Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Gary Nola

Christopher Newman

Theodore Thomas Geftos

Methods and systems are provided for a housing for a fastener of a vehicle component. In one example, a housing for a fastener includes a central conduit adapted to receive the fastener, and a radial key extending outward from an outer surface of the housing. The radial key is first pressed against a vehicle component in an axial direction of the housing to form a first section of a channel within an interior of the vehicle component, and the key is then rotated against the interior to form an undercut, second section of the channel in a circumferential direction of the housing.

Housing for a fastener of a vehicle component

An engine cover assembly including a fastener concealing plug is disclosed. The plug includes a conical wall having upper and lower ends. A lower circumferential ring is spaced apart from the upper ring. The lower end of the concealing plug includes a fastener-receiving recessed area. The fastener pocket of the engine cover includes upper and lower grooves having a ring area formed therebetween. The upper circumferential ring of the plug nests with the upper groove of the pocket, the recessed area of the plug nests with the ring area, and the lower circumferential ring of the plug nests with the lower groove of the pocket. The engine cover is positioned on the engine such that a cover attaching stud passes through a stud-passing aperture of the cover. A fastening nut is threaded onto the cover-attaching stud until it comes into contact with a compression-limiting spacer. The plug conceals the fastener.

Foam plug for engine cover fastener pocket

Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle component cover. In one example, a vehicle component cover may be adapted to conceal vehicle components within an engine compartment, and the cover may include an embedded support structure having a plurality of notched sections. The support structure may deform at the plurality of notched sections to increase an energy absorption characteristic of the vehicle component cover.

Reinforced vehicle component cover

A decorative engine cover is mounted to an engine using fasteners not requiring the use of any tools. A cam cover has a tubular socket with an inner surface defining a cavity including a fixed wedge and a longitudinal bumper projecting into the cavity. A removable engine cover defines an recess receiving the tubular socket and an aperture aligned with the cavity. A handle block comprises a main body with a lower end rotatable and axially slidable in the cavity, an upper flange, and a retractable wedge projecting radially from the main body. A biaser engages the engine cover and handle block urging the block away from the cam cover. The wedges are engageable when the main body is rotationally within a locking region and axially slid toward the cam cover. The fixed wedge and retractable wedge disengage when the main body is rotated out of the locking region.

Toolless fastener for engine cover

An illuminated engine cover assembly including an engine attachment system and an illuminated engine cover is disclosed. The illuminated engine cover assembly comprises an attachment element attached to the engine and an illuminated engine cover composed of polymerized foam. The illuminated engine cover has a recessed area and a receptacle for releasable attachment to the engine attachment element. An illuminated feature is attached to the cover's recessed area. A contact element is fitted within the receptacle. A flexible printed circuit for providing contact between the illuminated feature and the contact element of the receptacle is embedded within the engine cover. A support lattice is optionally embedded within the cover. The support lattice has ends and an intermediate portion to which the illuminated feature is attached. Grommets are attached to each end of the support lattice. The releasable attachment receptacles are formed in the grommets.

Engine cover having embedded circuit for illuminated badging

Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle component cover. In one example, a vehicle component cover may be adapted to conceal vehicle components within an engine compartment, and the cover may include an embedded support structure having a plurality of lock orifices positioned to align with a plurality of openings of a solid encasement. The plurality of lock orifices are adapted to couple in locking engagement with a plurality of extensions of an emblem of the cover.

An engine cover readily movable between a closed, engine-concealing position and an open, engine-accessing position is disclosed. The cover includes a front and a back. The back of the cover is movably attached to the engine. The front of the cover includes a latch handle assembly that releasably attaches the cover to the engine. In its closed position, the engine cover not only conceals at least a portion of the engine thereby improving the aesthetic appeal of the engine compartment, but also helps to reduce engine noise, thus reducing overall vehicle NVH. The cover back may be attached anywhere on the upper area of the engine. The latch assembly includes a releasable latch handle that is pivotably attached to the engine cover. The releasable latch handle has a latch handle hook. An engine latch hook is provided on the engine to which the latch handle hook can be selectively attached.

