Tubular Sleeve Engine Mount Assembly for Compact Vehicle Frames

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional engine mounts for heavy work vehicles are cumbersome to assemble and require substantial space and weight on the vehicle frame, increasing costs and complexity, especially when mounted from above within tight engine compartments.

Innovation Solution

An engine mount assembly featuring an elastomeric snubber element and a tubular sleeve with an enlarged attachment footprint, allowing for secure mounting between engine frame arms and vehicle frame flanges, with attachment studs facilitating assembly from below, reducing the required mounting footprint and simplifying the assembly process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional engine mounts are used for heavy work vehicles, then the engine can be securely mounted to the vehicle frame, but the mounts require substantial space and weight on the vehicle frame, increasing costs and complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting securityVSAvoidvehicle frame weight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The tubular sleeve is positioned within the engine frame arms, nesting the mounting structure within existing engine components rather than requiring separate external mounting structures. This reduces the overall space and weight requirements on the vehicle frame while maintaining secure mounting capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from conventional top-down mounting to side-mounted configuration, where the tubular sleeve extends horizontally between engine frame arms. This dimensional change allows the mounting footprint to be distributed across the engine frame width rather than concentrating weight and space requirements on the vehicle frame

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Strength

If conventional engine mounts are used for heavy work vehicles, then the engine can be securely mounted to the vehicle frame, but the mounts require substantial space and weight on the vehicle frame, increasing costs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting securityVSAvoidmaterial quantity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The tubular sleeve is positioned within the engine frame arms, nesting the mounting structure within existing engine components rather than requiring separate external mounting structures. This reduces the overall space and weight requirements on the vehicle frame while maintaining secure mounting capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The tubular sleeve serves multiple functions: it acts as both the mounting attachment point to the vehicle frame and as a structural component within the engine frame assembly. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby reducing total material quantity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Strength

If conventional engine mounts are assembled and attached from above, then the engine can be mounted to the vehicle frame, but the assembly process is tedious and time consuming within the tight confines of the engine compartment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting securityVSAvoidassembly time

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention inverts the conventional assembly approach by enabling attachment from the side rather than from above. The tubular sleeve is positioned horizontally between engine frame arms, allowing assembly personnel to access and attach the mounting from the side of the engine compartment rather than reaching down from above, significantly reducing assembly time and difficulty

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The tubular sleeve acts as an intermediary structure that facilitates easier assembly. By providing a side-mounted attachment point, it serves as a mediator between the engine frame and vehicle frame that allows for more accessible assembly operations compared to direct top-down mounting

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution provides a compact and efficient engine mounting system that reduces assembly time and space requirements, enhancing the ease of installation and minimizing the weight and cost of vehicle frame components while maintaining structural integrity.

Implementation Method 1

an elastomeric material snubber element with axial end faces

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration isolation: Damping

Implementation Method 2

The snubber element may have any suitable cross-sectional shape, such as a cylindrical member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShock absorption: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS9033094B2Engine mount assembly and mounting system for a vehicle

Publication Date: 2015.05.19 BLUE LEAF I P INC

AI summary

An engine mount assembly is provided for mounting an engine to a vehicle frame. The engine mount assembly includes an elastomeric material snubber element having a generally elongated configuration with axial end faces and a coaxial bolt passage defined therethrough. A tubular sleeve has an inner shape sized for sliding receipt of the snubber element therein. The tubular sleeve has a longitudinal cross-sectional profile such that a bottom longitudinal cross-sectional portion of the tubular sleeve extends axially beyond the end faces of the snubber element and defines an enlarged attachment footprint for the tubular sleeve to a vehicle frame flange.