TRUNNION MOUNT FOR MOUNTING AN ENGINE

Abstract

The present disclosure discloses a trunnion mount for mounting an engine, in particular a combustion engine, to a chassis, comprising a support element rigidly connected and/or connectable to the engine having a ring portion with an outer bearing surface, which may be arranged concentrically around the crankshaft; a female support having an inner bearing surface for surrounding the bearing surface of the support element, the female support forming the link between the chassis and the engine; and a rubber bearing arranged between the inner bearing surface of the female support and the outer bearing surface of the support element. In one or more examples, the trunnion mount includes a rubber bearing that is directly vulcanized on at least one of the bearing surfaces and/or wherein the ring portion is formed as a separate element from a mounting portion of the support element and connectable thereto via axial screws.

Claims

1. An engine comprising a trunnion mount for mounting the engine to a chassis, comprising: a support element rigidly connected to the engine having a ring portion with an outer bearing surface, the outer bearing surface of the ring portion arranged concentrically around a crankshaft of the engine, the crankshaft extending through the ring portion, a female support having an inner bearing surface surrounding the bearing surface of the support element, the female support configured for forming a link between the chassis and the engine, and a rubber bearing arranged between the inner bearing surface of the female support and the outer bearing surface of the support element, wherein the outer bearing surface of the ring portion and inner bearing surface of the female is circular in cross section and has a cylindrical form, wherein the rubber bearing is radially positioned between the inner bearing surface of the female support and the outer bearing surface of the support element, wherein a rubber surface of the rubber bearing is press-fit with the outer bearing surface of the ring portion and/or the inner bearing surface of the female support.

2. The engine comprising the trunnion mount of claim 1, wherein the ring portion is connected to the support element via axial screws, and wherein the axial screws connect the ring portion to the support element without passing through the rubber bearing.

3. The engine comprising the trunnion mount of claim 1, wherein the support element comprises a mounting portion by which it is rigidly connected to the engine, wherein the ring portion is formed as a separate element from the mounting portion and connected thereto via axial screws, wherein the mounting portion of the support element has a mounting surface to which one axial end surface of the ring portion is abutting.

4. The engine comprising the trunnion mount of claim 3, wherein the mounting portion has a protrusion extending in an axial direction relative to the mounting surface, the protrusion abutting with an inner or outer side surface of the ring portion, wherein the protrusion is ring-shaped and/or concentric with the mounting surface.

5. The engine comprising the trunnion mount according to claim 1, wherein the female support has a ring section surrounding the ring portion of the support element around an entire circumference, wherein the ring section is formed as a single piece.

6. The engine comprising the trunnion mount according to claim 5, wherein the female support further comprises mounting pads for mounting the female support on the chassis.

7. The engine comprising the trunnion mount according to claim 6, wherein the ring section and the mounting pads are formed integrally as a single piece.

8. The engine according to claim 1, wherein the rubber bearing is one out of: a) directly vulcanized on the inner bearing surface and press-fit with the outer bearing surface; and b) directly vulcanized on the outer bearing surface and press-fit with the inner bearing surface.

9. The engine comprising the trunnion mount according to claim 1, wherein the ring portion is connectable to the engine in a pre-assembled state where it is already connected to the female support.

10. An apparatus comprising a chassis and an engine, wherein the engine is connected to the chassis by at least one trunnion mount according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a mobile working machine.

11. A method for mounting an engine, including a combustion engine, to a chassis via a trunnion mount, wherein the trunnion mount comprises: a support element rigidly connectable to the engine having a ring portion with an outer bearing surface, a female support having an inner bearing surface surrounding the bearing surface of the support element, the female support configured for forming a link between the chassis and the engine, and a rubber bearing radially positioned between the inner bearing surface of the female support and the outer bearing surface of the support element, the method comprising: pre-assembling the ring portion of the support element with the female support via a press-fit operation; and mounting the ring portion to the engine in a pre-assembled state where the ring portion is already connected to the female support.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the method comprises a step of connecting the ring portion to a mounting portion via axial screws, wherein the axial screws connect the ring portion to the support element without passing through the rubber bearing.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the mounting portion of the support element is formed integrally with an engine casing or an engine block.

14. An engine comprising a trunnion mount for mounting the engine to a chassis, comprising: a crankshaft; a support element rigidly connected to the engine having a ring portion with an outer bearing surface, the outer bearing surface of the ring portion arranged concentrically around the crankshaft of the engine, the crankshaft extending through the ring portion, a female support having an inner bearing surface surrounding the outer bearing surface of the support element, the female support configured for forming a link between the chassis and the engine, and a rubber bearing arranged between the inner bearing surface of the female support and the outer bearing surface of the support element, wherein the rubber bearing is directly vulcanized on at least one of the inner bearing surface and the outer bearing surface.

15. The engine according to claim 14, wherein the support element further comprises a mounting portion by which it is rigidly connected to the engine, and the ring portion is formed one out of a) integrally with the mounting portion of the support element and b) as a separate element from the mounting portion and connected thereto via axial screws with the mounting portion of the support element having a mounting surface to which one axial end surface of the ring portion is abutting.

16. The engine according to claim 14, wherein the outer bearing surface of the ring portion and inner bearing surface of the female support is circular in cross section and has a cylindrical form, wherein the rubber bearing is radially positioned between the inner bearing surface of the female support and the outer bearing surface of the support element.

17. The engine according to claim 14, wherein the rubber bearing is one out of: a) directly vulcanized on the inner bearing surface and press-fit with the outer bearing surface; and b) directly vulcanized on the outer bearing surface and press-fit with the inner bearing surface.

18. The engine according to claim 14, wherein the rubber bearing consists of one or more rubber layers directly vulcanized on at least one of the inner bearing surface and the outer bearing surface and does not comprise any additional metal layers.

19. The engine according to claim 14, wherein the rubber bearing has a cylindrical part extending around an entire circumference between the inner bearing surface and the outer bearing surface.

20. The engine according to claim 14, wherein the outer bearing surface of the ring portion and inner bearing surface of the female support is circular in cross section and has a cylindrical form, wherein the rubber bearing is radially positioned between the inner bearing surface of the female support and the outer bearing surface of the support element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0087] The present disclosure is further described with respect to illustrative figures.

[0088] The figures show:

[0089] FIG. 1 an exploded view of an embodiment of a trunnion mount according to at least one example of the present disclsoure;

[0090] FIG. 2 a perspective view of the embodiment of the trunnion mount in an assembled state and a cut view along a plane extending in an axial and radial direction, showing the trunnion mount and a final assembled state, according to at least one example of the present disclosure;

[0091] FIG. 3 two cut views along a plane extending in an axial and radial direction, showing two steps of an example method for assembling the trunnion mount, according to at least one example of the present disclosure; and

[0092] FIG. 4 a flow chart of an example method, according to at least one example of the present disclsoure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0093] FIGS. 1 to 3 show an embodiment of a trunnion mount, in accordance to at least one example of the present disclosure. The trunnion mount shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrates all the above-described aspects of the present disclosure provided in combination. The features described with respect to the various aspects can however also be applied on their own and without the features described with respect to other aspects.

[0094] It is further noted that FIGS. 1-3 show example configurations with relative positioning of the various components. If shown directly contacting each other, or directly coupled, then such elements may be referred to as directly contacting or directly coupled, respectively, at least in one example Similarly, elements shown contiguous or adjacent to one another may be contiguous or adjacent to each other, respectively, at least in one example. As an example, components laying in face-sharing contact with each other may be referred to as in face-sharing contact. As another example, elements positioned apart from each other with only a space there-between and no other components may be referred to as such, in at least one example. As yet another example, elements shown above/below one another, at opposite sides to one another, or to the left/right of one another may be referred to as such, relative to one another. Further, as shown in the figures, a topmost element or point of element may be referred to as a “top” of the component and a bottommost element or point of the element may be referred to as a “bottom” of the component, in at least one example. As used herein, top/bottom, upper/lower, above/below, may be relative to a vertical axis of the figures and used to describe positioning of elements of the figures relative to one another. As such, elements shown above other elements are positioned vertically above the other elements, in one example. As yet another example, shapes of the elements depicted within the figures may be referred to as having those shapes (e.g., such as being circular, straight, planar, curved, rounded, chamfered, angled, or the like). Further, elements shown intersecting one another may be referred to as intersecting elements or intersecting one another, in at least one example. Further still, an element shown within another element or shown outside of another element may be referred as such, in one example.

[0095] The embodiment of a trunnion mount is used for connecting an engine 1 to a chassis via a support element having a ring portion 5, a rubber bearing 4 and a female support 3, with the female support 3 forming the link between the chassis and the engine 1.

[0096] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the support element has a ring portion 5 with an outer bearing surface 10, onto which the rubber bearing 4 is directly vulcanized. The rubber bearing 4 may extend around the entire circumference of the ring portion 5.

[0097] In the embodiment, the side surfaces of the rubber bearing 4 are tapered.

[0098] In the embodiment, the rubber bearing consists of one or more rubber layers directly vulcanized on the bearing surface 10 and may not comprise any additional metal layers.

[0099] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the ring portion 5 is a separate element that can be connected to a mounting portion 2 of the support element via axial screws 6.

[0100] For this purpose, in the embodiment, holes 12 extend through the ring portion 5 in the axial direction from a first end surface of the ring portion to a second end surface of the ring portion 5 extending in the assembled state through the female support 3. The holes 12 are therefore still accessible when the ring portion is mounted to the female support 3.

[0101] The mounting portion 2 of the support element is provided with a ring-shaped mounting surface 8 abutting with the second end surface of the ring portion 5 and provided with screw holes 13 to which the screws 6 are connected. Further, the mounting portion 2 of the support element is provided with a ring-shaped protrusion 9 surrounding the ring-shaped mounting surface 8 and abutting with an outer side surface of the ring portion 5 next to the second end surface, thereby centering the ring portion 5 on the mounting portion 2.

