Hook device for engine

Abstract

The present invention addresses the problem of improving workability and downsizing a hook device for suspending an engine having a composite function.　A hook device 24 is composed of an upper and lower longitudinal base plate 23 fixed to a cylinder head 6, and a hook plate (second hook) 22 fixed to one branch part 29 of the base plate 23 by an auxiliary bolt 32. The base plate 23 is provided with a second branch part 30, and the second branch part 30 is used for fixing a heat shield insulator for an exhaust member. The base plate 23 is fixed with a reinforcing plate 34 serving also as a whirl-stop of the hook plate 22. The reinforcing plate 34 is fitted between boss parts 36 of the cylinder head 6, and can be held in a stable posture by preventing co-rotation even when one main bolt 31 is fixed. Since the branch parts 29, 30 are exposed above a head cover 7, rotation operation of bolts 32, 70 can be easily performed.

Description

Engine hook device

[0001] The present invention relates to a hook device used for lifting an engine, and is particularly suitable for use in a hook device for an automobile engine.

[0002] For example, in the case of an automobile engine, the engine is assembled at an engine factory, then transported to a vehicle assembly factory and attached to the vehicle body. The engine then needs to be suspended for assembly at the engine factory, and a hook (hanger) is used to suspend the engine using a crane.

[0003] This hook is necessary on engine assembly lines and automobile assembly lines, and is generally removed after (or before) installation on an automobile, but it has been proposed to fasten the hook portion to a base with bolts, leaving the base in place on the engine and removing only the hook portion. One example is disclosed in Patent Document 1, in which the base portion (plate portion) is used to protect the fuel pump, support the intake pipe, and insulate from exhaust heat.

[0004] JP 2013-174199 A

[0005] Now, when the hook is fixed to the engine body, such as the cylinder head, with a bolt, space is required to rotate the bolt with a wrench, but it may be difficult to secure the space for turning the bolt due to the relationship with surrounding components. For example, in the case of a slant engine in which the cylinder bore is tilted significantly toward the horizontal so that the exhaust side faces downward, it may be difficult to secure the space for turning the bolt due to the relationship with various components such as exhaust system components and sensor harnesses. Even if the intake side is tilted downward, it is expected that it will also be difficult to secure the space for turning the bolt due to the relationship with components such as the fuel delivery pipe.

[0006] Furthermore, even if space for operating the bolt is somehow secured by devising the shape and arrangement of the surrounding parts, there is a concern that when using a wrench to turn the bolt, the wrench may easily interfere with the surrounding parts, making the work more difficult or making the surrounding parts more likely to be damaged.

[0007] In this regard, if the hook device is composed of a base plate that remains fixed to the engine body and a hook plate that is temporarily fixed to it with bolts, the bolt fixing portion of the hook plate can be separated from the engine body to easily ensure space for bolt operation that does not interfere with surrounding components, making it easier to attach and detach the hook plate.

[0008] Therefore, when Patent Document 1 is examined, it can be said that there is no problem in ensuring space for operating the bolt to remove the hook plate (hook portion). However, since the plate portion is intended to protect the fuel pump and support the intake pipe and is quite large, it can be said that it is not practical to apply it to an actual aircraft, and since it cannot be applied to a port injection type engine that does not require a fuel pump, it can be said that it has low versatility.

[0009] Furthermore, in Patent Document 1, the hook portion is fixed to the plate portion (base plate) with a single auxiliary bolt, but because the lower end of the hook portion is simply placed on the upper end of the plate portion and fixed with the bolt, when fixing the hook portion, a person must hold the hook portion in an upward position with one hand while rotating the bolt, which creates the problem that the installation work of the hook plate is troublesome.

[0010] The present invention aims to disclose a technique that improves this current situation.

[0011] The present invention relates to a hook device for an engine, which is configured as follows: "It comprises a vertically elongated base plate fixed to and held on the engine body, and a hook plate removably fixed to the base plate with a single auxiliary bolt, and the base plate is provided with a reinforcing portion that abuts against one end face of the hook plate to prevent the hook plate from rotating together with the auxiliary bolt."

