WO1999061272A1 - Dynamic inertial structural stiffening linkage - Google Patents

Dynamic inertial structural stiffening linkage Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1999061272A1
WO1999061272A1 PCT/CA1999/000427 CA9900427W WO9961272A1 WO 1999061272 A1 WO1999061272 A1 WO 1999061272A1 CA 9900427 W CA9900427 W CA 9900427W WO 9961272 A1 WO9961272 A1 WO 9961272A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
supporting structure
engine
engine assembly
supporting
vehicle
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/CA1999/000427
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Vincent L. Aronson
Bradley A. Lamothe
Edward G. Hohenberg
Original Assignee
Motor Coach Industries Ltd.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Motor Coach Industries Ltd. filed Critical Motor Coach Industries Ltd.
Priority to CA002333538A priority Critical patent/CA2333538A1/en
Publication of WO1999061272A1 publication Critical patent/WO1999061272A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K5/00—Arrangement or mounting of internal-combustion or jet-propulsion units
    • B60K5/12—Arrangement of engine supports
    • B60K5/1241—Link-type support
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K5/00—Arrangement or mounting of internal-combustion or jet-propulsion units
    • B60K5/12—Arrangement of engine supports
    • B60K5/1208—Resilient supports
    • B60K5/1216—Resilient supports characterised by the location of the supports relative to the motor or to each other

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to motor coach vehicles, particularly to devices for increasing the bending stiffness of vehicle structure.
  • the bending stiffness of a vehicle determines the natural bending mode frequency.
  • Increasing the bending stiffness of the vehicle increases the ride comfort of the vehicle through three means.
  • increasing the bending frequency of the structure increases the natural frequency separation between the structural bending mode and the axle hop natural frequencies, thus preventing a resonant condition, and reducing the structural bending response to the axle hop inputs.
  • Second, increasing the bending stiffness of the structure reduces the amplitude of bending deflections, which can reduce the accelerations felt by passengers for a given road disturbance.
  • Third, the human discomfort response to accelerations is frequency dependent. Increasing the frequency of the accelerations felt by the passengers, particularly beyond 8 Hertz, decreases perceived discomfort.
  • a motor vehicle comprising: a supporting structure being mounted for movement in a forward direction; an engine assembly mounted on the supporting structure; at least one isolator mount mounting the engine assembly on the supporting structure; and an inertia transmitting means for mounting the engine to the supporting structure and transmitting the inertia of the engine to the supporting structure.
  • the vehicle is a motor coach wherein the supporting structure includes a rear axle support comprising a pair of main supporting beams, columns mounting the main supporting beams above rear axles of the vehicle and a cradle in the form of a secondary supporting beam mounted to the columns for supporting the engine assembly thereon.
  • a rear axle support comprising a pair of main supporting beams, columns mounting the main supporting beams above rear axles of the vehicle and a cradle in the form of a secondary supporting beam mounted to the columns for supporting the engine assembly thereon.
  • the inertia transmitting means may comprise a linkage connected between the engine and the supporting structure for restricting relative movement therebetween.
  • the linkage preferably comprises a pair of link members being pivotally mounted at respective first ends on the engine and at respective second ends on the supporting structure.
  • the links may be mounted on a front end of the engine assembly and extend generally horizontally therefrom for connecting to the support structure such that motion of the front end of the engine assembly is substantially limited to upward and downward deflections.
  • a motor coach comprising: an engine assembly mounted on the supporting structure; a supporting structure being mounted for movement in a forward direction and including a rear axle support comprising a pair of main supporting beams, a pair of columns mounting each main supporting beam above rear axles of the supporting structure and a secondary supporting beam mounted on the columns for supporting the engine assembly thereon; an isolator mount mounting the engine assembly on the rear axle support; and an inertia transmitting means comprising a pair of links being pivotally mounted on a front end of the engine assembly to extend generally horizontally therefrom and connect to the supporting structure for substantially restricting motion of the front end of the engine assembly to generally upward and downward deflections for transmitting the inertia of the engine to the supporting structure.
  • Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of the motor coach structure where the engine is mounted using a linkage
  • Figure 2 is an isometric view from the rear left of the engine assembly mounted with a linkage to the vehicle structure;
  • Figure 3 is an isometric view from the front left of the engine assembly of Figure 2 showing the engine mounted with a linkage to the vehicle structure.
  • the rear axle support 12 includes a pair of main supporting beams 14 which are spaced apart and arranged to extend generally horizontally.
  • a pair of support columns 16 are mounted generally upright and spaced apart towards respective ends of each main support beam 14.
  • the support columns 6 mount rear axles of the vehicle on a bottom end thereof for supporting the supporting beams spaced upward from the ground above the rear axles.
  • a cradle in the form of a pair of secondary supporting beams 18 are mounted on the respective columns 16 at a rearward end 17 of the main support beams.
  • the secondary support beams 18 extend rearward from the columns, being parallel, spaced apart and generally horizontal for supporting an engine 20 of the motor coach thereon.
  • the engine assembly 20 is supported on the secondary supporting beams by isolator mounts 24. Motion of the front end 22 of the engine assembly 20 is substantially restricted to generally upward and downward deflections by a pair of links 26.
  • the links 26 are mounted on opposite sides of the engine at a first end and on the support structure at a second end. The links 26 connect the upper portion of the front end 22 of the engine assembly 20 to the respective columns 16 of the rear axle support 12.
  • the links 26 include spherical rod ends 28 for connecting the links 26 to the engine assembly 20 while permitting free rotation of the links 26 about the mounting points.
  • the links 26 extend generally horizontally for connecting the engine to the support structure such that motion of the front end of the engine assembly is largely limited to upward and downward deflections.
  • the engine assembly 20 When the links 26 are installed as seen on Figure 2 and 3, the engine assembly 20 is forced to move relative to the rear axle support in an arc motion prescribed by the links in response to road disturbance inputs rather than the natural motions of the engine assembly 20 on its isolators.
  • the engine assembly 20 is not constrained in roll motion. This is required for isolation of the engine torque reaction disturbances from the vehicle supporting structure and the passengers.
  • the inertia of the engine assembly 20 similarly constrains the structural motions, creating a significant dynamic stiffening effect in the primary natural vibration structural bending mode, and reduces the overall number of structural natural vibration modes which are normally associated with the additional degrees of freedom of relative engine assembly 20 motions.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Arrangement Or Mounting Of Propulsion Units For Vehicles (AREA)

