Patent Publication Number: US-11028741-B1

Title: Oil pick-up assembly

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates to an oil pick-up assembly. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Oil pick-up tubes are used in the sump of internal combustion engines and other assemblies that require lubrication. In internal combustion engine applications, the oil pick-up tube is disposed within an oil pan and includes an inlet portion disposed within a well of the oil pan for drawing oil into the engine. As automobiles continue to evolve in design, packaging requirements for the oil pan and oil pick-up tubes have become more stringent. 
     SUMMARY 
     One aspect of the disclosure provides an oil pick-up assembly for a motor vehicle. The oil pick-up assembly includes an upper housing having an upper shell extending from a first end of the assembly to a second end of the assembly. The upper shell defines a mounting plane of the assembly. The upper housing further includes an upper peripheral flange surrounding the upper shell. The oil pick-up assembly also a lower housing having a lower shell extending from the first end of the assembly to the second end of the assembly. The lower shell includes a first portion adjacent to the first end and substantially parallel to the mounting plane and a second portion adjacent to the second end and formed at a first oblique angle relative to the mounting plane. The lower shell also includes a lower peripheral flange surrounding the lower shell, the lower peripheral flange of attached to the upper peripheral flange of the upper housing to form a chamber. 
     Implementations of the disclosure may include one or more of the following optional features. In some implementations, the lower housing includes a pick-up tube extending from the second portion at a second oblique angle relative to the mounting plane. Here, the pick-up tube extends continuously along a longitudinal axis extending from a proximal end connected to the second portion of the lower shell to a distal end. Optionally, the pick-up tube tapers from the first end to the second end. 
     In some implementations, the upper housing includes an outlet tube extending from the second end, the outlet tube having a central axis that is parallel to the mounting plane. In some examples, the first portion of the lower shell is connected to the second portion of the lower shell by an arcuate intermediate portion. 
     In some configurations, a portion of the upper peripheral flange that surrounds the upper shell extends along the second end of the assembly at a third oblique angle relative to the mounting plane. Here, a value of the third oblique angle is the same as a value of the first oblique angle. 
     In some configurations, the upper peripheral flange is welded to the lower peripheral flange. Optionally, the upper housing includes at least one mounting tab extending from the upper shell, and the at least one mounting tab includes a mounting surface defining the mounting plane of the upper housing. 
     Another aspect of the disclosure provides method of manufacturing an oil pick-up assembly for a motor vehicle. The method includes forming an upper housing including an upper shell extending from a first end to a second end and an upper peripheral flange surrounding the upper shell, where the upper shell defines a mounting plane of the assembly. Another step of the method includes forming a lower housing including a lower shell extending from the first end to the second end and a lower peripheral flange surrounding the lower shell. The lower peripheral flange of the lower housing is attached to the upper peripheral flange of the upper housing to form a chamber. The lower shell includes a first portion adjacent to the first end and substantially parallel to the mounting plane, and a second portion adjacent to the second end and formed at a first oblique angle relative to the mounting plane. In another step, the method includes attaching the upper peripheral flange of the upper housing to the lower peripheral flange of the lower housing. 
     This aspect may include one or more of the following optional features. In some examples, forming the lower housing includes forming a pick-up tube extending from the second portion at a second oblique angle relative to the mounting plane. In some implementations, forming the pick-up tube includes extending the pick-up tube continuously along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end connected to the second portion of the lower shell to a terminal distal end. Here, forming the pick-up tube comprises tapering the pick-up tube. 
     In some examples, forming the upper housing includes forming an outlet tube extending from the second end, the outlet tube having a central axis that is parallel to the mounting plane. In some implementations, forming the lower shell comprises forming an arcuate intermediate portion connecting the first portion of the lower shell to the second portion of the lower shell. 
     In some configurations, forming the upper housing includes forming a portion of the upper peripheral flange that surrounds the upper shell to extend along the second end of the assembly at a third oblique angle relative to the mounting plane. Here, a value of the third oblique angle is the same as a value of the first oblique angle. 
