Fluid direction tube insertion assembly and insertion method
First Claim
1. A fluid direction tube insertion assembly for simultaneously inserting two or more fluid direction tubes into bores in an automobile engine part comprising:
- (a) at least two thermoplastic fluid direction tubes; and
(b) a flexible bracket joining said thermoplastic fluid direction tubes in a spaced relationship, said flexible bracket having a centrally located curved neck and openings to concentrically surround each of said thermoplastic fluid direction tubes, whereby said flexible bracket allows said spaced relationship to vary for simultaneously inserting said thermoplastic fluid direction tubes into said bores.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid direction tube insertion assembly for simultaneously inserting two or more fluid direction tubes into an automobile engine body or part thereof. The fluid direction tube insertion assembly includes at least two thermoplastic fluid direction tubes which preferably have a coefficient of thermal expansion about the same as the automobile engine body or part thereof into which they are to be inserted and a flexible bracket which is sufficiently flexible that it may be flexed during insertion of the fluid direction tubes into corresponding receiving bores in the engine body to provide proper alignment/orientation of the fluid direction tubes with the corresponding receiving bore. The fluid direction tube insertion assembly may be either a one-piece molded one or may be of separately molded fluid direction tubes and a separately molded flexible bracket which are subsequently joined.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A fluid direction tube insertion assembly for simultaneously inserting two or more fluid direction tubes into bores in an automobile engine part comprising:
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(a) at least two thermoplastic fluid direction tubes; and (b) a flexible bracket joining said thermoplastic fluid direction tubes in a spaced relationship, said flexible bracket having a centrally located curved neck and openings to concentrically surround each of said thermoplastic fluid direction tubes, whereby said flexible bracket allows said spaced relationship to vary for simultaneously inserting said thermoplastic fluid direction tubes into said bores. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A fluid direction tube insertion assembly for simultaneously inserting two or more fluid direction tubes into bores in an automobile engine comprising:
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(a) at least two thermoplastic fluid direction tubes comprising an inboard fluid direction tube, an outboard fluid direction tube and a center fluid direction tube; and (b) a flexible bracket joining together said thermoplastic fluid direction tubes in a spaced relationship, said flexible bracket having a centrally located curved neck and openings to concentrically surround each of said thermoplastic fluid direction tubes, wherein said flexible bracket allows said spaced relationship to vary for simultaneously inserting said thermoplastic fluid direction tubes into said bores. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A fluid direction tube insertion assembly for simultaneously inserting two or more fluid direction tubes into bores in an automobile engine comprising:
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(a) at least two thermoplastic fluid direction tubes which are made from a mineral/glass reinforced thermoplastic material selected from the group consisting of glass reinforced thermoplastic polyester resins and glass reinforced polyetherimide resins; and
thermoplastic material has a coefficient of thermal expansion about the same as an automobile part; and(b) a flexible bracket molded as one-piece with said thermoplastic fluid direction tubes in a spaced relationship;
said flexible bracket having a centrally located neck and openings to concentrically surround each of said tubes and a thickness of about 0.5 to 0.75 mm;
said flexible bracket is made from an engineering elastomer having a flexural modulus sufficient to permit insertion of said thermoplastic direction tubes into said bores and flame retardant characteristics so as to withstand high temperature automobile fluids. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method of making a fluid direction tube insertion assembly for simultaneously inserting two or more fluid direction tubes into bores in an automobile engine part thereof comprising the steps of:
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(a) forming at least two thermoplastic fluid direction tubes; (b) forming a flexible bracket having a centrally located neck and openings to concentrically surround each of said thermoplastic fluid direction tubes; and (c) molding said flexible bracket and said thermoplastic fluid direction tubes as one-piece to form said fluid direction tube insertion assembly.
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12. A method of making a fluid direction tube insertion assembly for simultaneously inserting two or more fluid direction tubes into bores in an automobile engine part thereof comprising the steps of:
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(a) forming at least two thermoplastic fluid direction tubes; (b) forming a flexible bracket having a centrally located curved neck and openings to concentrically surround each of said thermoplastic fluid direction tubes; (c) joining said flexible bracket and said thermoplastic fluid direction tubes together in a spaced relationship to form said fluid direction tube insertion assembly, whereby said flexible bracket allows said spaced relationship to vary for simultaneously inserting said thermoplastic fluid direction tubes into said bores. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method for simultaneously inserting fluid direction tubes into bores in an automobile part thereof comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a fluid direction tube insertion assembly having at least two thermoplastic fluid direction tubes and a flexible bracket joining said thermoplastic fluid direction tubes in a spaced relationship; (b) providing an automobile engine part having at least two spaced apart bores therein into which said fluid direction tubes are to be inserted; (c) flexing said bracket just prior to inserting said fluid direction tubes into said bores so that each of said fluid direction tubes is aligned with a corresponding said bore; and (d) inserting said fluid direction tubes into said corresponding bore. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A fluid direction tube insertion assembly for simultaneously inserting two or more fluid direction tubes into bores in an automobile engine comprising:
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(a) at least two thermoplastic fluid direction tubes which are made from a mineral/glass reinforced thermoplastic material selected from the group consisting of glass reinforced thermoplastic polyester resins and glass reinforced polyetherimide resins;
said thermoplastic material has a coefficient of thermal expansion about the same as an automobile part; and(b) a flexible bracket having a curved shape and being molded as one-piece with said thermoplastic fluid direction tubes in a spaced relationship;
said flexible bracket having a centrally located neck and openings to concentrically surround each of said tubes and a thickness of about 0.5 to 0.75 mm;
said flexible bracket is made from an engineering elastomer having a flexural modulus sufficient to permit insertion of said thermoplastic direction tubes into said bores and flame retardant characteristics so as to withstand high temperature automobile fluids.
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Specification