[0012] The reinforcing part can be formed integrally with the base plate by bending or bulging it, or it can be a separate plate material fixed by welding or riveting, etc. It is also possible to bend the anti-rotation part into the hook plate.

[0013] The present invention can be embodied in various ways. For example, claim 2 states that "the base plate has a base portion fixed to the engine body with a main bolt and a plurality of branch portions branching off from the base portion when viewed from the axial direction of the engine body, and the hook plate is fixed to one of the plurality of branch portions with the auxiliary bolt."

[0014] The branches and the base may be formed in a generally flat state, but for example, the branches to which the hook plates are not fixed may be bent relative to the base, or each branch may be bent relative to the base.

[0015] In the present invention, the base plate is in a vertically elongated position, so it can be fixed to a narrow part of the engine body, such as the cylinder head, while avoiding interference with various components. Therefore, it does not hinder engine design and is highly adaptable to actual machines.

[0016] In addition, because the hook plate is prevented from rotating by the reinforcing portion, even when it is secured with a single auxiliary bolt, there is no need for a person to hold the hook plate in position by hand; the auxiliary bolt can be rotated. This makes it easy to install and remove the hook plate. Furthermore, because the base plate is reinforced by the reinforcing portion, it is strong enough to withstand deformation even when the engine is suspended, even in a vertically long position.

[0017] The base plate can also be used to attach other components or to secure harnesses. In this case, forming multiple branched portions on the base plate as in claim 2 is particularly advantageous, as the multiple branched portions can be used to attach the hook plate and other components. Furthermore, because the two branched portions are bifurcated, the bifurcated portions can also be used to secure and prevent harnesses from swinging.

[0018] 1 is a view of the engine from the crankshaft direction (viewed from the right side of the vehicle body). 2 is a view of the engine from a horizontal direction (viewed from the rear of the vehicle body) perpendicular to the crankshaft axis. 3 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 2. 4 is a partial side view of the engine in a suspended position. 5 are perspective views showing the hook device attached to the engine, where (A) is a view from the outside of the cylinder head with the hook plate attached, (B) is a view from the inside of the cylinder head with the hook plate attached, and (C) is a view of the same state as (A) but with the hook plate removed. 6 are views showing the hook device alone, where (A) is a perspective view from the outside of the cylinder head, (B) is a perspective view from the inside of the cylinder head, and (C) is a side view from the outside of the cylinder head. 7 is a view of the manifold as seen from the rear of the vehicle body, and (B) is a view of (A) with an insulator added. 1A is a perspective view of the maniverter with insulators as seen from the right side of the vehicle body, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the maniverter with insulators as seen from the rear side of the vehicle body.

[0019] (1) Arrangement and Basic Structure Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is applied to a hook device for a three-cylinder engine for an automobile. As shown in FIG. 9, the engine is disposed in a rear compartment (rear engine room) 2 provided at the rear of a vehicle body 1. A front compartment 3 is formed at the front of the vehicle body, and a battery, motor, etc. are disposed in the front compartment 3. Therefore, the automobile to which this embodiment is applied is a hybrid vehicle.

[0020] As described above, the engine is disposed in the rear compartment 2, but as shown in Figure 1, the cylinder bore axis O1 is inclined at an angle of approximately 45° with respect to the vertical and horizontal. That is, the engine is mounted transversely with the crankshaft 4 elongated in the vehicle width direction, but tilted backward with the crankshaft positioned on the front side of the vehicle body and the cylinder head positioned on the rear side. Therefore, the engine of this embodiment is a transversely mounted slant engine with the cylinders tilted toward the rear of the vehicle body.

[0021] In the following, the terms "front, rear" and "left, right" are used to specify directions, but these terms are based on the vehicle body (driver). In an engine, the direction of the crankshaft is often defined as the front-rear direction, but the front-rear direction used in this embodiment differs from this general definition. The up-down direction is the direction of a vertical line. Directions are clearly indicated in the drawings as appropriate.

