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 & Signal. The organization has 36123 authors who have published 51450 publications receiving 855200 citations. The organization is also known as: Ford Motor & Ford Motor Corporation.

Wide-band microwave signal coupler

Abstract: A microwave coupler for coupling microwave energy from a first waveguide to a second waveguide disposed side by side along a propagation length includes a common coupling means, and specifically, orifices along the propagation length wherein the coupling orifices are sized to promote coupling of a favored field mode of electromagnetic energy according to a Bessel function distribution of energy along the length of the waveguide. The Bessel function distribution provides for wideband, low-loss coupling of the favored field mode and maximal isolation from non-favored field modes. The invention is particularly useful for extracting a type TE21 circular mode signal from a signal containing TE11 and TE21 circular modes wherein the TE21 mode signals are used for generating elevational and azimuthal tracking signals.

Secondary organic aerosol formation exceeds primary particulate matter emissions for light-duty gasoline vehicles

Abstract: . The effects of photochemical aging on emissions from 15 light-duty gasoline vehicles were investigated using a smog chamber to probe the critical link between the tailpipe and ambient atmosphere. The vehicles were recruited from the California in-use fleet; they represent a wide range of model years (1987 to 2011), vehicle types and emission control technologies. Each vehicle was tested on a chassis dynamometer using the unified cycle. Dilute emissions were sampled into a portable smog chamber and then photochemically aged under urban-like conditions. For every vehicle, substantial secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation occurred during cold-start tests, with the emissions from some vehicles generating as much as 6 times the amount of SOA as primary particulate matter (PM) after 3 h of oxidation inside the chamber at typical atmospheric oxidant levels (and 5 times the amount of SOA as primary PM after 5 × 106 molecules cm−3 h of OH exposure). Therefore, the contribution of light-duty gasoline vehicle exhaust to ambient PM levels is likely dominated by secondary PM production (SOA and nitrate). Emissions from hot-start tests formed about a factor of 3–7 less SOA than cold-start tests. Therefore, catalyst warm-up appears to be an important factor in controlling SOA precursor emissions. The mass of SOA generated by photooxidizing exhaust from newer (LEV2) vehicles was a factor of 3 lower than that formed from exhaust emitted by older (pre-LEV) vehicles, despite much larger reductions (a factor of 11–15) in nonmethane organic gas emissions. These data suggest that a complex and nonlinear relationship exists between organic gas emissions and SOA formation, which is not surprising since SOA precursors are only one component of the exhaust. Except for the oldest (pre-LEV) vehicles, the SOA production could not be fully explained by the measured oxidation of speciated (traditional) SOA precursors. Over the timescale of these experiments, the mixture of organic vapors emitted by newer vehicles appears to be more efficient (higher yielding) in producing SOA than the emissions from older vehicles. About 30% of the nonmethane organic gas emissions from the newer (LEV1 and LEV2) vehicles could not be speciated, and the majority of the SOA formed from these vehicles appears to be associated with these unspeciated organics. By comparing this study with a companion study of diesel trucks, we conclude that both primary PM emissions and SOA production for light-duty gasoline vehicles are much greater than for late-model (2007 and later) on-road heavy-duty diesel trucks.

The Impact of Ethanol Fuel Blends on PM Emissions from a Light-Duty GDI Vehicle

Abstract: This study explores the influence of ethanol on particulate matter (PM) emissions from gasoline direct injection (GDI) vehicles, a technology introduced to improve fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions, but facing challenges to meet next-generation emissions standards. Because PM formation in GDI engines is sensitive to a number of operating parameters, two engine calibrations are examined to gauge the robustness of the results. As the ethanol level in gasoline increases from 0% to 20%, there is possibly a small ( 30%, there is a statistically significant 30%–45% reduction in PM mass and number emissions observed for both engine calibrations. Particle size is unaffected by ethanol level. PM composition is primarily elemental carbon; the organic fraction increases from ∼5% for E0 to 15% for E45 fuel. Engine-out hydrocarbon and NOx emissions exhibit 10–20% decreases, consistent w...

Vehicle And Method For Controlling Engine Start In A Vehicle

Abstract: A vehicle includes a motor/generator, a starter motor, a disconnect clutch disposed between the engine and the motor/generator, and at least one clutch disposed between the motor/generator and the vehicle drive wheels When an engine start is requested, various parameters are controlled to ensure a smooth engine start wherein driveline torque disturbances are minimized The starter motor is used to crank the engine upon an engine start request, thereby eliminating the need to transfer torque from the motor/generator to the engine This helps to further reduce torque disturbances in the driveline when the engine is started

Phase Current Reconstruction for AC Motor Drives Using a DC Link Single Current Sensor and Measurement Voltage Vectors

Abstract: Three-phase current measurement using only a single current sensor in the inverter dc link is appealing for ac motor drives because it minimizes the number of current sensors, thereby reducing sensor cost, weight, and volume. However, the basic dc link single current sensor technique poses special challenges because the duration of the active voltage vectors must be long enough to measure the dc link current reliably during every pulsewidth modulation switching interval. A new single current sensor algorithm for reconstructing the phase currents called the measurement vector insertion method (MVIM) is presented that overcomes this problem using active voltage vectors that are applied for brief measurement intervals only when needed during each fundamental frequency cycle. The insertion of measurement vectors makes it possible to reconstruct the output phase currents with minimum impact on the machine's performance and operating envelope. A combination of analytical and experimental results is provided to confirm that the MVIM algorithm offers attractive phase current reconstruction performance in comparison to alternative dc link single current sensor algorithms