Description:INTEGRATED HOLDING BRACKET STRUCTURE
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure, in general, relates to a bracket structure and more particularly to an integrated guiding bracket structure to guide a harness in an engine room.
BACKGROUND

[0002] Traditionally, internal combustion engine includes an engine mounting system such as 3-point engine mounting system for holding the powertrain in the vehicle. The engine mount is provided with a heat protector to prevent mount bush rubber from exposure to high temperature heat source like exhaust manifold and catalytic convertor.
[0003] An oxygen sensor harness connecting an oxygen (O2) sensor with an Engine Control Unit (ECU) passes through vicinity of the heat protector mounted on the engine mount. While the vehicle is in motion, the harness may also go through some dynamic motion while being suspended between the ECU and the O2 sensor. Due to the dynamic motion and tolerance of O2 sensor harness, the O2 sensor harness may suffer through fouling and may touch the heat protector (sheet metal part) of the engine mount leading to damage of the O2 sensor harness as heat protector includes burrs, being a sheet metal part.
[0004] In the existing technology there is no integrated guiding bracket on the engine mount heat protector. A gap between the edge of the sheet metal part and O2 sensor harness is very less leading to a high probability of damage to the O2 sensor harness due to touching or fouling with the engine mount heat protector.
[0005] FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram 100 depicting an O2 sensor harness passing through vicinity of an engine mount, in accordance with an existing prior art. The O2 sensor harness may be connected with an O2 sensor at one end and with ECU at another end. A vehicle carrying an engine, the engine mount mounted with the heat protector, and the O2 sensor harness may be in a dynamic motion, that may cause the O2 sensor harness to come in contact with a heat protector of the engine mount. The O2 sensor harness may suffer damage as the heat protector is a sheet metal part having sharp edges, burrs, etc. and is often hot being exposed to high temperature from exhaust manifold and catalytic convertor.
[0006] There is a need for a solution to overcome above mentioned drawbacks.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0007] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed herein below.
[0008] It is a general or primary object of the present disclosure to provide an integrated holding or guiding bracket structure to clamp a harness and guide the harness towards an ECU in a vehicle.
[0009] It is another object of the present disclosure to ensure that the harness is not coming in physical contact with a heat protector for avoiding a damage of the harness.
[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 integrated holding or guiding bracket structure on engine mount heat protector to guide an O2 sensor harness in engine room. 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 provides an integrated guiding bracket structure. The integrated guiding bracket structure includes a first L-shaped bracket with a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a plurality of holes. The integrated guiding bracket structure includes a second bracket with a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion having an open holding loop at one edge, where an end portion of the open holding loop faces the top portion of the holding loop to define an opening point to receive the harness, a flange extending in upward direction at an angle away from the end portion of the open holding loop. The top portion further includes a bead structure protruding towards the flange from the top portion to secure the harness in the holding loop. The integrated guiding bracket structure further includes a bottom portion fixed with the second portion of the first L-shaped bracket.
[0013] In an aspect of the present disclosure, the first portion of the first L-shaped bracket is detachably attached to a heat protector of an engine mount.
[0014] In an aspect of the present disclosure, the first portion is detachably attached to the heat protector via a plurality of fasteners passing through the plurality of holes at the first portion.
[0015] In an aspect of the present disclosure, the harness is an oxygen sensor harness connected to an oxygen sensor at one end and a coupler of a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus connected with an Engine Control Unit (ECU) at another end.
[0016] In an aspect of the present disclosure, the bottom portion of the second bracket is welded to the second portion (202b) of the first L-shaped bracket.
[0017] In an aspect of the present disclosure, the bottom portion and the second portion comprise orifice for aligning the bottom portion and the second portion with one another for welding.
[0018] In an aspect of the present disclosure, the first L-shaped bracket comprises a rib structure between the first portion and the second portion to increase rigidity of the first L-shaped bracket.
[0019] In an aspect of the present disclosure, an inner diameter of the open holding loop is less than a diameter of the harness and a distance between the flange and the starting portion is less than the inner diameter of the open holding loop.
[0020] In an aspect of the present disclosure, the second portion is permanently fixed to first portion in an angled orientation where an angle ranges between 90 degrees and 145 degrees.
[0021] 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
[0022] 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:
[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates an O2 sensor harness passing through vicinity of an engine mount, in accordance with an existing prior art;