Abstract

A motor coach is provided having a supporting structure arranged to mount an engine assembly thereon. Isolator mounts mount the engine on the supporting structure for permitting limited relative movement therebetween. Inertia transmitting means in the form of a pair of links are mounted between the engine and the supporting structure. The links connect to the front end of the engine and extend generally horizontally to the supporting structure for substantially restricting the motion of the front end of the engine to upward and downward deflections. The inertia of the engine assembly (20) thus constrains the structural motions of the motor coach, creating a significant dynamic stiffening effect in the primary natural vibration structural bending mode of the motor coach.

Description

DYNAMIC INERTIAL STRUCTURAL STIFFENING LINKAGE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to motor coach vehicles, particularly to devices for increasing the bending stiffness of vehicle structure. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
For a given mass, the bending stiffness of a vehicle determines the natural bending mode frequency. Increasing the bending stiffness of the vehicle, increases the ride comfort of the vehicle through three means. First, increasing the bending frequency of the structure, increases the natural frequency separation between the structural bending mode and the axle hop natural frequencies, thus preventing a resonant condition, and reducing the structural bending response to the axle hop inputs. Second, increasing the bending stiffness of the structure reduces the amplitude of bending deflections, which can reduce the accelerations felt by passengers for a given road disturbance. Third, the human discomfort response to accelerations is frequency dependent. Increasing the frequency of the accelerations felt by the passengers, particularly beyond 8 Hertz, decreases perceived discomfort. SUMMARY
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a motor vehicle comprising: a supporting structure being mounted for movement in a forward direction; an engine assembly mounted on the supporting structure; at least one isolator mount mounting the engine assembly on the supporting structure; and an inertia transmitting means for mounting the engine to the supporting structure and transmitting the inertia of the engine to the supporting structure.
Preferably the vehicle is a motor coach wherein the supporting structure includes a rear axle support comprising a pair of main supporting beams, columns mounting the main supporting beams above rear axles of the vehicle and a cradle in the form of a secondary supporting beam mounted to the columns for supporting the engine assembly thereon.
The inertia transmitting means may comprise a linkage connected between the engine and the supporting structure for restricting relative movement therebetween. The linkage preferably comprises a pair of link members being pivotally mounted at respective first ends on the engine and at respective second ends on the supporting structure. The links may be mounted on a front end of the engine assembly and extend generally horizontally therefrom for connecting to the support structure such that motion of the front end of the engine assembly is substantially limited to upward and downward deflections.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a motor coach comprising: an engine assembly mounted on the supporting structure; a supporting structure being mounted for movement in a forward direction and including a rear axle support comprising a pair of main supporting beams, a pair of columns mounting each main supporting beam above rear axles of the supporting structure and a secondary supporting beam mounted on the columns for supporting the engine assembly thereon; an isolator mount mounting the engine assembly on the rear axle support; and an inertia transmitting means comprising a pair of links being pivotally mounted on a front end of the engine assembly to extend generally horizontally therefrom and connect to the supporting structure for substantially restricting motion of the front end of the engine assembly to generally upward and downward deflections for transmitting the inertia of the engine to the supporting structure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention:
Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of the motor coach structure where the engine is mounted using a linkage;
Figure 2 is an isometric view from the rear left of the engine assembly mounted with a linkage to the vehicle structure;
Figure 3 is an isometric view from the front left of the engine assembly of Figure 2 showing the engine mounted with a linkage to the vehicle structure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The described embodiment of the invention is intended for motor coaches having a body and a plurality of frame elements for supporting the body on wheels for movement relative to the ground. One of the frame elements is a rear axle support 12 shown in figure 1 , which supports a rear portion of the motor coach's body on the rear axles and wheels of the motor coach.
