Method for providing a self aligning die guide pin and bushing

• US 5,788,903 A
• Filed: 12/09/1996
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Allgaier, Wayne Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Silbaugh, Jan H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCDOWELL, SUZANNE E
• Application Number:
  US08/762,078
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 384/30, 384/29, 384/41, 384/295, 264/242, 264/264, 264/262, 264/219, 264/263
• US Class Current: 264/219
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/303 centering mould parts or halves, e.g. during mounting
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14491 Injecting material between coaxial articles, e.g. between a core and an outside sleeve for making a roll
• CPC Class Codes: B30B 15/041 Guides
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 29/02 Sliding-contact bearings

Abstract

A self aligning die guide pin bushing incorporates inner and outer sleeves that are axially locked together, but which can shift radially relative to one another sufficiently to accommodated an eccentricity between the guide pin and the bore in which the bushing is mounted. The outer sleeve of the bushing is mounted to the bore conventionally, and is removable. After the outer sleeve is mounted, the other die is moved so as to push the guide pin through the inner sleeve, thereby forcing the inner sleeve into alignment with the guide pin. Then, an epoxy layer is injected into the spaced between sleeves to fix the inner sleeve in alignment with the guide pin.

Claims

1. A method of aligning a bushing in a first die with a generally cylindrical die guide pin projecting from a second die, which dies close together and move apart, comprising the steps of,

providing a bore in said first die roughly coaxial to said guide pin, within a predetermined radial alignment tolerance, and with sufficient radial clearance between said bore and guide pin to receive a bushing in said bore,

providing an outer cylindrical bushing sleeve separate from said first die and secured closely and removably within said bore,

providing an inner cylindrical bushing sleeve with an inner diameter sized to closely slidably receive said guide pin and axially fixed within said outer sleeve but radially slidable within said outer sleeve with a radial clearance at least equal to said predetermined bore-guide pin radial alignment tolerance,

closing said dies sufficiently to move said guide pin axially into said inner sleeve, thereby radially shifting said inner sleeve within said outer sleeve and into alignment with said guide pin,

maintaining said guide pin within said inner sleeve as a hardenable material is injected into the radial clearance between said sleeves, and,

moving said dies apart after said hardenable material has set, thereby leaving said inner sleeve in permanent, coaxial alignment with said guide pin.

2. A method of aligning a bushing in a first die with a generally cylindrical die guide pin projecting from a second die, which dies close together and move apart, comprising the steps of,

providing a bore in said first die roughly coaxial to said guide pin, within a predetermined radial alignment tolerance, and with sufficient radial clearance between said bore and guide pin to receive a bushing

providing an outer cylindrical bushing sleeve separate from said first die with an outer diameter sized to be closely and removably received within said bore and also with a pair of substantially annular, axially spaced, oppositely axially directed stop surfaces,

providing an inner cylindrical bushing sleeve with an inner diameter sized to closely slidably receive said guide pin and with an outer diameter having a radial clearance relative to said outer sleeve at least equal to said predetermined radial alignment tolerance, said inner sleeve also having a pair of substantially annular stop surfaces oppositely axially directed both relative to each other and relative to respective stop surfaces on said outer sleeve, said stop surfaces on said inner sleeve also being axially spaced apart equally to said surfaces on said outer sleeve, radially overlapping with said surfaces on said outer sleeve and interfittable with said surfaces on said outer sleeve,

inserting said inner sleeve axially within said outer sleeve until said respective stop surfaces axially abut and radially overlap,

securing said outer sleeve within said bore, so as to place said inner sleeve within said bore,

closing said dies sufficiently to move said guide pin axially into said inner sleeve, thereby radially shifting said inner sleeve within said outer sleeve and into coaxial alignment with said guide pin,

maintaining said guide pin within said inner sleeve as a hardenable material is injected into the radial clearance between said sleeves, and,

moving said dies apart after said hardenable material has set,.thereby leaving said inner sleeve in permanent, coaxial alignment with said guide pin.

3. A method of aligning a bushing in a first die with a generally cylindrical die guide pin projecting from a second die, which dies close together and move apart, comprising the steps of,

providing a bore in said first die roughly coaxial to said guide pin, within a predetermined radial alignment tolerance, and with sufficient radial clearance between said bore and guide pin to receive a bushing,

providing an outer cylindrical bushing sleeve separate from said first die with an outer diameter sized to be closely and removably received within said bore and also with a pair of substantially annular, axially spaced, oppositely axially directed stop surfaces one, of said stop surfaces being located at one end of said outer sleeve and protruding past the outer diameter of said outer sleeve,

providing an inner cylindrical bushing sleeve with an inner diameter sized to closely slidably receive said guide pin and with an outer diameter having a radial clearance relative to said outer sleeve at least equal to said predetermined radial alignment tolerance, said inner sleeve also having a pair of substantially annular stop surfaces oppositely axially directed both relative to each other and relative to respective stop surfaces on said outer sleeve, said stop surfaces on said inner sleeve also being axially spaced apart equally to said on said outer sleeve surfaces, radially overlapping with said surfaces on said outer sleeve, and interfittable with said surfaces on said outer sleeve,

inserting said inner sleeve axially within said outer sleeve until said respective stop surfaces axially abut and radially overlap,

inserting said outer sleeve axially into said bore until said one annular stop surface abuts said first die,

removably securing said one outer sleeve stop surface to said first die to thereby removably secure said bushing within said bore and thereby locate said inner sleeve within said bore,

closing said dies sufficiently to move said guide pin axially into said inner sleeve, thereby radially shifting said inner sleeve within said outer sleeve and into coaxial alignment with said guide pin,

maintaining said guide pin within said inner sleeve as a hardenable material is injected into the radial clearance between said sleeves, and,

moving said dies apart after said hardenable material has set, thereby leaving said inner sleeve in permanent, coaxial alignment with said guide pin.