Systems and methods for a fluid reservoir plug
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsJohn Paul Gillis, JonCarlo Mancini, Christopher K. Palazzolo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for a fluid reservoir plug. In one example, a single-piece plug for a fluid reservoir includes a shaft, the shaft including a threading, a conduit, and a channel. The channel extends transversely through each thread of the threading to the conduit. Furthermore, while the threading is coupled to the fluid reservoir at an opening of the fluid reservoir, fluid exits the opening by flowing along the channel before flowing through the conduit.
Claims14
A single-piece plug for a fluid reservoir, the single-piece plug comprising:
- a head;
- a shaft extending from the head including an unthreaded shaft and a threaded shaft, wherein the unthreaded shaft is positioned directly between the head and the threaded shaft;
- a conduit positioned in the shaft between a last revolution of threading of the threaded shaft and the unthreaded shaft, wherein the conduit is positioned between a plurality of grooves and the threading;
- a channel, the channel extending transversely through each thread of the threading of the threaded shaft to the conduit;
- and
- a cavity inside the shaft, wherein the cavity is fluidly connected to the conduit, and wherein, while the threading is coupled to the fluid reservoir at an opening of the fluid reservoir, fluid exits the opening by flowing through the cavity before flowing through the conduit, wherein
- while the threading is coupled to the fluid reservoir at the opening of the fluid reservoir, fluid exits the opening by flowing along the channel before flowing past the conduit.
A fluid reservoir system, comprising:
- a fluid reservoir, including an opening with a threadable attachment point,
- a single-piece plug for the fluid reservoir, the single-piece plug comprising:
- a shaft, including a threaded shaft, wherein the threaded shaft includes a threading extending across a length of the threaded shaft;
- a conduit;
- a channel, the channel extending along an entire length of the threaded shaft and extending transversely through each thread of the threading to the conduit;
- and
- a detent, wherein while the detent makes face-sharing contact with the threadable attachment point, the single-piece plug is unthreadable from the threadable attachment point, and wherein the detent includes a notch cut out from the threading, wherein
- while the threading is coupled to the threadable attachment point, fluid exits the opening by flowing along the channel before flowing past the conduit.
A method for a fluid reservoir system, comprising:
- coupling a threading of a single-piece plug to an attachment point at an opening of a fluid reservoir, wherein the single-piece plug includes the threading, a conduit, a plurality of grooves, a detent cut out from the threading, and a channel, the channel extending transversely through each thread of the threading to the conduit,
- placing a seal at each of the plurality of grooves,
- while the threading is coupled to the attachment point,
- positioning the single-piece plug in an unsealed position, wherein positioning the single-piece plug in the unsealed position includes, while the threading is coupled to the attachment point, unthreading the threading from the attachment point until each of the placed seals are disengaged from the fluid reservoir and unthreading the threading from the attachment point until the attachment point is in face-sharing contact with the detent, and
- flowing a fluid from the fluid reservoir along the channel and then past the conduit before flowing the fluid out of the opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.