US3841290A

US3841290A - Bellhousing block plate

Info

Publication number: US3841290A
Application number: US00287619A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Schubeck
Original assignee: Scott and Fetzer Co
Current assignee: National City Bank; Scott Fetzer Co
Priority date: 1972-09-11
Filing date: 1972-09-11
Publication date: 1974-10-15
Anticipated expiration: 1991-10-15

Abstract

A block plate for use with a bellhousing of the type for enclosing the flywheel of an automobile engine including a body adapted for mounting on the bellhousing and having an opening for receiving a portion of an engine starter therethrough, and further including a removable portion adjacent the opening for enlarging the size of the opening such that differently constructed engine starting systems can be accommodated.

Description

United States Patent Schubeck Oct. 15, 1974 [75] Inventor: JOSFPh schubeck Lakewood Complete Book of Engine Swapping, L. A., Calif, Pe-

Ohw terson, 1969, p. 42-46.

[73] Assignee: Scott and Fetzer Company,

Lakewood, Colo.

Primary ExaminerCharles J. Myhre Assistant ExaminerR. H. Lazarus Attorney, Agent, or FirmTeare, Teare & Sammon 5 7 1 ABSTRACT A block plate for use with a bellhousing of the type for enclosing the flywheel of an automobile engine including a body adapted for mounting on the bellhousing and having an opening for receiving a portion of an engine starter therethrough, and further including a removable portion adjacent the opening for enlarging the size of the opening such that differently constructed engine starting systems can be accommodated.

14 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PAIENI um 1 51974 MEI 2W 3 I FIG.6

PATENTED HUT 515174 FIGIO FIGIZ FIGH BELLHOUSING BLOCK PLATE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to safety bellhousings which are constructed so as to contain the fragmented parts of an engine flywheel in the event of an explosion during operation thereof, and more particularly, to a new and improved safety block plate construction for use in conjunction with a bellhousing for enclosing one end of the bellhousing to provide total containment of the flywheel parts, and still more particularly, to a block plate construction which includes an adapter to enable the block plate to accommodate differently constructed engine starters.-

Generally, a bellhousing is mounted adjacent the rear end of an engine in covering relation with respect to the flywheel. The end of the bellhousing adjacent the engine is substantially totally covered by a block plate so that, in the event of an explosion or fragmentation of the flywheel, all of the parts of the flywheel will be contained by the body of the bellhousing and the block plate. In such construction, it is necessary for certain elements of the engine starter to extend through the block plate into the interior of the bellhousing for engagement with the engine flywheel for turning over the engine upon energization of the engine starter motor. To achieve this, an opening is made in the block plate, and a portion of the engine starter motor frame, as well as the drive elements thereof, extends through the opening into the interior of the bellhousing for operable engagement with the flywheel. Different engines have flywheels which vary in diameter, and thus, require differently constructed engine starter motors. In the past, the use of a different block plate styles has been required for each type of engine starter. It has, therefore, become desirable to manufacture block plates in one form of construction which is capable of accommodating a number of different types of engine starters, and thus reduce the number of the styles or types of block plates from the number previously required to accommodate such different types of starters.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates providing a new and improved block plate construction for use with safety bellhousings such that a single block plate can accommodate different types of engine starters. More particularly, the block plate includes a body having mounting means thereon for mounting the block plate on the'bellhousing. An opening is provided in the body for receiving a portion of an engine starter therethrough. The body includes a removable portion adjacent the opening such that the opening can be enlarged to enable the accommodation of differently constructed engine starters. More specifically, the body comprises a generally planar plate made of a substantially rigid material and the removable portion is formed out of the material of the body. The plate is of a generally polygonal configuration, in front elevation, being defined by an endless peripheral edge. The mounting means comprises the plurality of apertures adjacent the peripheral edge of the body which are adapted to receive fasteners for connecting the body to the bellhousing. The removable portion is at least in part displaced from the general plane of the body and such displaced part is disposed adjacent the remainder of the body and the opening. The removable portion is generally polygonal in configuration and includes one edge which defines the segmental portion of the opening and another edge which is severed from the material of the body and is attached thereto by pressured engagement.