[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates an integrated guiding bracket structure for guiding a harness, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0025] FIG. 3 illustrates a rear view of the integrated guiding bracket structure, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0026] FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of the first L-shaped bracket of the integrated guiding bracket structure, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0027] FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of the second bracket of the integrated guiding bracket structure, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0028] FIG. 6 illustrates a top view of the integrated guiding bracket structure, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0029] FIG. 7 illustrates the orifice in the integrated guiding bracket structure, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0030] FIG. 8 illustrates position of the integrated guiding bracket structure attached to a heat protector of an engine mount in a vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the preset disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered 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 scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0032] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0033] FIG. 2 illustrates an integrated guiding bracket structure 200 for guiding a harness, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The integrated guiding bracket structure 200 may also act as a holding bracket structure to receive the harness and provide a passage to the harness from one end to another end while ensuring that the harness is not touching a heat protector. In an embodiment, the integrated guiding bracket structure may also be referred as an integrated holding bracket structure. The heat protector may be mounted on an engine mount of an engine in a vehicle. The integrated guiding bracket structure 200 may be detachably attached to the heat protector of the engine mount through a number of fasteners. Examples of the number of fasteners may include, but are not limited to, a bolts, screws, nuts, grommets, rivets, and studs. In an embodiment, the integrated guiding bracket structure 200 may be permanently attached to the heat protector by welding the integrated guiding bracket structure 200 with the heat protector. Furthermore, the heat protector may bear a high temperature and may provide protection to an engine mount rubber from exhaust manifold heat. Further, the harness may be connected with an O2 sensor at the one end and an Engine Control Unit (ECU) at the other end. In a preferred embodiment, the harness may be connected with a coupler of Controller Area Network (CAN) bus connected with the ECU at the second end. The harness may be an O2 sensor harness and may interchangeably be referred as the O2 sensor harness.
[0034] Continuing with the above embodiment, the integrated guiding bracket structure 200 may include a first L-shaped bracket 202 and a second bracket 204 permanently fixed to the first L-shaped bracket 202. The assembling of the first L-shaped bracket 202 and the second bracket 204 to manufacture the integrated guiding bracket structure 200 may ensure absence of a shear burr with an inner periphery of an area in integrated guiding bracket structure 200. The area may be the associated with the second bracket 204. The first L-shaped bracket 202 may be fixed to the second bracket 204 at one end and detachably attached to the heat protector at another end. The L-shaped bracket 202 may be attached in a horizontal orientation to the heat protector. The first L-shaped bracket 202 may be permanently fixed to the second bracket 204 by using welding techniques. In an embodiment, the welding technique may be spot welding. In an embodiment, the first L-shaped bracket 202 may be detachably attached to the second bracket 204 via the number of fasteners as disclosed above.
[0035] Moving forward, the first L-shaped bracket 202 may be manufactured such that the L-shape may include an angle up to 1450. Furthermore, the second bracket 204 may be manufactured with a capability to guide the harness towards a specific direction by providing the passage upon receiving the harness. In an embodiment, the specific direction may be towards the ECU such that while being suspended, the harness is away from the heat protector to avoid any damage to the harness. The damage may be induced to the harness by coming in physical contact with the heat protector as a temperature of the heat protector may be higher than a threshold of temperature tolerable by the harness.
[0036] Further, the damage may also be induced due to one or more of sharp edges, and burrs on the heat protector upon coming in physical contact with the heat protector as the heat protector is made up of a sheet metal part.
[0037] Continuing with the above embodiment, the first L-shaped bracket 202 may include a first portion 202a, the second portion 202b, and a rib structure 218. The first portion 202a and the second portion 202b may be perpendicular to one another. In an embodiment, the first portion 202a and the second portion 202b may be aligned in an obtuse angle ranging up to 1450 with one another. The rib structure 218 may be present between a point that connects the first portion 202a and the second portion 202b with one another. The rib structure 218 may be configured to increase rigidity of the first L-shaped bracket 202.
[0038] To that understanding, the first portion 202a may include a number of holes 206 dug in a vertical orientation with respect to a placement of the first L-shaped bracket 202 with the heat protector. The L-shaped bracket may be detachably attached to the heat protector via the number of fasteners passing through the number of holes 206 in the first portion 202a. Furthermore, the second portion 202b may include an orifice 216 to be aligned with another orifice 216 in the second bracket 204. The orifice 216 may be aligned with the other orifice 216 while permanently fixing the first L-shaped bracket 202 with the second bracket 204 such that an alignment between the first L-shaped bracket 202 with the second bracket 204 is accurate. While the first portion 202a may be attached to the heat protector, the second portion 202b may be fixed to the second bracket 204.
[0039] Continuing with the above embodiment, the second bracket 204 may be fixed to the first L-shaped bracket 202 in a vertical orientation for guiding the harness suspended in the vertical orientation towards the ECU without coming in physical contact with the heat protector. Furthermore, the second bracket 204 may include a top portion 204a and a bottom portion 204b.
[0040] Moving forward, the top portion 204a may include an open holding loop 208 at one edge of the second top portion 204a. The harness may be received by the open holding loop 208. An inner diameter of the open holding loop 208 may be less than a diameter of the harness for tightly securing the harness and an outer diameter of the open holding loop 208. Further, the open holding loop 208 may include an end portion 208a facing the top portion 204a of the second bracket 204 to define an opening point 210 for receiving the harness. The top portion 204a may further include a flange 212 extending in upward direction and at an angle away from the end portion 208a of the open holding loop 208.
[0041] To that understanding, the top portion 204a may further include a bead structure 214. The bead structure 214 may be protruding towards the flange 212 from the top portion 204a to secure the harness in the holding loop. The flange 212 may be in an opposing direction with respect to the bead structure 214 and may further be guiding the harness towards the open holding loop 208. The bead structure 214 may be protruding outwards in order to keep the harness secured inside the open holding loop 208. The bead structure 214 may ensure that the harness is not popped out of the open holding loop 208 while the vehicle is in a dynamic motion. The distance between the bead structure 214 and the flange 212 may be less than a diameter of the harness. The flange 212 may be flexible enough to be pulled away from the top portion 204a while receiving the harness and further return to a default position for securing the harness in the open holding loop 208 once the harness is successfully clamped into the holding loop.
[0042] Continuing with the above embodiment, the bottom portion 204b of the second bracket 204 may be permanently fixed with the second portion 202b of the L-shaped bracket. Furthermore, the bottom portion 202b may include the other orifice 216 aligned with the orifice 216 in the second portion 204b of the second bracket 20. Further, the harness may be guided through the open holding loop 208 in a way such that a mark on the harness is visible via the orifices 216. The mark may be indicative of a portion of the harness that is to be received in the open holding loop 208. The mark while visible through the orifices 216 may ensure that any portion of the harness is not freely suspended in a vicinity of the heat protector beyond a certain degree causing damage to the harness upon coming in physical contact with the heat protector. Further, the mark may also ensure that the harness receives a tension less than a threshold amount of tension tolerable by the harness causing wear and tear due to the tension produced in the harness.
[0043] FIG. 3 illustrates a rear view 300 of the integrated guiding bracket structure 200, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The integrated guiding structure may be configured to guide a harness from one end to another end. The integrated guiding bracket structure 200 may also act as a holding bracket structure to receive the harness and provide a passage to the harness from the one end to the other end. In an embodiment, the integrated guiding bracket structure may also be referred as an integrated holding bracket structure. The harness may be an O2 sensor harness and may interchangeably be referred as the O2 sensor harness. The integrated guiding bracket structure 200 may include first L-shaped bracket 202 and the second bracket 204 as referred in the FIG. 2. The first L-shaped bracket 202 may include the first portion 202a and the second portion 202b as referred in the FIG. 2, aligned with one another in an obtuse angle ranging between 900 to 1450. In an exemplary embodiment, the first portion 202a and the second portion 202b may be aligned with one another at a right angle of 900. The first L-shaped bracket 202 may be fixed with the second bracket 204 through the second portion 202b and the first portion 202a of the first L-shaped bracket 202 may be attached to a heat protector via a number of fasteners passing through the number of holes 206. The rib structure 218 may provide rigidity against breaking of the first L-shaped bracket 202. The orifice 216 may be used to align the first L-shaped bracket 202 with the second bracket 204 prior to permanently fixing the first L-shaped bracket 202 with the second bracket 204. The orifice 216 may be of a number of shapes. Examples of the number of shapes may include, but are not limited to, a circular shape, a square shape, a rectangular shape, a triangular shape, a cuboidal shape, and a stadium shape. In a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the shape of the orifice 216 may be the stadium shape.
