IP Library Granted Patent US 8,544,591
Granted Patent B2
US 8,544,591 · App. 12/558,670 · Granted Oct 1, 2013

Bearing device for the vibration-decoupled rotatable support of an intermediate shaft on the engine block of a motor vehicle, and method for the vibration-decoupled rotatable support of an intermediate shaft on the engine block of a motor vehicle

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,544,591
App. No.
12/558,670
Granted
Oct 1, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

The subject matter of the present invention is a bearing device for the vibrationally decoupled rotary mounting of an intermediate shaft on the engine block of a motor vehicle. It has the following features: a. a radial bearing with an inner ring for accommodating the intermediate shaft, and an outer ring, b. a bearing housing provided for attachment on the engine block of the motor vehicle and for accommodating the radial bearing in a non-rotatable manner, and which forms a mechanical interface for the attachment of the bearing housing on the engine block of the motor vehicle, wherein the bearing device further comprises at least one rubber-elastic damper member provided to be disposed in a vibration-damping way between the bearing housing and the engine block when the bearing housing is mounted on the engine block.

Claims (41)

1. Bearing device ( 1 ) for the vibrationally decoupled rotary mounting of an intermediate shaft ( 10 ) on an engine block ( 100 ) of a motor vehicle, comprising the following features:

a. a radial bearing ( 20 ) comprising

i. an inner ring ( 22 ) for accommodating the intermediate shaft ( 10 ), and

ii. an outer ring ( 24 ), and

b. a bearing housing ( 30 ), which is formed in two parts, and the outer ring ( 24 ) of the radial bearing ( 20 ) is fixed in a positive fit in the bearing housing ( 30 ),

i. is provided

1. for attachment on the engine block ( 100 ) of the motor vehicle, and

2. for accommodating the radial bearing ( 20 ) in a non-rotatable manner, and

ii. forms a mechanical interface for attaching the bearing housing ( 30 ) on the engine block ( 100 ) of the motor vehicle;

c. wherein the bearing device ( 1 ) further comprises at least one rubber-elastic, damper member ( 40 ) provided to be disposed in a vibration-damping way between the bearing housing ( 30 ) and the engine block ( 100 ) when the bearing housing ( 30 ) is mounted on the engine block ( 100 ); and

d. wherein the radial bearing ( 20 ) fixed in the bearing housing ( 30 ) executes a wobbling movement about two axes x, y;

e. wherein the two axes x, y are oriented perpendicularly relative to the axis of rotation of the intermediate shaft ( 10 );

f. wherein the outer ring ( 24 ) and the bearing housing ( 30 ) are immediately adjacent to and abut one another.

2. Bearing device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one rubber-elastic damper member ( 40 ) is incorporated into the power train between the bearing housing ( 30 ) and the engine block ( 100 ), when the bearing housing ( 30 ) is mounted on the engine block ( 100 ).

3. Bearing device ( 1 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the bearing device ( 1 ) further comprises at least one first through bore ( 32 ) provided to accommodate an assembly bolt ( 50 ) for fixing the bearing housing ( 30 ) on the engine block ( 100 ) when the bearing housing ( 30 ) is mounted on the engine block ( 100 ), and

a. the at least one rubber-elastic damper member ( 40 ) is disposed in the first through bore ( 32 ).

4. Bearing device ( 1 ) according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one rubber-elastic damper member ( 40 ) comprises a second through bore ( 42 ) for accommodating the assembly bolt ( 50 ).

5. Bearing device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the outer ring ( 24 ) of the radial bearing ( 20 ) is fixed in a force fit in the bearing housing ( 30 ).

6. Bearing device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the outer ring ( 24 ) of the radial bearing ( 20 ) is fixed in the bearing housing ( 30 ) by means of a securing element ( 26 ).

7. Bearing device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the bearing housing ( 30 ) is manufactured from a metallic material by means of casting processes.

