HOOD MODULE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A HOOD MODULE

Abstract

A hood module for attachment on a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine may include a hood body comprised of plastic and a bearing bracket comprised of metal as a rotatable holder for a camshaft in the hood module. The bearing bracket may be attached to the hood body with position accuracy by a joint connection so that the bearing bracket is aligned for attachment on the cylinder head through the hood body. In some examples, a joint element in the form of a sleeve may be used as part of the joint connection between the bearing bracket and the hood body.

Claims

1.-13. (canceled)

14. A hood module for attachment on a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine, the hood module comprising: a hood body comprised of plastic; and a bearing bracket comprised of metal for holding a camshaft in a rotatable manner, wherein the bearing bracket is connected to the hood body by a joint connection so that the bearing bracket is aligned by the hood body for attachment on the cylinder head of the internal combustion engine.

15. The hood module of claim 14 wherein the bearing bracket is connected to the hood body with position accuracy by the joint connection.

16. The hood module of claim 14 wherein the joint connection between the bearing bracket and the hood body comprises at least two joint locations.

17. The hood module of claim 14 wherein the joint connection is formed by at least one joint element.

18. The hood module of claim 17 wherein the at least one joint element comprises a sleeve that is glued into or pressed into at least one of the bearing bracket or the hood body.

19. The hood module of claim 17 wherein the at least one joint element is configured to form a melting zone in the plastic of the hood body or in an auxiliary element.

20. The hood module of claim 14 further comprising at least two mounting holes disposed in at least one of the hood body or the bearing bracket, wherein each of the at least two mounting holes is configured to receive a fastener for fastening the hood module to the cylinder head.

21. The hood module of claim 14 wherein the joint connection is formed by a joint element that comprises a sleeve, the hood module further comprising at least two mounting holes disposed in at least one of the hood body or the bearing bracket, wherein each of the at least two mounting holes is configured to receive a fastener for fastening the hood module to the cylinder head, wherein the joint element is aligned with one of the at least two mounting holes.

22. The hood module of claim 21 wherein the sleeve forms a part of one of the at least two mounting holes.

23. The hood module of claim 14 wherein the joint connection is formed by at least one joint element, wherein the at least one joint element and the bearing bracket comprise a single piece.

24. The hood module of claim 14 wherein the joint connection is formed by at least one joint element, wherein the at least one joint element is formed in one piece with the bearing bracket and with the hood module in a casting process.

25. The hood module of claim 14 wherein the bearing bracket is configured to hold the camshaft, wherein the bearing bracket includes a bearing ring that is inserted in a fitting aperture in the bearing bracket and is used as a rotatable holder for the camshaft.

26. A method of forming a hood module for attachment on a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising: providing a hood body comprised of plastic and a bearing bracket comprised of metal for holding a camshaft in a rotatable manner; aligning the bearing bracket on the hood body; joining the bearing bracket to the hood body using a joint connection so that the bearing bracket is aligned for arrangement on the cylinder head of the internal combustion engine.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the bearing bracket is joined to the hood body with position accuracy so that the bearing bracket is aligned for arrangement on the cylinder head of the internal combustion engine.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising: providing a plurality of bearing brackets; aligning the plurality of bearing brackets with one another and on the hood body; and joining the plurality of bearing brackets to the hood body using joint connections.

29. The method of claim 26 further comprising providing a joint element for formation of the joint connection between the bearing bracket and the hood body.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising: heating the joint element; heating a region near the joint connection so as to form a melting zone in the plastic of the hood body or in an auxiliary element; and fitting the joint element to the melting zone in the hood body or the auxiliary element.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein a joint location and the joint element are heated so that the joint element is brought into contact with the joint location to form a melting zone in the plastic material of the hood body or in an auxiliary element, wherein the joint element is fitted in or to the melting zone.

Description

[0029] Additionally, the invention-improving measures are presented in more detail below through the figures, together with the description of a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention. The schematic diagrams show the following:

[0030] FIG. 1 a perspective bottom view of a hood module with a hood body and three bearing brackets that are disposed on the hood body,

[0031] FIG. 2 a cross-sectional view through the hood module according to FIG. 1 in the area of a bearing bracket,

[0032] FIG. 3 a particular design of a joint location between the bearing bracket and the hood body in a detailed view,

[0033] FIGS. 4a-4d different designs of a joint element to be connected to a hood body, and

[0034] FIGS. 5a-5b Cross-sectional representations of a detail of one embodiment of a hood module during the assembly process of a hood body to the bearing bracket.

