Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Scott Willis

James M Basile

Joseph Alan Skrobowski

Kwan Jamal Barber

Charles Raymond Kvasnicka

Jim M Basile

Na Li

Methods and systems are provided for an isolator. In one example, system may include an isolator comprising a flexible laminated membrane comprising a non-linear torsional stiffness for compensation of axial, lateral, and angular displacements between a drive shaft and a clutch.

Flexible membrane isolator

Methods and systems are provided for a coupling device. In one example, the coupling device may maintain a position of an accessory component within its mount as one or more bolts are tightened.

Methods and system for a coupling device

A belt tensioning system includes a stretch belt rotationally connected to a crankshaft pulley and an accessory pulley, and a tensioning device including a pivoting arm having a tensioning pulley coupled thereto and an arm stop positioned in a path of the pivoting arm to limit the rotation of the pivoting arm. Additionally, the tensioning device does not include a spring tensioner and is configurable in a tensioned configuration and an un-tensioned configuration.

Belt tensioning system and belt tensioning method

Methods and systems are provided for a starter/generator in a vehicle drivetrain. In one example, a system may include an integrated starter/generator (ISG) rotationally coupled to an engine crankshaft via a belt drive system, the belt drive system including a first decoupler configured to engage a shaft of the ISG in a first torque transfer direction only and a second decoupler configured to engage the shaft of the ISG in a second torque transfer direction only, the second torque transfer direction opposite the first torque transfer direction. In this way, hubloads that occur while transitioning the ISG between driving the belt drive system and being driven by the belt drive system may be reduced while a response time of the transitioning may also be reduced.

Systems and methods for a bidirectional decoupler for an integrated starter/generator

The disclosed inventive concept provides a rotary cutter and method of accurately cutting a ribbed transmission belt lengthwise to a desired width. The rotary cutter includes an upper portion having a handle end and a pivot end and a lower portion having a handle end and a pivot end. The pivot ends of each portion are joined by a common pivot. A belt input pulley and a rotary cutting wheel are rotatably attached to the upper portion. A drive wheel is rotatably attached to the lower portion. A belt output pulley is rotatably attached to the common pivot. Preferably but not absolutely the belt input pulley and the belt output pulley have ribbed outer surfaces. A cutting wheel cover is fixed around at least a portion of the cutting wheel. The upper portion is movable between an open, belt-fitting position and a closed, belt-cutting position relative to the lower portion.

Hand-operated rotary belt cutter

Some belt-driven integrated-starter generators (BISGs) have twin-arm tensioners mounted directly to the BISG. Because the distance between the tensioner and the BISG pulley is quite short, any stack up tolerance leads to relatively high misalignment, which, in turn, leads to belt wear and noise. To minimize misalignment, a process is disclosed to machine the tensioner pulley bearing seats on the tensioner arms after assembly to the BISG. The BISG pulley is rotated with three probes recording the axial position change of the BISG pulley over a complete revolution. These data are used to establish a best-fit plane and the tensioner pulley bearing seats are machined to match the best-fit plane so that during operation belt twisting and shifting are minimized.

System and method to align belt integrated starter generator tensioners

The disclosed inventive concept provides an adjustable and lockable bracket assembly that allows a stretch fit belt to be installed loosely on the pulleys of an accessory drive system. The assembly includes a fixed bracket attached to the engine, a pivoting and lockable bracket attached to the fixed bracket and an adjustable driven unit, an adjustable arm for moving the adjustable driven unit between a 'belt install' position allowing attachment of the belt and a 'final' position for stretching the attached belt, and a rotatable insert having an offset threaded hole with a threaded fastener attached to the adjustable arm for moving the driven unit between the &#x201c;belt install&#x201d; and &#x201c;final&#x201d; positions. In the &#x201c;belt install&#x201d; position, the stretch fit belt may be fitted over the FEAD pulleys. Once in position, the rotatable insert is rotated to move the driven unit to the &#x201c;final&#x201d; position again via the adjustable arm.

