Patent Description:
For example, in a patent document <NUM>, the structure is disclosed in which a metal internal-combustion-engine-side mount bracket for attaching an internal combustion engine to a vehicle body is fastened to a metal timing chain cover which covers the front surface of the internal combustion engine.

In the patent document <NUM>, a vehicle-body-side mount bracket fixed to the vehicle body is fastened with the internal-combustion-engine-side mount bracket fixed to the internal combustion engine via the timing chain cover, and the internal combustion engine is attached to the vehicle body.

However, in the patent document <NUM>, the timing chain cover and the internal-combustion-side mount bracket are made as separate parts. In addition, in the patent document <NUM>, the timing chain cover and the internal-combustion-engine-side mount bracket are made from metal parts.

Therefore, in the patent document <NUM>, there is room for further improvement in the reduction of the weight of the internal combustion engine and of the number of the components of the internal combustion engine. Patent document <NUM> discloses a mount device for an engine. A chain case which covers a chain to connect the crank shaft and cam shaft of an engine and is fitted to one side in the axial direction of the crank shaft of the engine is provided. The chain case is provided with a mount fitting section where a member to compose a mount device is attached, and a breather chamber is provided in the mount fitting section.

According to the present invention, an internal combustion engine as defined in claim <NUM> is provided.

The internal combustion engine of the present invention includes a front cover made of a resin which is disposed so as to cover end surfaces on one end sides of a cylinder block and a cylinder head in a crankshaft axial direction. A mounting part made of a resin material and provided for attaching the internal combustion engine to a vehicle body is formed integrally with the front cover.

According to the present invention, since the resin mounting part for mounting the internal combustion engine on the vehicle body is formed integrally with the resin front cover, as compared with a case where a mount bracket made of iron formed separately from a front cover is used, the reduction of the weight and the number of the components of the internal combustion engine can be achieved.

In the following, an embodiment of the present invention will be explained in detail based on the drawings. In addition, the X-axis in each of the drawings represents the front and back direction (crankshaft axial direction) of an internal combustion engine <NUM>, the Y-axis in each of the drawings represents the right and left direction (width direction) of internal combustion engine <NUM>, and the Z-axis in each of the drawings represents the up and down direction (cylinder axial direction) of internal combustion engine <NUM>.

<FIG> is an explanatory drawing schematically showing the configuration of internal combustion engine <NUM> to which the present invention is applied.

Internal combustion engine <NUM> is mainly composed of a cylinder head <NUM>, a cylinder block <NUM> attached to the lower part of cylinder head <NUM>, an integrated cam bracket <NUM> attached to the upper part of cylinder head <NUM>, an oil pan upper <NUM> attached to the lower part of cylinder block <NUM>, an oil pan lower <NUM> attached to the lower part of oil pan upper <NUM>, and a front cover <NUM> which covers the front surface of internal combustion engine <NUM>. Internal combustion engine <NUM> is, as a driving source, mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile. In addition, the numeral "<NUM>" in <FIG> represents a transmission connected to the back end of internal combustion engine <NUM>.

Cylinder head <NUM> is a casting made of metal material, such as aluminum alloy, and is formed with an intake port (not shown) for supplying intake air to a combustion chamber (not shown) and an exhaust port (not shown) for discharging exhaust gas from the combustion chamber (not shown).

Cylinder block <NUM> is a casting made of metal material, such as aluminum alloy, and is formed with cylinders (not shown) according to the number of cylinders.

Oil pan upper <NUM> is made of metal material, such as aluminum alloy, and forms, together with cylinder block <NUM>, a crank case (not shown) in which a crankshaft (not shown) is accommodated.

Oil pan lower <NUM> is made of a resin material, such as a synthetic resin, and stores oil for lubrication.

Integrated cam bracket <NUM> is made of metal material, such as aluminum alloy, and rotatably supports, together with cylinder head <NUM>, two cam shafts (not shown).

<FIG> is a perspective view of integrated cam bracket <NUM>. Integrated cam bracket <NUM> shown in <FIG> is applied in a case where internal combustion engine <NUM> has four cylinders.

Integrated cam bracket <NUM> includes two side frames <NUM> and <NUM>, a front frame <NUM> having a rectangular plate shape which connects the front ends of both side frames <NUM> and <NUM> to each other, a rear frame <NUM> which connects the rear ends of both side frames <NUM> and <NUM> to each other, a plurality of bearing beams <NUM>, a center bean <NUM> in the center, sub-center beams <NUM> and <NUM> on the both sides, and a one-end-side wall <NUM> protruding upward from front frame <NUM>.

