The present disclosure described herein, in general, relates to a powertrain mounting bracket that helps in mounting powertrain over a body of a vehicle. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a powertrain support bracket that helps in retaining the position of the powertrain inside the vehicle during a right hand side frontal crash of the vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Nowadays, automotive engines are designed for real-world vehicle operating needs. In every type of automobile, engine plays an important role in moving said automobile forward. The engine is also called as a powertrain as it provides power to the automobile. The powertrain generates a power to drive the wheels of the vehicle.
[0003] As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a powertrain 100 is generally mounted inside an engine bay. The powertrain includes an engine cylinder block 102 and a transmission case 104. The engine cylinder block 102 may be connected to a right-hand, RH, side mount of a vehicle side body, while the transmission case 104 may be connected to a left-hand, LH, side mount of the vehicle side body. Such an arrangement is usually common in a passenger vehicles; however, the orientation of the arrangement may vary in other type of vehicle.
[0004] Further, from the FIG. 1A, it can be clearly seen that the engine cylinder block 102 is connected to the RH side mount of the vehicle side body through two RH side powertrain mounting brackets 106 and 108.

Among the two RH powertrain mounting brackets, a first powertrain mounting bracket 106 directly connects the engine cylinder block 102 with the RH side mount, and a second powertrain mounting bracket 108 connects the engine cylinder block 102 with the first powertrain mounting bracket 106, say, at 90 degrees.
[0005] The RH side mount connection is provided with the above mentioned two RH side powertrain mounting brackets 106, 108 so as to enhance the strength of the mounting connection of the engine cylinder block 102 with the vehicle side body.
[0006] However, during the right hand side frontal crash, the engine cylinder block 102 may be, sometimes, pushed back by a reaction force from an obstacle hitting, with high intensity This large force can cause the engine cylinder block 102 to break away from a mounting point 112 and hit a dash panel 114 of the vehicle (FIG. 1B).
[0007] Additionally, such a hitting of the engine cylinder block 102 with the dash panel 114 may damage the fuel storing components 110, which may be squeezed between the engine cylinder block 102 and the dash panel 114.
[0008] Therefore, a primary connection of the engine cylinder block 102 with the RH side mount through the two RH side powertrain mounting brackets 106, 108 may not be considered as sufficient to restrict the movement of the engine cylinder block 102 towards the dash panel 114 during frontal RH side crash.
[0009] Hence, there is a need to provide an additional connection of the engine cylinder block with the RH side mount so as to restrict the motion of the powertrain during frontal RH side crash.

OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0010] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one for embodiment herein satisfy, are listed herein below.
[0011] It is a primary object of the present disclosure to provide a powertrain support bracket for effectively attaching a powertrain to a side body of a vehicle.
[0012] It is general object of the present disclosure to provide the powertrain support bracket that will absorb some energy during frontal collision and will restrict motion of the powertrain that in turns ultimately prevent it from hitting a dash panel of the vehicle.
[0013] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide the powertrain support bracket that is mounted in conjunction with the primary mounting bracket to minimize stress near engine cylinder block.
[0014] It is yet another object of the present disclosure to provide the powertrain support bracket that increases the overall rigidity of the complete assembly and reduces mobility as the lower mobility translates to a better NVH experience for the passenger.
[0015] It is yet another object of the present disclosure to provide the powertrain support bracket that increases the toughness and resistance of the complete assembly as the assembly supports very high load.
[0016] It is further another object of the present disclosure to provide the powertrain support bracket that gives better performance and reliability in an event of crash.
[0017] These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent when reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawing.

SUMMARY
[0018] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a powertrain support bracket for restricting the movement of a powertrain during a right hand, RH, side frontal crash of a vehicle. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0019] The present disclosure relates to a powertrain support bracket. The powertrain support bracket includes a pair of upper region mount holes for mounting the powertrain support bracket on a right hand, RH, side of the powertrain through powertrain mounting brackets; and a pair of lower region mount holes for mounting the powertrain support bracket on a cylinder block of the powertrain.
[0020] In an aspect, the powertrain mounting brackets includes a first powertrain mounting bracket connecting a cylinder block of the powertrain with an RH side mount attached to the vehicle side body, and a second powertrain mounting bracket connecting the cylinder block of the power train with the first powertrain mounting bracket at 90 degrees.
[0021] In an aspect, the pair of lower region mount holes of the powertrain support bracket are aligned with mounting holes of an air conditioner, AC, compressor mounting bracket for sharing the mounting provisions formed on the powertrain for the AC compressor mounting bracket.
[0022] In an aspect, the powertrain support bracket is a sheet metal bracket.
[0023] In an aspect, the powertrain support bracket has a U- shaped cross-section.

