Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – Assembling or joining
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-03
2001-12-04
Hughes, S. Thomas (Department: 3726)
Metal working
Method of mechanical manufacture
Assembling or joining
C029S525020, C029S525080, C029S525110, C123S1950AC, C248S608000, C403S158000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06324744
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the use of mounts for engine accessories and more particularly to a new and improved method of mounting an accessory which facilitates axial aligning the accessory.
BACKGROUND OF RELATED ART
Prior to the present invention various bracket constructions have been devised and utilized to mount automotive accessories to the engine so that they can be driven thereby and are accessible for service. Examples of such prior art are found in the following U.S. Pat. No. 3,730,147 to Buckwald for Engine Accessory Arrangement; U.S. Pat. No. 5,065,713 to W. Seats for Mounting Brackets For Mounting Engine Accessories; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,633,828 to L. Steele for Adjustable Polar Point Mount. While these prior art arrangements provide various constructions for accessory mounting and generally meet their objectives, they do not meet new and higher standards for attaching and supporting an accessory at a first point directly to the engine and then providing axial shifting of the accessory and mount for aligning the accessory for final attachment to the engine by at least one fastener. Moreover and in contrast to the present invention, the prior art mounting constructions and methods are not readily adaptable for accommodating relatively large tolerances common in mass produced components. Also, they do not conveniently and rigidly anchor the accessory at multiple attachment points to the engine so that the accessory is permitted to be axially shifted for positioning in a predetermined desired location for subsequently receiving a fastening member which finishes the attachment of the accessory to the engine and which is capable of handling relatively great torque inputs by a drive belt driven by the engine crankshaft. Furthermore, the prior constructions do not provide for material savings of engine compartment space and for self-locking and self-aligning with respect to the supporting structure.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In vehicle applications, it is often desirable to mount accessory components such as the air conditioner compressor directly to the engine. Because engines have been downsized and engine components have become more cramped, the need has arisen to mount engine driven components by new arrangements and methods. Preferably, the arrangement should space the accessory close to the engine and in an accessible location to enhance service as well as to effectively utilize limited engine compartment space. The new and improved mounting arrangement of this invention meets such needs and requirements in one straightforward unit. More particularly, the mounting arrangement of this invention utilizes a pivotal lower mount assembly with two spaced arm portions having apertures therethrough in which a pair of press fitting bushings extend. A single fastener such as a threaded bolt extends through the two bushings and through a corresponding passage in the accessory which is positioned between the two arm portions. Preferably, one bushing is internally threaded to mesh with threads on the bolt and provision is made to eliminate rotation of the bushing and thus a need for an assembly tool such as a wrench to prevent rotation of the bushing during assembly. Subsequently, the accessory is pivoted about the single fastener of the lower mount so that another fastener can be utilized to firmly attach the accessory to the engine. This invention can be used to mount a variety of components particularly where additional remote mountings are used in conjunction with the mounting provided by this invention.
It is a feature, object and advantage of this invention to provide a new and improved mounting arrangement to facilitate connection of an accessory such as an air conditioner compressor to the vehicle engine. The mounting arrangement provides a self-locking and self aligning function prior to finally securing the accessory to the engine. The mount arrangement employs non-rotatable, axially sliding bushings that adjust axially to accommodate tolerance stack-up variations between the arms of the mount and the corresponding attachment structure of the accessory. Turning of the mounts single connecting bolt which extends through the mount arms and the attachment structure creates forces which axially move the bushings toward one another and against the engine's mount structure. This axial movement clamps and secures the accessory to the bushings and to the engine attachment structure. Due to the action of the sliding bushings, no undue axial clamp force is imparted to the arms of the mounting assembly or frame which could result in damaging the arms. Further, after attachment by the above described mount, the accessory can be pivoted and moved in an axial direction to position the accessory for final attachment to the engine by means of a fastener, such as a cap screw.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2937040 (1960-05-01), Hutton
patent: 3018667 (1962-01-01), Spietz
patent: 3362243 (1968-01-01), Ferguson
patent: 3730147 (1973-05-01), Buchwald
patent: 4221982 (1980-09-01), Raver et al.
patent: 4633828 (1987-01-01), Steela
patent: 4808023 (1989-02-01), Arnold et al.
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patent: 4849665 (1989-07-01), Kitamura et al.
patent: 4899703 (1990-02-01), Buferne
patent: 5065713 (1991-11-01), Seats
patent: 5219138 (1993-06-01), Shier et al.
patent: 5269662 (1993-12-01), Denton et al.
patent: 2240585 (1991-08-01), None
patent: 6-317176 (1994-11-01), None
patent: 8-205464 (1996-08-01), None
patent: 82/03735 (1982-10-01), None
Banks Thomas M
Chuang Vem L
Wheat Kenneth W
Calcaterra Mark P.
Compton Eric
DaimlerChrysler Corporation
Hughes S. Thomas
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