DE102011012660A1 - Housing, particularly gearbox housing, for use in automobile sector for protecting component, particularly gearbox, of motor vehicle, has multiple modular housing sections, where core layer is provided between outer layers - Google Patents

Abstract

The housing (1) has multiple modular housing sections, where a section of the modular housing sections has composite material. Composite material outer layers are made of a material and a core layer is made of another material. The core layer is provided between the outer layers. An inner separating element is provided as a modular housing section.

Description

The invention relates to a housing, in particular a transmission housing.

Especially in the automotive sector housings, such as a gearbox, used to protect the sensitive technical or mechanical components of a motor vehicle. Thus, for example, the transmission of a motor vehicle is arranged in a transmission housing and held by the latter such that the forces of the engine to be transmitted to the drive train can be correspondingly translated and transmitted. In addition, the transmission housing must be so oil-tight that the existing in the transmission housing and existing for lubrication of the transmission gear oil can not escape.

In order to achieve the necessary strength and rigidity of such a housing or gear housing, the gear housing are monolithically made of a metal by means of a corresponding casting process. Commonly used materials are steel or aluminum.

However, the gear housing made of such a material has the significant disadvantage that they have a very high weight. Particularly with regard to the energy balance of a motor vehicle, a high weight always has a negative effect on energy consumption. In addition, gearboxes made of metal are susceptible to corrosion, which adversely affects the life and durability of such a housing.

Another disadvantage of the monolithic design is that when repairs to the transmission housing, the entire transmission housing must be replaced, which is known to be integrally formed. In addition, this complicates the recycling process when the motor vehicle is supplied to the recycling process at the end of its life.

task

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a housing, in particular a gear housing, which has a lower weight than conventional, monolithic gearbox housing and, moreover, can be produced in the industrial series production process.

solution

The object is achieved by the aforementioned housing, in particular gear housing, which comprises a plurality of modular housing parts and is formed from this, wherein at least part of the modular housing parts have a composite material.

It is thus proposed to produce a housing, in particular a gear housing, which is exposed to, for example, large mechanical loads, from a composite material which has a substantially lower weight with the same rigidity and strength compared to metallic materials such as aluminum or steel. Since composite materials, such as those used in the sandwich construction, are not particularly suitable for industrial mass production due to the difficult and complex processing of such materials, it is also proposed that the housing comprises a plurality of modular housing parts and finally formed from these.

Thus, it becomes possible to industrially manufacture the single, simple modular housing parts from a composite material and then to assemble them into a housing or gear housing. For example, a gearbox made of composite material can be industrially produced in series.

Advantageously, the composite material outer layers of a first material and at least one intermediate core layer of a second material. By means of this sandwich construction, it is thus possible to produce modular housing parts which have a correspondingly high strength and rigidity at a very low weight.

Materials of the outer layer may include, for example, carbon fiber, glass fiber, natural fiber, carbon fiber hybrid and steel or titanium hybrid metal laminates, glass fiber and aluminum or titanium hybrid metal laminates, natural fiber and steel hybrid metal laminates, aluminum or titanium systems, and epoxide matrix systems. , Phenolic resin or thermoplastics. All of the above materials can be combined with EPDM (natural rubber for vibration damping and impact protection). Suitable core layers are materials with honeycomb cores made of aramid, metal or paper, plastic foam cores or natural products such as balsa wood.

Advantageously, the housing has a U-shaped housing lower part, on the open sides of which modular housing side parts are arranged. Thus, for example, in the manufacture of a gear housing, a U-shaped lower shell can be formed integrally, wherein the housing is then closed at its open sides with corresponding housing side panels. In this case, the U-shaped housing lower part can be made flat and then formed into a U before curing, so that even this modular housing part can be industrially manufactured in series.

To simplify the manufacturing process as much as possible, it is particularly advantageous if the modular housing parts are flat. The housing advantageously has a square or cuboid shape. All housing parts consist essentially of a composite material.

Furthermore, the transmission housing advantageously has internal separating elements or partitions as modular housing parts. These separators or partitions can serve to increase the strength and rigidity of the gear housing and can be used as holding elements for the arrangement of the transmission in the gear housing. Due to the modular design of the gear housing, the housing can be used for a variety of different types of transmissions and transmission types, since the modularity of the greatest possible freedom of design is achieved.

Advantageously, some of the modular housing parts have closure profiles that can be engaged with other housing parts to form the transmission housing and engage the finished transmission housing. These closing profiles are preferably arranged in edge regions and, in addition to a firm hold of the individual housing parts to one another, that the individual housing parts can also be fitted together in an accurately fitting and form-fitting manner.

If the housing is used as a gear housing, then it is particularly advantageous if some of the housing parts have corresponding bearing mounting inserts in which the bearings of the transmission can be incorporated. These inserts for the bearing mounts can be made of a conventional, durable material such as metal or aluminum and can be integrated during the manufacturing process of the corresponding modular housing part.

In addition, it is particularly advantageous if threaded inserts are provided at specific positions in order, for example, to screw together the individual housing parts by means of conventional screw connections. Thus, the individual housing parts, from which the entire transmission housing is composed modularly, can be manufactured individually and afterwards by appropriate screw force and form fit together so that the gear housing is solid and stable and also sealed oil-tight.

The invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

1 - Schematic exploded view of a transmission housing with its modular housing parts;

2 - Section through a gearbox housing.

1 schematically shows the exploded view of a transmission housing 1 that consists of a U-shaped gear lower part 2 and housing side panels 3 and 4 is formed. In the embodiment of 1 become the housing side panels 3 used in the described by the U-shape side front of the housing base, while the housing side part 4 the upper free space of the U-shaped housing lower part 2 as a kind of cover covers.

As with the housing side panel 3 can be seen, has the modular housing part 3 some inserts for storage fixtures 5 on, in which subsequently after insertion of the transmission in the transmission housing 1 the drive shafts are held.

2 shows a section through the transmission housing 1 , As can be seen, the gearbox has 1 two internal partitions 6 on, which serve to stabilize the entire transmission housing and also hold the transmission in the transmission housing. For this purpose, the separating elements 6 also corresponding bearing mounting inserts, in which afterwards the individual drive shafts can be held and stored.

The lower shell 2 of the gearbox 1 is advantageously made as a sandwich component and consists of an outer skin, are placed on the appropriate mounting profiles. Then the remaining gaps are filled with cores and covered with an inner layer. The lower housing part 2 can be made flat and then formed into a U before hardening.

Similarly, the housing side panels or partitions 6 and the housing cover 4 produced. The inserts for the bearing fixtures are placed on an outer layer as well as possible closing profiles. Subsequently, the remaining gaps are filled with cores and covered with another outer layer, so that forms a sandwich component of a composite material.

The individual housing parts can be centered by means of dowel pins and assembled with screws. The screws are pierced through through holes in the housing base 2 or the lid 4 screwed into threaded inserts or metallic inserts, directly in the side panels 3 or partitions 6 are fixed. As a result, a positive connection can be made, the entire transmission housing 1 Oil-tight closes.

Thanks to the modular design, transmission housings made from a composite material can be mass-produced. In this case, due to the modular structure different types of transmissions can be easily fitted into the transmission housing. Another advantage is that when repairing only the actual defective parts must be replaced. Also in the field of recycling and recovery of old motor vehicles, this has the considerable advantage that recycling can be substantially simplified and carried out more transparently.

Claims (7)

Housing, in particular gear housing ( 1 ) comprising a plurality of modular housing parts ( 2 . 3 . 4 . 6 ) is formed and formed from these, wherein at least a part of the modular housing parts ( 2 . 3 . 4 . 6 ) comprise a composite material. Housing, in particular gear housing ( 1 ), according to claim 1, characterized in that the composite material has outer layers of at least one first material and at least one intermediate core layer of at least one second material. Housing, in particular gear housing ( 1 ), according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the housing, in particular transmission housing ( 1 ), a U-shaped housing lower part ( 2 ) and on the open sides of the housing lower part ( 2 ) arranged modular housing side parts ( 3 . 4 ). Housing, in particular gear housing ( 1 ), according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing, in particular the transmission housing ( 1 ), at least one internal separating element ( 6 ) as a modular housing part. Housing, in particular gear housing ( 1 ), according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least a part of the modular housing parts ( 2 . 3 . 4 . 6 ) have a closing profile and these with other housing parts ( 2 . 3 . 4 . 6 ) for forming a housing, in particular gear housing ( 1 ) over which locking profiles are engaged. Housing, in particular gear housing ( 1 ), according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one housing part ( 3 . 6 ) at least one bearing mounting insert ( 5 ) having. Housing, in particular gear housing ( 1 ), according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one housing part has at least one threaded insert for receiving a housing fastening screw.

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