Robert Boschgmbh

Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Kenneth O Jahr

William T Harvey

Shari F Stottler

Paul L Rossi

Kevin A Grabowski

Felix Nedorezov

Dewey McKinley Sims, Jr

Helmut G Schwegler

Wolfgang B Weinbrecht

Adam Nathan Banker

Hong Jiang

Steven Anatole Frait

Alexander O'Connor Gibson

Todd Mccullough

Michael T Streb

A hybrid electric vehicle includes an engine, an electric motor, a transmission gearbox, and a clutch selectively coupling the engine to the electric motor. Engine speed can drop dramatically when operating at high speeds during a scheduled shift event in the gearbox. To reduce the effects felt by the engine speed change, at least one controller is provided and programmed to slip the clutch when locked in response to a drive torque, estimated to be present upon completion of an anticipated shift event, exceeding available negative torque, such as regenerative torque and engine braking torque.

Controlling a clutch between an engine and a motor during a shift event in a hybrid vehicle

A method of starting a vehicle may include providing power to a motor to spin the motor at a speed at least equal to a target engine cranking speed while a clutch configured to couple an engine and motor is open. The method may also include cutting power to the motor in response to the motor achieving the speed, and locking the clutch to couple the rotating inertias of the motor and a transmission with the engine to start the engine.

Cold temperature engine start

A hydraulic pressure damper element is manufactured by shaping a stainless steel tube; flattened each end of the tube; and sealing a gas within the tube. Wire retaining devices may also be attached to the ends of the damper in order to support the device within a fuel rail tube in a fuel system.

Low cost hydraulic damper element and method for producing the same

A fuel manifold having a rigid base portion with a fuel injector pocket defined therein, a top wall portion, a first substantially flat thin-walled portion extending between the rigid base portion and the top wall portion and a second substantially flat thin-walled portion extending between the rigid base portion and the top wall portion. The base portion, the top wall portion and the first and second thin-walled portions are defined by a one-piece aluminum extrusion and together define a fuel cavity that extends into the base portion and communicates with the fuel injector pocket.

Self-damping manifold

A fuel rail assembly comprising a fuel rail and a damper assembly in the fuel rail. The damper assembly includes a damper having an end and an inner surface defining a cavity, and a sealing member at least partially received in the end and bonded to the inner surface to substantially seal the cavity. The sealing member is preferably a metal wire that includes a sealing portion bonded to the inner surface to substantially seal the cavity. The bond is preferably formed by induction brazing, and the sealing member is coated with copper to facilitate the brazing. The invention also provides a fuel rail assembly comprising a fuel rail having a longitudinal axis and an inner wall. A damper assembly in the fuel rail includes a damper, and a spring locator coupled with the damper, the spring locator having two positioning portions outwardly biased to engage the inner wall of the fuel rail and position the damper assembly axially in the fuel rail. The spring locator is preferably a metal wire. Most preferably, the sealing member and the spring locator are the same device that both seals the damper and locates the damper assembly inside the fuel rail.

Spring locator for damping device

Growing community of inventors

West Bloomfield, MI, United States of America

Kenneth O Jahr