TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140116131 | CONTACTLESS LIQUID LEVEL SENSOR - In at least some implementations, a liquid level sensor includes a liquid level responsive member, first and second circuit elements and a magnetic field member. One circuit element generates a magnetic field and the other is responsive to the magnetic field. The magnetic field member is responsive to movement of the liquid level responsive member and alters, in at least some positions of the magnetic field member, at least one characteristic of the magnetic field experienced by the second circuit element as a function of the position of the magnetic field member. The magnetic field experienced by the second circuit element can be correlated to a position of the magnetic field member which can be correlated to a position of the liquid level responsive member to provide an indication of the liquid level in the tank. | 05-01-2014 |
20130334810 | Convolute Tube With Integrated Preformed Angle Fitting - A connector assembly for a fluid system comprising a flexible tube with a series of convolutions integrated with a connector having tubular portions disposed at a sharp angle to each other. In one form, the connector and flexible hose are made from the same material, nylon-12 and are spin welded together. | 12-19-2013 |
20130256577 | FUEL SYSTEM VALVE ASSEMBLY - A fuel system valve assembly may include a housing, a spring, and a body. The housing may have a fuel passage defined in part or more by a fuel passage wall. The fuel passage wall may have a seat and a cylindrical section. The cylindrical section may have a constant diameter and may be located downstream of the seat. In use, the body may reciprocate linearly in the housing between an open position and a closed position. The body may be biased to the closed position by the spring. The body may abut the seat when the body is in the closed position. | 10-03-2013 |
20130256161 | THRESHOLD CONDITION INDICATION IN VEHICLE FUEL SYSTEM - A fuel system component may include a body arranged for use in storing or moving fuel within the fuel system, and an indicator associated with the body to provide an indication when the body is subjected to a condition outside of a threshold. The indicator may be responsive to one or more environmental or system conditions outside of a threshold. For example without limitation, the indicator may be responsive to one or more of temperature, pressure, corrosion and electrical conditions to provide an indication when at least one condition exceeds a threshold for that condition. | 10-03-2013 |
20130251835 | FUEL TANK OPENING - Methods and apparatuses for blow molding a fuel tank with multiple concentric needles to form an opening in the fuel tank, and/or for calibrating the opening in the fuel tank as it cools. | 09-26-2013 |
20130192046 | FLUID DISTRIBUTION MANIFOLD - A fluid distribution manifold for a fluid flow system comprising a manifold body having a central bore and a transverse end wall surface defining a tube reception opening, and a securement ridge at said tube reception opening, a seal retainer releasably secured to the securement ridge of the manifold body, at the tube reception opening in which the body defines at least one radial abutment surface axially inward of said tube reception opening and the seal retainer includes at least one radial abutment surface in radial abutting relation with said radial abutment surface of the manifold body. The manifold body includes a plurality of notches defining the abutment surfaces and seal retainer includes a plurality of radial tabs with abutment surfaces in radial abutting relation to the manifold body within the notches. In one form, the seal retainer includes a forward converging chamfer that converges to a diameter smaller than the diameter of the tube reception opening. | 08-01-2013 |
20130104528 | REACTANT DELIVERY FOR ENGINE EXHAUST GAS TREATMENT | 05-02-2013 |
20130061934 | IN-TANK EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM - An evaporative emission control system includes a fuel vapor adsorption unit in physical contact with a heat generator inside a fuel tank. The heat generator can be a fuel pump that heats the adsorption unit during a purge cycle, thereby increasing the rate of desorption of captured fuel vapor during the purge cycle. The fuel vapor adsorption unit and/or an additional fuel vapor adsorption unit may be located inside the tank volume proximate a tank inlet opening so that incoming fuel can cool the adsorption unit(s) during a refueling event, thereby increasing the adsorption efficiency of the adsorption unit(s) during the refueling event. | 03-14-2013 |
20130049524 | ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVEN LIQUID PUMP AND BRUSH FOR SAME - In one implementation, a liquid pump includes a pumping element, an electric motor and a brush housing. The electric motor is coupled to the pumping element to drive the pumping element for rotation, and the motor has a commutator, brushes engaged with the commutator to provide electricity to the commutator and at least one biasing member yieldably biasing the brushes into engagement with the commutator. The brush housing defines brush cavities in which the brushes are received, where the brushes have a first surface engaged with the commutator and a second surface spaced from the first surface and acted upon by said at least one biasing member. The second surface is inclined at an acute included angle relative to the first surface. | 02-28-2013 |
