US 12,168,389 B2
Automatic ventilation system and method for purging an interior space of a vehicle during shipping
Scott Christopher Sterbenz, Brownstown, MI (US); Eric Jay MacLean, Brighton, MI (US); Daniel Ferretti, Commerce Township, MI (US); Timothy James Hallifax, Toorak (AU); and Gary D. Mullen, Plymouth, MI (US)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Apr. 11, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/717,219.
Prior Publication US 2023/0322046 A1, Oct. 12, 2023
Int. Cl. B60H 1/24 (2006.01); B60H 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC B60H 1/249 (2013.01) [B60H 1/00842 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A ventilation system for purging an interior space of a vehicle, the ventilation system comprising:
an air extractor having an interior side within the interior space of the vehicle and an exterior side, opposite the interior side, exposed to an outside atmosphere, the air extractor including:
a fluid path extending between the interior space and the atmosphere; and
a movable air restriction member within the fluid path;
a fan adjacent to the air extractor on the interior side, with an exhaust end portion of the fan being positioned proximate the movable air restriction member to direct a ventilation flow through the fluid path to the atmosphere; and
a controller configured to operate in a shipping mode, wherein the controller initiates a plurality of purge cycles over a period of time, with each purge cycle being spaced apart from the next purge cycle by an intercycle period, wherein the fan operates during each of the plurality of purge cycles to deliver the ventilation flow and the fan is inactive during each intercycle period, and wherein the controller is configured to continue initiating the plurality of purge cycles over a preselected shipping time countdown period unless otherwise interrupted.