US3818577A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Connecting rod manufacturing
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
•
Filing: 1972-07-31
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Granted: 1974-06-25
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Expires: 1992-07-31
Abstract
Abstract High quality connecting rods and similar machine components comprised of an assembly of two clamped together parts are manufactured from tough heat treated high carbon steel, or the like, according to a manufacturing method of reduced cost. Essentially all machining of the component is conducted on an integral piece prior to its being divided into the two separate parts by fracturing along a frangible zone effected by electron beam bombardment. The resulting irregular mating surfaces of the respective parts have substantial resistance to relative sliding upon clamping of the parts together.
Inventors
- 👤 J Bailey
- 👤 D Zook
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 16:22
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23D; B23D31/00; B23D31/002; B23D31/003; B23P; B23P13/00; F; F16; F16C; F16C9/00; F16C9/04; F16C9/045; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49229; Y10T29/49288; Y10T29/49789; Y10T29/4979; Y10T29/49792; Y10T29/49796; Y10T29/49995; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/21; Y10T74/2142; Y10T74/2162
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of manufacturing a multiple part machine component comprising the steps of integrally forming the respective parts of a multiple part component as a single piece of tough high quality carbon steel, rough machining said piece to approximately final dimensions, heating said piece above the austenitic temperature thereof in a narrow band along a preselected path by electron beam bombardment of said piece including simultaneously directing two electron beams upon opposite sides of said piece along at least one preselected path to heat the metal in a band of decreased width, quenching said narrow band of heated metal to form a brittle frangible zone along said path, finish machining said piece to final dimensions, and fracturing said piece through said frangible zone to thereby form the separate finished parts of said component.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of manufacturing a multiple part machine component comprising the steps of integrally forming the respective parts of a multiple part component as a single piece of tough high quality carbon steel, rough machining said piece to approximately final dimensions, heating said piece above the austenitic temperature thereof in a narrow band along a preselected path by electron beam bombardment of said piece including simultaneously directing two electron beams upon opposite sides of said piece along at least one preselected path to heat the metal in a band of decreased width, quenching said narrow band of heated metal to form a brittle frangible zone along said path, finish machining said piece to final dimensions, and fracturing said piece through said frangible zone to thereby form the separate finished parts of said component.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 1, further defined by said narrow band of heated metal being quenched by the surrounding cold metal of said piece to form said frangible zone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1, further defined by forming a stress concentrating notch in the surface of said piece circumscribing said frangible zone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1, further defined by heating the piece along an undulated path to thereby form an undulated frangible zone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 1, further defined by heating the metal by electron beam bombardment of said piece including simultaneously directing two electron beams upon opposite sides of said piece along at least one preselected path to heat tHe metal in a band of decreased width.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 2, further defined by forming a stress concentrating notch in the surface of said piece circumscribing said frangible zone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 2 further including quenching said part in vapor to enhance the quenching by the surrounding cold metal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 2, further including quenching said part in liquid to enhance the quenching by the surrounding cold metal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US1498748A
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US2298528A
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US2371399A
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US2553935A
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US3112850A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-24 | 1977-12-24 | 1978-06-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-24 | 1981-12-24 | 1982-06-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-24 | 1985-12-24 | 1986-06-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |