Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Motor Company Limited

Steven Michael Cyr

Michael E Reibling

Ray C Siciak

Robert Howard Saunders

Sahil Nagpal

Raymond C Siciak

Ross Dykstra Pursifull

Ralph Wayne Cunningham

Bo Wu

Eric David Bramson

Allen Dennis Dobryden

Wayne Haider

Eric De Hesselle

Catherine Bansek

Luke Allen Pontz

Jeffery Gilchrist

Ramzi Ahmad Chraim

This disclosure details electrified vehicle drive systems equipped with electric machine integrated axle assemblies. An exemplary electrified vehicle drive system includes a leaf spring assembly and an axle assembly mounted to the leaf spring assembly. The axle assembly may include a cradle and an electric machine mounted within the cradle. Shocks and stabilizer bar assemblies may extend between the cradle and a vehicle frame of the electrified vehicle.

Electric machine integrated axle assemblies for electrified vehicles

A computer in a vehicle is programmed to receive sensor data about a vehicle occupant, select a category of behavior of the occupant based on the sensor data, and navigate to a predetermined location based on the selected category. The vehicle may be an autonomous vehicle that can be operated by the computer.

Autonomous vehicle computer

This disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for optimizing a travel route of a hybrid-electric vehicle inside an emissions-free zone. In one exemplary embodiment, a travel route optimization system can be used to determine a charge level of a battery in the hybrid-electric vehicle and to locate charging stations inside and/or outside the emissions-free zone. The charge level provides an indication of a distance that the hybrid-electric vehicle can travel before a gasoline engine is started. The system can use factors such as the location of the charging stations and the charge level of the battery to generate an optimized travel route for the hybrid-electric vehicle that eliminates starting of the gasoline engine inside the emissions-free zone. The optimized travel route may be updated in real-time so as to allow recharging of the battery on an as-needed basis at a charging station inside or outside the emissions-free zone.

Systems and methods for optimizing a travel route of a hybrid-electric vehicle inside an emissions-free zone

A protective cage assembly includes a frame, a bracket assembly mounted to a first tubular member of the frame, a gusset of the bracket assembly extending between the bracket assembly and a second tubular member of the frame, and a third tubular member of the frame removably received by the bracket assembly. The protective cage assembly may be mounted within a cargo space of an electrified vehicle for both protecting the battery pack and establishing a load bearing floor of the cargo space.

Protective cage assemblies for electrified vehicle battery packs

A charge plate receiver assembly for an electric vehicle includes an inductive charge plate receiver and a swing arm pivotally secured to a mounting surface. The charge plate receiver is pivotally secured to the swing arm such that the charge plate receiver travels along an arc defined by a length of the swing arm when the assembly moves between a retracted position and a deployed position. When retracted, the charge plate receiver may retract into a cavity, defined by under-body components. The charge plate receiver has a planar surface and the planar surface is generally perpendicular to a horizontal plane of the vehicle in the retracted position and parallel with the horizontal plane of the vehicle in the deployed position.

Deployable vehicle inductive charging assembly

This disclosure details mounting systems and associated methods for mounting a battery pack to an electrified vehicle. An exemplary electrified vehicle may include a frame, a battery pack, and a mounting system for mounting the battery pack to the frame. The mounting system may include one or more isolator assemblies for substantially isolating the battery pack from vehicle loads that may be imparted onto the frame. Each isolator assembly may include a beam and multiple bushings mounted within the beam and connected to either the frame or the battery pack.

High voltage battery pack mounting systems for electrified vehicles

An autonomous vehicle includes interior sensors including a camera, IR camera, electro-chemical sensor, humidity sensor, and temperature sensor. Initial and final outputs of these sensors are captured for a trip conveying one or more passengers. If changes in the outputs of the sensors are detected, whether the final outputs of the sensors are acceptable may be evaluated. In some embodiments, an aggregation of the outputs is evaluated and found unacceptable even where individual outputs are acceptable. Outputs may be presented to a dispatcher to confirm that the outputs are unacceptable. If the outputs are found to be unacceptable, the vehicle may be autonomously driven to a cleaning station. Personal items may be identified in camera outputs and alerts generated in response.

System and methods for assessing the interior of an autonomous vehicle

An exemplary method includes circulating a fluid along a fluid circuit that extends through a heat exchanger and a battery pack, and, during the circulating, heating the fluid with a flow of exhaust gas and using the fluid to heat the battery pack. An exemplary vehicle system includes a battery pack, a heat exchanger, a fluid circuit configured to circulate a fluid between the battery pack and the heat exchanger, and a valve moveable back and forth between a heating position and a cooling position. The valve in the heating position permits more flow along an exhaust circuit to heat the fluid in the fluid circuit than the valve in the cooling position.

Traction battery thermal management method and system

A battery system of a vehicle includes a battery, a battery tray configured to support the battery, and a battery pouch. The pouch has a plurality of side walls and a bottom defining a space sized to accommodate the battery. The side walls each include an absorbent layer containing a base, such as sodium bicarbonate, and an outer layer impervious to the electrolyte and the base. One of the side walls is a front side wall that includes a wedge that is configured to mate with a front of the battery and the tray. The wedge cooperates with a bottom lip of the battery to secure the battery to the tray.

Battery structure having an absorbent lining impregnated with a base for containment and neutralization of acid

Methods and systems are provided for condensate management in an EGR cooler of an engine system. In one example, an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system with an EGR cooler is coupled to an exhaust system and to an intake system of an engine. The EGR cooler includes an inlet coupled to the exhaust system, a first outlet coupled to the exhaust system, and a second outlet coupled to the intake system, the second outlet positioned vertically higher than the first outlet.

Condensate management system for an exhaust gas cooler and heat recovery device

Methods and systems are provided for adjusting engine operation of a hybrid vehicle to increase power output and fuel efficiency. In one example, a method may include operating the engine using an Atkinson cycle during a lower than threshold engine torque demand and a lower than threshold battery state of charge, and operating the engine using an Otto cycle during a higher than threshold torque demand. During operation in the Otto cycle, an octane booster is injected to the fuel line to increase the octane level in the fuel, if desired.

Methods and systems for hybrid vehicle power delivery

Methods and systems for driving vehicle accessories of a vehicle that includes an automatic transmission are presented. In one non-limiting example, the vehicle accessories are driven via a vehicle's kinetic energy while an engine of the vehicle has stopped rotating. Vehicle accessories are driven from a location of a driveline downstream of a torque converter impeller.

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Lake Orion, MI, United States of America

Steven Michael Cyr