Loading patent…
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsRodney L. Lopez, Deepak B. Chhaya, Michael A. Scheuer, Chris P. Roxin, John A. Norcutt
Estimating the term…
A method to improve design efficiency by reducing power plant complexity and engineering costs by minimizing power plant changes when installing into new powertrain groups. A three-dimensional grid is defined for the powertrain group with power plant and transmission zones to define projections for attaching selected components to a powertrain version. The zones correspond to matrices dividing each of a width, length, and height of a respective plant and of a transmission into specified proportions. A respective zone is designated for attaching each of the selected components within the group. Each powertrain version is designed to place each selected component for a powertrain version within a predetermined tolerance margin of its respective designated zone. The grid organization is also applied to placement of components and placement of the powertrain itself within the underhood environment of a vehicle, a vehicle platform, or a group of vehicle models.
A method of manufacturing a vehicle fleet wherein a plurality of vehicle models are built having coordinated designs within a powertrain group, wherein the powertrain group includes a plurality of powertrain versions, each powertrain version including a respective design for a respective power plant and a respective transmission, the method comprising the steps of:
A vehicle fleet comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.