GB2102895A

GB2102895A - Divided plain bearing for a connecting rod

Info

Publication number: GB2102895A
Application number: GB08220661A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hans Grosskurth
Original assignee: GLYCO METALL WERKE
Current assignee: GLYCO METALL WERKE
Priority date: 1981-08-01
Filing date: 1982-07-16
Publication date: 1983-02-09
Also published as: DE3130557A1; AT388420B; ATA247282A; DE3130557C2; GB2102895B

Abstract

A plain bearing (10) for a connecting rod is in two halves (10a, 10b) releasably held together in the region of their contacting surfaces (11a, 11b) by a) plug-in connector elements (13a) press fitted into a recess (15a) in one bearing part (10a) and engaging a recess (15b) in the other bearing part (10b) and with a close sliding fit, and b) clamping elements (14) such as spring clips which engage a recess in the walls of the bearing parts (10a, 10b) for circumferential holding these parts together. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Divided plain bearing, in particular a connecting rod bearing for medium and large engines The invention relates to a divided plain bearing, in particular a connecting rod bearing for medium and large engines, in which lasting arrangements for the separable holding-together of the plain bearing parts are provided in the region of the contacting surfaces and these arrangements are mechanically fixed, being preferably disposed in pairs, to engage over the contacting face of the plain bearing parts and containing elements disposed directly in the wall of the plain bearing parts.

In the case of plain bearings of this type which are known from German Offenlegungsschrift No.

29 24 552, there are inserted in the interior of the bearing wall stud-like connecting clamps which extend substantially in the peripheral direction of the plain bearing and which have, constructed on their two ends and extending at a right-angle to the stud-like part, anchoring elements which engage into radial bore parts in the bearing wall in order to hold together in a peripheral direction the two parts of the plain bearing which have to be connected. The blind bores extending in a peripheral direction and provided in the wall of the two bearing parts which are to be joined in order to accommodate the stud-like connecting clamps must have a cross-section which is sufficiently larger than the cross-section of the stud-like part of the connecting clamps for the anchoring parts to be able to be inserted into and then locked in the radial blind bores.

In order in the case of these known divided plain bearings to be able to give to the stud-like clamps at least a certain amount of grip inside the bearing wall, each stud-like clamp is provided with a centring rod extending over a fraction of the clamp length and engaging over the contacting faces of the plain bearing parts. Nevertheless, where these known divided plain bearings are concerned, the connecting clamps have considerable mobility within the bearing wall. This is a considerable drawback having regard to the fact that plain bearing parts in general are constructed with a certain spread, i.e. a width of opening which is somewhat larger than the normal on' the contacting faces so that the plain bearing parts can be inserted into the bearing housing with a somewhat elastic intial tension.In the case of divided bearings, in particular connecting rod bearings for medium and large engines, however, this spread-open effect is a disadvantage to rotation of a plain bearing part between the shaft and the bearing housing, because during rotation, the plain bearing parts may become wedged on the peripheral face of the bearing housing. The known stud-like connecting clamps disposed in the interior of the bearing wall are, by reason of their relatively considerable mobility inside the bearing walls, unsuitable for taking into account the conditions resulting from the spreading open of the bearing.

At the same time, the stud-like connecting clamps which are known from German Offenlegungsschrift No. 29 24 552 and which are disposed inside the bearing wall are already an improvement over the connecting elements known from German Offenlegungsschrift No.

21 45 371 and which it was intended should be applied to the outside of the wall of divided plain bearings. Also these connecting parts known from DOS 21 45 371 are not capable of dealing with the conditions resulting from the spreading open of the bearing and the difficulties which arise due to this spreading open effect.

In contrast, the object of the invention is substantially to imprave divided plain bearings, particularly connecting rod bearings for medium and large engines, on the enduring arrangements for the separable holding-together of the plain bearing parts, in that with the connecting arrangements, substantially better allowance is made for the conditions which result from the spreading open of the bearing, the difficulties which occur due to the spreading open of the bearings during rotation are eliminated or at least substantially reduced.

This problem is, according to the invention, resolved in that a) the elements disposed directly in the wall of the plain bearing parts are inserted as plug-in connector elements with a press fit into a recess extending substantially in the peripheral direction of the bearing in the wall of one plain bearing part and engaging over the contacting surfaces of the plain bearing parts into a recess extending substantially in the peripheral direction of the bearing in the wall of the other plain bearing part and with a close sliding fit, and b) the fixing arrangements comprise in per se known manner elements which engage clampwise over the contacting faces of the plain bearing parts, the said elements, for circumferential holding together of the two adjacent plain bearing parts engaging into the walls thereof.

