Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Matthew Arthur Titus

Andrew Thomas Cunningham

Michael Stephen Sylvester

Keith Weston

Thomas Joseph Ciccone

Brett Clarke Peters

Steven Thompson

Adam Busack

Peter Thai

Mark Meinhart

Lorne Forsythe

Rob Ciarrocchi

David Douglas Friske

Jason Wallace Michener

Alex Allmandinger

Tom Sawarynski

Jack Wiley Cooper

Jim Stevens

Joshua Walters

Ryan Orourke

Joseph Ovalles Quinones

Trenton Lee McMillion

Jon Holt

Mike Makled

Rick Dempsey

Colton Knopf

Erik Christensen

Brij Datta

Jeff Grauer

Brad Drogosch

An ionic airflow management system for a motor vehicle includes a controller, a power supply in communication with the controller, at least one exterior component of a motor vehicle having an integral electrode in electrical communication with the power supply, the integral electrode comprising a cathodic terminal portion and an anodic terminal portion oriented relative to a managed airflow vector, and at least one sensor in communication with the controller, the at least one sensor including a speed sensor. The power supply receives signals from the controller to supply a predetermined amount of electrical power to the integral electrode based on a threshold speed detected by the speed sensor in an active mode. The power supply receives signals from the controller to switch off electrical power to the integral electrode below the threshold speed in an inactive mode.

Active ionic propulsion system for motor vehicles

A component for a vehicle includes a skid plate configured to attach to an underbody of the vehicle, a plurality of cooling channels extending in a longitudinal direction between the skid plate and the underbody of the vehicle, and a structural reinforcement extending outward from the skid plate. The skid plate, the plurality of cooling channels, and the structural reinforcement are additively manufactured in a unitary construction.

Integrated skid plate heat dissipator

Methods and systems for operating a vehicle that includes a manual transmission are presented. In one example, a method for a vehicle having a manual transmission comprises, during an initial launch with traction control enabled, overriding driver throttle commands to maintain a setpoint speed of an engine and limiting wheel slip until wheel slip decreases below a non-zero threshold.

Methods and systems for launching a vehicle with a manual shift transmission

A suspension control system for a vehicle may include a plurality of adjustable dampers associated with suspension of respective ones of a plurality of wheels of the vehicle, a controller operably coupled to the adjustable dampers to selectively adjust a damping force of one or more of the adjustable dampers responsive to an activation signal, and a driver interface disposed at a steering wheel assembly of the vehicle. The driver interface may be actuated by a driver of the vehicle to apply the activation signal while the driver interface is actuated.

Suspension system with on-demand full damper capacity

An aerodynamics control system for a vehicle may include an underbody shield disposed at an underside of the vehicle, a strake assembly, and an actuator. The strake assembly may include one or more deployable strakes operably coupled to the underbody shield and having a deployed state in which the one or more deployable strakes extend away from the underbody shield to increase drag and reduce lift of the vehicle. The strake assembly may also have a retracted state in which the one or more deployable strakes do not extend away from the underbody shield. The actuator may be operable by a driver of the vehicle while driving to transition the strake assembly from the retracted state to the deployed state.

Aerodynamic deployable underbody strakes

An aerodynamics control system for a vehicle may include a dive plane assembly operably coupled to a front portion of a vehicle body, an actuator assembly operable to transition the dive plane assembly between a deployed state and a retracted state, and a controller operably coupled to the actuator to provide automatic control of the dive plane assembly via the actuator based on a selectable control mode. The selectable control mode defines a position of the dive plane assembly based on vehicle parameters measured while driving the vehicle.

Aerodynamic deployable dive planes

An assembly for a vehicle includes a front subframe having two frame rails and a control arm connector on each frame rail. The assembly includes a panel supported on the frame rails and spaced vehicle-rearward of the control arm connector. The panel extends cross-vehicle from one of the frame rails to the other of the frame rails. The panel includes a channel elongated along the vehicle-longitudinal axis. The assembly includes a vehicle component spaced vehicle-rearward of the panel. The channel is aimed at the vehicle component.

Underbody panel with directed airflow

Methods and systems are provided for a cooling assembly for a vehicle. In one example, the cooling assembly may be a non-rectangular cooler positioned in a front end of the vehicle with an entry duct continuous with the non-rectangular cooler and arranged upstream of the non-rectangular cooler and an exit duct also continuous with the non-rectangular cooler and arranged downstream of the non-rectangular cooler.

Continuous cooling assembly

A dynamic vehicle stability control system for a vehicle may include an active wing extending laterally relative to a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle and configured to be rotatable to change an angle of attack relative to wind passing over the vehicle parallel to the longitudinal centerline, a repositioning assembly operably coupling the active wing to the vehicle, and a controller operably coupled to components and/or a sensor network of the vehicle to receive status information about the vehicle. The repositioning assembly may be operated based on a wing angle command received by the controller responsive to execution of a plurality of control algorithms executed by the controller. The controller may be configured to determine the wing angle command based on respective wing angle requests generated by each of the control algorithms.

System and method for active aerodynamic device control for a vehicle

An active hood vent system for a motor vehicle includes a hood vent, having a closure displaceable between a closed position and an opened position, and a control module. That control module is configured to adjust the aero balance of the motor vehicle by opening and closing the closure. Further, the control module may be configured to close the closure and thereby minimize engine compartment air from entering an HVAC inlet of the motor vehicle when the current operating temperature of the motor vehicle is below a predetermined temperature requiring engine cooling, and a current motor vehicle speed is below a predetermined speed where airflow over the hood limits ingestion of engine compartment air by the HVAC inlet.

Active hood vent system and method of adjusting aero balance of a motor vehicle

A vehicle flow influencing assembly includes, among other things, a downforce generator that extends laterally outward from an area of a vehicle, and that extends longitudinally from a leading edge portion to a trailing edge portion, the trailing edge portion aligned along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle with a side mirror of the vehicle, the downforce generator configured to influence flow to reduce buffeting.

Vehicle assembly and method to reduce buffeting and generate downforce

An apparatus and method, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, providing a spoiler body having a plurality of tunnels defining an open area between the spoiler body and a vehicle exterior surface. Each tunnel has an uppermost wall having an airfoil section. The spoiler body includes at least one vehicle attachment area that is positioned between at least two of the tunnels.

Automotive decklid spoiler with aerodynamically shaped airfoil sections

An exemplary vehicle flow influencing assembly includes, among other things, a downforce generator extending laterally outward from an area of a vehicle that is forward a side window. The downforce generator is configured to influence flow to reduce buffeting. A vehicle flow influencing method includes, among other things, lowering a side window to provide an opening to a passenger compartment of a vehicle, and influencing flow over the opening using a downforce generator that extends laterally outward from an area of a vehicle that is forward the side window. The influencing reducing buffeting.

A front splitter assembly includes a front splitter having a first end and a second end, a first side splitter at the first end and a second side splitter at the second end. Each side splitter includes a contoured body. In one embodiment each side splitter includes an underwing extending between the extension section and the wicker section inboard of the end plate of the side splitter. A related method of improving stability and peak cornering speed of a motor vehicle is also provided.

Growing community of inventors

Livonia, MI, United States of America

Matthew Arthur Titus