The rear axle support 12 includes a pair of main supporting beams 14 which are spaced apart and arranged to extend generally horizontally. A pair of support columns 16 are mounted generally upright and spaced apart towards respective ends of each main support beam 14. The support columns 6 mount rear axles of the vehicle on a bottom end thereof for supporting the supporting beams spaced upward from the ground above the rear axles.
A cradle in the form of a pair of secondary supporting beams 18 are mounted on the respective columns 16 at a rearward end 17 of the main support beams. The secondary support beams 18 extend rearward from the columns, being parallel, spaced apart and generally horizontal for supporting an engine 20 of the motor coach thereon.
The engine assembly 20 is supported on the secondary supporting beams by isolator mounts 24. Motion of the front end 22 of the engine assembly 20 is substantially restricted to generally upward and downward deflections by a pair of links 26. The links 26 are mounted on opposite sides of the engine at a first end and on the support structure at a second end. The links 26 connect the upper portion of the front end 22 of the engine assembly 20 to the respective columns 16 of the rear axle support 12.
The links 26 include spherical rod ends 28 for connecting the links 26 to the engine assembly 20 while permitting free rotation of the links 26 about the mounting points. The links 26 extend generally horizontally for connecting the engine to the support structure such that motion of the front end of the engine assembly is largely limited to upward and downward deflections.
When the links 26 are installed as seen on Figure 2 and 3, the engine assembly 20 is forced to move relative to the rear axle support in an arc motion prescribed by the links in response to road disturbance inputs rather than the natural motions of the engine assembly 20 on its isolators. The engine assembly 20 is not constrained in roll motion. This is required for isolation of the engine torque reaction disturbances from the vehicle supporting structure and the passengers. By forcing the engine assembly 20 to move in the prescribed arc motion rather than the natural translational and pitch motions, the inertia of the engine assembly 20 similarly constrains the structural motions, creating a significant dynamic stiffening effect in the primary natural vibration structural bending mode, and reduces the overall number of structural natural vibration modes which are normally associated with the additional degrees of freedom of relative engine assembly 20 motions.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without department from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle comprising: a supporting structure being mounted for movement in a forward direction; an engine assembly mounted on the supporting structure; at least one isolator mount mounting the engine assembly on the supporting structure; and an inertia transmitting means for mounting the engine to the supporting structure and transmitting the inertia of the engine to the supporting structure.
2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the vehicle is a motor coach.
3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the supporting structure includes a rear axle support comprising a pair of main supporting beams, columns mounting the main supporting beams above rear axles of the vehicle and a cradle in the form of a secondary supporting beam mounted to the columns for supporting the engine assembly thereon.
4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the inertia transmitting means comprises a linkage connected between the engine and the supporting structure for restricting relative movement therebetween.
5. The vehicle of claim 4 wherein the linkage comprises a pair of link members being pivotally mounted at respective first ends on the engine and at respective second ends on the supporting structure.
6. The vehicle of claim 5 wherein the links are mounted on a front end of the engine assembly and extend generally horizontally therefrom for connecting to the support structure such that motion of the front end of the engine assembly is substantially limited to upward and downward deflections.
7. A motor coach comprising: a supporting structure being mounted for movement in a forward direction and including a rear axle support comprising a pair of main supporting beams, a pair of columns mounting each main supporting beam above rear axles of the supporting structure and a secondary supporting beam mounted on the columns for supporting the engine assembly thereon; an engine assembly mounted on the supporting structure; an isolator mount mounting the engine assembly on the rear axle support; and an inertia transmitting means comprising a pair of links being pivotally mounted on a front end of the engine assembly to extend generally horizontally therefrom and connect to the supporting structure for substantially restricting motion of the front end of the engine assembly to generally upward and downward deflections for transmitting the inertia of the engine to the supporting structure.
PCT/CA1999/000427 1998-05-26 1999-05-21 Dynamic inertial structural stiffening linkage WO1999061272A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002333538A CA2333538A1 (en) 1998-05-26 1999-05-21 Dynamic inertial structural stiffening linkage

