Damper guard

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10228038-B2
Application number	US-201715596314-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 16, 2017
Priority date	May 16, 2017
Publication date	Mar 12, 2019
Grant date	Mar 12, 2019

Abstract

A damper guard coupled to an external surface of an engine block includes a back cover defining an opening. The damper guard also includes a front cover adapted to couple to the back cover such that an enclosed space is defined between the front and back covers. The damper guard further includes a pressure balancing line coupled at a first portion of the back cover. The pressure balancing line is adapted to vent the enclosed space to an engine crankcase for maintaining the enclosed space at an engine crankcase pressure. The damper guard includes a drain line adapted to allow drainage of a damper oil present in the enclosed space.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A damper guard coupled to an external surface of an engine block, the damper guard comprising:
a back cover defining an opening;
a front cover adapted to couple to the back cover such that an enclosed space is defined between the front and back covers;
a pressure balancing line coupled at a first portion of the back cover, the pressure balancing line adapted to vent the enclosed space to an engine crankcase for maintaining the enclosed space at an engine crankcase pressure; and
a drain line adapted to allow drainage of a damper oil present in the enclosed space.

2. The damper guard of claim 1 , wherein the back cover includes a plurality of holes provided circumferentially, the plurality of holes adapted to receive mechanical fasteners therethrough for coupling the back cover to a housing of the engine block.

3. The damper guard of claim 1 , wherein each of the front and back covers has a circular shape.

4. The damper guard of claim 1 , wherein each of the front and back covers includes a plurality of apertures that are aligned with one another, the plurality of apertures adapted to receive mechanical fasteners therethrough for removably coupling the front cover to the back cover.

5. The damper guard of claim 1 , wherein the pressure balancing line is adapted to fluidly couple the enclosed space of the damper guard with the engine crankcase via a first aperture formed at the first portion of the back cover.

6. The damper guard of claim 1 , wherein the drain line is adapted to fluidly couple the enclosed space of the damper guard with an oil pan via a second aperture formed at a second portion of the back cover, wherein the second portion lies diametrically opposite to the first portion.

7. The damper guard of claim 1 , wherein the drain line further includes a check valve adapted to restrict a back flow of the damper oil towards the enclosed space of the damper guard.

8. The damper guard of claim 1 , wherein the opening in the back cover allows aligning of a damper with a hub of an engine crankshaft for coupling the damper with the hub.

9. The damper guard of claim 1 further comprising a sealing member for sealing the damper guard.

10. The damper guard of claim 1 , wherein the back cover is made of a first material and the front cover is made of a second material, the first material being different from the second material.

11. An engine comprising:
a crankcase;
a crankshaft mounted within the crankcase;
an engine block; and
a damper assembly coupled to an external surface of the engine block, the damper assembly comprising:
a damper guard comprising:
a back cover defining an opening;
a front cover adapted to be coupled to the back cover such that an enclosed space is defined between the front and back covers;
a pressure balancing line coupled at a first portion of the back cover, the pressure balancing line adapted to vent the enclosed space to the crankcase for maintaining the enclosed space at a crankcase pressure; and
a drain line adapted to allow drainage of a damper oil present in the enclosed space; and

a damper positioned within the enclosed space.

12. The engine of claim 11 , wherein the back cover includes a plurality of holes provided circumferentially, the plurality of holes adapted to receive mechanical fasteners therethrough for coupling the back cover to a housing of the engine block.

13. The engine of claim 11 , wherein each of the front and back covers has a circular shape.

14. The engine of claim 11 , wherein each of the front and back covers includes a plurality of apertures that are aligned with one another, the plurality of apertures adapted to receive mechanical fasteners therethrough for removably coupling the front cover to the back cover.

15. The engine of claim 11 , wherein the pressure balancing line is adapted to fluidly couple the enclosed space of the damper guard with the crankcase via a first aperture formed at the first portion of the back cover.

16. The engine of claim 11 , wherein the drain line is adapted to fluidly couple the enclosed space of the damper guard with an oil pan via a second aperture formed at a second portion of the back cover, wherein the second portion lies diametrically opposite to the first portion.

17. The engine of claim 11 , wherein the drain line further includes a check valve adapted to restrict a back flow of the damper oil towards the enclosed space of the damper guard.

18. The engine of claim 11 , wherein the opening in the back cover allows aligning of the damper with a hub of the crankshaft for coupling the damper with the hub.

19. The engine of claim 11 further comprising a sealing member for sealing the damper guard.

20. A damper assembly adapted to be coupled to an external surface of an engine block, the damper assembly comprising:
a damper guard comprising:
a back cover defining an opening;
a front cover adapted to be coupled to the back cover such that an enclosed space is defined between the front and back covers, each of the front and back covers including a plurality of apertures defined therethrough, the plurality of apertures being aligned to receive mechanical fasteners therethrough for coupling the front and back covers with each other;
a pressure balancing line coupled at a first portion of the back cover, the pressure balancing line adapted to vent the enclosed space to an engine crankcase for maintaining the enclosed space at an engine crankcase pressure; and
a drain line coupled at a second portion of the back cover, the drain line adapted to allow drainage of a damper oil present in the enclosed space, wherein the drain line is adapted to fluidly couple the enclosed space with an engine oil pan; and

a damper positioned within the enclosed space.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Shearer Nicholas
• Humrickhouse Mark A

Classifications

• F16F2230/06

  Fluid filling or discharging · CPC title

• F02F7/0043

  Arrangements of mechanical drive elements · CPC title

• F02F7/0021 Primary

  Construction · CPC title

• F16F2230/10

  Enclosure elements, e.g. for protection · CPC title

• F16F9/38 Primary

  Covers for protection or appearance · CPC title