DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a mounting bracket structure of a power line of utility vehicles and more particularly to an apparatus and method for mounting brackets using bolt-on type at the front and rear side of the vehicle for different make Transmission & Engine.

BACKGROUND

A vehicle such as a light truck includes a vehicle frame assembly which serves as a platform for the other major structural components of the vehicle. The body of the vehicle is supported on top of the vehicle frame assembly, and the drive train is supported underneath it. In addition, the engine, Transmission and suspension system are mounted on the vehicle frame assembly. The vehicle frame assembly includes various mounting structures for connection to the engine, Transmission and suspension system. For example, the vehicle frame assembly is usually provided with engine mounts and Transmission mounts.

In the past, these mounting structures were usually separate parts which were attached to the vehicle frame assembly by welding and design of more no. of frame assembly for different power train combination which are not interchangeable with other frame of same capacity of Dumper. The use of a plurality of separate mounting parts presents several disadvantages. Welding of all the parts to the vehicle frame assembly is a relatively time consuming and costly manufacturing operation. The cost of inventory is also increased by the plurality of separate parts. Further, it is difficult to maintain the correct dimensional relationships between all the mounting parts when they are welded separately onto the vehicle frame assembly.

Thus, it would be desirable to provide mounting structures on a vehicle frame assembly without requiring a plurality of separate mounting parts and common bare frame which can be used for all varieties of power train combinations.

Power line aggregates (Engine & transmission mounting brackets) on frame are critical for the propulsion of the equipment. Presently these aggregates are positioned by welding on rails of main frame which induces residual stresses on the Main Frame. Side rails are continuously subjected to bending stresses when equipment travels on off-highway roads. Welding structures are continuously subjected to dynamic loading which leads to welding failures / cracks on side rails.

In order to overcome these stresses on frame engine (rear) and transmission (front & rear) mounting brackets are modified to bolt-on type.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment of the present invention, it is provided an apparatus and method for mounting brackets using bolt-on type bracket on rear side of the Engine and front & rear side of Transmission of vehicle frame. The different power line aggregates on main frame are mounted with brackets using bolts and nuts which reduces the stress on the main frame rails and therefore increases the working life of the main frame. The present invention provides easy transformation of different aggregates with bolt on brackets without modification on the main frame. The bolt-on brackets is deployed for mounting hydraulic & fuel tanks and power train aggregates on the frame. It facilitates different combination of engine and transmission without reworking on the frame.

Bolt-on bracket assembly for mounting hydraulic & fuel tanks and power train aggregates on the frame wherein bracket is mounted with bolts and nuts to reduce the stress on the main frame rails and therefore increases the working life of the main frame wherein bracket assemblies are transmission mounting bracket assembly, engine mounting bracket assembly, hydraulic tank mounting bracket assembly, fuel tank mounting bracket assembly. Two transmission mounting brackets assemblies are provided at the front and rear side of the transmission of the vehicle. The front transmission mounting bracket assembly is having transmission front MTG inside bracket – RH (1) and transmission front MTG outside plate – RH (2) which are secured with the help of bolts and nuts. The rear transmission mounting bracket assembly is having transmission rear MTG inside bracket – RH (3) and Rear MTG outside plates RH(4) which are secured with the help of bolts and nuts and similarly way for LH side of the Transmission. The engine mounting bracket assembly is having engine rear MTG bracket – RH (5) with plates (7) and engine rear MTG bracket LH side which are secured with the help of bolts and nuts. There is plurality of hydraulic tank rear mounting bracket assemblies which comprises of hydraulic tank rear & front mounting bracket (s) (8 & 8’) and plates (9 & 9’) along with right angle plate (10), which are secured with the help of bolts and nuts. There is plurality of fuel tank mounting bracket assemblies. The front assembly is having fuel tank front MTG outside bracket (12) and plate (11), which are secured with the help of bolts and nuts. The rear assembly is having fuel tank rear MTG outside bracket (12’) and plate (11’), which are secured with the help of bolts and nuts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The other objects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art from the following description of the preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is an exploded view of the transmission mounting bracket according to the present invention

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the engine mounting bracket according to the present invention

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the exemplary hydraulic tank mounting bracket according to the present invention

Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the exemplary fuel tank mounting bracket according to the present invention

DESCRIPTION

According to an embodiment of the present invention, apparatus and method is provided for mounting brackets using bolt-on type at the front and rear side of the vehicle.

