FR3063937A1 - ANTI-VIBRATION DEVICE AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLY - Google Patents

Abstract

Antivibration device for mounting an engine on a vehicle body, comprising an antivibration unit comprising a first armature (11) connected to a second armature by means of an elastomer body able to deform at least along a vibration axis main, and a support (14) having at least one slideway including at least one groove extending in an insertion direction substantially perpendicular to the main vibration axis, the first armature (11) comprising at least one rib configured to slidably engaging with said at least one groove in the direction of insertion, characterized in that a fastening element (20) is disposed between the first armature (11) and the support (14) so as to block the first armature (11) relative to the support (14) in the insertion direction.

Description

(57) Anti-vibration device for mounting an engine on a vehicle body, comprising an anti-vibration unit comprising a first frame (11) assembled to a second frame by means of an elastomer body capable of deforming at least according to a main vibration axis, and a support (14) having at least one slide comprising at least one groove extending in an insertion direction substantially perpendicular to the main vibration axis, the first frame (11) comprising at least one rib configured to cooperate in sliding with said at least one groove in the direction of insertion, characterized in that a fixing element (20) is disposed between the first frame (11) and the support (14) so as to block the first frame (11) relative to the support (14) in the direction of insertion.

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FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present disclosure relates to an anti-vibration device, and more particularly to an anti-vibration device configured for mounting an engine on a vehicle body.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND From document EP 2 150 721 B2, an anti-vibration device is known for mounting an engine on a vehicle body, comprising an anti-vibration unit comprising a first frame assembled to a second frame by means of '' an elastomer body capable of deforming at least along a main vibration axis, and a support having at least one slide comprising two grooves extending in an insertion direction substantially perpendicular to the main vibration axis, the first armature comprising two ribs configured to cooperate in sliding with the two grooves in the direction of insertion.

However, according to this document, the fixing of the anti-vibration unit relative to the support is achieved by clipping, which requires providing elastic clipping means on the antivibration unit or on the support. These elastic clipping means can complicate manufacture and, consequently, be a source of additional costs. They also limit the choice of materials available to make the anti-vibration unit and / or the support. In addition, the elastic clipping means have a limited force, which does not allow them, most of the time, to meet the most recent specifications of the original equipment manufacturers (OEM). There is therefore a need for a new type of anti-vibration device.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION To this end, the present disclosure relates to an anti-vibration device for mounting an engine on a vehicle body, comprising an anti-vibration unit comprising a first frame assembled to a second frame by means of an elastomer body capable of deforming at least along a main vibration axis, and a support having at least one slide comprising at least one groove extending in an insertion direction substantially perpendicular to the main vibration axis, the first frame comprising at least one rib configured to cooperate in sliding with said at least one groove in the direction of insertion, in which a fixing element is disposed between the first frame and the support so as to block the first frame relative to the support in the insertion direction.

The first and second frames can each be made up of one or more parts.

The fact that the fastening element is disposed between the first frame and the support must be understood in functional terms. For example, the fastening element can be arranged astride the first frame and the support, or even overlapping the first frame and the support, or even as a connecting intermediary between the first frame and the support.

The slide may include a groove or a plurality of grooves. Likewise, the first frame may include a rib or a plurality of ribs. The number of grooves is preferably equal to the number of ribs, each groove cooperating respectively with a corresponding rib. Thus, in the rest of this presentation, the generic use of the plural also includes the singular. In addition, it is understood that according to a variant, the slide could include ribs and the first frame of the grooves.

The fastening element can be used to block the first frame in the slide of the support.

Thanks to this anti-vibration device, which does not include elastic clipping means, the assembly and fixing of the vibration-damping unit and of the support is facilitated since the fixing element can be easily disposed between the first frame and support, possibly automatically. Costs are therefore reduced. Furthermore, it is possible to choose all kinds of materials for the first frame and the support, since elastic clip-on means are no longer necessary. In addition, this vibratory device has better resistance, which makes it possible to better meet the specifications of equipment manufacturers.