     In some examples, attaching the upper peripheral flange of the upper housing to the lower peripheral flange of the lower housing includes welding the upper peripheral flange to the lower peripheral flange. Optionally, forming the upper housing includes forming at least one mounting tab extending from the upper shell, and forming the at least one mounting tab with a mounting surface defining the mounting plane of the upper housing. 
     The details of one or more implementations of the disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other aspects, features, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is bottom-rear perspective view of an example of oil pick-up assembly. 
         FIG. 2  is a top-front perspective view of the oil pick-up assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom-front exploded perspective view of the oil pick-up assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a top-rear exploded perspective view of the oil pick-up assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a rear elevation view of the oil pick-up assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a front elevation view of the oil pick-up assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a right side elevation view of the oil pick-up assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a left side elevation view of the oil pick-up assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the oil pick-up assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10  is a bottom plan view of the oil pick-up assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the oil pick-up assembly of  FIG. 1 , taken along Line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the oil pick-up assembly of  FIG. 1 , taken along Line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-12 , an oil pick-up assembly  10  for an internal combustion engine (not shown) is provided. As described throughout this application, the assembly  10 , and features thereof, may be described as extending from a first end  12   a  to a second end  12   b  disposed at an opposite end of the assembly  10  than the first end  12   a . The assembly  10  also includes a pair of sides  14   a ,  14   b  each extending from the first end  12   a  to the second end  12   b . Additionally, the assembly  10  may be described as including a top side  16  and a bottom side  18  disposed on an opposite side of the assembly  10  than the top side  16 . 
     The assembly  10  includes an upper housing  100  and a lower housing  200  that cooperate to define an internal chamber or reservoir  20  of the assembly  10 , which receives and contains a volume of oil while the engine is in operation. Generally, the assembly  10  is configured to draw oil from within an oil pan (not shown) of the engine and to supply the oil the engine block for lubrication and cooling of components (e.g., crankshaft, pistons, connecting rods) of a powertrain of the engine. The assembly  10  of the present disclosure is configured to optimize a flow of the oil from the oil pan to the engine block. 
     The upper housing  100  includes an upper shell  110  forming a portion of the reservoir  20 . An upper peripheral flange  120  extends along a lower portion of the upper shell  110  and defines an interface for attaching the upper housing  100  to the lower housing  200 . One or more mounting tabs  130   a ,  130   b  extend from the upper shell  110  at the first end  12   a , and are configured for attaching the assembly  10  to the engine. As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the mounting tabs  130   a ,  130   b  include a top surface  132   a ,  132   b  ( FIG. 8 ) that define a reference mounting plane P 10  of the assembly  10 . The upper housing  100  further includes an outlet tube  140  in communication with the reservoir  20  and extending from the upper shell  110  at the first end  12   a . The outlet tube  140  includes a central axis A 140  that is substantially parallel to the mounting plane P 10  of the assembly  10 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-4 , the upper shell  110  is defined by a top wall  112  and an upper peripheral wall  114 . The top wall  112  may be flat or contoured and the upper peripheral wall  114  extends from the top wall  112  to a distal end at an opposite end of the peripheral wall  114  than the top wall  112 . As shown, the peripheral wall  114  extends continuously around the outer periphery of the top wall  112 . Thus, the peripheral wall  114  extends along each of the first end  12   a , the second end  12   b , the first side  14   a , and the second side  14   b  of the assembly  10 . The top wall  112  and the upper peripheral wall  114  cooperate to define an upper portion of the reservoir  20  of the pick-up assembly  10  when the upper housing  100  is assembled to the lower housing  200 . 
     The upper housing  100  further includes an upper peripheral flange  120  projecting outwardly from the distal end of the upper peripheral wall  114  of the upper housing  100 . The upper peripheral flange  120  includes an upper central rib  122  configured to function as a weld bead and a pair of continuous channels  124   a ,  124   b  extending along opposite sides of the upper central rib  122 . The channels  124   a ,  124   b  act as flow regions for the material of the upper central rib  122  when upper central rib is softened during a welding process, as described in greater detail below. The upper central rib  122  may have a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape, whereby a width (i.e., the distance between channels  124   a ,  124   b ) of the upper central rib  122  tapers towards a distal end, allowing the central rib  122  to be more easily formed using a conventional molding process. 
