Patents Assigned to TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C.
  • Publication number: 20130000741
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Lynwood F. Crary
  • Publication number: 20120224991
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Wayne T. Lipinski, Joseph M. Ross
  • Publication number: 20120222806
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Win S. Burrington, James R. Osborne, Steve L. Toth
  • Publication number: 20120219661
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Harald Knueppel, Steve L. Toth
  • Publication number: 20120201702
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Edward J. Talaski
  • Publication number: 20120201700
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Edward J. Talaski
  • Patent number: 8197744
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Harald Knueppel, Steve L. Toth
  • Patent number: 7975870
    Abstract: A ring seal includes a body portion and a tail portion extending from the body portion. 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventors: William J. Laule, James R. Osborne, Michael R. Rivenburgh
  • Patent number: 7918204
    Abstract: In one implementation, a bracket includes a body having a first connection feature and a second connection feature each adapted to retain a separate portion of a component. The first connection feature is rotationally misaligned relative to the second connection feature so that a portion of the component is received in a first direction in the first opening and then the component is moved in a second direction to receive another portion in the second opening. In one form, the connection features include openings that are arranged such that one portion of the component is first slidably received in the first opening, and then the component is rotated generally about the portion received in the first opening so that another portion of the component can be received in the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Simon G. Gignac, Brian V. Jean, Todd E. Lemieux, Ian J. Phillips, Aranka Poliak
  • Patent number: 7874818
    Abstract: An electric motor and fuel pump assembly with a housing having generally opposed ends with an electric motor within the housing having an armature with an axial commutator adjacent one end of the armature and one end of the housing. A fuel pump is positioned adjacent another end of the housing and the armature and is operably connected to the armature for being driven by the electric motor. A carrier within the housing has guides slidably receiving axially elongate brushes disposed generally parallel to the armature axis with ends contacting the commutator. Each brush is biased generally axially into contact with the commutator by a torsional spring with a coiled body having an axis generally transverse to the axis of the armature to decrease the overall axial length of the pump assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Wade A. Gottschalk, Peter P. Kuperus
  • Patent number: 7874817
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Bryan J. Gettel, Peter P. Kuperus
  • Publication number: 20110000297
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventor: David H. Ford
  • Publication number: 20110002798
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventor: David H. Ford
  • Patent number: 7857323
    Abstract: A multi-piece seal preferably for a sealed joint of a fuel tank assembly. An outer member has in an uncompressed state a cross-sectional shape defined by substantially semi-circular-shaped portions that define a substantially semi-circular channel and that terminate in free ends. An inner member is disposed at least partially in the channel of the outer member and has in an uncompressed state a substantially round cross-sectional shape. Preferably, the outer member is composed of a permeation-resistant material, and the inner member is composed of a relatively less expensive material capable of better elasticity performance at relatively lower temperatures compared to the outer member. The outer member preferably has lobed ends and the inner member preferably includes one or both of a stress-relieving feature or an orientation feature to orient the inner member relative to the outer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignees: TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C., Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Danielle E. Berkes, William J. Forsythe, Jr., James R. Osborne, Darron G. Peddle
  • Patent number: 7854434
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignees: TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C., Parker Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy D. Heiman, William J. Laule, James R. Osborne, Darron G. Peddle, Michael R. Rivenburgh
  • Patent number: 7850890
    Abstract: A polymeric fuel tank having a first body joined to a second body is constructed having a substantially continuously barrier layer surrounding the tank. The first body has an inner surface terminating at a free edge and a first mating surface adjacent the free edge. A first barrier layer is fixed adjacent the inner surface of the first body. The second body has an inner surface terminating at a free edge and has a second mating surface adjacent to the first mating surface and the free edge of the second body to define a fuel cavity. A second barrier layer is fixed adjacent the inner surface of the second body. At least one weld joint joins the first mating surface to the second mating surface and the first barrier layer to the second barrier layer to provide the continuous barrier layer in the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Brian W. Brandner, Vladimir Franjo, Masahiro Higashi
  • Publication number: 20100276623
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Edward J. Talaski
  • Patent number: 7784637
    Abstract: A multi-piece seal has an outer member and an inner member partly disposed in the outer member. In cross section, the outer member has a C-shape and defines a channel, and the inner member is round and has a pair of lobes extending away from its body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventor: James R. Osborne
  • Patent number: 7779820
    Abstract: A liquid separator that can be used in a vehicle fuel system can have, among other components, an inlet portion, a deflector surface, and an outlet portion. The inlet portion can receive fluid from a fluid tube that communicates with a fuel tank. The deflector surface may cause a change-in-direction that separates liquid and fuel vapor from the fluid. The outlet portion can carry separated fuel vapor to a vapor tube that communicates with a canister. A space adjacent the inlet portion can be defined by a fuel system component such as partly by a fill tube or by a vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Frank U. Rittershofer
  • Patent number: 7766034
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Edward J. Talaski