GB2582975A

GB2582975A - A powertrain mount support

Info

Publication number: GB2582975A
Application number: GB1905211.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sykes Matt; Moss Rachel
Original assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Current assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Priority date: 2019-04-12
Filing date: 2019-04-12
Publication date: 2020-10-14
Also published as: GB201905211D0

Abstract

A powertrain mount support (e.g. part of a powertrain bracket for a gearbox, engine or electric motor) has a vessel 13,15 in a weight-reduction recess 12,14 containing a damping element. The damping element could be shot, sand or ball-bearings. The vessel can be a friction or interference fit in the recess, or integrally moulded or formed with the support. The bracket may have an arm (20, fig 3) received in the support 10, both having damping vessels.

Description

A POWERTRAIN MOUNT SUPPORT

Examples herein relate to a powertrain mount support, for example a powertrain mount support for a powertrain component.

Background

Powertrain mount supports, for example, supports suitable for mounting to a structural element of a vehicle (such as a side rail) or a powertrain component, or to engage with a powertrain mount to support the powertrain component, such as a gearbox or engine, may pose problems, as their design may need to meet various requirements (e.g. durability, crash performance, weight and stiffness). To meet all of these requirements can be challenging as satisfying one may mean non-conformance to another.

Statements of Invention

Powertrain mounts may support various components including components of a powertrain (such as transmission and/or a motor). It can be challenging to design powertrain mount supports that will support a powertrain mount that meet the necessary requirements and sometimes a compromise in design is required. For example, to avoid error states such as belt or transmission whine, components such as a powertrain mount support may need to meet one or more dynamic compliance targets. However meeting these targets can, in some examples, cause additional weight and/or cost beyond what is needed to ensure durability, or such targets may not be able to be met within the package constraints.

A powertrain mount may comprise a gearbox mount, engine mount or motor mount. A powertrain mount support may engage part of a powertrain mount, receive part of a powertrain mount, be received in part of a powertrain mount in order to support the mount, or the powertrain mount support may otherwise be attached or secured to the powertrain mount to support the powertrain mount. In one example herein, part of the powertrain mount support (hereafter referred to as "the support") may be receivable in part of the powertrain mount (hereafter referred to as "the mount") to support the mount. For example, the mount may comprise a main rubber element and may comprise a cavity for receipt an arm of the support such that the main rubber element supports the arm within the cavity.

When the support is engaged, attached to, secured to or received in the mount to support the mount during use this can result in vibrations getting transferred between the support and the mount, which may present a problem for noise vibration and harshness (NVH).

According to some examples presented herein, a damping element may be provided and fitted into a part of the powertrain mount support. This can increase the damping properties of the support e.g. at a given frequency or range of frequencies. Sometimes, this can add cost and weight, and damping elements may not always be able to be placed in the optimum locations. Moreover, additional features (such as a fixing element) may need to be provided to fit and fix the damping element, which may reduce the durability of part of the powertrain mount and further add costs.

Some damping elements may also mean that the powertrain mount's damping ability is only effective in a narrow range of frequencies and/or a narrow bandwidth of operation. In turn, this may limit their effectiveness, particular as vehicle production variability may result in a wide bandwidth of error state frequency. Vibrational damping may also be limited to the direction of damping, e.g. only along one axis.

Some examples herein employ a vessel comprising a damping element. Such a vessel may be referred to as a "damping element" or "damping vessel". A damping element may comprise sand, shot (e.g. lead shot), or ball bearings (e.g. steel bearings) etc. It will be appreciated that any element suitable for damping may be used in the damping element. Accordingly, the vessel may be filled with particles to increase damping levels in a powertrain mount support.

Using damping elements such as shot, bearings or sand can increase the bandwidth operating range within which vibrations can be attenuated. They can also attenuate vibrations in multiple axes (e.g. not limited to one) of the powertrain mount. Fixing such a vessel to a support however may suffer from disadvantages including the increased weight, cost etc. According to a first example of the disclosure there is provided a powertrain mount support, e.g. a support for a powertrain mount, comprising a weight-reduction recess and a vessel comprising a plurality of ball-bearings, wherein the vessel is at least partially received in the weight-reduction recess. The vessel may be sized and shaped to fit within the weight-reduction recess. The support may comprise a bracket.

To reduce the weight of a powertrain mount support, a weight-reduction pocket (sometimes referred to as light-weight pocket), or recess, may be added (e.g. formed in) to the support, although, occasionally, such recesses are not added due to a minimum mass/stiffness required to meet a dynamic compliance target. Herein therefore, by weight-reduction pocket it is meant a cavity carved in an otherwise solid space of a body whose purpose is to reduce the weight of the body as part of the solid body has been removed.