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a hood module 1 in a perspective view from the bottom side, and hood module 1 has a hood body 10 that has a cover-like or hood-like shape and forms the basic structure of hood module 1. Hood body 10 is produced in plastic material in an injection molding process. The hood body can, for example, be produced in fiber-reinforced polyamide.

[0036] In the inner area of hood body 10, there are three visible bearing brackets 11 for rotatable holding of two camshafts 12 running parallel to each other. The side walls of hood body 10 include further bearing brackets in a not presented or only partially presented way so that camshafts 12 are held in a total of five bearing brackets on hood module 1. Camshafts 12 can be inserted through insertion apertures 18 on the side of hood body 10 that can at the same time be the first bearing position of camshaft 12, at which camshafts 12 are shown in simplified form without lifter elements.

[0037] Hood module 1 can be disposed on a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine and in order to achieve a sealed attachment of hood module 1 on the cylinder head, hood body 10 has seals 19, through which the camshaft space inside hood body 10 can be sealed and locked.

[0038] Bearing brackets 11 shown here are connected with hood body 10 over joint locations as is presented in more detail in the cross-section view of hood module 1 in FIG. 2 below.

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a transverse view through hood module 1 in the area of a bearing bracket 11, so that hood body 10 and bearing bracket 11 are displayed in a cross-section view. Bearing bracket 11 is fastened on hood body 10 with two joint connections 13. Joint elements 14 that are designed in the form of a sleeve and are produced in a metallic material for example are provided to form joint connections 13. There are located mounting holes 15 in bearing brackets 11, and joint elements 14 in the shape of a sleeve align with mounting holes 15 and form part of them. If bolt elements are inserted in joint elements 14 and mounting holes 15 after that in the arrow direction shown, hood module 1 can be fastened on the cylinder head of the internal combustion engine in which the bolt elements are screwed on in the threaded hole provided in the cylinder head. The bolt elements can here have a cylinder pin section for centering so that a precisely positioned arrangement of hood module 1 is possible on the cylinder head. By feeding through mounting holes 15 in bearing brackets 11, the bolt elements provide for a mechanical load of the connection being able to occur between bearing brackets 11 and the cylinder head without the load having to be directed over hood body 10 which is made of plastic.

[0040] Joint elements 14 are partially inserted in bearing bracket 11 and partially in hood body 10. For example, joint element 14 can be pressed into the upper section of mounting hole 15, and joint element 14 can be inserted where a melting area is formed in a prepared through bore in hood body 10. When producing joint element 13, bearing bracket 11 is pre-fused in a joint tool, and when hood body 10 is put in production of joint connection 13, the exact position of bearing bracket 11 is properly frozen for later attachment on the cylinder head by hood body 10. Consequently, hood body 10 is used for both as a hood element protecting against contamination and humidity, as a sound insulation element, and also as a holding or fastening element for bearing brackets 11 for later attachment on the cylinder head of the internal combustion engine.

[0041] FIG. 3 shows an alternative design of joint connection 13 between bearing bracket 11 and hood body 10 as a variation to the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 2. Joint connection 13 includes a joint element 14 that is pressed into bearing bracket 11 for example and is aligned with mounting hole 15. Joint element 14 projects over hood body 10 and is made secure with an auxiliary element 17. Auxiliary element 17 can for example be screwed on or pressed on to the upper section of joint element 14. In particular, the auxiliary element can have plastic material that as just like hood body 10 can be melted with a heated joint element and then the plastic in auxiliary element 17 can solidify in a fixed arrangement on joint element 14.

[0042] As a variant of the exemplary embodiment from FIG. 3a, it can alternatively be planned that the joint elements are penciled in or feathered in and are, for example, inserted next to the mounting hole between the bearing brackets and the hood body. These can heat up in the same way as the joint element in the form of a sleeve and be melted into the plastic of the hood body. Here, two joint elements can also be designed and for example, an adjacent joint element can be attached to each mounting hole used to pass a connecting element, for example a screw, through it. Alternatively, the joint element does not have to be disposed in the area of the mounting hole.

[0043] Generally, the joint element can be inserted before a casting process for the bearing brackets as an insert component in a tool. Subsequently, in metal pressure casting for example, aluminum or a similar material can then be poured in. In this way, a connection between the joint element and the bearing pressures can be created simply.

[0044] Finally, FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d show different designs for joint element 14 respectively with an insertion area 21 for attachment in the upper area of mounting aperture 15 in bearing bracket 11, and joint element 14 has differently designed joint element 20, with which joint elements 14 can be inserted in the plastic material of hood body 10, and can in particular be melted into it.