Each of bearing beams <NUM> rotatably holds the two cam shafts, together with bearing holders (not shown) formed to cylinder head <NUM>.

For example, bearing beams <NUM> are disposed so as to across the respective middles of the cylinders.

Center beam <NUM> extends along the direction of a cylinder bank (crankshaft axial direction) so as to be laid over between two bearing beams <NUM> in the middle.

Sub-center beam <NUM> extends along the direction of the cylinder bank (crankshaft axial direction) so as to be laid over between front frame <NUM> and a bearing beam <NUM> adjacent to front frame <NUM>.

Sub-center beam <NUM> extends along the direction of the cylinder bank (crankshaft axial direction) so as to be laid over between rear frame <NUM> and a bearing beam <NUM> adjacent to rear frame <NUM>.

One-end-side wall <NUM> is positioned on one end side of integrated cam bracket <NUM> in the crankshaft axial direction. That is, one-end-side wall <NUM> is positioned on the front surface of internal combustion engine <NUM> so as to face front cover <NUM>.

One-end-side wall <NUM> includes, on the back side thereof, a protruding portion <NUM> having a wedge shape in cross section.

Protruding portion <NUM> is formed such that the thickness of protruding portion <NUM> gradually increases toward the cylinder head side in the cylinder axial direction of internal combustion engine <NUM>. Specifically, the surface of protruding portion <NUM> is inclined such that the thickness of protruding portion <NUM> gradually increases toward the cylinder head side in the cylinder axial direction of internal combustion engine <NUM>.

The upper surface opening of integrated cam bracket <NUM> is covered with a cylinder head cover (not shown) made from, for example, a synthetic resin molding. With this, the sealed state of a valve chamber in which cam shafts and the like are accommodated is ensured.

Front cover <NUM> is made of a resin material such as a synthetic resin, and is attached to an internal combustion engine body so as to cover the front surface of the internal combustion engine body. Specifically, front cover <NUM> is attached to the front surface of cylinder block <NUM>, the front surface of cylinder head <NUM>, the front surface of integrated cam bracket <NUM> and the front surface of oil pan upper <NUM> by bolts not shown in the drawings. In other words, front cover <NUM> is disposed so as to cover the end surfaces on one end sides of cylinder block <NUM> and cylinder head <NUM> in the crankshaft axial direction.

Font cover <NUM> accommodates the crank sprocket (not shown) fixed to the front end of the crankshaft (not shown) and the cam sprockets (not shown) fixed to the front ends of the cam shafts (not shown) in the space formed with the front surface of the internal combustion engine body. A timing chain (not shown) for transmitting rotation power is wound around these crank sprocket and cam sprockets.

As shown in <FIG>, front cover <NUM> includes a mounting part <NUM> protruding to the forward side of internal combustion engine <NUM>. Here, the forward side of internal combustion engine <NUM> in the present specification corresponds to the right side in <FIG>, the front side in the vertical direction on the paper surface of <FIG>, and the left side in <FIG>.

<FIG> is a front view of front cover <NUM>. <FIG> is a back view of front cover <NUM>. Each of <FIG> and <FIG> is a perspective view of front cover <NUM>. <FIG> is a sectional view along an A-A line of <FIG>. <FIG> is a sectional view along a B-B line of <FIG>. In addition, the numeral "<NUM>" in <FIG> represents a crankshaft hole through which the crankshaft (not shown) passes to internal combustion engine <NUM>.

Mounting part <NUM> includes a vehicle body attachment part <NUM> for attaching internal combustion engine <NUM> to a vehicle body (not shown) on which internal combustion engine <NUM> is mounted. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG> to <FIG>, vehicle body attachment part <NUM> is formed integrally with mounting part <NUM>. Vehicle body attachment part <NUM> is fixed to the vehicle body side on which internal combustion engine <NUM> is mounted.

As shown in <FIG>, mounting part <NUM> protrudes to the forward side of internal combustion engine <NUM>, and is formed in an elongated hollow shape along the cylinder axial direction of internal combustion engine <NUM>. That is, mounting part <NUM> is formed such that the length of mounting part <NUM> along the cylinder axial direction of internal combustion engine <NUM> is longer than the length of mounting part <NUM> along the width direction of internal combustion engine <NUM> when viewed in the crankshaft axial direction.

