Cover
Port Design Application UI
The
User Interface Dialog is split in seven sections. Each section controls
a different portion of the Port design. These sections are as follows:
- Coupling Size
Specs
- Port Location
- Port Boss
Parameters
- Cuff Parameters
- Flow
Indicator Parameters
- Port Ribs
Parameters
- Got Thoughts?
Down below every section
is described.
Coupling
Size Specs
In this section of the
dialog users can select the size of the port by the "Select Port Size"
option menu. There are eight sizes available, though not all of them
are used very often. As a matter of fact 5/16 and 3/8 are the more
common.Additionally users can alter standard dimensions should they
need to. At left side of the sizes option menu there is a " plus" button; this
button brings the SAE-J2044
dialog up in which standard values can be edited.

To edit Standard Values at
the SAE-J2044 dialog
simply switch from "Standard"
to "Manual"
for every parameter that needs changing; this makes the corresponding
field sensitive to type in the desired value. There is a reference
picture to match every parameter with the dimension it effects. Also at
the right side of the dialog there is a read out section that shows the
"Standard Value"
for the selected size. If default "Zero"
is left unchanged the "OK"
button will be unavailable.
The only way to exit this dialog is
clicking "OK"

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WARNING:
Edited values have to be within a valid range.
eg: Dimension "D"
must be greater than dimension "1".
Any invalid input will make geometry creation or update to fail. Some
invalid inputs will cause the next message to pup up; if this message
is ignore it will raise again and cause an error when creating or
updating the Port.

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Port Location
Placement attributes are given from the Port feature Coordinate System and
where the WCS is placed has no impact. However it is advisable to
orient WCS to the "Absolute
CSYS" for better reference and also to verify the Cover
has been placed at the right spot as shown below.

The orientation of the
port depends on three parameters:
- "Distance
Along X" moves Port in "X" direction.
- "Distance
Along Y" moves Port in "Y" direction.
- "Port Angle
From X" rotates Port about the longitudinal axis of the
Boss of the Port. The angle is referenced from absolute "X" axis.
To finish placement of Port two more inputs are required:
- "Distance
from Port Center to Cover" is the height the center of the
Quick Connector Interface is at from the Cover Face the Port is seating
on.
- "Define Port CSYS" button allows the user to define the Coordinate System for
the Port Feature. if
no CSYS is declared "OK" and "Apply" buttons will be insensitive.
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NOTE:
If Port
Design Application is called by another application the "Define Port CSYS"
button may be insensitive if the other application passes this
information on.
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Port
Boss Parameters
The boss that holds the
Quick Connector
interface can be controlled in three different ways. In some
applications this boss has been added with a flat face under the Quick
Connector interface; this additional geometry provides reinforcement
and serves as a physical stop for the Connector; the Port Design Application
has the option to add or not such geometry by turning on or off "Boss has Flat Face"
toggle. Finally the "Boss
Height Offset"
input allows control over the offset height from the tangent line of
the Quick Connector interface Nominal diameter; this parameter
is
used to align the height of all the Port present on the Cover.

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NOTE:
If "Boss Height
Offset" is minor than "Zero" or greater
than "4.5" mm a
message will pup up warning the user. If the message is ignored and continue to create or update the Port Feature an error will raise and
creation or update of the Port will fail. When the Port feature has no Flat Face the maximum value for "Boss Height
Offset" is "3.5" mm.

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Cuff
Parameters
The Cuff section has been divided in 3 parts which are
explained
down below. Cuff design is based on drawings 25338645 (5/16), 25164799
(3/8) and 25326728 (1/2)
Cuff Size and Barbs
- "Select Cuff
Size". There are three sizes to choose from. This option
refers to the size of the tube being connected to the Cuff.
- "Additional
Barbs". Defines the number of additional barbs. Up to two
barbs can be added.
- "Thickness". Sets thickness for the Cover Body at the face where the Port is on.

Cuff Boss
- "Cuff has
Boss?".
Indicates whether or not the Cuff has boss at its base. This is used to
extend the Cuff and yet provide physical stop to the tube.
- "Boss Height".
Input field to specify the height of the boss should the Cuff has it.
This field won't be sensitive if the "Cuff has Boss?"
toggle is off.
- "Boss Dia".
Controls Cuff
Boss diameter. This value can not be minor than the diameter of the
biggest barb. If this rule is not obeyed a message will pup
out; if the
message is ignored an error
will occur
during Port creation or update.
Cuff Ribs
- "Cuff has
Ribs?". This toggle
switches on and off ribbing for the Cuff Boss. If this option is turned
off the rest parameters will be unavailable.
- "Number of
Ribs". Up to four Ribs can be added. It also controls the
availability of angle parameters. eg. If "Number of Ribs" is 2 the third and
fourth angle parameters will be insensitive.
- "Ribs Start
Angle from Port Axis". This is angle counted from Port's
longitudinal axis.
- "Angle to R2".This
input controls the angle from the Port's longitudinal axis to the
second Rib.
- "Angle to R3".This
input controls the angle from the Port's longitudinal axis to the third
Rib.
- "Angle to R4".This
input controls the angle from the Port's longitudinal axis to the
fourth Rib.
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NOTE:
Ribbing for Cuff Boss will only be available if Cuff "Boss Height" is
greater then 10 mm and
the "Cuff has Boss?"
toggle is ticked. For angle
parameters refer to "Port Ribs Parameters"
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Flow
Indicator Parameters
The "Flow Indicator"
feature indicates
the direction of the flow passing through the Port. If the fuel is
leaving the MRA the direction is identified as "Forward"; if the
fuel
is returning to the Tank direction is named as "Return" Some
applications have an "Arrow"
to indicate flow's direction but some
others use a "Letter"
instead. Flow indicator is placed over the Port Boss. Also, the
Indicator can be added
to the Port but it can also be subtracted from it. For consistency
with the NX Solution these options have been called as "Pad" and
"Pocket "
accordingly.

Port
Ribs Parameters
Ribbing is a common
practice on molded plastic components; Ports are not the exception. The
Port Design Application
provides a generic type of ribs to reinforce Ports.In this section of
the User Interface (UI) there are five parameters to control ribbing of
Port Boss.
- "Port has
Ribs?". This
toggle switches on and off ribbing for the Port Boss. If this option is
turned off the rest parameters will be unavailable.
- "Number of
Ribs". Up to three Ribs can be added. It also controls the
availability of angle parameters. eg. If "Number of Ribs" is 2 the third angle
parameter will be insensitive.
- "Ribs Start
Angle from Port Axis". This is angle counted from Port's
longitudinal axis.
- "Angle to R2".This
input controls the angle from the Port's longitudinal axis to the
second Rib.
- "Angle to R3".This
input controls the angle from the Port's longitudinal axis to the third
Rib.

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NOTE:
If Port is of size 5/8 ribbing will be disable.
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Got Thoughts?
This UI section provides
means to get
help. From this section user can invoke a child dialog with a reference
drawing image that provides quick help by clicking the "Visual Aid" button.
For more detailed information this on-line document can be accessed
through the "On-line Help" button.

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