Gearbox mounting system

Abstract

A combination of an engine, a gearbox clutch housing and a mounting system for mounting the combination to the structural load-bearing components of a vehicle, comprising an engine having a first contact surface; a gearbox clutch housing having a second contact surface, the first contact surface of the engine and the second contact surface of the gearbox clutch housing each being joined to the other by mechanical fastening means; and a first hanger, where the latter comprises a rigid plate positioned between the first contact surface of the engine and the second contact surface of the gearbox clutch housing, with the first hanger being securely fastened between the engine and the gearbox clutch housing. The first hanger has first and second opposed load-transferring surfaces of closed perimeter, with the first of the load-transferring surfaces being in pressing contact with the first contact surface of the engine and the second of the load-transferring surfaces being in pressing contact with the second contact surface of the gearbox clutch housing. The first hanger includes one or more load-supporting members extending beyond the perimeter of the opposed load-transferring surfaces; and the one or more load-supporting members include plural spaced-apart fastening elements adapted for coupling to one or more select structural load-bearing components of a vehicle.