Internal combustion engine in sound-proof casing
United States Patent [191 Thien et al.  
 [ INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE IN SOUND-PROOF CASING [75] Inventors: Gerhard Thien; Heinz Fachbach,  
 both of Graz, Austria [73] Assignee: Hans List, Graz, Austria [22] Filed: Nov. 9, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 414,579  
 [111 3,880,134 Apr. 29, 1975 Vulliamy I. l23/l95 C Thien ct al l23/l95 C [57] ABSTRACT An internal combustion engine with a soundproof cas- [52] US. Cl. 123/195 C; 123/1 R; 123/198 E; ing comprising shafts and lines extending through the 181/33 K casing walls, wherein their passages through the casing 51 Int. Cl. F02b 77/00 wall are each sealed Off y means of an elastic packing [58] Field of Se h 123/] R 195 C 198 E; consisting of an outer and an inner metal ring and an 181/33 K elastic and oiland heat-resistant membrane vulcanized in between and attached both to the casing wall [56] References Cit d and to a tubular extension of the engine body concen- UNITED STATES PATENTS trically surrounding the shaft or line.  
 3.396.712 8/l968 Sakraider et al. 123/195 c 4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE IN SOUND-PROOF CASING The invention relates to an internal combustion engine in a soundproof casing comprising perforations for the passage of shafts and lines in the casing walls and elastic gaskets outwardly closing the perforations.  
  ln internal combustion engines with soundproof casings wherein the crankcase is replaced by a skeletontype engine carrier in order to diminish noise radiation, the sound-proof casing being elastically attached to said engine carrier, the design of the passages for shafts and lines through the casing involves considerable difficulties with regard to the elasticity, the absolutely necessary oil-tightness and the service life of the unit.  
  With known solutions of this problem providing for the arrangement of prestressed elastic packings at the passages of the shafts and/or lines, it is difficult to meet the mutually contradictory requirements of oiltightness on the one hand and of adequate elasticity on the other hand. Such known devices as provide for sealing by means of rubber sleeves clamped on to the two members to be interconnected are, it is true, satisfactory with regard to their elasticity, but they leave much to be desired in the way of oil-tightness.  
  It is the purpose of the present invention to provide an internal combustion engine with a soundproof casing of the type hereabove described, avoiding the shortcomings of conventional types and yet producing a satisfactory solution for the problems of elasticity, oiltightness and long service life of the packings provided at the passages. For that purpose, according to the invention, the elastic packings are designed as annular elements, each comprising two concentric metal rings and an arcuate membrane vulcanized between the two metalrings and consisting of an oil-resistant and heatresistant material and attached with their outer metal ring to the casing wall and with the inner metal ring to a tubular extension of the engine body protruding into the perforation and concentrically surrounding the shaft or line concerned in such a manner as to provide positive sealing.  
  As compared with conventional types of shaft and/or line sealing in engines comprising a soundproof casing this design distinguishes itself by a number of advantages. On the one hand, production costs are very much reduced as a result of the use of members which are symmetrical with respect to rotation both for the sealing element proper and for the vulcanizing mold employed in the process. On the other hand, independence of the elasticity and the service life of the packing from the accurate positioning of the casing with regard to the engine carrier is achieved. Moreover, highly convenient exchangeability of the annular element is ensured.  
  According to an embodiment of the invention the tubular extension and the casing wall present concentrically opposite cylindrical fitting areas between which the annular element is located by pressure. This pressing connection which is similar to the method of fitting a simmer gasket ensures by itself positive sealing of the annular element against the aperture of the casing wall and the tubular extension of the engine body.  
  According to another embodiment of the invention the outer metal ring of the annular element presents a collar radially protruding in an outward direction and the inner metal ring comprises a collar radially extending in an inward direction, by means of which the annular element is attached to the casing wall and to the tubular extension, for example by means of bolts. With this type of shaft or line sealing it is not necessary to provide cylindrical fitting areas on the casing wall and on the tubular extension.  
  Further details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of two embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing in which FlG. 1 shows a partially vertical cross-sectional view of the internal combustion engine with soundproof casing restricted to such areas as are essential for the comprehension of the invention, and  
  FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a detail of another embodiment of the invention.  
