Donald D Franks

US Patent:

7270903, Sep 18, 2007

Filed:

Feb 27, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/708383

Inventors:

Kurt Osborne - Dearborn MI, US
Fred Brighton - Ann Arbor MI, US
Jon Beasley - Dearborn MI, US
William Sanderson, Jr. - Waterford MI, US
Donald Franks - Linden MI, US
Milos Milacic - New Boston MI, US
Richard Scholer - Farmington Hills MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

H01M 8/04

US Classification:

429 24, 429 12, 429 22

Abstract:

A method of removing moisture from a fuel cell stack is provided. The presence of liquid water in a fuel cell stack is undesirable should the temperature drop below freezing since the structures within the fuel cell are subject to degradation and potentially damage by ice formation. The method of the invention comprises measuring the temperature in the vicinity of a fuel cell vehicle when the fuel cell vehicle has been shut down, and then flowing a moisture-removing medium through the fuel cell when the ambient temperature drops to a predetermined temperature. The moisture-removing medium is flowed through the fuel cell for a sufficient time to remove a sufficient amount of the water in the fuel cell so that the fuel cell is not degraded by freezing of water. The present invention also provides a fuel cell water removing system which implements the method of the present invention.

US Patent:

7368193, May 6, 2008

Filed:

Aug 9, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/161592

Inventors:

Kurt Osborne - Dearborn MI, US
Milos Milacic - New Boston MI, US
William Sanderson - Waterford MI, US
Fred Brighton - Ann Arbor MI, US
Jon Beasley - Dearborn MI, US
Donald Franks - Linden MI, US
Richard Scholer - Farmington Hills MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

H01M 8/04

US Classification:

429 13, 429 24

Abstract:

A method of removing moisture from a fuel cell stack. The presence of liquid water in a fuel cell stack is especially undesirable should the temperature drop below freezing since the structures within the fuel cell are subject to degradation. One method includes measuring the temperature in the vicinity of a fuel cell vehicle when the fuel cell vehicle has been shut down and measuring the time elapsed since fuel cell vehicle shut off, and then flowing a moisture-removing medium through the fuel cell when the ambient temperature drops to a predetermined temperature and a time delay condition is satisfied. The moisture-removing medium is flowed through the fuel cell for a sufficient time to remove a sufficient amount of the water to inhibit degradation by freezing of water. A system which implements the method of the present invention is also provided.

US Patent:

7869906, Jan 11, 2011

Filed:

Jan 8, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/620760

Inventors:

Robert Louch - Highland MI, US
Donald Franks - Linden MI, US
Brian C. Moorhead - Willis MI, US
Hasdi R. Hashim - Ann Arbor MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

G05D 1/00
G06F 7/00

US Classification:

701 1

Abstract:

A vehicle network gateway providing off board diagnostic and computer based devices with access to vehicle network data such as signal values and diagnostic error information. The gateway eliminating the deleterious effects of electrical loading on the vehicle network and the introduction of noise onto the vehicle network by off board devices. The gateway adapted to bridge data between the vehicle networks and a variety of external networks including conventional wireless and hardwired networks providing wireless access of vehicle diagnostic data over external networks at vehicle repair and service centers.

US Patent:

8354818, Jan 15, 2013

Filed:

Oct 9, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/869212

Inventors:

Robert Jay Louch - Highland MI, US
Donald Charles Franks - Linden MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

H02J 7/00
H02J 7/16

US Classification:

320101, 320119, 320120, 320121, 320104, 320125

Abstract:

A solar powered hybrid power system including a solar charge collector; a charge storage system comprising at least a first charge storage device adapted to receive and store charge from said solar charge collector; wherein said charge storage system further comprises a power electronic circuit selectively connectable to at least a second charge storage device, said power electronic circuit adapted to transfer said stored charge to said at least a second charge storage device at a selectable voltage level.

US Patent:

20110083449, Apr 14, 2011

Filed:

Oct 13, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/577942

Inventors:

Robert Jay Louch - Highland MI, US
Donald Charles Franks - Linden MI, US
Brian C. Moorhead - Willis MI, US
Hasdi R. Hashim - Ann Arbor MI, US

Assignee:

FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

B60H 1/32

US Classification:

62 56, 622281

Abstract:

An automotive vehicle includes an air conditioning system configured to selectively cool a cabin of the vehicle and at least one electrical component of the vehicle. The vehicle also includes one or more controllers configured to determine whether the air conditioning system is operating to cool the at least one electrical component, to determine whether cabin cooling is requested, and to enable the air conditioning system to cool the cabin if the air conditioning system is operating to cool the at least one electrical component and if cabin cooling is requested.

US Patent:

20110163710, Jul 7, 2011

Filed:

Jun 17, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/817703

Inventors:

Fazal Urrahman Syed - Canton MI, US
Venkatapathi Raju Nallapa - West Bloomfield MI, US
Shailesh Shrikant Kozarekar - Novi MI, US
Michael Edward Loftus - Northville MI, US
Shane Schulze - Ypsilanti MI, US
Robert K. Taenaka - Plymouth MI, US
Donald Charles Franks - Linden MI, US
Ming Lang Kuang - Canton MI, US
Venkateswa Anand Sankaran - Farmington Hills MI, US

Assignee:

FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

H02J 7/00
H02P 5/00

US Classification:

320101, 318139

Abstract:

A vehicle may include an electric machine, a traction battery, and a solar panel array. The vehicle may further include circuitry electrically connected with the battery and array. The circuitry may include at least one switch configured to close when activated by a calibrated maximum holding power to permit energy to flow from the array to the battery.

US Patent:

20130169210, Jul 4, 2013

Filed:

Dec 6, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/707239

Inventors:

Robert Jay Louch - Highland MI, US
Donald Charles Franks - Linden MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - DEARBORN MI

International Classification:

H02J 7/00

US Classification:

320101

Abstract:

A solar powered hybrid power system including a solar charge collector; a charge storage system comprising at least a first charge storage device adapted to receive and store charge from said solar charge collector; wherein said charge storage system further comprises a power electronic circuit selectively connectable to at least a second charge storage device, said power electronic circuit adapted to transfer said stored charge to said at least a second charge storage device at a selectable voltage level.

US Patent:

47150319, Dec 22, 1987

Filed:

Sep 23, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/779200

Inventors:

Robert D. Crawford - Plymouth MI
Wayne J. Johnson - Dearborn Heights MI
Theo Kimber - Huntsville AL
Douglas Nolff - Scio Township, Washtenau County MI
Jack R. Volk - Ann Arbor MI
Donald C. Franks - Ann Arbor MI

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

H04J 302

US Classification:

370 85

Abstract:

A data transfer communication system capable of handling both node-to-node data transfer messages originating at any transmitter and transmitted to a specific receiver on the network and functional command messages originating at any transmitter and broadcast transmitted to an unspecified number of receivers on the network. Receivers are programmed to receive and acknowledge receipt of correspondingly addressed node-to-node type messages and certain correspondingly addressed functional command type messages with their unique addresses in a predetermined field location of the transmitted message. By utilizing pulse width modulation techniques, binary logic signals and a unique start signal are defined and have a dominant hierarchy that allows for bit-wise contention of the common data bus. In that manner, when contention of the data bus is resolved a higher priority message continues to be transmitted while losing contender delays its transmission until after the higher priority message is completed.