WO2012085766A1

WO2012085766A1 - A hydraulic mount

Info

Publication number: WO2012085766A1
Application number: PCT/IB2011/055666
Authority: WO
Inventors: Erdal Avsar; Ahmet Ozer; Salih Bekir Sonmez
Original assignee: Teklas Kaucuk Sanayi Ve Ticaret A.S.
Priority date: 2010-12-24
Filing date: 2011-12-14
Publication date: 2012-06-28
Also published as: RU2013134485A; EP2655920A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hydraulic vibration damper and the production method thereof. The present invention specifically relates to hydraulic engine mounts used between the engine block and the chassis of a vehicle in order to dampen the vibrations in the engine block.

Description

A HYDRAULIC MOUNT

Related Technical Field

Prior Art

A conventional engine mount generally consists of two rigid members generally produced from metal, one end of which is connected to the engine block, the other to the vehicle chassis and a vibration dampening structure that connects these two members. This structure generally consists of a thick elastomeric body. In hydraulic mounts, vibration-dampening features of liquids are benefited from. In order to achieve this, two liquid chambers, each shaped as a liquid-fillable sac, are formed in a typical hydraulic mount. The chambers are separated from each other by means of a partition member and communicate with each other by means of a narrow passage that enables the liquid to pass from one chamber to the other. The main liquid chamber is formed by means of a groove in the thick elastomeric body and limited by the partition member at the bottom. The compensation chamber is below the partition member and limited by an elastomeric membrane. This flexible membrane is generally supported from below by the rigid member.

In mounts of this type, generally metal spinning method is used in order to leak-proofingly join the elastomeric body, the partition member and the flexible membrane that forms the compensation chamber. In this method, an example of which is shown in EP1306575, the elastomeric body has a metal support member at the lower portion. During the assembly, a protruding portion of this metal support member is moulded over the second rigid member so as to squeeze the edges of the partition member and the flexible membrane in between and thus a tight connection is obtained. However, this method is costly and difficult in terms of application.

An alternative arrangement is described in EP1816371. In this document, the elastomeric body is moulded over a plastic support member at the lower portion. On the other hand, the flexible membrane that forms the compensation chamber is moulded over a plastic rigid member. The assembly is realized by joining these two plastic members by means of friction welding and thus the main liquid chamber, the compensation chamber and the partition member separating the last two are leak-proofingly confined. Afterwards, the mount is seated into a frame that can be fixed to a vehicle chassis. This embodiment is very safe in terms of leak-proofing; however, it is not practical and cost-efficient. Moreover, the process makes it impossible to disassemble the mount without damaging the components thereof.

In EP1628040, an embodiment is described wherein the said connection is realized by means of clips. In this example, the support member at the lower portion of the rubber body and the second rigid member supporting the flexible membrane are manufactured from plastic, and they are joined together by fastening the hook-shaped clips provided on one onto the other. This embodiment provides a practical and low-cost assembly process and also enables the mount to be disassembled without damaging the components if need be. However, it is not safe in terms of leak-proofing.

In order to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages, by means of the present invention, a hydraulic engine mount is described, that can be assembled with an easy and low-cost assembly process, disassembled without damaging the components if need be and that can provide leak-proofing in a safe manner.

Definition of the Figures

The present invention is described in detail by referring to the attached figures. In the figures:

Figure 1 is an exploded isometric view of the hydraulic mount of the present invention.

Figure 2 - is the cross-sectional view of the said mount.

Figure 3 is the cross-sectional views of the mount showing the pre-assembly thereof. (a) and (b) shows the connection region before the pre-assembly, and (c) after the pre-assembly.

Figure 4 is the cross-sectional view of the assembly of the frame.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1	.............	First rigid member
2	.............	Second rigid member
	21	Connection holes
	22	.............	Lateral recess
	23	.............	Vertical channel
	25	.............	Housing
	200	.............	Top surface of second rigid member
3	.............	Elastomeric body
	31	.............	Upper portion
	32	.............	Lower portion
	320	.............	Top surface of lower portion
4	.............	Support member
	45	.............	Hook-shaped leg
10	.............	Partition member
	12	.............	Upper plate
	11	.............	Elastomeric diaphragm
	13	.............	Lower plate
5	.............	Flexible membrane
9	.............	Stud bolt
7	.............	Rigid frame
	75	.............	Top beam
	71	.............	Arm
	73	.............	Arm end
	72	.............	Hole
	76	.............	Protrusion
	760	.............	Protrusion bottom surface
	74	.............	Ear
	740	.............	Ear bottom surface
A	.............	Main liquid chamber
B	.............	Compensation chamber
C	.............	Passage

Detailed Description of the Invention

As shown in the exploded view in Figure 1, the hydraulic engine mount of the present invention is composed of a first rigid member (1) preferably connected to the engine and a second rigid member (2) preferably connected to the vehicle chassis, an elastomeric body (3) connected to the first rigid member (1), a support member (4) strengthening the lower portion (32) of the body (3), a partition member (10) composed of an upper plate (12), a lower plate (13) and an elastomeric diaphragm (11) and a flexible membrane (5) connected to the said second rigid member (2) and a rigid frame (7) that surrounds the whole mount and that is fixed to the second rigid member (2) by means of stud bolts (9).

As shown in detail in Figure 2, the first chamber, that is the main liquid chamber (A) is realized by means of a cavity formed in the thick elastomeric body (3). The elastomeric body (3) is a hollow, truncated cone and at its upper portion (31) is joined with the first rigid member (1) to be connected to the engine block. In order to achieve a specific unity at the lower portion (32) at the other end, the elastomeric body (3) is joined with the collar-shaped support member (4) which is preferably made of plastic. The elastomeric body (3) is manufactured by being moulded over the support member (4) and the first rigid member (1) at the other end so as to surround both and is bonded to these components by vulcanization.

Thus, the main liquid chamber (A) is limited by the elastomeric body (3) from above and by the partition member (10) from below, and the second chamber, that is the compensation chamber (B) is located below the partition member (10). The compensation chamber (B) is limited by a flexible elastomeric membrane (5) from below. This flexible membrane (5) is manufactured by being moulded over and integrated with the second rigid member (2) to be connected to the vehicle chassis. Second rigid member (2) is connected to the vehicle chassis preferably via connection holes (21) provided on it.

The partition member (10) is composed of two plates (12, 13) and an elastomeric diaphragm (11) confined between these two components. The diaphragm (11) is in direct contact with the liquid in the main liquid chamber (A) by one surface and with the compensation chamber (B) by the other surface by means of the grilled-structure of the plates (12, 13), and there is enough clearance for the diaphragm (11) to make low-amplitude oscillation between these two plates (12, 13).

The narrow passage (C) providing the communication between two liquid chambers (A, B) is peripherally formed on the partition member (10). The passage (C) opens to the main liquid chamber (A) through an opening (121) on the upper plate (12) and to the compensation chamber (B) through an opening (131) on the lower plate (13).

The assembly of the hydraulic mount of the present invention in a leak-proofing manner is preferably realized in two steps. The pre-assembly provides the integrity of the mount before the assembly of the frame (7). For this purpose, flexible hook-shaped legs (45) are provided on the support member (4) strengthening the lower portion (32) of the elastomeric body (3) as shown in Figure 3. These legs (45) are inserted in and engaged with corresponding housings (25) formed on the rigid member (2). The legs (45) are preferably fork-shaped and positioned all around the support member (4) in at least one, preferably two pairs. In Figure 3-a and 3-b, the legs (45) are shown before pre-assembly, and in 3-c after pre-assembly.

The leak-proofing confinement of the main liquid chamber (A), the compensation chamber (B) of the hydraulic mount and the partition member (10) therebetween is realized by the assembly of the frame (7).

The frame (7), whereof the state before the pre-assembly is shown in detail in Figure 4 and the state after the assembly in the cross-sectional view in Figure 2, is a plastic or preferably metal, almost inverted U-profiled member, having two vertical arms (71) connected to a top beam (75) and extending from two sides. The arms (71) have ends (73) to be inserted into vertical channels (23) on the rigid member (2). In these ends (73), holes (72) are provided, that laterally pass through the cross-section of the frame (7). On the rigid member (2) to which the frame (7) will be fixed, lateral recesses (22) are provided so as to align with these holes (72) when the ends (73) of the arms (71) are seated in the vertical channels (23). These recesses (22) are shaped so as to form passages that open to the said channels (23) by starting from the outer surface of the rigid member (2).

On each arm (71) of the frame (7), a protrusion (76) is provided on the upper portion of the end (73) to be inserted into the channel (23). The erroneous assembly of the frame (7) with the rigid member (2) is prevented by the bottom surface (760) of this protrusion (76) seating onto the top surface (200) of the rigid member (2).

An ear (74) protruding inwards is formed on each arm (71) of the frame (7) and above the said protrusion (76). When the frame (7) is mounted to the rigid member (2), the bottom surface (740) of this ear (74) is seated onto the top surface (320) of the lower portion (32) of the elastomeric body (3). Thus, when the frame (7) is fastened to the rigid member (2), the elastomeric body (3), the partition member (10) and the flexible membrane (5) are tightly pressed towards each other, thereby leak-proofingly confining the hydraulic fluid.

The desired tightness of the fastening of the frame (7) to the rigid member (2) is realized by means of stud bolts (9) passing through the said recesses (22) on the rigid member (2) and the holes (72) on the arms (71) of the frame (7).

In the preferred arrangement of the present invention, this stud bolt (9) is shaped as a pin having a circular cross-section, and the holes and the recesses (72, 22) are shaped as circular openings in compliance with this formation. In different embodiments of the present invention, stud bolts (9) and corresponding openings (72, 22), all having elliptical, quadrangular or different cross-sections can be used. In other alternatives of the present invention, this stud bolt (9) can be shaped as a bolt.

Claims

A hydraulic vibration damper that is used for dampening the vibrations occurring between two structures oscillating with respect to each other; having a first rigid member (1) and a second rigid member (2); consisting of a main liquid chamber (A) that is limited with a thick elastomeric body (3) fastened to the first rigid member (1) and that can be filled with a vibration-dampening liquid, and of a compensation chamber (B) that is separated from the main chamber (A) by a partition member (10) and that is limited by a flexible membrane (5) fastened to the second rigid member (2); wherein the said two chambers (A, B) communicate with each other by means of a narrow passage (C) that is provided on the said partition member (10) and that allows bidirectional flow; characterized in that the leak-proofingly joining of the elastomeric body (3) with the second rigid member (2) by squeezing the partition member (10) and the flexible membrane (5) in between is realized by means of a rigid frame (7) that is seated onto the said elastomeric body (3) and that can be fastened to the said second rigid member (2).
A vibration damper as in Claim 1, characterized in that the said rigid frame (7) have an almost U-shaped cross-section composed of two vertical arms (71) having ends (73) to be seated into the vertical channels (23) provided on the said second rigid member (2) and of a horizontal beam (75) connecting the last two.
A vibration damper as in Claim 2, characterized in that a transverse hole (72) is provided on the said end (73) and a passage-shaped recess (22) opening to the said channel (23), aligned with this hole (72) is provided on the said rigid member (2), and in that the rigid frame (7) is fastened to the rigid member (2) by means of a common stud bolt (9) passing through these recesses and holes (22, 72).
A vibration damper as in Claim 3, characterized in that a protrusion (76) is provided on at least one, preferably both arms (71) of the said frame (7), having a bottom surface (760) to be seated onto the top surface (200) of the said rigid member (2).
A vibration damper as in Claim 4, characterized in that an ear (74) is provided on at least one, preferably both arms (71) of the said frame (7), that protrudes inwards and the bottom surface (740) of which is seated onto the top surface (320) of the lower portion (32) of the elastomeric body (3).
A vibration damper as in Claims 1-5, characterized in that the said elastomeric body (3) is shaped substantially as a truncated cone, is fastened to the first rigid member (1) at its upper portion (31) so as to be moulded over this component and consists a support member (4) to which it is fastened at its lower portion (32) by being moulded over.
A vibration damper as in Claim 6, characterized in that the said support member (4) is shaped as a collar manufactured from metal or plastic.
A vibration damper as in Claim 7, characterized in that the said support member (4) consists of at least one hook-shaped leg (45) that protrudes from the lower portion (32) of the elastomeric body (3), extending towards the second rigid member (2).
A vibration damper as in Claim 8, characterized in that the said leg (45) is seated in and engaged with a housing (25) provided on the second rigid member (2) for realizing the pre-assembly of the elastomeric body (3) to the second rigid member (2).
A vibration damper as in Claims 8-9, characterized in that the said hook-shaped leg (45) is fork-shaped with two ends.
A vibration damper as in Claims 3-10, characterized in that the said stud bolt (9) is a pin having a circular cross-section.
A vibration damper as in Claims 3-10, characterized in that the said stud bolt (9) has an elliptical or quandrangular cross-section.
A vibration damper as in Claims 3-10, characterized in that the said stud bolt (9) is shaped as a bolt that is fastened by screwing.
A vibration damper as in any one of the claims above, characterized in that the said partition member (10) is composed of an elastomeric diaphragm (11) confined between a grill-shaped upper plate (12) and a grill-shaped lower plate (13).
A vibration damper as in any one of the above claims, characterized in that the said narrow passage (C) is formed around the periphery of the partition member (10).
A vibration damper as in any one of the above claims, characterized in that the said narrow passage (C) opens to the main liquid chamber (A) by means of an opening (121) on the said upper plate (12) and to the compensation chamber (B) by means of an opening (131) on the lower plate (13).
A vibration damper as in any one of the above claims, characterized in that that said elastomeric diaphragm (11) interacts with the liquid in the main liquid chamber (A) by means of the grilled-structure of the upper plate (12) and with the liquid in the compensation chamber (B) by means of the grilled-structure of the lower plate (13), and has a limited freedom of movement enough for dampening low-amplitude vibrations transferred from the liquid.
A hydraulic vibration damper as in any one of the above claims, characterized in that the said first rigid member (1) is fastened to a vehicle engine block, and the second rigid member (2) to the vehicle chassis.