20130037116 | FLUID DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM WITH FILTRATION - A fluid distribution system may include a by-pass fluid filter that combines high volume, in-tank fluid filtration with low volume fluid delivery to an external device such as an SCR injector. One or more outlet ports located along the fluid filter housing can be configured to discharge fluid toward other fluid distribution system components. In systems such as SCR systems, where the liquid reducing agent may freeze when not in use, directing already thawed liquid toward other system components can help thaw the frozen reducing agent at desired locations first. The fluid distribution system can also be arranged so that flow through the filter is in the same direction during the distribution cycle and during the purge cycle. | 02-14-2013 |
20130000760 | FLUID DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND COMPONENTS THEREOF - A fluid distribution system of a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system may include a storage tank and a fluid distribution module disposed at least partially within the storage tank. The distribution module includes a pump assembly comprising a fluid pump having a pump inlet configured to receive liquid from an inner volume of the tank, and a pump outlet fluidly connected to a module outlet port. The distribution module further includes a fluid discharge jet fluidly connected to the pump outlet and operable to discharge liquid from the pump outlet and into the tank volume. In an exemplary embodiment, the distribution module still further includes a valve disposed between the pump outlet and the discharge jet operable to selectively allow liquid fluid flow from the pump outlet to the discharge jet when one or more predetermined criteria are met. | 01-03-2013 |
20130000743 | SCR FLUID DISTRIBUTION AND CIRCULATION SYSTEM - A selective catalytic reduction system includes a fluid distribution system for supplying an exhaust gas reducing agent. The system includes a liquid storage tank and a fluid distribution module with a fluid pump that draws liquid reducing agent from the tank volume and provides the liquid at a module outlet port, while simultaneously discharging excess liquid from a circulation line outlet within the tank volume. The circulation line outlet can be located at a bottom portion of the tank volume near other distribution module components to promote liquid circulation around the module components during a fluid distribution period, to promote thawing of frozen reducing agent at and around the module components, and to ensure a continuous supply of liquid to the fluid pump. The distribution module is also capable of purging liquid from fluid lines located outside the storage tank and returning the purged liquid to the tank volume. | 01-03-2013 |
20130000741 | FLUID LEVEL SENSOR - In at least some implementations, a fluid level sensor for sensing the level of a fluid within a tank includes a fluid tube through which fluid flows under pressure, a pressure pulse inducer, a fluid level responsive member and a pressure sensor. The pressure pulse inducer is disposed within the fluid tube so that at least some of the fluid flowing through the fluid tube engages the pressure pulse inducer. The fluid level responsive member is operably associated with the pressure pulse inducer to provide a force on the pressure pulse inducer that varies as a function of the fluid level in the tank. And the pressure sensor at senses the pressure of the fluid flowing through the tube, where the pressure pulse inducer induces changes in the pressure of the fluid as a function of the fluid level and the changes in pressure are sensed by the pressure sensor. | 01-03-2013 |
20120247179 | SENSOR HOUSING AND LATCHING MECHANISM FOR SENSOR HOUSING - A removable sensor housing for connection to a structure in a fluid system such as a quick connector body. The sensor housing removably attaches to a mating portion on the other structure. It includes a shaft inserted in a bore on the other structure with an interposed seal. An attachment mechanism is used to secure the sensor housing to the structure. Alternative mechanisms are disclosed. In certain forms, the sensor housing is configured to be positioned in fixed relation to the other structure. | 10-04-2012 |
20120224991 | POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT FLUID PUMP - A fluid pump includes a motor, an inner gear rotor and an outer gear rotor. The inner gear rotor is driven for rotation about an axis by the motor and has a plurality of outwardly extending teeth. The outer gear rotor has a plurality of inwardly extending teeth that are engaged by the teeth of the inner gear rotor so that the outer gear rotor is driven for rotation about a second axis when the inner gear rotor rotates. At least one of the inner gear rotor and the outer gear rotor is formed from a plastic material. | 09-06-2012 |
