Engine cover structure

Details Engine cover structure Engine cover structure

1999-09-30

2001-03-06

McMahon, Marguerite (Department: 3747)

Internal-combustion engines

Frame construction

Horizontal cylinder

C123S1950HC

Reexamination Certificate

active

06196182

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an engine cover structure. More specifically, the present invention relates to an engine mount and structure used to attach a timing belt cover.
In a conventional engine mount and timing belt cover, the timing belt cover includes an inside cover and an outside cover. The timing belt is enclosed by the cover when the inside and outside covers are joined. The inside cover is secured to the engine with bolts that fit into threaded openings in the engine block. The outside cover must then be visually aligned in relation to a plurality of openings around the perimeter of the inside cover. If the outside cover is not correctly aligned, the belt cover clamping bolts will not seat properly. An improper alignment leads to misalignment problems including damaging or stripping the threaded opening designed to receive the belt cover clamping bolts. In order to prevent this kind of damage, the outside cover must often be realigned, making assembly more time consuming, thereby decreasing efficiency.
If a separate part is provided to allow the timing belt cover to be aligned, the number of parts is increased, the structure becomes more complex, and costs are increased.
Referring to
FIGS. 20 through 22
, a conventional engine mount and timing belt cover
202
includes a cylinder block
204
with a cylinder head
206
mounted thereon. A crank shaft
208
is on cylinder block
204
. A crank timing pulley
210
is fixed to crank shaft
208
using a crank pulley attachment bolt
212
. A cam shaft
214
is disposed on cylinder head
206
. A cam timing pulley
216
is fixed to cam shaft
214
using a cam pulley attachment bolt
218
. A timing belt
220
, wrapped around crank pulley
210
and cam pulley
216
, is driven by crank shaft
208
.
Other engine components can be operated by timing belt
220
. A water pump
222
is an engine component that is operated by timing belt
220
. A water pump housing
224
attaches to cylinder block
204
with a plurality of water pump clamping bolts
226
. A belt tensioner
228
attaches to cylinder block
204
with a tensioner attachment bolt
230
. An oil pump
232
is another engine component operated by timing belt
220
.
A timing belt inside cover
234
attaches to cylinder head
206
, water pump
222
, oil pump
232
, cylinder block
204
, and cylinder head
206
using a plurality of inside cover clamping bolts (not shown in the figures).
A timing belt outside cover
238
attaches to timing belt inside cover
234
, water pump
222
, and oil pump
232
using a plurality of belt cover clamping bolts
240
disposed along the perimeter of timing belt cover
238
. Timing belt cover
238
forms a belt chamber
236
for timing belt
220
.
When timing belt cover
238
is attached, a plurality of belt cover bolt insertion openings (not shown in the figures), formed on timing belt cover
238
, are aligned with a plurality of belt cover bolt openings
242
formed on timing belt inside cover
234
. Belt cover clamping bolts
240
are then screwed in to attach timing belt cover
238
.
This type of timing belt cover structure has been presented in Japanese laid-open utility model publication number 6-25652, Japanese utility model number 2545119, Japanese laid-open utility model publication number 5-79195, Japanese laid-open utility model publication number 63-146256, Japanese laid-open utility model publication number 63-9444, Japanese laid-open patent publication number 7-259578, Japanese laid-open patent publication number 6-193460, Japanese laid-open patent publication number 5-203019, Japanese laid-open utility model publication number 5-89845, and Japanese laid-open utility model publication number 3-43563.
In the conventional technology disclosed in Japanese examined utility model publication number 6-25652, a pump case of a water pump and an engine mount bracket are disposed adjacent to each other. A ring-shaped rib is disposed on the outer surface of the water pump case to provide improved sealing.
Japanese utility model publication number 2545119 discloses a timing belt cover divided into a plurality of sections.
Japanese laid-open utility model publication number 5-79195 discloses a timing belt cover attached to a pump case with an elastic member interposed therebetween.
Japanese laid-open utility model publication number 63-146256 discloses a timing belt cover divided into sections, and an engine mount bracket disposed on the timing belt cover.
Japanese laid-open utility model publication number 63-9444 discloses an engine mounting bracket seat on an end cover.
Japanese laid-open patent publication number 7-259578 discloses an engine mount attachment seat on a timing belt cover.
Japanese laid-open patent publication number 6-193460 discloses a side of a chain cover toward an engine cylinder block attached to the lower portion of an engine mount bracket.
Japanese laid-open patent publication number 5-203019 discloses an engine mount bracket disposed on a front cover.
Japanese laid-open utility model publication number 5-89845 discloses a longitudinal section of a timing belt cover formed as a high-strength section. An attachment section for the main engine unit is disposed on this high-strength section.
Japanese laid-open utility model publication number 3-43563 discloses an engine mounting structure having radial ribs to connect thick sections of a cam journal, boss, and the like.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an engine mount and cover structure which overcomes the foregoing problems.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an engine mount and cover structure having components which allow for efficient assembly.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an engine structure allowing accurate alignment of a timing belt cover onto an engine.
The present invention provides an engine cover structure in which an engine accessory is fixed to a cylinder block of an engine. A crank shaft is disposed on the cylinder block. A crank timing pulley is fixed to the crank shaft. A cam shaft is disposed on a cylinder head of the engine. A timing pulley is fixed to the cam shaft. A timing belt extends between the crank timing pulley and the cam timing pulley. A timing belt cover is fixed to the engine using belt cover clamping bolts so that the timing belt cover surrounds the timing belt. In this engine cover structure, an engine mount bracket is fixed to the cylinder block. A section of the engine mount bracket and a section of the engine accessory are passed through the timing belt cover from the inside to the outside.
Briefly stated, the present invention provides a section of an engine mount bracket and a section of an engine accessory passing through a timing belt cover from the inside to the outside of the engine. The timing belt cover has an engine accessory opening and an engine mount bracket opening. During engine assembly, the engine accessory opening and engine mount bracket opening are aligned with the engine mount bracket and engine accessory, providing accurate alignment of the timing belt cover onto the engine. The alignment process prevents damage of the timing belt cover bolts as well as the threaded timing belt cover bolt insertion openings, resulting in an efficient process for engine assembly.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a structure for an engine comprising an engine mount bracket attached to the engine; an engine accessory attached to the engine; a timing belt cover attached to the engine; the timing belt cover having at least a accessory insertion opening and a bracket insertion opening; and a section of the engine mount bracket passing through the bracket insertion opening and a section of the engine accessory passing through the accessory insertion opening, thereby accurately aligning the timing belt cover on the engine.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an engine structure comprising an engine accessory attached to a

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