DESC:FIELD
The present disclosure relates to the field of automobiles. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to tools for performing automotive powertrain assembly.
DEFINITION
As used in the present disclosure, the following terms are generally intended to have the meaning as set forth below, except to the extent that the context in which they are used indicate otherwise.
Transaxle: The term ‘transaxle’ in this disclosure refers to, but is not limited to, an integrated assembly for an automotive transmission, a clutch and an axle.
Refitment: The term ‘refitment’ in this disclosure would generally mean refitting of a component that has been previously removed for the purpose of trial or refurbishing purposes.
BACKGROUND
The background information herein below relates to the present disclosure but is not necessarily prior art.
During the product development phase, to evaluate clutch life or to validate a transaxle, multiple iterations of clutch sets and transaxle changes are carried out. In order to evaluate or validate the design of a vehicle powertrain, a transaxle or a clutch assembly may be required to be removed and refitted on the vehicle multiple times. In a vehicle architecture where the vehicle body is mounted on a frame and the vehicle engine is installed in a transverse (also termed as ‘east-west’) orientation, the removal of a transaxle or a clutch assembly is complicated. The complication arises out of the need to remove the wiper assembly, the hood, the engine assembly and the plenum assembly before the transaxle or the clutch assembly can be accessed and removed. Moreover, a crane or a hoist is needed for removal and refitting of the heavy components such as engine assembly, transaxle or clutch assembly. Besides, additional time is consumed during removal of the wiper assembly, the hood, the engine assembly and the plenum assembly for removal and refitment of transaxle or clutch. Such a procedure is also required to be performed in vehicle service centres.
There is, therefore, felt a need of a fixture to facilitate removal and refitment of the transaxle in an engine compartment of a vehicle which ameliorates the drawbacks as described hereinabove.
OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a fixture to facilitate removal and refitment of the transaxle of a vehicle.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a fixture which reduces time required for refitment and removal.
Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a fixture which is easy to operate.
Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a fixture which is compact.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

SUMMARY
The present disclosure envisages a fixture for transaxle removal and refitment in a vehicle, wherein the transaxle is fitted below the engine assembly of the vehicle. The fixture comprises at least one pair of the vertical supports, a horizontal bar and a lifting mechanism. The vertical supports are configured to be mounted on the body of the vehicle. The horizontal bar is attached to the vertical supports. The lifting mechanism is provided on a middle section of the horizontal bar. The lifting mechanism is configured to be fastened to the engine assembly of the vehicle. The lifting mechanism is further configured to lift the engine assembly to a desired height to facilitate availability of space for removal or refitment of the transaxle.
In an embodiment, the lifting mechanism has a vertically displaceable configuration.
In another embodiment, each vertical support comprises a resting plate provided with at least one locator configured to be inserted into holes configured on the body of the vehicle.
In yet another embodiment, each vertical support comprises a clamping means configured to be clamped onto the body of the vehicle.
In still another embodiment, the lifting mechanism including holding means and height-adjusting means. The holding means is configured to be detachably fastened to the engine assembly of the vehicle and the height-adjusting means is configured to lift the engine assembly to a desired height.
In one embodiment, the height-adjusting means is an adjustable stud.
In another embodiment, the height-adjusting means is a ratchet and pawl mechanism.
In an embodiment, the holding means is a hook coupled to a chain.
In another embodiment, the holding means is a spring-loaded clamp.
In yet another embodiment, the holding means is a strap.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
100 Fixture
110 Horizontal bar
120 Vertical support
122 Resting plate
124 Locator
130 Lifting mechanism
132 Height adjusting means
134 Holding means
200 Engine compartment
220 Engine assembly
230 Body
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
A fixture, of the present disclosure, for removal and refitment of the transaxle in an engine compartment of a vehicle will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates the fixture, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Figure 2 illustrates the fixture of Figure 1 mounted on the body of the engine compartment of a vehicle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Embodiments, of the present disclosure, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Embodiments are provided so as to thoroughly and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to the person skilled in the art. Numerous details are set forth, relating to specific components to provide a complete understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the details provided in the embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, well-known apparatus, structures, and well-known techniques are not described in detail.
The terminology used, in the present disclosure, is only for the purpose of explaining a particular embodiment and such terminology shall not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure, the forms “a”, “an” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “including” and “having” are open-ended transitional phrases and therefore specify the presence of stated features, elements, modules, units and/or components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
When an element is referred to as being “mounted on”, or “coupled to” another element, it may be directly mounted on, or coupled to the other element. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed elements.
Terms such as “below”, “lower”, “above” and the like, may be used in the present disclosure to describe relationships between different elements as depicted from the figures.
The transaxle is located in the engine compartment, below the engine assembly (220) of the vehicle. In order to evaluate or validate the design of a vehicle powertrain, the transaxle is removed and refitted on the vehicle multiple times. In a vehicle architecture where the engine assembly (220) is installed in a transverse (also termed as ‘east-west’) orientation, the removal of a transaxle or a clutch assembly is complicated and tedious since, it involves removal of other components such as wiper assembly and plenum assembly before the location of the transaxle can be accessed. The fixture (100), of the present disclosure, is configured to remove or refit the transaxle from the engine compartment without the need to remove the other components of the engine assembly (220).
