Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Emad Al-Regib

Todd Curtis Spaulding

Brian J Deurloo

Susan Wyatt

Ronald Gaw

Derek Kinch

Richard Reynolds Hathaway

Jeffrey James Tumavitch

Brian Richard Light

Mark Edward Zyskowski

Matthew Stephen Eiszler

Bryant L Poynter

Craig Matthew Renneker

Zheng Liang

Gerard Patrick Kuchta

Kristen R Mannion

Robert Sunde

Niaz Khwaja

Salim Sandakli

Eric S Richardson

Methods and systems are provided for a vent device. In one example, a system includes a vent device including a body that extends through a housing, wherein a spherical flow element is arranged in the body adjacent to a cap through which gases flow. The cap includes openings between it and the body that allow gases to vent to an ambient atmosphere.

Vent device

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle transmission system that includes a transmission component and an electro-mechanical actuator coupled to the transmission component. The electro-mechanical actuator includes an electric motor and a solenoid that are configured to maintain the transmission component in one of a park position and a non-park position upon receipt of a command. The electric motor and the solenoid are also configured to prevent the transmission component from returning to the park position upon receipt of the command. Further, the electric motor and solenoid are configured to receive the command from a vehicle control system.

Electro-mechanical actuator for automatic transmission

A vehicle park lock assembly includes a park valve that moves in a first direction to transition a lever from a first to a second position, and moves in an opposite, second direction to permit movement of the lever from the second to the first position. The assembly includes a support block that limits movement of the park valve in the first direction. The assembly includes a biasing device coupled to the support block and the park valve. The biasing device biases the park valve to the first position. A method of supporting components of a vehicle park lock assembly includes moving a park valve in a first direction to transition a lever from a first to a second position, and moving the park valve in an opposite, second direction to permit movement of the lever from the second to the first position. The method also includes biasing the park valve to the first position with a biasing device that is coupled to the lever and a support block, and limiting movement of the park valve in the first direction using the support block.

Vehicle park lock assembly with support block and supporting method for vehicle park lock assembly

An override mechanism for a shift-by-wire transmission includes a housing having a first pin aperture and a shaft extending into the housing. The override mechanism further includes a reel plate having a second pin aperture. The reel plate is rotatably fixed to the shaft and rotatable within the housing. The override mechanism further includes a spring biasing the reel plate to a first angular position, and a pull-pin removably disposable within the first and second pin apertures to retain the reel plate in a second angular position.

Override for shifting a shift-by-wire transmission

Methods and systems are provided for a park lock system for an automatic transmission. In one example, a park lock system may include a slideable element coupled to a park rod, a lock slot formed by the slideable element, a cam coupled to an end of a shaft, the shaft positioned within a solenoid and moveable by energization of the solenoid, and a pivotable pawl adapted to couple with the lock slot. In one example, the pivotable pawl is coupled to the lock slot by energization of the solenoid, and a position of the slideable element is locked.

Park lock system for a hybrid electric vehicle

A hybrid vehicle powertrain assembly includes a combustion engine, an electric machine, an input shaft, a ratchet mechanism, and a controller. The input shaft selectively couples the engine and electric machine. The ratchet mechanism includes a base integrated with a transmission housing, a camwheel fixedly coupled to the input shaft, a pawl, and an actuator to move the pawl. The controller is programmed to, in response to receipt of an engine brake command, output an engagement command to the actuator to move the pawl toward the camwheel for engagement to prevent the input shaft from spinning. A method for controlling a hybrid vehicle powertrain is also provided herein. The method includes, responsive to receipt of an engine brake command, outputting via a controller a command for a ratchet mechanism to engage an input shaft coupled to an engine to prevent the input shaft from spinning.

Brake mechanism for hybrid vehicle engine

A transaxle and a parking actuator assembly are provided. The parking actuator assembly may include an actuator, a rack, and the biasing member. The actuator may include a pin biased towards an extended position. The rack may be configured to carry a parking rod and may define first and second ramped recesses each configured to receive the pin. The biasing member may be coupled with the rack and may be configured to bias the parking rod towards engagement with a parking mechanism.

Vehicle transaxle and parking actuator assembly

A vehicle includes both a transmission park mechanism and an electronic parking brake. As a failure management strategy, a controller monitors vehicle movement to verify that the park mechanism is successfully restraining the vehicle against movement. Specifically, when the driver releases the brake pedal with the transmission park mechanism commanded to restrain the vehicle, the controller waits for a predetermined amount of time. If the vehicle moves during this time, the controller commands application of the electronic parking brake. The controller may also command application of the electronic parking brake if the vehicle does not come to a stop after the transmission park mechanism is commanded to restrain the vehicle.

Shift-by-wire vehicle and method to verify securement

Emergency shifting is performed in a shift-by-wire (SBW) vehicle during a power failure of a main electrical supply that includes a battery. A shift actuator is configured to mechanically couple to the transmission in order to execute shift events between a plurality of shift positions (including park and neutral) using the main voltage from the main supply during normal conditions. A human-powered generator is provided for converting a manually-imparted motion to an electrical output during the power failure. A storage device (e.g., capacitor) receives the electrical output to store a power reserve to apply to the shift actuator to execute an emergency shift event in the absence of main power in response to a manual command. The generator and storage device are configured such that a maximum power reserve stored from the generator can achieve only one emergency shift event at a time.

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Westland, MI, United States of America

Emad Al-Regib