End plate for vehicle

An end plate for a vehicle includes an upper end plate, a lower end plate, and a cover that covers a gap between a lower end edge of the upper end plate and an upper end edge of the lower end plate. The vehicle includes an engine and a housing. The engine is fastened to the housing through the end plate. A first stepped portion having a pair of a first flat surface and a second flat surface intersecting with the first flat surface is provided on the engine side of the cover. The first flat surface is inclined downward with respect to a horizontal plane as the first flat surface is directed toward the engine side.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-163786 filed on Aug. 28, 2017 including the specification, drawings and abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The disclosure relates to an end plate for a vehicle.

2. Description of Related Art

For example, as shown in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-002743 (JP 2006-002743 A), there is a case where an end plate is interposed between an engine and a housing of a vehicle. There is a case where the end plate is composed of an upper end plate and a lower end plate that are vertically divided, for shared use of parts, improvement in assembling property, or the like, for example.

In an assembly process in a vehicle of the type as described above, a state where an engine block and the housing are fastened to each other in advance through the upper end plate is created. In the state described above, a lower end plate mounting site of the housing is open. In the state described above, work of fastening a flange-shaped rear surface that is present in a shaft end of a crankshaft of the engine and a flywheel of a clutch provided in the housing or a drive plate of a torque converter by using a plurality of fastening bolts is performed through the lower end plate mounting site of the housing. When the work described above is completed, the lower end plate is fastened to the mounting site of the housing.

SUMMARY

Incidentally, in the vehicle of the type as described above, for example, for avoidance of interference with bolts fixing an oil pan to the engine, avoidance of interference between the upper end plate and the lower end plate, or the like when mounting the end plate on the vehicle, a gap is provided between a lower end edge of the upper end plate and a upper end edge of the lower end plate. For this reason, there is a possibility that sand, muddy water, or foreign matter may enter a housing that accommodates a clutch or a torque converter and impair the durability of the clutch or the torque converter in the housing.

The disclosure provides an end plate for a vehicle, in which in a vehicle having a gap between an upper end plate and a lower end plate, it is possible to suitably suppress infiltration of foreign matter into a housing through the gap between the upper end plate and the lower end plate.

An aspect of the disclosure relates to an end plate for a vehicle. The end plate includes an upper end plate, a lower end plate, and a cover that covers a gap between a lower end edge of the upper end plate and an upper end edge of the lower end plate. The vehicle includes an engine and a housing. The engine is fastened to the housing through the end plate. The cover includes a first stepped portion provided on an engine side of the cover. The first stepped portion includes a first flat surface and a second flat surface intersecting with the first flat surface. The first flat surface is inclined downward with respect to a horizontal plane as the first flat surface is directed toward the engine side.

In the end plate according to the aspect of the disclosure, the cover may include an upper end gripping portion, a lower end contact portion, and a connecting portion. The upper end gripping portion may grip the upper end edge of the lower end plate. The lower end contact portion may be in contact with a surface on the housing side of the lower end edge of the upper end plate. The connecting portion may connect the upper end gripping portion and the lower end contact portion. The first stepped portion may be provided on the engine side of the connecting portion.

In the end plate according to the aspect of the disclosure, the cover may be made of elastically deformable synthetic rubber. The cover may integrally include the upper end gripping portion, the lower end contact portion, and the connecting portion.

In the end plate according to the aspect of the disclosure, the upper end edge of the lower end plate may be linear. A central portion in a lateral width direction of the lower end edge of the upper end plate may have a protruding portion that protrudes toward the housing side with respect to the upper end edge of the lower end plate. The gap may be located in an elongated shape between the upper end edge of the lower end plate and the protruding portion. The protruding portion may be located on the housing side above the upper end edge of the lower end plate. The cover may have an elongated shape so as to close the gap.

In the end plate according to the aspect of the disclosure, the cover may include a second stepped portion. The second stepped portion may be located between the upper end edge of the lower end plate and the protruding portion. The second stepped portion may be provided further on the engine side than the first stepped portion is. The second stepped portion may have a third flat surface and a fourth flat surface intersecting with the third flat surface. The third flat surface may have an inclination that is directed downward with respect to a horizontal plane as the third flat surface is directed toward the engine side.

