Composite Engine Cover for Noise Shielding and Heat Venting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing engine covers for automobiles, particularly in cab-over and one-box types, face challenges in providing comprehensive protection against foreign objects, noise leakage, and heat management while maintaining structural integrity and rigidity, as they either lead to weight increase, heat damage, or insufficient noise suppression.
Innovation Solution
A composite cover integrating a sound-absorbing main body made of hard urethane with a reinforcing body, formed in a cross shape and exposed on both surfaces, which includes a fastening part with a collar to distribute the fastening force, ensuring high attaching strength and noise shielding without compromising shape retention or heat insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an undercover entirely covering the engine is provided to suppress noise and protect from foreign objects, then noise shielding and protection functions are improved, but weight increases and heat damage occurs due to hindered ventilation
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is divided into multiple functional zones: a sound-absorbing main body for noise shielding, reinforcing bodies for structural strength, and opening parts for ventilation. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally without requiring a complete undercover, thus reducing weight while maintaining noise shielding effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the cover have different properties: the sound-absorbing main body uses porous material for noise absorption, the reinforcing bodies provide structural rigidity, and the opening parts allow heat dissipation. This local differentiation of material properties and structural characteristics enables the cover to achieve multiple functions simultaneously with reduced overall weight.
2Reliability
If sound-absorbing material is attached to the chain cover for noise reduction, then noise from timing chain is reduced, but noise from crank pulley and auxiliary drive belt cannot be prevented from leaking
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously addresses noise from multiple sources (timing chain, crank pulley, auxiliary drive belt) and provides protection from foreign objects. The sound-absorbing main body extends to cover the crank pulley and auxiliary drive belt areas, making the cover universally effective against all identified noise sources rather than addressing only one source.
3Reliability
If sound-absorbing cover is used to cover crank pulley and auxiliary drive belt, then noise shielding is improved, but rigidity and shape retention cannot be maintained due to lower density and strength of sound-absorbing materials
Solution Approach 1:
The cover employs a composite structure combining sound-absorbing material with reinforcing bodies. The sound-absorbing main body provides noise shielding, while the reinforcing bodies (made of higher strength material) provide the necessary rigidity and shape retention. This composite approach allows the cover to simultaneously achieve noise shielding effectiveness and structural strength that neither material could provide alone.
4Weight of moving object
If partial protection is provided as in Patent Document 3, then weight increase is reduced, but protective function is insufficient and no noise suppression function can be expected
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple functions into a single integrated cover structure: noise shielding (through sound-absorbing material), foreign object protection (through the cover structure itself), and ventilation (through opening parts). This consolidation of functions into one component achieves comprehensive protection and noise suppression without the weight penalty of multiple separate components or a complete undercover.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composite cover effectively protects engine components from foreign objects and noise, while maintaining structural integrity and preventing heat buildup, ensuring robustness and efficient noise reduction with reduced fastening complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a sound-absorbing main body made of hard urethane with a reinforcing body
Implementation Method 2
a reinforcing body, formed in a cross shape and exposed on both surfaces, which includes a fastening part with a collar to distribute the fastening force
Data Source
AI summary
A cover for an automobile engine covers a crank pulley and an auxiliary drive belt of an engine arranged in an engine room with the crank pulley and the auxiliary drive belt being in a posture facing a front direction of a vehicle body. The cover includes a reinforcing body that includes a fastening part attaching to the engine and is integrated with a sound-absorbing main body.