     As best shown in  FIG. 3 , the lower peripheral flange  120  extends continuously around the upper housing  100 . Specifically, the lower peripheral flange  120  includes a first end portion  120   a  extending along the first end  12   a , a second end portion  120   b  extending along the second end  12   b , a first side portion  120   c  extending along the first side  14   a , and a second side portion  120   d  extending along the second side  14   b.    
     As best shown in  FIGS. 3, 7, and 8 , each of the first side portion  120   c  and the second side portion  120   d  of the upper peripheral flange  120  include a first segment  126   a ,  126   b  disposed adjacent to the first end  12   a  and a second segment  128   a ,  128   b  disposed adjacent to the second end  12   b . Generally, the first segments  126   a ,  126   b  of the side portions  120   c ,  120   d  extend substantially parallel to the mounting plane P 10  of the assembly  10 , and the second segments  128   a ,  128   b  of the side portions  120   c ,  120   d  extend at an oblique angle θ 128  relative to the mounting plane P 10  of the assembly  10 . Accordingly, a of the peripheral wall  114  of the upper shell  110  increases along a direction of the second segments  128   a ,  128   b  towards the second end  12   b . As shown, the first segments  126   a ,  126   b  may be connected to the respective second segments  128   a ,  128   b  by an arcuate intermediate segment  127   a ,  127   b  such that each side portion  120   c ,  120   d  of the upper peripheral flange  120  transitions from the first segments  126   a ,  126   b  to the second segment  128   a ,  128   b  along the arcuate intermediate segment  127   a ,  127   b.    
     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 4, and 12 , the second end portion  120   b  of the upper peripheral flange  120 , which extends along the second end  12   b  of the upper housing  100 , extends from the upper shell  110  at an oblique angle θ 120b  relative to the mounting plane P 10  of the assembly. Specifically, the second end portion  120   b  of the upper peripheral flange  120  extends at a downward angle θ 120b  relative to the mounting plane P 10 . In the illustrated example, the angle θ 120b  of the second end portion  120   b  is substantially the same as the angle θ 128  of the second segments  128   a ,  128   b  of the side portions  120   c ,  120   d  of the upper peripheral flange  120 . More specifically, the second end portion  120   b  is coplanar with the angled second segments  128   a ,  128   b.    
     As introduced previously, the upper housing  100  includes a pair of the mounting tabs  130   a ,  130   b  each extending from the peripheral wall  114  at the first end  12   a . Each mounting tab  130   a ,  130   b  includes a top surface  132   a ,  132   b  that cooperate to define the mounting plane P 10  of the assembly  10 . Each tab  130   a ,  130   b  also includes a respective bottom surface  134   a ,  134   b  formed on an opposite side from the top surface  132   a ,  132   b , where a distance from the top surface  132   a ,  132   b  to the bottom surface  134   a ,  134   b  defines a thickness of each mounting tab  130   a ,  130   b.    
