Abstract:
A mounting lug  10  for use on a variable capacity swash plate type compressor that is movably disposed on the outer surface of the compressor housing  26 . The mounting lug  10  facilitates the mounting of a single swash plate type compressor in a variety of vehicles, thereby eliminating the requirement of producing a different mold to cast a compressor housing  26  for each different vehicle in which the swash plate type compressor will be installed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a mounting lug, and more particularly to a movable mounting lug for a variable capacity swash plate type compressor adapted for use in an air conditioning system for a vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Variable capacity swash plate type compressors are typically used in air conditioning systems for vehicles. The compressors are typically mounted within a vehicle engine compartment to an engine or mounting bracket by appropriate mounting lugs. The location of the mounting lugs on the compressor must be orientable with the mounting brackets on the vehicle and therefore dictated by the make and model of the vehicle. 
     In the prior art, fixed mounting lug locations have been used. When different mounting lug locations were required to facilitate the support of an associated compressor, unique castings were required. An individual die casting tool is typically quite expensive, depending on the complexity of the compressor. Each compressor may be used in several different vehicles requiring different mounting lug locations to accommodate the mounting of the compressor, thereby requiring a unique casting for each vehicle. 
     An object of the invention is to produce a movable mounting lug which may be economically produced. 
     Another object of the invention is to produce a movable mounting lug wherein the mounting lug can be disposed in a variety of axial positions on the outer surface of a variable capacity swash plate type compressor. 
     Another object of the invention is to produce a movable mounting lug wherein a single variable capacity swash plate type compressor may be mounted in a variety of vehicles. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to produce a movable mounting lug that facilitates mounting a swash plate type compressor on vehicle models having different mounting configurations and eliminates the requirement of producing separate die casting tools for each vehicle model. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The above, as well as other objects of the invention, may be readily achieved by a mounting lug comprising a main body having a centrally disposed aperture for receiving a mounting bolt, the main body extending from an outer surface of a compressor housing, wherein the main body is variably positionable on the outer surface of the compressor housing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above, as well as other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be understood from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a movable mounting lug for a variable capacity swash plate type compressor embodying the features of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a movable mounting lug for a variable capacity swash plate type compressor embodying the features of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a die used to form the mounting lug of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a movable mounting lug for a variable capacity swash plate type compressor embodying the features of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a die used to form the mounting lug of FIG.  4 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A mounting lug according to this invention is indicated generally at  10  in FIG.  1 . The mounting lug  10  includes a main body  12 . The main body  12  has a centrally disposed aperture  14  extending therethrough. Two shoulder portions  16 ,  18  extend outwardly from the main body  12 . The shoulder portions  16 ,  18  are spaced apart from one another and extend in a generally parallel relationship to each another. Elongated holes  20 ,  22  are formed in the shoulder portions  16 ,  18 , respectively. Each of the main body  12  and shoulder portions  16 ,  18  has a substantially planar lower surface. The lower surfaces of the main body  12  and shoulder portions  16 ,  18  are aligned in the same plane. Preferably, the main body  12  and shoulder portions  16 ,  18  are formed as an integral member. 
     The mounting lug  10  is disposed on a protruding surface  24  formed on a compressor housing  26 . Preferably, the protruding surface  24  is planar or flat. The compressor housing  26  is a generally cylindrical, hollow member that encloses well-known components of a compressor. The compressor housing  26  may be provided with one or more mounting lugs  10 . The number of mounting lugs  10  which may be required depend upon the number and position of mounting brackets (not shown) that are provided on a vehicle in which the compressor housing  26  is to be mounted. 
     The mounting lugs  10  can be provided at any location on the compressor housing  26 . The location of the mounting lugs  10  is selected to correspond to the location of mounting brackets on the vehicle in which the compressor housing  26  is to be mounted. For each mounting lug  10 , a protruding surface  24  is provided on an outer surface of the compressor housing  26 . In the embodiment of FIG. 1, a longitudinal axis of the aperture  14  is formed to extend substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the compressor housing  26  and substantially tangent to the outer surface of the compressor housing  26 . 
