Paul E Sanders

US Patent:

6820924, Nov 23, 2004

Filed:

Jan 13, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/248350

Inventors:

Ari Garo Caliskan - Ypsilanti MI
Paul George Sanders - Milan MI
Armando Mateo Joaquin - Rochester MI
Matthew John Zaluzec - Canton MI

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

B62D 2500

US Classification:

29618703, 293133, 188377

Abstract:

A crush rail or other structural member of a vehicle is provided with crush triggers. The crush triggers are formed by heating localized areas of the crush rail or other part and allowing them to cool slowly to provide increased ductility and reduced strength in a localized region. The crush rail is designed to collapse in a series of convolutions in a regular and repeated pattern. Crush triggers may be provided on body pillars, steering columns, drive shafts, engine support cradles, and other parts of a vehicle. A plurality of crush triggers may be provided on a single structural member depending upon impact absorption requirements.

US Patent:

8150582, Apr 3, 2012

Filed:

Apr 20, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/426463

Inventors:

Michael Alan Blommer - Ann Arbor MI, US
Paul George Sanders - Milan MI, US
Hongtei Eric Tseng - Canton MI, US
Dexin Wang - Livonia MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

G06F 19/00

US Classification:

701 44, 701 42, 180446

Abstract:

A system for decoupling steering rack force disturbances in electric steering may comprise a steering wheel angle sensor, a yaw rate sensor, a lateral acceleration sensor, and a steering torque sensor. The system may also comprise a tire force generator configured to receive signals from the steering wheel angle sensor, the yaw rate sensor, and the lateral acceleration sensor and send a reference rack force to a controller. The system may further comprise a rack force observer configured to receive signals from the steering torque sensor and send an estimated rack force to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to receive signals from the tire force generator and the rack force observer, compare the estimated rack force with the reference rack force to determine a rack force disturbance, and adjust an auxiliary torque based on the rack force disturbance.

US Patent:

20050029836, Feb 10, 2005

Filed:

Sep 22, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/711502

Inventors:

Ari Caliskan - Ypsilanti MI, US
Paul Sanders - Milan MI, US
Armando Joaquin - Rochester Hills MI, US
Matthew Zaluzec - Canton MI, US

Assignee:

FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

B62D024/04

US Classification:

296193060

Abstract:

A crush rail or other structural member of a vehicle is provided with crush triggers. The crush triggers are formed by heating localized areas of the crush rail or other part and allowing them to cool slowly to provide increased ductility and reduced strength in a localized region. The crush rail is designed to collapse in a series of convolutions in a regular and repeated pattern. Crush triggers may be provided on body pillars, steering columns, drive shafts, engine support cradles, and other parts of a vehicle. A plurality of crush triggers may be provided on a single structural member depending upon impact absorption requirements.