Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

The Boeing Company

Northwestern University

Pinzhi Liu

Jian Cao

Zhiyong Cedric Xia

Qian Jane Wang

Rajesh Talwar

Donald J Grzina

Tiffany Davis Ling

Matthew John Shelton

Zhengyu Dai

Jose Velazquez Alcantar

Weitian Chen

Hong Jiang

Joseph Jay Torres

Methods and system are described for changing a driveline gear range from a higher gear range to a lower gear range. The driveline may include two electric machines and four clutches in a four wheel drive configuration. The methods and systems permit a driveline to change from a higher gear range to a lower gear range without stopping a vehicle.

System and method for changing to a low gear range of a four wheel drive vehicle

Methods and system are described for changing a driveline gear range from a lower gear range to a higher gear range. The driveline may include two electric machines and four clutches in a four wheel drive configuration. The methods and systems permit a driveline to change from a lower gear range to a higher gear range in a way that may reduce torque disturbances that may result from gear lash.

System and method for reducing gear lash related torque disturbances

A forming tool stamps sheet metal blanks into a desired shape. A contoured surface is defined for the forming tool so that respective portions of the metal blank flow over the contoured surface during forming. An intrinsic material flow pattern resulting from the contoured surface is compared to a desired flow in order to identify regions of the contoured surface having an insufficient flow that creates areas in the formed metal blank receiving less than a desired amount of metal. A surface microtexture is applied onto the contoured surface in a pattern selected to increase metal flow along the identified regions by providing a coefficient of friction in the identified regions that is reduced relative to adjacent regions of the contoured surface.

Forming tools having textured surfaces

A manufacturing method forms components having a desired shape. A contoured surface is defined for a forming tool for forming a metal blank into the desired shape, wherein respective portions of the metal blank flow over the contoured surface during forming. An intrinsic material flow pattern resulting from the contoured surface is compared to a desired flow in order to identify regions of the contoured surface having an insufficient flow that creates areas in the formed metal blank receiving less than a desired amount of metal. A surface microtexture is applied onto the contoured surface in a pattern selected to increase metal flow along the identified regions by providing a friction in the identified regions that is reduced relative to adjacent regions of the contoured surface.

A cutting tool comprising first and second surfaces that intersect at an edge, wherein the first surface (e.g., a rake face, a flank surface or a margin) has a textured region comprising a multiplicity of recesses each having a length greater than its width. The recesses are distributed in a pattern comprising rows of recesses arranged lengthwise along respective lines with spaces between neighboring recesses. The recesses of one row are offset from the recesses of the next row. Each recess of the one row having one end portion that overlaps with an end portion of one recess in the next row and another end portion that overlaps with an end portion of another recess in the next row. The recesses are generally parallel to the edge.

Cutting tools with textured surfaces

Growing community of inventors

Evanston, IL, United States of America

Pinzhi Liu