DK2784019T3

DK2784019T3 - A device for reinforcing the underside of a car engine

Info

Publication number: DK2784019T3
Application number: DK14001085.1T
Authority: DK
Inventors: Stefan Baur; Thomas Sjösten
Original assignee: Klann Spezial Werkzeugbau Gmbh
Priority date: 2013-03-27
Filing date: 2014-03-24
Publication date: 2015-06-01
Also published as: DE202013002950U1; EP2784019A1; EP2784019B1

Description

Device for supporting the underside of a motor vehicle engine Description

The invention relates to a device for supporting the underside of a motor vehicle engine or gearbox with a supporting element which is provided with retaining elements via which the supporting element can be brought into connection in a fixed manner on the underside of the body and/or of the chassis of a motor vehicle and on which a support plate is provided, which support plate is alignable with the motor vehicle engine and supports the motor vehicle engine or the gearbox.

The motor vehicle handbook discloses devices by means of which a motor vehicle engine can be supported or raised. Measures of this kind are usually necessary for repair purposes. For example, in order to replace the so-called engine mount or during repair work on the engine itself which involves the engine mount having to be removed, it is helpful for the engine to be supported. This is advantageous insofar as the engine does not have to be completely dismantled to carry out this repair work.

Hence, for the purposes of supporting or raising a motor vehicle engine, so-called lifting bridges exist which are placed on the body of the motor vehicle in the peripheral region of the engine compartment when the engine bonnet is open. By way of example, reference is made in this respect to DE 93 02 395.2 Ul.

Since there are also disadvantages associated with the use of lifting bridges of this kind, as accessibility to particular parts of the engine is limited from the top side, for example, it is also known for an engine or also a gearbox to be supported from the underside. Hence, a device is known from DE 37 32 837 C2 by means of which a load can be supported from below. This lifting device is provided with hook-shaped retaining elements which can be suspended in the leaf-spring assemblies of a heavy goods vehicle, for example. This lifting device has a centrally arranged threaded spindle passing vertically through a supporting frame with an upper support plate. The load, in the form of the motor vehicle engine or gearbox, for example, is placed on this support plate. Although this lifting device allows central support of the motor vehicle engine, the supporting point itself is, however, defined in a substantially immovable manner by the three-part supporting frame, which is only slightly laterally displaceable, in the centre of the motor vehicle.

Furthermore, devices are known from the prior art which have crossbars running transversely beneath the body, which crossbars can be suspended from the body and/or from the chassis of the vehicle by means of hook elements. The disadvantage of these designs is that these hook elements can only be suspended at certain points on the body or chassis, in the regions thereof provided with through-holes, perforations or the like, for example. This means that the transverse crossbar itself need not necessarily be arranged directly beneath the motor vehicle engine. Designs are known in this respect in which the crossbar is assigned a support beam forming two lever arms. With its one end which has a support plate, this support beam can be arranged centrally below the motor vehicle engine, in that said support beam relative to the crossbar is movably received thereon. The opposite free end of this support beam is fitted with a second supporting device with a support plate which can be brought to bear against the body on the underside. In order to be able to use this kind of device with different vehicle designs, different adapter elements are usually provided in relation to the support beam, so that there is a concentric alignment of the support plate supporting the motor vehicle engine on different vehicle designs.

To this effect, the problem addressed by the invention is that of designing a device for supporting a motor vehicle engine or a gearbox, such that said device can be used variably for different motor vehicle designs.

The problem is solved according to the invention along with the features of the preamble of Claim 1, in that the respective retaining element has a main body which is of U-shaped or C-shaped design and forms an upper supporting limb and a lower supporting limb and in that the supporting limb has an internal thread which receives an adjusting spindle which is adjustable towards the supporting limb and in that the supporting element is connectable to the threaded section, which protrudes downwards from the supporting limb, of the adjusting spindle of the respective retaining element.

By means of the embodiment according to the invention, a device for supporting the underside of a motor vehicle engine or also a gearbox, for example, is provided which can be used extremely easily and safely with different vehicle designs. For this purpose, it is provided according to the invention that the respective retaining element has a main body which is of U-shaped or C-shaped design. This main body forms an upper supporting limb and a lower supporting limb. In the lower supporting limb, an adjustable adjusting spindle is inserted into a corresponding internal thread. This means that the retaining element designed in this manner as a kind of screw clamp can be mounted in a fixed manner on corresponding body parts or chassis parts. Furthermore, the supporting element can be brought into connection with the threaded portions of the adjusting spindles projecting downwards from the supporting limb. For this purpose, where retaining elements are mounted on the body or chassis, the supporting element is “simply” placed on this threaded portion and fixed by means of a nut, for example, at the level provided to this effect on the adjusting spindle. Since the retaining elements in the manner of a screw clamp can be mounted on the body or chassis, the positioning thereof does not depend on the perforations or bores present in the body or chassis. This means that the supporting element is always alignable beneath the motor vehicle engine, such that the support plate for supporting or lifting the motor vehicle engine can always be precisely positioned.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention can be inferred from the dependent claims.

Hence, it can be provided according to Claim 2 that the adjusting spindle has a clamping plate at the end thereof lying in the direction of the supporting limb, which clamping plate is connected rotatably and pivotably to the adjusting spindle. This embodiment means, on the one hand, that damage to the body or chassis when tightening the adjusting spindle can be reliably prevented. On the other hand, the rotatable and pivotable bearing of the clamping plate means that the spatial orientation of said clamping plate can be adapted to the surface contour of a vehicle frame, for example.

Furthermore, it may be provided according to Claim 3 that for connection to the supporting element the threaded portion of the adjusting spindle has a support ring which is adjustable vertically along the threaded section and is provided with an internal thread and on which the supporting element is supported. This configuration means that the supporting element is easily connectable to the adjusting spindle. Since the support ring is adjustable along the adjusting spindle, there can also easily be a “horizontal” orientation of the supporting element.

According to Claim 4, it can be provided that the support ring is assigned a retaining ring which is provided with an internal thread and is arranged adjustably on the threaded section of the adjusting spindle and that the supporting element is accommodated in use in a clamping manner between the support ring and the retaining ring. By means of this embodiment, the device is stabilized in use. In particular, accidental displacement of the supporting element on the adjusting spindles is reliably counteracted. Any tilting moments acting on the retaining elements can also be reliably supported.

In addition, it can be provided according to Claim 5 that the supporting element is formed from two tubular profiles which are connected to each other in the end regions thereof in a fixed manner via screw connections and which are held at a distance from each other in said end regions in each case via a spacer sleeve, said distance being dimensioned in such a manner that the adjusting spindles of the retaining elements can be put through vertically and can be arranged in different positions in the longitudinal direction of the supporting element. This embodiment of the supporting element allows an extremely flexible use of the device according to the invention, as the space between the adjusting spindles on the supporting element is variably “adjustable”. Furthermore, the supporting element itself is exceptionally bend-resistant while at the same time being lightweight, as a result of which working safety is improved and handling made easier.

According to Claim 6, the support plate may be arranged at the upper end of a pressure spindle and be connected rotatably and pivotably to the pressure spindle in the upper end region thereof by a ball head. By means of this embodiment, the spatial orientation of the support plate can easily be adapted to the position of the “lower” surface of a motor vehicle engine or gearbox that is to be supported or lifted.

The embodiment according to Claim 7 is particularly used to increase working safety. By means of this embodiment, a further stabilization of the device is achieved during use, so that subsequent repair work on the motor vehicle engine or in the engine compartment can be carried out reliably and safely. For this purpose, it is provided according to Claim 7 that the pressure spindle projects between the two tubular profiles of the supporting element and that in order to adjust the vertical position of the pressure spindle together with the support plate on the supporting element, a support ring which is screwed onto the pressure spindle above the supporting elements is provided, which support ring is adjustable axially on the pressure spindle, and that in order to fix the pressure spindle on the supporting element, a retaining ring which is screwed onto the pressure spindle below the supporting element is provided, which retaining ring is clampable against the supporting element.

In order to be able to bring this support plate to bear against the underside of the motor vehicle engine or gearbox easily and in order to be able to lift this motor vehicle engine or gearbox where necessary too, it may be provided according to Claim 8 that the pressure spindle has an actuating element at the lower end thereof, said actuating element being connected to the pressure spindle in a nonrelational manner. This actuating element may be designed as a “double lever”, for example, which forms two diametrically opposite lever portions projecting radially outwards starting from the pressure spindle.

Furthermore, it may be provided according to Claim 9 that an additional extension plate is provided which can be brought into engagement in a removable manner with the upper supporting limb of the retaining element and that in the mounted state the extension plate protrudes over the upper supporting limb in a manner running parallel or obliquely to the lower supporting limb. With an extension plate of this kind, the device according to the invention can be used for frame designs or axle designs of motor vehicles, in which a frame part or an axle body cannot engage behind the upper supporting limb of shorter design without the necessary “overlap”.

For this purpose, it may further be provided according to Claim 10 that the extension plate has a profiled surface on its contact surface lying in the direction of the supporting limb. By means of this embodiment, a secure hold of the extension plate on the surface of the component of the motor vehicle to be gripped is achieved.

In order to be able to “change over” the retaining element simply, it is provided according to Claim 11 that the retaining element in the region of the supporting limb and the extension plate are provided with form-fitting elements via which the extension plate can be brought releasably into engagement on the retaining element and that the extension plate is fixable on the retaining element or on the supporting limb via a releasable clamping connection. Through this embodiment, the extension plate can be adapted extremely easily to the retaining element or to the upper supporting limb of the retaining element and can also likewise easily be removed again.

The invention is explained in greater detail below by way of example with the help of the drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective exploded view of two retaining elements with adjusting spindles and also a support plate with a pressure spindle;

Fig. 2 shows a perspective exploded view of a supporting element comprising two tubular profiles shown in shortened form;

Fig. 3 shows the supporting element from Fig. 2 in the mounted state and in shortened form;

Fig. 4 shows the upper end region of an adjusting spindle of a retaining element from Fig. 1 in partial section;

Fig. 5 shows the upper end region of the pressure spindle of the support plate from Fig. 1 in perspective partial section;

Fig. 6 shows a side view of a retaining element with adjusting spindle from

Fig. 1 along with a schematically depicted frame limb of a motor vehicle;

Fig. 7 shows the representation from Fig. 6 with the retaining element mounted on the frame limb in a fixed manner;

Fig. 8 shows a view of a device according to the invention in the state thereof mounted on two frame limbs of a motor vehicle;

Fig. 9 shows the device from Fig. 8 in the state thereof mounted on the frame limbs in its working position;

Fig. 10 shows an enlarged detail X of the retaining element from Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 shows a perspective exploded view of a further embodiment of a retaining element along with an extension plate and assembly components thereof;

Fig. 12 shows a perspective view of the extension plate from Fig. 11 with the assembly components fitted;

Fig. 13 shows a side view of the retaining element from Fig. 1 along with the extension plate shown in section in a first assembly step;

Fig. 14 shows the representation from Fig. 13 with the extension plate in a second assembly step;

Fig. 15 shows the representation from Fig. 14 with the extension plate in its state fully mounted on the upper supporting limb of the retaining element;

Fig. 16 shows a perspective representation of the extension plate mounted on the upper supporting limb of the retaining element;

Fig. 17 shows a schematic side view of the device in its state mounted on a frame structure of a motor vehicle using an extension plate from Figs. 11 to 16.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective exploded view of two retaining elements 1 and 2, each of which is assigned an adjusting spindle 3 or 4. Each retaining element 1 or 2 is designed with a U-shaped or C-shaped main body and forms an upper, transversely running supporting limb 5 or 6 which is arranged in the upper end region of the respective retaining element 1 or 2. In the lower end region of the respective retaining element 1 or 2, a lower supporting limb 7 or 8 is provided in each case, which has an internal thread 9 or 10 in each case and runs substantially parallel to the associated upper supporting limb 5 or 6. As can be seen from Fig. 1, the main body is therefore open on one side in a “horizontal” direction and can be brought into engagement accordingly with a frame-like or web-like component of a motor vehicle body or a chassis part.

The two internal threads 9 and 10 of the supporting limbs 7 and 8 are used for the adjustable receiving of the adjusting spindles 3 or 4 assigned in each case. Furthermore, it can be seen from Fig. 1 that each adjusting spindle 3, 4 has a kind of ball head 11 or 12 in the upper end region, on which a clamping plate 13 or 14 can be mounted rotatably and pivotably in each case.

In the lower end region opposite the respective ball head 11 or 12, each adjusting spindle 3 or 4 forms a radially tapering key profile 15 or 16 in the form of a hexagon head, for example. By means of this key profile 15 or 16, the respective adjusting spindle 3 or 4 with its mounted clamping plate 13 or 14 can be adjusted towards the upper supporting limb 5 or 6 in each case, so that the retaining elements 1 and 2 can be mounted on a body of a motor vehicle and/or on the chassis as a kind of screw clamp in a fixed manner.

Furthermore, each adjusting spindle 3 or 4 is assigned a lower support ring 17 or 18 which can be screwed via an internal thread 19 or 20 in each case onto the lower thread portion of the respective associated adjusting spindle 3 or 4 in an axial adjustable manner. Each support ring 17 and 18 is assigned a retaining ring 21 with an internal thread 23 or 24 on the top side. During operation, the support ring 17 or 18 and the associated retaining ring 21 or 22 are used for the vertical fixing of a supporting element on the respective adjusting spindle 3 or 4. Through corresponding “tightening” of the support ring 17 or 18 and the retaining ring 21 or 22, a fixed attachment of a supporting element of this kind to the respective adjusting spindle 3 or 4 or the adjusting spindle 3 or 4 on the supporting element is achieved, as will be explained in even greater detail later.

Furthermore, Fig. 1 shows a support plate 25 which is provided during operation to support the underside of a motor vehicle engine. This support plate 25 is assigned a pressure spindle 26 which is likewise provided with a ball head 27 in its upper end region. The support plate 25 is placed on this ball head 27 rotatably and pivotably in the mounted state.

Furthermore, the pressure spindle 26 is assigned an upper support plate 28 with an internal thread 29, which support plate can be screwed onto the pressure spindle 26. By means of this support plate 28, the pressure spindle 26 is supported during use along with the mounted support plate 25 on a supporting element connected to the two adjusting spindles 3 and 4 in a vertical direction. In order to fix the position of the pressure spindle 26 set in each case on the supporting element, a lower retaining ring 30 with an internal thread 31 is provided, so that the pressure spindle 26 can be fixed to the supporting element in a clamping manner.

An actuating element 32 in the form of a “double lever” can be screwed onto the lower end of the pressure spindle 26. In the present embodiment, a lock nut 33 is used to fix this actuating element 32. Consequently, the pressure spindle 26 for vertical adjustment can be driven rotatingly in an extremely simple manner via this actuating element 32. The rotationally fixed connection between the actuating element 32 and the pressure spindle 26 can also be made in some other manner, for example by means of a transversely-running grooved pin or similar.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective exploded view of a supporting element 40 which is illustrated in shortened form in Fig. 2. In the present exemplary embodiment, this supporting element 40 comprises two tubular profiles 41 and 42 running parallel to one another configured in a square-like fashion. Tubular profiles 41, 42 of this kind have the advantage of being lightweight and at the same time having an exceptionally high bend resistance.

In the end regions of the two tubular profiles 41 and 42 spacer sleeves 43 and 44 are provided between these two tubular profiles 41 and 42, by means of which the two tubular profiles 41 and 42 are held at a predetermined distance from one another in the mounted state, as shown in Fig. 3. Two assembly screws 45, 46 which are each assigned an assembly nut 47, 48 with a washer 49, 50 are used in the present exemplary embodiment for the fixed assembly of the two tubular profiles 41 and 42.

As can be seen from Fig. 3, the two tubular profiles 41 and 42 form a uniform, extremely bend-resistant and lightweight supporting element 40 in the mounted state.

Due to the space between these two tubular profiles 41 and 42, the two adjusting spindles 3 and 4 and also the pressure spindle 26 can be inserted between them, wherein the adjusting spindles 3 and 4 or the pressure spindle 26 project through the correspondingly slot-shaped intermediate space 51 between the two tubular profiles 41 and 42 from the top downwards.

Insofar as the pressure spindle 26 with the support plate 25 is arranged between the adjusting spindles 3 and 4, the supporting element 40 with its two tubular profiles 41 and 42 is supported during operation on the top of the two support rings 17 and 18 of the two adjusting spindles 3 and 4. In order to allow a precise alignment and fixing of the adjusting spindles 3 and 4 on the tubular profiles 41 and 42, the two upper retaining rings 21 and 22 are provided, so that the two tubular profiles 41 and 42 can be accommodated in a clamping manner between these retaining rings 21 and 22 and the lower support rings 17 and 18.

Fig. 4 shows the upper end region of the adjusting spindle 3 which is screwed into the internal thread 9 of the retaining element 1. The retaining element 1 is depicted in section in Fig. 4. The clamping plate 13 is placed on the ball head 11 of the adjusting spindle 3, so that said clamping plate is rotatable and pivotable relative to the adjusting spindle 3. It is easy to envisage that by actuating the adjusting spindle 3, said spindle is adjustable relative to the lower supporting limb 7 in the direction of the double arrow 55 and therefore also relative to the upper supporting limb 5. Accordingly, the space between the clamping plate 13 and this upper supporting limb 5 is freely adjustable. In the same way, the adjusting spindle 4 is also configured with its retaining element 2 and the clamping plate 14.

Fig. 5 shows the upper end region of the pressure spindle 26, on the ball head 27 whereof the support plate 25 is mounted rotatably and pivotably. The support plate 25 in this case is illustrated in section in Figure 5.

In the further drawing figures 6 to 9, the mode of operation of the device according to the invention is explained in greater detail below. In this application presented by way of example in Figs. 8 and 9, the pressure spindle 26 with its support plate 25 is arranged between the two adjusting spindles 3 and 4 with their retaining elements 1 and 2.

Hence, Fig. 6 shows a side view of the retaining element 1 with the adjusting spindle 3 inserted. It can be seen that the adjusting spindle 3 is adjusted vertically downwards in the direction of the arrow 56, so that the space between the clamping plate 13 and the upper supporting limb 5 of the retaining element 1 is increased. Furthermore, the upper retaining plate 21 is screwed onto the adjusting spindle 3 and located below the supporting limb 7 of the retaining element 1. In this state, the retaining element 1 can be brought into engagement with a frame limb 60 of a motor vehicle body, for example.

This mounted state is shown in Fig. 7. It can be seen that the retaining element 1 is supported at the top with its supporting limb 5 on the frame link 60. The threaded spindle 3 has been adjusted in the direction of the arrow 57 until the clamping plate 13 bears against the underside of the frame limb 60. By further “tightening” of the adjusting spindle 3, the retaining element 1 is thereby held in a fixed manner on the frame limb 60.

In accordance with the description of Figures 6 and 7, the second retaining element 2 can also be brought into connection in a fixed manner with a second frame limb 61, as can be seen from Fig. 8. It is evident from Fig. 8, that the retaining element 1 is engaged in a fixed manner with the frame limb 60. In order to be able to achieve an adequate clamping effect wherever possible, the two key profiles 15 and 16 of the two adjusting spindles 3 and 4 are provided. Through corresponding attachment of a key tool, the adjusting spindle 3 or 4 can thereby be driven with an adequate torque, so that the two retaining elements 1 and 2 are actually secured in a fixed manner on the respective frame limb 60 or 61.

Furthermore, it can be seen from Fig. 8 that the two adjusting spindles 3 and 4 with their lower threaded portions 34 and 35 project downwards from the supporting limbs 7 or 8 of the retaining elements 1 or 2. In this state mounted on the frame limbs 60, 61 in a fixed manner, the two retaining plates 21 and 22 are initially moved along the adjusting spindles 3 and 4 until they lie roughly in a common horizontal plane. In this state, the supporting element 40 is pushed onto the two adjusting spindles 3 and 4 upwards from below, so that said adjusting spindles are located in the inserted position shown in Fig. 8. The lower support rings 17 and 18 can then be screwed onto the two adjusting spindles 3 and 4 until they bear against the underside of the supporting element 40, as can be seen in Figure 9.

It is also provided, of course, that the device can be mounted on a vehicle or the frame limbs 60 and 61 thereof in the fully assembled state, as shown in Fig. 9, i.e. with the adjusting spindles 3, 4 inserted into the supporting element 40 and the pressure spindle 26 inserted.

Furthermore, it can be seen from Fig. 8 that the pressure spindles 26 with the support plate 25 mounted is inserted in the supporting element 40 and extends through between the two tubular profiles 41, 42 depicted in Fig. 4. In this case, the pressure spindle 26 in Fig. 8 is adjusted downwards in the direction of the arrow 56. The upper support plate 28 lies on the top of the supporting element 40 in this position. The lower retaining ring 30 may be located spaced apart from the supporting element 40. Furthermore, it can be seen from Fig. 8 that the actuating element 32 is screwed along with the lock nut 33 onto the lower end of the pressure spindle 26 and connected thereto in a fixed manner, particularly with a rotationally fixed connection.

With the pressure spindle 26 in this position, the support plate 25 is spaced apart from an oil pan 62 of a motor vehicle engine, for example, which is not shown in greater detail in Fig. 8.

If the supporting element 40 is secured in a fixed manner to the two adjusting spindles 3 and 4, as can be seen from Fig. 9, the pressure spindle 26 can be adjusted upwards in the direction of the arrow 57 until the support plate 26 bears against the underside of the oil pan 62. In this case, the pressure spindle 26 is supported vertically via its upper support ring 28 on the supporting element 40.

In order to avoid tilting or accidental displacement of the pressure spindle 26 relative to the supporting element 40, once the pressure spindle 26 with its support plate 25 has reached its required position, said pressure spindle 26 is fixed on the supporting element 40 by adjusting the lower retaining ring 30 in the direction of the arrow 57.

In the same way, in the “working position” of the supporting element 40 depicted in Fig. 9, the two retaining rings 21 and 22 or else the associated support rings 17 and 18 are also screwed towards one another, so that the two adjusting spindles 3 and 4 are held on the supporting element 40 in a clamping manner. If the motor vehicle engine is “still” to be raised slightly out of this position above its oil pan 62, in order to be able to replace or remove the engine mount, for example, the pressure spindle 26 can be adjusted at random further in the direction of the arrow 57, so that the motor vehicle engine can be raised above its oil pan 62 - at least within certain limits.

Due to the free arrangeability of the two retaining elements 1 and 2 on the frame limbs 60 and 61 of a motor vehicle body, for example, or also on parts of the chassis of a motor vehicle, for example, the retaining elements 1 and 2 can always be arranged on the motor vehicle in such a manner that the supporting element 40 with the support ring 25 is arranged precisely below the oil pan 62 of a motor vehicle engine, for example.

Since the two retaining elements 1 and 2 are configured in the manner of a screw clamp, there is also no risk of said retaining elements 1, 2 slipping off the corresponding frame limbs 60 and 61.

In order to improve this hold still further, the free ends of the upper supporting limb 5, 6 may also form a small engagement edge 65, as is shown by way of example in Fig. 10, enlarged for the supporting limb 5 of the retaining element 1.

This engagement edge 65 which projects slightly downwards prevents, in addition, this upper supporting limb 5 from accidentally slipping off the frame limb 60 of the vehicle body.

It should be further mentioned at this point that the two clamping plates 13 and 14 may be designed with a profiled upper surface, as can be seen from Fig. 1, for example.

It is clear that the device according to the invention can be mounted on a motor vehicle body and/or a chassis of a motor vehicle in an extremely simple manner. Since the two retaining elements 1 and 2 can constantly be mounted at the selected points on the motor vehicle body in a fixed and clamping manner and the supporting element 40 can be mounted on the two adjusting spindles 3 and 4 or the lower thread portions 34 and 35 thereof and fixed by means of the retaining rings 17 and 18, handling is extremely easy and reliable.

Figs. 11 to 17 show a further embodiment of a retaining element 70 along with an extension plate 72 that can be mounted in a fixed manner on the upper supporting limb 71 and also the use of said extension plate.

As can be seen from Fig. 11, the supporting limb 71 of the retaining element 70 has a planar front end face 73 which is used for the precise receiving of the extension plate 72. In the region lying “horizontally” opposite this end face 73, the retaining element 70 is provided with a roughly semi-cylindrical recess 74 which extends continuously transversely and is provided as a form-fitting element for coupling the extension plate 72. In the region of its lateral surface 75, the retaining element 70 has a countersink 88 at a predetermined distance from the recess 74 in the direction of the end face 71, which countersink is used to fix the extension plate 72. This recess 74 is particularly evident from the side view in Fig. 13.

It is furthermore evident from Fig. 11 that the retaining element 70 also has a lower supporting limb 76 spaced apart from the supporting limb 71, which lower supporting limb is likewise provided with an internal thread 77. This internal thread 77 is used, as already described in Fig. 1, in the same manner as the two internal threads 9 or 10 of the retaining elements 1 and 2 for the adjustable receiving of one of the two adjusting spindles 3 or 4.

Furthermore, it is evident from Fig. 11 that the extension plate 72 has a perforation 78 configured roughly as a square, by means of which the extension plate 72 can be brought into engagement with the supporting limb 71 in a fixed manner. For this purpose, the perforation has a support tongue 79 in its right, front end region, with which the extension plate 72 rests against the underside of the supporting limb 71 in the mounted state. Opposite this support tongue 79, a through-hole 81 is provided in the “front” side wall 80 laterally adjacent to the perforation 78. A retaining screw 82 can be inserted through this through-hole, which retaining screw creates a form-fitting element with its screw shaft 83 in the mounted state. In this mounted state, the extension plate 72 can be brought into form-fitting engagement via the screw shaft 83 with the semi-cylindrical recess 74 of the retaining element 70 in a fixed manner.

For fixed assembly of the retaining screw 82, the second side wall 84 delimiting the perforation 78 laterally “backwards” has a corresponding internal thread 85 in its end region opposite the supporting clamp 79.

The first side wall 80 is furthermore provided with a second internal thread 86 which is arranged at a predetermined distance from the support tongue 79 displaced relative to the through-hole 81. A fixing screw 87 can be screwed into this internal thread 86, which fixing screw can be brought into clamping or formfitting engagement with the countersink 88 in the region of the lateral surface 75 of the retaining element 70.

In a horizontal extension relative to the perforation 78, the extension plate 72 forms a plate-shaped supporting element 89 which is provided with profiling 90 on the underside. With this profiling 90, the extension plate 72 is supported during use on the top side on a frame structure of a motor vehicle body or a chassis of a motor vehicle.

Fig. 12 shows the perspective representation of the extension plate 72 in a preassembled state. It can be seen that the retaining screw 82 is inserted in the rear end region of the perforation 78 and is received in a form-fitting manner by a semi-cylindrical recess 91 in the rear delimiting wall 92 of the perforation 78 (Fig. 11). Furthermore, the clamping screw 87 is inserted in the side wall 80, wherein it does not project into the perforation 78 in this preassembled state. In this preassembled state, the extension plate 72 can be brought into engagement with the upper supporting limb 71 of the retaining element 70.

The engagement process is shown in Figures 13 to 15.

In order to be able to bring the extension plate 72 with its perforation 78 and also the support tongue 79 and the retaining screw 82 into engagement with the retaining element 70, this is initially “tilted” in the direction of the arrow 93 and pushed with the perforation 78 onto the upper supporting limb 71 of the retaining element 70. Once the position depicted in Fig. 13 has been reached, the extension plate 72 can be adjusted downwards in the direction of the arrow 94, so that said extension plate reaches the position in Fig. 14.

From this position, the extension plate 72 is adjusted against the arrow 94 vertically upwards and at the same time against the arrow 93 in the direction of the upper supporting limb 71. In this case, the retaining screw 82 comes into engagement with the recess 74 and at the same time the support tongue 79 bears against the underside on the upper supporting limb 71. This fully assembled position of the extension plate 72 on the upper supporting limb 71 of the retaining element 70 can be seen in Figs. 15 and 16. It can be seen from Fig. 15 in this case that the retaining screw 82 is in engagement in a form-fitting manner with the semi-cylindrical recess 74 of the retaining element 70. The support tongue 79 bears against the underside of the supporting limb 71.

In this position, the fixing screw 87 that can be seen in Fig. 16 is tightened, so that said fixing screw engages in a form-fitting manner with the countersink 88 (Fig. 15). It is evident that the extension plate 72 can be brought into the fully mounted end position shown in Fig. 16 extremely simply with the supporting limb 71 of the retaining element 70. Following assembly of the extension plate 72 on the retaining element 70, said retaining element 70 can be mounted in a similar manner to the two retaining elements 1 and 2 on a frame limb or the like of a body or a chassis of a motor vehicle.

In relation to this, Fig. 17 shows a side view of the device according to the invention using the retaining element 70 with an extension plate 72 mounted and also the retaining element 2. The design of the retaining element 70 with the extension plate 72 mounted may be necessary, insofar as a frame limb 95, as depicted schematically in section in Fig. 17, has laterally extended web elements 96 on the underside, for example. With a design of this kind, the retaining element 2 or 1 could only be mounted with an extremely small overlap on the top side of the frame limb 95.

It can be seen in Fig. 17 that the lower supporting limb 76 receives the adjusting spindle 3, wherein the clamping plate 13 is mounted in the upper end region of this adjusting spindle 3. In the same way, the retaining element 2 with its upper clamping plate 14 and the adjusting spindle 4 is mounted in a fixed manner on the frame limb 61, as has already been described in relation to Fig. 8, for example.

In this preassembled position, the two tubular profiles 41, 42 lie on the lower support rings 17 or 18 of the two adjusting spindles 3 and 4 in each case. The two upper retaining rings 21 and 22 are spaced slightly apart from the tubular profiles 41 and 42 of the supporting element 40. This small distance means that adjustability is made possible, particularly relative to the retaining element 70, in the direction of the double arrow 97, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, tilting of the retaining element 70 in the direction of the arrow 98 is reliably prevented.

Furthermore, it can be seen from Fig. 17 that the device depicted here is used in a slightly different manner to that described in Figs. 8 and 9.

The supporting element 40 in this case is used as a kind of "cantilever arm". This kind of use is of course also possible with the embodiment according to Fig. 8 and 9. In this case, the upper support plate 25 for supporting the engine on the supporting element 40 is arranged on the left alongside both retaining elements 2 and 70. After tightening the two retaining rings 21 and 22, the support plate 25 arranged at a distance from the oil pan 62 can be adjusted vertically upwards in the direction of the arrow 57 by actuating the pressure spindle 26 relative to the upper support ring 28 until it comes to bear against the underside of the oil pan 62. For fixing purposes, the lower retaining ring 30 can then be adjusted in the direction of the arrow 57 on the pressure spindle 26, so that the pressure spindle 26 is secured in a fixed manner to the supporting element 40 along with the support plate 25.

Because the supporting element 40 is used as a “cantilever arm", retaining forces act via the retaining element 2 against the arrow 57 vertically downwards. The retaining element 70 is however supported via the upper retaining ring 22 in the direction of the arrow 57 vertically upwards. Due to the special embodiment of the retaining elements 2 and 70 or 2 and 3, it is easily possible for the supporting element 40 to be used as a “cantilever arm" too.

With this type of application according to Fig. 17 using the extension plate 72, it is worth recommending for use that the complete device with the two retaining elements 70 and 2 and also the support plate 25 and the pressure spindle 26 thereof is assembled in the manner depicted in Fig. 17 in a preset position and then mounted as a complete unit on the two frame limbs 61 and 95. In this way, because the adjusting spindle 3 is “pre-secured” via the support ring 17 and the retaining ring 21 on the supporting element 40, it is particularly reliably prevented that during subsequent mounting of the retaining element 70 with the extension plate 72 on the frame element 95 and following the tightening of the adjustable spindle 3 and the placing of the clamping plate 13 on the underside, tilting can take place in the direction of the arrow 98.

With the help of the exemplary representations in the drawing and also the associated description, it is evident that the device according to the invention can be used in an extremely variable manner on a motor vehicle for supporting a motor vehicle engine, for example, (or also a gearbox). In particular, due to the adjustable receiving of the adjusting spindles 3 and 4 and also the pressure spindle 26 and therefore the variable arrangement of the retaining elements 70 and 2 and also the support plate 25 on the supporting element 40, with this design a plurality of applications for supporting a motor vehicle engine, a gearbox or the like can be implemented without costly additional elements having to be adapted or costly presetting being necessary.

The screw clamp-like design of the retaining elements 1, 2 and 70 with their adjusting spindles 3 and 4 means that they can be securely attached to frame parts of a body or a chassis, as a result of which working safety is improved substantially when supporting a motor vehicle engine, gearbox or the like.

Claims

Device for stiffening the underside of a car engine Patent claim

Device for stiffening the underside of a car engine (62) or a gear having a carrier (40) provided with holding elements (1, 2, 70), through which the carrier (40) on the underside of the body (60, 61) , 95) and / or on the chassis of a motor vehicle can be brought into contact and on which is provided a support plate (25) to align the car engine (62) or gear and which the car engine (62) or gear supports characterized in that said holding member (1, 2, 70) has a U-shaped or C-shaped base body which forms an upper support leg (5, 6, 71) and a lower support leg (7, 8, 76), and that the support leg (7, 8, 76) has an internal thread (9, 10, 77) which receives an adjusting spindle (3, 4) which can be adjusted against the support leg (5, 6, 71) and that the supporting element (40) ) can be connected to the threaded portion (34, 35) projected downwardly from the support leg (7, 8, 76) on the adjusting spindle (3, 4) of the respective holding element (1, 2, 70).

Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjusting spindle (3, 4) on the end which is towards the carrier (5, 6) has a clamping plate (13, 14) which via a ball bearing connection (11, 12) pivotally and pivotally communicates with the adjusting spindle (3, 4).

Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the threaded section (34, 35) of the adjusting spindle (3, 4) for connection with the supporting element (40) has a support disc (17, 18) which can be adjusted vertically along it with the an internal thread (19, 20) provided with threaded sections (34, 35) on which the support member (40) supports.

Device according to claim 3, characterized in that a holding disc (21, 22) is provided with an internal thread (23, 24) and is adjustably positioned on the thread section (17, 18). 34, 35) on the adjusting spindle (3, 4), and during use the support member (40) is received squeezed between the support disc (17, 18) and the holding disc (21, 22).

Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the supporting element (40) is formed of two pipe profiles (41, 42) which are fixedly fixed in their end regions via screw connections (45, 47 or 46, 48). and which are held in these end regions each by means of a spacer bush (43, 44) at a distance relative to each other, which is measured so that the adjusting spindles (3, 4) of the holding elements (1,2) can be inserted vertically through and in the longitudinal direction of the support element (40) can be placed in different positions.

Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the support plate (25) is located at the upper end of a pressure spindle (26) and the pressure spindle (26) for rotatable and pivotal mounting of the support plate (25) therein. the upper end region has a ball head (27).

Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the pressure spindle (26) protrudes between the two pipe profiles (41, 42) on the support element (40) and that for adjusting the vertical position of the pressure spindle (26) together with the supporting plate (26) 25) a support disc (28) is provided on the support member (40) which is located above the support member (40) and which is screwed onto the pressure spindle (26) and which can be adjusted axially on the pressure spindle (26) and fixing the pressure spindle (26) to the support element (40) is provided a holding disc (30) which is screwed onto the pressure spindle below the support element (40) and which can be clamped against the support element (40).

Device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the pressure spindle (26) has at its lower end an actuating element (32) which is pivotally connected to the pressure spindle (26).

Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that an additional extension plate (72) is provided which can be releasably engaged with the upper support leg (71) on the holding element (70) and that the extension plate (72) in the mounted state, protrudes beyond the upper support leg (71), extending parallel to or inclined on the lower support leg (76).

Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the extension plate (72) on the contact surface which lies towards its support leg (76) has a profiled surface (90).

Device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the holding element (70) in the area of the carrier (71) and the extension plate (72) is provided with molding elements (74, 79, 82) through which the extension plate (72) can be brought in detachable engagement on the holding member (70) and the extension plate (72) can be fixed via a removable clamping connection (86, 88) on the holding member (70) or on the support leg (72).