MXPA97002129A

MXPA97002129A - Plastic valve cover with integrated shield protector

Info

Publication number: MXPA97002129A
Application number: MXPA/A/1997/002129A
Authority: MX
Inventors: M Sattler Eric; S Myers Joel
Original assignee: Basf Corporation
Priority date: 1996-06-28
Filing date: 1997-03-20
Publication date: 1998-04-01

Abstract

The present invention relates to a valve cover, which comprises: a valve cover body, having a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls, connected between the side walls, these side and end walls are provided with a bottom surface for contact with a motor, and an upper surface, opposite the bottom surface, a cover, which extends between the upper surfaces of the side and end walls, and an inner envelope, which is extends between the side walls, to define a space between the inner envelope and the ta

Description

PLASTIC VALVE COVER WITH INTEGRAL NOISE PROTECTOR FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to valve covers for use with internal combustion engines and, more particularly, to a valve cover, made of plastic, with an integral noise shield. BACKGROUND AND COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION A substantial amount of noise is generated in an engine by the valve train, especially in a top cam engine. Valve trains, as used herein, generally include intake and exhaust valves, as well as the apparatus for operating these valves, which include rocker arm, cam and valve springs. In general, valve covers are simple open-ended boxes, which are screwed to the cylinder head. To seal against oil leaks, box packing is often used around the open ends. Conventional valve covers are made of metal or thermostable plastics, which have a simple wrapping configuration. A perceived problem with conventional valve train covers is that they fail to provide sufficient properties in noise isolation. Therefore, it is desirable in the art of valve cover design to provide a valve cover with a noise shield to quench the noise emitted from the valve train of an internal combustion engine. It is also convenient to provide a valve train cover that is lighter than conventional steel or aluminum valve train covers. It is also convenient to provide a valve train cover that reduces the need for an external noise shield in an engine or within an engine compartment. Therefore, the present invention provides a valve cover, made of plastic, for use with an internal combustion engine, having an integral protector of noise. The broad scope of the application capability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given below. However, it should be understood that this detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are provided in the form of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art of this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will come to be understood more fully from the detailed description given below and from the accompanying drawings, which are given in illustration only and thus do not limit the present invention, and in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a valve cover, made of plastic, with an integral noise shield, in accordance with the principles of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of a valve cover body, in accordance with the principles of the present invention; Figure 3 is an end view of a valve cover body, in accordance with the principles of the present invention; Figure 4 is a bottom view of a cap member for covering the valve cover body, in accordance with the principles of the present invention; Figure 5 is a side view of a lid element for covering the valve cover body, in accordance with the principles of the present invention; and Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the valve cover, according to the principles of the present invention, taken along line 6-6 of Figure 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES The present invention will be described with reference to Figures 6, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 1, a valve cover 10 is illustrated, which includes a valve cover body 12, having a pair of side walls 14 connected to each other by a pair of end walls 16. An inner wrap portion 18 (shown in silhouette) is disposed within body 12 of valve cover, for supplying a first noise shield for the valve cover 10. A lid element 20 is provided for contact with the upper surface 14a, 16a, respectively, of the walls 14, 16. An enclosed space 22 is defined between the inner wrapping portion 18 and the lid element 20. Also, this lid element, together with the side walls 14 and the end walls 16 define a second noise protector. The body 12 of the valve cover is provided with a plurality of projections 24, each with a hole 26 for bolt therethrough, and a cover element 20 is provided with a plurality of bolt holes 28, corresponding to the projections 24, so that a plurality of bolts (not shown) can be inserted through the bolt holes 26 and 28, to securely fasten the valve cover 10 to an internal combustion engine. A cover that is press fit with the present invention can also be used. With reference to Figures 1 to 3, an inner envelope 18 is provided with an oil nozzle 30. It should be noted that in a typical V-type engine, separate valve covers are provided for the valve trains on each side of the engine. However, only one of the valve covers is typically provided with an oil nozzle for the introduction of oil into the engine. Therefore, although the drawings of the present application illustrate an oil nozzle 30 in a valve cover 10, it should be understood that the design of the valve cover of the present invention should not be construed as limited to an oil nozzle for certain modalities. The oil nozzle 30 is integrally molded with the inner shell 18. This oil nozzle 30 projects through a corresponding aperture 32 in the lid 20. A groove 34 is provided around the periphery of the oil nozzle 30. The slot 34 is designed to receive a sealing pack (not shown), which is designed to prevent intrusion of foreign matter into the space provided between the inner wrap 18 and the lid 20. This lid 20 is provided with an annular ring 36 around the opening 32, in order to provide a sealed relationship together with the packing provided in the groove 34 of the oil nozzle 30. The valve cover body 12 is provided with a base portion 44, as shown in Figure 6, which connects with the inner shell 18. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the valve cover body 12 and the inner wrap 18 is formed as a unitary element of a technical plastic material. A sealing lip portion 46 extends below the base portion 44, as shown in Figure 6 and is designed to be positioned within a rim of a cylinder head. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the lid 20 is provided with a plurality of guide flanges, 50a, 50b, which facilitate the positioning of the lid 20 on the body 12 of the valve cover. The outer flange elements 50a are disposed on the outer side of the walls 14, 16 of the valve cover body 12, as shown in Figure 1. Internal guide flanges 50b are provided to be disposed on the side to the inside of the body. the walls 14, 16 of the valve cover body 12. A package, or other sealing element, may be disposed between the cap 20 and the valve cover body 12.

With reference to Figure 6, a cross-sectional view of the valve cover 10, taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 1 is shown. As will be apparent from this Figure 6, the inner wrap 18 is connected to the valve cover body 12 by the base portion 44. This inner casing 18 and the valve cover body 12 are formed as a unitary element. The inner casing 18 is provided with a pair of side walls 54, which are connected to each other by an arched upper wall 56. Those skilled in the art will understand that that inner casing 18 may be provided with alternative configurations, without departing from the scope of the invention. the present invention. The insulating filler material 60 may be provided in the enclosed space 22, between the inner wrapper 18 and the side walls 14, as well as between the inner wrapper 18 and the lid 20. The cross-sectional view of Figure 6 is taken through the protrusions 24 provided in the side walls 14 of the valve cover body 12, as previously noted, These projections 24 each define a bolt hole 26, which corresponds to the bolt holes 28 in the cover 20 As previously mentioned, the valve cover body 12 is preferably formed as a unitary element with the inner shell 18. This cover 12 of the valve body and the inner shell 18 are preferably formed of a technical plastic material, which has suitable performance properties, such as thermal stability and convenient dimensional stability and with the use of conventional plastic molding techniques, such as mold or injection, for example. Illustrative materials are nylon (polyamide), a polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) or a mixture of PBT and acrylonitrile-styrene acrylate (ASA). the ABS polymer (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) and the polycarbonate. Such materials can also be reinforced with glass and / or mineral fibers or particles. Especially preferred materials are ULTRAMID® Nylon A3HG7 Blk Q17 20560, ULTRAMID® Nylon A3WG7 Blk 23210, ULTRAMID® Nylon B3WG7 Blk 564 BGVW and ULTRAMID® Nylon B3GM35, commercially available from BASF Corporation, Wyandotte, MI. The insulating filler material 60, provided between the inner wrapper 18 and the lid 20, can be any known noise insulator material, such as foams, silicates, fluids, fibers and organic by-products, such as walnut shells. While it is often preferred to employ a noise isolating material, the space 22 between the inner shell 18 and the lid 20 will be understood to remain empty. It should also be noted that the projections 24 are provided to increase the stiffness of the valve cover body 12. A problem with the direct conversion of conventional valve open designs, steel or aluminum, into plastic material, is that this plastic material has a reduced stiffness compared to steel or aluminum. Thus, the projections 24 provide adequate rigidity to secure the valve cover 10 to a motor valve train, to prevent leakage between the valve cover 10 and the motor valve train. In addition, a portion 46 of sealing lip is provided to prevent oil leakage. As noted, a gasket (not shown) can be used between the walls 14, 16 of the valve cover 10 and the valve train of the engine. The inner wrap 18 provides a first noise shield for the noise generated by the engine valve train. The valve cover body 12 is combined with the cover 20 to provide a second noise shield, for the noise generated by the engine valve train. The noise isolating material is also optionally provided between the first and second noise protectors to further reduce the emitted noise of this engine valve train. Having thus described the invention, it should be understood that it can be varied in many ways. These variations are not considered as a deviation from the spirit and scope of this invention, but rather all these modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A valve cover, which comprises: a valve cover body, having a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls, connected between the side walls, these side and end walls are provided with a bottom surface for contact with a motor, and an upper surface, opposite the bottom surface; a lid, which extends between the upper surfaces of the side and end walls; and an inner wrapper, which extends between the side walls, to define a space between the inner wrapper and the lid.
2. The valve cover, according to claim 1, wherein this valve cover is made of a technical plastic material.
3. The valve cover, according to claim 1, further comprising an insulating material, disposed between the inner shell and the lid.
The valve cover, according to claim 1, wherein the valve cover body is provided with a plurality of projections, which have bolt holes therethrough.
The valve cover, according to claim 4, wherein the cover is provided with a plurality of bolt holes, corresponding to the bolt holes in the projections.
The valve cover, according to claim 1, wherein the cover is provided with a plurality of guide flanges on its surface, for contact with the side walls and end walls of the valve cover body. .
7. The valve cover according to claim 1, wherein the internal envelope is formed as a unitary element with the valve cover body.
The valve cover, according to claim 7, wherein the valve body and the inner casing are connected together by a base portion.
9. The valve cover according to claim 8, wherein the base portion is provided with a lip portion extending therefrom.
The valve cover, according to claim 1, further comprising an oil nozzle, connected to the inner envelope.
11. The valve cover according to claim 10, wherein the cover is provided with an opening for receiving the oil nozzle.
12. A valve cover, for use with an internal combustion engine, this cover comprises: a valve cover body, including a plurality of walls, each with a top surface; a lid, which extends between the upper surfaces of the plurality of walls; and an internal envelope, which extends between the plurality of walls, to define a space enclosed between the inner envelope and the cover.
The valve cover, according to claim 12, in which this valve cover is made of a technical plastic material.
The valve cover, according to claim 12, further comprising an insulating material, disposed between the inner shell and the lid.
15. The valve cover according to claim 12, wherein the valve cover body is provided with a plurality of projections, which have bolt holes therethrough.
16. The valve cover, according to claim 14, wherein the cover is provided with a plurality of bolt holes, which correspond to the bolt holes in the projections.
The valve cover, according to claim 12, wherein the cover is provided with a plurality of guide flanges on its surface, for contact with the side walls, and the end walls of the valve cover body. .
18. The valve cover according to claim 12, wherein the inner shell is formed as a unitary element with the valve cover body.
19. The valve cover according to claim 18, wherein the body of the valve cover and the inner envelope are connected to each other by a base portion.
20. The valve cover, according to claim 19, in which the base portion is provided with a lip portion, which extends therefrom.
21. The valve cover, according to claim 12, further comprising a nozzle for oil, connected to the inner envelope.
22. The valve cover, according to claim 21, wherein the cover is provided with an opening for receiving this oil nozzle.
23. A valve cover, for use with an internal combustion engine, this cover comprises: a first noise shield, to cover the valve train of the internal combustion engine; a second noise protector, spacing of the first noise protector and defining a space enclosed between the first and second noise protectors; and an element for securing the valve cover to the internal combustion engine; in which the first and second noise protectors are formed of a technical plastic material.
24. The valve cover, according to claim 23, further comprising a noise isolating material, disposed between the first and second noise protectors.
25. The valve cover according to claim 23, wherein the element for securing the valve cover to the internal combustion engine includes a plurality of elongated projections.