8. Bearing device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the device ( 1 ) further comprises a bearing housing bracket ( 34 ), which

a. forms a first mechanical interface for attaching the bearing housing bracket ( 34 ) on the engine block ( 100 ) of the motor vehicle, and

b. comprises a second mechanical interface for attaching the bearing housing ( 30 ) on the bearing housing bracket ( 34 ),

wherein

c. the at least one rubber-elastic damper member ( 40 ) is provided to be disposed in a vibration-damping way between the bearing housing ( 30 ) and the bearing housing bracket ( 34 ) when the bearing housing ( 30 ) is mounted on the engine block ( 100 ).

9. Bearing device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one rubber-elastic damper member ( 40 ) has a hardness which lies in the interval between 10 and 100 shore A.

10. Bearing device ( 1 ) according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one damper member ( 40 ) has a hardness which lies in the interval between 20 and 60 shore A.

11. Bearing device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the first natural frequency of the vibratory system consisting of the intermediate shaft ( 10 ), a drive shaft ( 200 ), a drive wheel ( 250 ) and the bearing device ( 1 ) lies below 50 Hertz.

12. Bearing device ( 1 ) according to claim 11 , wherein the first natural frequency of the vibratory system consisting of the intermediate shaft ( 10 ), the drive shaft ( 200 ), the drive wheel ( 250 ) and the bearing device ( 1 ) lies below 30 Hertz.

13. Bearing device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one rubber-elastic damper member ( 40 ) is temperature-resistant to 160° C.

14. Bearing device ( 1 ) according to claim 13 , wherein the at least one rubber-elastic damper member ( 40 ) is temperature-resistant to 180° C.

15. Method for the vibrationally decoupled rotary mounting of an intermediate shaft ( 10 ) on an engine block ( 100 ) of a motor vehicle, comprising the following steps:

a. providing a bearing device ( 1 ), which comprises the following:

i. a radial bearing ( 20 ) with an inner ring ( 22 ) for accommodating the intermediate shaft ( 10 ), and with an outer ring ( 24 ),

ii. a bearing housing ( 30 ) provided for attachment on the engine block ( 100 ) of the motor vehicle and for accommodating the radial bearing ( 20 ) in a non-rotatable manner, and which forms a mechanical interface for the attachment of the bearing housing ( 30 ) on the engine block ( 100 ) of the motor vehicle, the bearing housing formed in two parts, and the outer ring ( 24 ) of the radial bearing ( 20 ) is fixed in a positive fit in the bearing housing ( 30 ), the radial bearing ( 20 ) fixed in the bearing housing ( 30 ) able to execute a wobbling movement about two axes x, y, and

iii. at least one rubber-elastic damper member;

iv. wherein the two axes x, y are oriented perpendicularly relative to the axis of rotation of the intermediate shaft ( 1 );

v. wherein the outer ring ( 24 ) and the bearing housing ( 3 ) are immediately adjacent to and abut one another; and

b. mounting the bearing housing ( 30 ) on the engine block ( 100 ) of the motor vehicle, wherein the at least one rubber-elastic damper member ( 40 ) is disposed in a vibration-damping way between the bearing housing ( 30 ) and the engine block ( 100 ).

16. Method according to claim 15 , wherein the at least one rubber-elastic damper member ( 40 ) is selected such that the first natural frequency of the vibratory system comprising of the intermediate shaft ( 10 ), the drive shaft ( 200 ), the drive wheel ( 250 ) and the bearing device ( 1 ) lies below 50 Hertz.

17. Method according to claim 15 , wherein the at least one rubber-elastic damper member ( 40 ) is selected such that the first natural frequency of the vibratory system comprising of the intermediate shaft ( 10 ), the drive shaft ( 200 ), the drive wheel ( 250 ) and the bearing device ( 1 ) lies below 30 Hertz.

Assignments (4)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 7, 2021
From: NEAPCO HOLDINGS, LLC
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 056180/0214 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 22, 2018
From: NEAPCO DRIVELINES, LLC; NEAPCO EUROPE GMBH; NEAPCO COMPONENTS, LLC
To: NEAPCO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 045108/0890 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 24, 2010
From: TEDRIVE HOLDING B.V.
To: NEAPCO EUROPE GMBH
Reel/Frame 025418/0625 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 25, 2009
From: FELCHNER, CHRISTIAN; BISKUP, OLE; HOKS, LUIS
To: TEDRIVE HOLDING B.V., INC.
Reel/Frame 023568/0514 →