IP Library Granted Patent US 12709440
Granted Patent B2
US 12709440 · App. 18/760,669 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Systems and methods for a fluid reservoir plug

Inventors: John Paul Gillis (Ferndale, MI); JonCarlo Mancini (Medina, OH); Christopher K. Palazzolo (Ann Arbor, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
B65D39/08B65D39/0017F01M11/0408F01M2011/0416F01M2011/0425
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12709440
App. No.
18/760,669
Granted
Aug 18, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for a fluid reservoir plug. In one example, a single-piece plug for a fluid reservoir includes a shaft, the shaft including a threading, a conduit, and a channel. The channel extends transversely through each thread of the threading to the conduit. Furthermore, while the threading is coupled to the fluid reservoir at an opening of the fluid reservoir, fluid exits the opening by flowing along the channel before flowing through the conduit.

Claims (36)

1 . A single-piece plug for a fluid reservoir, the single-piece plug comprising:

a head;

a shaft extending from the head including an unthreaded shaft and a threaded shaft, wherein the unthreaded shaft is positioned directly between the head and the threaded shaft;

a conduit positioned in the shaft between a last revolution of threading of the threaded shaft and the unthreaded shaft, wherein the conduit is positioned between a plurality of grooves and the threading;

a channel, the channel extending transversely through each thread of the threading of the threaded shaft to the conduit; and

a cavity inside the shaft, wherein the cavity is fluidly connected to the conduit, and wherein, while the threading is coupled to the fluid reservoir at an opening of the fluid reservoir, fluid exits the opening by flowing through the cavity before flowing through the conduit, wherein

while the threading is coupled to the fluid reservoir at the opening of the fluid reservoir, fluid exits the opening by flowing along the channel before flowing past the conduit.

2 . The single-piece plug of claim 1 , wherein while the threading is coupled to the fluid reservoir at the opening and a seal is placed at each of the plurality of grooves, the opening is unsealed when the single-piece plug is unthreaded until each of the placed seals is disengaged from the fluid reservoir.

3 . The single-piece plug of claim 1 , wherein the conduit fluidly connects the cavity and the channel.

4 . The single-piece plug of claim 3 , wherein the head includes a plurality of rotational drives, each of the plurality of rotational drives centered about a longitudinal axis of the shaft.

5 . The single-piece plug of claim 4 , further comprising a shaft tip coupled to the shaft distally from the head, wherein the shaft tip is without the threading.

6 . The single-piece plug of claim 5 , wherein the shaft, the head, and the shaft tip are formed from a single, continuous piece of material.

7 . A fluid reservoir system, comprising:

a fluid reservoir, including an opening with a threadable attachment point,

a single-piece plug for the fluid reservoir, the single-piece plug comprising:

a shaft, including a threaded shaft, wherein the threaded shaft includes a threading extending across a length of the threaded shaft;

a conduit;

a channel, the channel extending along an entire length of the threaded shaft and extending transversely through each thread of the threading to the conduit; and

a detent, wherein while the detent makes face-sharing contact with the threadable attachment point, the single-piece plug is unthreadable from the threadable attachment point, and wherein the detent includes a notch cut out from the threading, wherein

while the threading is coupled to the threadable attachment point, fluid exits the opening by flowing along the channel before flowing past the conduit.

8 . The fluid reservoir system of claim 7 , wherein the shaft further comprises a plurality of grooves, wherein while the threading is coupled to the fluid reservoir at the opening and a seal is placed at each of the plurality of grooves, the opening is unsealed when the single-piece plug is unthreaded to a first position, the first position including when each of the seals placed at each of the plurality of grooves is disengaged from the fluid reservoir.

9 . The fluid reservoir system of claim 8 , wherein the first position further includes when the detent makes face-sharing contact with the threadable attachment point.

10 . The fluid reservoir system of claim 8 , wherein while the threading is coupled to the fluid reservoir at the opening, the opening is sealed when the single-piece plug is threaded to a sealed position, the sealed position including when the seals placed at each of the plurality of grooves is engaged with the fluid reservoir.

11 . The fluid reservoir system of claim 7 , wherein the detent is positioned at a winding of the threading furthest from the conduit.

12 . A method for a fluid reservoir system, comprising:

coupling a threading of a single-piece plug to an attachment point at an opening of a fluid reservoir, wherein the single-piece plug includes the threading, a conduit, a plurality of grooves, a detent cut out from the threading, and a channel, the channel extending transversely through each thread of the threading to the conduit,

placing a seal at each of the plurality of grooves,

while the threading is coupled to the attachment point,

positioning the single-piece plug in an unsealed position, wherein positioning the single-piece plug in the unsealed position includes, while the threading is coupled to the attachment point, unthreading the threading from the attachment point until each of the placed seals are disengaged from the fluid reservoir and unthreading the threading from the attachment point until the attachment point is in face-sharing contact with the detent, and

flowing a fluid from the fluid reservoir along the channel and then past the conduit before flowing the fluid out of the opening.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising, while the threading is coupled to the attachment point, sealing the opening by threading the attachment point into threading until each of the placed seals is engaged with the fluid reservoir.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein

the single-piece plug further includes a hollow shaft with an internal cavity,

the threading and the channel are positioned at an external surface of the hollow shaft and the conduit fluidly connects the internal cavity and the channel, and

while the threading is coupled to the attachment point,

flowing the fluid from the fluid reservoir through the internal cavity and then through the conduit before flowing the fluid out of the opening.