Method of assembling a shaft and apertured member
US5343618A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 8, 1992 |
| Grant date | Sep 6, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 8, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T74/2101
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A tubular shaft has a portion of reduced inner diameter at a location where joining to an apertured member is desired. The aperture in the member is lobed with splines in the lobes and has an undercut groove or grooves, and is hardened. The shaft is inserted in the aperture and the reduced inner diameter portion is expanded to force the shaft material into the lobes and groove and around the splines to form a connection which resists torque and axial separation. The tube expansion is effected by forcing a series of balls through the reduced diameter portion, each ball being slightly larger than the reduced diameter and larger than the previous ball but smaller than the remainder of the shaft I.D. A crankshaft is assembled with this method wherein counterweights have lobed apertures to receive end portions of crank pins and main journals having reduced I.D.'s.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.