Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Thomas Joseph Ciccone

Timothy Baxendale

Matthew Arthur Titus

Peter Thai

Andrew Thomas Cunningham

Corey James Blue

Michael Stephen Sylvester

Joseph Ovalles Quinones

Trenton Lee McMillion

Ryan A Delaney

Fazal Urrahman Syed

Kevin Mackenzie

Sassan Farahmand

Rian Edman

Kyle Gary Mattinson

Greg B Zinn

Kelly Johnson

James Patrick Cahill

Jack Wiley Cooper

James William Dunham

Jon Holt

Joshua Walters

Brett Clarke Peters

Amol Kurane

Samson Ng

Jaymin Joseph

Adam Deibler

Jeff Grauer

Mike Makled

Jamal Hameedi

Jacek Brzozowski

Erik Christensen

A vehicle includes an engine block heater, a traction battery, and a controller. The controller, responsive to a temperature being less than a threshold, charges the traction battery with grid energy until a state of charge of the traction battery achieves a charge target. The controller is further programmed to, responsive to the state of charge achieving the target, discharge the traction battery to power the engine block heater until the state of charge falls below a discharge target or the temperature achieves a temperature target. The controller is also programmed to, responsive to the charge falling below the discharge target, charge the traction battery with grid energy until the state of charge achieves the charge target. Additionally, the controller is programmed to, responsive to a temperature achieving a temperature target, inhibit charging and discharging the traction battery.

Scheduled engine block heating

An assembly for a vehicle includes a front subframe having two frame rails and a control arm connector on each frame rail. The assembly includes a panel supported on the frame rails and spaced vehicle-rearward of the control arm connector. The panel extends cross-vehicle from one of the frame rails to the other of the frame rails. The panel includes a channel elongated along the vehicle-longitudinal axis. The assembly includes a vehicle component spaced vehicle-rearward of the panel. The channel is aimed at the vehicle component.

Underbody panel with directed airflow

A method and system for controlling a stop rotation position of an engine is described. In one example, the system includes an integrated starter/generator that may be selectively coupled to the engine. The integrated starter/generator may rotate the engine in a first direction (e.g., reverse direction) or a second direction (e.g., a forward direction) in response to a position at which the engine stops rotating following cessation of combustion in the engine.

Methods and system for controlling engine stop position

A method and system for operating a vehicle that includes an integrated starter/generator and a driveline disconnect clutch is described. In one example, the method estimates engine torque as a function of engine temperature during cold engine starts so that if an estimate of engine torque is in error, the integrated starter/generator may still successfully start the engine.

Methods and system for estimating engine torque at low temperatures

Systems and methods for operating various components of a hybrid driveline during starting of an internal combustion engine are described. In one example, output of an electric machine is not adjusted during engine starting when a speed of the electric machine exceeds a threshold speed so that torque reporting is accurate and to ensure combustion is reliable.

Methods and system for starting an engine

A vehicle includes a combustion engine configured to output mechanical power and an electric machine coupled to the engine and configured to convert the mechanical power to electrical power. The vehicle also includes a battery to exchange electrical power with the electric machine. The vehicle further includes a controller programmed to receive user inputs indicative of a desired storage duration and a storage location and monitor a battery state of charge (SOC) while the vehicle is stored. The controller is also programmed to prompt a remote user to approve an engine auto-start in response to the SOC depleting to less than a predetermined threshold during storage, and to auto-start the engine to generate power to recharge the battery in response to remote user approval. The controller is further programmed to inhibit the auto-start of the engine in response to the vehicle being stored in an enclosed storage location.

Vehicle battery power management systems and methods

Methods and systems are provided for controlling an airflow to an engine via a primary air induction pathway or a secondary air induction pathway, where the secondary air induction pathway routes the airflow to the engine via a deployable snorkel system. Thus, in one example, a method comprises routing the airflow to the engine solely via the primary air induction pathway by commanding open a first air inlet valve and commanding closed a second air inlet valve, and responsive to a request to switch the routing, commanding closed the first air inlet valve and commanding open the second air inlet valve. In this way, the snorkel system may selectively be used in response to requests from a vehicle operator.

Systems and methods for controlling air induction to an engine of a vehicle

An articulating hood pin assembly includes a double-ended ball stud, a receiver, a retention element holding the double-ended ball stud and a snap ring securing the retention element in the receiver. A hood latch assembly includes a latch mechanism and the articulating hood pin assembly.

Articulating hood pin assembly and hood latch assembly incorporating that articulating hood pin assembly

Methods and systems are provided for a hybrid electric vehicle including a front-wheel drive system and a rear-wheel drive system. In one example, the rear-wheel drive system includes an internal combustion engine configured to drive rear wheels of the vehicle, and the front-wheel drive system includes a first electric motor and a second electric motor mounted directly to opposing sides of the engine. The first electric motor is coupled to a first reduction gearbox to drive a first front wheel of the vehicle, and the second electric motor is coupled to a second reduction gearbox to drive a second front wheel of the vehicle.

Twin motor drive system for hybrid electric vehicle

A front splitter assembly includes a front splitter having a first end and a second end, a first side splitter at the first end and a second side splitter at the second end. Each side splitter includes a contoured body. In one embodiment each side splitter includes an underwing extending between the extension section and the wicker section inboard of the end plate of the side splitter. A related method of improving stability and peak cornering speed of a motor vehicle is also provided.

Side splitter, splitter assembly and method of improving stability and peak cornering speed of a motor vehicle

A front splitter assembly includes a front splitter having a first end and a second end, a first side splitter at the first end and a second side splitter at the second end. Each side splitter includes a contoured body. Each side splitter includes a dive plane feature that increases generation of downforce at negligible drag cost.

Side splitter and splitter assembly with dive plane feature

Methods and systems are provided for controlling a speed of a vehicle based on whether a rain tray is coupled within the vehicle, below a vented hood of the vehicle. In one example, a method may include maintaining a vehicle speed of a vehicle below a set vehicle speed threshold and alerting a vehicle operator of the set vehicle speed threshold when it is detected that a rain tray is installed in the vehicle, below a vent of a vented hood of the vehicle. In another example, the set vehicle speed threshold may be reduced due to the presence of rain.

Methods and system for operating a vehicle with a vented hood and rain tray

A strut-tower brace includes a pair of strut-tower attachments, and front and rear cross members extending between the attachments. The rear cross member has a flange configured to connected with a vehicle cowl. A lattice structure interconnects the cross members and has ribs that are each joined to another of the ribs at a node that is spaced between the front and rear cross members.

Strut-tower brace

A hood air extractor includes a support defining a first passageway. A first flap is carried on the support. The first flap is displaceable between a first position closing the first passageway to water passage in a first direction and a second position opening the first passageway to air passage in a second direction. A hood assembly incorporating one or more hood air extractors is also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Madison Heights, MI, United States of America

Thomas Joseph Ciccone