As a result of this separation of the function of plug-in connector elements and the clamp elements which hold the plain bearing parts together clamp-like in a peripheral direction, the mutually engaging plain bearing parts result in the joined-together plain bearing parts being held at their contacting faces by plug-in connector elements provided on the inside of the wall in such a way as to be virtually immovable in relation to one another in a radial direction while being held rigidly together in a peripheral direction by the clamp elements.

In this way, the bearing composed of the plain bearing parts is elastically tensioned all round so that it is drawn together in opposition to its tendency to spread open, so that the clamp element can be fitted without any problem.

The plug-in connector elements disposed directly in the wall of the plain bearing parts can in a preferred embodiment of the invention be constructed as cylindrical studs. In another embodiment, however, a different construction of plug-in connector elements is taken into account in which they are for example in the form of elongated plates which in their longitudinal direction extend over the contacting faces of the plain bearing parts.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, in each case one plug-in connector element and one clamp element form a pair of connectors and are provided so that they overlap mutually in and on the bearing wall. The clamp elements may be constructed as spring rings, for example circlips, each of which engages half-and-half over a socket constructed on the outside of the bearing in each of the plain bearing parts which require to be connected. In general, in the case of two-part plain bearings, it is sufficient to provide on each bearing contacting point a pair of plug-in connector element and clamp element and to dispose these two pairs in a diametrically opposed relationship.

In the case of broader two-part plain bearings, however, it is possible also to dispose at each bearing contacting point two or more pairs of plug-in connector element and clamp element and for the pairs of connectors on the oppositely disposed contacting faces to be axially offset in relation to one another.

Examples of embodiment of the invention will be explained in greater detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a partial plan view of an area of the contacting face of a divided plain bearing in a first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a partial section on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1; Figs. 3 and 4 show a second embodiment of the invention in a corresponding view to those in Figs. 1 and 2; Figs. 5 and 6 show a third embodiment of the invention in a corresponding view to those in Figs.

1 and 2; Fig. 7 is a partial plan view of an area of a contacting face of a plain bearing according to the invention with two asymmetrically disposed arrangements for the separable holding-together of the plain bearing parts, and Fig. 8 shows a modified embodiment with an asymmetrical disposition of an arrangement for the separatable holding-together of the plain bearing parts in a corresponding view to that in Fig. 7.

In the example of Figs. 1 and 2, the plain bearing 10 comprises plain bearing halves 1 0a and 1 Ob which are assembled together at the contacting faces 22a and 1 b and which are provided in this area of the contacting faces with a means 12 by which they can be held separably together. This holding-together means 12 is in the example of Figs. 1 and 2 formed by the combination of a stud-like plug-in connector element 13 inserted directly into the wall of the plain bearing halves 10 and lOb and a clamp element 1 4a applied against the outside of the plain bearing 10 and engaging over the contacting faces 1 a and 1 b on the two plain bearing halves 10 and 10b.

The stud-like plug-in connector element 1 3a is inserted rigidly with a press fit in the wall of the plain bearing half 1 Oa into a recess, namely a bore 1 spa and engages via the contacting faces 11 a and 11 b into a bore 1 sub in the plane bearing half 1 0b.

The bore 1 5b is somewhat wider than the bore 1 spa, so that the stud-like plug-in connector element 1 3a fits with a close sliding fit into the bore 1 sub and can accordingly, when the plain bearing halves 1 0a and 1 0b are assembled together, easily be introduced therein.

In this example, the clamp element 14 is constructed after the fashion of a circlip and is inserted into an annular groove 1 6 which extends half-and-half over the contacting faces 1 a and 1 b in the outer surface of both plain bearing halves 1 Oa and 1 Ob. In this way, a half socket 1 7a and 1 7b is formed on each plain bearing half.

These two half sockets 1 7a and 1 7b, when the plain bearing halves 1 0a and 1 Ob are assembled together, form a socket 1 7 of circular crosssection around which clamp element 14 engages.

The bores 1 spa and 1 sub to accommodate the studlike plug-in connector element 1 3a are in the example of Figs. 1 and 2 disposed inside the surface region of the half sockets 1 7a and 1 7b so that the plug-in connecting element 1 3a and the clamp element 14 form a holding-together arrangement 12 in the form of a per se closed pair.

This holding-together arrangement 12 in the example of Figs. 1 and 3 is located centrally in relation to the width of the bearing. On the diametrically opposed side of the divided plain bearing 10 there is an identical holding-together arrangement 12 in the region of the contacting faces on that side, the stud-like plug-in connector element 1 3a being seated with a press fit in a relatively narrow bore in the wall of the plain bearing half 1 Ob and being adapted to be inserted into a correspondingly somewhat wider bore in the wall of the plain bearing half 1 Oa with a close sliding fit.

