GB2088997A

GB2088997A - Resilient Support for a Vibrating Body

Info

Publication number: GB2088997A
Application number: GB8135710A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: IAO Industrie Riunite SpA
Current assignee: IAO Industrie Riunite SpA
Priority date: 1980-12-02
Filing date: 1981-11-26
Publication date: 1982-06-16
Also published as: DE8132963U1; IT8053764V0; FR2495254A1; DE3144782A1; FR2495254B3

Abstract

A resilient support for mounting a vibrating body such as an engine on the chassis of a motor vehicle comprises a mounting plate (10) having an open-ended cup-shaped central portion (16) in which is mounted a block (22) of elastomeric material. Fixed to the block (22) is a hollow pin (20) to receive part of the vibrating body. Attached to the top of the pin is a cup-shaped element (24) serving both for centering the assembly in compression and for protecting the block (22) from contamination by oil. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Resilient Support for a Vibrating Body This invention relates, in general, to resilient supports for mounting a vibrating body on a support structure. In particular, the invention concerns a resilient support for mounting an engine on the chassis of a motor vehicle, of the kind comprising a hollow connection element for fixing to the support structure, an attachment member for the vibrating body, which extends coaxially through the cavity of the connection element, and an annular block of elastomeric material having its inner surface fixed to the attachment member and its outer surface fixed to the connection element.

According to the invention, a resilient support of this kind is characterised in that the end of the attachment member which, in use, faces away from the vibrating body, is provided with a cupshaped element which is coaxial with the attachment member and has its cavity facing the elastomer block and its lateral wall adjacent the corresponding end face of the elastomer block.

The cup-shaped element serves both as a centering element for maintaining the axis of the attachment member in alignment with the axis of the hollow connection element during use and as a protective cover for preventing any possible oil leakage from the motor coming into contact with the surface of the elastomer block. Moreover, the cup-shaped element also serves as a stop for limiting the excursions of the vibrating body relative to the support structure, as a result of contact between the inner surface of the cupshaped element and the corresponding end face of the elastomer block.

According to a feature of the invention, the lateral wall of the cup-shaped element has a substantially spherical surface.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a resilient support according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a view in axial section taken on the line Il-Il of Fig. 1 in the rest condition of the support, and Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, which illustrates the support in the condition of use.

Referriny to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a plate, generally indicated at 10, having two opposing tabs 12 provided with respective holes 14 for fixing the plate 10 to the chassis of a motor vehicle. The plate 10 has a central drawn part 1 6 in the form of a cup with frusto-conical lateral surfaces. The bottom of the cup part 1 6 has a circular aperture 1 8 traversed axially by a hollow pin 20 into which a corresponding mounting pin of a motor vehicle engine engages, in use.

The outer surface of the hollow pin 20 has two cylindrical end sections 20a, 20b of different diameters joined together by an intermediate frusto-conical part 20c which faces the central cup part 1 6 of the plate 10.

An annular block 22 of elastomeric material is interposed between the cup part 16 of the plate 10 and the hollow pin 20, and is fixed to the surfaces of the part 16 and the pin 20 by vulcanisation. Both end faces of the block 22, indicated 22a, 22h respectively, are curved in section with a slight upward convexity. The block 22 may have axially directed apertures, not illustrated in the drawings, for providing the block itself with radially differentiated elasticity.

To that end face of the hollow pin~20 which is indicated at 20d, that is, the face which is directed away from the vibrating body when in use, there is fixed coaxially a cup-shaped element 24 having a hollow interior which faces the elastomer block 22. The cup element 24 has a flat bottom wall 24a, the inner face of which is fixed rigidly to the end face 20d of the hollow pin 20, and a lateral wall 24b, the peripheral edge of which faces the plate 10. In the example illustrated, the lateral wall 24b has an inner zone 24c having a spherical surface, and an outer zone 24d having a spherical surface with a smaller radius of curvature than the zone 24c.

Fig. 3 illustrates the support according to the invention in the condition of use, wherein the plate 10 is fixed to the chassis of a motor vehicle and the hollow pin 20 has a respective mounting pin of the vehicle engine inserted therein. In this condition, the lateral wall 24b of the cup element 24 is adjacent the end face 22a of the elastomer block 22, due to the lowering of the hollow pin 20. In this way, the cup element 24 serves both as a centering member for maintaining the axis of the pin 20 in alignment with the axis of the part 1 6 of the plate 10, and as a protective covering for protecting the block 22 from any possible oil leaking from the engine.Moreover, the cup element 24 can serve as an abutment member for limiting the axial displacement of the hollow pin 20 relative to the plate 10 during running of the vehicle, when, in particular conditions of use, the lateral wall 24b of the cup element 24 comes into contact with the end face 22a of the elastomer block 22.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment, it could also be used for supports having a different configuration from that illustrated. Thus, for example, the part 16 of the plate 10 and the hollow pin 20 could have a cylindrical shape rather than a frusto-conical shape as illustrated.

