FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003


COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10; rule 13)
TITLE OF THE INVENTION A Thermal Insulator For A Vehicle
APPLICANTS
TATA MOTORS LIMITED, an Indian company
having its registered office at Bombay House,
24 Ho mi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk,
Mumbai 400 001 Maharashtra, India
INVENTORS
Mr. Mahavir A Chimad
An Indian Nationals
of TATA MOTORS LIMITED an Indian company
having its registered office at Bombay House,
24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk,
Mumbai 400 001 Maharashtra, India

PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner
in which it is to be performed.


FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the fields of protective structures for vehicular engines. The present invention specifically relates to a thermal insulator for a vehicle and more particularly related to a thermal insulator for noise shield of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various automotive vehicles such as road vehicles, off road vehicles, and the like, utilize an internal combustion engine as a main power plant for driving of the corresponding vehicles. The internal combustion engine is normally provided with a noise shield, which is attached on the surface of an engine body to reduce the noise produced by the engine during operation. The noise shield is generally located below the engine and the transmission system and connected to long member of the vehicle. Such noise shield is usually constructed with a sound-absorbing material, where the noise shield is made up of Poly Propylene - Co Polymer (PPCP) material. This noise shield is also used in vehicle's casing and transmission parts to prevent the noise from radiating outside.
Referring to FIG. 1, a detailed view of position of a noise shield (100) and an exhaust system of a vehicle is illustrated, in accordance with prior art. The engine noise shield (100) is placed in close vicinity to the exhaust system of the vehicle, particularly to the exhaust pipe (200) of the vehicle, where the exhaust pipe (200) of the exhaust system emits nearly 450* C. The PPCP material has a melting point of 150' C and loses its shape while nearing or above its melting point. Since the noise shield (100) is made of PPCP material, the heat radiation from the exhaust pipe (200) of the exhaust system affects the noise shield (100). Hence if thermal insulation is not provided, the noise shield (100) loses its shape and starts melting in worst cases, which minimizes the lifetime of the noise shield (100). Also, it is very difficult to remove the damaged noise shield for replacement and time consuming.
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However, no special structures and arrangements on the noise shield are provided to protect the noise shield from the thermal radiation. Hence, it is necessary to provide insulation for the noise shield of the vehicle to restrict the heat radiations from the exhaust system. It is also required that the insulation should be easily fixed to the noise shield by any means, should not absorb oil or any other liquid, and should effortlessly take the required shape of noise shield. Since the gap between the noise shield and the exhaust system is very less, the insulator should be of less thickness to restrict the enough amount of radiation without altering the casing space. Therefore, it is essential to provide a thermal insulation for the noise shield of the vehicle, which meets all the requirements as mentioned above.
OBJECTS OF INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a thermal insulator for a noise shield of a vehicle, which protects the noise shield from the thermal radiation in an efficient manner.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a thermal insulator, which can be easily fixed to the noise shield of the vehicle.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a thermal insulator, having less thickness capable of restricting substantial amount of radiation and also has good resistant for oil and water.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
According to one aspect, the present invention, which achieves the objectives, relates to a thermal insulator for a noise shield of a vehicle comprising a ceramic paper that is capable of withstanding thermal radiation at least up to 450°C. The ceramic paper is sandwiched between a set of glass wool cloth, which restricts oil and water to pass through the ceramic paper. The ceramic paper and the glass wool cloth are stitched
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together, which is flexible in acquiring the shape of the noise shield. The thermal insulator is adhered to and/or pasted on the noise shield of the vehicle by means of synthetic rubber adhesive. The thermal insulator is also riveted to the noise shield of the vehicle by means of rivets, which protects the noise shield from the thermal radiation in an efficient manner.
STATEMENT OF INVENTION
Accordingly the present invention further discloses, 1. A thermal insulator for a vehicle, comprising:a first thermal insulating material ;a second insulating material adapted for covering said first thermal insulating material at both sides, said first thermal insulating material and said second insulating material are stitched together in order to form a homogenized insulating material.
In another specific embodiment of the invention wherein a multilayer thermal insulator for vehicles comprising a layer of ceramic paper ; two layers of glass wool cloth; and said ceramic layer is sandwiched between said layers of glass wool cloth
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The invention will be discussed in greater detail with reference to the accompanying Figures.
FIG. 1 shows a detailed view of position of a noise shield and an exhaust system of a vehicle, in accordance with prior art; and
FIG. 2 illustrates a preparation process of a thermal insulator fixed on a noise shield, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
Referring to FIG. 2, a preparation process of a thermal insulator fixed on a noise shield (3) is illustrated, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The thermal insulator comprises a ceramic paper (1) that is capable to restrict the thermal radiation up to 450° C, where the ceramic paper (1) absorbs oil and water and gets easily tattered. In order to protect the ceramic paper (1) against oil and water, a glass wool cloth (2) is adapted for enclosing the ceramic paper (1) at both sides. Such glass wool cloth (2) can be easily pasted on the noise shield (3), restrict water and oil to pass through it, and also act as heat insulator. The heat insulator is formed as a multi layer with the ceramic paper is sandwiched between the layers of glass wool. Thickness of each layer is preferably 1 mm -2 mm.
Moreover, the ceramic paper (1) and the glass wool cloth (2) are stitched together as a thermal insulator, which can be adhered to and/or pasted on the noise shield (3) of the vehicle by means of the synthetic rubber adhesive. In addition to that the stitched thermal insulator is riveted with the noise shield (3) by means of rivets (4) at the pitch of 150 mm through out the length of the noise shield (3). Since this thermal insulator is of ceramic paper (1) and glass wool cloth (2), it is flexible in acquiring the required shape of the noise shield (3) effortlessly. Hence, it achieves easy protection for the noise shield (3) against the thermal radiation from the exhaust system of the vehicle.
The foregoing description is a specific embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated that this embodiment is described for purpose of illustration only, and that numerous alterations and modifications may be practiced by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that all such modifications and alterations be included insofar as they come within the scope of the invention as claimed or the equivalents thereof.
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WE CLAIM
1. A thermal insulator for a vehicle, comprising:
a first thermal insulating material;
a second insulating material adapted for covering said first thermal insulating material at both sides, said first thermal insulating material and said second insulating material are stitched together in order to form a homogenized insulating material.
2. The thermal insulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first thermal insulating material is a ceramic paper.
3. The thermal insulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first thermal insulating material capable of restricting temperature of at least 450 °C.
4. The thermal insulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second insulating material is a glass wool cloth.
5. The thermal insulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second insulating material is oil and water resistant.
6. The thermal insulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said homogenized insulating material is flexible.
7. The thermal insulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said homogenized insulating material is adhered to noise shield of the vehicle by adhesive means.
8. The thermal insulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said homogenized insulating material is riveted to noise shield of the vehicle by a plurality of rivets.
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9. A thermal insulator for vehicles as claimed in any one of the above claims wherein the first insulating material is a layer of ceramic paper, the second insulating material is glass wool cloth; and said ceramic paper is sandwiched between said layers of glass wool cloth.
10. The thermal insulator for a vehicle substantially as herein above described and as illustrated in accompanying drawings.
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Dated this 16th day of March 2009