Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Aaron Peter Klop

David Brian Glickman

Dennis Yee

Stuart C Salter

Satvinder Singh Matharu

Paul Kenneth Dellock

Joseph James Gallo

Robert Harold Vasbinder

Ronald L Anderson

Edward Andrew Pleet

Prashant Dubey

Darshan Arun Nayak

Larry J Dupuis

James Alan Acre

Kyle Ness

Joseph Andrew Hickey

Sean Terence Coghlan

Steven James Parks

Lucas Apandi Phan

Colin Christopher Nitroy

Jonathan David Gesek

Manfred Lentzen

Karel Chalupa

Jodi Ann McGrew

Richard A Kirkdorffer

Martin Lopez, Jr

Sudesh Woodiga

Kenneth Allan Anderson

A rock rail assembly for a vehicle includes a mounting structure, an arm mounted to the mounting structure, a motor bracket coupled to the mounting structure, a motor mounted to the motor bracket, a pivot bar pivotably coupled with the mounting structure, a rail coupled with the pivot bar and operable to move between stowed and deployed positions, and a sector gear coupled to the pivot bar. The motor has a shaft that includes a first end, a second end, and a worm gear portion. Operation of the motor drives rotation of the shaft. The sector gear is operably engaged with the worm gear portion of the shaft, such that rotation of the shaft by the motor drives pivotal movement of the pivot bar relative to the mounting structure, causing movement of the rail coupled thereto between the stowed and deployed positions.

Rock rail assembly

A rock rail assembly for a vehicle includes a mounting assembly coupled to the vehicle and comprising a shock absorption pad, and a rail assembly pivotably coupled to the mounting assembly and having a rail. The shock absorption pad is the vehicle-laterally-outboardmost portion of the mounting assembly. The rail assembly is operable to pivot relative to the mounting assembly to move the rail between a stowed position and a deployed position. In the stowed position of the rail, a portion of the rail abuts the shock absorption pad.

A vehicle running board assembly includes a step board, a movable arm coupled to the step board, an electric motor operably coupled to the movable arm to actuate the step board between stowed and use positions and a controller controlling the electric motor, wherein the controller controls the electric motor based on sensed temperature and a motor cycle count.

Vehicle power running board having adaptive motor torque

A motor vehicle bumper assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a main bumper body and an actuator. The actuator includes a bracket mounted to the main bumper body, a screw jack supported by the bracket, and a trolley driven to translate by the screw jack. A lower support is mounted to the trolley. The actuator is configured to translate the lower support relative to the main bumper body from an integrated position to a deployed position.

Vehicle bumper assembly with integrated lower support

A grille assembly for a vehicle is disclosed and includes a forward frame portion, an aft frame portion, and a plurality of spring portions coupling the forward frame portion to the aft frame portion such that the forward frame is movable relative to the aft frame portion. A front end assembly for a vehicle is also disclosed that includes a bolster assembly and an active grille shutter system supported relative to the bolster assembly. The disclosed active grille shutter system includes a plurality of spring portions coupling forward and aft frame portions such that the forward frame is movable relative to the aft frame. Vanes are supported by at least one of the forward and aft frame portions and are rotatable for controlling airflow.

Active grille shutter with pedestrian protection

An air dam assembly includes, among other things, an air dam and at least one quick-release pin that secures the air dam to a vehicle structure. An air dam positioning method includes, among other things, when an air dam is in a first position, the step of coupling the air dam to a vehicle structure using at least one quick-release pin in an engaged position. The method further includes transitioning the at least one quick-release pin to a disengaged position, and then, when the quick-release pin is in the disengaged position, moving the air dam to a second position that is different than the first position. The method then, when the air dam is in the second position, includes coupling the air dam to the vehicle structure using the at least one quick-release pin.

Quick-release vehicle air dam

An active air dam assembly includes, among other things, an air dam configured to pivot relative to a vehicle bumper back and forth between a home position and a deflected position and an actuator system configured to transition the air dam vertically between a raised position and a deployed position.

Deflectable active air dam assembly and active air dam load response method

An apparatus, according to an exemplary embodiment includes, among other things, a single-piece bracket having a first mount interface configured to receive a fog lamp and a second mount interface configured to receive an actuator for an active air dam. A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, injection molding a single-piece bracket from a plastic material to include a first mount interface configured to receive a fog lamp and a second mount interface configured to receive an actuator for an active air dam.

Multi-accessory bracket for bumper mounted accessories

A method and an apparatus, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a fascia having a first fascia portion that is selectively moveable relative to a second fascia portion, and an engine shield that has at least a first shield panel and a second shield panel. The first shield panel has a first portion that moves with the first fascia portion and a second portion that is connected to a vehicle static structure. The second shield panel is mounted for movement with the first fascia portion. At least one actuator selectively moves the first fascia portion relative to the second fascia portion in response to at least one predetermined vehicle input condition.

Active fascia splitter and engine shield

An air deflector assembly for a vehicle includes a vertically translatable air deflector and linear actuators actuated in series by a driver to vertically translate the air deflector. The air deflector includes one or more rails configured for sliding translation within one or more cooperating vehicle-mounted tracks. A controller is operatively connected to the driver, and may be configured to vertically translate the air deflector to a predetermined position according to a vehicle rate of travel. The driver selectively causes the linear actuators to raise or lower the air deflector.

Active air dam

A flow control assembly to control flow to an area of a vehicle includes, among other things, a plurality of shutters including at least one first shutter and at least one second shutter, an actuator assembly rotatable about an axis, a first actuator link operably coupling the actuator assembly to the at least one first shutter, a second actuator link operably coupling the actuator assembly to the at least one second shutter. Rotation of the actuator assembly in a first direction moves the first actuator link to rotate the at least one first shutter in a clockwise direction from a flow restricting position to a flow permitting position. Rotation of the actuator assembly in the first direction additionally moves the second actuator link to rotate the at least one second shutter in a counterclockwise direction from a flow restricting position to a flow permitting position.

Vehicle air flow shutter control assembly and method

An active air dam system includes an air dam comprising a static portion and a sliding portion driven by an actuator system. A controller system is provided, configured to cause the actuator system to translate the sliding portion vertically between a retracted position and a plurality of deployed positions according to one or more of a vehicle under-engine heat exchanger input and a vehicle drive train mode input. Methods for controlling the air dam system are provided.

Electronic active air dam

An active grille shutter system for use in a moving vehicle is provided herein and includes at least one vane angularly displaceable between an open position and a closed position, a motor having a hold current applied thereto for maintaining the at least one vane in a vane position, and a controller for adjusting the amount of hold current being applied to the motor based on vehicle speed.

Vehicle speed controlled active grille shutter system

An air flow optimization device is provided for motor vehicle heat exchangers. The device includes a body having a first air flow opening with an inlet side and an outlet side. A series of fixed vanes are provided across the opening and divide the opening into a plurality of air flow channels.

Aerodynamic device to optimize air flow through heat exchangers

An active tire spoiler system includes a first tire spoiler, a second tire spoiler and a control module. That control module includes a controller configured to displace the first tire spoiler and the second tire spoiler between a stowed position and a deployed position. A related method is also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Bloomfield Hills, MI, United States of America

Aaron Peter Klop