In the end plate according to the aspect of the disclosure, the upper end gripping portion may have a linear groove into which the upper end edge of the lower end plate is fitted. The lower end contact portion may have a cover wall that protrudes upward from the first flat surface and is in contact with the lower end edge of the upper end plate to cover the lower end edge.

In the end plate according to the aspect of the disclosure, the cover may include a front wall on the engine side of the cover. The front wall may have a plurality of cutouts at a plurality of sites in a longitudinal direction of the front wall. The front wall may define the groove. A plurality of engaging projections may be located in the cutouts on a side wall surface on the housing side out of a pair of side wall surfaces facing each other in the groove. A height of the engaging projections may be larger than a width dimension of the groove. A plurality of engaging recesses with which the engaging projections are engaged may be provided at the upper end edge of the lower end plate.

According to the aspect of the disclosure, infiltration of foreign matter into the housing is suppressed by covering the gap between the lower end edge of the upper end plate and the upper end edge of the lower end plate. The first stepped portion having a pair of a first flat surface and a second flat surface intersecting with the first flat surface is provided on the engine side of the cover. The first flat surface is inclined downward with respect to a horizontal plane as the first flat surface is directed toward the engine side. Due to the above, foreign matter infiltrating together with traveling wind from between the engine and the end plate is further restrained from staying on the first flat surface of the first stepped portion and is actively discharged to the outside.

According to the aspect of the disclosure, the cover includes the upper end gripping portion, the lower end contact portion, and the connecting portion. The upper end gripping portion grips the upper end edge of the lower end plate. The lower end contact portion is in contact with the surface on the housing side of the lower end edge of the upper end plate. The connecting portion connects the upper end gripping portion and the lower end contact portion. The first stepped portion is provided on the engine side of the connecting portion. Due to the above, the cover can be easily mounted with respect to the gap between the lower end edge of the upper end plate and the upper end edge of the lower end plate.

According to the aspect of the disclosure, the cover is made of elastically deformable synthetic rubber. The cover integrally includes the upper end gripping portion, the lower end contact portion, and the connecting portion. Due to the above, it is possible to sufficiently seal the gap between the lower end edge of the upper end plate and the upper end edge of the lower end plate, and the cover can be easily mounted with respect to the gap.

According to the aspect of the disclosure, the upper end edge of the lower end plate is linear. The central portion in a lateral width direction of the lower end edge of the upper end plate has the protruding portion that protrudes toward the housing side with respect to the upper end edge of the lower end plate. The gap is located in an elongated shape between the upper end edge of the lower end plate and the protruding portion of the lower end edge of the upper end plate, the protruding portion being located on the housing side above the upper end edge of the lower end plate. The cover has an elongated shape that closes the gap that is located in an elongated shape. Due to the above, interference between the lower end plate and the fastening bolts of the oil pan to the engine block is further avoided.

According to the aspect of the disclosure, the second stepped portion is provided at a portion that is located between the upper end edge of the lower end plate of the cover and the protruding portion of the lower end edge of the upper end plate. The second stepped portion is provided further on the engine side than the first stepped portion is. The second stepped portion has a pair of a third flat surface and a fourth flat surface intersecting with the third flat surface. The third flat surface has an inclination that is directed downward with respect to a horizontal plane as the third flat surface is directed toward the engine side. Due to the above, foreign matter infiltrating together with traveling wind from between the engine and the end plate is further restrained from staying on the third flat surfaces of the second stepped portion and is actively discharged to the outside.

According to the aspect of the disclosure, the upper end gripping portion has the linear groove into which the upper end edge of the lower end plate is fitted. The lower end contact portion has the cover wall that protrudes upward from the first flat surface and is in contact with the lower end edge of the upper end plate to cover the lower end edge. Due to the above, the space between the upper end edge of the lower end plate and the lower end edge of the upper end plate is suitably blocked.