Claims

1. A resilient support for mounting a vibrating body on a support structure, particularly for mounting an engine on the chassis of a motor vehicle, of the kind comprising a hollow connection element for fixing to the support structure, an attachment member for the vibrating body, which extends coaxially through the cavity of the connection element, and an annular block of elastomeric material having its inner surface fixed to the attachment member and its outer surface fixed to the connection element,

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Resilient Support for a Vibrating Body This invention relates, in general, to resilient supports for mounting a vibrating body on a support structure. In particular, the invention concerns a resilient support for mounting an engine on the chassis of a motor vehicle, of the kind comprising a hollow connection element for fixing to the support structure, an attachment member for the vibrating body, which extends coaxially through the cavity of the connection element, and an annular block of elastomeric material having its inner surface fixed to the attachment member and its outer surface fixed to the connection element. According to the invention, a resilient support of this kind is characterised in that the end of the attachment member which, in use, faces away from the vibrating body, is provided with a cupshaped element which is coaxial with the attachment member and has its cavity facing the elastomer block and its lateral wall adjacent the corresponding end face of the elastomer block. The cup-shaped element serves both as a centering element for maintaining the axis of the attachment member in alignment with the axis of the hollow connection element during use and as a protective cover for preventing any possible oil leakage from the motor coming into contact with the surface of the elastomer block. Moreover, the cup-shaped element also serves as a stop for limiting the excursions of the vibrating body relative to the support structure, as a result of contact between the inner surface of the cupshaped element and the corresponding end face of the elastomer block. According to a feature of the invention, the lateral wall of the cup-shaped element has a substantially spherical surface. An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a resilient support according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a view in axial section taken on the line Il-Il of Fig. 1 in the rest condition of the support, and Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, which illustrates the support in the condition of use. Referriny to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a plate, generally indicated at 10, having two opposing tabs 12 provided with respective holes 14 for fixing the plate 10 to the chassis of a motor vehicle. The plate 10 has a central drawn part 1 6 in the form of a cup with frusto-conical lateral surfaces. The bottom of the cup part 1 6 has a circular aperture 1 8 traversed axially by a hollow pin 20 into which a corresponding mounting pin of a motor vehicle engine engages, in use. The outer surface of the hollow pin 20 has two cylindrical end sections 20a, 20b of different diameters joined together by an intermediate frusto-conical part 20c which faces the central cup part 1 6 of the plate 10. An annular block 22 of elastomeric material is interposed between the cup part 16 of the plate 10 and the hollow pin 20, and is fixed to the surfaces of the part 16 and the pin 20 by vulcanisation. Both end faces of the block 22, indicated 22a, 22h respectively, are curved in section with a slight upward convexity. The block 22 may have axially directed apertures, not illustrated in the drawings, for providing the block itself with radially differentiated elasticity. To that end face of the hollow pin~20 which is indicated at 20d, that is, the face which is directed away from the vibrating body when in use, there is fixed coaxially a cup-shaped element 24 having a hollow interior which faces the elastomer block 22. The cup element 24 has a flat bottom wall 24a, the inner face of which is fixed rigidly to the end face 20d of the hollow pin 20, and a lateral wall 24b, the peripheral edge of which faces the plate 10. In the example illustrated, the lateral wall 24b has an inner zone 24c having a spherical surface, and an outer zone 24d having a spherical surface with a smaller radius of curvature than the zone 24c. Fig. 3 illustrates the support according to the invention in the condition of use, wherein the plate 10 is fixed to the chassis of a motor vehicle and the hollow pin 20 has a respective mounting pin of the vehicle engine inserted therein. In this condition, the lateral wall 24b of the cup element 24 is adjacent the end face 22a of the elastomer block 22, due to the lowering of the hollow pin 20. In this way, the cup element 24 serves both as a centering member for maintaining the axis of the pin 20 in alignment with the axis of the part 1 6 of the plate 10, and as a protective covering for protecting the block 22 from any possible oil leaking from the engine.Moreover, the cup element 24 can serve as an abutment member for limiting the axial displacement of the hollow pin 20 relative to the plate 10 during running of the vehicle, when, in particular conditions of use, the lateral wall 24b of the cup element 24 comes into contact with the end face 22a of the elastomer block 22. Although the invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment, it could also be used for supports having a different configuration from that illustrated. Thus, for example, the part 16 of the plate 10 and the hollow pin 20 could have a cylindrical shape rather than a frusto-conical shape as illustrated. Claims

1. A resilient support for mounting a vibrating body on a support structure, particularly for mounting an engine on the chassis of a motor vehicle, of the kind comprising a hollow connection element for fixing to the support structure, an attachment member for the vibrating body, which extends coaxially through the cavity of the connection element, and an annular block of elastomeric material having its inner surface fixed to the attachment member and its outer surface fixed to the connection element, characterised in that the end (20d) of the attachment member (20), which in use faces away from the vibrating body, is provided with a cup-shaped element (24) which is coaxial with the attachment member (20) and has its cavity facing the elastomer block (22) and its lateral wall (24b) adjacent the corresponding end face (22a) of the elastomer block (22).

2. A resilient support according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the lateral wall (24b) of the cup element (24) has a substantially spherical surface.

3. A resilient support substantially as described with reference to the attached drawings.