By the foregoing arrangement, the block plate can accommodate one form of engine starter which is adapted for driving a flywheel of one predetermined size when the removable portion is in the attached position, whereas, when it is desired to use the block plate in an application requiring an'engine starter for driving a flywheel of another predetermined size, such as larger or smaller, the removable portion can be detached from the body by the application of a force .thereto, such as by a sharp blow by a hammer or the like, to enlarge the size of the opening as required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, partially in section, side elevation view in reduced scale illustrating a bellhousing in the mounted position on an engine block;

Flg. 2 is a front elevation view in reduced scale of the improved block plate of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of the block plate illustrated in FIG. 2 showing one form of engine starter motor as it would appear in relation to the block plate in the installed position;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of the block plate shown in FIG. 2; and having the removable portion detached therefrom;

FIG. 6 is a rear elevation view of the block plate illustrated in FIG. 2 showing another form of engine starter motor as it would appear in relation to the block plate in the installed position;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view taken along the line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view of the block plate shown in FIG. 2 showing the adapter assembly enlarged;

FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 99 of FIG. 8; Flg. 10 is another form of adapter assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. 10;

Flg. 12 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 1212 of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 13 is a view of the adapter assembly shown in FIG. 10 in reduced scale having the removable portion detached therefrom.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT There is shown in FIG. 1, an engine assembly 1 which includes a block plate 2 mounted in a conventional manner between an engine block 4 and a bellhousing 6. As shown, the bellhousing 6 is mounted adjacent the rear end of the engine block 4, and an engine starter motor 8 is mounted alongside and projects rearwardly beyond the rear end of the engine block 4. Conventionally, the block plate 2 is provided with an' opening, as at 9 (FIG. 2), such that the engine starter motor housing, such as at 10, may extend through the block plate 2 into the interior of the bellhousing 6. Generally, as shown in FIG. 3 and 4, the engine starter motor 8 includes a drive shaft 14 which extends through the motor housing and into the interior of the bellhousing 6 and includes a drive gear 16 mounted therein which is adapted for operable engagement with the engine flywheel, such as at 18. The flywheel 18 is mounted, as by suitable fasteners 19, on a connecting flange 30 which is in turn mounted on the engine crank shaft 21. The portion of the motor housing 10 within the interior of the bell housing 6 is partially cut away, as at 22, such that the peripheral teeth 23 of the flywheel 18 can drivingly engage the teeth 24 on the drive gear 16 for turning the flywheel 18 to crank the engine 4.

The block plate 2 of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 2 to 9m including a generally flat or planar body 26 which may be made of any suitable rigid material, such as steel or the like. The body 26 is shown as being generally polygonal in front elevation (FIG. 2) and includes an endless peripheral edge 28 which is irregularly shaped so as to conform to the shape of one end, such as the front end, of its associated bellhousing 6 (FIGS. 1 and 4), and which shape is dependent upon the type of engine with which the bellhousing is to be used. As shown, the block plate 2 includes a plurality of apertures 30 adjacent its peripheral edge 28 which are adapted to receive suitable fasteners, such as at 32, for attaching, in one instance, the block plate 2 to the bellhousing 6 and, in another instance, for connecting the bellhousing 6 and block plate 2 to the engine block 4. Again, the number and spacing of the respective apertures 30 of the block plate 2 will vary according to the type of engine with which the bell housing 6 is to be used. The block plate 2 further includes a generally centrally located opening 34 which is adapted to receive the connecting flange 36 therethrough for connecting the flywheel 18 thereto. Vented louvres 38 are also provided in the body 26 for venting the interior of the bellhousing 6 for dissipating the heat generated therein.

In accordance with the present invention, the body 26 is shown as including an adapter assembly 40 for adapting any one block plate, such as 2, to enable such to accommodate, in one instance, an engine starter motor, such as at 8, FIGS. 3 and 4,-which is constructed to crank an engine having a flywheel of one predetermined diameter or to accommodate, in another instance, an engine starter motor, such as at 10a, FIG. 6 and 7, which is constructed for cranking the flywheel, such as 18A, which is of a relatively smaller diameter. More specifically, the adapter assembly 40 enables the drive gear 16A of the engine starter motor 10A to be positioned closer, such as a distance D from the axis of rotation 27 of the crankshaft 21, than is the drive gear 16 of the engine starter motor 10, such as the distance In the form of the adapter assembly 40 shown in FIGS. 2 to 9, the body 26 includes a removable portion or knock-out 41 (FIGS. 2 and 9) which is disposed adjacent the opening 9 and results in an enlargement 43 (FIG. 5) of the opening 9 in a pre-determined direction upon selective removal of the portion 41 from the body 26. Referring now particularly to FIG. 8, the knock-out 41 is formed out of the material of the body 26 being stamped out or otherwise severed therefrom. The knock-out 41 is defined in part by a segmental portion 46 of the marginal edge 48 of the opening 9 and in its remainder by a continuous cut 50 (FIG. 9) extending from one point 52 on the marginal edge 48 to another spaced point 54 on the marginal edge 48, thus defining a severed edge 51 for the knock-out 41 and a marginal edge portion 53 for the enlargement 43 of the opening 9 (FIG. 8).

In the form shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the knock-out 41 includes one part 56 which is displaced from the general plane of the body 26 and another part 58 (shown crosshatched in FIG. 9 for the purposes of illustration) which is generally co-planar with the general plane of the body 26. As shown in FIG. 8, the displaced part 56 is displaced a distance, such as indicated by the dimension A, which is less than the thickness, as is indicated by the dimension B, of the body 26 so that when the knock-out 41 is intact on the body 26, the severed edge 51 remains in pressured engagement with the marginal edge portion 53. In a typical application having a body 26 of a thickness 8 equal to approximately 0.125 inches, a diaplacement distance A equal to approximately 0.060 inches has been found to be quite satisfactory. The coplanar part 58 is retained in the general plane of the body 26 so as to provide clearance for the bellhousing flange, indicated by the phantom lines at 59, to enable flush engagement between the flange 52 of the bellhousing 6 and the block plate 2 when they are in the installed position as shown in FIG. 1.

In practice, the entire knock-out 41 is initially stamped or otherwise displaced from the general plane of the body 26 the desired distance, such as the distance A, and then, the coplanar part 58 is restamped so as to be returned to the general plane of the body 26. Such restamping operation causes the material of the knock-out 41 adjacent the coplanar part 58 to be moved away from the material of the knock-out 41 adjacent the displaced part 56 thereby forcing the severed edge 51 into tight pressured engagement with the confronting marginal edge portion 52 for retaining the knock-out 41 connected to the body 26. When desired, a force, such as a blow from a hammer or the like, can be applied to the knock-out 41, preferably in the direction of the displacement, to separate the knock-out 41 from the remainder of the body 26.

In the particular form of the adapter assembly 40 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the knock-out 41 is generally crescent-shaped, when viewedin front elevation, having its severed edge 51 extending generally arcuately between the points 52 and 54 on the marginal edge 48 and defining a major side for the knock-out 41 having a length longer than the opposite side defined by the segmental portion 46 of the marginal edge 48. Further, in this arrangement, the knock-out 41 is formed in the body 6 downwardly and inwardly with respect to the geometrical center of the opening 9. Thus, the block plate 2 can be used with the knock-out 41 intact with one type of motor starter, such as 8, having a drive gear 16 which is required to be positioned a predetermined distance, such as the distance C, from the axis of rotation 27 of the crank shaft 21 for driving a flywheel, such as 18, of one predetermined diameter. In such instance, the coplanar portion 58 is shown having a bolt hole 63 (FIGS. 2 and 9) for receiving a fastener 65 (FIGS. 3 and 4) therethrough for mounting the starter frame 10. Whereas, the block plate 2 can be used with the knock-out 41 removed with a motor starter, such as 8A, having a drive gear 16A which is required to be positioned at another distance, such as the distance D, which is radially closer to the axis of rotation of the crank shaft 21 for driving a flywheel 18A which is of a smaller diameter than the flywheel 18.

Referring now to FIG. 10, there is illustrated, generally at 70, another form of an adapter assembly of the present invention. As shown, the adapter assembly 70 is formed in a block plate 2A which has a body 74. The body 74 is shown as including an opening 76 which is adapted for receiving a portion of the engine starter motor (not shown) as hereinbefore described, and

which is defined by an endless, such as circular, marl ginal edge 78.