In the example of Figs. 3 and 4, two stud-like plug-in connector elements 1 3a are provided which are in each case inserted with a press fit in the plain bearing half 1 0a in a bore 1 spa, extending over the connecting faces 11 a and 1 b with a close sliding fit in bores 1 5b in the wall of the plain bearing half 1 Ob. As Fig. 3 shows, these two plug-in connector elements 1 3a are provided in a symmetrical disposition on both sides of the clamp element 14 which is central of the width of the divided plain bearing 10. For the rest, the construction of the bores 1 5a and 1 5b and of the plug-in connector elements 1 3 is the same as in the example of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 shows in partial section on the line 4-4 in Fig. 3 the clamp element 14 and the annular groove 1 6a in section. As can be seen therein and as is shown larger in detail, in this example the annular groove 1 spa is on its inner edge 1 8a constructed as a back taper, so that the socket 1 7 which is engaged around by the clamp element 14 widens outwardly in the form of a truncated cone.

In this way, the springing clamp element 14 which is constructed as a circlip is always pulled into the bottom of the annular groove 1 6a and is held at a distance from the inner face of the bearing housing 1 9. Furthermore, in this way, insertion of the clamp element 14 into the annular groove 1 6a is made more secure and easy.

Also in the example of Figs. 3 and 4, the divided plain bearing 10 is provided on the diametrically opposite side, i.e. in the second contacting surface zone, provided with an identical holding-together arrangement, with the sole difference that in this case the stud-like piug-in connecting elements are secured with a press fit in recesses in the plain bearing half 1 Ob and engage with a close sliding fit in recesses in the plain bearing half 1 0a.

It would also be possible to arrive at a modified embodiment in that on each side of the divided plain bearing 10, one plug-in connecting element 1 3a is secured in the plain bearing half 1 Oa while the second plug-in connecting element 1 3a is fixed in the second plain bearing half 1 0b.

However, in this case, the symmetry in relation to the two connecting surface zones should be so chosen that the two plain bearing halves 1 Oa and 1 Ob can also be joined together by either possible method.

In the example shown in Figs. 5 and 6, on a basis of the example in Figs. 1 and 2, a plate-like plug-in connecting element 1 3b is provided which is seated with a press fit rigidly in a recess 1 sic in the wall of the plain bearing half 1 Oa engaging with a close sliding fit into a recess 1 sod in the wall of the plain bearing half 1 Ob. The plate-like plug-in connecting element 1 3b is in this example disposed centrally in the surface of the divided socket 17 around which the clamp element 14 engages.

Fig. 6 shows in partial section on the line 6-6 in Fig. 5 a modification on the annular groove 1 6b which accommodates the annular springing clamp element. According to this, the inner face 1 8b, in other words the peripheral face of the divided socket 1 7 which is surrounded by the annular groove 1 6b is ribbed in a peripheral direction or is formed in the manner of a screwthread in order to secure more satisfactorily against outwards slippage (radial in relation to the plain bearing 10) of the clamp element which is constructed in the form of a circlip, and in order to hold it at a distance from the inner face of the bearing housing 19.

Fig. 7 shows an area of the contacting faces of a relatively broad plain bearing 10. In this area of the contacting faces, two holding-together devices 12 are disposed beside each other in the embodiment according to Fig. 1. However, the disposition of these two holding-together means 12 is eccentric, being asymmetrically shifted towards one side. The two plug-in connecting elements 1 3a are a press fit in the wall of the plain bearing half 1 Oa and engage with a close sliding fit in recesses 1 5b in the wall of the plain bearing half 1 Ob.On the diametrically opposite side of the plain bearing 10, the disposition of the two holding-together devices 12 is correspondingly eccentrically asymmetrical, the two plug-in connecting elements 1 3a being seated with a press fit in the wall of the plain bearing half 1 Ob and engaging with a close sliding fit in recesses in the wall of the plain bearing half 1 Oa.