     Each of the mounting tabs  130   a ,  130   b  includes an aperture  136  extending through the thickness of the mounting tab  130   a ,  130   b . Each aperture  136  is configured to receive a compression-limiting bushing  30  and a fastener  40  for attaching the assembly  10  to a corresponding mounting interface of the engine. As shown in  FIG. 11 , each of the mounting tabs  130   a ,  130   b  may include a pair of protuberances  137  projecting radially inwardly into the aperture  136  adjacent to each of the top surface  132   a ,  132   b  and the bottom surface  134   a ,  134   b . Thus, each aperture  136  includes a pair of the protuberances  137  at a first end and a pair of the protuberances  137  at a second end. The protuberances  137  interface with corresponding notches  32  formed in ends of the compression-limiting bushing  30  to prevent axial and rotational movement of the bushing  30  within the aperture  136 . Details of the compression-limiting bushing  30  can be found in co-pending application Ser. No. 17/000,670 titled “Compression Limiter”, filed on Aug. 24, 2020, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     Each mounting tab  130   a ,  130   b  may also include a fastener retainer  138  integrally molded at one end of the aperture  136 . As best shown in  FIG. 3 , the retainer  138  is formed as ring connecting opposing ends of the protuberances  137  adjacent to the bottom surface  134   a ,  134   b . The retainer ring  138  has an inside diameter that is less than a major diameter of a threaded portion of the fastener  40  such that the fastener  40  can be threaded through the retainer ring  138 . Thus, the retainer ring  138  is configured to hold the fastener  40  captive within the aperture  136  during handling and storage of the assembly  10 , prior to installation on the engine. The retainer ring  138  is formed of a relatively soft material, such that when the assembly  10  is attached to the engine and the fasteners  40  are torqued, threads of the fastener  40  will strip the interior diameter of the retainer ring  138  to allow the fastener  40  to rotate freely relative to the retainer ring  138  and the mounting tabs  130   a ,  130   b.    
     The compression limiter  30  is disposed within the aperture  136  of each mounting tab  130   a ,  130   b . As best shown in  FIG. 3 , the compression limiter  30  is a tubular body having an outside diameter corresponding to an inside diameter of the aperture  136  and an inside diameter configured as a clearance hole for the fastener  40 . Each end of the compression limiter  30  includes a pair of notches  32 , which—as discuss previously—cooperate with the protuberances  137  of each mounting tab  130   a ,  130   b  to secure the axial and rotational position of the compression limiter  30  within the respective mounting tab  130   a ,  130   b . In some examples, the compression limiter  30  may be co-molded with the upper housing  100  in a molding process (e.g., injection molding), whereby the protuberances  137  are formed as the molding material flows into the notches  32  of the compression limiter  30 . 
     The outlet tube  140  of the upper housing  100  extends from the second end  12   b  along the central axis A 140 . As discussed previously, the central axis A 140  of the outlet tube  140  is parallel to the mounting plane P 10  of the housing. The outlet tube  140  may include one or more grooves for receiving an o-ring  50 . As shown in  FIGS. 1, 7, and 8  the outlet tube  140  may include a support ring  142  connecting the outlet tube  140  to the upper peripheral flange  120 . The support ring  142  includes an annular portion  144  surrounding the outlet tube  140  and a lower leg  146  attached to the second end portion  120   b  of the upper peripheral flange  120 . 
     The lower housing  200  includes a lower shell  210  forming a lower portion of the reservoir  20 . A lower peripheral flange  220  extends along an upper portion of the lower shell  210  and defines an interface for attaching the lower housing  200  to the upper housing  100 . The lower housing  200  further includes a pick-up or inlet tube  230  extending along a longitudinal axis A 230  from the lower shell  210  at an oblique angle θ 230  relative to the mounting plane P 10  of the assembly  10 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 3, and 4 , the lower shell  210  is defined by a bottom wall  212  and a lower peripheral wall  214 . The bottom wall  212  may be flat or contoured and the lower peripheral wall  214  extends from the bottom wall  212  to a distal end at an opposite end of the lower peripheral wall  214  than the bottom wall  212 . As shown, the lower peripheral wall  214  extends continuously around the outer periphery of the bottom wall  212 . Thus, the lower peripheral wall  214  extends along each of the first end  12   a , the second end  12   b , the first side  14   a , and the second side  14   b  of the assembly  10 . The bottom wall  212  and the lower peripheral wall  214  cooperate to define a lower portion of the reservoir  20  of the pick-up assembly  10  when the lower housing  200  is assembled to the upper housing  100 . 
     The lower housing  200  further includes a lower peripheral flange  220  projecting outwardly from the distal end of the lower peripheral wall  214  of the lower housing  200 . The lower peripheral flange  220  includes a lower central rib  222  configured to function as a weld bead and a pair of continuous channels  224   a ,  224   b  extending along opposite sides of the lower central rib  222 . The channels  224   a ,  224   b  act as flow regions for the material of the lower central rib  222  when lower central rib  222  is softened during a welding process, as described in greater detail below. The lower central rib  222  may have a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape, whereby a width of the lower central rib  222  (i.e., a distance between the channels  224   a ,  224   b ) tapers towards a distal end, allowing the central rib  222  to be more easily formed using a conventional molding process. 