The adapter assembly 70 includes a removable portion or knock-out 80 which is disposed adjacent the opening 76 and which, when detached from the body 74, forms an enlargement 81 (FIG. 13) for the opening 76. In the form shown, the knock-out 80 is of a generally crescent-shape, as seen in front elevation in FIG. 10, and is defined along one side by a segmental portion 82 of the marginal edge 78 and along another side by a continuous cut 84 in the body 74 which extends from one point, as at 86, on the marginal edge 78 to another point 88 on the marginal edge 76 which is spaced from the point 86 and which defines a severed edge 90 for the knock-out 80 and a marginal edge 92 for the enlargement 81 which has a length greater than the segmental portion 82 of the marginal edge 78. ln the form shown in FIGS. to 13, the knock-out 80 is positioned radially outwardly from the center of the opening 76 and the geometrical center of the body 74 such that the enlargement-81 is formed in the body in a direction outwardly and slightly downwardly with respect to the center of the opening 76.

In the form of the adapter assembly 70 shown in FIG. 10, the knock-out 80 includes a displaced part 94 which is displaced out of the general plane of the body 74, such as a distance E, and a pair of spaced, generally coplanar parts 96 and 97 (which are also shown crosshatched for purposes of illustration) which extend outwardly from one another and outwardly from the opposite sides of the displaced part 94. It has been found that a displacement distance E equal to approximately 0.075 inches for a block plate having a thickness F (FIG. 13) equal to approximately 0.125 inches has resulted in a highly satisfactory performance.

In practice, the entire knock-out 80 is stamped or otherwise displaced out of the general plane of the body 74, and then, the

coplanar parts

96 and 97 are restamped so as to be returned to the general plane of the body 74. Such restamping operation results in spreading of the

co-planar parts

96 and 97 causing them to move outwardly away from one another and away from the displaced part 94 such that the severed edge 90 of the knock-out 80 contacts the marginal edge 92 of the enlargement 81 in pressured engagement through substantially its entire length securely retaining the knockout 80 on the body 74. Upon application of a force, such as a blow from a hammer or the like, the knockout 80 can be removed from the body 74, when desired.

By this arrangement, the enlargement 81 is made in the direction of the peripheral edge of the body 74 and generally radially outwardly from the geometrical center of the opening 76 such that, when the knock-out 80 is intact, the block plate 2A is suitable for use with an engine having a flywheel with a diameter of one predetermined size, whereas, when the knock-out 80 is removed, the block plate 2A is adapted for use with an engine having a flywheel with a predetermined larger diameter.

Further, the restamping operation returns the

coplanar parts

96 and 97 into the general plane of the body 74 which provides clearance and enables a flush, tight fitting contact between the block plate 2A and the bellhousing flange, the inner outline of which is indicated by the phantom line at 99.

I claim:

1. A block plate for use with a bellhousing of the type for enclosing the flywheel of an engine comprising,

a body,

mounting means on said body for mounting said block plate on said bellhousing,

an opening in said body for receiving a portion of an engine starter,

said body includes a removable portion adjacent said opening for enlarging said opening to enable accomodation of differently constructed engine starters, and

said removable portion is severed from the material of said body and is attached to said body by pressured engagement being adapted to be separated from said body by the application of a force thereto.

2. A block plate for use in a bellhousing of the type for mounting on an engine to enclose the flywheel of the engine comprising,

a body,

mounting means on said body for mounting said block plate between said bellhousing and said engme,

an opening in said body for receiving a portion of one type of engine starter therein,

said body includes a removable portion severably connected to the remaining portion of said body being adapted to be severed therefrom by the application of force thereto, and

said removable portion is disposed adjacent to said opening for enlarging the opening upon its severance from the remaining portion of said body to enable the accommodation of a portion of another type of engine starter within said opening.

3. A block plate in accordance with claim 2, wherein said removable portion is formed by partially separating said body along a line defining the enlargement of said opening.

4. A block plate in accordance with claim 3, wherein said opening is defined by an endless marginal edge,

and

said line commences at one point on the marginal edge defining said opening and terminates at another point on said marginal edge.

5. A block plate in accordance with claim 2 wherein said opening is defined by an endless marginal edge formed in the material of said body,

the periphery of said removable portion is defined in part by a segmental portion of the marginal edge forming said opening, and

the remainder of the periphery of said removable portion is defined by the segmental portion of the opening defining the enlargement of said opening.

