Daniel C Tuttle

US Patent:

8408352, Apr 2, 2013

Filed:

Dec 20, 2007

Appl. No.:

12/004132

Inventors:

Frederick R. Kasten - Plymouth MI, US
Darrel A. Recker - Ypsilanti MI, US
Daniel K. Tuttle - Ann Arbor MI, US
Ashraf Zeid - Belleville MI, US

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

B62D 5/065

US Classification:

180422, 180441, 180417, 1371163, 91437

Abstract:

An electronic control unit monitors pressure conditions present at the input to the steering system and other vehicle data signals and then provides override control of a hydro-mechanical flow control device. An electro-hydraulic valve is connected to the supply side of the hydro-mechanical flow control device and reacts to the electronic monitoring of pressure and other vehicle data to alter the counter-balancing forces within the hydro-mechanical flow control device. This causes a by-pass diversion of steering fluid to the source by the hydro-mechanical flow control device and thereby relieves backpressure on the pump when relatively little steering assist is required to be provided by the steering system. The control of steering fluid diversion at such times results in a significant reduction in parasitic losses within the steering system and improves the operating and fuel efficiency of the vehicle.

US Patent:

20110264321, Oct 27, 2011

Filed:

Apr 27, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/767801

Inventors:

Timothy Gerard Offerle - Whittaker MI, US
Daniel K. Tuttle - Ann Arbor MI, US

International Classification:

G06F 19/00

US Classification:

701 29

Abstract:

The present disclosure relates to computer-implemented methods of diagnosing a vehicle hydraulic power steering system and steering diagnostic systems for executing the same. Some exemplary diagnostic systems are configured to detect a steering system condition based on an evaluation of a steering pump outlet pressure, an engine speed and/or a steering wheel position. The system sends a warning signal when a predetermined steering system condition is detected.

US Patent:

20120020807, Jan 26, 2012

Filed:

Jul 21, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/841145

Inventors:

CHRISTIAN FERNHOLZ - New Boston MI, US
TIMOTHY OFFERLE - Saline MI, US
DANIEL TUTTLE - Ann Arbor MI, US
JEFF WILLIAMS - Novi MI, US

Assignee:

FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC - DEARBORN MI

International Classification:

F04B 49/06

US Classification:

417 18

Abstract:

A method for attenuating hydraulic pump flow pulses is described. The method includes pumping a fluid at a first hydraulic flow rate to an operating device via the pump, the flow being in the form of discrete fluid pulses. Further, the method includes obtaining values of plurality of parameters related to the pulses produced by the pump and attenuating the pulses by modifying the first hydraulic flow rate to a second hydraulic flow rate based on the obtained values.

US Patent:

20140222293, Aug 7, 2014

Filed:

Feb 5, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/759183

Inventors:

- Dearborn MI, US
Daniel Tuttle - Ann Arbor MI, US

Assignee:

FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

B62D 6/00

US Classification:

701 42

Abstract:

A pull-drift compensation controller device for a vehicle configured to perform operations including identifying a current pull-drift compensation torque and a current driver input torque while in an adapt-and-compensate state in which pull-drift compensation torque is learned and applied, wherein the vehicle is moving at a substantially straight heading; and performing a transition from a normal pull-drift compensation adjustment sub-state of the adapt-and-compensate state to a fast pull-drift compensation adjustment sub-state of the adapt-and-compensate state based on the current driver torque opposing the direction of the current pull-drift compensation torque without a change in the heading.