COMPLETE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE CRANKCASE FOR AUTOMOBILE EQUIPPED WITH A CLOSING PLATE

Abstract

A motor vehicle internal combustion engine housing system containing a fluid, comprising a housing having on one side an opening having a contour forming a continuous sealing surface receiving a sealing plate (10), this contour having at least one hole receiving a screw for tightening the plate (24), the housing (2) having on one side of the sealing surface outside the contour a rim (20) projecting from this surface, containing a groove extending from the surface which receives in a tight fit an inserted edge of the plate (14), a sealing gasket being interposed between the plate (10) and the sealing surface. Figure 1.

Description

Title of the invention: MOTOR VEHICLE HEAT ENGINE CASING ASSEMBLY EQUIPPED WITH A CLOSING PLATE

[0001] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle heat engine casing assembly comprising a casing equipped with a closing plate, as well as a method of assembling this casing assembly and a motor vehicle equipped with a heat engine comprising such a casing assembly.

[0002] It is known to close a lateral opening of a thermal engine casing containing an operating fluid, such as an oil or a cooling fluid, to produce a plate bearing on a machined plane of this casing surrounding the opening. Holes distributed over the contour of the plate each receive a clamping screw to form a regular clamping of this contour which is applied to the machined plane of the casing by means of a seal to ensure complete sealing.

[0003] This type of assembly uses several holes and fixing screws, in particular for a substantially rectangular plate at least four holes with one at each corner, which require the supply of all the screws then the positioning and tightening of each of these screws. The number of screws results in installation and tightening times on the motor housing which increase the cycle time of this operation on a mass production line, and adds purchasing and supply costs which increase the costs.

[0004] In particular in the case of a plate produced by molding a plastic material, it is necessary to provide at each hole a metal insert forming a hollow spacer receiving the screw, so as to ensure tightening on this rigid part having good resistance to avoid sagging of the plastic over time which would cause loosening. These inserts add procurement and installation costs.

[0005] Another type of known thermal engine, presented in particular by document FR-Al-2877072, comprises on one end face a toothed timing belt driving the camshafts. A main cover, covering the timing belt and the pulleys, comprises a removable hatch allowing access to one of the pulleys performing tension on the belt to carry out operations for adjusting this tension.

[0006] The main cover has in the upper part a horizontal edge comprising a notch receiving the hatch, having a groove around its circumference. The hatch is inserted into the groove of the notch in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal edge, like a drawer, adjusting to ensure a dust-tight seal between these two elements.

[0007] At the end of the stroke, the hatch is held in its final position by a clipping device comprising at the bottom of the notch an axis perpendicular to this hatch linked to the main cover, which engages in a slot in the hatch formed between two arms moving apart by elastic deformation to reach a hollow locking the position.

[0008] It is possible to intervene on the adjustment of the timing belt without dismantling the main casing, by only removing the removable hatch by reverse sliding which is easily accessible, to form an opening.

[0009] However, in the case of a casing containing a thermal engine operating fluid, it is necessary to provide a high level of sealing guaranteeing this sealing throughout the lifetime of the vehicle. In particular, the hatch presented above does not have a seal at its upper edge aligned with the horizontal edge of the cover, nor a strong mechanical support which does not risk becoming dislodged.

[0010] The present invention aims in particular to avoid these problems of the prior art.

[0011] For this purpose, it proposes a vehicle thermal engine casing system vehicle containing a fluid, comprising a casing having on one side an opening having a contour forming a continuous sealing plane receiving a closing plate, this contour comprising at least one bore receiving a screw for tightening the plate, this assembly being remarkable in that the casing has on one side of the sealing plane outside the contour a rim projecting from this plane, containing a gutter extending this plane which receives in a fitted manner an inserted edge of the plate, and in that a seal is interposed between the plate and the sealing plane.

[0012] An advantage of this casing system is that after having arranged the sealing joint, the plate can be slid onto the sealing plane by a small distance corresponding to the depth of the gutter, so as to obtain, by adjusting the edge inserted in the gutter, a positioning of the plate as well as the tightening of the seal at the level of this edge.

[0013] Then by tightening one or more screws on the side opposite the gutter, the seal is tightened on the complete flat sealing contour, and a definitive hold is obtained by the screwing which is strong and durable.

[0014] The casing system according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following features, which may be combined with each other.

[0015] Advantageously, the gutter of the rim has a rectangular cross-section.

[0016] Advantageously, the closing plate has a flat contour coming onto the sealing plane of the casing, comprising a groove receiving a sealing O-ring which is continuous around the opening.

[0017] Advantageously, the holes are arranged on one side of the opening which is opposite the rim.

[0018] In this case, in particular the opening may comprise two holes arranged at the ends of the edge opposite the rim.

[0019] Advantageously, the plate formed by a plastic molding, comprises metal spacers arranged in holes in this plate receiving the clamping screws.

[0020] In this case, advantageously the plate has on its outer face ribs connecting the plate holes to its inserted edge.

