CYLINDER HEAD COVER

Abstract

A cylinder head cover and a method for producing a cylinder head cover are disclosed. The method for producing a cylinder head cover may include: providing at least two metallic bearing bridges including a respective through-opening for mounting at least one camshaft and aligning the respective through-opening of the at least two bearing bridges axially relative to one another; connecting at least one metallic connection element to the at least two bearing bridges in a fixed manner so that the at least two bearing bridges are fixed and aligned relative to one another; and at least partially overmoulding the at least two bearing bridges and the at least one connection element with a plastic material.

Claims

1. A method for producing a cylinder head cover, comprising: providing at least two metallic bearing bridges including a respective through-opening for mounting at least one camshaft and aligning the respective through-opening of the at least two bearing bridges axially relative to one another; connecting at least one metallic connection element to the at least two bearing bridges in a fixed manner so that the at least two bearing bridges are fixed and aligned relative to one another; and at least partially overmoulding the at least two bearing bridges and the at least one connection element with a plastic material.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein connecting the at least one connection element includes fixing the at least one connection element to a respective outer surface of the at least two bearing bridges.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein connecting the at least one connection element to the at least two bearing bridges includes at least one of welding, soldering, screwing, riveting, gluing, pinning and form-fitting the at least one connection element and the at least two bearing bridges together.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising forming at least one opening in the at least one connection element.

5. A cylinder head cover, comprising: at least two metallic bearing bridges having a respective receiving opening for mounting a camshaft, the at least two bearing bridges arranged axially aligned to one another with respect to the respective receiving opening; at least one metallic connection element fixedly connecting the at least two bearing bridges together; and a plastic overmould at least partially covering the at least two bearing bridges and the at least one connection element.

6. The cylinder head cover according to claim 5, wherein the at least one connection element includes a plate-like structure and is supported on a back of the at least two bearing bridges.

7. The cylinder head cover according to claim 5, wherein the at least one connection element includes at least two surfaces arranged to at least partially encase the back of the at least two bearing bridges, wherein the at least two surfaces are angled relative to one another.

8. The cylinder head cover according to claim 5, wherein the at least one connection element includes a plurality of rail-like connection elements connected to the at least two bearing bridges and securing the at least two bearing bridges together.

9. The cylinder head cover according to claim 5, wherein the at least one connection element has a lattice-like structure including a plurality of longitudinal webs and a plurality of transverse webs.

10. The cylinder head cover according to claim 5, further comprising at least one sealing contour.

11. The cylinder head cover according to claim 10, wherein the at least one sealing contour is disposed on at least one of the at least two bearing bridges radially opposite of the at least one connection element.

12. The cylinder head cover according to claim 5, wherein the at least one connection element includes at least one of an oil filing opening and a fastening opening.

13. The cylinder head cover according to claim 5, wherein the plastic overmould surrounds the at least two bearing bridges and the at least one connection element to define a sealing surface on a side of the at least two bearing bridges opposite of the at least one connection element.

14. The cylinder head cover according to claim 6, wherein the at least one connection element further includes at least two side surfaces extending along the plate-like structure and arranged to at least partially encase the back of the at least two bearing bridges, wherein the at least two side surfaces and the plate-like structure are angled with respect to one another.

15. The method according to claim 1, further comprising forming a sealing surface on the at least two bearing bridges for engaging a cylinder head.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein connecting the at least one connection element to the at least two bearing bridges includes disposing a plurality of longitudinal webs and a plurality of transverse webs on the at least two bearing bridges to form a lattice-like structure.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein connecting the at least one connection element to the at least two bearing bridges includes at least partially encasing a back of the at least two bearing bridges with the at least one connection element such that at least two surfaces of the at least one connection element are angled with respect to one another.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein connecting the at least one connection element to the at least two bearing bridges includes fixing a plurality of rail-like structures to the at least two bearing bridges in a parallel arrangement.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein connecting the at least one connection element to the at least two bearing bridges includes fixing a plate-like structure to a back of the at least two bearing bridges.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least partially overmoulding the at least two bearing bridges and the at least one connection element with the plastic material includes injection moulding.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] It shows, in each case schematically,

[0023] FIG. 1 is a sectional representation through a cylinder head cover according to the invention,

[0024] FIG. 2A to 2E in each case four bearing bridges for mounting two camshafts, not shown, with different connection elements,

[0025] FIG. 3 is a further possible embodiment of a cylinder head cover according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] According to FIGS. 1 to 3, a cylinder head cover 1 according to the invention comprises at least two metallic bearing bridges 2 for mounting at least one, here in each case two camshafts 3 (see FIG. 2b), and at least one metallic connection element 4, which is connected to the at least two bearing bridges 2 in a fixed manner, in this case to the respective altogether four bearing bridges 2 in a fixed manner, wherein the bearing bridges 2 are aligned relative to one another and fixed on one another via at least one connection element 4. As is further evident in FIGS. 1 to 3, the at least two bearing bridges 2 and the at least one connection element 4 are at least partially overmoulded with plastic 5 and the cylinder head cover 1 thereby produced.

[0027] Looking at the various embodiments of the individual connection elements 4 according to FIGS. 2a to 2e a connection element 4 is noticeable in FIG. 2a, which comprises altogether three surfaces 6a, 6b and 6c which are angled relative to one another, which at least partially encase a respective bearing back 7 of the individual bearing bridges 2. According to FIG. 1, the connection element 4 shown according to FIG. 2a is additionally shown in a frontal view.

[0028] Looking at the connection element 4 according to FIG. 2b it is evident that the same, in the representation chosen there, has a lattice-like structure with longitudinal webs 8 and transverse webs 9. By way of this lattice-like structure a comparatively stiff connection element 4 can be created similar as by way of the structure with multiple surfaces 6a, 6b, 6c which are angled relative to one another, but which with respect to its resources consumption and also with respect to its weight is advantageous. In addition, the use of plastic 5 has the great advantage that the cylinder head cover 1 altogether is given a damping in particular a vibration-damping outer cover and thereby achieves a certain damping effect.

[0029] According to FIG. 2, a connection element 4 is shown which in addition to the connection element 4 shown according to FIG. 2a additionally has a further surface 6d, as a result of which the stiffness can be increased even further. In this case, the connection element 4 can areally lie against the bearing back 7 of the individual bearing bridges 2 or be merely punctiformly or linearly fastened there. In addition to this it is possible that the at least one connection element 4 comprises at least one opening 10 (see FIG. 2d), in particular an oil filling opening or a screw-in opening for fastening attachment units such as for example sensors, as a result of which not only weight saving but additionally also an individual adaptation to a wide range of desired cylinder head covers 1 is possible. However, alternatively, at least two, preferentially three, rail-like connection elements 4 (see FIG. 2e) can also be provided, which connect the individual bearing bridges 2 with one another in the manner of longitudinal webs.

[0030] Independently of the selected embodiment of the connection elements 4, these are welded, soldered, screwed, riveted, glued to the at least two bearing bridges 2 or connected to one another via a form-fit connection. Such a form-fit connection can be achieved for example by way of a connection element 4, as is shown in FIG. 1. Obviously, a connection by way of dowels or bolts is also conceivable.

[0031] In the completed state, the cylinder head cover 1 comprises at least one sealing contour 11, for example a sealing surface, as is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. By way of such a sealing contour 11, the cylinder head cover 1 can be connected to a cylinder head 12 (see FIG. 1) of an internal combustion engine 13. Such a sealing contour 11 can be produced for example together with the over moulding with plastic 5 in a single plastic injection moulding process or subsequently be moulded onto the already completed cylinder head cover 1.

[0032] The cylinder head cover 1 according to the invention is produced as follows: initially, at least two metallic bearing bridges 2 for mounting at least one camshaft 3 are aligned relative to one another and subsequently connected to one another in a fixed manner via at least one metallic connection element 4, so that the aligned bearing bridges 2 are fixed in their relative position with respect to one another. Following this, a bearing frame 14 comprising at least two bearing bridges 2 and the at least one connection element 4 is at least partially overmoulded with plastic 5, in particular in a plastic injection mould. By adapting the plastic injection mould, different appearances and also different outer geometries of the cylinder head cover 1 can be comparatively easily produced here, in particular with respect to a logo.

[0033] Altogether, the cylinder head cover 1 according to the invention can thus be produced comparatively easily and cost-effectively yet extremely flexibly.

[0034] Following the over moulding of the bearing frame 14 at least partially with plastic 5 and thus following the production of the actual cylinder head cover 1, further attachment parts such as for example actuators, sensors or similar can obviously be attached. The at least one connection element 4 formed as a metal strip can for example have a plate thickness of 3-4 mm, wherein depending on the embodiment the connection element 4 can have a thicker or thinner plate thickness. In the case of a connection element 4 shown according to FIGS. 2a and 2c, a thinner plate thickness can be selected because of the multiple surfaces 6a to 6d which are arranged angled with respect to one another, since the contour per se already has a high stiffness. The connection between the at least one connection element 4 and the at least two bearing bridges 2 can obviously be effected via a spot welding or laser welding, but also via soldering, clinching, stamping or deep drawing. Pinning is also possible.

[0035] Through the cylinder head 1 according to the invention, the following advantages can be achieved:

[0036] increasing the stiffness of the overall module,

[0037] reducing the total weight through plastic regions,

[0038] improving the damping behaviour by using plastic 5,

[0039] simplifying the cylinder head assembly through the cylinder head cover 1 including camshafts 3,

[0040] additional increasing of the stiffness through stamped metal skeleton structures,

[0041] incorporation of additional units and attachment parts in openings 10 possible.