James Jeffrey Hurd

US Patent:

20130137355, May 30, 2013

Filed:

Nov 30, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/307349

Inventors:

Angelo Patti - Pleasant Ridge MI, US
Paul B. Hoke - Plymouth MI, US
James R. Hurd - Canton MI, US

Assignee:

FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC - DEARBORN MI

International Classification:

B60H 1/24

US Classification:

454139

Abstract:

An HVAC unit is provided for treating air in a passenger cabin of a vehicle. An HVAC housing has a recirculation entry section, a fresh entry section, a blower section, and an output section. A blower is mounted to the blower section for driving an airflow from the HVAC housing out through the output section into the passenger cabin. A recirculation opening is provided proximate the recirculation entry section for providing at least a base recirculation flow from the passenger cabin into the HVAC housing whenever the blower drives the airflow. A climate sensor is fluidically coupled within the base recirculation flow for sensing a climate characteristic representative of the air in the passenger cabin.

US Patent:

20150217624, Aug 6, 2015

Filed:

Feb 5, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/173158

Inventors:

- DEARBORN MI, US
Eric R. Yerke - Redford MI, US
James R. Hurd - Canton MI, US
Paul B. Hoke - Plymouth MI, US
Kalyanaraman Bharathan - Canton MI, US

Assignee:

FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC - DEARBORN MI

International Classification:

B60H 1/00

Abstract:

A cross-car structure integrates an HVAC duct with a structural beam. An upper steel beam has opposing ends attached to opposite body sides. A pair of center brackets extend downward from the upper steel beam. An HVAC unit secured to a center bracket has an outlet for an air flow for ventilating a floor region. A plastic cross member has a center plate secured to the center brackets, a first hollow beam extending from the center plate to one steel beam end, and a second hollow beam extending from the center plate to the other steel beam end. Each hollow beam has an in-board opening fluidically coupled to the HVAC outlet and at least one floor outlet directed toward the floor region thereby providing a respective HVAC duct between the outlet of the HVAC unit and each of the floor outlets.