Abstract:
A torque arm for securing the position of a power train relative to a motor vehicle includes a first mount and a second mount. The first mount and the second mount are spaced by a body portion. The first mount is formed by a continuous ring defining a first central opening and is integral with the body portion. The second mount is formed by a loop defining a second central opening and the loop extends from the body portion at an opposite end of the body portion from the continuous ring.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Vehicle engine systems generate substantial amounts of torque when transferring motor energy generated in an internal combustion engine or the like through drive shaft to wheels that propel the vehicle. Torque generated by the engine is known to rotate the engine inside the motor compartment of the vehicle. Therefore, various devices have been produced to secure the engine within the vehicle compartment to prevent the engine from pivoting as a result of the torque transferred to the wheels. 
     One such device is known as a cast link or torque arm that is bolted between an engine block and a frame of a motor vehicle. These cast links have typically been manufactured through a casting process so that mass or thickness can be easily distributed or transferred to various parts of the link for both providing additional strength, and managing engine harmonics to prevent vibration from being transferred through the vehicle frame to the passenger compartment. While the transfer of mass around a cast link is known to provide the desired characteristics, the use of the casting process, due to its slow cycle time, is known to be cost prohibitive. Furthermore, a cast link having variable thickness used to achieve necessary performance, adds a significant amount of mass to a motor vehicle adversely affecting vehicle mileage performance. Therefore, there is a need to provide a low mass, quick cycle time torque arm that provides required strength characteristics along with necessary damping of engine harmonics. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A torque arm secures the position of a power train relative to a motor vehicle. A first mount is spaced from a second mount by a body portion. The first mount is formed by a continuous ring defining a central opening and is integrally formed with the body portion. The second mount is formed by a loop that defines a second central opening. The loop extends from the body portion at an opposite end of the body portion from the continuous ring. The torque arm is formed from a sheet of material having a substantially constant thickness throughout. 
     The torque arm of the present invention provides necessary strength characteristics of being formed from a sheet of material, which substantially reduces the mass associated with a cast metal torque arm. Furthermore, forming a torque arm from a sheet of material provides rapid cycle times by way of a progressive or equivalent type die eliminating the time associated with waiting for cast metal parts to cool, which is a known production bottle neck. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the inventive arm of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a plan view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional view of the arm of the present invention taken along line  3 - 3  as shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows an expanded view of section  4 - 4  as shown in  FIG. 3 ; and 
         FIG. 5  shows an environmental view of the arm of the present invention located in an engine compartment of a motor vehicle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The link of the present invention is generally shown in  FIG. 1  at  10 . The link includes a first mount  12  and a second mount  14 . The mounts  12 ,  14  are interconnected by a body portion  16 . The link, including the first mount  12  and the second mount  14 , and body portion  16 , is formed from a continuous sheet of metal having a generally constant thickness. The link  10  having been formed from a continuous sheet of metal with a generally constant thickness retains the generally constant thickness after forming. 
     The first mount  12  is defined by an inner annular wall  18  and an outer annular wall  20 . The inner annular wall  18  and the outer annular wall  20  are interconnected by a mating wall  22  having a radial shape as will be explained further below. As best represented in  FIG. 3 , the first mount  12  defines a first axis  24  so that the inner annular wall  18  and the outer annular wall  20  are coaxially and concentrically aligned with the first axis  24 . As best represented in  FIG. 3 , the inner annular wall  18  includes an axial length that exceeds the axial length of the outer annular wall  20 . As such, the inner annular wall  18 , the outer annular wall  20  and the mating wall  22  define a J-shaped cross-section to provide strength and dimensional stability to the first mount  12 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the body portion  16  includes opposing flanges  26  that extend along a length of the body portion  16 . The opposing flanges  26  provide strength and dimensional stability to the body portion  16 . Furthermore, the outer annular wall  20  of the first mount  12  defines a continuous surface  28  with the opposing flanges  26  further providing strength and dimensional stability to the link  10  in its entirety. 
     The second mount  14  is formed from a loop  30  as best seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The second mount  14  defines a second axis  32 . The second axis  32  is oriented in a substantially perpendicular relationship to the first axis  24 , the purpose of which will become more evident further below. Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the loop  30  includes a distal end  34  that defines a mating face  36 . The mating face  36  includes a chamfered edge  38  providing manufacturing benefits when forming the second mount  14  from the loop  30  facilitating the annular formation of the loop. It has been determined by the inventors the chamfered edge  38  allows the loop  30  to be formed. If the chamfered edge  38  is absent, forming the loop  30  is greatly inhibited. In on embodiment, the chamfered edge  38  is formed by coining operation prior to forming the loop  30 . Other methods of forming the chamfered edge  38  are also contemplated by the inventor. The body portion  16  defines a receptor having a substantially mirrored configuration to the mating surface  36  of the distal end  34  of the loop  30 . As represented in  FIG. 4 , a weld material  42  or equivalent is applied to the interface between the mating surface  36  and the receptor  40  to secure and enclose the loop  30  to the body portion  16 . Further dimensional stability is provided to the body portion  16  by a rib or contour  44  having a lengthwise orientation to the body portion  16  in one embodiment for stiffening purposes. Other embodiments include a rib  44  having an orientation normal, or generally normal to the lengthwise orientation of the body portion  16 . A still further embodiment includes a rib or contour disposed anywhere between the first mount  12  a distal end of the second mount  14  including the body portion  16  and the loop  30 . As best represented in  FIG. 2 , opposing flanges  26  transition toward the second mount  14  via opposing corners  46  after which, the flanges terminate into the loop  30  of the second mount  14 . The radial dimension of the corners  46  can vary as necessary for manufacturing process control. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , where the inventive link  10  is shown installed in a vehicle engine compartment mating an engine  48  to a frame  50  of a motor vehicle (not shown). In this embodiment, the frame  50  is represented as a shock tower. However, it should be understood that the link  10  of the present invention can mount the engine  48  to other frame components of the motor vehicle. A first grommet  52  is received by the first mount  12  and includes a substantially similar thickness to the axial length of the inner annular wall  18  of the first mount  12 . A first fastening system  54  is received by the grommet  52  and secures the grommet  52 , and therefore the link  10 , to the engine  48  of the motor vehicle. In this embodiment, the first fastening system  54  is represented as a bolt or screw. However, it should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that alternative fastening systems may be used to secure the link  10  to the engine  48 . 
     A second grommet  56  is received by the second mount  14  and includes a perpendicular orientation to the first grommet  52  in a similar manner as the axial orientation between the first and second mounts  12 ,  14 . A frame bracket  58  receives a second fastening system  60  to secure the link  10  via the second grommet  56  to the frame bracket  58 . In this embodiment, the second fastening system  60  is represented as a bolt or screw. However, it should be understood to those of ordinary skill in the art that alternative fastening systems may be used to secure the link  10  to the frame  50 . 
     The first and second grommets  52 ,  56  are formed from an elastomeric material having a necessary durometer to both secure the link between the engine  48  and the frame  50  and provide necessary damping characteristics to reduce the amount of vibration transferred from the engine  48  to the frame  50  of the motor vehicle. Alternative methods of securing the grommets  52 ,  56  to the link  10  are contemplated by the inventor, including injection molding the elastomeric material into the link, or premolding the grommets  52 ,  56  for subsequent installation into the first and second mounts  12 ,  14 . 
     While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.