Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Motor Company Limited

Automotive Composites Consortium

Carl Frederick Johnson

Jeffrey Scott Dahl

Norman Gerald Chavka

Eric Daniel Kleven

Larry V Reatherford

Raymond Silva

Brenda M Vyletel

Gerald Norman Chavka

Matthew John Zaluzec

Zhiyong Cedric Xia

Oludele Olusegun Popoola

Feng Ren

Vijitha Senaka Kiridena

Daniel Quinn Houston

Elizabeth Therese Hetrick

Ray Jahn

Glen Smith

Timothy James Dawda

Douglas G Peterson

James E DeVries

Armando Matthew Joaquin

A system and method for incrementally forming a workpiece. A first manipulator is configured to move a first tool in multiple directions along a first surface of a workpiece. A second manipulator is configured to move a second tool in multiple directions along a second surface of the workpiece. The first and second tools move along first and second predetermined paths of motion and exert force to form the workpiece.

System and method for incrementally forming a workpiece

A SMC lamination line is disclosed that has an upper carrier film and a lower carrier film with oriented chopped fibers being deposited between the carrier films. Resin paste or adhesive is provided to retain oriented fibers on the lower carrier film. A guide roller guides the carrier film in close proximity to an in-feed conveyor that feeds oriented chopped fiber unto the lower carrier film. The guide roller is preferably less than the diameter of the end roller of the feed conveyor. The guide roller is also preferably within the arc of movement of the ends of the oriented chopped fibers to ensure a smooth and non-disruptive transfer of the oriented chopped fibers to the lower carrier film.

Fiber transfer apparatus for laminating fiber-reinforced sheet molding compound

An apparatus for making SMC comprising a conveyor belt assembly having a feed end and a transfer end. The conveyor belt assembly including a belt having an outer surface and an inner surface. A cutting support structure disposed between the feed end and the transfer end, and in contact with the inner surface. A cutting wheel having a perimeter surface and disposed adjacent to the cutting support structure. A feed tension member proximate the outer surface and disposed between the feed end and the cutting wheel. The feed tension member positions the fiber rovings onto the outer surface to be cut by the cutting wheel. The feed tension member, cutting wheel and belt cooperate to feed the fiber rovings at a feed rate, cut the fiber rovings into a plurality of parallel discontinuous fibers, and convey the fibers at substantially the same rate as the feed rate.

Apparatus and method for making fiber reinforced sheet molding compound

A fuel injector. The fuel injector includes a fuel channel configured to receive pressurized gaseous fuel from a fuel rail, and a nozzle in fluid communication with the fuel channel. The fuel injector also includes a pintle having an opened position and a closed position, wherein pressurized gaseous fuel is delivered from the nozzle when the pintle is in the opened position and wherein introduction of the pressurized gaseous fuel is substantially blocked when the pintle is in the closed position. A support aligns the pintle with the nozzle. A pintle controller is configured to selectively move the pintle between the closed position and the opened position.

Gaseous fuel injector

A fuel injector. The fuel injector can include a fuel channel configured to receive pressurized gaseous fuel from a fuel rail, and a nozzle in fluid communication with the fuel channel, wherein the nozzle includes tapered portions configured to be seated adjacent a cylinder head. The fuel injector can also include a pintle having an opened position and a closed position, wherein pressurized gaseous fuel is introduced from the nozzle directly into a combustion chamber when the pintle is in the opened position and wherein introduction of the pressurized gaseous fuel is substantially blocked when the pintle is in the closed position. The fuel injector can also include a pintle controller configured to selectively move the pintle between the closed position and the opened position.

Direct gaseous fuel injector

Methods for the manufacture of reinforcing preforms for structural composite products. Minimum contact eyelets reduce friction in the supply provide chopped reinforcing materials to both of said first and second mold members, and spraying said chopped reinforcing materials into both of said first and second mold members.

Processing systems for automated manufacture of preforms

The present invention is a disassembly apparatus and method for disassembling a workpiece having at least two layers joined together by welding or other bonding processes at bonding points. The method includes the steps of securing the workpiece into a fixture to prevent movement of one of the layers. The apparatus includes a sonotrode and a holding device. The method further includes moving the sonotrode to contact the workpiece to apply a predetermined amount of contact pressure to the workpiece. The sonotrode in contact with the layer on a side opposite the anvil is then vibrated at a predetermined frequency until the layers become disassembled. An apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.

Method and apparatus for disassembling joined layers

System for the manufacture of reinforcing preforms for structural composite products. The air flows for the manufacturing stations are optimized by providing a separate air system for each cell and providing seals between the net-edge blocks and the mold portions.

Air flow systems for automated preform processing

Systems for the manufacture of reinforcing preforms for structural composite products. Minimum contact eyelets reduce friction in the supply system for string reinforcing materials.

Systems for the manufacture of reinforcing preforms for structural composite products. The robotic application system allows use of a single robot in a multiple cell system, and provides offline programming of the robotic routine. The robot moves between the cells on a track system.

Robotic systems for automated preform processing

A method of manufacturing a fiber reinforced article. A first fiber reinforcing layer is impregnated with an initiator. A second fiber reinforcing layer is impregnated with a cyclic resin. The first and second reinforcing layers are brought into contact with one another. Heat is applied to the first and second reinforcing layers and causing the initiator to react with the cyclic resin. The initiator causes the ring-like structure on the cyclic resin to open. The open rings polymerize, crystallize and often cross-link with one another. The polymerization and cross-linking reaction forms a solid polymer about the first and second reinforcement layers. The polymer solidifies and forms an integral fiber reinforced article.

Method for manufacturing a fiber reinforced article

A method of eliminating scrubbing noise between metal to metal (or metal to ceramic) contact members that experience articulating swiveling interengagement at high force levels in excess of 5,000 psi. The method comprises: (a) preparing the interface to present at least one fresh mechanically adherable stiff surface; (b) thermally spraying a top coating thereonto consisting of at least one of (i) a self-lubricating metal, ceramic material or metal alloy, and (ii) a compliant metal; and (c) placing the coating interface into service to subject it to repeating articulating swiveling contact that functions to microweld the coating to the surface under normal operating conditions.

Durable noise suppressing coating between interengaging articulating

A molded article is prepared by forming a glass core, treating the glass core to induce residual stresses therein, inserting the core into a mold, injecting resin into the mold, curing the resin, fracturing the core to produce glass particles, and removing the glass particles from the molded article.

Resin molding process utilizing a glass core

A molded article is prepared by forming a core of glass beads secured together with a binder, inserting the core into a mold, injecting resin into the mold, curing the resin, solubilizing the binder to detach the glass beads from one another, and removing the glass beads from the molded article.

Resin molding process utilizing a core prepared from glass beads and a

Automobile panels and body parts are manufactured using a core element (10, 10'). The core element (10, 10') may be blow molded into a hollow core member for use in liquid resin molding. The core element (10') may include molded channels (26) extending longitudinally therealong to facilitate the flow of liquid about the core element (10') during the molding process. The core element (10') may also or alternatively include a corrugated portion (32) to allow bending of the rigid core (10') during placement within the mold (34). After placement in a mold (34), a liquid molding process is initiated to form the automobile panels and body parts.

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Belleville, MI, United States of America

Carl Frederick Johnson