当前申请(专利权)人地址：
Incorporated in the United Kingdom, Abbey Road, Whitley, Coventry, Warwickshire, CV3 4LF , United Kingdom
摘要：
A method of manufacturing a structural sump 100 for an engine comprises placing a support frame 102 into a mould. A mouldable material 120 is supplied into the mould to at least partly encapsulate the support frame. The mouldable material may be a polymer and may encapsulate some or all of the support frame. The cured mouldable material may form a liner of the sump, for holding an engine lubricant. Alternatively, prior to supplying the mouldable material into the mould, a liner may be placed into the mould with the support frame, the mouldable material at least partly encapsulating the liner. The method may include removing the sump from the mould after the mouldable material is sufficiently cured or set; and machining the sump to final dimensions. The mouldable material may be a polymer and supplying the mouldable material into the mould may comprise injecting. The mouldable material may be an expanding foam. The support frame may be aluminium or an aluminium alloy. The sump may include a first mounting means for mounting a drive unit.
权利要求：
CLAIMS
1, A method of manufacturing a structural sump for an engine, the method comprising:
placing a support frame into a mould; and
supplying a mouldable material into the mould to at least partly encapsulate the support frame.
2. The method of claim 1, comprising:
removing the sump from the mould after the mouldable material is sufficiently cured or set; and
machining the sump to final dimensions.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the machining comprises machining the support frame and the cured or set mouldable material.
4. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the mouldable material is a polymer and supplying the mouldable material into the mould comprises injecting.
5. The method of any preceding claim, comprising encapsulating at least all internal surfaces and edges of the support frame.
6. The method of any preceding claim, comprising encapsulating at least all external surfaces and edges of the support frame.
7. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the cured mouldable material forms a liner of the sump, for holding an engine lubricant.
8. The method of claim 1, comprising:
prior to supplying the mouldable material into the mould, placing a liner into the mould with the support frame, the mouldable material at least partly encapsulating the liner.
9. The method of claim 8, comprising placing the liner into the mould such that there is a space between the liner and the support frame, the mouldable material at least partly filling the space.
10. The method of claim 8 or 9, wherein the mouldable material encapsulates a majority of the outer surface of the liner.
11. The method of any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the mouldable material is an expanding foam.
12. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support frame is formed from a metal or metal alloy.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the support frame is formed from aluminium or an aluminium alloy.
14. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the support frame is at least partly skeletal.
15. The method of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the support frame is continuous. 16. A sump manufactured in accordance with any one of the preceding claims. 17 A sump, comprising:
a support frame comprising a first material; and
a liner comprising a second material, the liner being at least partly supported by the support frame.
18. The sump of claim 17, wherein the support frame is metallic.
19. The sump of claim 18, wherein the support frame is aluminium or an aluminium alloy. 20. The sump of any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the liner is polymeric. 21. The sump of any one of claims 17 to 20, wherein the liner is moulded. 22. The sump of claim 21, wherein the liner is overmoulded to the support frame. 23. The sump of claim 22, wherein the liner is overmoulded:
at least partly inside the support frame;
at least partly outside the support frame; or
overmoulded so as to encapsulate at least some of the support frame.
24. The sump of any one of claims 17 to 23, wherein the support frame comprises one or more attachment points for attaching the sump to an engine.
25. The sump of any one of claims 17 to 24, comprising a first mounting means for mounting a drive unit;
26. The sump of claim 25, wherein the first mounting means is configured for use with a drive unit selected from the group consisting of:
a front drive unit;
a front wheel drive unit;
an electric machine;
a kinetic energy recovery system;
a clutch: and
a drive disconnection unit.
27. The sump of any one of claims 17 to 26, comprising a space between the liner and the support frame, the space being at least partly filled by an expanding foam.
28. The sump of claim 27, wherein the expanding foam encapsulates a majority of the outer surface of the liner.
29. A vehicle comprising an engine, the engine comprising the sump of any one of claims 17 to 28.