Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Other

Ford Global Tech.inc

John Curtis Hickey

Kenneth James Miller

Ross Dykstra Pursifull

Joseph Norman Ulrey

Douglas Raymond Martin

William Paul Perkins

Diana D Brehob

Aaron Lewis Mills

William Francis Stockhausen

Alex Maurice Miller

Mark G Smith

John Anthony DeMarco

Anthony Gerald King

Daniel Mark Schaffer

Robert Clayton Roethler

Robert Lietz

Aerodynamic lightweight electric vehicle

Methods and systems are provided for adjusting grille shutters based on engine coolant temperature and a difference in aerodynamic drag between the grille shutter positions. In one example, the grille shutters may be adjusted into a position closer to a first smaller opening when a difference in aerodynamic drag between the first and second positions is large. In other examples, the grille shutters may be adjusted into a position closer to the second larger opening when a difference in aerodynamic drag between the first and second positions is small thus maintaining the engine at lower temperatures.

Methods and systems for adjusting vehicle grille shutters based on engine operation

A system for providing efficient climate control in a vehicle. The system has an HVAC system configured to receive a user-defined temperature. The HVAC system has a cabin temperature sensor. The system has a controller coupled to the HVAC system and coupleable to a mobile device. The controller is programmed to (i) receive an estimated travel time of the vehicle from the mobile device and (ii) modify output of the HVAC system based on the travel time being below a time threshold.

HVAC system with travel time based control

Method and systems are provided for adjusting an engine load exerted on a vehicle engine by an alternator mechanically coupled to said engine. In one example, a method may include when decelerating a vehicle driven by an engine, recharging a battery by an alternator driven by said engine, and during engine idle speed control, when engine speed is less than desired, in a first mode reducing electrical power to selected devices, and in a second mode offsetting a set point of desired engine ignition timing to a new set point when engine speed is higher than desired.

Engine speed control via alternator load shedding

Systems and methods are provided to enhance the ability of a driver to safely slipstream a leading vehicle to realize a fuel economy benefit.

Automotive slipstreaming support system

In some aspects of the invention the invention will relate to conversion of an existing VW air cooled engine to liquid cooling, and in still further aspects it will relate to the design of a water jacket to maximize heat rejection of a combustion chamber and piston through perimeter cooling.

Conversion of an air-cooled engine to liquid cooling

A system and a method to control torque during a mode transition in an internal combustion engine with a fully variable intake valve is disclosed. The mode transition may be a change in the number of active cylinders in a variable displacement engine, a change in compression ratio in a variable compression ratio engine, a gear change in a transmission coupled to the engine, a traction control event, and a rapid change in driver demand.

Torque control method and system in an engine with a fully variable intake valve

A system which utilizes engine coolant to selectively heat and cool fluid or oil used by another vehicle system, such as a transmission . System includes a first cooling path or circuit having a fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger which is fluidly coupled to engine . The system further includes a second fluid flow circuit , which contains and communicates transmission oil or fluid to and from transmission . Circuit includes a conventional solenoid controlled shunt valve which is fluidly coupled to transmission and to fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger . Valve is effective to selectively channel transmission oil through heat exchanger based on one or more parameters (e.g., ambient temperature and transmission oil temperature), thereby relatively rapidly heating the transmission oil under certain operating conditions.

System and method for heating vehicle fluids

An internal combustion engine includes a piston reciprocably housed within a cylinder and hybrid intake valves, with one intake valve being driven by a camshaft and at least one intake valve being selectively powered by a power source other than the camshaft, such as a solenoid.

Internal combustion engine having hybrid cylinder valve actuation system

An internal combustion engine having a cylinder and piston located therein has a charge motion control valve for controlling kinetic energy within an air charge flowing through an intake runner and into the cylinder of the engine. The charge motion control valve includes an actuator for controlling the position of the valve and an aerodynamic, wing-shaped valve disc being rotatable from a closed position to one or more open positions. The valve disc has leading and trailing segments. The leading segment masks airflow at small opening values of the valve and the trailing segment acts to prevent flow separation when the valve is in a wide-open throttle position.

Growing community of inventors

Belleville, MI, United States of America

John Curtis Hickey