Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Other

Christopher Stephen O'Connor

Jacob Wookeun Lee

Jamel E Belwafa

Saeed David Barbat

Mohamed Ridha Baccouche

Ryan John Craig

Thierry Guimberteau

Elizabeth G Owen

Keith Trudgeon

Akshay Kulkarni

A restraint system includes an instrument panel having an exterior panel directed downward, an airbag having an uninflated position behind the exterior panel and having a left chamber and a right chamber, a left inflator coupled to the left chamber, a right inflator coupled to the right chamber, and a controller programmed to selectively activate each inflator to one of a high output and a low output based on an impact angle.

Restraint system

A system includes a sensor, a controller, and a seatbelt retractor. The controller is programmed to receive a signal from the sensor indicating detection of a vehicle front oblique impact. The seatbelt retractor includes a load limiting mechanism selectively releasable from a high load mode to a low load mode. The controller is programmed to release the load limiting mechanism from the high load mode to the low load mode at a predetermined time in response to a signal from the sensor indicating a vehicle front oblique impact.

Belt load modulation for vehicle front oblique impacts

A variable radius cam mechanism is configured for use in a weight lifting apparatus. The variable radius cam mechanism includes a disk configured to rotate about an axis. The cam mechanism includes a cable guide coupled to the disk and defining a path for a cable and a radial tangent distance between the cable and the axis. The cam mechanism further includes one or more actuators coupled to the disk and the cable guide and configured to move the cable guide relative to the disk to change the radial tangent distance during rotation about the axis. The cam mechanism includes a controller programmed to operate the one or more actuators to cause the one or more actuators to move the cable guide to change the radial tangent distance thereby changing a force transferred through the cam mechanism.

Dynamically variable radius cam for weight lifting apparatus

A weight training apparatus includes a telescoping pivot arm comprised of a concentric arrangement of an outer tube and an inner tube and configured to pivot about an axis and receive a weight at a predetermined position. The weight training apparatus further includes an actuator attached to the telescoping pivot arm and configured to cause relative motion between the inner tube and the outer tube to change a length between the predetermined position and the axis. The weight training apparatus further includes a sensor configured to output a signal indicative of an angular position of the telescoping pivot arm about the axis and a controller programmed to operate the actuator to cause the length to change based on the signal to achieve a target resistance profile.

Dynamically adaptive weight lifting apparatus

A restraint system includes an instrument panel. The restraint system includes an airbag coupled to the instrument panel and having an impact panel facing away from the instrument panel when the airbag is inflated. The impact panel has a left half and a right half. A left tether is releasably coupled to the instrument panel and to the left half of the impact panel. A right tether is releasably coupled to the instrument panel and to the right half of the impact panel. A controller is programmed to selectively release one of the left and right tethers based on an impact angle.

A vehicle includes a frame, a subframe, a powertrain, a steering gear, and a bracket. The subframe is fastened to the frame at a subframe attachment point, and the subframe is movable relative to the frame along a collision path in response to a frontal collision. The powertrain is attached to the subframe. The steering gear is coupled to the subframe and disposed in the collision path between the powertrain and the subframe attachment point. The bracket is attached to the powertrain and disposed in the collision path between the powertrain and the steering gear. The bracket is positioned to wedge the steering gear between the subframe and the frame during the frontal collision to deform the subframe at the subframe attachment point.

Vehicle subframe assembly

A frangible vehicle sub-frame joint between a sub-frame and compartment pan. The sub-frame defines a clearance area forward of a collar. In a collision event, the collar is separated into a breakaway portion and a portion that is retained by the sub-frame. The breakaway portion breaks into a clearance area defined in front of the frame joint when the sub-frame is subjected to a front end impact.

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Livonia, MI, United States of America

Christopher Stephen O'Connor