[0022] 1 and 2, the engine body comprises a cylinder block 5 in which cylinder bores (not shown) are formed, a cylinder head 6 fixed to the top surface of the cylinder block 5, and a head cover 7 fixed to the top surface of the cylinder head 6. Because the cylinder bore axis O1 is tilted significantly rearward, an auxiliary crankcase 8 that is triangular in side view is fixed to the underside of the cylinder block 5 as shown in FIG. 1, and an oil pan 9 is fixed to the underside of the auxiliary crankcase 8 as shown in FIG. 2.

[0023] In this embodiment, as partially shown in Figure 2, a chain cover 10 that covers the timing chain is fixed to the left end surfaces of the cylinder block 5 and cylinder head 6. On the other hand, the right end surface of the cylinder block 5 forms a transmission case mounting flange 11. In Figure 2, reference numeral 12 denotes an oil filler port, reference numeral 13 denotes an oil filter, reference numeral 14 denotes an ignition coil, and reference numeral 15 in Figures 1 and 2 denotes an EGR valve. In Figure 1, reference numeral 16 denotes a cooling water pipe. Note that one end of the crankshaft 4 is exposed outside (on the left side) of the chain cover 10 in Figure 2.

[0024] The engine is tilted backward, with the downward sloping surface serving as the exhaust side and the downward sloping surface serving as the intake side. A surge tank 17, which constitutes an intake-side member, is partially visible in Figure 1. Reference numeral 18 in Figures 1 and 2 denotes an air cleaner. The lower half of the air cleaner 18 forms a dirty chamber, with an intake duct 19 connected to its side, and the upper half forms a clean chamber, with an intake feed duct 20 connected to it. The intake feed duct 20 is connected to the surge tank 17 via a throttle valve (not shown).

[0025] At the engine factory, the engine is assembled with the cylinder bore axis O1 in a vertical position, and at the automobile assembly factory, the engine is mounted in an inclined position in the rear compartment 2 of the vehicle body, so it is necessary to lift the engine at the engine factory so that the cylinder bore axis O is in a vertical position.

[0026] For this reason, a first hook indicated by reference numeral 21 in Figures 1 and 2 and a second hook 22 indicated by a dashed line in Figure 1 are used. The first hook 21 is fixed to the left end of the upper end of the chain cover 10 (or the cylinder head 6 or head cover 7), and the second hook 22 is fixed to a position near the right end of the rear surface (exhaust side) of the cylinder head 6 (see Figures 1 and 2(B)). These hooks 21, 22 are necessary for assembling and transporting the engine, and are removed after the engine is mounted on the vehicle body.

[0027] (2) Hook Device The second hook 22 constitutes the hook portion recited in the claims, and as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the second hook 22 and the base plate 23 constitute a hook device 24. This point will be explained next.

[0028] The base plate 23 and the second hook 22 are each made of a strong metal plate such as a stainless steel plate or a steel plate, and are disposed on the right side of the exhaust side of the cylinder head 6. The base plate 23 is oriented vertically as a whole, and has a base 28 that is fixed to the exhaust side surface 27 of the cylinder head 6, and first and second left and right branches 29, 30 that branch off from the upper end of the base 28.

[0029] The base 28 is formed flat overall, with the lower half being a narrow portion 28a, the lower end of which is fixed to the cylinder head 6 by the bolt 31, and the base 28 protrudes above the head cover 7 (diagonally rearward when based on the vehicle body), and therefore the left and right branch portions 29, 30 are also exposed above (diagonally upward) the head cover 7.

[0030] The first branch 29 located on the left side is formed so that its entire surface is flush with the base 28, and the second hook 22 is fixed to its front surface by an auxiliary bolt 32. The auxiliary bolt 32 is inserted through the second hook 22 from the front, and a nut 33 into which the auxiliary bolt 32 is screwed is welded to the first branch 29. The auxiliary bolt 32 (and nut 33) are located above the head cover 7. Therefore, the auxiliary bolt 32 can be unscrewed using a wrench from the space above the head cover 7.