     As best shown in  FIG. 4 , the lower peripheral flange  220  extends continuously around the lower housing  200 . Specifically, the lower peripheral flange  220  includes a first end portion  220   a  extending along the first end  12   a , a second end portion  220   b  extending along the second end  12   b , a first side portion  220   c  extending along the first side  14   a , and a second side portion  220   d  extending along the second side  14   b . As best shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , each of the first side portion  220   c  and the second side portion  220   d  of the lower peripheral flange  220  include a first segment  226   a ,  226   b  disposed adjacent to the first end  12   a  and a second segment  228   a ,  228   b  disposed adjacent to the second end  12   b . Generally, the first segments  226   a ,  226   b  of the side portions  220   c ,  220   d  extend substantially parallel to the mounting plane P 10  of the assembly  10 , and the second segments  228   a ,  228   b  of the side portions  220   c ,  220   d  extend at the oblique angle θ 128  relative to the mounting plane P 10  of the assembly  10 . As shown, the first segments  226   a ,  226   b  may be connected to the respective second segments  228   a ,  228   b  by an arcuate intermediate segment  227   a ,  227   b  such that each side portion  220   c ,  220   d  of the lower peripheral flange  220  transitions from the first segments  226   a ,  226   b  to the second segment  228   a ,  228   b  along the arcuate intermediate segment  227   a ,  227   b . Accordingly, the segments  226   a ,  226   b ,  227   a ,  227   b ,  228   a ,  228   b  of the lower peripheral flange  220  are configured to interface with the segments  126   a ,  126   b ,  127   a ,  127   b ,  128   a ,  128   b  of the upper peripheral flange  120  to attach the lower housing  200  to the upper housing  100 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7, 8, and 12 , the second end portion  220   b  of the lower peripheral flange  220 , which extends along the second end  12   b  of the lower housing  200 , extends from the lower shell  210  at the oblique angle θ 120b  relative to the mounting plane P 10  of the assembly. Specifically, the second end portion  220   b  of the lower peripheral flange  220  extends at a downward angle θ 120b  relative to the mounting plane P 10 . In the illustrated example, the angle θ 220b  of the second end portion  220   b  is substantially the same as the angle θ 128  of the second segments  228   a ,  228   b  of the side portions  220   c ,  220   d  of the lower peripheral flange  220 . More specifically, the second end portion  220   b  is coplanar with the second segments  228   c ,  228   d.    
     During assembly of the upper and lower housings  100 ,  200 , the upper central rib  122  of the upper peripheral flange  120  is aligned with the lower central rib  222  of the lower peripheral flange  220 . The central ribs  122 ,  222  are then subjected to a polymer welding process, such as an infrared or ultrasonic welding process, to join the upper central rib  122  to the lower central rib  222  along the entire periphery of the reservoir  20 . During the welding process, the materials of the upper and lower central ribs  122 ,  222  flow into the adjacent channels  124   a ,  124   b ,  224   a ,  224   b  as the upper and lower peripheral flanges  120 ,  220  are pressed together. 
     Unlike the upper housing  100 , which has an increasing height corresponding to the bend and angle of the side portions  120   c ,  120   d , the lower housing  200  has a substantially constant height. Accordingly, the bottom wall  212  of the lower housing  200  has a profile corresponding to the path of the side portions  220   c ,  220   d  of the lower peripheral flange  220 . For example, the bottom wall  212  includes a first segment  216  disposed adjacent to the first end  12   a  that is substantially parallel to the mounting plane P 10 . Additionally, the bottom wall  212  includes a second segment  218  disposed at the second end  12   b  and extending at the same angle θ 128  as the second segments  128 ,  228  of the peripheral flanges  120 ,  220 . The first and second segments are connected by an arcuate intermediate segment  217 , which may include an intermediate stepped portion  219 . This bent or curved profile of the bottom wall  212  provides the lower housing  200  with an initial transition into the deeper well portion of an oil pan within which the pick-up assembly may be installed. 
