Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

Shashikumar Honnikoppa

Mark D Clauser

Samuel D Koch

John Kapcoe

Andrew F Stewart

Adam J Davis

Fuel protection apparatus and related systems for use with vehicles are disclosed. A disclosed vehicle includes a fuel component in an engine compartment of the vehicle. The vehicle also includes a spacer coupled to a cam carrier and positioned proximate to the fuel component. The vehicle also includes a protector coupled to a cylinder head and spaced from the spacer and the cam carrier. The protector is configured to receive a load from a cowl brace or firewall of the vehicle during a vehicle impact event in which an engine assembly of the vehicle moves relative to the cowl brace or firewall. The protector is configured to transfer the load to the cylinder head, the cam carrier, and the spacer to protect the fuel component.

Fuel protection apparatus and related systems for use with vehicles

A connection assembly for attaching metallic and plastic components by a heat staking operation includes a first component, a second component, a compressible protrusion, an annular collar, and a deformable stud. The first component is formed of a metallic material and includes an inner surface. The second component includes an interior surface facing the inner surface of the first component and an opposite exterior surface. The second component includes a plurality of apertures which extend between the interior surface and the exterior surface. During the heat staking operation the deformable stud is deformed so as to restrain relative movement between the first and second components. The compressible protrusion plastically deforms to absorb pressure to prevent cracking of the second component and the annular collar absorbs heat to prevent the second component adjacent the aperture from melting.

Connection assembly for connecting metallic and plastic components and method of connecting plastic and metallic components

A fluid delivery system formed of a first component and a second component. The first component includes a first surface and a pair of first walls extending outwardly from the first surface. The second component includes a second surface facing the first surface. The second component includes a pair of second walls and a pair of inner walls which both extend outwardly from the second surface. Each of the pair of second walls and each of the pair of first walls are vibrationally welded at a primary weld joint. The pair of inner walls extends outwardly from the second surface and sealingly contacts the first surface to define a fluid passage and a pair of cavities on either side of the fluid passage. Weld flash formed during the vibrational welding of the primary joints is contained within the pair of cavities and prevented from entering the fluid passage.

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Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Shashikumar Honnikoppa