GB2223192A

GB2223192A - A method of producing a bracket for a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2223192A
Application number: GB8822782A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stewart Dudley Beck
Original assignee: Vauxhall Motors Ltd
Current assignee: Vauxhall Motors Ltd
Priority date: 1988-09-28
Filing date: 1988-09-28
Publication date: 1990-04-04
Also published as: GB8822782D0

Abstract

A method of producing a bracket (22 or 23) for mounting a bearing (20) of a driveline (18) to a motor vehicle, the bracket comprising a portion having a substantially L-shape defining a substantially horizontal limb (27) attachable to the bearing and a substantially vertical limb (25, 28) having apertures associated therewith for securing the bracket to the motor vehicle with bolts 26; the method comprising the steps of determining the required height (H) of the apertures associated with the substantially vertical limb relative to the substantially horizontal limb for the motor vehicle on which it is to be fitted from a look-up table in a computer; and forming the bracket in accordance with the determined required height. Allows large reduction in component parts for an assembly line. The two parts (24, 25) of the bracket are secured together (e.g. by welding or rivetting) at relative positions giving the required height. In an alternative embodiment, the bracket is in a single piece, and the apertures are formed in the vertical limb at locations giving the required height. <IMAGE>

Description

A METHOD OF PRODUCING A BRACKET This invention relates to a method of producing a bracket for mounting a bearing of a driveline to a motor vehicle, and a bracket produced by the method.

For the sake of clarity, the driveline of a motor vehicle is taken to be an axle or a propellor shaft which is capable of rotating about its longitudinal axis to provide drive for the motor vehicle.

It is well known to secure a bearing for a driveline of a motor vehicle to the motor vehicle by way of a bracket. However, in an enviroment in which different models of motor vehicle are assembled, it is necessary to stock a very large range of sizes of brackets in order to meet the varying requirements of each model of motor vehicle.

The object of the present invention is to minimise the number of components required to provide a range of different sized brackets for mounting a driveline bearing.

To this end, in accordance with the present invention, a method of producing a bracket for mounting a bearing of a driveline to a motor vehicle, in which the bracket comprises a portion having a substantially L-shape defining a substantially vertical limb and a substantially horizontal limb, the substantially horizontal limb being attachable to the bearing and the substantially vertical limb having apertures associated therewith for securing the bracket to the motor vehicle; the method comprises the steps of determining the required height of the apertures associated with the substantially vertical limb relative to the substantially horizontal limb for the motor vehicle on which it is to be fitted from a look-up table in a computer; and forming the bracket in accordance with the determined required height.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of two brackets made in accordance with the present invention positioned on cross members of part of the chassis of a motor vehicle; Figure 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of bracket made in accordance with the present invention; Figures 3 and 4 are exploded views of further embodiments of bracket; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the bracket of Figure 4 positioned on a motor vehicle; and Figures 6 and 7 are perspective views of further embodiments of bracket.

A portion of the chassis 10 of a motor vehicle is shown in highlight in Figure 1, along with a portion of the transmission 12 of the motor vehicle. The portion of the chassis 10 comprises two longitudinally extending members 14,15 and two cross members 16,17. The portion of the transmission 12 is positioned adjacent one of the cross members 16 and comprises a propeller shaft 18, a universal joint 19, a bearing 20, and a bearing cage 21. A similar portion of transmission (not shown) is positioned adJacent the other cross member 17.

A bracket 22,23 made in accordance with the present invention is bolted to each cross member 16,17. In this embodiment, each bracket 22,23 comprises an L-shaped member 24 and a backing plate 25, which are substantially the same for each bracket. However, in bracket 22, the L-shaped member 24 is attached to the front of the backing plate 25, whereas in bracket 23, the L-shaped member 24 is attached to the back of the backing plate 25. The backing plate 25 has apertures (described in more detail below) therethrough by which each bracket 22,23 can be bolted by bolts 26 to its respective cross member 16,17.

The L-shaped member 24 comprises a substantially horizontal arm 27 and a substantially vertical arm 28. The bearing cage 21 of each portion of the transmission 12 can be bolted to the substantially horizontal arm 27 of each bracket 22,23. The apertures in the backing plate 25 are those associated with the substantially vertical arm 28. The substantially horizontal arm 27 defines the substantially horizontal limb of the bracket 22,23.

The substantially vertical arm 28 in combination with the backing plate 25 define the substantially vertical limb of the bracket 22,23.

The required height H of the apertures in the backing plate 25 relative to the substantially horizontal arm 26 for each particular application of bracket is stored in a look-up table in a computer (not shown). The backing plate 25 and L-shaped member 24 of each bracket 22,23 are secured together just before the bracket is bolted to the cross member 16,17, or after the backing plate has been bolted to the cross member, such that the height of the apertures in the backing plate 25 relative to the substantially horizontal arm 27 is in accordance with the required height H determined from the look-up table. With this arrangement of forming the bracket 22,23 it is only necessary to store backing plates 25 and L-shaped members 24 having a small range of sizes because the brackets are formed in their required size at or adjacent the assembly line of the motor vehicle.The backing plates 25 and L-shaped members 24 can be secured together by any suitable method, such as welding or riveting.

