AU606646B2

AU606646B2 - Alignment checking tool

Info

Publication number: AU606646B2
Application number: AU10382/88A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Richard P. Meyers
Original assignee: Dana Inc
Current assignee: Dana Inc
Priority date: 1987-01-30
Filing date: 1988-01-19
Publication date: 1991-02-14
Anticipated expiration: 2008-01-19
Also published as: FR2610398B1; JP2564159B2; BR8800285A; GB2200456A; GB2200456B; DE3800750C2; AU1038288A; DE3800750A1; FR2610398A1; CA1301449C; GB8801459D0; JPS63193001A

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 606646 C(NPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority Priority

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This document continS the arnendm,,;:is nade t.c r Sectio;, 4" nr'J i.s cor tzc f r ri f"' pri .ting. T C f APPLICANT'S REFE1.*NCE: 2330 UJ Name(s) of Applicant(s): Dana Corporation Address(es) of Applicant(s): 4500 Dorr Street, Toledo, Ohio, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

'Address for Service is: PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 AUSTRALIA Complete Specification for the invention entitled: ALIGNMT CHECKING TOOL Our Ref 81190 POF Code: 1604/1604 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): 6003q/1 1 0 0 0

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION: This invention relates to a gaging tool and the method of using the tool, and, more particularly to a gaging tool for checking the alignment of two spaced apart holes located on a common axis. The tool has special utility for checking the alignment of bearing seats on half round end yokes of universal joints.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART: There are a wide variety of what are usually termed plug gages for determining the dimensional accuracy, usually a diameter, of holes. .These may be supplied in sets to provide a type of go/no-go gaging in which a plug gage of one size passes within or through the hole, and a plug gage of a slightly larger size does not pass into the hole. Thus the dimension of the hole can be established as lying between the diameters of the two plug gages.

When it comes to measuring the alignment accuracy of two spaced apart holes, the simple plug gage will not suffice. The usual procedure for checking the alignment of spaced holes involves the use of jigs and a feeler gage which must be elaborately set up for checking each individual pair of spaced holes. Such a procedure is not practical and often impossible to perform in the field checking of the alignment of cross holes on a universal joint.

Gaging tools recently developed by the Spicer Division of Dana Corporation permits checking the alignment of cross holes in U-joint components such as the end yokes, la i ;IrL slip yokes and flange yokes used in universal joints. This alignment gage tool consists of a single alignment bar having accurately ground surface for checking the alignment 0 0 of spaced full round bearing holes. This tool, however, n does not provide a means for checking the alignment of half round holes or bearing seats or of spaced holes of non-round 3 configuration such as square or hexagonal shape holes.

A SUMARY OF THE INVENTION i Z A gaging tool for checking the alignment of two d spaced apart holes located on a common axis includes a pair S of gage bushings each having an outside configuration which C C D Z corresponds to the configuration of the holes whose c r c alignment is to be checked. This configuration can be of C C c 8 any shape such as square or round, and typically is of a c z round configuration for checking alignment of half round 0 1 bearing surfaces on end yokes of universal joints. Each of 0 S 0 the pair of gage bushings has a uniform internal gage bore.

0 The tool also includes a cylindrical alignment bar having an w external diameter adapted to be closely received through the internal gage bore in each of the pair of gage bushings.

Each of the gage bushings are secured in the holes to be SU.. checked. Passage of the alignment bar through one of the Igage bushings and into the other gage bushing indicates 0 z >alignment of the spaced holes. The inability to move the i galignment bar into the other gage bushing indicates d Smisalignment.

Typically the gaging tool has more than one pair of gage bushings with different external diameters for checking the alignment of spaced holes of different sizes. Each of ;i .ili l r the pairs of gage bushing typically has the same uniform internal gage diameter closely receiving the cylindrical alignment bar.