In addition, as shown in <FIG>, mounting part <NUM> is formed such that the length of mounting part <NUM> along the cylinder axial direction of internal combustion engine <NUM> is longer than the length of mounting part <NUM> along the width direction of internal combustion engine <NUM> when viewed in the crankshaft axial direction. Here, the cylinder axial direction of internal combustion engine <NUM> corresponds to the up and down direction in <FIG>. In addition, the width direction of internal combustion engine <NUM> when viewed in the crankshaft axial direction corresponds to the right and left direction in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, and <FIG> to <FIG>, vehicle body attachment part <NUM> is formed on the cylinder head side of mounting part <NUM> in the cylinder axial direction of internal combustion engine <NUM>. In other words, vehicle body attachment part <NUM> is formed at the upper part of mounting part <NUM> in the cylinder axial direction of internal combustion engine <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, mounting part <NUM> is formed such that the outer shape (outer shape S) from vehicle body attachment part <NUM> to the lower end of mounting part <NUM> along the longitudinal direction of mounting part <NUM> is gently continued without forming steps.

Specifically, mounting part <NUM> is formed such that the outer shape (outer shape S) of mounting part <NUM> from vehicle body attachment part <NUM> to the lower end of mounting part <NUM> along the cylinder axial direction of internal combustion engine <NUM> is gently continued at a predetermined curvature (for example, <NUM>) so as to protrude outward.

In other words, mounting part <NUM> is formed such that the outer shape (outer shape S), along the longitudinal direction of mounting part <NUM>, from vehicle body attachment part <NUM> to the lower end of mounting part <NUM> positioned more on the crankshaft side of internal combustion engine <NUM> than vehicle body attachment part <NUM> in the cylinder axial direction of internal combustion engine <NUM> is gently continued in a curved shape at a predetermined curvature (for example, <NUM>) so as to protrude outward.

As shown in <FIG>, mounting part <NUM> is formed such that the cross section change rate of mounting part <NUM> becomes small as it goes from vehicle body attachment part <NUM> to the lower end of mounting part <NUM>.

In other words, mounting part <NUM> is formed such that the cross section change rate of mounting part <NUM> becomes small as it goes from vehicle body attachment part <NUM> to the lower end of mounting part <NUM> positioned more on the crankshaft side of internal combustion engine <NUM> than vehicle body attachment part <NUM> in the cylinder axial direction of internal combustion engine <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG> to <FIG>, mounting part <NUM> is formed such that the upper end side (upper part side) at which vehicle body attachment part <NUM> is provided protrudes to the forward side of internal combustion engine <NUM> more than the lower end side (lower part side).

As shown in <FIG>, mounting part <NUM> is formed such that the protrusion amount of the upper end part (upper part), at which vehicle body attachment part <NUM> is provided, to the forward side of internal combustion engine <NUM> becomes substantially constant.

In addition, as shown in <FIG>, mounting part <NUM> is formed such that the protrusion amount of mounting part <NUM> protruding to the forward side of internal combustion engine <NUM> is smaller as it goes toward the lower end side (lower part side).

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, mounting part <NUM> is formed such that the protrusion amount of a middle portion <NUM> in the width direction of internal combustion engine <NUM> which protrudes toward the vehicle front side is relatively large. That is, as shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, mounting part <NUM> is formed such that the protrusion amount of middle portion <NUM> in the width direction of internal combustion engine <NUM> which protrudes toward the vehicle front side is larger than that on the both sides of mounting part <NUM> in the width direction of internal combustion engine <NUM> which protrudes toward the vehicle front side.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, mounting part <NUM> is formed with, on the back side thereof, a vertical rib <NUM> such that the thickness of middle portion <NUM> becomes thick. In addition, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, mounting part <NUM> is formed with, on the back side thereof, a lateral rib <NUM>. In the lower part of the after-mentioned boss portion <NUM>, lateral rib <NUM> is formed so as to connect vertical rib <NUM> and the outer peripheral edge of mounting part <NUM> on the side of internal combustion engine <NUM> where auxiliary machines are not attached. Mounting part <NUM> is formed such that the thickness at the forming position of lateral rib <NUM> is relatively thick.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, front cover <NUM> includes a plurality of boss portion <NUM> (eight boss portions <NUM> in the present embodiment) to be fixed to internal combustion engine <NUM>, in the outer peripheral edge of mounting portion <NUM>. A through hole <NUM> into which a bolt (not shown) for fixing the outer peripheral edge of mounting part <NUM> to the internal engine body is inserted is formed to the center of each of boss portions <NUM>.