[0021] The invention also relates to a method for assembling a casing system comprising any one of the preceding characteristics, remarkable in that it successively comprises a step of placing the sealing gasket on a flat contour of the plate, a step of placing the plate on the sealing plane of the casing next to the rim, then sliding this plate with the adjustment of its edge inserted in the gutter, and finally a step of tightening the screws.

[0022] The invention further relates to a motor vehicle equipped with a heat engine comprising a casing system comprising any one of the preceding characteristics.

[0023] The invention will be better understood and other characteristics and advantages will appear more clearly on reading the description below given by way of example, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0024] [Fig-1] is a view of a casing system according to the invention showing the plate fixed to the casing;

[0025] [Fig.2] is a view of the casing without the plate;

[0026] [Fig.3] is a view of the plate being slid onto the casing for its assembly; and

[0027] [Fig.4] is a vertical sectional view of the plate fixed to the casing.

[0028] Throughout the document the upper or top side relates to a heat engine arranged vertically as shown in the figures. In the vehicle this engine may have other inclinations.

[0029] Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 show a thermal engine casing 2 comprising a horizontal upper joint plane 4 receiving the cylinder head which covers the cylinders 6 arranged vertically and aligned along a main axis of this engine.

[0030] The transverse face at one end of the casing 2 comprises a wide opening 30 which extends over a major part of the width of this casing, having an upper edge substantially horizontal and a lower edge forming a downwardly facing curvature. The opening 30 is surrounded by a continuous machined sealing plane 32, having in the upper part two holes 34 arranged on each side.

[0031] A closing plate 10, made by molding a plastic material, has in the upper part two holes 12 each reinforced by a metal spacer 26 forming a tube comprising a length corresponding to the thickness of this plate, receiving a screw 24 tightened in a hole in the casing 34. The plate 10 has in the lower part a flat edge 14 having a constant thickness. External ribs 16 connect the holes 12 and the lower edge 14 to provide rigidity to the plate.

[0032] The closing plate 10 has, facing the casing 2, a flat contour fitting onto the sealing plane 32 of this casing, comprising a continuous groove arranged in the middle of this flat contour, receiving a continuous sealing O-ring 22 which goes around the opening 30. Before tightening the plate 10, the O-ring 22 comes out partly from the groove so as to have a compression margin when tightening the plate 10.

[0033] The casing 2 has, outside the contour sealing plane 32, at the bottom of the opening 30 over its entire width, a rim 20 projecting from this plane comprising a gutter formed by machining the plane which extends into the rim. A gutter of rectangular section is obtained which receives in a fitted manner the flat inserted edge 14 of constant thickness of the plate 10.

[0034] The method of assembling the plate 10 is as follows. The continuous O-ring 22 is fitted into the groove of the flat contour of the plate 10. The plate 10 is then placed on the machined plane of the casing 30, just above the rim 20, then slid into the gutter following the movement D shown in Figures 3 and 4, inserting its lower edge 14 which fits into this gutter. In this adjusted insertion movement in the gutter, in the lower part of the plate 10, a compression of the torque joint 22 is obtained which fits into its groove.

[0035] Finally, the two upper clamping screws 24 are tightened, which finishes compressing the O-ring 22 in the upper part of the plate 10, and by applying the force on the spacers of their drilling 26 and which ensures mechanical maintenance of this plate resistant over time.

[0036] By a simple modification of the casing, with little modification of the costs, a faster assembly of the plate 10 using only two clamping screws 24 instead of four, and which reduces the number of components used, is obtained.

Claims

Claims

1. Motor vehicle thermal engine casing system containing a fluid, comprising a casing having on one side an opening (30) having a contour forming a continuous sealing plane (32) receiving a closing plate (10), this contour comprising at least one bore (34) receiving a screw for tightening the plate (24), characterized in that the casing (2) has on one side of the sealing plane (32) outside the contour a rim (20) projecting from this plane (32), containing a gutter extending the plane which receives in a fitted manner an inserted edge of the plate (14), and in that a sealing gasket (22) is interposed between the plate (10) and the sealing plane (32).

2. A casing system according to claim 1, characterized in that the gutter of the rim (20) has a rectangular cross-section.

3. Casing system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the closure plate (10) has a flat contour (24) fitting on the sealing plane (32) of the casing (2), comprising a groove receiving a sealing O-ring (22) which is continuous around the opening (30).

4. Casing system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bores (34) are arranged on a side of the opening (30) which is opposite the rim (20).

5. Casing system according to claim 4, characterized in that the opening (30) comprises two holes (34) arranged at the ends of the edge opposite the rim (20).

6. Casing system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plate (10) formed by a plastic molding, comprises metal spacers (26) arranged in holes in this plate (10) receiving the clamping screws (24).

7. Casing system according to claim 6, characterized in that the plate (10) has on its outer face ribs (16) connecting the plate holes to its inserted edge (14).

8. Method of assembling a casing system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it successively comprises a step of placing the sealing gasket (22) on a flat contour of the plate (20), a step of placing the plate (10) on

9. the sealing plane of the casing (30) next to the rim (20), then sliding of this plate (10) with the adjustment of its inserted edge (14) in the gutter, and finally a step of tightening the screws (24). Motor vehicle equipped with a heat engine, characterized in that this heat engine comprises a casing system according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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