20120222806 | FUEL TANK AND METHOD FOR REDUCING VAPOR PERMEATION THROUGH A FUEL TANK - A method of reducing fuel vapor permeation through a multi-layer tank includes providing a multi-layer overlay onto at least a portion of a structural layer of the multi-layer tank. The multi-layer overlay preferably comprises at least one structural layer composed of a polymeric material that is compatible with one or more of the polymeric structural layer(s) of the multi-layer tank. The multi-layer overlay further comprises at least one barrier layer composed of a vapor barrier material resistant to hydrocarbon permeation therethrough. The multi-layer overlay may be secured to the multi-layer tank by, for example, applying a suitable amount of heat and pressure thereto or by molding the multi-layer overlay to the tank body during a tank forming process. | 09-06-2012 |
20120219661 | APPARATUS FOR BLOW MOLDING - A method and apparatus for blow molding an article wherein a parison is positioned between substantially opposed mold closures. The opposed mold closures and at least one other mold closure are advanced, wherein the at least one other mold closure is advanced into abutment with at least one of another of the substantially opposed mold closures, and another of the at least one other mold closure. Thereafter, a gas may be injected within the interior of the parison to form a molded article, the mold closures retracted along their respective axes, and the molded article removed. | 08-30-2012 |
20120201702 | FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY - A fluid pump includes an electric motor having a commutator and one or more brushes communicated with the commutator, and a pumping assembly driven by the electric motor. An outer shell of the pump encloses at least a portion of the electric motor and the pumping assembly, a cap is carried by the outer shell and has a brush passage formed therein for each brush, with each brush passage including a cavity defined by at least one wall. A brush cap has an end received in the cavity with an interference fit wherein the end of the brush cap has an outer diameter that is larger than the diameter of the cavity and the end of the brush cap has strength that causes it to deform upon installation into the cavity without causing significant plastic deformation of the wall of the cavity. | 08-09-2012 |
20120201700 | IMPELLER AND FLUID PUMP - A fluid pump may include an electric motor having an output shaft driven for rotation about an axis and a pump assembly coupled to the output shaft. The pump assembly has a first cap and a second cap with at least one pumping channel defined between the first and second caps, and an impeller between the first and second caps. The impeller is driven for rotation by the output shaft of the motor and includes a plurality of vanes in communication with the at least one pumping channel. Each vane has a root segment and a tip segment and a line from a base of the root segment to an outer edge of the tip segment trails a line extending from the axis of rotation to the base of the root segment by an angle of between 0° and 30° relative to the direction of rotation of the impeller. | 08-09-2012 |
20110121559 | VERIFICATION PIN - A quick connector coupling fitting includes a connector body having a through bore extending axially forward from an entrance opening at one end to an exit opening at an opposite end, the through bore defines a retainer receiving portion axially forward of the entrance opening, a tube receiving portion axially forward of the retainer receiving portion and a sealing chamber portion axially forward of the tube receiving portion. A tube retainer is disposed in the retainer receiving portion releasably secured to the connector body, and a seal element disposed in the seal chamber portion. A verification pin has a solid free end and a longitudinally elongate barrel portion with a cylindrical surface sized for fluid tight sealing relation with the sealing element. It includes opposed latching body portions extending from the barrel portion at an end opposite the solid free end releasably securing the verification pin to the retainer of the quick connector coupling fitting. | 05-26-2011 |
20110002798 | FLUID TANK AND FLUID PUMP WITH EXTERIOR MOTOR - A fluid tank assembly may include a fluid tank having a wall defining an internal volume in which a fluid is received and a fluid pump. The fluid pump may have a motor including an electrically driven motor, a pumping element driven to rotate by the motor, a dividing wall disposed between and separating the motor and the pumping element, and a magnetic coupling between the motor and the pumping element and operative through the dividing wall to couple the motor with the pumping element. The motor may be located outside of the internal volume of the fluid tank and the pumping element may be located inside of the internal volume of the fluid tank. | 01-06-2011 |
20110000297 | FLUID TANK AND FLUID LEVEL SENDER WITH EXTERNAL SIGNALING FEATURE - A fluid level sender may include a sensing feature disposed within an internal volume of a tank, responsive to the level of liquid within the tank and including a drive member, a signaling feature disposed outside of the internal volume of the tank and including a driven member and a dividing wall. The dividing wall may be disposed between and separating the sensing feature from the signaling feature. The drive member provides a force and the driven member is responsive to the force provided from the drive member to enable the signaling feature to provide an indication of the amount of liquid within the tank. | 01-06-2011 |
