TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates, in general, to engine mounts for a vehicle. In particular, the present disclosure relates to an engine mounting torque rod insulator to isolate noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) felt by a driver of a vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present subject matter. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed subject matter, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] In a vehicle, an engine is mounted on a vehicle body or a vehicle frame using engine mounts and a roll torque rod. The engine mounting torque rod includes a body (suspension) side bracket and an engine side bracket, which are connected to each other through a rod. The major function of a torque rod is to restrict the engine roll movement and contain longitudinal engine excitations, due to rough road input, from getting transmitted to passengers of a vehicle.
[0004] Fore restricting engine roll movement and containing longitudinal engine excitations, each of the body side bracket and an engine side bracket contain an insulator (a rubber bush). The mechanical behaviour and characteristics of the insulator, along with the brackets and its configuration, directly affects the noise, vibration and harshness felt by the passenger through floor.
[0005] Conventional insulators are generally formed from rubber. The rubber insulator plays a very important role in improving the noise, vibration, and

harshness (NVH) performance of the vehicle. The shape of the insulator is finalized by altering rubber volume to reduce vibrations, by absorbing the energy generated because of rough road excitation. Such modifications or alterations in rubber volume of the insulator are effective in reducing vibrations but will produce additional noise during the release of stored energy in the insulator. This happens due to the sudden release of energy from the compressed insulator/rubber during load release from the engine because of rough road excitation.
[0006] For instance, as shown in FIG. 1A, conventional insulator 100 is in an uncompressed state during non-operational condition. The conventional insulator 100 includes a stopper portion 102 facing an outer circumferential member 104 (FIG. IB) of the conventional insulator 100. The stopper portion 102 is formed on a central member of the conventional insulator 100. The central member is having two-legged portions, at an axial end opposite to the stopper portion 102, connected to the outer circumferential member. The outer circumferential member is bounded to an inside surface of the body-side bracket (106).
[0007] Further, the stopper portion 102 is for limiting or restricting the amount of relative displacement of the body side bracket and the engine side bracket in a load-receiving direction from which a load is received by the conventional insulator 100.
[0008] Also, as shown in FIG. IB, the stopper portion 102 at its outer end has a continuous volume, which helps in absorption of energy. However, when the compressed conventional insulator 102 expands due to the sudden release of a load from the engine, the energy stored in compressed conventional insulator 102 is released in a very short time. This sudden release of energy from the compressed conventional insulator 102 results in a high-pressure difference, and is perceived as an abnormal noise.
[0009] To prevent such instances of abnormal noise, one conventional approach is to reduce the rubber volume of the stopper portion 102. However, this will increase the concern of other NVH issues. Hence, in order to avoid abnormal

noise during conventional insulator 100 release and to retain the benefit of rubber volume to reduce vibrations, there is a need for an engine mounting torque rod insulator, which can isolate noise and vibrations, felt by a driver of a vehicle, without reducing the rubber volume of the stopper portion 102.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0010] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed hereinbelow.
[0011] A general object of the present disclosure is to provide an engine mounting torque rod insulator to isolate noise and vibrations, felt by a driver of a vehicle.
[0012] An objective of the present disclosure is to provide an engine mounting torque rod insulator without reducing a rubber volume of a stopper portion of the insulator.
[0013] Another objective of the present disclosure is to reduce abnormal noise due to the sudden release of engine mounting torque rod insulator, without affecting the general requirement of vibration isolation.
[0014] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred form of the present invention is illustrated.
SUMMARY
[0015] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to an engine mounting torque rod insulator to isolate noise and vibrations, felt by the passengers 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.
[0016] The present disclosure relates to an engine mounting torque-rod insulator, comprising a ridge shaped slot formed at a stopper portion facing an outer circumferential member of the engine mounting torque-rod insulator.
[0017] In an aspect, the ridge shaped slot is formed with a flat base connected with a concave arc at both ends.
[0018] In an aspect, the ridge shaped slot, at its both ends, forms continuously elevated crests.
[0019] In an aspect, each of the elevated crests is formed with a flat top connected with a convex arc at both ends.
[0020] In an aspect, the outer circumferential member is bounded to an inside surface of a mounting bracket of an engine mounting torque rod.
[0021] In an aspect, the stopper portion is formed on a central member of the engine mounting torque-rod insulator.
[0022] In an aspect, the insulator has two-legged portions connected to the outer circumferential member in an axial direction opposite to the stopper portion in such a way that two-legged portions establish a V-shape connection with the outer circumferential member.
[0023] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter 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.
[0024] It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.

