Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A quick connector coupling for a fluid line includes a female connector body defining a through bore, a tubular male member with a raised annular upset, and a retainer demountably coupled to the connector body. A seal assembly provides a fluid tight seal between the tube and body bore. A separate outer spacer is secured to the body to receive axial load of the seal assembly. The body defines spaced arcuate locking ledges having axially inward facing radial locking surfaces. The outer spacer is a continuous annular element includes an integral radial ring defining an annular axially outward facing radial abutment surface in radial abutting relation to the locking surfaces of said body ledges.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A quick connector coupling for use with a fluid line includes a connector body defining a through bore extending from a male reception end of the connector body. The connector body is adapted to operably receive a male member extending through the male reception end of the connector body into the bore. A retainer is releasably coupled to the connector body. The retainer is movable relative to the connector body from an unlatched position to the latched position only when the male member is fully inserted into the body. A separable indicia element is releasably engaged to the retainer and is removable from the retainer only when the retainer is in the latched position.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A quick connector coupling assembly comprising a body, a tube, and a retainer to secure the tube in the body. The body defines an internal cavity extending from an opening. The tube has an endform extending through the opening and into the internal cavity. The endform has a tip and an engagement surface. The engagement surface of the endform coacts with a locking surface associated with the body or the retainer to resist rotational movement of the tube relative to the body.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A quick connector coupling assembly comprising a conductive connector body, a tubular male member with an upset, and a primary retainer. The primary retainer releasably secures the male member within the connector body. The primary retainer body includes a pair of spaced legs connected by a cross member. The retainer body includes a conductive insert with contact surfaces exposed at the retainer legs to contact the male member and at the cross member to contact the connector body.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A quick connector coupling comprising a connector body, a primary retainer, a secondary retainer and a male member having a radially enlarged upset. The connector body includes a stem and a separate cap permanently secured to the stem. The stem defines an axially extending through bore and includes an annular rib located radially outward of the bore. The cap defines an annular groove located radially outward of the bore. The annular rib of the stem is positioned in the annular groove of the cap. The cap is spin welded to the stem to permanently secure the cap to the stem. The connector body further defines two annular abutment surfaces. The primary retainer and the secondary retainer are located axially in between the two annular abutment surfaces of the connector body. The primary retainer has a ring and two primary retainer arm located axially forward of the ring. Each primary retainer arm is in abutting relationship with the upset.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A flange arrangement for a fuel module comprising a non-conductive flange member to connect the fuel module to a fuel tank includes tube posts that each connect to a conductive support tube, a conductive web in conductive contact with the support tubes and a conductive fuel supply port in conductive contact with the web. In one embodiment, the web and port are integral. In another, the web and port are separate parts. The flange arrangement is made of polymeric material and the web and port are overmolded into the flange.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.