Inventor claims Ford stole Ecoboost!

rez333 · 09-07-2012, 02:53 AM

Read all about it!

http://autos.sympatico.ca/auto-news/...el-saving-tech

A Pennsylvania company is filing a lawsuit against Ford because the gas-saving fuel injection tech used in the automaker's F-150 trucks allegedly infringes on a 2008 patent.

The company, TMC Fuel Injection System LLC, says in 2008, Ford told them they weren't interested in their patented system, then went and used it on their vehicles the very next model year.

They're hoping to bar Ford from further infringing on the patent and to collect an unspecified amount of compensatory damages, reports Automotive News.

Ford met with Shou L. Hou, TMC engineer and inventor of the fuel injection system, in December 2004, more than two years after they filed an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the company says.

In 2008, Ford said they were no longer interested in the technology; in 2009, they introduced their EcoBoost engine line, which employs the fuel injection system in question, TMC says. EcoBoost became an option on F-series trucks last year.

Ford did not immediately offer a reply since they said they were unaware of the complaint.

TMC's fuel injection system cuts down on wasted fuel and can improve fuel efficiency as much as 35 percent, and delivers a power boost under accleration, the company wrote into the lawsuit papers.

Ford's F-series trucks are the best-selling vehicles in North America; trucks with EcoBoost accounted for 42 percent of the line's sales in July 2012, the automaker said.

Captain Awesome · 09-07-2012, 09:37 AM

Yay! EcoPlagiarize RULEZ!

*CamaroSpike23* · 09-07-2012, 09:42 AM

Windshield wipers anyone?

motorhead · 09-07-2012, 09:53 AM

That could really hurt if they have to stop producing them. I would image that won't happen but a large pay off to that company will. Look for the price of a Ford to go up if they lose.

Number 3 · 09-07-2012, 10:51 AM

What I believe the lawsuit covers is injector technology not Ecoboost.

GM actually beat Ford to the punch with a DI Turbo 2.0 L by a few years. Now Ford marketing would claim this isn't so because there are so many unique things about ecoboost that make it special..................most of which is simply the calibration. Every OEM will have a unique calibration balancing emissions, performance and durability.

And for those still thinking ecoboost is something special, I have heard the same comments from Ford Engineers.

09-07-2012, 02:53 AM	#1
rez333 Drives: 2013 ZL1 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: St. Joseph Posts: 1,283	Inventor claims Ford stole Ecoboost! Read all about it! http://autos.sympatico.ca/auto-news/...el-saving-tech A Pennsylvania company is filing a lawsuit against Ford because the gas-saving fuel injection tech used in the automaker's F-150 trucks allegedly infringes on a 2008 patent. The company, TMC Fuel Injection System LLC, says in 2008, Ford told them they weren't interested in their patented system, then went and used it on their vehicles the very next model year. They're hoping to bar Ford from further infringing on the patent and to collect an unspecified amount of compensatory damages, reports Automotive News. Ford met with Shou L. Hou, TMC engineer and inventor of the fuel injection system, in December 2004, more than two years after they filed an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the company says. In 2008, Ford said they were no longer interested in the technology; in 2009, they introduced their EcoBoost engine line, which employs the fuel injection system in question, TMC says. EcoBoost became an option on F-series trucks last year. Ford did not immediately offer a reply since they said they were unaware of the complaint. TMC's fuel injection system cuts down on wasted fuel and can improve fuel efficiency as much as 35 percent, and delivers a power boost under accleration, the company wrote into the lawsuit papers. Ford's F-series trucks are the best-selling vehicles in North America; trucks with EcoBoost accounted for 42 percent of the line's sales in July 2012, the automaker said.

09-07-2012, 10:51 AM	#5
Number 3 Hail to the King baby! Drives: '19 XT4 2.0T & '22 VW Atlas 2.0T Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 12,301 View My Garage	What I believe the lawsuit covers is injector technology not Ecoboost. GM actually beat Ford to the punch with a DI Turbo 2.0 L by a few years. Now Ford marketing would claim this isn't so because there are so many unique things about ecoboost that make it special..................most of which is simply the calibration. Every OEM will have a unique calibration balancing emissions, performance and durability. And for those still thinking ecoboost is something special, I have heard the same comments from Ford Engineers. __________________ "Speed, it seems to me, provides the one genuinely modern pleasure." - Aldous Huxley

09-07-2012, 09:37 AM	#2
Captain Awesome Account Suspended Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: New York Posts: 3,746	Yay! EcoPlagiarize RULEZ!

09-07-2012, 09:53 AM	#4
motorhead Drives: Love the one you're with Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Downtown Charlie Brown Posts: 11,849	That could really hurt if they have to stop producing them. I would image that won't happen but a large pay off to that company will. Look for the price of a Ford to go up if they lose.