Supports – Resilient support – Nonmetallic resilient element
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-27
2002-02-26
King, Anita (Department: 3632)
Supports
Resilient support
Nonmetallic resilient element
C248S638000, C267S140110
Reexamination Certificate
active
06349918
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
(Not Applicable)
STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT
(Not Applicable)
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to automotive mounting devices, and more particularly to a motor mount insert for retrofit application to an automotive motor mount.
As is well known in the automotive industry, automotive engines or motors are normally installed in trucks and automobiles by mounting them to a cross-member of the vehicle frame via a pair of motor mounts. One particular type of prior art motor mount referred to as a “clam shell” type motor mount comprises a metal backing plate and a metal shell which have a rubber core or insert disposed therebetween. The shell is typically spot-welded to the backing plate, with the rubber core having a configuration which is complimentary to that of the shell so as to be maintained between the shell and the backing plate. The attachment of the motor mount to the cross-member is accomplished by positioning the backing plate upon the top surface of the cross-member. Thereafter, a series of mounting bolts are advanced through respective coaxially aligned sets of apertures disposed within the shell, backing plate and cross-member, with nuts then being applied to the exposed ends of the mounting bolts protruding from the side of the cross-member opposite that having the backing plate of the motor mount positioned thereupon. The rubber core of the prior art motor mount is not formed from rubber alone, but rather comprises a metal base plate having rubber molded thereabout. The base plate itself defines an elongate, circularly configured bore which extends therethrough, and two pairs of tabs which are disposed at respective ones of the opposed ends thereof.
The prior art motor mount is specifically configured to cooperatively engage a corresponding engine bracket of the engine or motor. More particularly, the motor mount is configured such that the engine bracket may be advanced thereover in a manner wherein a pair of apertures disposed within the engine bracket are placeable into coaxial alignment with the bore of the base plate of the rubber core. Once such coaxial alignment has been achieved, a long bolt is advanced through the coaxially aligned apertures and bore, thus facilitating the attachment of the engine bracket to the motor mount. The base plate of the rubber core is formed such that the tabs defined thereby engage the engine bracket in a manner which facilitates the coaxial alignment of the apertures of the engine bracket with the bore of the base plate. More particularly, the engine bracket, when advanced over the shell of the motor mount, engages the pair of tabs at each end of the base plate, with such engagement resulting in the apertures of the engine bracket and bore of the base plate being placed into coaxial alignment with each other, thus allowing for the passage of the long bolt therethrough to facilitate the attachment of the engine bracket to the motor mount.
The prior art motor mounts, when used to facilitate the attachment of the engine or motor to the cross-member of the vehicle frame, effectively dampen excess vibration of the engine due the resiliency of the rubber cores thereof. In this respect, movement of the engine or motor and hence the engine brackets is translated into movement of the shells of the motor mounts, with such movement being dampened by the rubber cores thereof.
Although the prior art motor mounts have proven generally suitable for their intended purposes, they possess certain deficiencies which detract from their overall utility. More particularly, as indicated above, the prior art automotive motor mounts of the clam shell type utilize rubber as the resilient material to fabricate the cores thereof. As is well known to those skilled in the art, rubber is susceptible to degradation due to various environmental factors, such as contamination by automotive fluids, e.g., gasoline, oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, etc., as well as ozone and other atmospheric pollutants. Thus, over time, the rubber cores of the prior art motor mounts typically wear and shrink (as well as being susceptible to other forms of degradation) which substantially reduce or completely impede their efficacy in dampening vibrations and other movements of the motor. As will be recognized, the failure of one or both of the rubber cores of the motor mounts typically results in excess vibration or movement of the motor during operation of the vehicle as could result in damage thereto. Further, the rubber material for the prior art motor mount cores is incapable of applying a substantial pre-load to the shells so as to both desirably increase the stiffness of the motor mount and similarly increase the durability thereof.
With clam shell type motor mounts as currently know in the prior art, once one or both of the rubber cores of the motor mounts become worn, typically the entire motor mount is removed and replaced. As can be appreciated, replacing the entire motor mount as opposed to only the rubber core thereof gives rise to significantly increased costs in the repair operation. Thus, there exists a need in the art for a motor mount insert which can be easily and quickly retrofitted to the shell and backing plate of an existing clam shell type motor mount, thus eliminating the need to replace the entirety of the motor mount.
The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of prior art motor mounts by providing a polyurethane motor mount insert which may be retrofitted to the backing plate and shell of a prior art clam shell type motor mount. More particularly, the motor mount insert of the present invention may be used as a replacement for the rubber core of the prior art motor mount, and operatively positioned between the existing backing plate and shell. The motor mount insert of the present invention itself includes an internal metal base plate which is specifically adapted to allow for the formation of inserts retrofittable to different models of clam shell type motor mounts. The polyurethane construction of the present motor mount insert overcomes the above-described deficiencies associated with the use of rubber, and provides increased durability and reduced susceptibility to failure. These, and other advantages attendant to the present invention, will be discussed in more detail below.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a motor mount insert for retrofit application to a motor mount which is attachable to a engine bracket having a pair of apertures disposed therein. The motor mount is of a clam shell type and includes a backing plate and a shell which, when attached to each other, collectively define a cavity having a maximum cavity width and maximum cavity height. The motor mount insert is positionable between the shell and the backing plate upon the removal of the existing prior art rubber core, and secured therebetween when the shell and the backing plate are reattached to each other.
The motor mount insert of the present invention comprises a base plate which defines a first end having a first pair of tab portions extending therefrom in spaced relation to each other, and a second end having a second pair of tab portions extending therefrom in spaced relation to each other. The base plate further defines an elongate bore which extends therethrough. In the preferred embodiment, the base plate itself comprises a generally rectangular first plate section having a first channel formed therein and first and second flange portions extending therefrom in spaced relation to each other. More particularly, the first plate section includes a body portion, with the first and second flange portions extending along and from respective ones of the opposed longitudinal sides of the body portion in opposite directions. The first and second flange portions preferably extend angularly relative to the body portion, and each have opposed ends which define respective ones of the tab portions of the first and secon
King Anita
Stetina Brunda Garred & Brucker
Szumny Jon A
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