Examples herein provide a vessel with a damping element in a weight-reduction recesses. The vessel may be fitted, or secured, in the recess by clips, in one example. The damping element may comprise sand, shot, or ball-bearings. Accordingly, the level of damping may be easily tuned by modifying the quantity and size of the damping element (e.g. the quantity/size of the shot). Also, no additional components need to be manufactured. Additionally, less weight is required than some prior art methods of damping, and vessel is easier to manufacture meaning that additional hardware is reduced and weight and costs may be saved.

The weight-reduction recess may be a first weight-reduction recess, and the support may comprise a second weight-reduction recess. The vessel may be a first vessel and the powertrain mount may comprise a second vessel comprising a plurality of ball bearings. The second vessel may be at least partially received in the second weight-reduction recess.

In one example the support comprises a plurality of holes (e.g. weight reduction recesses), and in each hole there is provided a vessel comprising a damping element. In this way the need for drain holes may be removed and accordingly the potential stress raiser effects may be reduced.

The support may further comprise an arm protruding outwardly from a central body of the support, and the weight-reduction recess may be provided in the arm or the central body.

The arm may be configured for attachment to, engagement with, or insertion into a powertrain mount (e.g. a mount for a powertrain component). For example, the arm may be configured for insertion into an engine mount. In this way the arm of the support may be pressed into the powertrain mount (which can sometimes prevent the fitting of a damper) and so the damping vessel may be located at its optimum location for reducing vibrations between components of the support and components of the mount.

The powertrain mount may comprise means for attachment to a powertrain component (e.g. a component of an engine, gearbox or motor).

Accordingly therefore, the first vessel may be integrally moulded or integrally formed with the support. More specifically, the first vessel may be integrally moulded/formed with the first recess of the support. In other examples, further vessels may be integrally formed with corresponding recesses in the support.

In this way, examples of the disclosure may provide a support with an integral damping vessel, the vessel being integrally formed to fit a weight-reduction recess of the powertrain mount.

According to another example there is provided a vehicle comprising a structural element, a support as described above, and a powertrain mount, wherein an arm of the support may be received in the mount such that vibrations between the support and the mount are at least partially damped by the vessel.

The vehicle may further comprise a powertrain component. The powertrain mount may be attached to the powertrain component. The powertrain component may be a gearbox or an engine.

According to another example there is provided a vessel suitable for use in a powertrain mount support as described above.

According to another example there is provided a vessel comprising a plurality of ball bearings, wherein the vessel is formed to fit a weight-reduction recess of a support. The vessel may be formed to friction and/or interference fit the weight-reduction recess. For example, a process for manufacturing a vessel may be provided comprising: forming a vessel such that it is sized and shaped to fit into a hole (e.g. a weight-reduction pocket) of a support; and filling, at least partially, the vessel with a damping element.

According to another example there is provided a method of damping vibrations within a support (or within a vehicle), the support comprising a weight-reduction recess, the method comprising: inserting a vessel comprising a plurality of ball-bearings into the weight-reduction recess.

The weight-reduction recess may be a first recess and the vessel may be a first recess. The method may further comprise: inserting a second vessel comprising a plurality of ball bearings into a second weight-reduction recess in the powertrain mount.

The method may comprise manufacturing the first and/or second vessel as described above.

Description of Drawings

For a better understanding of the present disclosure, and to illustrate how certain examples may be put into effect, examples will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side-perspective view of a powertrain mount support; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the powertrain mount support of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a powertrain mount support in a vehicle; and Figure 4 is a flowchart of an example method.

Detailed Description

Figures 1 and 2 show an example powertrain mount support 10, depicted in this example as a bracket. The support 10 of this example comprises a first weight-reduction recess 12 and a second weight-reduction recess 14. A first vessel 13 is at least partially received (in one example, and as shown, totally received) in the first recess 12 and a second vessel 15 is at least partially received (in one example, and as shown, totally received) in the second recess 14. Each of the first and second vessels 13, 15 is a damping vessel and comprises a (not shown) damping element. The damping element may comprise shot, sand or ball-bearings. The vessels 13, 15 may be formed to fit, e.g. friction or interference fit, a corresponding recess 12, 14.

The support 10 comprises a central body portion 18 and an arm 20 protruding away from the central body 18. The body 18 and arm 20 may be better seen from Figure 2. As will be explained later with reference to Figure 3, the arm 20 may be received in a correspondingly shaped and sized recess of a powertrain mount. Accordingly, the recesses 12, 14 are each provided within the arm 20 of the mount 10, and therefore the vessels 13, 15 are provided within the arm 20. Each vessel is sized and shaped to fit within its respective recesses to better transmit vibrations from the central body to the vessels to damp the vibrations.

Referring to Figure 2, in this example, four further weight-reduction recesses 16a-16d are provided in the central support body 18. More specifically, the body 18 comprises a top surface 19 and four weight-reduction recesses 16a-16d are provided in the top surface 19. Although not shown in Figure 2, a vessel comprising a damping element (e.g. sand, shot or bearings) may be provided at least partially in (and formed to fit) each one of the recesses 16a-d.

