Method of making a split bearing assembly

Claim 1

A method of making a split bearing assembly having a saddle-like main body with first and second legs and a removable saddle-like bearing cap with first and second legs having ends respectively secured in end-to-end engagement with mating ends of the first and second legs of said body to define a journal receiving opening, said method comprising, initially forming the bearing assembly body and cap integral with their mating leg ends integrally joined, said integral body and cap being in a relatively brittle condition, at least along generally predetermined split planes defining the leg ends on opposite sides of said opening, said body and cap having essentially their assembled final dimensions, with said opening being centered on an axis lying within said main body and said cap, generally between said split planes, separating the cap from the main body by fracturing the integral legs generally along said split planes on opposite sides of said opening to form said legs of the saddle-like cap and body, said first and second legs of the cap and body comprising respectively first and second pairs mateable along said split planes, wherein the fracturing step is accomplished by causing tension across the split plane of one of said mateable pairs of legs to fracture and separate the ends of the legs of said one pair at their respective split plane while limiting relative movement of the cap and body to avoid substantial bending or complete fracture of the other mateable pair of legs, thereafter clamping the separated pair of legs in substantially their mated position and causing tension across the split plane of the other mateable pair of legs to fracture and separate their ends at their split plane without substantial bending, thereby avoiding bending of the legs at the split planes and yielding deformation at the leg edges to thus provide the capability of mating reassembly without substantial dimensional change.

Claim 2

A method of making a split bearing assembly having a saddle-like main body with first and second legs and a removable saddle-like bearing cap with first and second legs having ends respectively secured in end-to-end engagement with mating ends of the first and second legs of said body to define a journal receiving opening, said method comprising, initially forming the bearing assembly body and cap integral with their mating leg ends integrally joined, said integral body and cap being in a relatively brittle condition, at least along generally predetermined split planes defining the leg ends on opposite sides of said opening, said body and cap having essentially their assembled final dimensions, with said opening being centered on an axis lying within said main body and said cap, generally between said split planes, separating the cap from the main body by fracturing the integral legs generally along said split planes on opposite sides of said opening to form said legs of the saddle-like cap and body, said first and second legs of the cap and body comprising respectively first and second pairs mateable along said split planes, wherein the fracturing step is accomplished by causing tension across the split plane of one of said mateable pairs of legs to fracture and separate the ends of the legs of said one pair at their respective split plane while limiting relative movement of the cap and body to avoid substantial bending or complete fracture of the other mateable pair of legs, thereafter clamping the separated pair of legs in substantially their mated position and causing tension across the split plane of the other mateable pair of legs to fracture and separate their ends at their split plane without substantial bending, thereby avoiding bending of the legs at the split planes and yielding deformation at the leg edges to thus provide the capability of mating reassembly without substantial dimensional change.