7 8 6. A block plate in accordance with claim 2, wherein said removable portion includes a part disposed in said removable portion is formed out of the material of generally coplanar relation with the remaining masaid body. terial of said body to enable flush mounting of said 7. A block plate in accordance with claim 6, wherein block plate on said bellhousing.

12. A block plate in accordance with claim 2, said plate is of a generally polygonal configuration in wherein front elevation being defined by an endless periphsaid opening is generally circular in configuration eral edge. when said removable portion is intact, and 8. A block plate in accordance with claim 2, wherein said removable portion is generally crescent-shaped 0 in configuration including one arcuate shaped edge said body comprises a generally planar, substantially defining a segmental portion of said opening.

rigid material. 13. A block plate in accordance with claim 2, 9. A block plate in accordance with claim 2, wherein wherein said removable portion is generally crescent-shaped said mounting means comprises a plurality of aperincluding a major edge detachably connected to tures in said body for receiving fasteners for the remainder of said body and a minor edge definmounting said body to said bellhousing and said ening a segmental portion of said opening. gine. 14. A block plate in accordance with claim 2, 10. A block plate in accordance with claim 2, wherein wherein said opening is generally circular in configuration said removable portion is at least in part displaced being offset with respect to the geometrical center from the general plane of said body. of said body, and 11. A block plate in accordance with claim 6, said removable portion is disposed radially outwardly wherein with respect to the geometrical center of said opensaid displaced part is adjacent to the remainder of ing.

said body and said opening, and

Claims

1. A block plate for use with a bellhousing of the type for enclosing the flywheel of an engine comprising, a body, mounting means on said body for mounting said block plate on said bellhousing, an opening in said body for receiving a portion of an engine starter, said body includes a removable portion adjacent said opening for enlarging said opening to enable accomodation of differently constructed engine starters, and said removable portion is severed from the material of said body and is attached to said body by pressured engagement being adapted to be separated from said body by the application of a force thereto.

2. A block plate for use in a bellhousing of the type for mounting on an engine to enclose the flywheel of the engine comprising, a body, mounting means on said body for mounting said block plate between said bellhousing and said engine, an opening in said body for receiving a portion of one type of engine starter therein, said body includes a removable portion severably connected to the remaining portion of said body being adapted to be severed therefrom by the application of force thereto, and said removable portion is disposed adjacent to said opening for enlarging the opening upon its severance from the remaining portion of said body to enable the accommodation of a portion of another type of engine starter within said opening.

4. A block plate in accordance with claim 3, wherein said opening is definEd by an endless marginal edge, and said line commences at one point on the marginal edge defining said opening and terminates at another point on said marginal edge.

5. A block plate in accordance with claim 2 wherein said opening is defined by an endless marginal edge formed in the material of said body, the periphery of said removable portion is defined in part by a segmental portion of the marginal edge forming said opening, and the remainder of the periphery of said removable portion is defined by the segmental portion of the opening defining the enlargement of said opening.

6. A block plate in accordance with claim 2, wherein said removable portion is formed out of the material of said body.

7. A block plate in accordance with claim 6, wherein said plate is of a generally polygonal configuration in front elevation being defined by an endless peripheral edge.

8. A block plate in accordance with claim 2, wherein said body comprises a generally planar, substantially rigid material.

9. A block plate in accordance with claim 2, wherein said mounting means comprises a plurality of apertures in said body for receiving fasteners for mounting said body to said bellhousing and said engine.

10. A block plate in accordance with claim 2, wherein said removable portion is at least in part displaced from the general plane of said body.

11. A block plate in accordance with claim 6, wherein said displaced part is adjacent to the remainder of said body and said opening, and said removable portion includes a part disposed in generally coplanar relation with the remaining material of said body to enable flush mounting of said block plate on said bellhousing.

12. A block plate in accordance with claim 2, wherein said opening is generally circular in configuration when said removable portion is intact, and said removable portion is generally crescent-shaped in configuration including one arcuate shaped edge defining a segmental portion of said opening.

13. A block plate in accordance with claim 2, wherein said removable portion is generally crescent-shaped including a major edge detachably connected to the remainder of said body and a minor edge defining a segmental portion of said opening.

14. A block plate in accordance with claim 2, wherein said opening is generally circular in configuration being offset with respect to the geometrical center of said body, and said removable portion is disposed radially outwardly with respect to the geometrical center of said opening.