[0044] FIG. 4 illustrates a front view 400 of the first L-shaped bracket 202 of the integrated guiding bracket structure 200, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The first portion 202a may be detachably attached to a heat protector of an engine mount in a vehicle and the second portion 202b may be fixed to a second bracket configured to clamp a harness. The first portion 202a may be attached to the heat protector via a number of fasteners passing through the number of holes 206 as referred in the FIG. 2. Examples of the number of fasteners may include, but are not limited to, a bolts, screws, nuts, grommets, rivets, and studs. Further, the number of fasteners that pass through the holes 206 may be made up of stainless steel. The number of holes 206 may be aligned vertically with respect to the first L-shaped bracket 202. The first L-shaped bracket 202 may be attached to the heat protector in a horizontal orientation with respect to the heat protector through the first portion 202a. Furthermore, the first L-shaped bracket 202 may be attached to the second bracket through the second portion 202b.
[0045] FIG. 5 illustrates a front view 500 of the second bracket 204 of the integrated guiding bracket structure 200, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The integrated guiding bracket structure 200 may be detachably attached to a heat protector of an engine mount in a vehicle. In an embodiment, the integrated guiding bracket structure 200 may be permanently fixed to the heat protector. The second bracket 204 may be permanently fixed to a first L-shaped bracket by employing a welding technique. In a preferred embodiment, the welding technique employed may be spot welding. Further, the spot welding may be performed upon aligning the first L-shaped bracket and the second bracket 204 with one another. The alignment may be performed through the orifice 216 as referred in the FIG. 2. and the FIG. 3. The second bracket 204 may be fixed with a second portion of the first L-shaped bracket in a vertical orientation with respect to the first L-shaped bracket.
[0046] Continuing with the above embodiment, the second bracket 204 may include the top portion 204a and the bottom portion 204b as referred in the FIG. 2. The open holding loop 208 as referred in the FIG. 2 may receive a harness being guided towards an ECU from an O2 sensor. The harness may be received to assure that the harness passes towards the ECU without coming in physical contact with the heat protector to avoid any kind of damage caused by fouling or touching the heat protector while the vehicle is in motion.
[0047] The flange 212 in the top portion 204a may guide the harness towards the open handling loop and the bead structure 214 opposite to the flange 212, protruding towards the flange 212 may secure the harness within the open holding loop 208 as a distance between the flange 212 and the bead structure 214 may be less than a diameter of the harness. Further, the diameter of the harness may also be greater than an inner diameter of the open holding loop 208 such that the harness may be tightly secured in the open holding loop 208.
[0048] FIG. 6 illustrates a top view 600 of the integrated guiding bracket structure 200, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The second portion 202b of the first L-shaped bracket 202 may be permanently fixed to the second bracket 204. In an embodiment, the second portion 202b may be detachably attached to the second bracket 204. Furthermore, the open holding loop 208 may receive a harness. The harness may be guided towards a ECU without touching a heat protector to avoid any damages to the harness caused by fouling or touching with the heat protector during dynamic motion.
[0049] FIG. 7 illustrates the orifices 216 in the integrated guiding bracket structure 200, and the second bracket 204, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The orifices 216 may be aligned with one another for permanently fixing the first L-shaped bracket 202 and the second bracket 204 with one another. The orifices 216 may be of a number of shapes. Examples of the number of shapes may include, but are not limited to, a circular shape, a square shape, a rectangular shape, a triangular shape, a cuboidal shape, and a stadium shape. In a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the shapes of the orifice 216 may be the stadium shape. A harness may be guided through the integrated guiding bracket structure 200 in towards an ECU in a way such that a mark on the harness is visible via the orifices 216. The mark may be indicative of a portion of the harness that is to be received in an open holding loop while the integrated guiding bracket structure 200 may be attached to a heat protector of an engine mount. The mark while visible through the orifices 216 may ensure that any portion of the harness is not freely suspended enough to touch the heat protector in a vicinity of the heat protector as the harness while being freely suspended may come in physical contact of the heat protector and may get damaged. The mark may also ensure that the harness is not being tightly pulled causing wear and tear and damage to the harness due to a tension produced in the harness,
[0050] FIG. 8 illustrates an image 800 depicting the integrated guiding bracket structure 200 attached to a heat protector of an engine mount in a vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the preset disclosure. The heat protector may be mounted on an engine mount of an engine in the vehicle. The engine may be an internal combustion engine with a direct fuel injection. The integrated guiding bracket structure 200 may be guiding a harness from an O2 sensor towards an ECU by providing a passage to the harness. The harness may be an O2 sensor harness and may interchangeably be referred as the O2 sensor harness.
[0051] The integrated guiding bracket structure 200 while providing the passage may be ensuring that the harness is not coming in physical contact with the heat protector as sharp burrs on the edge of heat protector may damage the harness.