[0024] In an aspect, the powertrain support bracket resembles a closed shaped polygon.
[0025] In an aspect, the powertrain support bracket has a concave bend area in its side profile.
[0026] In order to further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present subject matter, a description relating thereto will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit the scope of the present subject matter.
[0027] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present disclosure and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures.
[0029] The illustrated embodiments of the present disclosure will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and methods that are consistent with the present disclosure as claimed herein, wherein:
[0030] FIG. 1A illustrates a powertrain in a scenario before a front right hand side crash of a vehicle;

[0031] FIG. 1B illustrates the powertrain in a scenario after the front right hand side crash of a vehicle;
[0032] FIG.2 illustrates an engine cylinder block of the powertrain along with right hand, RH, side powertrain mounting brackets;
[0033] FIG.3 illustrates a powertrain support bracket in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0034] FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C illustrate different views of the powertrain support bracket in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0035] The figures depict embodiments of the present disclosure for the purposes of illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0036] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0037] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.

[0038] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises", "comprising", "includes" and/or "including," when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
[0039] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may, in fact, be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[0040] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0041] FIG.2 illustrates the engine cylinder block 102 of the powertrain 100. As mentioned above, the engine cylinder block 102 is connected to a RH side mount of a vehicle side body through two RH side powertrain mounting brackets 106 and 108. Among the two RH side powertrain mounting brackets, a first powertrain mounting bracket 106 directly connects the engine cylinder block 102 with the RH side mount, and a second powertrain mounting bracket 108 connects the engine cylinder

block 102 with the first powertrain mounting bracket 106, say, at 90 degrees.
[0042] However, during the right hand side frontal crash, the engine cylinder block 102 may be, sometimes, pushed back by a reaction force from an obstacle hitting, with high intensity. This large force can cause the engine cylinder block 102 to break away from a mounting point and move towards a dash panel of the vehicle, while breaking / squeezing fuel storing components, which are positioned between the engine cylinder block 102 and the dash panel.
[0043] To resolve this issue, the present disclosure proposes a powertrain support bracket 302 as shown in FIG. 3. The powertrain support bracket 302 includes a pair of upper region mount holes 302-U1, 302-U2 for mounting the powertrain support bracket 302 on the RH side of the powertrain primary mounting brackets 106,108 that are used for connecting the powertrain with a vehicle side body; and a pair of lower region mount holes 302-L1, 302-L2 that are used for mounting the powertrain support bracket 302. This pair of lower region mount holes 32-L1,302-L2 are also aligned with the mounting holes of the mounting bracket (304) which is used for mounting of an air conditioner, (AC) compressor . Therefore, the power train support bracket 302 utilizes the mounting provisions formed on the AC compressor mounting bracket (304).
[0044] Due to this arrangement, the powertrain support bracket 302 reduces the motion of powertrain in the event of the RH side frontal offset crash. In addition, this powertrain support bracket 302 ensures that in the event of a crash, if the RH side mounting point on the cylinder block 102 of the powertrain 100, develops a crack and separates, the powertrain support bracket 302 restricts motion of the cylinder block 102 towards the dash panel 114. The powertrain support bracket 302 is designed such that

