Patent Publication Number: US-2016237644-A1

Title: Mounting assembly

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to an engine mounting assembly of a machine, and more specifically, to a structure of a bracket for mounting an engine on to a chassis frame of the machine. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Machines such as, but not limited to, wheel loaders, or wheel dozers, are used in various industries such as earthmoving and construction industries, for excavating materials and loading the materials. Typically, these machines include a number of engine mounting brackets which are coupled to a frame assembly of the machine, and are structured to provide mounting support for an engine. The engine mounting brackets are also provided with a lift eye to assist in lifting and transportation of the frame assembly and the engine. 
     The engine mounting brackets are generally manufactured using fabrication methods. Typically, a number of steel plates are joined together through a welding process to form a mounting structure. For example, currently, an engine mount is formed using  4  plates and  2  threaded bosses, which are welded to form a mounting bracket. Similarly, a lifting eye is formed using a plate which extends through the frame assembly, and welded to the frame assembly. Thus, the engine mount and the lifting eye collectively require at least five plates welded together to correct dimensions and tolerances. Such a structure however, can be difficult to manufacture and may increase the cost of production. Therefore, there is a need for an engine mounting structure with a lifting hook provision which is cost effective, and easy to manufacture. 
     United States Publication Number 20080105638 hereinafter referred to as the &#39;638 publication, discloses an engine removal system. The &#39;638 publication discloses an engine mount which works in conjunction with a hoist mount. The engine mount is attached to an engine, and coupled to the hoist mount. The hoist mount is adapted to lift or lower the engine upon its actuation. The engine can be lifted upon raising of the hoist mount and can be lowered upon lowering of the hoist mount. Further, the engine hoist mount has vertical bars, inclined bars joined to the tops of the vertical bars, a horizontal bar joined between the tops of the inclined bars. In addition to the hoist mount, there is an engine framework, a lift mechanism, and front and rear mounts, used in conjunction with and as a part of the lift mechanism. The &#39;638 publication further discloses that the engine mount has provisions to allow another lifting point to be secured to the rear engine mounts, thereby tying the entire framework together in a unified structure. However, such type of the structure disclosed in the reference can be expensive, and difficult to manufacture. Therefore, there is a need for a structure which is cost effective, and easy to manufacture. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     In one aspect of the present disclosure, a mounting assembly of a machine is provided. The mounting assembly including a bracket having a first portion adapted to mount an engine. The first portion having a first surface having an annular opening. A second portion is adapted for lifting operations. The second portion having a first end connected to the first portion, and a second end having an annular opening. The second portion is adapted to attach to a frame assembly of the machine. The bracket is manufactured as a single component. 
     Other features and aspects of this disclosure will he apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a machine, in accordance with the concepts of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an engine assembly of the machine of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a mounting assembly showing a bracket attached to a frame assembly of the machine without an engine, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the bracket showing a first portion and a second portion, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a second embodiment of the bracket, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 6  is a third embodiment of the bracket, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a machine  10  includes a bucket  12 , a cab  14 , a driver seat  16 , an engine assembly  18 , a grill  20 , a cover  22 , a member  24 , a number of lights  26 , a number of wheels  28 , and an exhaust conduit  30 . The machine  10  further includes various other components such as, but not limited to, mirrors, or windows. For the purpose of simplicity, the various other components of the machine  10  are not labeled in  FIG. 1 . It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the machine  10  shown in  FIG. 1  is a wheel loader. However, the machine  10  may be any other wheeled machine including, but not limited to, a wheel dozer, or articulated trucks, without departing from the scope of the disclosure. 
     The machine  10  includes the bucket  12  which is placed at a first side  32  (i.e., a front side) of the machine  10 , and is utilized for various operations such as, but not limited to, for loading materials. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the machine  10  may include a blade for moving earth on its front, and the machine  10  may steer through articulating its front and rear halves. The machine  10  further includes the cab  14  which has the driver seat  16  for an operator to be seated, and for operating the machine  10 . Further, the machine  10  having the grill  20  (i.e., a radiator grill), the cover  22 , and the member  24 , which are attached at a second side  34  of the machine  10 . The member  24  of the machine  10  incorporates the lights  26  which are utilized to illuminate an area around the machine  10 . Further, the machine  10  has the wheels  28  which are utilized to drive the machine  10 , and the exhaust conduit  30  through which exhaust flows out. The machine  10  further includes the engine assembly  18  which is disposed at the second side  34  (i.e., a rear side) of the machine  10 . The detailed description of the engine assembly  18  is described later in conjunction with  FIG. 2 . 