[0052] The damage may be induced to the harness by coming in physical contact with the heat protector as temperature of the heat protector may be higher than a threshold of temperature tolerable by the harness.

[0053] Further, the damage may also be induced due to one or more of sharp edges, and burrs on the heat protector upon coming in physical contact with the heat protector as the heat protector is made up of a sheet metal part.
[0054] 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.
[0055] 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.
, Claims:We claim:
1. An integrated guiding bracket structure (200) to clamp a harness, the integrated guiding bracket structure (200) comprising:
a first L-shaped bracket (202) with a first portion (202a) and a second portion (202b), wherein the first portion (202a) comprises a plurality of holes (206);
a second bracket (204) with a top portion (204a) and a bottom portion (204b),
the top portion (204a) having an open holding loop (208) at one edge, where an end portion (208a) of the open holding loop (208) faces the top portion (204a) of the holding loop (208) to define an opening point (210) to receive the harness, a flange (212) extending in upward direction at an angle away from the end portion (208a) of the open holding loop (208); and
a bead structure (214) protruding towards the flange (212) from the top portion (204a) to secure the harness in the holding loop (208); and
a bottom portion (204b) fixed with the second portion (202b) of the first L-shaped bracket (202).

2. The integrated guiding bracket structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first portion (202a) of the first L-shaped bracket (202) is detachably attached to a heat protector of an engine mount.

3. The integrated guiding bracket structure (200) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the first portion (202a) is detachably attached to the heat protector via a plurality of fasteners passing through the plurality of holes (206) at the first portion (202a).

4. The integrated guiding bracket structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the harness is an oxygen sensor harness connected to an oxygen sensor at one end and a coupler of a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus connected with an Engine Control Unit (ECU) at another end.

5. The integrated guiding bracket structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom portion (204b) of the second bracket (204) is welded to the second portion (202b) of the first L-shaped bracket (202).

6. The integrated guiding bracket structure (200) as claimed in claim 1 or 5, wherein the bottom portion (204b) and the second portion (202b) comprise orifice (216) for aligning the bottom portion (204b) and the second portion (202b) with one another for welding.

7. The integrated guiding bracket structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first L-shaped bracket (202) comprises a rib structure (218) between the first portion (202a) and the second portion (202b) to increase rigidity of the first L-shaped bracket (202).

8. The integrated guiding bracket structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein an inner diameter of the open holding loop (208) is less than a diameter of the harness and a distance between the flange and the starting portion is less than the inner diameter of the open holding loop (208).

9. The integrated holding guiding structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second portion (202b) is permanently fixed to first portion (204b) in an angled orientation where an angle ranges between 90 degrees and 145 degrees.