Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Mark Michel

Xavier Demeulenaere

Graham Slaughter

David Harknett

Torsten Gerhardt

Robert Anthony Davies

Dominic Timothy Evans

Thomas Fisk

Dave Harknett

Joseph Lavender

Wesley Shepherd

Brian Pearce

Alex Fu

Yichen Gao

Adriana Cevoli Giroldo

Systems and methods of controlling the ventilation of an electric vehicle comprising a power cell and a cabin vent. An operational mode of the electric vehicle is determined. An operational state of the power cell is determined. The closure of the cabin vent is controlled based on the operational mode of the electric vehicle and the operational state of the power cell.

Method and systems of controlling cabin ventilation of a vehicle

A shaft assembly may include two or more Poka-Yoke bearing caps, each Poka-Yoke bearing cap having a pair of reference bores offset from a central axis of the bearing cap by differing offset distances, and each bearing cap defining a semi-circular recess that is positioned so as to align in use a central axis of the semi-cylindrical recess in the bearing cap with an axis of rotation of a shaft rotatably supported by the bearing cap. The differing offsets of the reference bores prevent the bearing cap from being assembled in a reversed orientation. To ensure that each bearing cap can only be fitted in one position, a centre spacing between the first and second reference bores of each bearing cap is different to the centre spacing used for other bearing caps used to support a single shaft.

Shaft assembly

An engine housing component is provided, the housing component defining two or more drain channels configured to receive oil separated from a crankcase ventilation system and to drain said oil through the housing component, wherein the engine housing component comprises two or more drain features, each of the drain features corresponding to one of the drain channels, wherein each of the drain features is configured to allow an oil drain pipe to be coupled to the drain feature such that the oil drain pipe is in fluid communication with the corresponding drain channel, wherein a first drain feature differs from the or each of the other drain features, such that a particular oil drain pipe configured to couple to the first drain feature is not couplable to the other drain features. An engine housing assembly and kit of oil drain pipes is also provided.

Engine housing component

An engine with an engine casing and a dipstick. The dipstick extends into the engine casing and has a free end. The design of the free end may be selected such that the natural frequency of the dipstick does not resonate with the operating frequency of the engine. The dipstick may also be oriented such that the free end does not contact the engine.

Engine dipstick

Methods and systems are provided for balancer shaft assemblies featuring bearing caps. In one example, a system may include a bearing cap connected to a housing surrounding a balancer shaft. The bearing cap may have faces which contact components of the balancer shaft. This contact may prevent movement of the balancer shaft in a particular direction.

Balancer shaft assemblies

A method of manipulating a bearing cap for a machine, the method comprising: attaching an intermediate member to the bearing cap, the intermediate member having one or more handling formations; and using the handling formations of the intermediate member to manipulate the bearing cap.

Method of manipulating a bearing cap

An engine is provided with a cylinder block and a ladderframe having a portion of an oil conduit and a deflector. The engine has a metal-to-metal seal positioned between the ladderframe and block to circumferentially surround the oil conduit, and has a gasket seal positioned between the ladderframe and block to be outboard and spaced apart from the oil conduit. The deflector is positioned between the metal-to-metal seal and the gasket seal. An engine component is provided with a member having a deflector and forming an oil conduit. The deflector has an arcuate deflector surface following an outer wall of the oil conduit to redirect oil escaping the oil conduit. A ladderframe is configured to provide a deflection surface, with the deflection surface positioned to guide high pressure oil away from adjacent RTV seals.

Oil flow control for an engine by deflection

Methods and systems for metal-to-metal sealing and, in particular, to the use of sintered parts to create metal-to-metal sealing joints is disclosed. In one example, a metal-to-metal sealing joint may comprise: a first mating surface and a second mating surface; wherein the first mating surface is formed on a first assembly having an annular projection with one or more annular grooves and the second mating surface is formed on a second assembly; wherein the projection is configured such that when the first and second surfaces are brought into mating contact, the annular projection on the first mating surface deforms the second mating surface to form a sealing joint. In this way, the metal-to-metal sealing joint between the first and second mating surfaces may minimize oil leakage between two assemblies, thereby improving engine fuel economy while simplifying part manufacturing.

Metal-to-metal sealing

A shaft assembly may include two or more Poka-Yoke bearing caps, each Poka-Yoke bearing cap having a pair of reference bores offset from a central axis of the bearing cap by differing offset distances, and each bearing cap defining a semi-circular recess that is positioned so as to align in use a central axis of the semi-cylindrical recess in the bearing cap with an axis of rotation of a shaft rotatably supported by the bearing cap. The differing offsets of the reference bores prevent the bearing cap from being assembled in a reversed orientation. To ensure that each bearing cap can only be fitted in one position, a center spacing between the first and second reference bores of each bearing cap is different to the center spacing used for other bearing caps used to support a single shaft.

An engine assembly is provided, the engine assembly comprising an engine cover configured to cover a portion of an engine housing. The engine cover comprises: a coupling region provided around a periphery of at least a portion of the engine cover, the coupling region configured to mate with a corresponding coupling region on the engine housing so as to form a seal between the engine cover and the engine housing, and an engine cover boss provided on a planar region of the engine cover and spaced apart from the coupling region, the engine cover boss comprising a contact surface configured to receive an adhesive to couple the engine cover to a corresponding contact surface of the engine housing.

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Dartford, United Kingdom

Mark Michel