     Referring. to  FIG. 2 , the engine assembly  18  of the machine  10  is coupled to a frame assembly  36  via a mounting assembly  38 . The frame assembly  36  includes a first frame  40  and a second frame  42 . Each of the first frame  40  and the second frame  42  has a corresponding first side  44  and a corresponding second side  46 . The first frame  40  and the second frame  42  are coupled to each other by means of at least one cross-member  48 . Further, the mounting assembly  38  having a pair of brackets  50  which are welded to the frame assembly  36 . The bracket  50  having a first portion  52  and a second portion  54 . The first portion  52  is adapted to mount an engine  56 . It should be noted that the two brackets  50  are each welded to the first frame  40  and the second frame  42  of the frame assembly  36 . In an embodiment, each of the first frame  40  and the second frame  42  is a box type frame. As an example, the first frame  40  may include a first plate  58 , a second plate  60 , a third plate  62 , and a fourth plate (not shown) welded together to form the first frame  40 . In such case, the bracket  50  is welded to the first plate  58  and the second plate  60 , The bracket  50  is shaped such that the weld joints between the bracket  50  and each of the first plate  58  and the second plate  60  smoothly transition into a surface of the first plate  58  on the first side  44  and into a surface of the second plate  60  on the second side  46  of the first frame  40 . It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the bracket  50  is shaped such that it provides weld backing internal to the first frame  40 , i.e. within a space between the first plate  58 , the second plate  60 , the third plate  62 , and the fourth plate (not shown). The weld backing is provided on at least one of an interface between the bracket  50  and the first plate  58  or the second plate  60  of the first frame  40 . This in turn ensures that the weld joint created between the bracket  50  and the first frame  40  is a full penetration weld, 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  &amp;  FIG. 4 , the bracket  50  includes the first portion  52 , and the second portion  54 . It should be noted that the first portion  52  and the second portion  54 , of the bracket  50 , are integrated into a single component. The first portion  52  of the bracket  50  having a first surface  64  which has an annular opening  66 . The annular opening  66  includes threads (not shown). According to one embodiment, the first surface  64  is circular in shape. On the other hand, the second portion  54  of the bracket  50  includes a first end  68  (shown in  FIG. 4 ), and a second end  70 . The first end  68  is connected to the first portion  52  of the bracket  50 , and the second end  70  having an annular opening  72  which is utilized for lifting operations. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the lifting operations mentioned above are performed at the second side  34  of the machine  10 . In an embodiment, the machine  10  may include lifting attachment points on the first side  32  of the machine  10  as well, to allow the machine  10  to be lifted level to the ground, without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Further, the second portion  54  of the bracket  50  includes a cavity  74 , which is disposed in between the first plate  58  and the second plate  60  of the first frame  40  when the bracket  50  is welded to the first frame  40 . Further, the second portion  54 , is attached to the frame assembly  36  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) of the machine  10 . 