A preferred embodiment of a fixture (100), of the present disclosure, for transaxle removal and refitment in an engine compartment of a vehicle will now be described in detail with reference to Figure 1 and Figure 2. The preferred embodiment does not limit the scope and ambit of the disclosure.
The fixture (100) comprises at least one pair of the vertical supports (120), a horizontal bar (110) attached to the vertical supports (120), and a lifting mechanism (130). The vertical supports (120) are positioned at a predetermined distance from each other, and are configured to be mounted on the body (230) of the engine compartment (200). The distance between the vertical supports (120) corresponds to the breadth of the engine compartment (200). The lifting mechanism (130) is provided on a middle section of the horizontal bar (110). The lifting mechanism (130) is configured to be fastened to the engine assembly (220). The lifting mechanism (130) is further configured to lift the engine assembly (220) to a desired height to facilitate availability of space for removal or refitment of the transaxle from the engine compartment (200).
In an embodiment, the lifting mechanism (130) is provided on the horizontal bar (110) such that the lifting mechanism (130) has a vertically displaceable configuration. For enabling such a configuration of the lifting mechanism (130), the horizontal bar (110) is provided with a coupling means which facilitates vertical mounting of the lifting mechanism (130) on the horizontal bar (110).
In an embodiment, each vertical support (120) comprises a resting plate (122) which is provided with at least one locator (124). The locator (124) is configured to be inserted into holes configured on the body (230) of engine compartment (200). In another embodiment, each vertical support (120) comprises a clamping means configured to be clamped onto the body (230) of the engine compartment (200). Suitably modifying the resting plate (122) or the clamping means of the vertical supports (120) allows the fixture (100) to adapt to the different configurations of the engine compartments of different vehicles.
The lifting mechanism (130) includes holding means (134) and height-adjusting means (132). The holding means (134) is configured to be detachably fastened to the engine assembly (220), while the height-adjusting means (132) is configured to lift the engine assembly (220) to a desired height.
The height-adjusting means (132) is configured to be vertically displaceable to enable easy height adjustment. In an embodiment, the height-adjusting means (132) is an adjustable stud. In another embodiment, the height-adjusting means (132) is a ratchet and pawl mechanism.
In an embodiment, the holding means (134) is a hook coupled to a chain (as illustrated in Figure 1). The hook is configured to be inserted into a loop welded on an operative top surface of the engine assembly (220). In another embodiment, the holding means (134) is a spring-loaded clamp. In yet another embodiment, the holding means (134) is a strap.
The fixture (100), of the present disclosure, is a cost-effective apparatus that eases the process of lifting the engine assembly (220). Since none of the other engine components needs to be removed, the time required for the removal and refitment of the transaxle is less as compared to that required by the traditional manner of removing and refitting the transaxle in the engine compartment. Further, less numbers of components makes the configuration of the fixture (100) compact, and eases the entire operation.
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Individual components of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, are interchangeable. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.
TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS
The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of a fixture for removal and refitment of the transaxle in an engine compartment of a vehicle, which:
• is portable and compact;
• saves time and hence cost for removal and refitment;
• is easy to operate; and
• can be reconfigured for different vehicle bodies.
The foregoing disclosure has been described with reference to the accompanying embodiments which do not limit the scope and ambit of the disclosure. The description provided is purely by way of example and illustration.
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.
Any discussion of devices, articles or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the disclosure. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form a part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.
,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:
1. A fixture (100) for transaxle removal and refitment in an engine compartment (200) of a vehicle, wherein said transaxle is fitted below the engine assembly (220) of said vehicle, said fixture (100) comprising:
• at least one pair of said vertical supports (120) configured to be mounted on the body (230) of said engine compartment;
• a horizontal bar (110) attached to said vertical supports (120);
• a lifting mechanism (130) provided on a middle section of said horizontal bar (110), said lifting mechanism (130) configured to be fastened to the engine assembly (220), and further configured to lift said engine assembly (220) to a desired height to facilitate availability of space for removal or refitment of said transaxle.
2. The fixture (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lifting mechanism (130) has a vertically displaceable configuration.
3. The fixture (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each vertical support (120) comprises a resting plate (122) provided with at least one locator (124) configured to be inserted into holes configured on the body (230) of said engine compartment (200).
4. The fixture (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each vertical support (120) comprises a clamping means configured to be clamped onto the body (230) of said engine compartment (200).
5. The fixture (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lifting mechanism including holding means (134) and height-adjusting means (132), said holding means (134) is configured to be detachably fastened to said engine assembly (220) and said height-adjusting means (132) is configured to lift the engine assembly (220) to a desired height.
6. The fixture (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein said height-adjusting means (132) is an adjustable stud.
7. The fixture (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein said height-adjusting means (132) is a ratchet and pawl mechanism.
8. The fixture (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein said holding means (134) is a hook coupled to a chain.
9. The fixture (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein said holding means (134) is a spring-loaded clamp.
10. The fixture (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein said holding means (134) is a strap.
Dated this 9th Day of August, 2019

_______________________________
MOHAN DEWAN, IN/PA - 25
of R.K.DEWAN & CO.
Authorized Agent of Applicant
TO,
THE CONTROLLER OF PATENTS
THE PATENT OFFICE, AT MUMBAI