Method for manufacturing engine cover having a retainer to secure an engine accessory
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsThomas Edward Smith, Frank Acierno Valencia
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cover has an aperture through which an accessory gains access to the interior side of the cover and a cavity. The accessory may be any kind of sensor or actuator. To secure the accessory to the cover, an adapter coupled to the cover is provided. In one example, the adapter has a cylindrical connection section that is spin welded into place in the cavity. In another example, the adapter has self-tapping threads that engage with the surface surrounding the cavity. The adapter also has tabs extending outwardly from the cover, the tabs having a proximate section and an engagement section. The accessory has a retaining orifice that couples with the tabs in a snap-fit relationship to secure the accessory to the cover.
Claims12
A method to manufacture a cover, comprising:
- molding a cover body defining a cylindrical cavity of a predetermined diameter;
- molding an adapter, configured to slidably engage the cylindrical cavity, the adapter having a connection section and tabs extending from the connection section in a direction generally parallel with an axis of the connection section and defining a drive feature in an end of the connection section proximate the tabs;
- coupling a tool with the drive feature;
- and
- rotating the tool to rotate the adapter within the cylindrical cavity to couple the adapter with the cover body.
A method of manufacturing a cover assembly, comprising:
- molding a cover having a cylindrical cavity;
- molding an adapter having a connection section with tabs extending outwardly therefrom and having an engagement section away from the connection section wherein the connection section includes a drive feature in an end proximate the tabs;
- and
- spin welding the adapter to the cover within the cylindrical cavity by applying torque to the drive feature.
A method to manufacture a cover assembly, comprising:
- molding a cover defining a cylindrical cavity of a predetermined diameter;
- molding an adapter having a connection section provided with threads having a major diameter greater than the predetermined diameter and a minor diameter less than the predetermined diameter and tabs extending from the connection section in a direction generally parallel with an axis of the connection section, the adapter defining a drive feature in an end of the connection section proximate the tabs;
- coupling a tool with the drive feature;
- and
- rotating the tool to rotate the adapter within the cylindrical cavity, wherein the rotation of the adapter causes the threads to engage with the cover to couple the adapter with the cover.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.