Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
This invention rela-tes to a suppor-ting appara-tus
for a power unit adapted -to be used for suppoxting on a
vehicle a power unit inbluding an engine, a transmission
and the like.
The present invention will be illustrated by way
of the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Fig. 1 is a side eleva-tional view of a conven-tional
type of power unit supporting apparatus;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a power unit sup-
porting apparatus showing a first embodiment of -the present
invention with i-ts component parts detached from each other;
Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the first
embodiment with its component parts assembled;
Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 bu-t showing a
second embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing a
third embodiment of the invention;
.
Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing a
fourth embodiment of the invention; and
Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing a
fifth embodiment of the invention.
As a conventional suppor-ting apparatus for a power
unit, there is known, for example, an apparatus of the con-
struction, as shown in Fig. 1, in which between an inner
cylinder 1 and an outer cylinder 2, there is interposed a
mount insulator 3 which is formed of elas-tic material such
as rubber and which is cure-bonded to the inner and ou-ter
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cylindexs 1,2 wi-th a pair of s-topper rubbers 4 being cure-
bonded to those portions of the inner surface of the outer
cylinder 2 which face respectively to the upper and lower
surfaces of the mount insula-tor 3.
Accordingly, in installing such a conven-tional type
of power unit supporting apparatus, it is customary practice
to fixedly secure the inner cylinder 1 to a bracket S on a
frame of a vehicle by means of a mounting bolt 6, and also
a bracket 7 on the ou-ter cylinder 2 to a bracke-t 8 on a
power unit (not shown) by means of a moun-ting bolt or bolts
9.
With such a conventional type of power unit sup-
porting apparatus, however, i-t is constructed such that a
stopper clear~Ye 11 between the upper stopper rubber 4 and
the adjacen-t upper surface of the mount insulator 3 and a
stopper clearance 12 between the lower stopper rubber ~ and
the adjacent lower surface of the mount insulator 3 are
determined by the position of the insulator 3 which shares
part of the load of the~power unit and is yieldingly dis-
placed thereby, as a result of which the clearances 11 and 1~
are varied in dependence on variation of weightamong-the power
units used resul-ting from differences in the specifications
of the power units (with or without air conditioning equip-
ment and/or power steering equipment, specifications of the
transmissions and the like), variation of production char-
acteristics of the insulators, accuracy in assembly of the
vehicle frame, and accuracy in the mounting of the power
units, thus giving rise to a problem tha-t vibrations of the
vehicle and noises in the passenger compartment of the vehicle
are generated, as well as offering difficulty in con-trolling
the stopper clearances.
In view of the above, -the present invention provides
a supporting apparatus for a power unit wherein the stopper
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clearances are always main-tained constan-t irrespective of
j variations in the weight of -the power uni-t or other factors.
I
I The present invention also provides a supporting
¦ 5 apparatus for a power unit wherein control of -the stopper
clearances is effected in quite a simple and easy manner.
¦ According to the present invention there is pro-
I vided a supporting apparatus for a power uni-t which comprises
¦ 10 a first supporting member adapted to be connected to a power
¦ unit, a second supporting member adapted to be connected to
the body of a vehicle and a resilient member for connection
between the first and second supporting members, a stopper
means comprising a first s-topper member adap-ted to be con-
nected to the body of the vehicle and a second stopper mem-
ber adapted to be connected to the power unit, the first
and second stopper members adapted to come into abutting
¦ engagment with each other, and an adjustable connecting means
for connecting the first stopper member to the body of the
vehicle or for connecting the second stopper member to the
power uni-t so as to fasten securely the first or second
stopper member after the first and second supporting members
¦ have been mounted on the power unit and the body, respectively.
Suitably said first and second stopper members are connected
to each other through a second resilient memberA Preferably
said first supporting member is an inner mount cylinder
fixedly connected to said power unit through a first bracket
means and said second supporting member is an outer mount
cylinder fixedly connected to said body through a second
bracke-t means. More preferably said first stopper member is
an outer stopper cylinder secured to said body through said
outer mount cylinder and said second stopper member is an
inner stopper cylinder connec-ted to saidPWer unit through
said adjustably connecting means provided in said first
bracket means. Desirably said adjustably connecting means
has an elongated aperture to receive said second stopper
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member, thereby accommodating the relative movemen-t between
said first and second suppor-ting members.
In one embodiment of -the present invention the
apparatus comprises an inner mount cylinder connec-ted to a
power unit, an outer mount cylinder connected to a frame of
a vehicle, a resilient member for connec-tion between said
inner and outer mount cylinders, an ou-ter stopper cylinder
secured to said outer mount cyli~der, and an inner stopper cylinder
secured to said power unit through an adjustably connnecting
means, said inner and outer stopper cylinders being connec-
ted to each other through - a resilient member, said inner
s-topper cylinder being adapted to be placed into abutting
engagemen-t with said outer s-topper cylinder, and said inner
stopper cylinder being adap-ted to be securely fas-tened after
said outer and inner mount cylinders have been mounted on
said power unit and said vehicle frame, respectively.
