EP0190841A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Camshaft assembly and method of manufacture
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1986-01-20
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-01-20
Abstract
Abstract A camshaft assembly (10) for an internal combustion engine or the like is formed of an expandable hollow tube (11) and individual preferably hardenable cam and journal elements (12, 14) fixed together by a mechanical expansion of the hollow tube by a mandrel or other device. Material selection and processes for low cost manufacture are disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony James Madaffer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:54
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01L; F01L1/00; F01L1/02; F01L1/04; F01L1/047; F16; F16H; F16H53/00; F16H53/02; F16H53/025; F16D; F16D1/00; F16D1/06; F16D1/064; F16D1/072; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49229; Y10T29/49293; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49861; Y10T29/49895; Y10T29/49901; Y10T29/49908; Y10T29/49938; Y10T29/4994; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53996; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/21; Y10T74/2101
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
A method of manufacturing a camshaft assembly (10) for internal combustion engines and the like, the method including the steps of: providing a plurality of cam elements (12) and journal elements (14), the cam and journal elements each including a tube receiving opening (15), securing the cam and journal elements in predetermined fixed orientation and spacing with the tube receiving openings aligned on a common axis, and inserting a hollow tube (11) into the cam and journal elements in close fitting relation with the tube receiving openings, the method being characterised by expanding the hollow tube into mechanical interference engagement with all the tube receiving openings to secure the cam and journal elements permanently onto the hollow tube in the predetermined orientation while forming within the hollow tube a uniform smooth sided interior cross-sectional configuration by forcing through the hollow tube a mechanical expander (16) sufficiently larger than the inner diameter of the hollow tube to outwardly deform the wall of the hollow tube in the required degree.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
168 words
A method of manufacturing a camshaft assembly (10) for internal combustion engines and the like, the method including the steps of: providing a plurality of cam elements (12) and journal elements (14), the cam and journal elements each including a tube receiving opening (15), securing the cam and journal elements in predetermined fixed orientation and spacing with the tube receiving openings aligned on a common axis, and inserting a hollow tube (11) into the cam and journal elements in close fitting relation with the tube receiving openings, the method being characterised by expanding the hollow tube into mechanical interference engagement with all the tube receiving openings to secure the cam and journal elements permanently onto the hollow tube in the predetermined orientation while forming within the hollow tube a uniform smooth sided interior cross-sectional configuration by forcing through the hollow tube a mechanical expander (16) sufficiently larger than the inner diameter of the hollow tube to outwardly deform the wall of the hollow tube in the required degree.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the cam and journal elements (12,14) are formed to final dimensions except for finish grinding, the method being characterised by the step of finish grinding the outer surfaces of the cam and journal elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterised in that the hollow tube (11) is unhardened steel and the cam elements (12) are formed of hardenable steel and are hardened after machining but prior to their assembly with the hollow tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, characterised in that the hollow tube (11) is unhardened steel and the cam elements (12) are formed of hardenable steel but are unhardened prior to assembly and grinding, the method further including the step of hardening the surfaces of the cam elements after the finish grinding step.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the cam elements (12) are forged for high strength.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
50 words
A method as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the tube receiving openings (15) of the cam elements (12) are non-circular to provide, after expansion of the hollow tube, a high torque capability of the mechanical engagement between the hollow tube shaft and cam elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
127 words
A camshaft assembly (10) for internal combustion engines and the like, the camshaft assembly comprising a plurality of cam elements (12) and journal elements (14) each including a tube receiving opening (15), and a hollow tube (11), characterised in that the cam and journal elements are secured in predetermined fixed orientation and spacing, with the tube receiving openings aligned, on the hollow tube which has been mechanically expanded into interference engagement with the tube receiving openings to form within the hollow tube a uniform smooth sided interior cross-sectional configuration and which has portions of the hollow tube exterior between the cam and journal elements expanded diametrically beyond the tube receiving openings to secure the cam and journal elements permanently onto the hollow tube in the predetermined orientation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
127 words
A camshaft assembly (10) for internal combustion engines and the like, the camshaft assembly comprising a plurality of cam elements (12) and journal elements (14) each including a tube receiving opening (15), and a hollow tube (11), characterised in that the cam and journal elements are secured in predetermined fixed orientation and spacing, with the tube receiving openings aligned, on the hollow tube which has been mechanically expanded into interference engagement with the tube receiving openings to form within the hollow tube a uniform smooth sided interior cross-sectional configuration and which has portions of the hollow tube exterior between the cam and journal elements expanded diametrically beyond the tube receiving openings to secure the cam and journal elements permanently onto the hollow tube in the predetermined orientation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A camshaft assembly as claimed in Claim 7, characterised in that the hollow tube (11) is unhardened steel and the cam elements (12) are formed of hardened steel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A camshaft assembly as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8, characterised in that the cam elements (12) are forged for high strength.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
A camshaft assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 9, characterised in that the tube receiving openings (15) of the cam elements (12) are non-circular to provide a high torque capability of the mechanical engagement between the hollow tube (11) and the cam elements.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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