20100276623 | PRESSURE CONTROL VALVE - A pressure control valve has a non-uniformly tapered valve bore that has an increasing diameter as it extends downstream. An interface angle, defined in part between a valve ball and the valve bore in the area of the smallest gap between them, increases as the valve ball is increasingly displaced away from a valve seat of the valve bore. | 11-04-2010 |
20100116480 | VEHICULAR CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM - An underbody assembly for a vehicular climate control system is disclosed including fluid flow conduits formed of steel coated with polymeric material such as nylon 12. The conduits are continuous between opposite ends free of joints or flexible connection. In one form, the conduit includes branches or connectors formed of polymeric material sealed to the outer polymeric layer of the tube. | 05-13-2010 |
20100116366 | FUEL TANK ASSEMBLIES, COMPONENTS, AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE - A fuel tank assembly includes a fuel tank to contain fuel therein, and a carrier assembly disposed in the fuel tank. The carrier assembly includes a plurality of application-specific fuel system products, a carrier common to a plurality of different fuel tank assemblies to carry the products, and a plurality of common components to mount the products with respect to the carrier in application-specific positions. | 05-13-2010 |
20100109260 | RING SEAL WITH INSERT - One embodiment of a seal includes a body portion, a skirt portion, and an insert. The body portion is composed of a first material. The skirt portion extends from the body portion and is also composed of the first material. The skirt portion has an inboard leg and an outboard leg that move toward each other upon collapse in use. The insert is carried by the body portion and is composed of a second material which is more rigid than the first material. | 05-06-2010 |
20100107615 | REACTANT DELIVERY FOR ENGINE EXHAUST GAS TREATMENT - A reactant delivery system for engine exhaust gas treatment may include a tank in which a reactant is received, a pumping device, a pressure relief device, and a reactant distribution device. The pumping device may have an inlet disposed within the interior of the tank to receive the reactant, and an outlet through which the reactant is discharged. The pressure relief device may have an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the pumping device, a primary outlet to discharge the reactant under pressure to a downstream location, and a bypass outlet through which at least some of the reactant discharged from the pumping device is selectively discharged. And the reactant distribution device may be in fluid communication with the bypass outlet of the pressure relief device and have a plurality of outlets to distribute the reactant to at least two different locations within the tank. | 05-06-2010 |
20100078842 | FUEL TANK OPENING - Methods and apparatuses for blow molding a fuel tank with multiple concentric needles to form an opening in the fuel tank, and/or for calibrating the opening in the fuel tank as it cools. | 04-01-2010 |
20100052315 | QUICK CONNECTOR COUPLING WITH LATERAL STABILIZATION - A quick connector coupling for use with a fluid line includes a connector body defining a through bore defining an axially extending stabilization ring support surface forward of an entrance opening at the male reception end. The male member is a tube defining a generally cylindrical sealing surface, with radially directed upset at a given distance from the free end of the tube and a rearward cylindrical surface rearward of the upset A retainer is adapted to releasably secure the tube within the connector body. A stabilization ring resides between the axially extending stabilization ring support surface and the rearward cylindrical surface of the tube. In one form, the stabilization ring is secured to the tube to resist rotation relative to the body. | 03-04-2010 |
20090256353 | Tube To Hose Coupling - A tube-to-hose coupling includes an elongated hollow insert connected between an end of the tube and defining an insert receiving portion and the end of the hose defining an insert receiving portion. The insert is disposed in the insert receiving portion of the tube end and the insert receiving portion of the hose end in fluid tight sealing relation. Thermoplastic polymeric material is bonded between the insert and the hose during insertion of the insert into the bore of the hose. The tube is connected to the insert and the hose by plastic deformation. In one embodiment the polymeric material is a layer defining the internal bore of the hose. In another, the polymeric material defines an outer layer on the insert. | 10-15-2009 |
20090256317 | COVER FOR FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENT AND METHOD OF MAKING - One embodiment of a cover for use in a fuel system component has a body and a seal molded around the body. The body has at least one first connecting feature that is complementary to at least one second connecting feature of the seal. The first connecting feature and the second connecting feature help hold the body and the seal together. | 10-15-2009 |
