Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Global Tech.inc

Mazen Hammoud

Mohammad Haghgooie

Thomas Zenner

Kevin Layden

Michiel Jacques Van Nieuwstadt

James Michael Kerns

Imad Hassan Makki

Ilya V Kolmanovsky

Diana D Brehob

Thomas Scott Gee

Thomas George Leone

John David Russell

William Francis Stockhausen

Daniel Benjamin Kok

Steve F Chorian

An operating method for an electrified motor vehicle having an electric drive while being coupled to a towing vehicle by a connecting device in such a manner that the pulling forces and pushing forces between the vehicles are transmitted. The towing vehicle may communicate data to the motor vehicle used to control the motor vehicle to provide a controlled force exerted on the towing vehicle by the motor vehicle during towing. The controlled force exerted on the towing vehicle may vary based on the prevailing force direction between the vehicles, acceleration, and battery state of charge (SOC) of the motor vehicle. The controlled force may include a driving force or a braking force. The braking force may be provided by regenerative braking of the motor vehicle and/or by friction braking of the motor vehicle.

Electrified vehicle control during towing

A system and method for heating or cooling a battery include a controller and a tempering circuit containing an auxiliary medium configured to exchange heat with a container having a latent heat storage medium, and a vehicle traction battery, a pump configured to circulate the auxiliary medium, and an activation device having a sealing element moveable to selectively expose a nucleation surface to the latent heat storage medium to trigger a phase change process and exchange heat with the auxiliary medium.

Arrangement for tempering a battery, vehicle, and methods for heating and cooling a battery

An exemplary charging method includes charging a storage battery of a mule vehicle as a tow vehicle tows the mule vehicle to a stranded vehicle. The storage battery configured to be electrically coupled to a traction battery of an electrified vehicle to charge the traction battery. An exemplary charging assembly includes a mule vehicle. A storage battery of the mule vehicle charges as the mule vehicle is towed to a stranded vehicle. The storage battery is configured to be electrically coupled to a traction battery of the electrified vehicle to charge the traction battery.

Charging method and assembly utilizing a mule vehicle with a storage battery

An exemplary aspect of the present disclosure relates to an electrified vehicle including, among other things, a vehicle-mounted battery and a modular battery. The modular battery is selectively removable from the vehicle, and is configured to be charged at a location remote from the vehicle. The vehicle is selectively powered by at least one of the modular battery and the vehicle-mounted battery.

System and method for powering electrified vehicle with modular battery

An exemplary method includes conditioning an electrified vehicle to maintain a target conditioning level using power from a grid source. The conditioning either lasts from a conclusion of a first drive cycle to the beginning of a second drive cycle that is subsequent the first drive cycle, or lasts from a conclusion of a first drive cycle for set time.

Electrified vehicle conditioning using grid power

A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, conditioning a battery assembly of an electrified vehicle to a desired thermal level in a manner that extends useful life of the battery assembly, the conditioning step including heating or cooling the battery assembly with a thermal management system operable during both vehicle ON conditions and vehicle OFF conditions.

Battery thermal conditioning to extend battery useful life in electrified vehicles

Two intake valves are independently operated by electromechanical actuators and activated by the engine electronic controller. One tumble-type intake valve and one conventional intake valve are provided in each cylinder. The valve members are individually opened and closed to achieve a desired air flow pattern in the combustion chamber to optimize combustion which increases fuel economy and reduces undesirable emissions. The opening and closing of the valve members depends on the engine speed, engine load, and other factors.

Intake valve timing in multi-valve, camless engines

A dual coil, dual lift electromechanical valve actuator ( ) that provides a closed valve position (P ), first high lift position (P ), and second low lift position (P ) wherein the second low lift position of the valve ( ) is maintained without the need for supply of electrical current to the actuator.

Dual coil, dual lift electromechanical valve actuator

Two intake valves are independently operated by electro-mechanical actuators and activated by the engine electronic controller. One tumble-type intake valve and one conventional intake valve are provided in each cylinder. The valve members are individually opened and closed to achieve a desired air flow pattern in the combustion chamber to optimize combustion which increases fuel economy and reduces undesirable emissions. The opening and closing of the valve members depends on the engine speed, engine load, and other factors.

A method of operating an internal combustion engine in response to a transient load includes the steps of providing an air charge quantity required to produce a commanded air-fuel mixture within the combustion chamber, providing a fuel quantity required to produce a commanded air-fuel mixture within the combustion chamber, and displacing a quantity of the air-fuel mixture from the combustion chamber in response to the transient load. The method is especially advantageous for rapidly affecting engine response to transient loads resulting from sudden load change events, such as traction control, transmission shift and driver demand events.

Method and system for transient load response in a camless internal combustion engine

A system and method for the control and preparation of the combined fuel and air mixture in a camless internal combustion engine. The system and method provide increased engine operating efficiency and lower exhaust emissions during low speed and cold engine conditions.

System and method for mixture preparation control of an internal combustion engine

A method of controlling valve landing in a camless engine including a valve movable between fully open and fully closed positions, and an electromagnetic valve actuator for actuating the valve is provided. The method includes providing at least one discrete position measurement sensor to determine when the valve is at a particular position during valve movement. The velocity of the valve is calculated at the particular position based upon current and rate of change of current in the electromagnetic valve actuator when the valve is at the particular position. Valve landing is controlled based upon the calculated velocity.

Method of controlling valve landing in a camless engine

A valve timing system is provided for dynamically suppressing cylinder knock within an internal combustion engine. The engine is of the type including several cylinders , each having intake and exhaust valves . Valve timing system includes a controller , sensors , and actuators which selectively actuate valves in response to signals received from controller . Controller identifies knocking within one or more of cylinder(s) , and provides a modified control signal to the valve actuators which are associated with the identified cylinder(s). The modified control signal alters the duration in which the valves remain open, thereby suppressing knocking within the cylinder(s) without adversely effecting the vehicle's fuel economy or emissions.

Valve timing system for dynamically suppressing cylinder knock within a camless engine

A system and method for dynamically controlling the torque output of the various cylinders of a camless internal combustion engine. The system and method selectively alter the timing profiles of the engine's valves, effective to balance the torque outputs of the engine's cylinders.

System and method for control of cylinder output torque in an internal combustion engine

A method for controlling intake valves in an internal combustion with intake valves operated by more than one type of actuation device includes steps to accomplish smooth transitions among intake valve operating modes.

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Dearborn, MI, United States of America

Mazen Hammoud