Integrated attachment feature
A vehicle coolant system ( 10 ) includes a service valve ( 26 ) through which coolant is added to or removed from the coolant system ( 10 ). The service valve ( 26 ) includes a first and second port ( 32, 34 ), and a rubber hose ( 24, 28 ) is fitted over both the first and second ports ( 32, 34 ). A sealing ring ( 42 ) having an integrated barbed attachment feature ( 44 ) is overmolded on the joint of the rubber hoses ( 24, 28 ) and the respective ports ( 32, 34 ). The integrated barbed attachment feature ( 44 ) is inserted into an aperture ( 62 ) in a structural element ( 30 ) of the vehicle. As the integrated barbed attachment feature ( 44 ) passes through the aperture ( 62 ), the plurality of barbs ( 54 ) flex. After passing through the aperture ( 62 ), the plurality of barbs ( 54 ) return to the original position, securing the service valve ( 26 ) to the structural element ( 30 ). Alternately, the sealing ring ( 142 ) includes an integrated projection ( 170 ) having an aperture ( 162 ), and the structural element ( 130 ) includes a barbed attachment feature ( 144 ) including a plurality of barbs ( 154 ).
1 . An attachment apparatus comprising:
a first component; and
a molded ring molded around the first component, wherein the molded ring includes an integrated attachment feature that attaches the first component to a second component.
2 . The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the first component is a service valve including a first tubular portion and a second tubular portion, the apparatus further including:
a first hose connected to the first tubular portion at a first joint, and
a second hose connected to the second tubular portion at a second joint, wherein the molded ring is a sealing ring molded circumferentially around at least one of the first joint and the second joint.
3 . The apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein the service valve further comprises a port, and coolant is added to a coolant system and removed from the coolant system through the port.
4 . The apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein the first tubular portion and the second tubular portion each include a plurality of contours.
5 . The apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein the molded ring and the integrated attachment feature are integrated into one piece.
6 . The apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein the molded ring and the integrated attachment feature are both made of Nylon 6/6.
7 . The apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein the molded ring further includes a hole, and a cutting tool is insertable in the hole to remove the molded ring from the service valve.
8 . The apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein the molded ring comprises a first molded ring and a second molded ring, and the first molded ring is molded circumferentially around the first joint and the second molded ring is molded circumferentially around the second joint.
9 . The apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein the integrated attachment feature is a barbed attachment feature comprising a central boss and a plurality of barbs extending circumferentially around the central boss.
10 . The apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein each of the plurality of barbs further include a slit.
11 . The apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein the barbed attachment feature further comprises a stop ring extending circumferentially around the central boss.
12 . The apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein the second component is vehicle component including an aperture, and the integrated attachment feature is inserted into the aperture of the vehicle component to attach the service valve to the vehicle component.
13 . The apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein the integrated attachment feature is a barbed attachment feature comprising a central boss, a plurality of barbs extending circumferentially around the central boss, and a stop ring extending circumferentially around the central boss.
14 . The apparatus as recited in claim 13 wherein the central boss is located in the aperture of the vehicle component when the service valve is attached to the vehicle component, and the plurality of barbs are located on a first side of the vehicle component and the stop ring is located on an opposing second side of the vehicle component.
15 . The apparatus as recited in claim 13 wherein the plurality of barbs are in a flexed position when the barbed attachment feature is inserted into the aperture of the vehicle component and the plurality of barbs are in a non-flexed position after the barbed attachment feature is inserted into the aperture of the vehicle component.
16 . The apparatus as recited in claim 15 the barbed attachment feature has a non-flexed diameter when the plurality of barbs are in the non-flexed position and a flexed diameter when the plurality of barbs are in the flexed position and the aperture has an aperture diameter, and the non-flexed diameter is greater than the aperture diameter.
17 . The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the integrated attachment feature of the molded ring is a projection having an aperture.
18 . The apparatus as recited in claim 17 wherein the second component includes a barbed attachment feature having a plurality of barbs extending circumferentially around a central boss, and the barbed attachment feature of the second component is insertable in the aperture of the projection of the integrated attachment feature of the molded ring to secure the first component to the second component.
19 . The apparatus as recited in claim 18 wherein the plurality of barbs are in a flexed position when the barbed attachment feature is inserted into the aperture and the plurality of barbs are in a non-flexed position after the barbed attachment feature is inserted to the aperture.
20 . The apparatus as recited in claim 19 wherein the barbed attachment feature has a non-flexed diameter when in the non-flexed position, a flexed diameter when in the flexed position and the aperture has an aperture diameter, and the non-flexed diameter is greater than the aperture diameter.
21 . The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the first component is a pump and the second component is sheet metal.
22 . The apparatus as recited in claim 21 wherein the integrated attachment feature is a barbed attachment feature includes a central boss and a plurality of barbs extending circumferentially around the central boss.
23 . The apparatus as recited in claim 21 wherein the molded ring and the integrated attachment feature are both made of Nylon 6/6.
24 . A vehicle coolant system comprising:
an engine, and a coolant accepts heat from the engine;
a radiator, and the coolant in the radiator rejects heat to a fluid medium;
a service valve including a first tubular portion and a second tubular portion;
a first hose connected to the first tubular portion at a first joint;
a second hose connected to the second tubular portion at a second joint;
a vehicle component including an aperture; and
a molded ring molded circumferentially around the first joint and the second joint, the molded ring including an integrated attachment feature that is inserted in the aperture of the vehicle component to attach the service valve to the vehicle component, wherein the molded ring and the integrated attachment feature are integrated into one piece.
25 . The system as recited in claim 24 wherein the molded ring and the integrated attachment feature are both made of Nylon 6/6.
26 . The system as recited in claim 24 wherein the integrated attachment feature is a barbed attachment feature including a central boss and plurality of barbs extending circumferentially around the central boss.
27 . A method of forming a molded ring comprising the steps of:
positioning a mold around a first component, the mold including a cavity that defines a molded ring and an integrated attachment feature;
injecting a liquid plastic material into the mold; and
cooling and shrinking the liquid plastic material around the first component to form a solid plastic material defining the molded ring and the integrated attachment feature, wherein the molded ring and the integrated attachment feature are integrated into one piece.
28 . The method as recited in claim 27 wherein the liquid plastic material is Nylon 6/6.
29 . The method as recited in claim 27 wherein the integrated attachment feature is a barbed attachment feature including a central boss and a plurality of barbs extending circumferentially around the central boss.