Ford Motor Company Limited

Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

University of Michigan

Kevin Richard John Ellwood

Mark Edward Nichols

Christopher Michael Seubert

Wanjiao Liu

Scott Adams

Aaron Fiala

Hiroko Ohtani

David Karl Bidner

Dimitar Petrov Filev

Raj Sohmshetty

Peter A Friedman

Shie Mannor

Ellen Cheng-chi Lee

Phillip Bonkoski

Arup Kumar Gangopadhyay

Johannes W Schwank

Scott A Wojan

Tony Misovski

Mathew John Fast

Maithri Venkat

Adarsh Bhat

Chelsea Cates

Udy Danino

An ultrasonic atomization material applicator includes a material applicator with at least one transducer and an array plate with an array of micro-applicators. Each of the micro-applicators has a material inlet, a reservoir, and a micro-applicator plate with a plurality of apertures. At least one supply line is in communication with the micro-applicators and configured to supply at least one material to each of the micro-applicators. The at least one ultrasonic transducer is mechanically coupled to the at least one array of micro-applicators and configured to vibrate the at least one array of micro-applicators such that atomized droplets of the at least one material are ejected from each of the micro-applicators. A movement device configured to cyclically move the at least one array of micro-applicators back and forth about at least one axis of the at least one array of micro-applicators can be included.

Ultrasonic material applicators and methods of use thereof

An atomizer for applying a coating includes a nozzle plate, an actuator, and an acoustic focusing device. The nozzle plate defines at least one aperture. The actuator is configured to oscillate to form pressure waves within a fluid to eject the fluid from the nozzle plate. The acoustic focusing device focuses the pressure waves toward the apertures.

Ultrasonic atomizer with acoustic focusing device

A method of controlling application of at least one material onto a substrate includes configuring a material applicator having an array plate with an applicator array. The applicator array has a plurality of micro-applicators with a first subset of micro-applicators and a second subset of micro-applicators. Each of the plurality of micro-applicators has a plurality of apertures through which fluid is ejected. The first subset of micro-applicators and the second subset of micro-applicators are individually addressable, and a liquid flows through the first subset of micro-applicators and a shaping gas, e.g., air, flows through the second subset of micro-applicators. The flow of shaping gas shapes the flow of the liquid from the first subset of micro-applicators to the substrate.

Composite ultrasonic material applicators with embedded shaping gas micro-applicators and methods of use thereof

An automotive axle includes a housing including gears and a bath lubricating the gears, the bath including gear oil and about 0.1 to 5 wt. % secondary alcohol ethoxylate based on total weight of the bath such that during automotive operation at temperatures less than a threshold, reverse micelles form to trap air bubbles in the bath, emulsifying the bath, and at temperatures greater than the threshold, the reverse micelles dissipate.

Vehicular gear system friction reduction

A device and method of forming a three-dimensional component includes filling a reservoir () with a volume of curable resin (), the resin configured to undergo a first reaction to form a first product when exposed to light () of a first wavelength and to undergo a second reaction to form a second product when exposed to light () of a second wavelength. The presence of the first and second products at a common location in the resin causes a third reaction that results in a solid polymer at the common location. The method further includes directing a first light source () of the first wavelength into the reservoir, directing a second light source () of the second wavelength into the reservoir such that the first and second light sources intersect at a first predetermined location () within the reservoir, and allowing the third reaction to form the solid polymer at the first predetermined location.

3-D printing components using two-light sources to control location of solidification

A nozzle for an atomizer includes a plate, a piezoelectric actuator, a body, and a connector. The plate defines an aperture. The actuator is configured to oscillate the plate. The body supports the plate. The connector is configured to reversibly mount the body to the atomizer in a first orientation and in a second orientation. In the first orientation, fluid exits the nozzle along a first axial direction through the aperture. In the second orientation, fluid exits the nozzle along an opposite axial direction through the aperture.