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US8663898P 1998-05-26 1998-05-26
US60/086,638 1998-05-26

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1999061272A1 true WO1999061272A1 (en) 1999-12-02

Family

ID=22199882

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/CA1999/000427 WO1999061272A1 (en) 1998-05-26 1999-05-21 Dynamic inertial structural stiffening linkage

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CA (1) CA2333538A1 (en)
WO (1) WO1999061272A1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102008002350A1 (en) * 2008-06-11 2009-12-17 Deere & Company, Moline Device for fastening an engine to a frame of an agricultural or industrial utility vehicle
US10502308B2 (en) 2016-12-22 2019-12-10 Polaris Industries Inc. Driveline for powersports vehicle

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3825090A (en) * 1973-08-08 1974-07-23 Gen Motors Corp Rotary engine and transmission assembly mounting system
GB2117335A (en) * 1982-03-20 1983-10-12 Magirus Deutz Ag A bus or other vehicle with a transverse rear-mounted drive unit
US4518058A (en) * 1981-12-21 1985-05-21 Moog Automotive, Inc. Engine torgue resisting strut and vibration damper
EP0566178A1 (en) * 1992-04-17 1993-10-20 General Motors Corporation Hydraulic torque strut with decoupling and related mounting system

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3825090A (en) * 1973-08-08 1974-07-23 Gen Motors Corp Rotary engine and transmission assembly mounting system
US4518058A (en) * 1981-12-21 1985-05-21 Moog Automotive, Inc. Engine torgue resisting strut and vibration damper
GB2117335A (en) * 1982-03-20 1983-10-12 Magirus Deutz Ag A bus or other vehicle with a transverse rear-mounted drive unit
EP0566178A1 (en) * 1992-04-17 1993-10-20 General Motors Corporation Hydraulic torque strut with decoupling and related mounting system

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102008002350A1 (en) * 2008-06-11 2009-12-17 Deere & Company, Moline Device for fastening an engine to a frame of an agricultural or industrial utility vehicle
US8069944B2 (en) * 2008-06-11 2011-12-06 Deere & Company Vehicle engine mount
US10502308B2 (en) 2016-12-22 2019-12-10 Polaris Industries Inc. Driveline for powersports vehicle
US11313452B2 (en) 2016-12-22 2022-04-26 Polaris Industries Inc. Driveline for powersports vehicle
US11624435B2 (en) 2016-12-22 2023-04-11 Polaris Industries Inc. Driveline for powersports vehicle

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2333538A1 (en) 1999-12-02

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