power take off may be maintained even when slip of a power take off clutch is detected. In particular, the power take off may be operated at a lower output until the power take off may handle larger loads.

Methods and system controlling a power take off

A water heating system for a vehicle includes, among other things, a container and an assembly of a vehicle. The assembly has a thermal energy level that increases as a result of operating the vehicle. The system further includes a path that communicates water back-and-forth between the container and the assembly to increase amount of thermal energy within water that is in the container, and an outlet configured to dispense water from the container for use by a user.

Vehicle water heating system and method

An electronic locking differential includes a lock ring and a coil that moves the lock ring to engage gears of the electronic locking differential, an energy storage capacitor that powers the coil during at least a portion of engagement of the lock ring with the gears, and a controller. The controller charges the energy storage capacitor to a first predefined voltage prior to the engagement.

Control of electronic locking differential

A wheel end assembly includes a first shaft supported on a knuckle secured to a vehicle frame, including first clutch teeth, a second shaft secured to the halfshaft, a coil, and a collar rotatably secured to the second shaft, axially displaceable relative to the first shaft, including second clutch teeth that alternately engage the first clutch teeth due to an electromagnetic field produced by energizing the coil and disengage from the first clutch teeth.

Electromagnetically actuated coupler

A clutch mechanism includes a gear including clutch teeth, a housing having axial holes, including displaceable pins, each pin fitted in one of the holes, and a plate of forged powdered metal, the plate including second teeth, axial displacement of the pins causing axial displacement of the plate relative to the gear and the housing, and engagement of the second teeth with the clutch teeth.

Clutch mechanism

A method for controlling wheel hop at a vehicle axle includes determining that one of a difference between average front and rear wheel speeds exceeds a reference difference, a frequency of a signal produced by an accelerometer mounted on the axle exceeds a reference frequency, and a frequency of a lock ring torque exceeds a second reference frequency; pulsing pressure in the wheel brakes of the axle; and reducing engine torque.

Controlling wheel hop in a vehicle axle

A method for controlling a locking differential of a motor vehicle includes locking the differential, if vehicle speed is less than a reference speed, and a wheel speed differential due to wheel slip is greater than a reference speed; and unlocking the differential and preventing its engagement, if vehicle speed is greater than the reference speed, and said wheel speed differential is less than a reference speed.

Control of an electronic locking differential

A clutch mechanism includes a coil of wire for producing an electromagnetic field, a locking ring secured against rotation within a case or housing, a gear engageable with the locking ring, and a lever that pivots in response to the electromagnetic field produced by energizing the coil causing the locking ring to engage the gear and hold the gear against rotation.

Electromagnetically actuated clutch

A differential mechanism includes a case, a gear rotatable about an axis, a lock ring held against rotation relative to the case, a lever contacting the lock ring, and an electromagnetic coil that is displaced axially when energized, pivoting the lever, engaging the lock ring with the side gear, and preventing the gear from rotating relative to the case.

Electronic locking differential

A method for controlling a locking differential includes determining a temperature-dependent reference voltage at which a coil locks the differentia, determining an electric potential of a battery, using the battery to energize the coil and lock the differential, if the electric potential is equal to or greater than the reference voltage for a current temperature, and maintaining the differential unlocked, if the electric potential is less than the reference voltage.

Voltage control of a locking differential

A method for controlling a locking differential for a vehicle includes using a coil to unlock the differential, if the vehicle stops for a period whose length is equal to or greater than a reference length, and using the coil to lock the differential, if the vehicle is moving or stopped for less than the reference length.

Control of a locking differential

A differential mechanism for transmitting power from an input to an output includes a case containing a side gear, a locking member rotatably secured to the case and axially displaceable relative to the case. The locking member alternately engages the side gear to limit rotation of the side gear relative to the case, and disengages the side gear to permit rotation of the side gear relative to the case. An electromagnetic coil assembly is supported on the case for movement toward and away from the locking member. A first actuator including an electromagnetic coil is supported on the case for moving the locking member toward engagement with the side gear in response to energizing the coil. A second actuator urges the locking member away from engagement with the side gear.

Moving coil electronic locking differential

An automotive vehicle steering system has an actuator () for steering a wheel (). A shaft () passes axially through the interior of a housing () of the actuator and through a rotor tube () journaled for rotation within the housing. On the exterior of the housing one end of the shaft is coupled to the wheel. An electric motor () within the interior of the housing rotates the rotor tube when the wheel is steered by a steering wheel. An internal screw thread () on the rotor tube and an external screw thread () on the shaft are operatively coupled by a set () of transmission rollers () to provide for bi-directional transmission of motion between the rotor tube and the shaft such that rotation of the rotor tube causes the shaft to move axially of the housing to steer the vehicle wheel and axial motion of the shaft due to wheel recovery from a turn rotates the rotor tube.

Automotive vehicle steering system having an electric motor powered linear actuator shaft for turning a steered wheel

A simulated steering feel system for use in a vehicle, Laboratory Simulator, or entertainment device employs a servo disk motor . The servo disk motor is utilized to import improved torque feedback to a steering wheel or input device.

Simulated steering feel system

The present invention involves a steer-by-wire actuating system and method of actuating road wheels of a vehicle with the steer-by-wire actuating system. The system includes a steering linkage assembly including an input shaft, an output shaft, and a gear unit linking the input shaft and the output shaft for linear movement of the output shaft to rotate the road wheels of the vehicle. The system further comprises a microcontroller for controlling an actuation strategy including normal and fault detection modes. The microcontroller is configured to receive a steering signal indicative of steering input at a steering interface. The system further includes first and second power electronic drivers in electrical communication with the microcontroller for electric power supply. The system further includes a first motor and a second motor for simultaneous operation with the steer-by-wire steering device. The first motor is in electrical communication with the first power electronic driver to receive electric power therefrom and the second motor is in electrical communication with the second power electronic driver to receive electric power therefrom. The first and second motors are connected to the input shaft for movement thereof to rotate the road wheels based on the steering signal. The first and second motors are configured to cooperate simultaneously to rotate the road wheels during the normal mode.

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Plymouth, MI, United States of America

Brian James Andonian