20090073629 | ELECTROSTATIC CHARGE CONTROL FOR IN-TANK FUEL MODULE COMPONENTS - A grounding arrangement for an in-tank fuel system includes a fuel level sensor assembly of a fuel module comprising a conductive card body and a resister card supported on the conductive card body. The resister card includes a conductive trace in conductive contact with the conductive card body. The card body is conductively connected to a conductive fuel module component. The trace is adapted to be connected to the ground plane of a vehicle. Other traces on the resister card are in the electrical circuit of the fuel level sensor assembly. The fuel module further includes a conductive blade having a knife edge and in conductive contact with a conductive fuel module component. The knife edge cuts through the insulation of an insulated conductor to allow the knife edge to be in contact with the conductive element of the conductor. | 03-19-2009 |
20090071562 | QUICK CONNECTOR - A fluid coupling assembly is disclosed comprising a connector body defining a bore extending axially forward from an entrance opening, a tubular male member with an upset, a seal member, and a retainer. The retainer is received within the bore and includes locking members to releaseably retain the tube. The retainer includes a forward extension to support the seal against fluid pressure. The retainer and seal are configured to be applied to the male member before insertion of the male member into the bore of the connector body. Two of the locking members include ramps extending radially outwardly to contact the body portion defining the entrance opening sequentially prior to contact by the locking arms of the other locking members. A removable protective cap attaches the retainer and seal onto a tube end and covers these components prior to assembly. The retainer, seal member and protective cap cannot be assembled onto the tube end unless the seal is present within the protective cap. | 03-19-2009 |
20090058015 | RING SEAL HAVING SEALING LOBES - A ring seal includes a body portion and a tail portion extending therefrom. The body portion has, when viewed in cross-section and in an uncompressed state, an axially outboard surface and an axially inboard surface. The outboard surface defines a first sealing lobe, and the inboard surface defines a second sealing lobe that shares an axial centerline with the first sealing lobe. | 03-05-2009 |
20080298985 | FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY FOR A FUEL PUMP MODULE - A fuel pump assembly includes a fuel pump, and an electric motor for rotatably driving the fuel pump and including a motor armature and a commutator positioned between the motor armature and the fuel pump. | 12-04-2008 |
20080284164 | Non-Serviceable Fluid Coupling - A non-serviceable coupling includes a body with a tube receiving end bore and a hose receiving end bore. The tube includes a radial upset with a seal and spacer supported on the tube. The outer cylindrical surface of the tube is press fit into the reduced diameter bore at the tube receiving end to connect the coupling to the tube. The coupling body is crimped to the tube and to the hose to secure the hose and tube to the coupling. The tube is axially restrained between the crimp and an annular wall in contact with the tube end. In another embodiment, a second seal, outward of the upset is employed to prevent entry of contaminants. | 11-20-2008 |
20080252020 | RING SEAL WITH AXIALLY-OPPOSED RADIALLY-OFFSET SEAL BEADS - A ring seal includes a sealing ring including an asymmetric body portion having axially-opposed and radially-offset seal beads. The ring seal may also include a reinforcement ring carried at least partially in the sealing ring to distribute load across the seal beads. The ring seal may further include a skirt depending generally axially from the body portion and defining an inner diameter of the sealing ring and preferably having frusto-conical cross-sectional shape. | 10-16-2008 |
20080231044 | Quick Connector for High Pressure Applications - A quick connector coupling assembly includes a retainer to connect a rigid tube to a hollow body component. A sleeve extending between a fluid sealing member and the retainer includes a rearward abutment surface in abutting contact with the retainer. The retainer locking arms include forward abutment surfaces in abutting relation with the tube upset and forward abutment surfaces in abutting relation with the sleeve. An insertion verifier includes a ring portion with axially extending legs positioned in the slots between the retainer locking arms. At least one leg includes a releasable latch engaged with the retainer in the slots between the locking arms. Guide elements on the retainer and insertion verifier align the verifier legs and retainer slots on insertion of the verifier. | 09-25-2008 |
20080224467 | QUICK CONNECTOR FOR HIGH PRESSURE APPLICATIONS - A quick connector coupling to releasably connect a rigid tube into a hollow body component bore with a resilient seal member creating a fluid tight seal. A seat member retainer includes legs abutting the body component. It includes an insertion sleeve that receives the axial insertion forces to insert the seal member retainer into the bore. A protective cap is arranged to contain preassembled seal and retainer components for assembly onto the rigid tube. | 09-18-2008 |