Torque roll axis mounting system for serial range extenders without a through-drive

Abstract

A mounting device is provided for oscillatingly mounting a range extender, which consists of an internal combustion engine and a generator, on a body and/or a chassis of a motor vehicle by way of vibration-damping elements. At least two of the vibration-damping elements are integrated in load-carrying bearings and one additional one is integrated in a supporting bearing for supporting moments. The mounting device is characterized in that the vibration-damping elements of the mounting device at least for the load-carrying bearings are secured to the range extender, i.e. a first vibration-damping element is secured to the internal combustion engine and a second vibration-damping element is secured to the generator.

Claims

1. A mounting device arrangement for oscillatingly mounting a range extender on a vehicle body and/or a chassis, the mounting device arrangement comprising: an internal combustion engine and a generator of the range extender; only two load-carrying bearings in each of which a respective vibration-damping element is integrated; only one supporting bearing located away from an axis extending between the two load-carrying bearings, the supporting bearing being arranged to resist moments generated by the range extender around the axis between the two load-carrying bearings and having a supporting bearing vibration-damping element integrated in the supporting bearing, wherein the vibration-damping elements of the two load-carrying bearings of the mounting device are secured to the range extender, in that a first vibration-damping element of the respective vibration-damping elements of the two load-carrying bearings is secured to the internal combustion engine to resist rotation about the axis between the two load-carrying bearings, and a second vibration-damping element of the respective vibration-damping elements of the two load-carrying bearings is secured to the generator to resist rotation about the axis between the two load-carrying bearings.

2. The mounting device arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the supporting bearing vibration-damping element integrated in the supporting bearing is secured to the range extender.

3. The mounting device arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the axis extending between the two load-carrying bearings of the range extender is a torque roll axis of the range extender.

4. The mounting device arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the axis extending between the two load-carrying bearings of the range extender is a torque roll axis of the range extender.

5. The mounting device arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the two load-carrying bearings and the supporting bearing have a rigidity which increases with increasing displacement from respective unloaded positions in a range of displacement corresponding to a lateral displacement of the supporting bearing from 0 to 3 mm during damping of torsional vibrations of the range extender about the torque roll axis.

6. The mounting device arrangement according to claim 5, wherein when the two load-carrying bearings are displaced about the torque roll axis in response to the torsional vibrations of the range extender, the two load-carrying bearings exert a same restoring moment counter to the torsional vibrations on the range extender.

7. The mounting device arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the supporting bearing is configured to be connected with the vehicle body via a pivot.

8. The mounting device arrangement according to claim 7, further comprising: a frame configured to connect the one of the two load-carrying bearings having the first vibration-damping element to the vehicle body.

9. The mounting device arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising: a frame configured to connect the one of the two load-carrying bearings having the first vibration-damping element to the vehicle body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a mounting device for a range extender in a first view;

(2) FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a mounting device for a range extender in a second view; and

(3) FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the mounting device on a motor vehicle body.

(4) In all figures, identical technical components are designated with identical reference symbols and all features more closely described can be essential for the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(5) FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate a mounting device for a range extender for oscillatingly mounting a unit consisting of an internal 1 combustion engine 1 and a generator 2 driven by it on a motor vehicle body 4 (see FIG. 3). The internal combustion engine 1 is a parallel-twin engine, the forces of which are fully compensated by balancer shafts in the vertical axis direction. The tilting moments or also rolling moments about the longitudinal axis can be transferred by the described invention in the form of free rolling oscillation, which the range extender executes about its torque roll axis 3.

(6) Aside from run-up, no housing moment, also known as output torque, is to be supported during operation of the range extender affixed below the front hood (not shown) on the body 4 of the vehicle.

(7) The vehicle body 4 is connected in the customary manner with two vehicle frame side members 5, 5 by means of a connection (not illustrated in detail), which frame side members in turn are connected by a cross member 6. A first bearing device of the mounting device for the range extender is supported on the cross member 6, that is a frame made up of rods 8 and joints 9 on the side of the body or the Chassis, onto which the range extender is secured, by interposing a vibration-damping element 11, via a second bearing device as a seat 10 on the side of the unit, which is connected directly with the internal combustion engine 1. The seat 10 on the side of the unit and the vibration-damping element 11, together form a first load-carrying bearing (10, 11) for the range extender.

(8) The generator 2 is directly flange-mounted on the internal combustion engine 1. A support of the generator 2 (not shown in FIG. 3) on one side of the unit extending to the interior of the motor vehicle, in the proximity of a bulkhead (not show of the body 4 and a body tunnel 7 (FIG. 3), occurs via further rods 8, as further first bearing device on the side of the body or chassis of the mounting device for the range extender, by interposing a further vibration-damping element 11 via a further second bearing device as further seat 10 on the side of the unit, directly on the generator 2. The further seat 10 on the side of the unit and the further vibration-damping element 11 together form a second load-carrying bearing (10, 11) for the range extender. The two rods 8 pointing downward are connected on the side of the vehicle with the underbody (not shown); the rod 8 facing rearward is connected on the side of the vehicle with the body tunnel 7.

(9) The seat 10 on one side of the unit or the further seat 10 on another side of the unit can alternatively also be designed like a rubber/metal mount in one piece with the vibration-damping element 11 or with the further vibration-damping element 11, in each case as first and second load-carrying bearings. The rods 8, 8 may be formed of fiber reinforced plastic and the joints 9 of light metal. To secure the rods 8, 8 of the first bearing device on the side of the body, seating fixtures 12 are provided on the side of the body for seating the rods 8, 8. The structure of the first bearing device for seating the front engine mount is also linked to the frame side rails 5, 5 and is designed as a light, rigid framework in CFC-aluminum composite construction. The rigidities of the link in the longitudinal direction will still be increased by supporting members from the engine mount seating on the cross member 6.

(10) A hinged support bearing 13 for a hinged support (not shown) for a soft, movable support for the range extender, transversely on the body 4 or on one of the frame side members 5, 5, is secured to the bottom of the internal combustion engine 1 in the flange-mounting area of the generator 2. In this way, the range extender is pivoted about its torque roll axis 3 with two seats 10, 10 on the side of the unit and the soft hinged support bearing 13. Reactive forces are prevented because the range extender can pivot freely about its torque roll axis 3. The inertia sensor of the range extender and the axis direction of the installed crankshaft are decisive for the direction of the torque roll axis 3, which always runs through the center of gravity of the unit consisting of the internal combustion engine 1 and the generator 2. The bearing devices form respective linking structures for the two seats 10, 10 on the side of the unit with the vibration-damping elements 11, 11 as first and second load-carrying bearings on the body of the vehicle and together with the hinged support bearing 13 and the hinged support form the mounting device for the range extender.

(11) The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.