  HO. 1 shows the passage of the crankshaft l of the internal combustion engine extended at the crank wheel end, through the front wall 2 of the soundproof casing surrounding the engine and forming the crank wheel cover. The casing wall 2 presents a circular perforation 4 in concentric relation to the axis 3 of the crankshaft 1, wherein a ring 5 of an L-shaped crosssection is inserted by welding. Into the perforation 4 a tubular extension 6 rigidly connected with the crankcase of the engine protrudes. A sleeve 8 non-rotatably connected with the crankshaft 1 by means of bolts 7 extends through said extension 6 in coaxial relation thereto. Flanged to the outer extremity of the sleeve 8 is a vee-belt pulley 9 for the drive of the fan (not shown in the drawing) and other units of the engine. At the same time, the sleeve 8 serves to secure the axial position of the crank wheel 10 fixed to the extremity of the crankshaft 1 by means of a wedge.  
  For the sealing off of the passage of the crankshaft 1 through the casing wall 2 an elastic annular element 11 is provided, consisting of an outer metal ring 12, an inner metal ring 13 and an arcuate membrane 14 of an elastic, oil-resistant and heat-resistant material vulcanized between the two rings 12, 13. This annular element 11 is pressed between the inner surface of the reinforcement ring 5 and the outer surface of the tubular extension 6, as a result of which proper sealing off of the annular element 11 against the casing wall 2 and the extension 6 is ensured.  
  Owing to the use of an arcuate elastic membrane 14 the annular element 1 1 is capable of absorbing relative motions between the engine and the soundproof casing at the passages of shafts and pipings, at the same time ensuring positive oil-tightness at the passages of these elements. I  
  FIG. 2 illustrates a variant of an annular element 11&#39; according to the invention. The outer metal ring 12 of this annular element 1 1&#39; comprises a radially outwardly protruding collar 15 provided with a number of fixing bores 16. The inner ring 13 carries a radially inwardly protruding collar 17 also provided with fixing bores 16. Such an annular element 11 is directly attached by means of bolts to the casing wall comprising the associated perforation and to the tubular extension of the engine provided with a corresponding flange.  
 I claim:  
  1. An internal combustion engine with a soundproof casing having casing walls surrounding the engine body and perforations provided in the casing walls for the passage of shafts and lines, comprising a tubular extension for each shaft or line surrounding the latter in concentrical relation thereto and protruding from said engine body and extending as far as into the perforation for the passage of the associated shaft or line, an elastic packing sealing the perforation off against the outside and formed as an annular element comprising an inner metal ring, an outer, metal ring in concentrical relation to the former and an annular arcuate membrane of an elastic, oiland heat-resistant material, said membrane being vulcanized between said inner and said outer metal ring, said inner metal ring being tightly attached to said tubular extension of the engine body, and the outer metal ring being tightly attached to the casing wall in the area of the perforation.  
  2. An internal combustion engine according to claim 1, comprising a first cylindrical fitting area provided on the periphery of said tubular extension, a second cylindrical fitting area concentrically opposite the firstin the area of said perforation, said annular element being inserted by pressing between the two cylindrical fitting areas.  
  3. An internal combustion engine according to claim 1, comprising a radially outwardly protruding collar on the outer metal ring, a radially inwardly protruding collar on the inner metal ring, said annular element being attached by means of the radially outwardly protruding collar to the casing wall in the area of said perforation and by means of the radially inwardly protruding collar to the tubular extension. I  
  4. An internal combustion engine according toclaim 3, wherein said annular element with the two collars is attached to the casing wall and to the tubular extension by means of bolts.  
  UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT No. 3 134 DATED April 29th, 1975 INVENTOR(S) i Thien et a1 It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:  
 [597 Foreign Application Priority Data November 10, 1972, Austria .A 9618/72 Signed and Scaled this AIMS!) RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Alresrr&#39;ng Office (ommisximwr oj&#39;PaIenrs and Trademarks UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE QE&#39;HFIQATE 0F QURRECTIGN PATENr NO. 3, 0, 134  
 D 1 April 29th, 1975 INVENTORG) i Thien et al it is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:  
 210: Foreign Application Priority Data November 10, 1972, Austria ..A 9618/72 fiigncd and grated this nineteenth D ay 0f August 1975 [SEAL] Arrest:  
 RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Allestr&#39;ng Officer (mnmissirm er of Patents and Trademarks