     The mounting lug  10  can be fixedly attached at any position along the flat surface  24  of the compressor housing  26 . The precise position of the mounting lug  10  corresponds to the mounting requirements for a vehicle, such as the position of a mounting bracket (not shown). In order to effectively attach the mounting lug  12  to the compressor housing  26 , the protruding surface  24  of the compressor housing  26  is drilled and tapped. Bolts  28 ,  30  are inserted through the respective holes  20 ,  22  of the respective shoulder portions  16 ,  18  and tightened in the locations drilled and tapped in the protruding surface  24  of the compressor housing  26 . Once the mounting lug  10  is fixedly attached to the protruding surface  24  of the compressor housing  26 , the mounting lug  10  is aligned with holes in the mounting bracket in the vehicle, and a bolt (not shown) is typically inserted through the aperture  14  of the main body  12  to secure the mounting lug  10  to the mounting bracket. 
     A second embodiment of a mounting lug incorporating the features of this invention is indicated generally at  50  in FIG.  2 . The mounting lug  50  includes a main body  52  that is integrally molded onto an outer surface of a compressor housing  56 . A lower surface of the main body  52  is complementary to the outer surface of the compressor housing  56   
     The main body  52  includes a longitudinal aperture  54  that preferably extends therethrough. A longitudinal axis of the aperture  54  is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the compressor housing  56  and substantially tangent to the outer surface of the compressor housing  56 . 
     The compressor housing  56  can have one or more mounting lugs  50  disposed thereon, depending upon the number of mounting brackets disposed on the vehicle to which the compressor housing  56  is to be mounted. The mounting lugs  50  may be placed at any location on the compressor housing  56 , depending upon the location of the mounting brackets on the vehicle to which the compressor housing  56  is to be mounted. 
     The mounting lug  50  is cast as an integral part of the compressor housing  56 . As illustrated in FIG. 3, a die or mold  60  is used to form the mounting lug  50  as desired on the compressor housing  56 . The mold  60  includes a moveable core slide  62 . A pair of spacers  64  and  66  and a core pin  68  are used to locate the mounting lug  50  in an infinite number of configurations, axially and radially with respect to the compressor housing  56 . 
     A third embodiment of a mounting lug incorporating the features of this invention is indicated generally at  70  in FIG.  4 . The mounting lug  70  includes a main body  72  that is integrally molded onto an outer surface of a compressor housing  76 . A lower surface of the main body  72  is complementary to the outer surface of the compressor housing  76 . 
     The main body  72  includes a longitudinal aperture  74  that preferably extends therethrough. A longitudinal axis of the aperture  74  is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the compressor housing  76  and substantially tangent to the outer surface of the compressor housing  76 . 
     The compressor housing  76  can have one or more mounting lugs  70  disposed thereon, depending upon the number of mounting brackets disposed on the vehicle to which the compressor housing  76  is to be mounted. The mounting lugs  70  may be placed at any location on the compressor housing  76 , depending upon the location of the mounting brackets on the vehicle to which the compressor housing  76  is to be mounted. 
     The mounting lug  70  is cast as an integral part of the compressor housing  76 . As illustrated in FIG. 5, a die or mold  80  is used to form the mounting lug  70  as desired on the compressor housing  76 . The mold  80  includes a moveable core slide  82 . A pair of spacers  84  and  86  that are used to locate the mounting lug  70  in an infinite number of configurations, with respect to the compressor housing  76 . 
     Several advantages are readily apparent from the mounting lugs  10 ,  50 , and  70 . Mounting lugs can be located in a variety of positions thereby improving the marketability of a single compressor. A single variable capacity swash plate type compressor may therefore be mounted in a variety of vehicles. Production costs may thereby be reduced compared to prior art swash plate type compressors. Since a compressor housing can be used on a variety of vehicle models and can be adapted to different mounting bracket configurations, only one mold is required. Since molds are costly to produce, substantial savings are experienced when a single mold is used to provide various configurations. 
     From the foregoing description, one ordinarily skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications to the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.