     The lower housing  200  further includes an inlet tube  230  extending continuously from a proximal end  231  attached to the second segment  218  of the bottom wall  212  to a terminal distal end  232 . The inlet tube  230  includes a pair of end walls  234   a ,  234   b  and a pair of sidewalls  236   a ,  236   b . A first one of the end walls  234   a  extends from the second segment  218  of the bottom wall  212  adjacent to the intermediate segment  217  and a second one of the end walls  234   b  extends from the second segment  218  of the bottom wall  212  adjacent to the second end portion  220   b  of the lower peripheral flange  220 . As shown, each of the end walls  234   a ,  234   b  is flat, such that the inlet tube  230  extends along a straight longitudinal axis A 230  from the bottom wall  212  to the distal end  232 . The longitudinal axis A 230  is oriented at an oblique angle θ 230  that is greater than the angle θ 128  of the second segment  218  of the bottom wall  212 . Accordingly, the second segment  218  of the bottom wall  212  and the inlet tube  230  cooperate to provide a compound bend around a transition point of an oil pan (i.e., the transition between the shallow portion and the sump of the pan) 
     A distance from the first end wall  234   a  to the second end wall  234   b  defines a thickness T 130  of the inlet tube  230 . In the illustrated example, each of the end walls  234   a ,  234   b  is straight along the entire length of the inlet tube  230  from the bottom wall  212  to the distal end  232  of the inlet tube  230 . However, the thickness T 130  of the inlet tube  230  tapers constantly and continuously as the end walls  234   a ,  234   b  converge with each other along the direction from the bottom wall  212  to the distal end  232 . 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the sidewalls  236   a ,  236   b  of the inlet tube  230  include a first sidewall  236   a  connecting the end walls  234   a ,  234   b  on a first side  14   a  of the inlet tube  230  and a second sidewall  236   b  connecting the end walls on an opposite second side  14   b  of the inlet tube  230 . A distance from the first sidewall  236   a  to the second sidewall  236   b  defines a width W 230  of the inlet tube  230 . As shown, the sidewalls  236   a ,  236   b  may each include an upper portion  237   a ,  237   b  extending from the bottom wall  212  and a lower portion  238   a ,  238   b  extending from the upper portion  237   a ,  237   b  to the distal end  232 . The upper portions  237   a ,  237   b  converge with each other at a first rate and the lower portions  238   a ,  238   b  converge with each other at a second rate along the length of the inlet tube  230 . Accordingly, the width W 230  of the inlet tube  230  tapers at the first rate along the upper portions  237   a ,  237   b  and the width W 230  of the inlet tube  230  tapers at a more gradual second rate along the lower portions  238   a ,  238   b  of the inlet tube  230 . The upper portions  237   a ,  237   b  and the lower portions  238   a ,  238   b  are connected to each other by an arcuate intermediate portion  239   a ,  239   b.    
     By forming the inlet tube with the straight end walls  234   a ,  234   b  and the converging sidewalls  236   a ,  236   b  in combination with the bent bottom wall  212 , the lower housing  200  can be formed in an injection molding process using conventional, stationary tooling. In other words, the geometries of the bottom wall  212  and the inlet tube  230  are configured such that the lower housing  200  can be removed from a mold without requiring portions of the mold to move relative to each other. This advantageously minimizes mold complexity and costs associated with designing and manufacturing the mold. While minimizing mold complexity, the design of the present disclosure also provides improved functional benefits. For example, the bent bottom wall  212  and the angled inlet tube  230  cooperate to bend around a transition of an oil pan, such that the mounting tabs  130   a ,  130   b  and the first end  12   a  of the assembly  10  fit within a shallow portion of the oil pan while the second end  12   b  and the inlet tube  230  extend into the deeper sump portion of the oil pan to maintain constant a submersion within the oil supply contained in the oil pan. 
     A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.