Method of making a split bearing assembly

• US 4,569,109 A
• Filed: 07/02/1984
• Issued: 02/11/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Fetouh, Mohamed A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Burtch, John T.
• Application Number:
  US06/627,028
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 29/149.5 R, 29/149.5 C, 29/156.5 A, 29/413, 74/579 E
• US Class Current: 29/888.09
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 31/003 for rings
• CPC Class Codes: F05C 2201/021 Aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: F05C 2201/0436 Iron
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 9/02 Crankshaft bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 9/045 the bearing cap of the connecting rod being split by fracturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49288 Connecting rod making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49657 Socket making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4979 Breaking through weakened portion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2142 Pitmans and connecting rods
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2162 Engine type

Abstract

Split bearing assemblies are disclosed having separable bearing caps for both single applications, such as connecting rods, and multiple applications, such as engine crankshaft supports, together with methods and apparatus for making such assemblies by integrally forming the caps with the main body and separating them by fracture separation. A two step separation method is disclosed with bore starter notches and semicircular die expanders that minimize split plane and bore distortion.

Claims

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.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said steps of causing tension on the pairs of legs are accomplished by applying separating forces to the body and cap in directions normal to a plane connecting the split lines of the two pairs of legs, said forces being applied to opposite sides of said opening between the legs of the body and of the cap.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein longitudinal notches are provided across the inner edges of the split planes on the opposite sides of the opening prior to fracturing to initiate the fracture and positively locate the inner edges of the separated leg ends.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein longitudinal notches are provided across the inner edges of the split planes on the opposite sides of the opening prior to fracturing to initiate the fracture and positively locate the inner edges of the separated leg ends.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said split bearing assembly comprises a connecting rod.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein said split bearing assembly comprises a rotatable shaft support.