It will be appreciated that although two recesses are depicted in the arm and four recesses re depicted in the body, any number of recesses and vessels is within the scope of this disclosure. For example, one vessel and one recess may be provided, the recesses being provided either in the arm or the body.

The support 10 comprises an attachment means 22 for attachment to a part of a powertrain (e.g. part of a gearbox, engine or motor). The attachment means 22 is depicted as a flange comprising a hole through which a fastener such as a bolt may be placed or threaded so as to enable the support [swirl 0 to be secured to part of the powertrain. The attachment means may also comprise a fastener, e.g. a screw to secure the attachment means to part of the powertrain.

Figure 3 shows part of a vehicle 100 comprising a structural element 60 (depicted as a vehicle side rail) and a powertrain mount 30 attached to the structural element 60. The structural element 60 may comprise a vehicle 100 side rail. The powertrain mount 30 comprises a central aperture in which is received the arm 20 of the support 10.

The support 10 is attached, via attachment means 22 (and a fastener depicted in Figure 3 as a bolt 21 inserted therethrough) to a powertrain component 50, which is depicted as a gearbox but in another example may be a motor or engine (such as an internal combustion engine) or motor (e.g. an electric motor).

The arm 20 of the support 10 is received in the powertrain mount 30, which is attached to the structural element 60, and the arm 20 comprises a recess in which is disposed a vessel comprising a damping element. In this way, weight-reduction recesses in the part of the support 10 that is to be received in the powertrain mount 30 may be damped and therefore vibrations being transferred between the support 10 and the powertrain mount 30, and therefore between the support 10 and the structural element 60 may be reduced.

Figure 4 shows an example method 200 of damping vibrations within a powertrain mount support. The method 200 comprises, in block 201, inserting a vessel comprising a damping element a weight-reduction recess of a powertrain mount support 10. The method 200 may comprise inserting a further vessel comprising a damping element into a further weight-reduction recess of the support 10. The method 200 may further comprise inserting an arm 20 of the support 10 into a powertrain mount 30. The method 200 may further comprise attaching the support 10 to a powertrain 50 component (such as a part of a gearbox, engine or motor).

While the present disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Various alternative examples are discussed through the detailed description. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.A powertrain mount support comprising: a weight-reduction recess; and a vessel comprising a damping element, wherein the vessel is at least partially received in the weight-reduction recess.
The powertrain mount support of claim 1, wherein the vessel is sized and shaped to fit within the weight-reduction recess.
The powertrain mount support of claim 1 or 2 wherein the weight-reduction recess is a first weight-reduction recess, and wherein the powertrain mount support comprises a second weight-reduction recess and wherein the vessel is a first vessel, and wherein the powertrain mount support comprises a second vessel comprising a damping element, wherein the second vessel is at least partially received in the second weight-reduction recess.
The powertrain mount support of any preceding claim, further comprising an arm protruding outwardly from a central body of the powertrain mount support, wherein the weight-reduction recess is provided in the arm.
The powertrain mount support of any preceding claim, further comprising an arm protruding outwardly from a central body of the powertrain mount support, wherein the weight-reduction recess is provided in central body.
The powertrain mount support of claim 4 or 5 wherein the arm is configured for insertion into a vehicle mount.
The powertrain mount support of claim 6 wherein the vehicle mount comprises a powertrain mount.
The powertrain mount support of any one of claims 4-7 wherein the damping element comprises sand or shot or at least one ball-bearing.
The powertrain mount support of any preceding claim wherein the powertrain mount support comprises a bracket.
10. A vehicle comprising: a powertrain mount; and the powertrain mount support of claim 4 or 5, wherein the arm of the powertrain mount support is received in the powertrain mount such that vibrations between the powertrain mount support and the powertrain mount are at least partially damped by the vessel.
11. The vehicle of claim 10 further comprising a powertrain component, wherein the powertrain mount support is attached to the powertrain component.
12. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the powertrain component comprises part of a gearbox, engine, or motor.
13. The vehicle of any of claims 10-12 wherein the powertrain mount is attached to a structural element of the vehicle.
14. The vehicle of claim 13 wherein the structural element comprises a vehicle siderail.
15. A vessel suitable for use in the powertrain mount of any of claims 1-9.
16. A vessel comprising a damping element, wherein the vessel is formed to fit a weight-reduction recess of a powertrain mount support.
17. The vessel of claim 16 wherein the vessel is formed to friction and/or interference fit the weight-reduction recess.
18. A method of damping vibrations within a powertrain mount support, the powertrain mount support comprising a weight-reduction recess, the method comprising: inserting a vessel comprising a damping element into the weight-reduction recess.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein the weight-reduction recess is a first recess and wherein the vessel is a first recess, the method further comprising: Inserting a second vessel comprising a damping element into a second weight-reduction recess in the powertrain mount support.