According to the aspect of the disclosure, the cover has a plurality of cutouts at a plurality of sites in the longitudinal direction of the front wall on the engine side, the front wall defining the groove. The engaging projections that are located in the cutouts are provided to project at a height larger than the width dimension of the groove on the side wall surface on the housing side out of the side wall surfaces facing each other in the groove. The engaging recesses with which the engaging projections are engaged are provided in the upper end edge of the lower end plate. Due to the above, when the cover has been mounted on the upper end edge of the lower end plate, the cover is prevented from coming out from the lower end plate due to the engagement of the engaging projections of the cover with the engaging recesses of the lower end plate, and therefore, assembly of the lower end plate to the housing is facilitated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, examples of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following examples, the drawings are appropriately simplified or modified, and the dimensional ratios, shapes, and the like of the respective parts are not always drawn accurately.

InFIG. 1, a vehicle is provided with an engine10, a housing12that accommodates a clutch14that connects and disconnects the power from the engine10, a transmission case16that accommodates a transmission that shifts the power transmitted through the clutch14and transmits the power to the rear wheels, and an end plate18of the engine10, the end plate18being provided between the engine10and the housing12. In Example 1, the clutch14that is accommodated in the housing12is a wet type single plate type, and the transmission that is accommodated in the transmission case16is a parallel shaft type constant meshing type manual transmission. However, for example, a configuration may be adopted in which a torque converter is accommodated in the housing12and an automatic transmission is accommodated in the transmission case16.

InFIG. 2, a shaft end of a crankshaft10bof the engine10, which rotates around a rotation axis C, penetrates the end plate18. A flange-shaped end surface10cfor fastening a flywheel14aof the clutch14is provided at the shaft end of the crankshaft10b.

As shown inFIG. 2, the end plate18has a width dimension larger than that of an engine block10aand is formed so as to protrude downward from the engine block10a. The end plate18is divided into an upper end plate20and a lower end plate22by a horizontal parting line that is located below the end face10c. The upper end plate20is fastened to the engine block10a. The upper end plate20is provided with a motor mounting hole20a, a plurality of mounting holes20b, a plurality of through-holes20d, and a recess20e. The motor mounting hole20ais formed to penetrate the upper end plate20such that a starter motor is mounted therein. Fastening bolts are respectively mounted to the mounting holes20b. Each of the through-holes20dis closed by a urethane cover20c. The recess20eis formed on the engine block10aside in order to pass a wire harness therethrough. In a state where the upper end plate20is fastened to the engine block10a, a part of the recess20eis located outside the mating surface of the engine block10aand exposed to the outside, and therefore, there is a possibility that foreign matter may infiltrate through the recess20ealong a path shown by a broken arrow.

As shown inFIG. 4as well, the lower end plate22is provided with a plurality of mounting holes22a, engaging recesses22c, and three reinforcing ribs22d. Fastening bolts for fastening the lower end plate22to the housing12are respectively mounted to the mounting holes22a. The engaging recesses22care provided by cutouts at a plurality of locations of an upper end edge22bin order to mount a cover24. The three reinforcing ribs22dare formed parallel to the upper end edge22band below the upper end edge22b. InFIG. 4, the cross section of the cover24is shown.

InFIG. 3, the flywheel14aof the clutch14is fastened to the end face10cprovided at the shaft end of the crankshaft10bof the engine10by fastening bolts26. For example, in order to further avoid interference with a bracket30or a fastening bolt32for fixing an oil pan28(described later) to the engine block10a, a protruding portion34having a protrusion shape locally protruding toward the clutch14side with respect to the upper end edge22bof the lower end plate22fastened to the housing12is formed at a central portion in a width direction of a lower end edge20fof the upper end plate20fastened to the engine block10a. A portion corresponding to the local protrusion shape, of the upper end edge22bof the lower end plate22, is locally cut out so as to be recessed downward. For this reason, an elongated gap36, in which a width in an up-and-down direction is relatively large as it goes toward the central portion in the width direction and a width in the direction of the rotation axis C is relatively large as it goes toward the central portion in the width direction, is formed between the central portions in the width direction of the lower end edge20fand the upper end edge22b. The cover24is mounted on the lower end edge20fof the upper end plate20and the upper end edge22bof the lower end plate22such that the cover24covers the gap36, that is, blocks the gap36.