In some embodiments, the fixing element has the shape of a ball. Such a shape makes it possible to reduce the contact surface of the fixing element, therefore to facilitate its insertion.

In some embodiments, the fastening element is metallic. This makes it particularly solid.

In some embodiments, the support comprises a bottom wall provided with at least one opening for the passage of the fastening element. In particular, the opening may be a through hole. The fixing element can be arranged between the first frame and the support through the opening.

In some embodiments, the first frame has a recess in correspondence with the opening, to receive at least partially the fixing element. The recess can be configured to be positioned opposite the opening, in particular when the first frame is inserted in the slide of the support. Thus, the blocking of the first frame relative to the support, in the direction of insertion, can be achieved by the arrangement of the fixing element straddling the recess and the opening, which offers a particularly reliable blocking.

In some embodiments, the fastening element is configured to be forced into the opening. Thus, the fixing element does not come out of the opening, which further ensures the reliability of the fixing. In addition, this method of introduction is advantageous for automated implementation.

The present description also relates to a method of assembling an anti-vibration device as previously described, comprising the insertion of the anti-vibration unit comprising the first and second frames assembled by the elastomer body in the slide of the support, and the arrangement of the fixing element between the support and the first frame. This process is simple to implement, which reduces manufacturing costs.

In some embodiments, when inserted into the support slide, the anti-vibration unit is compressed in the direction of the main vibration axis. This facilitates the insertion of the anti vibration unit into the support.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention and its advantages will be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows, of embodiments of the invention given by way of nonlimiting examples. This description refers to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a front view of the anti-vibration device according to one embodiment;

- Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing only the support according to this embodiment;

- Figure 3 is a bottom view of the anti-vibration device according to this embodiment, in direction III of Figure 1;

- Figure 4 is a sectional view along the plane IV-IV of Figure 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 is a front view of the anti-vibration device 10 according to one embodiment. A first frame 11 is assembled to a second frame 12 by means of an elastomer body 13, preferably by vulcanization. In this embodiment, the first frame 11 comprises two parts 11a, 11b assembled.

The frames 11, 12 and the elastomer body 13 form an anti-vibration unit. The anti-vibration unit is installed in a support 14, here made of metal. In this embodiment, the support 14 comprises a housing 16 delimited by a bottom wall 15 from which extends a U-shaped upright 14a.

As shown in Figure 2, the support 14 comprises a slide 17 formed by at least one groove, here two grooves 17a, 17b. In this embodiment, the grooves 17a, 17b are parallel, provided on either side of the housing 16 and facing each other, in a direction X. The slide 17 extends in an insertion direction Y which is substantially perpendicular to the main vibration axis Z and to the direction X.

The first frame 11 comprises at least one rib, here two ribs 19a, 19b, which are dimensioned to cooperate in sliding with the two grooves 17a, 17b in the direction of insertion. In this embodiment, the ribs 19a, 19b are placed laterally outside the first frame 11.

As indicated above, the vibratory anti-vibration device 10 is suitable for mounting an engine on the body of a vehicle. The second frame 12 can be assembled to the motor by a flange (not shown). The support 14 can be assembled to the vehicle body. The elastomer body 13 is configured to deform at least along the main vibration axis Z.

Figure 3 shows a bottom view in the direction of arrow III in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a sectional view along the plane IV-IV of Figure 3.

The first frame 11 is blocked relative to the support 14 by a fixing element 20. More particularly, the first frame 11 is blocked in the slide 17 by the fixing element 20. The fixing element 20 is inserted between the support 14 and the first frame 11. In this embodiment, the fixing element 20 in the form of a ball. Furthermore, the fixing element 20 is here made of metal. An opening 21 is formed in the bottom wall 15 to receive the fixing element 20. The opening 21 is here a through hole, extending mainly in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of insertion Y, here in the direction of the main vibration axis Z.