[0025] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system and/or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0027] FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary shape of a stopper portion of a conventional engine mounting torque-rod insulator;
[0028] FIG. IB illustrates an exemplary volume of the stopper portion of the conventional engine mounting torque-rod insulator;
[0029] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary top view of the engine mounting torque-rod, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0030] FIG. 3A illustrates an exemplary shape of a stopper portion of an engine mounting torque-rod insulator, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0031] FIG. 3B illustrates an exemplary volume of the stopper portion of the engine mounting torque-rod insulator, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0032] FIG. 4 illustrates a detailed view of the stopper portion of the engine mounting torque-rod insulator, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0033] It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any block diagrams herein represent conceptual views of illustrative systems embodying the principles of the present subject matter. Similarly, it will be appreciated that any flow charts, flow diagrams, state transition diagrams, pseudo code, and the like represent various processes which may be substantially represented in a computer-readable medium and executed by a computer or processor, whether or not such computer or processor is explicitly shown.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] 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.
[0035] 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.
[0036] 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.
[0037] 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.
[0038] 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.
[0039] Embodiments and/or implementations described herein relate to an engine mounting torque-rod 200. The engine mounting torque-rod 200, as shown in FIG. 2, includes a body (suspension) side bracket 202 and an engine side bracket 204, which are connected to each other through a rod 206. Within the inside surface of body side bracket 202, an outer circumferential member 208 of the engine mounting torque-rod insulator 210 is bounded. The engine mounting torque-rod insulator 210 further includes a central member 212. The central member 212 is bonded to the rubber insulator 210, which is also bonded to body side bracket's metal core. The central member 212 includes an aperture 214 for connecting to the vehicle body. The torque rod insulator 210 has two-legged portions 216A, 216B connected to the outer circumferential member 208 in such a

way that two-legged portions 216A, 216B establish a V-shape connection with the outer circumferential member 208.
[0040] Further, in an axial direction opposite to the legged portions 216A, 216B, the central member 212 includes a stopper portion 218. In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, and in order to avoid abnormal noise during insulator release and to retain the benefit of volume of the stopper portion 218 to reduce vibrations, a ridge shaped slot 220 is formed at the stopper portion 218 facing the outer circumferential member 208 of the engine mounting torque-rod insulator 210.
[0041] FIG. 3A shows a detailed view of the ridge shaped slot 220 formed at the stopper portion 218. Further, as can be seen from FIG. 3B, the volume of the stopper portion 218 is same as that of conventional stopper portion of the current design. Even with same stopper volume, substantial reduction in abnormal noise is observed due to the incorporation of the ridge shaped slot 220 in the volume of the stopper portion 218. The ridge shaped slot 220 reduced the rubber contact area, such that it will not play a significant role during compression (due to load input), but will result in the gradual release of stored energy during rubber release. The gradual release of stored energy will lower the pressure difference, and thus the abnormal noise intensity is lowered in the engine mounting torque-rod insulator 210.
[0042] FIG. 4 illustrates a detailed view of the stopper portion of the engine mounting torque-rod insulator, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As can be seen from FIG. 4, the ridge shaped slot 220 is formed with a flat base 402 connected with concave arcs 404A, 404B at both ends. Further, the ridge shaped slot 220, at its both ends, forms continuously elevated crests 406A, 406B. Each of the elevated crests 406A, 406B is formed with a flat top 408 connected with convex arcs 410A, 410B at both ends. Having such unique profile of ridge and elevated crests, the engine mounting torque-rod insulator 210 ensures that the flat tops 408 provides sufficient limitation or restriction in the amount of

relative displacement of the body side bracket 202 during longitudinal engine excitations on rough roads.
[0043] Furthermore, although exemplary dimensions are mentioned in FIG. 4, those skilled in the art can appreciate that those dimensions are not limited to the scope of the present disclosure.
[0044] The above description does not provide specific details of the manufacture or design of the various components. Those of skill in the art are familiar with such details, and unless departures from those techniques are set out, techniques, known, related art or later developed designs and materials should be employed. Those in the art can choose suitable manufacturing and design details.
[0045] It will be appreciated that variants of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
[0046] The claims, as originally presented and as they may be amended, encompass variations, alternatives, modifications, improvements, equivalents, and substantial equivalents of the embodiments and teachings disclosed herein, including those that are presently unforeseen or unappreciated, and that, for example, may arise from applicants/patentees and others.

claim:
1.An engine mounting torque-rod insulator (210), comprising:
a ridge shaped slot (220) formed at a stopper portion (218) facing an outer circumferential member (208) of the engine mounting torque-rod insulator (210).
2.The engine mounting torque-rod insulator (210) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ridge shaped slot (220) is formed with a flat base (402) connected with a concave arc (404A, 404B) at both ends.
3.The engine mounting torque-rod insulator (210) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ridge shaped slot (220), at its both ends, forms continuously elevated crests (406A, 406B).
4.The engine mounting torque-rod insulator (210) as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of the elevated crests (406A, 406B) is formed with a flat top (408) connected with a convex arc (410A, 410B) at both ends.
5. The engine mounting torque-rod insulator (210) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer circumferential member (208) is bonded to an inside surface of a bracket (202) of an engine mounting torque rod (200).
6. The engine mounting torque-rod insulator (210) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stopper portion (220) is formed on a central member (212) of the engine mounting torque-rod insulator (210).
7. The engine mounting torque-rod insulator (210) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the insulator (210) has two-legged portions (216A, 216B) connected to the outer circumferential member (208) in an axial direction opposite to the stopper portion (220) in such a way that two-legged

portions (216A, 216B) establish a V-shape connection with the outer circumferential member (208).