The present invention provides a gaging tool capable of determining if the half round bearing seats establishing the cross holes of a universal joint yoke are in alignment comprising, in combination: a pair of gage bushings each having an outside diameter corresponding to the diameter of the cross holes whose alignment is to be checked and a uniform internal gage bore; means for removably securing one gage bushing in one cross hole; means for removably securing the other gage bushing in the other cross hole; and a cylindrical alignment bar having a gaging portion spanning the distance between said cross holes, said gaging portion having an external diameter adapted to be closely 0°oo" received through the internal gage bore in each of said pair of gage bushings, said alignment bar being axially slidably and 5113i f 0 00 0 oa 3t0 C t

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t ft t i 3 removably received through said gage bores of each of said pair of gage bushing only when said gage bores are in alignment and otherwise being axially slidable through only one gage bushing to thereby provide an indication of the alignment or lack of alignment of said cross holes.

Further, the present invention provides the method of checking the alignment of two spaced apart holes located on a common axis, said method comprising the following steps: providing a pair of gage bushings each having the 1 0 same uniform internal bore, and having external configurations conforming to the internal configurations of the spaced apart holes; S(b) securing one of said gage bushings in each of said spaced apart holes; providing an alignment bar adapted to be closely received in the internal bore of both of said gage bushings; passing said alignment bar through the internal bore of one of said gage bushings; determining if said alignment bar will also pass 20 into the internal bore of a second one of said gage bushings.

The alignment bar is passed into the other or second gage bushing by a combination of a rotary and axial movement of C C the bar in a sliding engagement.

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DRAWING

The preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawing in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective, partially exploded view showing i the tool of this invention as it is employed to check the alignment of spaced holes formed in part by the 4 €C (•i £4 S

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j -3as/VT Ov -7 bearing seats of a connection yoke; FIG. 2 is an elevational view partially in section showing the gaging tool of this invention checking the 0 alignment of holes in the half round yoke structure of FIG.

S 1 wherein the holes are found in alignment; FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a connection yoke with the alignment tool of this invention detecting

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misalignment, shown on an exaggerated scale, typically i caused by an improper disassembly procedure or a previous B failure resulting in heat distortion; d SFIG. 4 is an end view of a connection yoke with the g tool of this invention detecting misalignment, shown on an z exaggerated scale, typically caused by excessive torque or a 0 previous heat distortion failure.

0 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 0 Referring to the drawing, gaging tool 10 for checking the alignment of two spaced apart holes located on a common axis is shown as including cylindrical alignment i bar 12 and a pair of gage bushings 14 and 16. The outside 0.

z configuration of gage bushings 14 and 16, or at least a w. portion thereof, corresponds to the configuration of the ctt w S holes whose alignment is to be checked. This configuration 0 can be a round hole, square hole, or of any geometrical o shape, the holes being located on a common axis. In the S example shown in the drawing, these holes, 18 and 20, appear 6 as a semi-circular bearing seat on a half round end yoke 22.

In renewing worn universal joints, for example, at the ends of an automotive drive shaft, the four bearings and 1 11 0 0 0 1 1

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c~ r 0 U-joint cross are comletely replaced. To assure that the new installation reaches its potential life, it is extremely important that the cross holes are in alignment. This alignment cannot be ascertained by the naked eye, and sometimes complex procedures are used to check alignment.

The aforementioned Dana alignment bar solved this alignment checking problem for full round types of yokes, but it does not offer a solution for non round shapes or the illustrated bearing seats on a half round yoke. As shown in FIG. 1, gage bushings 14 and 16 are placed in bearing seats 18 and 20 and are secured to yoke 22 by retaining strap 24 with bolts 26. Gage bushings 14 and 16 have uniform internal gage bores 28 and 30 respectively.

Alignment bar 12 has a cylindrical configuration with a gaging portion 32 and an abutting knurled handle portion 34 of the slightly smaller diameter than the gaging portion. Gaging portion 32 is accurately ground. to be closely received through the internal gage bores 28 and of gage bushings 14 and 16.

In use, after the gage bearings have been secured in the holes, their alignment and hence the bearing seat alignment can be checked by inserting the gaging portion 32 of alignment bar 12 through the internal bore 28 in a first gage bearing 14, and if it enters and passes through the internal gage bore 30 of the second gage bushing 16 by an axial and rotating movement of the alignment bar 12, the two holes are in alignment as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 shows on an exaggerated scale an end yoke in which the holes are clearly out of alignment due to the fact that one of its lugs 36 has become distorted. This is normally caused by the improper disassembly of the joint or o by a heat distortion failure in use. Likewise, FIG. 4 shows 0 0 on an exaggerated scale an axial misalignment of the two holes. This type of condition has been usually caused by the application of excessive torque (overload) or by heat i distortion.