Engine cover having snap latch

A single piece, installation indicating clip to secure a foam part to a substrate is provided. The clip includes a pair of spaced apart and opposed curvilinear retention clip arms, a planar foam part retaining member, a bridge having first and second ends, and an installation indicator. The insulation part is captured between the planar foam part retaining member and the clip arms. The installation indicator includes a movable indicator pin. The pin is provided within a pin enclosure having a biasing member that urges the pin to its retracted position. A portion of the pin extends between the clip arms. Upon attachment of the retention clip to the fluid line, the indicator pin is pushed by the fluid line from its retracted position to its attachment indicating position, thereby visually verifying to the installer that successful installation of the retention clip has been made.

Clip having positive installation indicator for securing fuel line to foam part

A conductive ball stud fastener arrangement for providing energy to a removable electrified component having an electrified element when the component is attached to an electrified substrate is disclosed. The ball stud fastener includes an insulating body, an electrified conductor having a conductive tip that is continuous with a conductive, centrally formed conductive stem, and a conductive attachment portion for attachment to the electrified substrate. The electrified component includes grommets having conductive elements. The ball stud fasteners are easily removed from and attached to the grommets. The conductive elements of the grommets are part of a circuit to which the electrified element of the electrified component is attached. According to one embodiment, the conductive ball stud fastener arrangement and its associated circuit includes a photoelectric sensor that opens and closes the circuit. In another embodiment, the ball studs themselves act as switches to open and close the circuit.

Ball stud strategy for hand-replaceable components requiring electric power

A method and a system to eliminate the flow of accumulated liquid water from the intake manifold into the cylinders of an internal combustion engine are disclosed. Particularly, the disclosed inventive concept provides a negative draft to the top of a water containment feature in the form of opposed baffles. The baffles increase the minimum angle the water has to reach to overflow out of the intake manifold and into the cylinders. The angle required to overflow is a composition of gravity and the acceleration of the vehicle. If the maximum acceleration (and thus maximum water angle) is less than the designed negative draft overflow protection, there will not be expected overflow. The water containment reservoir includes two opposed side walls, a front wall, a back wall, and a base. Each side wall has an upper end. The baffle extends from the upper end of at least one side wall.

Intake manifold water management negative draft containment features

An intake manifold is provided that comprises a plurality of intake manifold runners, and each intake manifold runner comprises at least one elongated riband at least one elongated blister. The elongated riband the at least one elongated blisteroperate together to control structural failure of the intake manifold in an impact event. Specifically, the elongated rib acts to receive and concentrate load while the at least one elongated blister provides an area of intentional failure, thus restricting the failure to a focused area on the intake manifold.

Intake manifold having failure controlling features

A method and system to restrict the flow of accumulated liquid water from the intake manifold into the cylinders of an internal combustion engine by reducing the velocity of contained liquid water as it moves through the containment feature during vehicle maneuvering are disclosed. The body of the intake manifold includes a water containment feature having a water containment reservoir having an open upper portion and water-restricting interior walls. A water passageway is provided in each interior wall. The water passageway may be of any of several shapes, including a V-shape notch extending from the top of the wall. The interior wall is a central interior wall and the containment reservoir further includes an intermediate interior wall between the side walls that intersects the central interior wall. The water passageway is formed in at least one of the interior walls and may be formed in all of the walls.

Intake manifold having slosh prevention baffles

An apparatus includes an engine assembly and an engine cover. The engine cover includes at least one through hole extending from a top surface to a bottom surface. An appliqu&#xe9; is mounted on the engine cover. The appliqu&#xe9; includes at least one mounting post extending through the at least one through hole. A backing plate is disposed on a bottom surface of the engine cover receiving the at least one mounting post to secure the appliqu&#xe9; to the engine cover.

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Saline, MI, United States of America

Gary Nola