[0045] FIG. 4a shows a joint element 14 with a joint area 20 that has knurling, and the knurling can for example, besides an adhesive bond or a form closure, include cross grooves in order to create a form-locking part with the plastic material when it melts into the plastic material of hood body 10.

[0046] FIG. 4b shows a design of a joint element 14 with a joint area 20 that is designed in the shape of a fir tree with conical sides.

[0047] FIG. 4c shows a fir tree-shaped joint area 20 of joint element 14 with interrupted conical sides.

[0048] Finally, FIG. 4d shows a joint element 14 with a joint area 20 that includes cylindrical sides.

[0049] The different forms of joint area 20 of joint element 14 for melting into the plastic material of hood body 10 allows a form-locking connection of joint element 14 with hood body 10, in particular when plastic material that is melted by heating joint element 14 and is in this way ready to turn liquid, can be moved into the fluting of the knurling according to FIG. 4a or into the indentation according to FIGS. 4b, 4c and 4d. Therefore, a resilient connection forms between bearing bracket 11 and hood body 10 in order to guarantee a loss-secure attachment of bearing brackets 11 on hood body 10.

[0050] In FIG. 5a, an initial process step in particular for joints or applying a hood body 10 on a bearing bracket 11 is shown to form a hood module 1. Here an inductor that can be displaced in joint direction F acts for example, which is designed in the form of an induction coil 23 with which the plastic part to be joined, namely hood body 10 together with a tool 22 such as a stamp for example. Tool 22 is, for example, used to hold and transport hood body 10 and to find or exercise a corresponding force in order to facilitate a joint of hood body 10 with bearing bracket 11, in particular joint element 14. Induction coil 23 advantageously has one or more 23.1 wraps that surround at least one joint section A of hood body 10. Joint section A advantageously has a recess 24 in which joint element 14 can be held at least in sections. Recess 24 extends advantageously to a material thickening 25, which is formed in the cladding of hood body 10 and extends advantageously from a surface of the cladding of hood body 10.

[0051] As shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b, it is conceivable that joint element 14 is developed in the form of a sleeve, a pin, a rod or a pipe. Joint element 14 advantageously has a surface structure 14.1. This surface structure 14.1 is advantageously formed on the outer surface of joint element 14. It is conceivable that the surface structure has for example a groove structure, a toothed structure or comparable material recesses or even material mouths. Surface structure 14.1 is advantageously used to allow at least one form-locking connection between joint element 14 and hood body 10.

[0052] Joint element 14 is advantageously connected to the bearing bracket 11 in a force-fittings manner (frictional connection). It is, however, also conceivable for the joint element to be alternatively or additionally connected by form-locking and/or positive substance jointing using bearing bracket 11. Joint element 14 extends advantageously at least partially, advantageously completely within a recess 11.1 in bearing bracket 11.

[0053] When bearing bracket 11 is connected with hood body 10, hood body 10 is applied on joint element 14 so that this permeates in opening 24 and this is advantageously completely filled in by joint element 14. A surface of hood body 10, adjusted for bearing bracket 11, advantageously connects here, a surface of bearing bracket 11, adjusted for hood body 10. Due to the electrical current flowing through induction coil 23, the material of joint element 14 is heated, by which the material of hood body 10 in contact with joint element 14 is also heated so that it ends in a deviation at least in sections in the area adjacent to joint element 14. The now moldable material of hood body 10 surrounds surface structure 14.1 of joint element 14 advantageously so that both components produce a form-locking connection with each other at least in sections. Therefore, an advantageous permanent connection between hood body 10 and bearing bracket 11 is made possible.

[0054] The invention is not limited in its embodiment to the existing indicated favored exemplary embodiment. A number of variants that are used in fundamentally different embodiments of the solution presented is in reality conceivable. All characteristics and/or benefits arising from the claims, the description or the drawings, including constructive units, spatial arrangements, can be essential to the invention both for themselves and also in the different combinations.

LIST OF REFERENCE DRAWINGS

[0055] 1 Hood module

[0056] 10 Hood body

[0057] 11 Bearing bracket

[0058] 11.1 Recess

[0059] 12 Camshaft

[0060] 13 Joint connection

[0061] 14 Joint element

[0062] 14.1 Surface structure of the joint element

[0063] 15 Mounting hole

[0064] 16 Bearing ring

[0065] 17 Auxiliary element

[0066] 18 Insertion opening

[0067] 19 Gasket

[0068] 20 Joining area

[0069] 21 Insertion area

[0070] 22 Tool

[0071] 23 Induction coil

[0072] 23.1 Induction coil wrap

[0073] 24 Opening

[0074] 25 Material thickening

[0075] A Joint section of the hood body

[0076] F Joint direction