Method of making a split bearing assembly

Claim 1

A method of making a split bearing assembly having a saddle-like main body (21) with first and second legs (22 and 24) and a removable saddle-like bearing cap (25) with first and second legs (26 and 28) having ends (30 and 33) respectively secured in end-to-end engagement with mating ends (29 and 32) of the first and second legs (22 and 24) of the body (21) to define a journal-receiving opening (34), in which the main body (21) and the cap (25) are initially formed integrally, with their mating leg ends (29,30,32,33) integrally joined, the said integral body (21) and cap (25) being in a relatively brittle condition at least along generally predetermined split planes (38 and 39) defining the leg ends (29,30,32,33) on opposite sides of the said opening (34), and the said body (21) and cap (25) having essentially their assembled final dimensions, with the said opening (34) being centred on an axis (40) lying within the main body (21) and the cap (25), generally between the said split planes (38 and 39), and the cap (25) is then separated from the main body (21) by fracturing the integral legs (22,24,26,28) generally along the said split planes (38 and 39) on opposite sides of the opening (34) to form the said legs (26 and 28) of the saddle-like cap (25) and body (21), the first and second legs of the cap (25) and body (21) respectively comprising first and second pairs (22,26 and 24,28) matable along the split planes (38 and 39), characterised in that the fracturing step is accomplished by causing tension across the split plane (39) of one (24,28) of the matable pairs of legs (24,28 and 22,26) to fracture and separate the ends (32 and 33) of the legs of the said one pair (24,28) at their respective split plane (39) while limiting relative movement of the cap (25) and body (21) to avoid substantial bending or complete fracture of the other matable pair of legs (22,26), and thereafter clamping the separated pair of legs (24,28) in substantially their mated position and thereupon causing tension across the split plane (38) of the other matable pair of legs (22,26) to fracture and separate their ends (29 and 30) at their split plane (38) without substantial bending, to thereby avoid bending of the legs at the split planes and yielding deformation at the leg edges and so permit mating re-assembly without substantial dimensional change.

Claim 2

A method of making a split bearing assembly having a saddle-like main body (21) with first and second legs (22 and 24) and a removable saddle-like bearing cap (25) with first and second legs (26 and 28) having ends (30 and 33) respectively secured in end-to-end engagement with mating ends (29 and 32) of the first and second legs (22 and 24) of the body (21) to define a journal-receiving opening (34), in which the main body (21) and the cap (25) are initially formed integrally, with their mating leg ends (29,30,32,33) integrally joined, the said integral body (21) and cap (25) being in a relatively brittle condition at least along generally predetermined split planes (38 and 39) defining the leg ends (29,30,32,33) on opposite sides of the said opening (34), and the said body (21) and cap (25) having essentially their assembled final dimensions, with the said opening (34) being centred on an axis (40) lying within the main body (21) and the cap (25), generally between the said split planes (38 and 39), and the cap (25) is then separated from the main body (21) by fracturing the integral legs (22,24,26,28) generally along the said split planes (38 and 39) on opposite sides of the opening (34) to form the said legs (26 and 28) of the saddle-like cap (25) and body (21), the first and second legs of the cap (25) and body (21) respectively comprising first and second pairs (22,26 and 24,28) matable along the split planes (38 and 39), characterised in that the fracturing step is accomplished by causing tension across the split plane (39) of one (24,28) of the matable pairs of legs (24,28 and 22,26) to fracture and separate the ends (32 and 33) of the legs of the said one pair (24,28) at their respective split plane (39) while limiting relative movement of the cap (25) and body (21) to avoid substantial bending or complete fracture of the other matable pair of legs (22,26), and thereafter clamping the separated pair of legs (24,28) in substantially their mated position and thereupon causing tension across the split plane (38) of the other matable pair of legs (22,26) to fracture and separate their ends (29 and 30) at their split plane (38) without substantial bending, to thereby avoid bending of the legs at the split planes and yielding deformation at the leg edges and so permit mating re-assembly without substantial dimensional change.

Claim 5

A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the split bearing assembly forms part of a connecting rod assembly (20).

Claim 6

A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the split bearing assembly forms part of a multi-bearing support (60) for a rotatable shaft, and comprises a main body (61) as aforesaid having a plurality of saddle-like transverse webs (62) with respective bearing caps (66) as aforesaid attached to respective ones of the webs (62) to define respective journal-receiving openings (83) as aforesaid for receiving respective rotatable shafts.

Claim 9

A method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterised in that, in the fracturing step, fracture separation forces are applied to the bearing caps (66) and main body (61) of the multi-bearing shaft support (60) by means of a tool (92) comprising a cylindrical body (93) having a longitudinal central opening (94) intersecting a plurality of longitudinally spaced laterally extending semi-circular recesses (95), semi-circular die members (96) disposed in the respective recesses (95) and each having an exterior surface co-operating with opposing portions of the cylindrical body (93) to define split circular ring elements, spaced longitudinally and sized to fit closely within longitudinally spaced bearing openings of the multi-bearing shaft support (60), and an actuator (99) slidably mounted in the central opening (94) and having wedge surfaces (100) engaging respective ones of the die members (96), the actuator (99) being movable longitudinally to force the die members (96) simultaneously outwardly by means of the said wedge surfaces (100) and thereby apply simultaneous separating forces to all of the bearing caps (66) and the main body (61) of the shaft support (60).