     Further, referring to  FIG. 3 , the first portion  52  of the bracket  50  is disposed at the first side  44  of the first frame  40  of the frame assembly  36 . Further, the first portion  52  corresponds to an engine mounting portion, and is adapted to mount the engine  56 . Further, the first portion  52  of the bracket  50  includes a rubber mount (not shown). On the other hand, the second portion  54  of the bracket  50  is disposed at the second side  46  of the first frame  40  of the frame assembly  36 . Further, the bracket  50  includes a surface which is coupled to axle trunnion mount of the first frame  40 . Further, the bracket  50  is self located in the first frame  40  by at least one of the first plate  58  or the second plate  60  when the bracket  50  is inserted between the first plate  58  and the second plate  60  of the first frame  40 . As an example, a slot is provided on at least one of the first portion  52  and the second portion  54  of the bracket  50  so that the bracket  50  is self located in the first frame  40 . It should be noted that coupling of one of the pair of brackets  50  on to the first frame  40  is explained above, however, it will be apparent to one skilled in art that another one of the pair of brackets  50  is coupled with respect to the second frame  42  in a similar manner, without departing from the scope of the disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a second embodiment of a bracket  50 ′ is disclosed. The bracket  50 ′ having a first portion  52 ′ and a second portion  54 ′. The first portion  52 ′ of the bracket  50 ′ having a first surface  64 ′ which has an annular opening  66 ′. The annular opening  66 ′ is utilized to mount the engine  56  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). Further, the first surface  64 ′ of the first portion  52 ′ having grooves  76  on a first side  78  and a second side  80  of the first portion  52 ′ of the bracket  50 ′. On the other hand, the second portion  54 ′ of the bracket  50 ′ having a first end  68 ′, and a second end  70 ′. The first end  68 ′ is connected to the first portion  52 ′ of the bracket  50 ′, and the second end  70 ′ having an annular opening  72 ′. The annular opening  72 ′ is utilized for lifting operations. Further, the bracket  50 ′ is welded to the frame assembly  36  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) of the machine  10 , using the second portion  54 ′. In this embodiment, a weld joint is also provided between the first portion  52 ′ and the first plate  58  and the second plate  60  of the first frame  40  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a third embodiment of a bracket  50 ″ is disclosed. The bracket  50 ″ having a first portion  52 ″, a second portion  54 ″, and a third portion  82 , The first portion  52 ″ includes a first surface  64 ″ having an annular opening  66 ″ which is utilized for mounting the engine  56  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). As an example, the first surface  64 ″ is circular in shape. Further, the second portion  54 ″ of the bracket  50 ″ having a first end  68 ″, a second end  70 ″, and a third end  84 . The first end  68 ″ and the third end  84  of the second portion  54 ″, are connected to a fourth end  86  and a fifth end  88  of the third portion  82  of the bracket  50 ″. Further, the second end  70 ″ having an annular opening  72 ″, The annular opening  72 ″is utilized for the lifting operations. Further, the third portion  82  having grooves  90  on a first side  92 , and a second side  94 , of the bracket  50 ″. Further, the third portion  82  having a sixth end  96  and a seventh end  98 . The sixth end  96  of the third portion  82  is attached to the first portion  52 ″ of the bracket  50 ″. Further, the bracket  50 ″ is welded to the frame assembly  36  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) of the machine  10 , at the third end  84  and the sixth end  96 . 
     It should be noted that the bracket  50 ,  50 ′, and  50 ″ of the machine  10  is manufactured by a casting process which is steel casting, or a forging process. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the first embodiment, the second embodiment, and the third embodiment, of the bracket  50 ,  50 ′, and  50 ″ respectively mentioned above have been provided only for illustration purposes. Other designs of the bracket  50 ,  50 ′, and  50 ″, may also be utilized, without departing from the scope of the disclosure. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the present disclosure provides the mounting assembly  38  of the machine  10 , The mounting assembly  38  includes the bracket  50  having the first portion  52  and the second portion  54 . The first portion  52  of the bracket  50  is adapted for mounting the engine  56 , and the second portion  54  of the bracket  50  is utilized for lifting of the frame assembly  36 . For example, the second portion  54  is utilized as a lifting point on a back end of the machine  10  while transferring the machine  10  onto to trailers or rail cars either within the manufacturing facility or in field sites. In another scenario, the second portion  54  is further adapted to provide a tie down point which is used during the transportation. Further, the cavity  74  of the second portion  54  makes the bracket  50  thinner, which helps in reducing the weight of the bracket  50 . Further, the first portion  52  of the bracket  50  includes the rubber mount (not shown) that reduces vibrations transmitted from the engine  56  to the first frame  40 . The bracket  50  has a single piece design which integrates the first portion  52  used for mounting the engine  56 , and the second portion  54  used for lifting the machine  10 . Further, the bracket  50  is manufactured by the casting process that is cost effective. Also, the bracket  50  manufactured by casting offers better structural strength and is lighter in weight as compared to a bracket fabricated by welding. The casting process also reduces time and labor effort during manufacturing of the bracket  50 . Thus, the bracket  50  is cost effective, eliminates need of welding different parts to make a single bracket, lighter in weight, and easy to manufacture. The manufacturing of the bracket  50  through casting reduces the weld count to  3 . 
     While aspects of the present disclosure have been particularly shown and described with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated by the modification of the disclosed machines, systems and methods without departing from the spirit and scope of what is disclosed. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure as determined based upon the claims and any equivalents thereof.