US4835832A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of assembling tubular shaft assemblies
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1988-06-24
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Granted: 1989-06-06
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Expires: 2008-06-24
Abstract
Abstract Camshaft assemblies, methods and apparatus are provided for making camshafts by the expansion of tubular shafts into prelocated cams, journals and other elements, if desired. Features of the camshafts include trilobe or polylobe element openings, preferably splined or serrated for low energy filling and high torque capacity and High Strength Low Alloy mild steel tubular shaft material. The method emphasizes trapping, or loading, the shaft of prevent axial lengthening during expansion such as by mechanical ballizing. The apparatus includes adjustable thrust blocks and locating plungers with incorporated flush pin gages together with hydraulic or other loading means all for use in carrying out the assembly method with various benefits from the incorporated features.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip D. Arnold
- 👤 Roy G. Kaywood
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:44
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01L; F01L1/00; F01L1/02; F01L1/04; F01L1/047; F16; F16H; F16H53/00; F16H53/02; F16H53/025; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49229; Y10T29/49293; Y10T29/49805; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49861; Y10T29/49895; Y10T29/49901; Y10T29/49908; Y10T29/49938; Y10T29/4994; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53087; Y10T29/53796; Y10T29/5383; Y10T29/53848; Y10T29/53996; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/21; Y10T74/2101
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
A method of manufacturing a camshaft assembly said method including the steps of: providing a plurality of cam and journal elements formed to final dimensions except for finish grinding, said elements each including an axial opening, securing said elements in predetermined fixed orientation and spacing with said openings aligned on a common axis, inserting an essentially straight hollow tube having opposite ends into said elements in close fitting relation with said openings, longitudinally restraining one end of the tube while providing diametral clearance around portions adjacent said elements, longitudinally loading the other end of the tube to prevent elongation thereof expanding the hollow tube into mechanical interference engagement with all the element openings and radially outward thereof adjacent the elements to secure the elements permanently onto the shaft in said predetermined orientation and spacing while forming within the tube a uniform smooth sided interior cross-sectional configuration, by forcing through the tube in a direction toward said restrained one end an expanding element sufficiently larger than the tube inner diameter to outwardly deform the tube wall in the required degree, and finish grinding the outer surfaces of the cam and journal elements.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
191 words
A method of manufacturing a camshaft assembly said method including the steps of: providing a plurality of cam and journal elements formed to final dimensions except for finish grinding, said elements each including an axial opening, securing said elements in predetermined fixed orientation and spacing with said openings aligned on a common axis, inserting an essentially straight hollow tube having opposite ends into said elements in close fitting relation with said openings, longitudinally restraining one end of the tube while providing diametral clearance around portions adjacent said elements, longitudinally loading the other end of the tube to prevent elongation thereof expanding the hollow tube into mechanical interference engagement with all the element openings and radially outward thereof adjacent the elements to secure the elements permanently onto the shaft in said predetermined orientation and spacing while forming within the tube a uniform smooth sided interior cross-sectional configuration, by forcing through the tube in a direction toward said restrained one end an expanding element sufficiently larger than the tube inner diameter to outwardly deform the tube wall in the required degree, and finish grinding the outer surfaces of the cam and journal elements.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of manufacturing a camshaft assembly, said method including the steps of: providing a plurality of cam and journal elements, said elements each including an axial opening, securing said elements in predetermined fixed orientation and spacing with said openings aligned on a common axis, inserting an essentially straight hollow tube having opposite ends into said elements in close fitting relation with said openings, longitudinally restraining one end of the tube while providing diametral clearance around portions adjacent said elements, longitudinally loading the other end of the tube to prevent elongation thereof expanding the hollow tube into mechanical interference engagement with all the element openings and diametrically outward thereof adjacent the elements to secure the elements permanently onto the shaft in said predetermined orientation and spacing by forcing through the tube an expander element sufficiently larger than the tube inner diameter to outwardly deform the tube wall in the required degree.