.
In another embodiment of the present invention said
first supporting member is an inner mount cylinder fixedly
connected to said body through a first bracket means and
said second supporting member is an outer mount cylinder
fixedly connected to said pump unit through a second bracket
. means. Suitably said first stopper member is an outer stop-
~ per cylinder secured to said power unit through said outer
mount cylinder and said second stopper member
is an inner stopper cylinder connected to
said body through said adjustably connecting
. means provided in said first bracket means.
Preferably said adjustably connecting means has an elongated
aperture to receive said second stopper member, thereby
accommodating the relative movement between said first and
second supporting members.
Referring once more to the accompanying drawings
and in par-ticular to Figs. 2 and 3 which illustrate a first
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preferred embodiment oE the invention, there is shown a
supporting apparatus for a power unit constructed according
to the principles of the present invention, in which be-t-
ween an outer mount cylinder or pipe 10 constituting a second
supporting member and an inner mount cylinder or pipe 11
constituting a flrst supporting member, there is a mount
insulator 12 formed of resilient material such as rubber
which is cure-bonded to the outer and inner cylinders l0
and 11. Similarly, between an outer stopper cylinder 13
consti-tu-ting a first stopper member and an inner stopper
cylinder 14 constituting a second stopper member, there are
stopper insulators 15 and 15a formed of resilient material
such as rubber, the insulator 15 being cure-bonded to -the
outer and inner stopper cylinders 13 and 14 whilst the in-
sulators 15a being cure-bonded to -the outer stopper cyli.nder
13 with first and second s-topper clearances 13 and 14 formed
between the insulator 15 and the insulators 15a, respectively.
A connecting member 16 firmly connects the outer mount cylin-
der 10 and the outer stopper cylinder 13 wi-th each other.
A mounting
: 3b
1 bracket 17 is firmly secured to the outer mount cylinder 10.
As a mounting means on the side of the power unit 18, there
are employed a mounting bolt 19 and a nut 20 for the mounting
portion formed of the outer and inner mount cylinders 10, 11, as
well as a mounting bolt 21 and a nut 22 for the stopper portion
formed of the outer and inner stopper cylinders 13, 14, whereas
as a mounting means on the side of the vehicle frame 23, there
are employed mounting bolts 24, 25 and nuts (not shown) for the
mounting bracket 17. Secured to ~he power unit 18 by means of
bolts 18a is a bracket 26 which is formed with a pair of
elongated apertures 27 for the stopper mounting bolt 21 and a
pair of through holes 28 for the mounting bolt 19 of the mounting
portion. A bracke-t 29 welded to the vehicle frame 23 has a pair
of hollow cylinders 30 fixedly secured thereto for passage of the
bolts 24, 25.
The stopper mounting bolt 21, the nut 22 and the elongated
apertures 27 in the bracket 26 adjacent to the power unit
conjointly constitute an adjustable connecting means.
Upon installation o~ the powér unit supporting apparatus as
illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the bracket 17 on the outer mount
cylinder 10 is first fixed to the vehlcle frame 23 by means of
the mounting bolts 24, 25 to firmly secure the outer mount
cylinder 10 and the outer stopper cylinder 13 to the vehicle
frame, as shown in Fig. 2. Subsequently, the mounting bolt 19
for the mounting portion is inserted into the through holes 28 in
the bracket 26 on the power unit 18 and the inner mount cylinder
11 and then fixed thereto by tightening the nut 20, as a
consequence of which the mount insulator 12 is yieldingly
deformed due to part of the load of the power uni-t 18.
Thereafter, the inner stopper cylinder 14 with the stopper
insulator 15 is fastened to the power unit 18 by use of the
stoppRr moun-ting bolt 21 and the nut 22.
Accordingly, in the case of the first embodiment as
described, it is possible to mount the power unit 18 on the
vehicle frame 23 in a manner such that the stopper insulator 15
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1 is not subjected to any load from the power unit 18 and thus is
held stationary. As a result, the stopper clearances 13 and 14
between the intermediate stopper insulator 15 and the upper and
lower stopper insulators 15a, respectively, can always be held at
constant values independent of variations in the weight of the
power unit 18 and in the characteristics of the mount insulator
12. Further, in the event that the mount insulator 12 is so
fatigued under the influence of heat as to change the preset
proper amounts of the stopper clearances 13 and 14, the resultant
change in the stopper clearances 13 and 14 can be adjusted or
corrected in quite a simple and easy manner by loosening the nut
22 on the stopper mounting bolt 21 and retigh-tening the nut 22
after the bolt 21 has been displaced properly in the elongated
apertures 27.