FIG. 5is a front view of the cover24inFIG. 4as viewed from the engine10side.FIG. 6is a plan view showing the cover24inFIG. 4.FIG. 7is a bottom view showing the cover24inFIG. 4.FIG. 8is a rear view showing the cover24inFIG. 4.FIG. 9is a cross-sectional view of the cover24inFIG. 4and is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX ofFIG. 5.FIG. 10is a cross-sectional view of the cover24inFIG. 4and is a cross-sectional view taken along line X-X ofFIG. 5. InFIG. 5toFIG. 10, the cover24is an elastically deformable elongated elastic body formed by die forming of synthetic rubber such as ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM), for example.

The cover24integrally includes an upper end gripping portion40, a lower end contact portion42, and a connecting portion44. The upper end gripping portion40elastically grips the upper end edge22bof the lower end plate22. The lower end contact portion42is in contact with the surface on the housing12side of the lower end edge20fof the upper end plate20. The connecting portion44connects the upper end gripping portion40and the lower end contact portion42.

The upper end gripping portion40is provided with an elongated groove40ainto which the upper end edge22bof the lower end plate22is fitted, a plurality of cutouts40c, and a plurality of engaging projections40e. The cutouts40care formed at a plurality of sites in a longitudinal direction of a front wall40bon the engine10side, the front wall40bdefining the groove40a. The engaging projections40eare provided to project at a height larger than the width dimension of the groove40aon a side wall surface40don the housing12side out of a pair of side wall surfaces in the groove40a, and are located in the cutouts40c.

The lower end contact portion42is provided with a cover wall46that projects upward from an end edge on the clutch14side of the connecting portion44, that is, a first flat surface44a(described later), so as to be continuous in the entirety in the longitudinal direction of the cover24, that is, the width direction of the cover24and is in contact with the lower end edge20fof the upper end plate20to cover the lower end edge20f.

As described above, the gap36is an elongated space between the central portions in the width direction of the lower end edge20fand the upper end edge22b, in which a width in the up-and-down direction is relatively large as it goes toward the central portions in the width direction of the lower end edge20fand the upper end edge22band a width in the direction of the rotation axis C is relatively large as it goes toward the central portions in the width direction. Therefore, the upper end gripping portion40is provided along the central portion in the width direction of the lower end edge20fand the lower end contact portion42is provided along the central portion in the width direction of the upper end gripping portion40. For this reason, the connecting portion44connecting the upper end gripping portion40and the lower end contact portion42to each other has a first stepped portion44cand a second stepped portion44fon the engine10side. The first stepped portion44cis configured of a pair of a first flat surface44aand a second flat surface44bintersecting substantially perpendicularly with the first flat surfaces44aformed substantially at the entirety of the central portion in the width direction. The second stepped portion44fis configured of a pair of a third flat surface44dand a fourth flat surface44eintersecting substantially perpendicularly with the third flat surface44dformed at both end portions in the central portion in the width direction. In the mounted state of the cover24, the first flat surfaces44aand the third flat surfaces44dbecome substantially horizontal surfaces and the second flat surface44band the fourth flat surface44ebecome substantially vertical surfaces.

As shown inFIG. 9andFIG. 10, the first flat surface44aof the first stepped portion44cformed on the engine10side of the cover24has an inclination angle θ1that is directed downward with respect to a horizontal plane as the first flat surface44ais directed toward the engine10side. It is desirable that the inclination angle θ1is as large as possible within the allowable space. However, suitably, the inclination angle θ1is determined within an angular range of several degrees to ten and several degrees.

As shown inFIG. 9andFIG. 10, the third flat surface44dof the second stepped portion44fformed on the engine10side of the cover24also has an inclination angle θ2that is directed downward with respect to a horizontal plane as the third flat surface44dis directed toward the engine10side. It is desirable that the inclination angle θ2is also as large as possible within the allowable space. However, suitably, the inclination angle θ2is determined within an angular range of several degrees to ten and several degrees.

