# US 10,766,339 B2 · Vehicle structural air duct > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,766,339 B2 - Document ID: US10766339B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/416,860 - Filed: 2017-01-26 - Published: 2018-07-26 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-01-26 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Ari Garo Caliskan; Nicolas Zagorski; Andrew J. Stankovich - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10766339B2 ## CPC - B60H 1/245: {located in the roof} - B60H 1/00564: {of air ducts} - B60H 1/247: {Disposition of several air-diffusers in a vehicle for ventilation-air circulation in a vehicle cabin} - B62D 25/06: Fixed roofs (non-fixed roofs or like shelters B60J7/00; roof liners B60R13/02; insulating elements B60R13/08) - B60H 2001/00235: {Devices in the roof area of the passenger compartment} - B60Y 2306/05: Cooling - B60Y 2306/07: Heating of passenger cabins - B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY ## Abstract A vehicle body structure includes spaced roof rails and a structural air duct. The air duct has at least two bows connecting between the roof rails and defining first and second channels. An interconnecting member is connected between the bows and defines a third channel connecting the first and second channels in fluid communication with each other. At least one of the bows defines an outlet port configured to supply air to a cabin. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle body structure comprising: spaced apart roof rails; a structural air duct including at least two bows connecting between the roof rails and defining first and second channels, an interconnecting member connected between the bows and defining a third channel connecting the first and second channels in fluid communication with each other, wherein at least one of the bows defines an outlet port configured to supply air to a cabin, and a cap attached to the bows and the interconnecting member to define a plenum; and a roof connected between the roof rails and extending over the cap. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle body structure of claim 1, wherein at least one of the bows defines an inlet port in fluid communication with a blower. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle body structure of claim 1, wherein each of the first, second and third channels has a U-shaped cross section. ### Claim 4 A vehicle comprising: roof rails; a rear header extending between the rails; a structural air duct located forward of the rear header and including a structural body defining an open channel and having first and second portions each connected to one of the rails, wherein the structural body has flanges; a cap sealed to the flanges and covering over the body to define a plenum; and a roof panel attached to a top surface of the cap. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the structural body includes a bottom portion and a pair of side portions that define the open channel, wherein the flanges extend outwardly from the side portions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the bottom portion defines an outlet port. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vehicle of claim 6 further comprising an air shutter disposed within the outlet port. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the open-channel section has a U-shaped cross section. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the first portion is formed on a first segment of the body and the second portion is formed on a second segment of body that is located rearward of the first segment. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the cap is sealed to the flanges by a first adhesive and the cap is sealed to the roof panel by a second adhesive. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) The vehicle of claim 4 further comprising: a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system including a blower connected in fluid communication with the structural air duct. ### Claim 12 A vehicle comprising: roof rails; a structural air duct including a structural body having at least four mounting portions each attached to one of the roof rails, and an outlet port defined in a bottom of the body; an air shutter disposed in the outlet port; a cap sealed to a top of the body such that the body and the cap cooperate to define a plenum; and a roof panel attached to a top surface of the cap. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the body further includes a plurality of open-channel sections interconnected with each other. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12 further comprising: a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system including a blower connected in fluid communication with the structural air duct. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the structural body further has at least two bows connecting between the roof rails and defining first and second channels and has an interconnecting member connected between the bows and defining a third channel connecting the first and second channels in fluid communication with each other. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The vehicle of claim 15, wherein each of the first, second and third channels has a U-shaped cross section. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the outlet port is defined in one of the bows. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the structural body further has a bottom portion, a pair of side portions cooperating with the bottom portion to define an open channel, and flanges extend outwardly from the side portions. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the flanges are joined to the cap. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the cap is joined to the structural body by a first adhesive and the cap is joined to the roof panel by a second adhesive. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the structural air duct is X-shaped and includes transverse sections having the mounting portions and a pair of angled sections that connect between the transverse sections, wherein the angled sections intersect at a central portion to place the angled sections in fluid communication.