its profile and structure assist the powertrain 102 during crash to remain fixed with the vehicle body and not swing freely towards passenger cabin.
[0045] In an aspect, the powertrain support bracket 302 is a sheet metal bracket which has no influence on the function of the primary mounting, but only provides an additional connection between the cylinder block 102 and the vehicle side body. However, the presence of this additional bracket or the powertrain support bracket 302 increases the overall rigidity of the assembly and reduces mobility. A lower mobility translates to a better NVH experience for the passenger.
[0046] Moreover, the profile and shape of this bracket is optimized for increasing the rigidity and strength. For instance, as can be seen from FIG. 4A, the cross-section of the powertrain support bracket 302 is having U-shaped section with side flanges which provides a better strength. The flanges are provided on both the inner and the outer side. The inner side flange of U- section increases part stiffness, so that it can absorb maximum amount of energy during crash.
[0047] In this case, the U-section of the bracket is made of sheet metal. The shape of section increases the overall toughness and resistance of the bracket. This profile of bracket is very important as it has to bear very heavy load. Moreover, in the powertrain support bracket 302, the flat area of U-section is kept minimum as the flat area provides less stiffness. Such configuration also implies a reduction in material cost.
[0048] Also, as can be seen from FIG. 4B, the powertrain support bracket 302 resembles a closed shaped polygon and having a concave bend area 302-C1, 302-C2 in its side profile.
[0049] Further, as can be seen from FIG. 4C, from side view, the presence of concave bend area 302-C1, 302-C2 in the powertrain support bracket 302 further aids in increasing the part rigidity and strength. Moreover, the concave bend 302-C1, 302-C2 increases the resistance

offered by the powertrain support bracket 302, when compared to a straight line side profile. The proposed structure of the bracket 302 absorbs more energy during crash and delay the rearward motion of cylinder block 302-L1 of the power train support bracket 302.
[0050] Thus, with the proposed powertrain support bracket 302 that is used for restricting the movement of a powertrain during a right hand, RH, side frontal crash of a vehicle, as described in the present disclosure, various technical problems of the state of the art are resolved.
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0051] The present disclosure provides a secondary mounting bracket for effectively attaching the power train to the body of the vehicle.
[0052] The present disclosure provides the powertrain support bracket that will absorb some energy during collision and will restrict motion of the cylinder block of the power train that in turns ultimately prevent it from hitting the dash panel.
[0053] The present disclosure provides the powertrain support bracket that is mounted in conjunction with the primary mounting bracket and the compressor bracket to minimize stress near cylinder head.
[0054] The present disclosure provides the powertrain support bracket that increases the overall rigidity of the complete assembly and reduces mobility as the lower mobility translates to a better NVH experience for the passenger.
[0055] The present disclosure provides the powertrain support that increases the toughness and resistance of the complete assembly as the assembly supports very high load.

[0056] The present disclosure provides the powertrain support that gives better performance and reliability in an event of crash.
Equivalents
[0057] Further, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are included within its scope.
[0058] Furthermore, all examples recited herein are principally intended expressly to be only for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Also, the various embodiments described herein are not necessarily mutually exclusive, as some embodiments can be combined with one or more other embodiments to form new embodiments.
[0059] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.


WE CLAIM

1. A powertrain support bracket (302) for restricting the movement of a
powertrain (100) during a right hand, RH, side frontal crash of a
vehicle, the powertrain support bracket (302) comprising:
a pair of upper region mount holes (302-U1, 302-U2) for mounting the powertrain support bracket (302) on RH side powertrain mounting brackets (106, 108) connecting the powertrain (100) with a vehicle side body; and
a pair of lower region mount holes (302-L1, 302-L2) for mounting the powertrain support bracket (302) on the powertrain (100).
2. The powertrain support bracket (302) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the RH side powertrain mounting brackets include a first powertrain mounting bracket (106) connecting a cylinder block (102) of the powertrain (100) with an RH side mount to the vehicle side body, and a second powertrain mounting bracket (108) connecting the cylinder block (102) with the first powertrain mounting bracket (106) at 90 degrees.
3. The powertrain support bracket (302) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pair of lower region mount holes (302-L1, 302-L2) of the powertrain support bracket (302) are aligned with mounting holes of an air conditioner, AC, compressor mounting bracket (304) for sharing the mounting provisions formed on the powertrain for the AC compressor mounting bracket (304).
4. The powertrain support bracket (302) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the powertrain support bracket (302) is a sheet metal bracket.
5. The powertrain support bracket (302) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the powertrain support bracket (302) has a U-shaped cross-section.

6. The powertrain support bracket (302) as claimed in claim 1, wherein powertrain support bracket (302) resembles a closed shaped polygon.
7. The powertrain support bracket (302) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the powertrain support bracket (302) has a concave bend area ( 302-C1,302-C2) in its side profile.