The present invention facilitates different combination of engine and transmission to meet customer requirement without reworking on the frame. It helps in reducing varieties of frames and also facilitates easy change-over of different aggregates, with bolt-on brackets, without modification on the frame. There is no need of any welding of mounting brackets while changing the power train aggregates which reduces welding stress at critical joint thereby enhancing the fatigue life of the frame and also ease of assembly & thereby reducing assembly cycle time.

Referring to Fig. 1 indicates two mounting brackets each are provided at the front and rear side (both LH & RH SIDE) of the transmission of the vehicle. Similarly in Fig. 2 two mounting brackets are provided at the rear side of the engine (both LH & RH SIDE) of the vehicle. The mounting bracket configuration is changed based on the design of engine and transmission but the mounting position of bracket does not change.
The engine and transmission mount hold and support the powertrain while isolating the vibrations produced by the powertrain from the chassis. The mounting brackets on each side of the engine provide support to the engine and prevent the engine from rocking back and forth as the vehicle accelerates and decelerates. The main frame is designed in such way that all the power line aggregates of engine and transmissions are mounted with brackets by bolts and nuts of grade 12.9 as an exemplary feature of the present invention. This method facilitates to easily replace the mounting brackets on their wear and tear since they are not welded to the main frame.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3 depicts the hydraulic tank mounting details. The components of the hydraulic tank are mounted with brackets using bolts and nuts at the front and rear end of the tank as described above. These mounting brackets provide stability and support under the tank.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 4 depicts the fuel tank mounting details. The components of the fuel tank are mounted with brackets using bolts and nuts as described above.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus and method is applied on 100 tonne class dump truck and is applicable on other utility vehicles also.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will 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 appended claims.
,CLAIMS:We Claim:

1. Bolt-on bracket assembly for mounting hydraulic & fuel tanks and power train aggregates on the frame wherein bracket is mounted with bolts and nuts to reduce the stress on the main frame rails and therefore increases the working life of the main frame wherein bracket assemblies are transmission mounting bracket assembly, engine mounting bracket assembly, hydraulic tank mounting bracket assembly, fuel tank mounting bracket assembly.

2. Bolt on bracket assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein two transmission mounting brackets assemblies are provided at the front and rear side of the transmission of the vehicle.

3. Bolt on bracket assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein front transmission mounting bracket assembly is having transmission front MTG inside bracket – RH (1) and transmission front MTG outside plate – RH (2) which are secured with the help of bolts and nuts.

4. Bolt on bracket assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein rear transmission mounting bracket assembly is having transmission rear MTG inside bracket – RH (3) and plates (4) which are secured with the help of bolts and nuts.

5. Bolt on bracket assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein engine mounting bracket assembly is having engine rear MTG bracket – RH (5) with plates (7) and engine front MTG bracket – RH (6), which are secured with the help of bolts and nuts.

6. Bolt on bracket assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is plurality of hydraulic tank rear mounting bracket assemblies which comprises of hydraulic tank rear & front mounting bracket (s) (8 & 8’) and plates (9 & 9’) along with right angle pate (10), which are secured with the help of bolts and nuts.

7. Bolt on bracket assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is plurality of fuel tank mounting bracket assemblies.

8. Bolt on bracket assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein front assembly is having fuel tank front MTG outside bracket (12) and plate (11), which are secured with the help of bolts and nuts.

9. Bolt on bracket assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein rear assembly is having fuel tank rear MTG outside bracket (12’) and plate (11’), which are secured with the help of bolts and nuts.

Dated: 25th November’ 2019

Jaya Bhatnagar

Attorneys for the applicant