US4597365A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Camshaft assembly and method
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1985-02-07
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Granted: 1986-07-01
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Expires: 2005-02-07
Abstract
Abstract A camshaft for an internal combustion engine or the like is formed of an expandable steel tube and individual preferably hardenable cam and journal elements fixed together by a mechanical expansion of the tube by a mandrel or other device. Material selection and processes for low cost manufacture are disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony J. Madaffer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:02
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: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of manufacturing a camshaft assembly for internal combustion engines and the like, said method including the steps of: providing a plurality of cam and journal elements formed to final dimensions except for finish grinding, said elements each including an axial opening, securing said elements in predetermined fixed orientation and spacing with said openings aligned on a common axis, inserting a hollow tube into said elements in close fitting relation with said openings, expanding the hollow tube into mechanical interference engagement with all the element openings to secure the elements permanently onto the tube in said predetermined orientation while forming within the tube a uniform smooth sided interior cross-sectional configuration, by forcing through the tube an element sufficiently larger than the tube inner diameter to outwardly deform the tube wall in the required degree and finish grinding the outer surfaces of the cam and journal elements.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of manufacturing a camshaft assembly for internal combustion engines and the like, said method including the steps of: providing a plurality of cam and journal elements formed to final dimensions except for finish grinding, said elements each including an axial opening, securing said elements in predetermined fixed orientation and spacing with said openings aligned on a common axis, inserting a hollow tube into said elements in close fitting relation with said openings, expanding the hollow tube into mechanical interference engagement with all the element openings to secure the elements permanently onto the tube in said predetermined orientation while forming within the tube a uniform smooth sided interior cross-sectional configuration, by forcing through the tube an element sufficiently larger than the tube inner diameter to outwardly deform the tube wall in the required degree and finish grinding the outer surfaces of the cam and journal elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein said tube is unhardened steel and said cam elements are formed of hardenable steel and are hardened after machining but prior to their assembly with said hollow tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein said openings of the cam elements are non-circular to provide, after expansion of the tube, a high torque capability of the mechanical engagement between the tube and cam elements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein said tube is unhardened steel and said cam elements are formed of hardenable steel but are unhardened prior to assembly and grinding, said method further including the step of hardening the cam surfaces of said elements after the finish grinding step.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as in claim 4 wherein said cam elements are forged for high strength.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as in claim 5 wherein said openings of the cam elements are non-circular to provide, after expansion of the tube, a high torque capability of the mechanical engagement between the tube and cam elements.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of manufacturing a camshaft assembly for internal combustion engines and the like, said method including the steps of: providing a plurality of cam and journal elements, said elements each including an axial opening, securing said elements in predetermined fixed orientation and spacing with said openings aligned on a common axis, inserting a hollow tube into said elements, in close fitting relation with said openings, and expanding the hollow tube into mechanical interference engagement with all the element openings to secure the elements permanently onto the tube in said predetermined orientation while forming within the tube a uniform smooth sided interior cross-sectional configuration by forcing through the tube an element sufficiently larger than the tube inner diameter to outwardly deform the tube wall in the required degree.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of manufacturing a camshaft assembly for internal combustion engines and the like, said method including the steps of: providing a plurality of cam and journal elements, said elements each including an axial opening, securing said elements in predetermined fixed orientation and spacing with said openings aligned on a common axis, inserting a hollow tube into said elements, in close fitting relation with said openings, and expanding the hollow tube into mechanical interference engagement with all the element openings to secure the elements permanently onto the tube in said predetermined orientation while forming within the tube a uniform smooth sided interior cross-sectional configuration by forcing through the tube an element sufficiently larger than the tube inner diameter to outwardly deform the tube wall in the required degree.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
91 words
A camshaft assembly for internal combustion engines and the like, said assembly comprising a plurality of cam and journal elements each including an axial opening and secured in predetermined fixed orientation and spacing, with said openings 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 11
Dependent Claim
91 words
A camshaft assembly for internal combustion engines and the like, said assembly comprising a plurality of cam and journal elements each including an axial opening and secured in predetermined fixed orientation and spacing, with said openings 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 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A camshaft assembly as in claim 8 wherein said openings of the cam elements are non-circular to provide a high torque capability of the mechanical engagement between the tube and cam elements.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A camshaft assembly as in claim 8 wherein said tube is unhardened steel and said cam elements are formed of hardened steel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A camshaft assembly as in claim 10 wherein said cam elements are forged for high strength.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A camshaft assembly as in claim 11 wherein said openings of the cam elements are non-circular to provide a high torque capability of the mechanical engagement between the tube and cam elements.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-06-30 | 1989-12-30 | 1990-07-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-06-30 | 1993-12-30 | 1994-07-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-06-30 | 1997-12-30 | 1998-07-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |