FR2783876A1 - MULTI-PIECE VALVE HOUSING FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - Google Patents

Abstract

Distribution casing (1) for internal combustion engine intended to equip a vehicle, characterized in that it comprises an intermediate cowling element forming an engine support (3) and an upper cowling element (4), said upper cowling element being constrained against said engine support (3) by the cover (5) forming the link arm between the engine and the chassis of the vehicle.

Description

MULTI-PIECE VALVE HOUSING FOR

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

  The present invention relates to the distribution casing of an internal combustion engine intended in particular to equip a motor vehicle

or road.

  Conventionally, internal combustion engines of the multicylinder type have distribution systems, by belt, by chain or by cascade of pinions, which drive the camshaft (s) as well as a certain number of accessory members (pumps. ..) from the crankshaft. This distribution system extends outside the cylinder block and the cylinder head on one of the longitudinal faces of the

  motor called distribution face.

  This drive system is conventionally protected by means of a casing called a distribution casing which provides both mechanical protection against shocks but also acoustic protection and sealing against the more or less aggressive environment of the engine. (dust, sand, fluids ...). This casing, the shape of which is adapted to each type of motor, is produced by means of one or more parts obtained by molding and which can be produced both in plastic material and in alloy.

  aluminum, cast iron or stamped sheet metal.

  The advantages of using plastics, particularly in terms of noise and weight reduction, are significant, however this

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  use does not allow to integrate a function often integrated in the timing cover for pendulum fixing motors namely the connection

chassis engine.

  When the timing cover incorporates the engine support function, the latter then includes an intermediate piece of cast iron or aluminum called the engine support. This engine support is fixed securely on the cylinder block and the cylinder head and serves as a fulcrum for the link arm also in cast iron or aluminum, link arm intended to rest by its free end on the silent block or fixed damper pad on the vehicle chassis. This link arm is integrated in the upper part of the distribution housing also called cap. This cap thus ensures both the functions of the timing case cover and of the

  link for engine suspension.

  The present invention therefore aims to improve the design of the distribution casings by developing a distribution casing which incorporates the link function

  engine-vehicle and which is of reduced weight.

  According to the invention, the distribution casing for an internal combustion engine intended to equip a vehicle is characterized in that it comprises an intermediate cover element forming an engine support and an upper cover element, this upper cover element being constrained against the engine support by the cover

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  forming the link arm between the engine and the

vehicle chassis.

  According to another characteristic of the timing cover for an internal combustion engine object of the invention, the upper cowling element is fixed on the engine support by

clipping means.

  According to another characteristic of the timing cover for an internal combustion engine object of the invention, the cover element

  upper is made of plastic.

  According to another characteristic of the timing cover for an internal combustion engine which is the subject of the invention, the engine support and the

  cap are made of metal alloy.

  According to another characteristic of the distribution casing for an internal combustion engine object of the invention, the cap has an arm intended to come to bear on the upper face of said upper casing element in order to exert a predetermined pressure on this casing element . According to another characteristic of the timing cover for an internal combustion engine object of the invention, the arm of the cap intended to come to bear on the upper face of the upper cowling element, is fixed by its free end to the cylinder head or the cylinder head cover

of the motor.

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  The objects, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the

  description given below of a mode of

  embodiment of the invention, presented by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended drawing in which: FIG. 1 is a view showing in partial perspective of the timing cover

subject of the invention.

  Only the elements necessary for the

  understanding of the invention have been shown.

  Referring to the figure, there is shown a distribution housing referenced 1 for an internal combustion engine of the multicylinder type using a belt distribution system and intended for example to equip a motor vehicle. Obviously, the timing cover according to the invention is applicable to an engine using a chain or a cascade of sprockets or any other mechanism for driving the camshafts and

accessories by the crankshaft.

  The timing cover, intended to be fixed on one of the longitudinal faces of the engine, mainly comprises three elements of

separate cowlings.

  The casing 1 therefore comprises a lower cover element 2 made of plastic

  molded, intended to be fixed on the housing-

  engine cylinders, to ensure the protection of

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  the lower part of the distribution system

  of which only the belt 6 has been shown.

  Above the lower cowling element 2 extends the intermediate cowling element 3 intended to be fixed to the cylinder head of the engine. This part, which protects the central part of the distribution system, is also intended to allow the engine to be fixed to the chassis of the vehicle. This part 3 is produced by molding, in aluminum alloy or

cast.

  The engine support 3 is capped by the upper cowling element 4 made of molded plastic. This upper cowling element 4, which is more particularly intended to form the cover of the timing cover, is clipped onto the upper face of the engine support 3 by means of lugs projecting on its lower face which are housed in orifices correspondents provided on the upper tablature of the engine support 3. The system for fixing by clips is not limiting and any other system for fixing by notches, staples, etc. not requiring

  neither tools nor machining can be used.

  The final fixing of the upper cowling element 4 is ensured by the cover 5. To do this, the cover 5 which forms the link arm between the engine and the shock absorber or silent block pad fixed to the vehicle chassis, is suitable for come fix on the engine support while ensuring a suitable pressure on the element

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  upper cowling 4 in the direction of the engine support. To do this, the cover 5 essentially consists of a base 52 which is fixed on the upper tablature of the engine support 3 to

  the exterior of the upper cowling element 4.

  This base 52 is extended by two separate arms

51 and 53.

  The arm 53 projecting perpendicularly to the lateral face of the engine is intended to provide the connection between the engine and the chassis of the vehicle. The arm 51 projecting towards the cylinder head is intended to overcome the upper cowling element 4 in order to be fixed on the cylinder head or the cylinder head cover and thus contribute to the rigidity

  of the connection between the engine and the chassis.

  The dimensions of the arm 51 are adapted so that the latter comes to bear against the upper casing element 4 by exerting a suitable constraint on the upper face of the latter, a constraint which simultaneously ensures the mechanical strength of this casing element and its tightness. The arm 51 has a width adapted to only partially cover the upper face of the casing element 4 and therefore have a space and a reduced weight. To facilitate the positioning of the cap 5, the upper cover element 4 may have a shape adapted to the right of the arm 51 such as

  shoulders arranged on both sides.

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  Thus, the distribution casing according to the invention provides both the cover and encapsulation function of the distribution side of the engine and the function of linking the engine to the chassis with massive parts reduced to the extreme and

  plastic parts easy to assemble.

  The upper cowling element being fixed simply without screws or studs, it simply mounts in the factory and is just as easily removed in after-sales without tools and leaves flexibly from the engine compartment giving wide access to the upper part of the

distribution.

  Furthermore, the fixing of the upper cowling element 4 on the engine support 3 is sufficient to ensure its maintenance in the absence of the cover 5, which makes it possible to assemble this cowling element 4 as soon as the engine is mounted. that the cap is assembled only well later during the engine mounting operations on the vehicle. The presence of the upper cowling element therefore avoids having to resort to an additional covering piece, cover or cover, in order to protect the distribution during the production cycle and the transport between the engine manufacturing plant and the vehicle assembly plant, trim piece

  traditionally recycled or discarded.

  Thus, thanks to this timing cover, excellent protection of the engine distribution system is obtained at the same time throughout the

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  production operations, lightening of the parts despite the integration of the link function between the engine and the vehicle, the simplification of the interfaces, the improvement of the structural behavior, the simplification of the fixings and

  therefore assembly and disassembly operations.

  Of course, the invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described and illustrated

  which was only given as an example.

  On the contrary, the invention includes all the technical equivalents of the means described and their combinations if these are carried out.

following his spirit.

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Claims (6)

RESELL I CATIONS   [1] Distribution casing (1) for an internal combustion engine intended to equip a vehicle characterized in that it comprises an intermediate cover element forming an engine support (3) and an upper cover element (4), said element upper cowling being forced against said engine support (3) by the cap (5) forming the link arm between the engine and the vehicle chassis.   [2] Distribution casing (1) for internal combustion engine according to claim 1, characterized in that said upper cover element (4) is fixed on the engine support (3) by clipping means.   [3] Distribution casing (1) for internal combustion engine according to any one of   claims 1 to 2, characterized in that said   upper cover element (4) is made of plastic material.   [4] Distribution casing (1) for an internal combustion engine according to any one of   claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said   motor support (3) and the cover (5) are made made of metal alloy.   [5] Distribution casing (1) for an internal combustion engine according to any one of   claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said   cover (5) has an arm (51) intended to come to bear on the upper face of said upper cover element (4) in order to exert pressure   predetermined on said cover element (4).   [6] Timing case (1) for engine with   internal combustion according to claim 5,   characterized in that the arm (51) of the cover (5) intended to come to bear on the upper face of the upper cover element (4) is fixed by   its free end on the cylinder head or the cover engine cylinder head.