An alternative embodiment of bracket 30 is shown in Figure 2. In this case the bracket 30 comprises a lower L-shaped member 31 and an upper L-shaped member 32. The lower L-shaped member 31 comprises a substantially horizontal arm 33 (which defines the substantially horizontal limb of the bracket 30) having openings 34 therein by which the bracket 30 can be secured to a bearing cage, and a substantially vertical arm 35. The upper L-shaped member 32 defines a substantially vertical leg 36 and a substantially horizontal leg 37. The horizontal leg 37 has apertures 38 therethrough by which the bracket 30 is secured to the motor vehicle.The vertical arm 35 of the lower L-shaped member 31 is spot-weld at points 39 to the vertical leg 36 of the upper L-shaped member 32 such that the apertures 38 are at a determined required height H above the substantially horizontal arm 33 of the lower L-shaped member 31. The required height H is determined from a look-up table of a computer (not shown) for the particular application of the bracket 30, and the vertical arm 35 and vertical leg 36 are welded together when the bracket 30 is required for use, to define the substantially vertical limb of the bracket.

A further embodiment of bracket 40 is shown in Figure 3. In this case, the bracket 40-comprises an L-shaped member 41 and a shaped backing plate 42.

Openings 43 in the L-shaped member 41 are for securing the bracket 40 to a bearing cage. The shaped backing plate 42 has apertures 44 therein for securing the bracket 40 to a motor vehicle by bolts (not shown). The li-shaped member 41 is welded to the shaped backing plate 42 such that the apertures 44 are a predetermined required height H above the substantially horizontal arm 45 (which defines the substantially horizontal limb of the bracket) of the L-shaped member 41. The substantially vertical arm 46 of the L-shaped member 41 in combination with substantially vertically extending tabs 47 on the shaped backing plate 42 define the substantially vertical limb of the bracket.

A further embodiment of bracket 50 is shown in Figure 4 which is similar to that shown in Figure 3. In this case, the backing plate 52 has an L-shape.

This bracket 50 is used as shown in Figure 5.

Apertures 54 in the backing plate 52 are used to secure the bracket 50 by bolts 56 to a cross member 57 of a chassis 58 of a motor vehicle. Openings 53 in a substantially horizontal arm 55 (which defines the substantially horizontal limb of the bracket) of the L-shaped member 51 of the bracket 50 are used for bolting the bracket to a bearing cage 59. The combination of the substantially vertical arm 66 of the L-shaped member 51 and the substantially vertical leg 67 of the backing plate 52 define the substantially vertical limb of the bracket 50.

The further embodiment of bracket 60 shown in Figure 6 is formed from a single piece of material. In this case, the bracket 60 is L-shaped and defines a substantially horizontal limb 61 and a substantially vertical limb 62. Openings 63 are formed in the horizontal limb 61 for securing the bracket 60 to a bearing cage. Apertures 64 are formed in the vertical limb 62 for bolting the bracket to a motor vehicle. In this case, the apertures 64 are formed at, or adjacent, the position at which the bracket 60 is to be used. The apertures 64 are formed in accordance with a required height H, determined from a look-up table of a computer (not shown), between the apertures and the horizontal limb 61 of the bracket 60.

A similar bracket 60' to the bracket shown in Figure 6 is shown in Figure 7. Similar features have been given the same reference numeral except with a prime (').

Claims

Claims:

1. A method of producing a bracket for mounting a bearing of a driveline to a motor vehicle, the bracket comprising a portion having a substantially L-shape defining a substantially vertical limb and a substantially horizontal limb, the substantially horizontal limb being attachable to the bearing and the substantially vertical limb having apertures associated therewith for securing the bracket to the motor vehicle; the method comprising the steps of determining the required height of the apertures associated with the substantially vertical limb relative to the substantially horizontal limb for the motor vehicle on which it is to be fitted from a look-up table in a computer; and forming the bracket in accordance with the determined required height.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the forming step comprises forming the substantially L-shaped bracket from a single piece of material, and forming the apertures in the substantially vertical limb at the determined required height.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the forming step comprises forming the substantially L-shaped bracket from two pieces of material, one of the pieces having a substantially L-shape with a substantially horizontal arm and a substantially vertical arm, the substantially horizontal arm defining the substantially horizontal limb of the bracket; forming the apertures in the other piece; and securing the substantially vertical arm of the said one piece to the said other piece such that the apertures are at the determined required height.

4. A method as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the securing step comprises welding.

5. A bracket formed by a method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

6. A bracket substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, any one of the Figures of the accompanying drawings.

7. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the Figures of the accompanying drawings.