The numerals "31a" to "<NUM>" in <FIG> and <FIG> represent boss portions provided to the outer peripheral edge of mounting part <NUM>. The numerals "32a" to "<NUM>" in <FIG> and <FIG> represent though holes provided to respective boss portions <NUM>.

In addition, in addition to through holes <NUM>, through holes not shown in the drawings are formed to the outer peripheral edge of front cover <NUM>. Bolts (not shown) for fixing front cover <NUM> to internal combustion engine <NUM> are inserted into these respective through holes not shown in the drawings.

Boss portions <NUM> are fixed to holding points <NUM> provided on the internal combustion engine body side. These holding points <NUM> are screw holes provided on the internal combustion engine body side, and bolts (not shown) for fixing the outer peripheral edge of mounting part <NUM> of front cover <NUM> to internal combustion engine <NUM> are inserted.

In addition, mounting part <NUM>, vehicle body attachment part <NUM>, vertical rib <NUM>, lateral rib <NUM> and boss portions <NUM> are made from a resin material such as a synthetic resin.

<FIG> is an explanatory view schematically showing the front surface of the internal combustion engine in a state in which front cover <NUM> is detached. The numerals "33A" to "<NUM>" in <FIG> represent holding points for boss portions 31a to <NUM> of front cover <NUM>. In addition, the numeral "<NUM>" in <FIG> represents a ladder frame. Ladder frame <NUM> is made of metal material such as aluminum alloy, and is attached to the lower part of cylinder block <NUM> with a plurality of bolts (not shown). Ladder frame <NUM> forms, with cylinder block <NUM>, a plurality of main bearing portions <NUM> for rotatably supporting the crankshaft (not shown). That is, the crankshaft is rotatably supported between the lower surface of cylinder block <NUM> and the upper surface of ladder frame <NUM>.

Boss portion 31a is fixed to holding point 33A provided to one-end-side wall <NUM> of integrated cam bracket <NUM>. That is, one-end-side wall <NUM> of integrated cam bracket <NUM> includes holding point 33A for fixing boss portion 31a. One-end-side wall <NUM> provided with holding point 33A includes, on the back side thereof, protruding portion <NUM>, and the rigid of one-end-side wall <NUM> is high. Consequently, in front cover <NUM>, when boss portion 31a is fixed to holding point 33A, the rigid of mounting part <NUM> can be improved.

Boss portion 31b is fixed to holding point 33B provided to cylinder head <NUM>. Holding point 33B is provided on the side of internal combustion engine <NUM> where auxiliary machines are attached, when viewed in the crankshaft axial direction. That is, when viewed in the crankshaft axial direction, cylinder head <NUM> includes, on the side of internal combustion engine <NUM> where auxiliary machines (not shown) are attached, holding point 33B for fixing boss portion 31b. The rigid of cylinder head <NUM> on the side of internal combustion engine <NUM> where the auxiliary machines (not shown) are attached is high. Consequently, in front cover <NUM>, when boss portion 31b is fixed to holding point 33B, the rigid of mounting part <NUM> can be improved.

Boss portion 31c is fixed to holding point 33C provided to cylinder head <NUM>. When viewed in the crankshaft axial direction, holding point 33C is provided on the side of internal combustion engine <NUM> where auxiliary machines are attached. That is, when viewed in the crankshaft axial direction, cylinder head <NUM> includes, on the side of internal combustion engine <NUM> where auxiliary machines (not shown) are attached, holding point 33C for fixing boss portion 31c. The rigid of cylinder head <NUM> on the side of internal combustion engine <NUM> where auxiliary machines (not shown) are attached is high. Consequently, in front cover <NUM>, when boss portion 31c is fixed to holding point 33C, the rigid of mounting part <NUM> can be improved.

Boss portion 31d is fixed to holding point 33D provided to cylinder block <NUM>. Holding point 33D is provided on the side of internal combustion engine <NUM> where auxiliary machines are attached, when viewed in the crankshaft axial direction. That is, when viewed in the crankshaft axial direction, cylinder block <NUM> includes, on the side of internal combustion engine <NUM> where auxiliary machines (not shown) are attached, holding point 33D for fixing boss portion 31d. The rigid of cylinder block <NUM> on the side of internal combustion engine <NUM> where auxiliary machines (not shown) are attached is high. Consequently, in front cover <NUM>, when boss portion 31d is fixed to holding point 33D, the rigid of mounting part <NUM> can be improved.