As shown in Figure 4, a recess 22 is further provided in the first frame 11. When the anti-vibration unit is received in the housing 16, the recess 22 is in correspondence with the opening 21. More specifically , the recess 22 and the opening 21 are opposite to allow the passage of the fixing element 20 between the support 14 and the first frame 11. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the fixing element 20 is force-fitted into the opening 21 so as to be disposed between the opening 21 and the recess 22. Thus, the fixing element 20 blocks the first frame 11 in the slide 17 of the support 14.

To do this, the opening 21 here has a slightly frustoconical shape, tapering towards the recess 22. For example, the diameter of the end of the opening 21 adjacent to the recess 22 may be less than the diameter of the fixing element 20. Furthermore, to facilitate the introduction of the fixing element 20, the end of the opening 21 opposite the recess 22 may have a flare 23 for guiding the fixing element 20.

We now describe a method of assembling the anti-vibration device 11. First, the anti-vibration unit comprising the first frame 11 and the second frame 12, assembled by the elastomer body 13, is inserted into the housing 16 of the support 14. Generally, a vertical compression along the main axis of vibration Z may be necessary to insert the anti-vibration unit in the housing 16 of the support 14. The anti-vibration unit is inserted in the housing 16 in the direction of insertion Y. The ribs 19a, 19b are received in the slide 17, here formed by the grooves 17a, 17b.

When the opening 21 and the recess 22 are in correspondence, the fixing element 20 is inserted, through the opening 21, between the support 14 is the first frame 11. The fixing element 20 is inserted by force in the opening 21 and the recess 22 as illustrated in FIG. 4. In this configuration, the fixing element 20 blocks the first frame 11 and the anti-vibration unit in the support 14, at least in the direction of insert Y.

This method of assembling the vibrating anti-vibration device 10 is simple to implement because the insertion of the fixing element 20 can be carried out by an automatic method. This insertion is further facilitated by the ball shape of the fixing element 20.

To reduce costs, it is possible to use as fixing element 20 a ball similar or identical to that which is already provided for closing the hydraulic chambers of the anti-vibration device.

10.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, modifications can be made to these examples without departing from the general scope of the invention as defined by the claims. In particular, individual features of the various illustrated / mentioned embodiments can be combined in additional embodiments. Therefore, the description and the drawings should be considered in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.

Claims (13)

1. Anti-vibration device (10) for mounting an engine on a vehicle body, comprising an anti-vibration unit comprising a first frame (11) assembled to a second frame (12) by means of an elastomer body (13) able to deform at least along a main vibration axis (z), and a support (14) having at least one slide (17) comprising at least one groove (17a, 17b) extending in a direction of insertion ( y) substantially perpendicular to the main vibration axis (z), the first armature (11) comprising at least one rib (19a, 19b) configured to cooperate in sliding with said at least one groove (19a, 19b) in the direction insert (y), characterized in that a fixing element (20) is arranged between the first frame (11) and the support (14) so as to block the first frame (11) relative to the support (14 ) in the insertion direction (y). 2. Anti-vibration device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the fixing element (20) has the shape of a ball. 3. Anti-vibration device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fixing element (20) is metallic. 4. Anti vibration device (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the support (14) comprises a bottom wall (15) provided with at least one opening (21) for the passage of the fixing element (20). 5. Anti-vibration device (10) according to claim 4, wherein the first frame (11) has a recess (22) in correspondence with the opening (21), to receive at least partially the fixing element (20) . 6. Anti-vibration device (10) according to claim 4 or 5, in 5 which the fixing element (20) is configured to be forced into the opening (21). 7. A method of assembling an anti-vibration device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising the insertion of the unit 10 anti-vibration including the first and second frames ( 11, 12) assembled by the elastomer body ( 13) in the slide (17) of the support ( 14), and the arrangement of the fixing element (20) between the support (14) and the first frame (11). 8. The assembly method according to claim 7, in which during its insertion into the slide (17) of the support (14), the anti vibration unit is compressed in the direction of the main vibration axis (z ). 1/2