US4922785A — Tubular camshaft assemblies and the like

Claim 1

Independent Claim 77 words

A camshaft assembly for internal combustion engines and the like, said assembly comprising a plurality of cam elements each including a nonround axial opening having an odd number of regularly spaced lobes of less than 3.0 percent eccentricity and primarily defined by joined outwardly convex arc of varying radii, said elements being secured in predetermined fixed orientation said spacing, with said openings axially aligned, on a hollow tube expanded into interference engagement with all the element openings.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 77 words

A camshaft assembly for internal combustion engines and the like, said assembly comprising a plurality of cam elements each including a nonround axial opening having an odd number of regularly spaced lobes of less than 3.0 percent eccentricity and primarily defined by joined outwardly convex arc of varying radii, said elements being secured in predetermined fixed orientation said spacing, with said openings axially aligned, on a hollow tube expanded into interference engagement with all the element openings.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 26 words

A camshaft assembly as in claim 1 wherein said openings as primarily defined are formed with a substantially constant apparent diameter dimension at all angular positions.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 37 words

A camshaft assembly as in claim 2 wherein said shaft is made from a high strength low alloy specification mild steel having a relatively low yield point but which is subject to substantial work hardening after yielding.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 28 words

A camshaft assembly as in claim 1 wherein said openings as primarily defined are trilobed and formed with a substantially constant apparent diameter dimension at all angular positions.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 32 words

A camshaft assembly as in claim 4 wherein the periphery of each of said openings as primarily defined has an eccentricity of from 0.4-1.5 percent of said apparent diameter of the opening.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 14 words

A camshaft assembly as in claim 5 wherein said eccentricity is substantially 0.5 percent.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 36 words

A camshaft assembly as in claim 4 wherein said lobes include at their ends 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 32 words

A camshaft assembly as in claim 7 wherein the periphery of each of said openings as primarily defined has an eccentricity of from 0.4-1.5 percent of said apparent diameter of the opening.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 14 words

A camshaft assembly as in claim 8 wherein said eccentricity is substantially 0.5 percent.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 37 words

A camshaft assembly as in claim 9 wherein said shaft is made from a high strength low alloy specification mild steel having a relatively low yield point but which is subject to substantial work hardening after yielding.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 90 words

A camshaft assembly for internal combustion engines and the like, said assembly comprising a plurality of cam elements each including a nonround axial opening having an odd number of regularly spaced lobes of minimal eccentricity and secured in predetermined fixed orientation and spacing, with said openings axially aligned, on a hollow tube expanded into interference engagement with all the element openings, wherein said lobes include at their ends at least one longitudinal serration of minimal radial extent, said tube being expanded into intimate contact with said at least one serration.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 90 words

A camshaft assembly for internal combustion engines and the like, said assembly comprising a plurality of cam elements each including a nonround axial opening having an odd number of regularly spaced lobes of minimal eccentricity and secured in predetermined fixed orientation and spacing, with said openings axially aligned, on a hollow tube expanded into interference engagement with all the element openings, wherein said lobes include at their ends at least one longitudinal serration of minimal radial extent, said tube being expanded into intimate contact with said at least one serration.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 19 words

A camshaft assembly as in claim 11 wherein said serration extends radially inward from the periphery of its lobe.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 118 words

A camshaft assembly for internal combustion engines and the like, said assembly comprising a plurality of cam elements each including a nonround axial opening having an odd number of regularly spaced lobes of less than 3.0 percent eccentricity and primarily defined by joined outwardly convex arcs of varying radii, said elements being secured in predetermined fixed orientation and spacing, with said openings axially aligned, on a hollow tube mechanically expanded into interference engagement with all the element openings while forming within the tube a uniform smooth sided interior cross-sectional configuration and having portions of the tube exterior between the elements expanded diametrically beyond the element openings to secure the elements permanently onto the tube in said predetermined orientation.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 118 words

A camshaft assembly for internal combustion engines and the like, said assembly comprising a plurality of cam elements each including a nonround axial opening having an odd number of regularly spaced lobes of less than 3.0 percent eccentricity and primarily defined by joined outwardly convex arcs of varying radii, said elements being secured in predetermined fixed orientation and spacing, with said openings axially aligned, on a hollow tube mechanically expanded into interference engagement with all the element openings while forming within the tube a uniform smooth sided interior cross-sectional configuration and having portions of the tube exterior between the elements expanded diametrically beyond the element openings to secure the elements permanently onto the tube in said predetermined orientation.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 67 words

A tubular shaft assembly comprising a plurality of elements each including a nonround axial opening having an odd number of regularly spaced lobes of less than 3.0 percent eccentricity and primarily defined by joined outwardly convex arcs of varying radii, said elements being secured in fixed orientation and spacing, with said openings axially aligned, on a hollow tube expanded into interference engagement with all the element openings.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 67 words

A tubular shaft assembly comprising a plurality of elements each including a nonround axial opening having an odd number of regularly spaced lobes of less than 3.0 percent eccentricity and primarily defined by joined outwardly convex arcs of varying radii, said elements being secured in fixed orientation and spacing, with said openings axially aligned, on a hollow tube expanded into interference engagement with all the element openings.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 27 words

A tubular shaft assembly as in claim 14 wherein said openings as primarily defined are formed with a substantially constant apparent diameter dimension at all angular positions.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 38 words

A tubular shaft assembly as in claim 15 wherein said shaft is made from a high strength low allow specification mild steel having a relatively low yield point but which is subject to substantial work hardening after yielding.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 29 words

A tubular shaft assembly as in claim 14 wherein said openings as primarily defined are trilobed and formed with a substantially constant apparent diameter dimension at all angular positions.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 33 words

A tubular shaft assembly as in claim 17 wherein the periphery of each of said openings as primarily defined has an eccentricity of from 0.4-1.5 percent of said apparent diameter of the opening.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 15 words

A tubular shaft assembly as in claim 18 wherein said eccentricity is substantially 0.5 percent.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 37 words

A tubular shaft assembly as in claim 17 wherein said lobes include at their ends at least one longitudinal serration of minimal radial extent, said tube being expanded into intimate contact with said at least one serration.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 33 words

A tubular shaft assembly as in claim 20 wherein the periphery of each of said openings as primarily defined has an eccentricity of from 0.4-1.5 percent of said apparent diameter of the opening.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 15 words

A tubular shaft assembly as in claim 21 wherein said eccentricity is substantially 0.5 percent.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 38 words

A tubular shaft assembly as in claim 22 wherein said shaft is made from a high strength low alloy specification mild steel having a relatively low yield point but which is subject to substantial work hardening after yielding.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 81 words

A tubular shaft assembly comprising a plurality of elements each including a nonround axial opening having an odd number of regularly spaced lobes of minimal eccentricity and secured in predetermined fixed orientation and spacing, with said openings axially aligned, on a hollow tube expanded into interference engagement with all the element openings, wherein said lobes include at their ends at least one longitudinal serration of minimal radial extent, said tube being expanded into intimate contact with said at least one serration.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 81 words

A tubular shaft assembly comprising a plurality of elements each including a nonround axial opening having an odd number of regularly spaced lobes of minimal eccentricity and secured in predetermined fixed orientation and spacing, with said openings axially aligned, on a hollow tube expanded into interference engagement with all the element openings, wherein said lobes include at their ends at least one longitudinal serration of minimal radial extent, said tube being expanded into intimate contact with said at least one serration.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 20 words

A tubular shaft assembly as in claim 24 wherein said serration extends radially inward from the periphery of its lobe.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 108 words

A tubular shaft assembly comprising a plurality of elements each including a nonround axial opening having an odd number of regularly spaced lobes of less than 3.0 percent eccentricity and primarily defined by joined outwardly convex arcs of varying radii, said elements being secured in fixed orientation and spacing, with said openings axially aligned, on a hollow tube mechanically expanded into interference engagement with all the element openings while forming within the tube a uniform smooth sided interior cross-sectional configuration and having portions of the tube exterior between the elements expanded diametrically beyond the element openings to secure the elements permanently onto the tube in said fixed orientation.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 108 words

A tubular shaft assembly comprising a plurality of elements each including a nonround axial opening having an odd number of regularly spaced lobes of less than 3.0 percent eccentricity and primarily defined by joined outwardly convex arcs of varying radii, said elements being secured in fixed orientation and spacing, with said openings axially aligned, on a hollow tube mechanically expanded into interference engagement with all the element openings while forming within the tube a uniform smooth sided interior cross-sectional configuration and having portions of the tube exterior between the elements expanded diametrically beyond the element openings to secure the elements permanently onto the tube in said fixed orientation.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-05-07	1993-11-06	1994-05-08	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-05-07	1997-11-06	1998-05-08	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-05-07	2001-11-06	2002-05-08	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Tubular camshaft assemblies and the like

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