Boss portion 31e is fixed to holding point 33E provided to cylinder block <NUM>. Holding point 33E is provided on the side of internal combustion engine <NUM> where auxiliary machines are attached, when viewed in the crankshaft axial direction. That is, when viewed in the crankshaft axial direction, cylinder block <NUM> includes, on the side of internal combustion engine <NUM> where auxiliary machines (not shown) are attached, holding point 33E for fixing boss portion 31e. Holding point 33E is provided to a crankshaft supporting part <NUM> of cylinder block <NUM> which supports the crankshaft (not shown) of internal combustion engine <NUM>. The rigid of cylinder block <NUM> on the side of internal combustion engine <NUM> where auxiliary machines (not shown) are attached is high. In addition, the rigid of crankshaft supporting part <NUM> of cylinder block <NUM> is high in order to support the crankshaft (not shown). Consequently, in front cover <NUM>, when boss portion 31e is fixed to holding point 33E, the rigid of mounting part <NUM> can be improved.

Boss portion 31f is fixed to holding point 33F provided to one-end-side wall <NUM> of integrated cam bracket <NUM>. That is, one-end-side wall <NUM> of integrated cam bracket <NUM> includes holding point 33F for fixing boss portion 31f. One-end-side wall <NUM> provided with holding point 33F includes, on the back side thereof, protruding portion <NUM>, and the rigid is high. Consequently, in front cover <NUM>, when boss portion 31f is fixed to holding point 33F, the rigid of mounting part <NUM> can be improved.

Boss portion <NUM> is fixed to holding point <NUM> provided to one-end-side wall <NUM> of integrated cam bracket <NUM>. That is, one-end-side wall <NUM> of integrated cam bracket <NUM> includes holding point <NUM> for fixing boss portion <NUM>. One-end-side wall <NUM> provided with holding point <NUM> includes, on the back side thereof, protruding portion <NUM>, and the rigid is high. Consequently, in front cover <NUM>, when boss portion <NUM> is fixed to holding point <NUM>, the rigid of mounting part <NUM> can be improved.

Boss portion <NUM> is fixed to holding point <NUM> provided to a sand shakeout part having a high rigidity in cylinder head <NUM>. That is, cylinder head <NUM> includes holding point <NUM> for fixing boss portion <NUM> in the sand shakeout part having a high rigidity. Consequently, in front cover <NUM>, when boss portion <NUM> is fixed to holding point <NUM>, the rigid of mounting part <NUM> can be improved.

Then, the lower end of mounting part <NUM> which is positioned more on the crankshaft side (downward side) of internal combustion engine <NUM> than vehicle body attachment part <NUM> in the cylinder axial direction of internal combustion engine <NUM> is formed so as to be continued with boss portion 31e. Consequently, in front cover <NUM>, when boss portion 31e is fixed to holding point 33E, the rigid of mounting part <NUM> can be improved.

In addition, as shown in <FIG>, front cover <NUM> includes three load path portions <NUM> for load transmission which are continued in line shapes along the longitudinal direction of mounting part <NUM>, and the rigid of load path portions <NUM> is reinforced. Load path portions <NUM> are parts in which the rigid is reinforced by increasing the thickness as compared with another part of mounting part <NUM>. Load path portions <NUM> are made of a resin material such as a synthetic resin.

Load path portion 41a is a part forming the outer peripheral edge of mounting part <NUM>, and is formed on the side of internal combustion engine <NUM> where auxiliary machines are attached. Load path portion 41a is formed such that the lower end of load path portion 41a positioned on the crankshaft side of internal combustion engine <NUM> in the cylinder axial direction of internal combustion engine <NUM> is superimposed onto crankshaft supporting part <NUM> of cylinder block <NUM>. Load path portion 41a is formed with boss portions 31a to 31e. The position of the upper end of load path portion 41a substantially corresponds to the upper end of mounting part <NUM> positioned on the cylinder head side in the cylinder axial direction of internal combustion engine <NUM>. In addition, load path portion 41a is formed with, at the lower end of load path portion 41a positioned on the crankshaft side of internal combustion engine <NUM> in the cylinder axial direction of internal combustion engine <NUM>, boss portion 31e.

Load path portion 41b is a part of vertical rib <NUM> formed in the middle of mounting part <NUM>. The position of the upper end of load path portion 41b substantially corresponds to the upper end of mounting part <NUM> positioned on the cylinder head side in the cylinder axial direction of internal combustion engine <NUM>. In addition, the lower end of load path portion 41b positioned on the crankshaft side of internal combustion engine <NUM> in the cylinder axial direction of internal combustion engine <NUM> is connected to load path portion 41a. Load path portion 41b is formed with boss portion 31f.

Load path portion 41c is formed of lateral rib <NUM> and a part of the outer peripheral edge of mounting part <NUM> on the side of internal combustion engine <NUM> where auxiliary machines are not attached. The position of the upper end of load path portion 41c substantially corresponds to the upper end of mounting part <NUM> positioned on the cylinder head side in the cylinder axial direction of internal combustion engine <NUM>. In addition, the lower end of load path portion 41c positioned on the crankshaft side of internal combustion engine <NUM> in the cylinder axial direction of internal combustion engine <NUM> is connected to load path portion 41b. Load path portion 41c is formed with boss portions <NUM> and <NUM>.

That is, boss portions <NUM> of front cover <NUM> are formed in load path portions <NUM>. In addition, load path portions <NUM> are formed such that the lower ends of load path portions <NUM> are superimposed onto crankshaft supporting part <NUM> of cylinder block <NUM> at the time when front cover <NUM> is attached to cylinder block <NUM>.

Therefore, in internal combustion engine <NUM>, the load input from vehicle body attachment part <NUM> to mounting part <NUM> can be received by crankshaft supporting part <NUM> of cylinder block <NUM> which has a high rigidity via load path portions <NUM>.

Mounting part <NUM> having vehicle body attachment part <NUM> made of a resin material for attaching internal combustion engine <NUM> to the vehicle body is formed integrally with front cover <NUM> mentioned in the embodiment. Therefore, as compared with a case where internal combustion engine <NUM> is fixed to the vehicle body side by using an iron mount bracket separate from the front cover, the weight and number of components of internal combustion engine <NUM> can be reduced.

In mounting part <NUM>, since the outer shape (outer shape S) from vehicle body attachment part <NUM> to the lower end of mounting part <NUM> along the longitudinal direction of mounting part <NUM> is gently continued at a predetermined curvature, stress is hard to be generated. Therefore, it becomes possible to receive, by the whole of mounting part <NUM>, the load input from vehicle body attachment part <NUM>, and thereby the rigidity can be improved.

In addition, since the cross section change rate of mounting part <NUM> becomes small as it goes from vehicle body attachment part <NUM> to the lower end of mounting part <NUM>, stress is also hard to be generated. Therefore, it also becomes possible to receive, by the whole of mounting part <NUM>, the load input from vehicle body attachment part <NUM>, and thereby the rigidity can be improved.

In front cover <NUM>, load path portions <NUM> of which the rigid has been reinforced are formed with boss portions <NUM> provided at the outer peripheral edge of mounting part <NUM>, and thereby, when boss portions <NUM> are fixed to holding points <NUM>, the rigid of mounting part <NUM> can be improved.

In addition, in front cover <NUM>, the lower ends of load path portions <NUM> of which the rigid has been reinforced are fixed to crankshaft supporting part <NUM> of cylinder block <NUM> which has a high rigidity, and thereby when boss portions <NUM> are fixed to holding points <NUM>, the rigid of mounting part <NUM> can be also improved.

Claim 1:
An internal combustion engine (<NUM>) comprising:
a front cover (<NUM>) which is disposed so as to cover end surfaces on one end sides of a cylinder block (<NUM>) and a cylinder head (<NUM>) in a crankshaft axial direction (X),
wherein a mounting part (<NUM>) provided for attaching the internal combustion engine (<NUM>) to a vehicle body is formed integrally with the front cover (<NUM>),
wherein the mounting part (<NUM>) protrudes to a forward side of the internal combustion engine (<NUM>), characterized in that:
the mounting part (<NUM>) is made of a resin material, and
the front cover (<NUM>) is made of resin and includes, at an outer peripheral edge of the mounting part (<NUM>), a plurality of boss portions (<NUM>), and by a plurality of the boss portions (<NUM>), the outer peripheral edge of the mounting part (<NUM>) is fixed to the cylinder head (<NUM>) and the cylinder block (<NUM>).