Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Motor Company Limited

Scott Christopher Sterbenz

Eric Jay MacLean

Daniel Ferretti

Darrin Neil Wagner

Gary D Mullen

Edgar Edward Donabedian

Thomas Norton

Timothy James Hallifax

Gary Lee Danhoff

Forrest W Eddings

A ventilation system and method of purging volatile organic compounds from an interior space of the vehicle. The ventilation space including an air extractor connected to a vehicle wall and having an interior side within the interior space defined by the vehicle wall, a fan attached to the interior side, and a controller configured to operate in a shipping mode to activate the fan to generate ventilation flow through the air extractor.

Automatic ventilation system and method for purging an interior space of a vehicle during shipping

The present disclosure is directed toward a method that includes simulating, by an adhesive analytic model, transformation of at least one vehicular joint joined by a selected adhesive based on one or more system variables, and outputting, by the adhesive analytic model, an adhesive analysis identifying deformation for the selected adhesive along the at least one vehicular joint based on the simulated transformation and a deformation rating scale.

Method for evaluating an adhesive for a vehicular joint

This disclosure relates to a valve assembly for a motor vehicle, such as a pressure relief valve (i.e., an 'air extractor'), and a method of using the same. In an example, the valve assembly includes a flap moveable to between an open position and a closed position, a slider moveable along an axis and including an integrally formed arm in contact with the flap, and an electromagnet configured to be selectively activated to move the slider along the axis.

Valve assembly controlled by electromagnet

A bicycle derailleur apparatus for controlling bicycle speed includes a bicycle chain guide and a pair of moldable wires. The guide has opposite sides receiving a bicycle chain therebetween and is pivotally movable in a lateral direction toward and away from a bicycle frame portion mounting the guide. The moldable wires, disposed side-by-side and spaced apart, are mounted to the bicycle frame portion and have respective outer end portions attached to one guide side. By applying a predetermined electric current to the moldable wires at separate times their outer end portions deform from pliable states to respective acute and obtuse angular shapes relative to respective main portions thereof and thereby move the guide to shift the bicycle chain into engagement with one or the other of inner and outer derailleur sprocket gears of different diameter sizes to change the bicycle speed relative to the pedal cadence of a rider.

Bicycle derailleur apparatus for controlling bicycle speed

A motor vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a cargo box, a tailgate moveable relative to the cargo box between an open position and a closed position, and a cable affixed to the cargo box and the tailgate. At least a portion of the cable includes a shape-memory material. Additionally, the motor vehicle includes a controller configured to activate the shape-memory material when the tailgate moves between the open and closed positions. A method is also disclosed.

Shape-memory material providing soft open and closure assistance for tailgate

An antenna mounting device is provided for a motor vehicle. That antenna mounting device includes a body having a first mounting end with a first cross section and a second mounting end with a second, different cross section. In addition, the antenna mounting device includes an antenna anchor point carried on the body and adapted to receive and hold an antenna. The two mounting sections allow versatility in mounting the antenna mounting device in different structures carried on the motor vehicle including, for example, a stake pocket and a trailer hitch receiver.

Growing community of inventors

Brownstown, MI, United States of America

Scott Christopher Sterbenz