Adjustable bracket to adjust front end accessory drive for use with stretch fit belt

A two piece pulley is provided in which the pulley main housing and the outer pulley shell are molded without the bearing in place, thus eliminating an over-molding process. The pulley main housing is molded with a bear slip fit pocket. At least one of the bearing races of the bearing assembly includes an axially-protruding raised surface such as knurls or bumps. Each of the pulley main housing and the outer shell includes a bearing shield. On assembly, the bearing is slipped into the pocket on the pulley main housing and the outer shell is then ultrasonically welded to the main housing, thereby compressing the pulley material axially into the raised surface of the bearing race, locking the outer race of the bearing to the pulley in an axial direction. The raised surface on the bearing race allows the bearing assembly to grip the pulley in an axial direction.

Two-piece molded pulley having radial bearing distortion-reducing characteristics

An easily attached and highly tunable spring arrangement for use with existing front end accessory drive automatic belt tensioners is provided. The spring arrangement of the disclosed inventive concept includes an external spring that can be attached to tensioners to provide a specifically desired amount of additional tension. The spring is flat or round and is externally mounted, conforming to the outer dimension of a portion of the tensioner. The spring can be used on existing tensioner-to-engine bosses using conventional fasteners. The spring includes an attachment end and a biasing end. The attachment end includes at least one bolt sleeve that is formed as part of or is fitted to the external spring by welding. The biasing end contacts the outside of the front end accessory drive automatic belt tensioner at an area adjacent the tensioner pulley. The spring length, material and thickness may be varied for proper tension.

External spring to increase tension on belt tensioner for internal combustion engine

A zero distortion bearing pulley including a bearing is provided. The bearing clamps axially on the outer bearing raceway instead of radially. The pulley includes a stamped pulley body having a central axis, a pulley face having a periphery, a belt running surface extending perpendicularly from the periphery of the pulley face, a bearing slip pocket formed in the face coaxially with the axis of the pulley body, and a plurality of slots formed between the bearing pocket and the periphery of the pulley face. The slip pocket has a rear stop for retaining the bearing. A disc-shaped, stamped bearing retainer is provided having tabs that fit into the slots in the pulley body. The tabs may be folded over. Optionally, each tab may have an end hook allowing attachment of the stamped retainer bearing to the pulley body face by rotation following insertion of the tabs into the slots.

Two-piece zero distortion pulley assembly having outer bearing raceway

Methods and systems are provided for removing condensate from an intercooler of a turbocharged internal combustion engine. Using valves to drain condensate may create a direct fluidic connection between the compressed air of the intercooler and ambient exterior air, allowing both condensate and compressed air to escape due to valve design or failure of valve actuation devices. To provide a simple and reliable method for removing condensate without removing compressed air, a hollow valve is used to shuttle condensate from the intercooler to the exterior environment.

Shuttle valve assembly and method for intercooler condensation removal

An idler pulley is described for a front end accessory drive. The idler pulley includes plurality of angled spokes, such as angled ribs molded into the pulley to join an outer hub and an outermost belt interacting region. As the belt runs over the surface of the pulley, any defects on the belt running surface of the pulley due to shrinkage and fill are now angled, and angling of the defects reduces direct impact with the belt and therefore reduces the structureborne noise produced by operation of the belt and the pulley.

Angled spoke pulley design

A method and system for verifying the spatial and coplanar alignment of a number of power transmission pulleys, particularly as used with an automotive internal combustion engine. A planar light source is provided at a reference location associated with the power transmission pulleys, and an illumination plane emitted by the planar light source is allowed to impinge upon the pulleys. Then, correct alignment of the pulleys is determined by comparing the locus of the intersection of the illumination plane with at least one of the pulleys with a locus of intersection of the illumination plane with another of the pulleys.

Growing community of inventors

Gibraltar, MI, United States of America

Scott Willis