Fig. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention
wherein the mount insulator 12 is inclined such that a surface of
the mount insulator faces to the adjacent end surface of the
power unit 18. With this arrangement, during the period of
engine idling operation/ noises confined in the engine room are
substantially reduced due to reduction of the spring constant of
the mounting insulator 12 in the direction of engine vibrations.
Consequentlv, this embodiment is particularly suitable for the
mounting of a power unit for a FF (front-engine and
front-wheel-drive) type vehicle the engine of which is situated
transverselyO
Fig. 5 illustrates a third embodiment wherein in addition to
the fact that the mounting insulator 12 is inclined to face to
the adjacent end surface of the power unit 18 as in the case of
the second embodiment, the stopper insulators 15,15a are also
inclined but in a direction, with respect to the vertical,
opposite to the direction in which the adjacent end surface of
the power unit 18 is inclined, so that the stopper clearances 13
and 14 provide a minimum displacement of the power unit 18~
Accordingly, thi~; embodiment is preferred in the event that the
amplitude of engine vibrations or the maximum displacement of the
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1 power unit 18 should be minimized.
Thus, it is to be noted that adjustment of the angle of
inclination of the mount insulator 12 and/or the stopper
insulator 15, as in the cases of the second and third
embodiments, provides the advantage that individual tuning is
possible to meet the different reguirements of power unit support
means. I
Referring to a fourth embodiment as shown in Fig. 6, the
stopper portion is of dual structure wherein the addition of an
auxiliary cylinder 14' concentrically interposed hetween the
inner and outer stopper cylinders 14 and 13 provides, in addition
to the aforementioned advantages brought about by the first
embodiment, a dynamic damping function for the power unit
supporting apparatus by utilizing the auxiliary cylinder 14' as a
mass.
Referring to a fifth embodiment as illustrated in Fig. 7, an
enlarged, rectangularly shaped hollow body 10' is commonly
employed instead of the outer cylinders and a mount insulator 12
and a stopper insulator 15 are disposed in parallel relative to
each other to connect the inner mount cylinder and the inner
stopper cylinder to the rectangularly shaped hollow body 10',
respectively. An upper stopper insulator 15a is secured to the
inner surface of the upper side of the common hollow body 10'
with an upper stopper clearance 13 formed between the upper
stopper insulator 15a and an interrnediate stopper insulator 15
A mount insulator 12 acts as a lower stopper insulator with a
lower stopper clearance 14 formed between the mount insulator 12
and the stopper insulator 15. Thus, this embodiment enables
reduction in number of the component parts. Although the stopper
clearance 13 can be controlled precisely, the stopper clearance
` - 14 may be varied to a certain extent due to variation in the
weight of the engine. However, such variation in the stopper
clearance 14 would pose no problem if a pair oE such supporting
apparatus - are disposed in opposed relation with each other.
Summarizing with one embodiment according to the present
2~
invention, a supporting apparatus for a power unit comprises
an inner mount cylinder connected to a power unit, an outer
mount cylinder connected to a frame of a vehicle, a resi-
lient member for connection between the inner and outer
mount cylinders, an outer stopper cylinder secured to the
outer mount cylinder, and an inner stopper cylinder secured
to the power unit through an adjustable connecting means.
The inner and outer stopper cylinders are connected to each
other through a resilient member with the inner stopper
cylinder being adapted to be placed into abutting engage-
ment with the outer stopper cylinder. The inner stopper
cylinder is adaptd to be securely fastened after the outer
and inner mount cylinders have been mounted on the power
unit and the vehicle frame, respectively. Such an arrange-
ment provides an advantage that a stopper clearance between
the first and second stopper members can always be main~
tained constant irrespective of variations in the weight oF
the power unit because the second stopper members can be
mounted after the resilient member connecting between the
first and second supporting members has been yielded under
the action of a static load.
Further, in the event that the resilient member is
so fatigued as to deviate the stopper clearance from its
present value, the stopper clearance can be readily adjusted
or corrected properly to the preset value simply by reset-
ting the second stopper means so that control of the stopper
clearance may be effected by a simple operation in quite an
easy manner.
Although in the foregoing, some presently pre-
ferred embodiments of the invention have been described with
reference to the accompanying drawings, the invention is not
limited to these embodiments. For example, in all but the
last of the embodiments referred to above, the inner cylin-
ders are secured to the power unit and the outer cylinders
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are secured to the vehicle frame, but the reverse construc-
tion may be possible for any of the embodimen-ts in which the
inner cylinders are secured to the vehicle Frame and the
outer cylinders -to the power unit.
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