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of manufacturing a camshaft assembly, said method including the steps of: providing a plurality of cam and journal elements, said elements each including an axial opening, securing said elements in predetermined fixed orientation and spacing with said openings aligned on a common axis, inserting an essentially straight hollow tube having opposite ends into said elements in close fitting relation with said openings, longitudinally restraining one end of the tube while providing diametral clearance around portions adjacent said elements, longitudinally loading the other end of the tube to prevent elongation thereof expanding the hollow tube into mechanical interference engagement with all the element openings and diametrically outward thereof adjacent the elements to secure the elements permanently onto the shaft in said predetermined orientation and spacing by forcing through the tube an expander element sufficiently larger than the tube inner diameter to outwardly deform the tube wall in the required degree.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as in claim 2 and further forming the axial openings in said elements as noncircular with an odd number of regularly spaced eccentric lobes of minimal eccentricity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 3 and further forming said openings as trilobed with substantially constant diameter at all points.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 4 and further forming the periphery of said openings with an eccentricity of from 0.4-1.5 percent of the opening diameter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as in claim 5 further providing said lobes at their ends with at least one longitudinal serration of minimal radial extent, said tube being expanded into intimate contact with said at least one serration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
80 words
A method as in claim 3 and further including the step of using, as an expander element, a ball having an outer diameter greater than the initial internal diameter of the tube by an amount which is greater than the sum of (1) the eccentricity of the cam element openings and (2) the initial diametral clearance between the tube prior to its expansion and the least radial dimensions of the cam element openings but less than three times said sum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 2 wherein the tube is expanded diametrically outward of the element openings adjacent the elements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 2 wherein, during the expanding step, the expander element forms within the tube a uniform smooth sided interior cross-sectional configuration.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of manufacturing a tubular shaft assembly, said method including the step of: providing a plurality of elements for attachment to a tubular shaft, said elements each including an axial opening, securing said elements in fixed orientation and spacing with said openings aligned on a common axis, inserting an essentially straight hollow tube having opposite ends into said elements in close fitting relation with said openings, longitudinally restraining one end of the tube while providing diametral clearance around portions adjacent said elements, longitudinally loading the other end of the tube to prevent elongation thereof, and expanding the hollow tube into mechanical interference engagement with all the element openings to secure the elements permanently onto the shaft in said fixed orientation and spacing by forcing through the tube an expander element sufficiently larger than the tube inner diameter to outwardly deform the tube wall in the required degree.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of manufacturing a tubular shaft assembly, said method including the step of: providing a plurality of elements for attachment to a tubular shaft, said elements each including an axial opening, securing said elements in fixed orientation and spacing with said openings aligned on a common axis, inserting an essentially straight hollow tube having opposite ends into said elements in close fitting relation with said openings, longitudinally restraining one end of the tube while providing diametral clearance around portions adjacent said elements, longitudinally loading the other end of the tube to prevent elongation thereof, and expanding the hollow tube into mechanical interference engagement with all the element openings to secure the elements permanently onto the shaft in said fixed orientation and spacing by forcing through the tube an expander element sufficiently larger than the tube inner diameter to outwardly deform the tube wall in the required degree.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as in claim 10 and further forming the axial openings in said elements as noncircular with an odd number of regularly spaced eccentric lobes of minimal eccentricity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as in claim 11 and further providing said lobes at their ends with at least one longitudinal serration of minimal radial extent, said tube being expanded into intimate contact with said at least one serration.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
80 words
A method as in claim 11 and further including the step of using, as an expander element, a ball having an outer diameter greater than the initial internal diameter of the tube by an amount which is greater than the sum of (1) the eccentricity of the cam element openings and (2) the initial diametral clearance between the tube prior to its expansion and the least radial dimensions of the cam element openings but less than three times said sum.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as in claim 10 wherein the tube is expanded diametrically outward of the element openings adjacent the elements and the expander element forms within the tube a uniform smooth sided interior cross-sectional configuration.
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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) | 1992-06-05 | 1992-12-05 | 1993-06-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-06-05 | 1996-12-05 | 1997-06-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-06-05 | 2000-12-05 | 2001-06-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |