Patents by Inventor Eric R. Yerke
Eric R. Yerke has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20210370744Abstract: An air venting system includes, among other things. A box of a truck. The box provides a cargo area. The system further includes a cab back panel of the truck. The cab back panel has an exposed section that provides a front wall of the cargo area. The cab back panel has a hidden section outside the cargo area. An air extractor is held within the hidden section of the cab back panel.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2020Publication date: December 2, 2021Inventors: Jeffrey Gray, Vince Anthony Chimento, Eric R. Yerke, Peter Joyce, Srinath Vijayakumar, Daniel Hewitt, Mukdam Kena
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Patent number: 10759254Abstract: A vehicle body includes a cabin portion, a bed portion, and an air extractor. The cabin portion defines a passenger cabin and includes a hollow pillar having an opening to the passenger cabin. The bed portion defines a bed and includes a hollow frame rail elongated from the pillar. The pillar and the frame rail define an airflow path from the opening. The air extractor is positioned in the frame rail and is in communication with the airflow path and an ambient environment.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2019Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Steve William Gallagher, Michael Murphy McElroy, Musheeruddin Syed, Eric R. Yerke, Mukdam Kena
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Publication number: 20200269652Abstract: A vehicle body includes a cabin portion, a bed portion, and an air extractor. The cabin portion defines a passenger cabin and includes a hollow pillar having an opening to the passenger cabin. The bed portion defines a bed and includes a hollow frame rail elongated from the pillar. The pillar and the frame rail define an airflow path from the opening. The air extractor is positioned in the frame rail and is in communication with the airflow path and an ambient environment.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2019Publication date: August 27, 2020Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Steve William Gallagher, Michael Murphy McElroy, Musheeruddin Syed, Eric R. Yerke, Mukdam Kena
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Patent number: 10315490Abstract: A vehicular air-handling system includes a blower assembly for a vehicle having a fan and a return-air baffle operable between a fresh-air position. The fan is in communication with a fresh-air duct and a recirculating position and the fan is at least partially in communication with a recirculating duct. A noise-attenuating end of the recirculating duct is positioned below an instrument panel of the vehicle and oriented substantially perpendicular to a portion of a floor below the instrument panel, wherein noise from the fan drawing air through the recirculating duct is directed into the floor below the instrument panel.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2014Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Manfred Koberstein, John Azar, Zhengyu Liu, Eric R. Yerke
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Publication number: 20180242076Abstract: A vehicle subwoofer assembly may include an extractor duct including a first portion and a second portion configured to extract air from the vehicle via a vent, and a subwoofer assembly connected to the duct, wherein the duct is configured to extract air from the vehicle and vent air from the subwoofer.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2017Publication date: August 23, 2018Inventors: Eric R. YERKE, Hillary GREGORY, Michael McELROY, James C. PEITZ
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Patent number: 9612165Abstract: A combining air-temperature monitor includes a faceted central shaft, a plurality of air-foil rings positioned about the faceted central shaft and a mixing zone proximate the faceted central shaft. The air-foil rings and the faceted central shaft cooperate to direct a plurality of air streams into the mixing zone. A temperature sensor is disposed within the mixing zone. The temperature sensor selectively measures a combined temperature of the plurality of air streams within the mixing zone. The faceted central shaft is adapted for insertion into an air-handling duct, wherein the faceted central shaft is free of a predetermined rotational orientation within the air handling duct.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2014Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Lawrence C. Karas, Mukesh Kumar, Eric R. Yerke
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Patent number: 9597943Abstract: A duct for a heating/ventilation/air conditioning system of a vehicle includes a first end and a second end spaced a distance from the first end. An orifice extends between the first end and the second end. A semi-circular surface is disposed at the second end. The semi-circular surface extends about a radius having the same length as the distance between the first and second ends.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2014Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Lawrence C. Karas, Mukesh Kumar, Eric R. Yerke, Robert Steven Sawyer
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Publication number: 20160355071Abstract: An air extraction system is provided for a motor vehicle. That air extraction system includes a trim air discharge outlet, an extractor and an extractor duct extending between the trim air discharge outlet and the extractor. The extractor duct is tuned to dissipate duct noise at at least one particular duct noise frequency characteristic of the extractor duct.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2015Publication date: December 8, 2016Inventors: Eric R. Yerke, Martha Elizabeth Nefcy, Zhengyu Liu, James R. Hurd, Mitali Chakrabarti, Guadalupe Ramirez
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Patent number: 9500092Abstract: An air duct assembly having a housing and a flexible vane. Sufficient airflow through the housing may actuate the flexible vane to permit airflow through an outlet.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2013Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Steven David Errick, Paul Bryan Hoke, James R. Hurd, Eric R. Yerke
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Publication number: 20160229257Abstract: A vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes an air extraction outlet located on an interior panel that partially defines an interior cabin of the vehicle. The air extraction outlet has a series of vanes that are configured to transition between open and closed positions. An actuator is utilized to transition the series of vanes between the open and closed positions. The air extraction outlet is configured to exhaust air from the cabin of the vehicle when the vanes are in the open position. The vehicle also includes a sensor and a controller. The controller is programmed to activate the actuator in order to transition the vanes between the open and closed positions based on a condition of the sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2015Publication date: August 11, 2016Inventors: Eric R. YERKE, Paul Bryan HOKE, Frank FUSCO, Robert Steven SAWYER
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Publication number: 20160129759Abstract: An air extractor vent is disclosed for a vehicle. A package tray defines an opening adjacent the lower edge of a rear window. A grille is assembled to the air extraction opening. The grille includes vanes for directing air away from the rear window and for obscuring the lines of sight from inside and outside of the vehicle through the air extraction opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2014Publication date: May 12, 2016Inventors: Eric R. Yerke, Paul Bryan Hoke, Frank Fusco, Robert Steven Sawyer
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Publication number: 20160059667Abstract: A duct for a heating/ventilation/air conditioning system of a vehicle includes a first end and a second end spaced a distance from the first end. An orifice extends between the first end and the second end. A semi-circular surface is disposed at the second end. The semi-circular surface extends about a radius having the same length as the distance between the first and second ends.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2014Publication date: March 3, 2016Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Lawrence C. Karas, Mukesh Kumar, Eric R. Yerke, Robert Steven Sawyer
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Publication number: 20160009162Abstract: A vehicular air-handling system includes a blower assembly for a vehicle having a fan and a return-air baffle operable between a fresh-air position. The fan is in communication with a fresh-air duct and a recirculating position and the fan is at least partially in communication with a recirculating duct. A noise-attenuating end of the recirculating duct is positioned below an instrument panel of the vehicle and oriented substantially perpendicular to a portion of a floor below the instrument panel, wherein noise from the fan drawing air through the recirculating duct is directed into the floor below the instrument panel.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2014Publication date: January 14, 2016Inventors: Manfred Koberstein, John Azar, Zhengyu Liu, Eric R. Yerke
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Patent number: 9205721Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2014Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Jennifer A. Herr-Rathke, Eric R. Yerke, James R. Hurd, Paul B. Hoke, Kalyanaraman Bharathan
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Publication number: 20150346041Abstract: A combining air-temperature monitor includes a faceted central shaft, a plurality of air-foil rings positioned about the faceted central shaft and a mixing zone proximate the faceted central shaft. The air-foil rings and the faceted central shaft cooperate to direct a plurality of air streams into the mixing zone. A temperature sensor is disposed within the mixing zone. The temperature sensor selectively measures a combined temperature of the plurality of air streams within the mixing zone. The faceted central shaft is adapted for insertion into an air-handling duct, wherein the faceted central shaft is free of a predetermined rotational orientation within the air handling duct.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2014Publication date: December 3, 2015Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Lawrence C. Karas, Mukesh Kumar, Eric R. Yerke
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Publication number: 20150217624Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2014Publication date: August 6, 2015Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Jennifer A. Herr-Rathke, Eric R. Yerke, James R. Hurd, Paul B. Hoke, Kalyanaraman Bharathan
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Publication number: 20140301832Abstract: An air duct assembly having a housing and a flexible vane. Sufficient airflow through the housing may actuate the flexible vane to permit airflow through an outlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2013Publication date: October 9, 2014Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Steven David Errick, Paul Bryan Hoke, James R. Hurd, Eric R. Yerke
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Publication number: 20140130533Abstract: An air conditioning condensate drain line assembly. The assembly may include a paddle wheel that is rotatably disposed in a drain hole of a drain housing. The paddle wheel may inhibit contaminants from entering the drain tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2012Publication date: May 15, 2014Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Lawrence C. Karas, Paul Bryan Hoke, Meghan Crusoe Anderson, Eric R. Yerke
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Patent number: 8694205Abstract: A system may control demist flow by computing a fogging possibility for a zone of a vehicle using a fogging heuristic according to received inputs, the fogging possibility indicative of fogging risk for vehicle glass in the zone of the vehicle; determining, based on comparing the fogging possibility to at least one fogging risk threshold, whether a change in demist flow for the zone is warranted to at least one of reduce the fogging risk for vehicle glass in the zone of the vehicle and reduce energy usage for the production of demist flow to be provided to vehicle glass in the zone of the vehicle; and selectively providing an output to at least one of the plurality of demist doors associated with the zone of the vehicle to adjust the demist flow to the zone of the vehicle when a change in demist flow for the zone is warranted.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2013Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Eric R. Yerke, James R. Hurd, Paul Bryan Hoke, Frank Fusco
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Publication number: 20140073232Abstract: A duct assembly including a first duct and a second duct that are connected by a receptacle and a fitting that are moved in a transverse direction to assemble the first duct to the second duct. The receptacle defines a slot that includes an inner wall and an outer wall. The inner and outer wall define a fitting insertion opening on one lateral side and a fitting seat on the opposite lateral side. A seal is provided on a face wall of the fitting. Triangular side walls extend between the inner and outer walls. A locking tab on a triangular side wall is received within a tab receiver on the outer wall of the fitting.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2012Publication date: March 13, 2014Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Lawrence C. Karas, Mukesh Kumar, Robert Steven Sawyer, Eric R. Yerke