Ford Motor Company

About: Ford Motor Company is a company organization based out in Dearborn, Michigan, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Internal combustion engine & Clutch. The organization has 36123 authors who have published 51450 publications receiving 855200 citations. The organization is also known as: Ford Motor & Ford Motor Corporation.

Display system utilizing vehicle and trailer dynamics

Abstract: A display system for a vehicle and trailer is disclosed The system comprises an interface configured to receive a directional input and a controller in communication with the interface and a screen The controller is operable to receive a hitch angle and determine a heading direction of the trailer The controller is further operable to determine a predicted heading of the vehicle aligned with the trailer based on the hitch angle The predicted heading of the trailer is then displayed by the controller on the screen

Vehicle Exhaust Particle Size Distributions: A Comparison of Tailpipe and Dilution Tunnel Measurements

Abstract: This paper explores the extent to which standard dilution tunnel measurements of motor vehicle exhaust particulate matter modify particle number and size. Steady state size distributions made directly at the tailpipe, using an ejector pump, are compared to dilution tunnel measurements for three configurations of transfer hose used to transport exhaust from the vehicle tailpipe to the dilution tunnel. For gasoline vehicles run at a steady 50 70 mph, ejector pump and dilution tunnel measurements give consistent results of particle size and number when using an uninsulated stainless steel transfer hose. Both methods show particles in the 10 100 nm range at tailpipe concentrations of the order of 104 particles/cm3. When an insulated hose, or one containing a silicone rubber coupler, is used to test small 4 cylinder gasoline vehicles, a very intense nanoparticle / ultrafine mode at < ~30 nm develops in the dilution tunnel particle size distribution as the vehicle speed is increased to 60 and 70 mph. This nanoparticle mode coincides with a rise of the transfer line temperature to about 180 250 °C. It is much less evident for the full size gasoline sedan, which has cooler exhaust. Both tailpipe and dilution tunnel measurements of diesel vehicle exhaust reveal an accumulation mode peak of ~108 particles/cm3, centered at 80 -100 nm. In this case, even with the uninsulated transfer hose an intense ultrafine peak appears in the dilution tunnel size distributions. This mode is attributed to desorption and/or pyrolysis of organic material, either hydrocarbon deposits on the walls of the steel transfer hose or the silicone rubber, by hot exhaust gases, and their subsequent nucleation in the dilution tunnel. This substantially limits the ability to make accurate particle number and size measurements using dilution tunnel systems. INTRODUCTION Prompted by potential health concerns, the past few years have witnessed a growing interest in particulate matter (PM) measurements, both ambient and from a wide variety of emissions sources. These measurements are conventionally performed by recording PM mass. The ambient standards are written in terms of mass concentrations, and emission regulations are based on mass rates. However, in order to understand better the nature of the mobile source contribution to ambient PM, many research groups are currently extending their investigations to include measurements of the numbers and sizes of particles in motor vehicle exhaust. Because the standard procedure for tailpipe PM measurements utilizes a dilution tunnel to cool the exhaust and to prevent water condensation, concerns have emerged that the test cell measurements of motor vehicle PM do not reflect the “real world” emissions. The root of the concern is that vehicle exhaust, a hot, complex, mixture of gaseous emissions and particles, is transformed differently when diluted in a tunnel as compared to the “real world”. Particles are not immutable; they readily undergo transformations, such as coagulation, condensation, and adsorption, and new particles can be created by nucleation of gaseous particle precursors in the diluted and cooled exhaust. Under “real world” conditions, motor vehicle exhaust is diluted rapidly, in less than one second, and by a large amount, a dilution ratio of greater than 100, into air of variable temperature and humidity. In the test cell, the exhaust is conducted to the dilution tunnel, typically by a 10 cm diameter by 5 m long tube, where it is then diluted by a factor of between 5 and 50, depending on test conditions, using dry air at room temperature. This discrepancy between dilution times, extents, temperature, and humidity can potentially lead to significant differences in the nature of the particulate emissions.