Reversible nozzle in ultrasonic atomizer for clog prevention

Methods for desorbing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from beaded activated carbon (BAC) that is loaded with VOCs, during the VOC abatement process using the fluidized carbon bead system include transferring the loaded BAC in an adsorber to a desorber, where a stream of organic solvent passes over the BAC to dissolve at least a portion of the adsorbed VOCs into the organic solvent to regenerate BAC. The regenerated BAC is returned to the adsorber. The organic solvent containing dissolved VOCs may be transferred to a distiller to separate the organic solvents from the dissolved VOCs and may be reused as the organic solvent in the desorber.

Recovery of adsorption capacity of beaded activated carbon using gas-phase organic solvents

The method of monitoring an operation includes acquiring data from sensors including images of a workspace in which the operation is to be performed, identifying a human operator and a controlled element within the workspace using the acquired images, determining whether the operation has initiated based on a known activation trigger, estimating pose of the human operator using the images, monitoring state of the controlled element based on acquired data, and determining whether an abnormality occurred based on the estimated pose, the state of the controlled element, a duration of the operation, or a combination thereof.

Method and system for monitoring manufacturing operations using computer vision for human performed tasks

An apparatus for applying a coating to a substrate includes a base, an applicator, and a quick-connect connector. The base includes a fluid conduit. The applicator includes at least one actuator and an array of nozzle plates. Each nozzle plate defines at least one aperture. The at least one actuator is configured to oscillate the nozzle plates to eject fluid from the apertures. The quick-connect connector couples the fluid conduit to the applicator for fluid communication therebetween.

Ultrasonic atomizer with quick-connect mechanism

A method of controlling application of material onto a substrate includes ejecting atomized droplets from an array of micro-applicators while the array of micro-applicators cyclically moves about at least one axis. The atomized droplets from each of the plurality of micro-applicators overlap with atomized droplets from adjacent micro-applicators and a diffuse overlap of deposited atomized droplets from adjacent micro-applicators is provided on a surface of the substrate. The array of micro-applicators cyclically rotates back and forth around the at least one axis and/or moves back and forth parallel to the at least one axis. For example, the at least one axis can be a central axis of the array of micro-applicators, a length axis of the array of micro-applicators, a width axis of the array of micro-applicators, and the like. Also, the array of micro-applicators can be part of an ultrasonic material applicator used to paint vehicles.

A method of controlling application of material onto a substrate is provided. The method includes ejecting an ultraviolet (UV) curable material through a plurality of micro-applicators in the form of atomized droplets. At least one UV light source is positioned adjacent to the plurality of micro-applicators and the atomized droplets are irradiated with UV light by the at least one UV light source and curing of the atomized droplets is initiated. The atomized droplets are deposited onto a surface of the substrate and a UV cured coating on the surface is formed thereon. The UV curable material may include a photolatent base catalyst such that the atomized droplets deposited onto the surface continue to cure after being irradiated with the at least one UV light source. The at least one UV light source can include a UV light ring, a UV light emitting diode, and the like.

Ultrasonic applicators with UV light sources and methods of use thereof

A system for non-contact color harmony analysis is provided. The system may include an image acquisition system and an image analysis system. One or more cameras may take images of two regions of an object (e.g., a vehicle). The images may be transferred to the image analysis system, which may compare color values from each region and determine a color value difference. The color value difference may be compared to a predetermined threshold value to identify a possible color mismatch. The system may be used to analyze color harmony of adjacent vehicle components, for example, a front fascia and a fender or a rear fascia and a quarter panel.

Color harmony verification system

A system is disclosed for monitoring paint color across regions of a vehicle, for identifying color mismatches, and for dynamically determining the acceptability of an identified mismatch. The system includes a vehicle image acquisition array digital cameras for digitally scanning selected regions of the vehicle and an image analyzer connected to the vehicle image acquisition system. The image analyzer is programmed with standard confidence color curves and includes software programmed with an analysis algorithm to convert an image of a scanned region into a standard image format. Individual color curves are extracted from the standard format to compare the extracted color curves against the standard confidence color curves to determine whether or not the extracted color curves fall within standard confidence color curves. The standard confidence color curves may be adjusted during color testing based upon accumulated extracted color curves.

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Kevin Richard John Ellwood