FLEXIBLY-JOINTED, FLUID-TIGHT COVER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

Abstract

A flexibly-jointed, fluid-tight cover for enclosing a portion of an internal combustion engine includes generally rigid structural cover panels which are joined by fluid-tight flexible joints formed from elastomeric material which is either inserted into the rigid structural cover panels after the joint has been molded, or molded in place by inserting the cover parts within a mold and injecting material into the mold to form the flexible fluid-tight joints.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a camshaft and cylinder head cover according to an aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the cover shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the underside of the cover shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates an engine front cover according to an aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a molding method according to an aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIG. 1, cover assembly 10 has two generally channel-shaped panels 14. Generally channel-shaped panels 14 adjoin a generally planar panel, 18. Panel 18 has a number of spark plug ports or apertures, 24, with spark plugs 22 being mounted therethrough. In use, channels 14 would extend over the top of a camshaft mechanism, sealing the camshaft mechanism from the environment and preventing oil from leaking from the engine.

FIG. 1 shows cover assembly 10 in its installed position. FIG. 2, however, shows cover 10 in a flexed position for installation. In FIG. 2, generally channel-shaped panels 14 have been rotated upwardly with respect to generally planar panel 18. This upward rotation is permitted by flexible joints 32 which may be either cast in place, as described below, or slidingly inserted into dovetail sockets 14a, which are formed on the inboard sides of generally channel-shaped panels 14.

FIG. 3 shows cover 10 as having a peripheral gasket, 28, which may be formed in place with flexible joints 32. This may be accomplished by means of the molding process illustrated in FIG. 5 and described below.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment according to the present invention in which cover assembly 10 has a generally channel-shaped lower panel through which crankshaft 36 of an engine extends. Lower panel 40 is hinged by means of flexible joint 48, which is formed, as described in connection with FIGS. 1-3, to a generally planar upper panel, 44. As with the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4 may be flexed or hinged so that panels 40 and 44 may be worked into place upon the front of an engine.

FIG. 5 illustrates a molding process according to the present invention in which cover assembly parts 14 and 18 are mounted within a mold, 52, having a lower mold 56 and an upper mold 58. Then, elastomeric material may be injected into the mold so as to provide not only flexible joints 32, but also gasket 28. Several types of engineering elastomers are suitable for forming the flexible fluid-tight joints according to the present invention. For example, silicone rubber, nitrile rubber, and ethylene propylene rubber, and neoprene are but a few of the choices available to those skilled in the art and suggested by this disclosure.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, numerous variations and alternate embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only in terms of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A flexibly-jointed fluid-tight cover for enclosing a portion of an internal combustion engine, comprising: a plurality of generally rigid structural cover panels; andat least one fluid-tight, flexible joint extending between adjacent ones of said structural cover panels.

2. A cover according to claim 1, wherein said rigid structural cover panels are fabricated from metal.

3. A cover according to claim 1, wherein said rigid structural cover panels are fabricated from a plastics material.

4. A cover according to claim 1, wherein said fluid-tight flexible joint comprises an elastomeric member slidingly inserted between said adjacent ones of said structural cover panels.

5. A cover according to claim 4, wherein said elastomeric member is dovetailed to said structural cover panels.

6. A cover according to claim 1, wherein said fluid-tight flexible joint comprises an elastomeric member molded in place to join said adjacent ones of said structural cover panels.

7. A cover according to claim 1, wherein said structural cover panels comprise generally channel-shaped panels for enclosing camshaft portions of a cylinder head.

8. A cover according to claim 1, wherein said structural cover panels comprise generally channel-shaped panels for enclosing camshaft portions of a cylinder head and a generally planar panel for enclosing a central portion of a cylinder head.

9. A cover according to claim 1, wherein said structural cover panels comprise a generally channel-shaped lower panel for enclosing an engine adjacent one end of a crankshaft, and a generally planar upper panel for enclosing a portion of said engine adjacent a cylinder head.

10. A cover according to claim 1, further comprising a gasket extending about an outer periphery of said structural cover panels, with said gasket and said fluid-tight flexible joint being unitary.

11. A method for fabricating a flexibly jointed, fluid-tight cover for enclosing a portion of an internal combustion engine, comprising: forming a plurality of generally rigid structural cover panels;placing said plurality of generally rigid structural cover panels in adjoining cavities of a mold device; andinjecting an elastomeric material into said mold device, so as to form a flexible, fluid-tight joint between adjoining ones of said plurality of generally rigid structural cover panels.

12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising injecting additional elastomeric material into said mold device, so as to form a gasket extending about an outer periphery of said structural cover panels.

13. A fluid-tight cylinder head cover for an internal combustion engine, comprising: a generally planar central panel having a plurality of spark plug apertures;a plurality of generally channel-shaped panels for enclosing portions of a cylinder head, with said generally channel-shaped panels adjoining said planar central panel; anda plurality of elastomeric, fluid-tight, flexible members mechanically incorporated within said cylinder head cover, with one of said flexible members being interposed between said planar central panel and each of said generally channel-shaped panels.

14. A cylinder head cover according to claim 13, wherein said generally planar central panel and said generally channel-shaped panels are fabricated from metal.

15. A cylinder head cover according to claim 13, wherein said generally planar central panel and said generally channel-shaped panels are fabricated from a plastics material.

16. A cylinder head cover according to claim 13, wherein said generally planar central panel and said generally channel-shaped panels are fabricated from a composite material.