Ford Global Technologies

The present disclosure provides a mask arrangement for electron beam welding of a motor stator, the mask arrangement including first and second mask elements each having holes formed therethrough which are shaped closely to receive an end part of a respective pair of clamped pins in an abutted configuration, and when the first mask element is rotated with respect to the second mask element, the first and second channel portions are substantially aligned so that the first and second channel portions substantially surround the respective pair of clamped pins such that an electron beam cannot pass the mask arrangement. Methods of electron beam welding of a motor stator are also provided.

The disclosure generally relates to a method for operating a hands on/off detection sensor (12) of a steering wheel assembly (14), a hands on/off detection sensor (12) of a steering wheel assembly (14), and a vehicle (10) comprising a steering wheel assembly (14) having a hands on/off detection sensor (12). The steering wheel assembly (14) comprises at least a steering column (36), a steering wheel (34) being coupled to the steering column (36), a steering torque sensor (40), a steering wheel angle sensor (38), and an evaluation device (24). At least the steering torque sensor (40) and the steering wheel angle sensor (38) are coupled to the steering column (36). The evaluation device (24) is coupled at least to the steering torque sensor (40) and the steering wheel angle sensor (38). A steering angle of the steering column (36) is detected using the steering wheel angle sensor (38). A maximum hysteresis angle threshold (46) and a minimum hysteresis angle threshold (48) are determined based on an initial steering angle by the evaluation device (24).

Die Erfindung betrifft eine Motorhauben-Anordnung (10) für ein Kraftfahrzeug (1), mit einer Motorhaube (11), welche in einer Schließposition (A) eine Motorraum-Zugangsöffnung (4) verschließt, sowie mit einer Scharnieranordnung (17), die ein fahrzeugkörperseitiges Basiselement (20) und ein motorhaubenseitiges Schwenkelement (30) aufweist, welche in der Schließposition (A) einen beidseitigen Formschluss bezüglich einer Hochachse (Z) herstellen, wobei die Motorhaube (11) durch eine Schwenkbewegung um Schwenkachse (S) aus der Schließposition (A) in eine Öffnungsposition (B) schwenkbar ist und aus der Öffnungsposition (B) durch eine wenigstens anteilig translatorische Entkopplungsbewegung zusammen mit dem Schwenkelement (30) vom Fahrzeugkörper (2) lösbar ist. Es ist erfindungsgemäß vorgesehen, dass die Motorhauben-Anordnung (10) eine von der Schwenkachse (S) beabstandete Positionierungsanordnung (15) aufweist, mit einem motorhaubenseitigen Positionierungselement (16) und einem fahrzeugkörperseitigen Gegenelement (6), welche in der Schließposition (A) einen Formschluss bilden, wodurch die Positionierungsanordnung (15) eine Position der Motorhaube (11) bezüglich einer horizontalen Achse (X, Y) festlegt.

The present disclosure provides a cover element for a battery pack. The cover element is generally planar and formed from a silicate mineral. The cover element is configured to be sealed to a periphery of the battery pack and attached to a top surface of arrays which form the battery pack. The cover element includes cover apertures configured to be aligned with vent apertures in the top surface of the arrays and to form a seal around the vent apertures, providing a fluid pathway from the cover apertures. The cover element may be formed of mica and include terminal apertures aligned with array terminals. A battery pack (250) incorporating the cover element and a vehicle containing such a battery pack are also disclosed.

The present disclosure relates to an auxiliary unlocking system and method for a vehicle. The auxiliary unlocking system comprises a first operating element assembly operably connected to a closure member of the vehicle and located outside the vehicle. The first operating element assembly is configured to be actuable to perform security verification and unlock the closure member only when state of charge of a battery of the vehicle is less than a threshold value. In addition, the present disclosure also relates to a vehicle comprising the auxiliary unlocking system.

The present disclosure provides a battery pack comprising a plurality of battery arrays, each battery array having at least one terminal and a terminal cover associated with the terminal. The terminal cover comprises a mounting portion and a deflector portion. The mounting portion is configured to affix the terminal cover to the battery array such that the terminal cover is substantially aligned with the terminal. The deflector portion is positioned with respect to the terminal such that, in an event of fluid egress from a battery array via a terminal of the battery array, the fluid egress is directed away from predefined locations of the other respective battery arrays of the battery pack. The terminal cover (100) may include a sidewall (125) and a top portion (115).

The disclosure generally relates to a method of operating a steer-by-wire system (12) for a vehicle (10) and a steer-by-wire system (12). The steer-by-wire system (12) comprises at least a roadwheel actuator (14) and a control device (16). The roadwheel actuator (14) includes an electric motor (22) coupled to steerable roadwheels (20) of the vehicle (10). A target angle speed based on a present target angle and at least one preceding target angle is determined by the control device (16). An adapted target angle and/or at least one adapted property of the roadwheel actuator (14) is determined by the control device (16).

The present disclosure provides a vent valve assembly (210) for a battery array (200). The vent valve assembly comprises a body which defines a fluid path (230) and a vent valve (240) arranged in the fluid path. The body is configured to be attached to an outer wall (205) of the battery array and aligned with an aperture (220) in the outer wall of the battery array. The vent valve is configured to allow passage of fluid from an interior of the battery array, by way of the aperture and the fluid path, to atmosphere. The vent valve assembly enables controlled venting of gases from the battery array while maintaining structural integrity of the battery pack.

The present disclosure provides a battery pack comprising a plurality of battery arrays arranged in first and second rows within the battery pack. Each battery array has an inside wall, an outside wall, a top surface, and first and second sidewalls. The battery arrays of the first and second rows are positioned with their inside walls facing each other. At least a portion of the inside wall and at least a portion of the top surface of an opposing pair of battery arrays from the first and second rows is covered in a silicate sheet. The silicate sheet provides thermal protection and insulation between the battery arrays.

Provided herein is a battery array comprising a housing with a base and sidewalls shaped to receive and house battery cells. The battery cells within the battery array are organized into cell groups, with an insulating layer positioned between each group. A sheet of silicate material, which includes a frangible portion above each cell group, covers the battery cells. A vent plate, positioned on top of the sheet of silicate material, encloses the sheet substantially between the vent plate and the battery cells. The vent plate is equipped with vent channels that align with the respective frangible portions of the sheet of silicate material.