[0102] The mounting portion 2, also referred to as a support, can be formed integrally with the engine casing and/or the engine block. Alternatively, the mounting portion 2 can be provided as a mounting plate connected to the engine casing and/or the engine block via screws. The ring portion 5 and/or the screws are therefore either directly connected to the engine casing and/or the engine block, or via at least one intermediate element.

[0103] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the ring portion 5 provided with the rubber bearing is axially press-fit into the bearing surface 11 of the female support 3. In at least one example, the bearing surface has a profile in the axial direction that will center the rubber bearing in the axial direction, in particular by providing a raised portion at both axial ends of the bearing surface 11.

[0104] The female support 3 has a ring portion extending around the entire circumference of the ring portion 5 that is formed as a single piece, for example as a cast iron part. The female support 3 further has mounting pads 7. In the embodiment, the mounting pads are formed integrally with the ring portion. In particular, the entire female support 3 may be formed as a single cast iron piece.

[0105] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, the rubber bearing 4 and/or the ring portion 5 is connected to the female support 3 before the ring portion is connected to the engine. In particular, the rubber bearing 4 and/or the ring portion 5 can be connected to the female support 3 at the supplier plant and already delivered a unit to be mounted on the engine.

[0106] In particular, a press-fit between the rubber bearing 4 and the female support 3 can be done before the ring portion 5 is mounted on the engine and in particular at the supplier plant.

[0107] In a certain combination of the various aspects of the present disclosure, according to an embodiment of the disclsoure, the trunnion mount is provided by:

[0108] A support 2 rigidly mounted on the engine.

[0109] A bearing composed of an inner metal ring 5 and a rubber layer 4 directly vulcanized on inner ring.

[0110] A female support 3 in which the rubber/metal bearing is press fitted into at supplier plant. This female support and the rubber to metal ring 5 are linked to the support 2 through axial screws 6.

[0111] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, assembly of the trunnion mount is done in two main steps:

[0112] Step A: Press fitting of the rubber/metal ring 5 previously vulcanized together into the female support 3. This step is achieved at supplier plant.

[0113] Step B: Assembly of the module rubber/metal ring 5 to the support 2 thanks to axial fixation screws 6.

[0114] The support 2 can be connected to a casing of a gearing box

[0115] In the embodiment, the mounting portion 2 of the support element is formed as a cast iron part. In the embodiment, the mounting portion 2 is mounted on a casing of a transmission box connecting the crank shaft with the cam shaft and/or secondary power outputs. The transmission box is mounted on one axial side of the engine block. Alternatively, the mounting portion 2 can be formed integrally with the casing of the transmission box or the engine block.

[0116] In at least one example, the diameter of the outer bearing surface 10 of the ring portion 4 is larger than 20 cm, for example, larger than 30 cm. In the embodiment, a diameter of 41 cm is used.

[0117] Turning now to FIG. 4, FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of an example method 400 according to one or more examples of the present disclsoure. Method 400 may be a method for mounting an engine, in particular a combustion engine, to a chassis via a trunnion mount. In at least one example, the mount may be a trunnion mount including one or more of the features described above. In at least one example, the trunnion mount comprises a support element rigidly connected and/or connectable to the engine having a ring portion with an outer bearing surface, which may be arranged concentrically around the crankshaft; a female support having an inner bearing surface for surrounding the bearing surface of the support element, the female support forming the link between the chassis and the engine; and a rubber bearing arranged between the inner bearing surface of the female support and the outer bearing surface of the support element.

[0118] Method 400 comprises a step of pre-assembling the ring portion of the support element with the female support at step 402. Additionally, method 400 comprises a step of mounting the ring portion to the engine in the pre-assembled state, where the ring portion is already connected to the female support, at step 404.

[0119] In one or more examples, method 400 may further comprise a step of mounting a mounting portion of the support element to the engine, wherein the ring portion is mounted to the engine by connecting it to the mounting portion, at step 406. In one or more examples, the mounting portion of the support element may be formed integrally with an engine casing or an engine block. Further, in one or more examples of method 400, the ring portion of the support element and the female support are pre-assembled via a press-fit operation.

[0120] Major advantages of the present disclosure are as follows:

[0121] No small tolerances to be achieved at the bearing surface of the ring portion because the rubber is directly vulcanized on axial flanged ring. Thus, easy serialization may be achieved.

[0122] Optimized lateral packaging due to removal of vertical screws on the female support allows for the following:

[0123] Reduced proximity of surrounding components, which leads to a reduced risk of collision

[0124] Increased rubber volume in same packaging, which leads to an increased bearing lifetime

[0125] Assembly by rubber bearing and support by axial screws enables easy access to screws for maintenance operations.

[0126] Two particularly advantageousaspects of the present disclosure therefore are:

[0127] The trunnion mount being made of a rubber layer directly vulcanized on a support ring axially bolted to the engine, directly or through intermediate parts.

[0128] The axial press fitting of the rubber/metal ring into female part, allowing rubber compression without vertical screws and without half shelves.

[0129] In the embodiment, the engine is a linear engine. The same principle can however also be applied to other engine forms such as V-engines.