Due to the above, foreign matter infiltrating together with traveling wind along arrows shown by the broken lines inFIG. 2from between the engine block10aand the upper end plate20is further restrained from staying on the first flat surface44aof the first stepped portion44cand the third flat surface44dof the second stepped portion44fdue to the inclination angle θ1and the inclination angle θ2and is actively discharged to the outside.

As described above, the cover24of the end plate18for a vehicle of Example 1 covers the gap36between the lower end edge20fof the upper end plate20and the upper end edge22bof the lower end plate22, whereby infiltration of foreign matter into the housing12is prevented. The first stepped portion44chaving the first flat surface44aand the second flat surface44bintersecting with the first flat surface44ais provided on the engine10side of the cover24. The first flat surface44ahas the inclination angle θ1that is directed downward with respect to a horizontal plane as the first flat surface44ais directed toward the engine10side. Due to the above, foreign matter infiltrating together with traveling wind from between the engine10and the end plate18is further restrained from staying on the first flat surface44aof the first stepped portion44cand is actively discharged to the outside.

The cover24of the end plate18for a vehicle of Example 1 includes the upper end gripping portion40, the lower end contact portion42, and the connecting portion44. The upper end gripping portion40grips the upper end edge22bof the lower end plate22. The lower end contact portion42is in contact with the surface on the housing12side of the lower end edge20fof the upper end plate20. The connecting portion44connects the upper end gripping portion40and the lower end contact portion42. The first stepped portion44cis provided on the engine10side of the connecting portion44. Due to the above, the cover24can be easily mounted with respect to the gap36between the lower end edge20fof the upper end plate20and the upper end edge22bof the lower end plate22.

According to the cover24of the end plate18for a vehicle of Example 1, the cover24is made of elastically deformable synthetic rubber. The cover24integrally includes the upper end gripping portion40, the lower end contact portion42, and the connecting portion44. Due to the above, it is possible to sufficiently seal the gap36between the lower end edge20fof the upper end plate20and the upper end edge22bof the lower end plate22, and the cover24can be easily mounted with respect to the gap36.

According to the cover24of the end plate18for a vehicle of Example 1, the upper end edge22bof the lower end plate22is linear. The central portion in the lateral width direction of the lower end edge20fof the upper end plate20has the protruding portion34that protrudes toward the housing12side with respect to the upper end edge22bof the lower end plate22. The gap36is located in an elongated shape between the upper end edge22bof the lower end plate22and the protruding portion34of the lower end edge20fof the upper end plate20, the protruding portion34being located on the housing12side above the upper end edge22bof the lower end plate22. The cover24has an elongated shape that closes the gap36that is located in an elongated shape. Due to the above, interference between the lower end plate22and the fastening bolts32of the oil pan28to the engine block10ais further avoided.

According to the cover24of the end plate18for a vehicle of Example 1, the second stepped portion44fis provided at a portion of the cover24, the portion being located between the upper end edge22bof the lower end plate22and the protruding portion34of the lower end edge20fof the upper end plate20. The second stepped portion44fis provided further on the engine10side than the first stepped portion44cis. The second stepped portion44fhas the third flat surface44dand the fourth flat surface44eintersecting with the third flat surface44d. The third flat surface44dhas the inclination angle θ2that is directed downward with respect to a horizontal plane as the third flat surface44dis directed toward the engine10side. Due to the above, foreign matter infiltrating together with traveling wind from between the engine10and the end plate18is further restrained from staying on the third flat surface44dof the second stepped portion44fand is actively discharged to the outside.

According to the cover24of the end plate18for a vehicle of Example 1, the upper end gripping portion40has the linear groove40ainto which the upper end edge22bof the lower end plate22is fitted. The lower end contact portion42has the cover wall46that protrudes upward from the first flat surface44aand is in contact with the lower end edge20fof the upper end plate20to cover the lower end edge20f. Due to the above, the space between the upper end edge22bof the lower end plate22and the lower end edge20fof the upper end plate20is suitably blocked.

According to the cover24of the end plate18for a vehicle of Example 1, the cover24has the cutouts40cat a plurality of sites in the longitudinal direction of the front wall40bon the engine10side, the front wall40bdefining the groove40a. The engaging projections40ethat are located in the cutouts40care provided to project at a height larger than the width dimension of the groove40aon the side wall surface on the housing12side out of the side wall surfaces facing each other in the groove. The engaging recesses22cwith which the engaging projections40eare engaged are provided in the upper end edge22bof the lower end plate22. Due to the above, when the cover24has been mounted on the upper end edge22bof the lower end plate22, the cover24is prevented from coming out from the lower end plate22due to the engagement of the engaging projections40eof the cover24with the engaging recesses22cof the lower end plate22, and therefore, assembly of the lower end plate22to the housing12is facilitated.

Hereinafter, other examples of the disclosure will be described. In the following description, parts shared by the above-described example are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 11is a schematic diagram showing the shape of the cover24of Example 2 of the disclosure, which is applied to the vehicle ofFIG. 1. The first flat surface44aof the cover24of Example 2 is further provided with an inclination that increases toward the central portion from both ends in the longitudinal direction of the first flat surface44a, that is, in the width direction of the lower end plate22, in addition to the above-described inclination that is directed downward as the first flat surface44ais directed toward the engine10side. According to Example 2, as shown by a one-dot chain line inFIG. 11, in a case where traveling wind that is directed toward the middle side from both the outer sides enters between the engine block10aand the end plate18, foreign matter is further restrained from staying on the first flat surface44aby the traveling wind.

FIG. 12is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle, that is, an FF vehicle, to which the cover24of an end plate for a vehicle of Example 3 of the disclosure is applied. In Example 3, as shown by a one-dot chain line, traveling wind that is directed toward the middle side from the outside on one side, which is the front of the vehicle, enters between the engine block10aand the end plate18.

FIG. 13is a schematic diagram showing the shape of the cover24of Example 3, which is applied to the vehicle ofFIG. 12. The first flat surface44aof the cover24of Example 3 is further provided with an inclination that increases toward the other end from one end on the windward side and steeply decreases toward the other end portion in the longitudinal direction of the first flat surface44a, that is, in the width direction of the lower end plate22, in addition to the above-described inclination that is directed downward as the first flat surface44ais directed toward the engine10side. According to Example 3, as shown by a one-dot chain line inFIG. 13, in a case where traveling wind that is directed toward the other end from one end enters between the engine block10aand the end plate18, foreign matter is further restrained from staying on the first flat surface44aby the traveling wind.

FIG. 14is a schematic diagram showing the shape of the cover24of Example 4, which is applied to the vehicle shown inFIG. 12. In the cover24of Example 4, in a case where traveling wind changes direction due to a vehicle-mounted component, as shown by a one-dot chain line inFIG. 14, in order to make it more difficult for foreign matter to stay on the first flat surface44adue to the cyclone effect, the first flat surface44ais further provided with an inclination that becomes steeper toward the other end from one end on the windward side and steeply decreases at the other end portion in the longitudinal direction of the first flat surface44a, that is, in the width direction of the lower end plate22, in addition to the above-described inclination that is directed downward as the first flat surface44ais directed toward the engine10side.

The examples of the disclosure have been described in detail above based on the drawings. However, the disclosure is also applicable in other aspects.

For example, the cover24in the examples described above has an elongated shape according to the shape of the elongated gap36. However, the shape of the gap36and the shape of the cover24for covering the gap36may be variously changed. In short, a configuration may be made in which the first stepped portion44cthat is configured of the first flat surface44aand the second flat surface44bintersecting with the first flat surface44ais formed on the engine10side of the cover24and the inclination angle θ1that is directed downward with respect to a horizontal plane as the first flat surface44ais directed toward the engine10side is formed on the first flat surface44a.

In the cover24in the examples described above, the first stepped portion44chaving the first flat surface44aand the second stepped portion44fhaving the third flat surface44dare formed on the engine10side of the cover24. However, a configuration may be adopted in which the second stepped portion44fis not formed and solely the first stepped portion44chaving the first flat surface44ais formed.

The above is merely one embodiment, and the disclosure can be implemented in aspects with various modifications or improvements added thereto based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art.