Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Motor Company Limited

Yitshak Isaac Henig

Edward T King

Hagop Parnoutsoukian

Larry R Brandenburg

The disclosed inventive concept provides an electrically conductive mechanical vibration isolator for providing an electrical path between parts of a vehicle in order to alleviate the need for ground straps. The conductive isolator disclosed herein includes an inner shell, an outer shell, an elastomer disposed therebetween, and a conductor interconnecting the inner and outer shells to create an electrical path therebetween. In one embodiment, the conductor is at least one conducting wire having opposite ends electrically bonded to the inner and outer shells. In another embodiment, the elastomer may comprise a plurality of conductive particulates distributed throughout the elastomer. In yet another embodiment the elastomer may include at least one channel formed therein and extending between the inner and outer shells for storing a conductive liquid therein. The conductive liquid is contained between the shells and provides an electrical path therebetween.

Electrically conductive mechanical vibration isolator

An energy management system for a hybrid vehicle having wheels drivingly connected to traction motors, which motors are alternatively energized by an internal combustion engine generator or an electrical storage battery. The system comprises an electrical storage battery, a high voltage electrically heated catalyst (300-400 volts) for treating the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine, a generator driven by the selective operation of the internal combustion engine to energize the traction motors and to sometimes produce electrical energy in excess of that consumed by the traction motors, and a high voltage controller for selectively transferring electrical energy generated by the internal combustion engine generator and the electrical energy produced by the traction motors when driven by the wheels to preferentially the electrically heated catalyst and secondarily to the storage battery. Selection is carried out by an on-board microprocessor as a means for controlling the selection of energy transfer paths to provide transfer in accordance with: (i) the temperature of the electrically heated catalyst, (ii) the temperature of the engine coolant; (iii) the speed of the vehicle; and (iv) the state of charge of the storage battery.

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Yitshak Isaac Henig