TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure, in general, relates to rubber cooling systems, and, more particularly, to an externally cooled engine mounting system for internal combustion engines, for example, for use in automobiles.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. 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] Various vehicle engine and transmission mounting arrangements have been employed throughout the years that are intended to hold powertrain components in place in a vehicle while also providing vibration isolation between powertrain components and a vehicle body. Often such mounting arrangements utilize multi-piece brackets and multi-piece symmetrical pre-loaded engine bushings (PLEB) to mount and isolate the powertrain components from the vehicle body. The PLEB is made of rubber and tends to crack at peak temperature during engine running conditions.
[0004] As a result, there is a need for adding an external cooling system in the aforementioned mounting arrangements to cool the brackets and the rubber PLEB.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0005] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed hereinbelow.
[0006] It is a general object of the present disclosure to provide an externally cooled engine mounting system for internal combustion engines.
[0007] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide an external cooling system to cool an engine mounting system having multi-piece brackets and rubber-made multi-piece pre-loaded engine bushings (PLEB).
[0008] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide an external cooling system utilizing liquid coolant to cool the engine mounting system.
[0009] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide an external cooling system utilizing liquid coolant circulated from a radiator to cool the engine mounting system.
[0010] These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent when reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY
[0011] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to an externally cooled engine mounting system for internal combustion engines. 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.
[0012] In an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to an externally cooled engine mounting system for internal combustion engines. The externally cooled engine mounting system includes a first bracket piece for the holding and supporting a second bracket piece on a vehicle body, wherein the second bracket piece is to hold and support powertrain components; a metal housing, covering a rubber bush, disposed and fixed between a connection point of first bracket piece and the second bracket piece for vibration isolation between the powertrain components and the vehicle body; and a heat exchanging conduit, carrying liquid coolant, coiled around the metal housing covering the rubber bush.
[0013] In an aspect, the heat exchanging conduit is integrated on the outer periphery of the metal housing.
[0014] In an aspect, the heat exchanging conduit is coupled in-between path of outlet of radiator system to engine inlet.
[0015] 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.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter 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 subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
[0017] FIGS. 1A-1E illustrate various views of an externally cooled engine mounting system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0018] FIG 2 illustrates a cooling circuit connected to an externally cooled engine mounting system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] 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.
[0020] 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.
[0021] 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.
[0022] 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.
[0023] 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.
[0024] Embodiments explained herein pertain to an engine mounting system. The engine mounting system is utilized for mounting of powertrain components on a vehicle body. The engine mounting system includes a multi-piece metal bracket, wherein first piece of the mounting bracket is utilized to hold and support the powertrain components while second piece is utilized to hold and support the first piece on the vehicle body. The engine mounting system further includes a metal housing, covering a rubber bush, disposed and fixed between a connection point of the first piece and the second piece of the metal bracket so as to facilitate vibration isolation between the powertrain components and the vehicle body.
[0025] However, the engine mounting system is typically arranged near the engine components within the engine compartment where the engine temperature may sometimes go beyond rubber normal working temperature during the engine running conditions. This is in turn leads to hardening followed by cracking of the rubber bush present within the metal housing.
[0026] Various approaches have been proposed in the state of the art to resolve this issue. One approach proposes air-cooling system of the engine mounting system. Typically, the air-cooling system relates to one or more heat exchanger devices connected between a charge air compressor and an engine air intake manifold. The heat exchanger device is provided for cooling the charge air prior to supply thereof. However, such supply of the air is found not sufficient for the cooling of the engine mounting system facing a temperature of about 120° C.
[0027] Accordingly, the present disclosure proposes an engine mounting system 100, as shown in FIGS. 1A-1E, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As can be seen from FIG. 1A, a heat exchanging conduit 102 is coiled around a metal housing 104 carrying rubber bush 108 (FIG. 1C) which facilitates vibration isolation between the powertrain components and the vehicle body. In an aspect, the heat exchanging conduit 102 is integrated on the outer periphery of the metal housing 104.
[0028] Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, the metal housing 104 with the coiled heat exchanging conduit 102 is mounted on top of a first bracket piece 106-1 which is used for holding and supporting a second bracket piece 106-2 on a vehicle body (not shown in figures). The second bracket piece 106-2 is used for mounting of the powertrain components and is connected to the first bracket pieced 106-1 through the rubber bush 108 positioned or covered within the metal housing 104, as shown in FIG. 1D.
[0029] Also, in an aspect as shown in FIGS. 1E and 2, the heat exchanging conduit 102 is coupled to an outlet 110-IN of a radiator system 202 and an inlet 110-OUT of a centrifugal coolant pump 204. That is, the heat exchanging conduit 102 is coupled in-between path of outlet of radiator system 202 to engine inlet.
[0030] In general, the centrifugal coolant pump 204 in a cooling circuit of engine is maintaining a constant pressure inside the circuit and helps in movement of the coolant inside the engine (powertrain) 206 and other piping circuit. From the same cooling circuit, the coolant is being taken and passage is made towards the engine mounting system 100 and after flow of coolant from engine mounting system 100, the coolant is sent back to same cooling circuit. Also, the pressure is maintained in the cooling circuit with the help of centrifugal coolant pump 204. Because of such arrangement of the heat exchanging conduit 104 coiled around the metal housing 104 of the rubber bush 108, the heat exchanging conduit 104 helps in flow of the coolant in the engine mounting system 100. As coolant is following continuously from the engine mounting system 100, the coolant maintains a constant temperature inside engine mounting system 100 and prevents the temperature to go beyond a specified limit which can damage the rubber bush 108.

TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0031] The present disclosure provides an external cooling system utilizing liquid coolant to cool the rubber bush of the engine mounting system. This will reduce the hardening and cracking of the rubber bush and increases the life span of the rubber bush.
[0032] The present disclosure provides an external cooling system utilizing liquid coolant the engine mounting system. The liquid coolant is circulated in a closed loop through the engine mounting system to the surrounding atmosphere by utilizing a radiator system. Such circulation arrangement is generally available within modern vehicles and requires no major modifications.
[0033] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the present disclosure, other and further embodiments of the present disclosure may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The present disclosure 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 present disclosure when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.

We claim:
1. An externally cooled engine mounting system (100) comprising:
a first bracket piece (106-1) for the holding and supporting a second bracket piece (106-2) on a vehicle body, wherein the second bracket piece (106-2) is to hold and support powertrain components (206);
a metal housing (104), covering a rubber bush (108), disposed and fixed between a connection point of first bracket piece (106-1) and the second bracket piece (106-2) for vibration isolation between the powertrain components (206) and the vehicle body; and
a heat exchanging conduit (102), carrying liquid coolant, coiled around the metal housing (104) covering the rubber bush (108).
2. The externally cooled engine mounting system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat exchanging conduit (102) is integrated on the outer periphery of the metal housing (104).
3. The externally cooled engine mounting system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat exchanging conduit (102) is coupled in-between path of outlet of radiator system to engine inlet.