Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Paul Repp

David Arthur Wade

James Antime Marleau

Larry Dean Elie

Kristopher Karl Brown

Paul Elia

Todd William Dishman

Craig Angelo Moccio

Tracy Christopher Bakos

Richard E Newton

Kenneth Michael Reo

Azfar Qamar

Suresh Narayan

Thomas Leung

An automated door system includes a hinge assembly having a movable hinge portion coupled to a door and a fixed hinge portion coupled to a vehicle body at a hinge pillar. The movable hinge portion includes first and second mounting portions. The first mounting portion is rotatably connected to the fixed hinge portion for rotation about a hinge axis of the hinge assembly. A power assist device is coupled to the fixed hinge portion and further coupled to the second mounting portion of the movable hinge portion by a drive shaft. The power assist device includes a motor that is configured to drive the drive shaft for providing at least one of an opening and a closing movement of the door about the hinge axis of the hinge assembly.

Powered hinge assembly for vehicle doors

A passenger vehicle comprises a passenger compartment with an interior space. An HVAC system conditions fresh air from outside the vehicle, wherein the HVAC system includes a main blower for delivering conditioned air to the interior space. An air extractor valve is fluidically coupled between the interior space and the outside, wherein the air extractor valve opens in response to a higher pressure in the interior space than an outside pressure. The air extractor valve substantially blocks air flow from the outside to the interior space. A supplemental blower is integrated with the air extractor valve for directing an exhaust flow from the interior to the outside, wherein the supplemental blower is activated as a function of the main blower. Alternatively, the supplemental blower is activated in response to a door being opened, enhancing the ability of the extractor to reduce door closing effort.

Active pressure relief valve for automatic air extractor

An active pressure relief system for a vehicle cabin in response to a cabin-door closure. An air-extractor may be configured to open when a cabin-door is opened, and remain open until the last of a number of cabin-doors are closed. The air-extractor allows for the increased pressure resulting from the cabin-door closure to be equalized with the external environment through the air-extractor. After the last of a number of cabin-doors are closed, the air-extractor closes to inhibit noise and external elements from entering the cabin through the air-extractor.

Vehicle door closure cabin pressure relief system

A side door grommet is formed in an L-shaped configuration to be seated in a side door between the primary and secondary door seals to release air pressure experienced when the side door is closed against the body shell. The grommet includes an L-shaped tube that allows air to pass into the interior of the side door and bends downwardly to prevent the passage of water from the interior of the side door through the grommet tube into the sealed area of the side door. A grill is mounted in the grommet to prevent the passage of small fingers and/or toys through the grommet into the interior of the side door. The release of the air bind between the primary and secondary seals allows the side door to be closed with a minimum of effort.

Automotive side door air bind reduction grommet

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Plymouth, MI, United States of America

Paul Repp