[0031] The second hook 22 is basically a vertically elongated band-like shape, with a hook at the top and a wide portion 22a at the bottom, which extends to the base 28. A rectangular reinforcing plate 34 elongated vertically as an example of a reinforcing portion recited in the claims is welded to the wide surface of the base 28 facing the head cover 7 (the surface that faces upward when mounted on the vehicle body and faces sideways when lifted), and a notch 35 is formed in the wide portion 22a of the second hook 22 to fit into the upper left corner 34a of the reinforcing plate 34. Therefore, the second hook 22 and the base 28 are precisely positioned, and when the auxiliary bolt 32 is screwed in or unscrewed with a wrench, the second hook 22 will not rotate even if it is not being held by hand.

[0032] As partially shown in Figure 5(B), bosses 36 protrude from the outer periphery of the cylinder head 6 for purposes such as fastening the head cover 7, and as shown in Figures 5(A) and 5(C), the head cover 7 is fastened to the bosses 36 with bolts 37. In this embodiment, the posture of the base 28 is maintained by fitting a reinforcing plate 34 between the two bosses 36 located at the right end of the cylinder head 6. Therefore, the base 28 is maintained in a stable posture even when fastened with a single main bolt 31. There is no need for a person to continuously hold the hook device 24 by hand during the fastening operation.

[0033] (3) Support of the insulator by the second branch portion As shown in FIG. 4, the second branch portion 30 located on the right side is inclined from its midpoint toward the opposite side from the cylinder head 6. In other words, the second branch portion 30 is bent in a side view. The second branch portion 30 is used to attach a heat shield. This point will be explained with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0034] The exhaust side of the engine is inclined downward and rearward, and a maniverter 39, shown alone in Figures 3A and 4A, is fixed to the exhaust side 27 of the cylinder head 6. The maniverter 39 has a cylindrical catalyst case 40 containing a catalyst, an elbow-shaped joint 41 provided integrally with the inlet end 40a of the catalyst case 40, and an L-shaped outlet pipe 42 provided integrally with the outlet end of the catalyst case 40.

[0035] As shown in Figure 3(A), the joint 41 is connected to the lower end of the inlet end 40a of the catalyst case 40, and a flange 43 provided on the opening edge is fixed to a land portion 27a (see Figure 4(B)) formed on the exhaust side surface 27 of the cylinder head 6 with a group of stud bolts 44 and nuts 45.

[0036] 1 and 2, in the maniverter 39, the outlet pipe 42 is L-shaped, having a horizontal, lateral portion welded to the catalyst case 40 and a downward portion bent at its rear end, and a flange 46 for connecting an exhaust pipe (not shown) is fixed by welding to the lower end of the downward portion. The starting end of an EGR pipe 47 is connected to the end of the downward portion closer to the outlet. The terminal end of the EGR pipe 47 extends to the exhaust side surface 27 of the cylinder head 6, and as shown in FIG. 7B, a flange 48 fixed to the terminal end is fixed to the cylinder head 6 with a stud bolt 49 and a nut 50.

[0037] A front sensor mounting seat 51 for mounting an O2 sensor or A / F sensor is protruded from the inlet end 40a of the catalyst case 40, and a front sensor plug 52 is connected to this. On the other hand, a rear sensor mounting seat 53 for measuring exhaust gas temperature is provided on the horizontal portion of the outlet pipe 42, and a rear sensor plug 54 equipped with a temperature sensor is connected to the rear sensor mounting seat 53.

[0038] 7B and 8, the catalyst case 40 and the joint 41 are surrounded from above and below by a first main insulator 55 and a second main insulator 56. The first main insulator 55 generally covers the upper half of the catalyst case 40, and has a half-split body as its main body, to which an inlet-side end plate 55a is integrally bent and formed to cover the inlet-side end 40a of the catalyst case 40. A U-shaped front cutout 57 is formed in the inlet-side end plate 55a to allow the front sensor mounting seat 51 to escape.

[0039] The second main insulator 56 has a main body that is a split trunk portion that surrounds the lower half of the catalyst case 40, and a shell-shaped extension portion 56a that surrounds the joint 41 from below and behind is integrally connected to this main body. The second main insulator 56 is fixed to the catalyst case 40 and the joint 41 at three positions on the left and right with bolts 58. That is, first to third brackets 59, 60, 61 are provided on the upper right end of the joint 41, the rear surface of the middle left and right portions of the joint 41, and the rear surface of the middle left and right portions of the catalyst case 40, and the second main insulator 56 is fixed to these with bolts 58.

[0040] Therefore, as shown in Figure 7 (B), the second main insulator 56 is formed with a tongue-shaped first fixing portion 62 corresponding to the first bracket 59, a second fixing portion 63 in the form of a rectangular protrusion corresponding to the second bracket 60, and a third fixing portion 64 in the form of a rectangular protrusion extending horizontally to the left and right corresponding to the third bracket 61.

[0041] On the other hand, the first main insulator 55 has a boss-shaped fourth fixing portion (not shown) that bulges rearward at its lower end portion near the inlet-side end plate 55a, a boss-shaped fifth fixing portion 66 that bulges upward at the upper portion of the roughly left-right middle portion, and a visor-shaped sixth fixing portion 67 that bulges at its lower front end portion. Although not shown, the fourth fixing portion is fixed with bolts to a fourth bracket that is fixed to the exhaust side surface 27 of the cylinder head 6.

[0042] The fifth fixing portion 66 of the first main insulator 55 is fixed to the second branch portion 30 of the second hook 22 shown in Figure 8 and the fifth bracket 69 shown in Figure 7(A) by clamping it with a bolt 70 (see Figure 8). The fifth bracket 69 is fixed to the top surface of the catalyst case 40 by welding, and a nut is fixed to its inner surface. The sixth fixing portion 67 of the first main insulator 55 overlaps the third bracket 61 provided on the catalyst case 40 from behind, and the third fixing portion 64 of the second main insulator 56 overlaps this sixth fixing portion 67, and the sixth fixing portion 67 and the third fixing portion 64 are fastened together to the third bracket 61 with a bolt 58.

[0043] As shown by the dashed line in Figure 2, a cooling fan 71 is disposed to the left of the manifold 39, generally concentric with the axis of the catalyst case 40. The cooling fan 71 is disposed so that the center of the cooling air is directed toward the front cutout 57 of the first main insulator 55. Note that in Figure 2, the upper part of the cooling fan 71 and the lower part of the air cleaner 18 partially overlap, but since there is a high degree of freedom in the shape of the air cleaner 18, it is sufficient to form a recess in the lower surface so as not to interfere with the cooling fan 71.

[0044] The outlet pipe 42 that constitutes the maniverter 39 is surrounded by a first sub-insulator 73 located on the outer corner side and a second sub-insulator 74 located on the inner corner side. Therefore, both sub-insulators 73, 74 are formed in an L shape having a horizontal portion and a downward portion. As described above, the rear sensor mounting seat 53 protrudes from the horizontal portion of the outlet pipe 42, and the horizontal portion of the first sub-insulator 73 has an escape hole (not shown) that opens upward to avoid interference with the rear sensor mounting seat 53.

[0045] As shown in Figure 7 (A), a rearward-facing sixth bracket 75 and a downward-facing seventh bracket 76 are formed integrally and continuously on the horizontal portion of the outlet pipe 42, while an eighth bracket 77 protruding to the right (outside) and a ninth bracket 78 protruding to the left (inside) are formed on the downward portion of the outlet pipe 42.

[0046] For example, as shown in Figure 8, a seventh fixing portion 79 facing backward is formed on the horizontal portion of the first sub-insulator 73, and this is fixed to an eighth bracket 77 with a bolt 80, and an eighth fixing portion 81 facing right is formed on the downward portion of the first sub-insulator 73, and this is fixed to a ninth bracket 78 with a bolt 80.

[0047] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 7(B) and 8(B), for example, a downward-facing ninth fixing portion 82 is formed on the horizontal portion of the second sub-insulator 74, and this ninth fixing portion 82 is fixed to the seventh bracket 76 of the outlet pipe 42 with a bolt 83, and a tenth fixing portion 84 protruding to the left is formed on the downward portion of the second sub-insulator 74, and this tenth fixing portion 84 is fixed to the ninth bracket 78 with a bolt 83.

[0048] (4) Summary Engines are assembled in engine factories with the cylinder bore axis O1 aligned vertically. Therefore, in engine factories, two hooks 21 and 22 are fixed to the engine, and as shown in Figure 4 with the second hook 22 shown, the engine is lifted by a mobile hanger 85 and moved along the line (or between lines). The hooks 21 and 22 are used only to move the engine, and are therefore detached when the engine is mounted on the vehicle body.

[0049] The second hook 22 is then removed after the engine is placed in a predetermined position, but in this embodiment, the base plate 23 remains fixed to the cylinder head 6, and the second hook 22 is fixed to the first branch portion 29 of the base plate 23 that is exposed diagonally above the head cover 7, so that the second hook 22 can be easily removed by operating a wrench from the space above the head cover 7.

[0050] Furthermore, in the hook device 24, the second hook 22 is pre-fixed to the first branch portion 29 of the base plate 23, and is fixed to the cylinder head 6 with one main bolt 31 before the manifold 39 is attached. However, as already mentioned, since the reinforcing plate 34 is sandwiched between the boss portion 36 of the cylinder head 6, it can be easily maintained in a stable position without any effort.

[0051] In addition, in this embodiment, two branches 29, 30 are formed on the base plate 23, and the second branch 30 is used to fix the first main insulator 55, and the hook device 24 is also used as a fixing member for the first main insulator 55, which reduces costs and makes effective use of space.

[0052] In engines, multiple harnesses are typically bundled and held to the engine body with hooks, but it is also possible to attach a harness-holding hook by utilizing the nut 33 of the first branch 29 after removing the second hook 22. The first branch 29 can also be used to hold an intake pipe or a cooling water pipe. Furthermore, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 5(C), it is also possible to fit a harness 86 into the crotch formed by the first branch 29 and the second branch 30 to prevent it from moving.

[0053] Although the base plate 23 remains fixed to the cylinder head 6, the base plate 23 has a vertically long shape, so it does not interfere with the attachment of other members, and therefore the freedom of engine design is not impaired.

[0054] As shown in Figure 6(A), a side rib 87 can be bent and formed on the first branch 29 as a means for preventing co-rotation and reinforcing the second hook 22. Also, a rib 88 can be bent and formed on the narrow portion 28a of the base plate 23 as a means for preventing co-rotation when the base plate 23 is fixed to the cylinder head 6 with one main bolt 31. Furthermore, the narrow portion 28a can be fitted between the boss portions 36 as a means for preventing co-rotation of the base plate 23. When the narrow portion 28a is fitted between the boss portions 36, the reinforcing plate 34 can be fixed to the lower surface of the first branch 29.

[0055] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention can be embodied in various other ways. For example, it is possible to provide three or more branches. The shape and orientation of the second branch can be changed depending on its function. For example, the second branch can be bent toward the head cover and used to clamp a component such as an intake pipe. A hook device can be placed on the intake side, and the branch can be used to attach a delivery pipe or intake manifold.

[0056] The engine can be placed in a front compartment at the front of the vehicle. It can be applied to a slant type engine like a cap-over type automobile engine, or a vertical type engine.

[0057] The present invention can be embodied in a hook device for an engine, and is therefore industrially applicable.

[0058] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 vehicle body 2 rear compartment 4 crankshaft 5 cylinder block 6 cylinder head 7 head cover 21 first hook 22 second hook (hook plate in claims) 23 base plate 24 hook device 27 exhaust side 28 base of base plate 29 first branch 30 second branch 31 main bolt 32 auxiliary bolt 34 reinforcing plate as an example of reinforcing portion 36 boss portion of cylinder head 39 manifold 40 catalyst case 55, 56 main insulator 73, 74 sub-insulator

Claims

1. An engine hook device comprising: a base plate having vertically elongated ends fixed to and held on an engine body; and a hook plate removably fixed to said base plate by a single auxiliary bolt, said base plate being provided with a reinforcing portion which abuts against one end face of said hook plate to prevent said hook plate from rotating together with said auxiliary bolt.

2. A hook device for an engine as described in claim 1, wherein the base plate has a base portion fixed to the engine body by the main bolt and a plurality of branches branching off from the base portion when viewed from the axial direction of the engine body, and the hook plate is fixed to one of the plurality of branches by the auxiliary bolt.

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