Continental Automotive Systems Us, Inc.

Continental Automotive Systems Corporation

John Wattai

Matthias Nederegger

Parag Athalye

Stephane Seps

Paul F Briggs

Brandon John Goll

Matthias Vogel

Jeffery John Milton

Matthias Kadler

Robert Peter

Michael Powers

Erin Beemer

Brandon Goll

A thermostatic valve, which includes a main body portion, a cavity formed as part of a main body portion, and an inner wall integrally formed with the main body portion adjacent the cavity. A circumferential flange is integrally formed with the inner wall, such that the circumferential flange surrounds a valve cavity. A valve member is attached to the inner wall disposed in the valve cavity, and a flow aperture is formed as part of the inner wall. Fluid flows through the flow aperture into the valve cavity, and when the pressure in the valve cavity is above a predetermined value, the valve member contacts the inner wall, preventing fluid from flowing through the flow aperture.

Thermostatic valve having anti-siphon feature

A ceramic card having a thick film network, with conductive vias formed as part of the card. Each of the vias is in electrical communication with both sides of the thick film network, allowing the pads and the pad senders to be formed on both sides of the card. This configuration maintains the contact when one of the connectors is subjected to bending force or is otherwise displaced, maintaining contact with at least one of the pads, and allowing the system to still function. The double sided thick film network allows for each connector to touch both sides of one of the pads, and still maintain electrical communication with the level sender, thus eliminating the failure mode of intermittent contact with the thick film network resulting from movement of the connector.

Double-side thick film network on ceramic card

A fuel supply unit includes a fuel reservoir () for holding fuel. A fuel pump () is in the reservoir for pumping fuel from the reservoir. A jet pump assembly () is within the reservoir for drawing fuel from a fuel tank into the reservoir. A seal structure () has a flange () with a living hinge (). The seal structure is operatively coupled with a housing of the jet pump assembly and disposed between the housing and a portion of the reservoir, with a portion of the flange being pivoted about the living hinge such that the portion of the flange engages an interior surface of the reservoir, providing a seal between the housing of the jet pump assembly and the interior surface of the reservoir.

Jet pump retention and seal method with living hinge

A pump unit () includes a pump housing (), a pump cover (), and an impeller () between the pump housing and pump cover. The pump housing and pump cover define a first channel () and a second channel () each having an inlet and an outlet. The impeller has first vanes () cooperating with the first channel and second vanes () cooperating with the second channel. The outlet of the second channel is constructed and arranged to provide fuel to an engine upon rotation of the impeller. A jet pump () is fluidly connected with the outlet of the first channel such that as the impeller rotates, the jet pump causes fuel to be drawn into the reservoir (). Connecting structure (') fluidly connects the first and second channels such that upon rotation of the impeller, fuel in the second channel flows into the first channel to prime the first channel.

Fuel pump with inner channel priming

A reservoir-less fuel delivery module () for a fuel tank of a vehicle includes a flange () constructed and arranged to be mounted to an opening in a fuel tank of a vehicle. The module includes a pump and filter structure () having a fuel pump () and a fuel filter () surrounding at least a portion of the fuel pump for filtering fuel exiting the fuel pump. The module includes a mounting member () to which the pump and filter structure is mounted. Clip structure () couples the mounting member to the flange so that the pump is decoupled from the flange.

Reservoir-less fuel delivery module having clip connection to a flange

A flange structure () is provided for a fuel supply unit of a vehicle. The flange structure includes at least one electrically conductive fuel port (') having a periphery and first and second ends (). The first end () includes first barb structure (). A plastic flange (&#x2032;) is overmolded on at least a portion of the periphery of the fuel port between the first and second ends. A portion of the flange overmolded on the portion of the periphery of the fuel port defines fitting structure () having second barb structure (). A hose () is coupled with the first end of the fuel port and with the fitting structure with the first and second barb structures engaging the hose thereby preventing fuel or fuel vapor from passing between the periphery of the fuel port and the overmolded flange.

Interface hose seal for low permeation flange of a fuel supply unit

A flange structure (') for a fuel supply unit of a vehicle includes at least one non-electrically conductive plastic fuel port (&#x2032;) having first and second ends. A non-electrically conductive plastic flange (&#x2032;) is integral with the fuel port between the first and second ends. The flange is constructed and arranged to be coupled with a fuel tank of a vehicle. Electrically conductive grounding structure () is associated with the fuel port and has an elongated portion () extending within the fuel port so as to be exposed to fuel, and an end () connected with the elongated portion. An electrically conductive hose () is coupled with the first end of the fuel port and is in contact with the end of the grounding structure thereby defining a discharge path such that static electricity generated when fuel flows through the fuel port can be dissipated through the discharge path.

Electrostatic dissipation solution for angled fuel port of a fuel supply unit

A pump unitincludes a pump housing, a pump cover, and an impellerbetween the pump housing and pump cover. The pump housing and pump cover define a first channeland a second channeleach having an inlet and an outlet. The impeller has first vanescooperating with the first channel and second vanescooperating with the second channel. The outlet of the second channel is constructed and arranged to provide fuel to an engine upon rotation of the impeller. A jet pumpis fluidly connected with the outlet of the first channel such that as the impeller rotates, the jet pump causes fuel to be drawn into the reservoir. Connecting structurefluidly connects the first and second channels such that upon rotation of the impeller, fuel in the second channel flows into the first channel to prime the first channel.

A fuel delivery module () for a fuel tank of a vehicle includes a mounting flange () constructed and arranged to be mounted to an opening in a fuel tank of a vehicle. A pump and filter structure () is provided and includes a fuel pump () having an inlet and an outlet, and a fuel filter () surrounding at least a portion of the fuel pump for filtering fuel exiting the outlet of the pump. A crimp connection () couples the pump and filter structure to the flange. An electrical connector () is provided through the flange and is constructed and arranged so as not to be exposed to fluid pressure of the module. The electrical connector is electrically connected to the fuel pump. A fuel regulator () is coupled to the pump and filter structure.

Reservoir-less fuel delivery module having crimp connection to a flange

Fuel port structure () of a fuel pump () includes a fuel port () having a periphery (), an internal portion defining a fuel passage (), and a free end (). An electrically conductive grounding structure () has a first portion () disposed at least partially within the fuel passage and a second portion () extending from the free end. A fuel delivery tube () is coupled to the periphery of the fuel port at the free end thereof. The fuel delivery tube has an electrically conductive portion () in contact with the second portion of the grounding structure to provide a discharge path for static electricity created when fuel flows through the fuel passage.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester Hills, MI, United States of America

John Wattai