Application of bearing material

Claim 1

The method of applying an aluminum alloy bearing material to a rigid metal body having a smooth cylindrical support surface which comprises heating the body to a temperature in excess of 500* F., positioning bearing material in tubular sheet form over said surface, applying pressure to the bearing material in a circular zone extending completely around the tubular form thereof in a direction toward said surface and progressively in a direction parallel to the surface to press the bearing material against the support surface to reduce its thickness and to elongate it over the surface in the direction of progression, and to cause the zone of application of pressure to progress across the support surface to stretch and elongate the surface of bearing material adjacent the support surface to expose unoxidized fresh metal thereat for bonding to the support surface under the application of elevated temperature and pressure continuously and uniformly from one edge of the bearing support surface to its opposite side, in which said bearing support surface is provided by the internal cylindrical surfaces at one end of a connecting rod and in a removable cap applied thereto, the method comprising providing the bearing material in the form of a tube, initially positioning the tube within the support surface, applying the pressure from one end thereof toward the other, and finally cutting the applied bearing material along the junction between the cylindrically formed surfaces in the rod end and cap.

Claim 2

The method of applying an aluminum alloy bearing material to a rigid metal body having a smooth cylindrical support surface which comprises heating the body to a temperature in excess of 500* F., positioning bearing material in tubular sheet form over said surface, applying pressure to the bearing material in a circular zone extending completely around the tubular form thereof in a direction toward said surface and progressively in a direction parallel to the surface to press the bearing material against the support surface to reduce its thickness and to elongate it over the surface in the direction of progression, and to cause the zone of application of pressure to progress across the support surface to stretch and elongate the surface of bearing material adjacent the support surface to expose unoxidized fresh metal thereat for bonding to the support surface under the application of elevated temperature and pressure continuously and uniformly from one edge of the bearing support surface to its opposite side, in which said bearing support surface is provided by the internal cylindrical surfaces at one end of a connecting rod and in a removable cap applied thereto, the method comprising providing the bearing material in the form of a tube, initially positioning the tube within the support surface, applying the pressure from one end thereof toward the other, and finally cutting the applied bearing material along the junction between the cylindrically formed surfaces in the rod end and cap.