Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Other

Thomas Edward Smith

Frank Acierno Valencia

Patrick Daniel Maguire

Mohammadreza Eftekhari

Samuel Jeffrey Tomlinson

Saravanan Paramasivam

Bhaskara Rao Boddakayala

James Maurice Boileau

Kanchana Perumalla

Gary David Liimatta

Christopher William Coyne

Barry Shepherd

Brian Utley

Kimberly Ann Lazarz

James Lawrence Swoish

Dave Moschet

Abdelkrim Zouani

Roy Allen Ford

Melissa Kathryn Christensen

Himanshu Khandelwal

Holly M Whetstone

Everett R McKenzie

Zachary Schultz

A battery pack assembly includes a first battery array, a second battery array adjacent the first battery array, and a thermal barrier assembly that blocks transfer of thermal energy between the first battery array and the second battery array. The thermal barrier assembly having a sheet of material that is folded to provide a plurality of layers.

Battery pack assembly having a thermal barrier and method of thermal control within a battery pack

Battery pack designs for use in electrified vehicles may include a polymer-based enclosure having features for sealing external joints, retaining components inside the battery pack, securing electrical and coolant lines to the polymer-based enclosure, etc. The proposed designs reduce the number of overall parts in assembly, such as fasteners and brackets, and simplify the overall battery pack manufacturing and assembly processes.

Electrified vehicle battery packs with polymer-based enclosures

A battery enclosure assembly includes first and second pieces of an enclosure having an interior area, a plurality of fasteners joining the first and second pieces at a fastening interface, and a seal system sealing the first and second pieces at a sealing interface that is outside the plurality of fasteners relative to the interior area. The seal system including a cured gasket and a non-setting sealant.

Enclosure seal system and sealing method

This disclosure details exemplary barrier seal assemblies for sealing vehicle electrical housings. The vehicle electrical housings may include any electrical housing utilized within a vehicle, including but not limited to battery pack housings and electrical connector assemblies. An exemplary barrier seal assembly may include a primary seal, a barrier seal, and a carrier that extends between the primary seal and the barrier seal. The barrier seal assembly is configured to reduce the ingress of corrosion inducing substances into an interior of vehicle electrical housings.

Barrier seal assemblies for sealing vehicle electrical housings

A traction battery pack assembly includes, among other things, first and second pieces of an enclosure having an interior area. An attachment rim is disposed at a periphery of the first piece. The attachment rim has a stand-off that includes a platform portion and turned flange. The platform portion extends outward from the interior area in a first direction. The platform portion provides an aperture. The turned flange extends away from the platform portion in a second direction and terminates at an end face. The second direction is transverse to the first direction. The aperture is configured to receive a fastener that clamps the end face against the second piece.

Battery pack enclosure with turned flange

A traction battery assembly includes a thermal exchange device of a battery pack, and battery arrays disposed adjacent the thermal exchange device. A phase change material is secured to an area of the thermal exchange device. A method of managing thermal energy within a battery pack includes, among other things, positioning battery arrays against a thermal exchange device, and securing a phase change material to the thermal exchange device. The phase change material is configured to take on thermal energy from at least one of the battery arrays.

Traction battery pack thermal management assembly

An exemplary enclosure assembly includes, among other things, first and second pieces of an enclosure having an interior area. The first and second pieces are pressed vertically together at an interface. A gasket seal seals the interface at a position outside the interface relative to the interior area. An exemplary enclosure securing method includes, among other things, sealing an interface by compressing a gasket seal horizontally between first and second enclosure pieces of an enclosure that provides an interior area. The first and second pieces are pressed vertically together along the interface.

Enclosure seal and sealing method

Exemplary battery pack designs for use in electrified vehicles may include an enclosure assembly that houses one or more battery internal components (e.g., battery arrays, battery electronic components, or both). A tear-away service panel may be positioned within a wall of the enclosure assembly. The service panel may be removed from the enclosure assembly to access one of the battery internal components requiring service and may be subsequently replaced with a replacement service panel. The replacement service panel may be part of a battery pack resealing kit.

Electrified vehicle battery packs with tear-away service panels

This disclosure details exemplary battery pack designs for use in electrified vehicles. Exemplary battery packs may include an enclosure assembly that houses one or more battery internal components (e.g., battery arrays, battery electronic components, or both). A tear-away service panel may be positioned within a wall of the enclosure assembly. The service panel may be removed from the enclosure assembly to access one of the battery internal components requiring service and may be subsequently replaced with a replacement service panel. The replacement service panel may be part of a battery pack resealing kit.

An extruded interlocking flexible gasket with a first side with at a least one first side spline and at least one first side groove on the gasket to be positioned between a first member and a second member. The gasket further having a second side with at a least one second side spline and at least second first side groove on said extruded gasket, wherein said first side interlocks with said second side when said first side is immediately adjacent to said second permitting the at a least one first side spline to be interlocked with at least the second side groove, and extending continuously therealong.

Extruded gasket side by side end cut system

A cover has an aperture through which an accessory gains access to the interior side of the cover and a cavity. The accessory may be any kind of sensor or actuator. To secure the accessory to the cover, an adapter coupled to the cover is provided. In one example, the adapter has a cylindrical connection section that is spin welded into place in the cavity. In another example, the adapter has self-tapping threads that engage with the surface surrounding the cavity. The adapter also has tabs extending outwardly from the cover, the tabs having a proximate section and an engagement section. The accessory has a retaining orifice that couples with the tabs in a snap-fit relationship to secure the accessory to the cover.

Engine cover having a retainer to secure an engine accessory

Method for manufacturing engine cover having a retainer to secure an engine accessory

A system for improving PCV flow of an engine is presented. The system can reduce engine oil consumption when an engine is exposed to lateral or centripetal force. In one example, the system includes a mechanically operated valve that acts to limit PCV flow in a conduit external to an engine.

System for improving engine crankcase ventilation via a conduit

A cam cover for a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine has an aperture in the cam cover adapted to permit spark plug installation into the cylinder head and two tabs protruding vertically from the cam cover adapted to retain a boss extending from an ignition coil. The ignition coil has a portion adapted to fit over the spark plug and an orifice through the boss. The cam cover also has a recess between the tabs with the recess extending into the cam cover which is adapted to accept a self-tapping screw in the event of a tab failure. The tabs have a varying cross-section along their length such that they allow the orifice to slide over the tabs squeezing the tabs together and then snapping into place when the orifice clears the ramps on the side of the tabs.

Growing community of inventors

Livonia, MI, United States of America

Thomas Edward Smith