If necessary, in the case of a broad embodiment of divided plain bearing, even more than two holding-together devices 12 may be disposed beside one another. It is also possible for the holding-together means to be constructed in the fashion of the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

In the example shown in Fig. 8, it is envisaged in the case of a plain bearing 10 comprising plain bearing halves 1 0a and 1 Ob to locate a plate-like plug-in connecting element 1 3b and a clamp element 14 alongside each other along the contacting faces 1 a and 11 b so that they engage over these, one beside the other. The plate-like plug-in connecting element 1 3b is, as is in the example shown in Fig. 5, a press fit in a corresponding recess 1 Sc in the wall of the plain bearing half 1 Oa, engaging with a close sliding fit into a recess 1 5d provided in the wall of the plain bearing half 1 Ob.In this example, the clamp element 14 is in turn constructed in the form of a circlip and is disposed in an annular groove 16, engaging around the divided socket 1 7 which is encircled by the annular groove 1 6. The peripheral surface of the divided socket 17 can optionally be constructed according to Fig. 2, Fig. 4 or Fig. 6. In the diametrically opposite second contacting surface zone of the divided plain bearing 10, the disposition of plug-in connecting element 1 3b and clamp element 14 is correspondingly reversed and the plug-in connecting element 1 3b is a press fit in the plain bearing half 1 Ob. In this way, it is possible also in this example to provide two possible ways of joining the two plain bearing halves 1 Oa and 1 0b.

In addition to the construction of clamp element 14 in the fashion of a circlip as shown in the examples of embodiment, it is possible also to envisage other possibilities for the clamp element, for example as disclosed in German Offenlengungsschrift No. 21 45 371 and for example as a threaded ring, cross clamp or mounting clamp extending on the outside of the divided plain bearing 10 and in a peripheral direction.

Claims

1. Divided plain bearing, in particular a connecting rod bearing for medium and large engines, in which lasting arrangements for the separable holding-together of the plain bearing parts are provided in the region of the contacting surfaces and these arrangements are mechanically fixed, being preferably disposed in pairs, to engage over the contacting face of the plain bearing parts, and containing elements disposed directly in the wall of the plain bearing parts, characterised in that a) the elements disposed directly in the wall of the plain bearing parts (1 0a, 1 Ob) are inserted as plug-in connector elements (1 3a, 1 3b) with a press fit into a recess (1 5a) extending substantially in the peripheral direction of the bearing in the wall of one plain bearing part and engaging over the contacting surfaces (1 a, 11 b) of the plain bearing parts (1 Oa, 1 Ob) into a recess (1 5b) extending substantially in the peripheral direction of the bearing in the wall of the other plain bearing part (1 Ob) and with a close sliding fit, and b) the fixing arrangements comprise in per se known manner elements (14) which engage clamp-wise over the contacting faces of the plain bearing parts (1 Oa, lob), the said elements, for circumferential holding together of the two adjacent plain bearing parts (lOa, lOb) engaging into the walls thereof.

2. Plain bearing according to Claim 1, characterised in that the plug-in connecting elements (1 3a) disposed directly in the wall of the plain bearing parts (1 Oa, 1 Ob) are constructed in the form of cylindrical studs.

3. Plain bearing according to Claim 1, characterised in that the plug-in connecting elements ( 1 3b) disposed directly in the wall of the plain bearing parts (10a, 10b) are constructed in the form of elongated plates which extend in their longitudinal direction over the contacting faces (1 la, 1 1b) of the plain bearing parts (10a, lob).

4. Plain bearing according to one of the Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that in each case one plugin connecting element (13) and one clamp element (14), as a pair of connectors, are disposed in and on the bearing wall so that their surfaces mutually overlap.

5. Plain bearing according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the clamp elements (14) which engage over the contacting faces (11 a, 1 1 b) of the plain bearing parts (10a, lOb) are constructed as spring rings, each of which engaged around a socket (17) constructed on the outside of the bearing half-and-half in each of the plain bearing parts (1 Oa, 1 Ob) which require to be connected.

6. Plain bearing according to Claims 4 and 5, characterised in that substantially centrally within the cross-sectional area of a divided socket (17) which is held together by a clamp element (14), a plug-in connector element (13) is provided in the interior of the bearing wall.

7. Plain bearing according to Claims 5 or 6, characterised in that the socket (17) has a circular cross-section and in that the clamp element (14) is constructed in the form of a circlip.

8. Plain bearing according to one of Claims 5 to 7, characterised in that the socket (1 7) is formed within an annular groove (16) provided on the outer face of the bearing wall and in that the clamp element (14) is accommodated in this annular groove (16).

9. Plain bearing according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that in the case of a two-part plain bearing, a pair of plug-in connector element (13) and clamp element (14) is provided on each bearing contacting point and in that these two pairs are disposed in diametrically opposed relationship.

10. Plain bearing according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that in the case of a two-part plain bearing, two or more pairs of plug-in connector element (1 3) and clamp element (14) are disposed at each bearing contacting point, these pairs of connectors of the oppositely disposed contacting surfaces (1 a, 11 b) being disposed so that they are axially offset in relation to each other.