Alignment tool 10 would normally be supplied with more than one pair of gage bushings so that the alignment of 6 1 various size holes can be checked. In this case, each pair r of gage bushings would have an appropriately different external diameter to match the size of the bearing seats in

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the particular yoke 22 being checked. Non circular external Sprofile pairs can also be supplied to match the configuation I IZ of the holes being checked. Normally, the internal bores 28 S0 an 30 of all of the gage bushing pairs would be identical to 0 accomodate a single uniform gaging portion 32 on the alignment bar 12. In some circumstances these gage bores s can be different, and the gaging portion of the can be appropriately stepped to accomodate this difference in j diameter. It is only necessary that the gaging portion of the alignment bar intended to be received in the internal S bore of the individual gage bushings have a matching, close I fitting, uniform diameter. The gaging portion 32, or at "least a portion thereof, is preferably circular in 0 t cross-section at the gage bushing engaging locations to avoid any necessity for, in effect, requiring alignment of the gage bushings before hole alignment checking can take place.

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Claims

1. A gaging tool capable of determining if the half round bearing seats establishing the cross holes of a universal joint yoke are in alignment comprising, in combination: a pair of gage bushings each having an outside diameter corresponding to the diameter of the cross holes whose alignment is to be checked and a uniform internal gage bore; means for removably securing one gage bushing in one cross hole; means for removably securing the other gage bushing in the other cross hole; and a cylindrical alignment bar having a gaging portion spanning the distance between said cross holes, said gaging portion having an external diameter adapted to be closely received through the internal gage bore in each of said pair of gage bushings, said alignment bar being axially slidably and removably received through said gage bores of each of said pair of gage bushing only when said gage bores are in alignment and otherwise being axially slidable through only one gage bushing to thereby provide an indication of the alignment or lack of alignment of said cross holes.

2. The gaging tool of claim 1 wherein the entire gaging 3 portion of said alignment bar is of a uniform diameter.

3. The gaging tool of either one of claims 1 or 2 wherein the handle portion of said alignment bar is of a smaller diameter than the diameter of the gaging portion.

4. The gaging tool of claim 3 wherein said handle portion has a knurled finish.

The gaging tool of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said pair of gage bushing constitute a first pair of gage bushings for checking the alignment of bearing seats on a yoke of a first given size, and further comprising: a second pair of gage bushings each having an outside diameter different from the outside diameters of said first pair of gage bushings and having the same uniform internal gage diameter of said first pair of gage bushings to check the alignment of bearing seats on a second, end yoke.

6. A method of checking the alignment of two spaced apart 39 holes located on a common axis, said method comprising the _13-7- i i; ;i iC1 following steps: providing a pair of gage bushings each having the same uniform internal bore, and having external configurations conforming to the internal configurations of the spaced apart holes; securing one of said gage bushings in each of said spaced apart holes; providing an alignment bar adapted to be closely received in the internal bore of both of said gage bushings; passing said alignment bar through the internal bore of one of said gage bushings; and determining if said alignment bar will also pass into the internal bore of a second one of said gage bushings.

7. A method according to claim 6 further including the initial step of providing a plurality of pairs of gage Sbushings all having the same uniform internal bore and each f pair having an external cylindrical configuration with a j diameter different from others of said pairs, and performing Sstep by selecting one of said pairs of said bushing members.

S8. A method according to claim 7 wherein said spaced apart holes are partially defined by the bearing seats on a half c round end yoke and wherein said step includes the following sub-steps: (ba) positioning one of said selected pair of gage C¢ bushings on each of said bearing seats; and r 4 (bb) attaching a pair of retaining straps to said half round yoke securing said selected pair of gage bushings in i t 6' said pair of spaced apart holes defined by said bearing seats .cco.0 and retaining straps.

9. A gaging tool according to claim 1 substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. A method according to claim 6 substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED: 15 October, 1990. PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK ATTORNEYS FOR:- 39 DANA CORPORATION B, 8- T Vr