GB2546326A

GB2546326A - Assembly nut

Info

Publication number: GB2546326A
Application number: GB1600847.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: A Casbon David
Original assignee: Perkins Engines Co Ltd
Current assignee: Perkins Engines Co Ltd
Priority date: 2016-01-18
Filing date: 2016-01-18
Publication date: 2017-07-19
Also published as: GB201600847D0

Abstract

An assembly nut 28 includes a first portion 30, a second portion 32, and a threaded portion 34. The first portion 30 has a hexagonal shape. The second portion 32 has a frustoconical surface 36 and is integrally connected to the first portion 30. The threaded portion 34 extends from an upper surface 38 of the first portion 30 to an end surface 40 of the second portion 32. The threaded portion 34 has a vertical axis 42 that coincides with a vertical axis 42 of the frustoconical surface36 . The assembly nut 28 may be temporarily inserted to align a turbo assembly centrally on studs of a manifold.

Description

Description ASSEMBLY NUT

Technical Field [0001] The present disclosure relates to an assembly nut for aligning mechanical components, and more specifically, to an assembly nut for assisting alignment of a turbo assembly over a manifold of an engine.

Background [0002] Various types of hardware tools, such as flange nuts, bolts, etc., are used for coupling one component with another for a variety of purposes. During assembly of engine components, there is a need to accurately align the engine components, and therefore sophisticated tools and procedures are utilized.

[0003] Currently, engineers face challenges while installing a turbo assembly over a manifold during an engine assembly. When nuts are tightened over studs of the manifold, the turbo assembly tends to rotate clockwise, and thereby resulting in misalignment of components. The manifold is generally aligned with the turbo assembly via pins with a clearance fit in a bolt hole, however the manifold is pulled down under gravity. As a result, the manifold is not fitted accurately with the turbo assembly in a designed orientation.

[0004] Chinese Publication Number CN201288734, hereinafter referred to as ’734 reference, discloses an anchor bolt for structural member connection. The anchor bolt includes a taper nut, a sleeve and a screw. An annular radial boss is provided with an anti-rotating structure on a rear end of the sleeve. A strip opening extending along an axial direction to a central part is arranged on a front end of the sleeve. The screw is inserted from the rear end of the sleeve. The front thread end is in threaded connection with the taper nut on the front end of the sleeve. The small-diameter end of the taper nut is inserted into the sleeve, and moves toward the rear end of the screw along a screw rod so the front sleeve body of the sleeve is gradually extended radially, and the extended front sleeve body of the sleeve is coordinated with the annular radial boss so as to realize clamping fixation on an installed structure. However, the ‘734 reference fails to disclose an assembly nut for aligning engine components. Therefore, there is a need for an assembly nut adapted to be temporarily used to align the turbo assembly centrally on the studs of the manifold.

Summary of the Disclosure [0005] In one aspect of the present disclosure, an assembly nut is provided. The assembly nut includes a first portion, a second portion, and a threaded portion. The first portion has a hexagonal shape. The second portion has a frustoconical surface, and is integrally connected to the first portion. The threaded portion extends from an upper surface of the first portion to an end surface of the second portion. The threaded portion has a vertical axis that coincides with a vertical axis of the frustoconical surface. The assembly nut is adapted to be temporarily inserted to align a turbo assembly centrally on studs of a manifold. The assembly nut is inserted into a stud opening in such a way that the second portion is adapted to be tightened until the frustoconical surface comes in a close contact with the stud opening and further the vertical axis of the frustoconical surface coincides with a vertical axis of the studs of the manifold. The assembly nut is removed after other flange nuts are fitted to clamp the turbo assembly.

[0006] Other features and aspects of this disclosure will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings [0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view and an exploded view of an assembly having a turbo assembly installed over a manifold, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure; [0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view and a cross sectional view of an assembly nut, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure; [0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the assembly showing the assembly nuts being temporarily tightened over studs of the manifold, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure; [0010] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the assembly showing two flange nuts being tightened over remaining studs of the manifold, while the two assembly nuts are still temporarily tightened over the other studs, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure; and [0011] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the assembly showing misalignment of the turbo assembly with respect to the manifold when the assembly nut is not utilized, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description [0012] Referring to FIG. 1, an assembly 10 includes a turbo assembly 12 installed over a manifold 14. The manifold 14 includes four studs 16 while the turbo assembly 12 includes four holes 18 at each comer of a base 20 of the turbo assembly 12. The term “hole” and “stud opening” is interchangeably used within the specification without departing from the scope of the disclosure. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the quantity, size, and location of the holes 18 on the turbo assembly 12 are varied as per the design, without departing from the meaning and scope of the disclosure.

[0013] The manifold 14 includes the four studs 16 positioned at four corners of a surface 22 of the manifold 14. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the quantity, size, and location of the studs 16 of the manifold 14 are varied as per the design, without departing from the meaning and scope of the disclosure.

[0014] The studs 16 of the manifold 14 are inserted into the holes 18 of the turbo assembly 12. Thereafter, the studs 16 are fastened with a locking mechanism as described in the disclosure to ensure accurate coupling of the turbo assembly 12 over the manifold 14. For accurate coupling of the turbo assembly 12 over the manifold 14, a vertical axis 24 of the hole 18 is aligned with a vertical axis 26 of the stud 16 on the manifold 14. As a result, the turbo assembly 12 is assembled with the manifold 14 as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 1.

[0015] Referring to FIG. 2, an assembly nut 28 includes a first portion 30, a second portion 32, and a threaded portion 34. The first portion 30 has a hexagonal shape. The second portion 32 has a frustoconical surface 36, and is integrally connected with the first portion 30. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the first portion 30 and the second portion 32 have other shapes, such as circular, square, etc. depending on the design, without departing from the meaning and scope of the disclosure. The threaded portion 34 extends from an upper surface 38 of the first portion 30 to an end surface 40 of the second portion 32. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that characteristics such as diameter, crest, flank angle and pitch of threads in the threaded portion 34 are varied depending on the requirement, without departing from the meaning and scope of the disclosure. The threaded portion 34 has a vertical axis 42 that coincides with a vertical axis 42’of the frustoconical surface 36. Both the upper surface 38 of the first portion 30 and the end surface 40 of the second portion 32 have openings 44, and 46 respectively. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the characteristics, such as diameter and orientation, etc., of the opening 44 on the upper surface 38 corresponds to the characteristics of the opening 46 on the end surface 40, without departing from the meaning and scope of the disclosure.

[0016] For accurate positioning of the turbo assembly 12 over the manifold 14, the vertical axis 24 of the hole 18 is aligned with the vertical axis 26 of the studs 16 on the manifold 14. To achieve this, the assembly nut 28 is temporarily tightened over the studs 16 in such a way that the second portion 32 is adapted to be tightened until the frustoconical surface 36 comes in a close contact with the hole 18 on the turbo assembly 12, and further the vertical axis 42’ of the frustoconical surface 36 coincides with the vertical axis 26 of the studs 16 of the manifold 14. The assembly nut 28 is removed after flange nuts (not shown) are permanently tightened over remaining studs 16 to clamp the turbo assembly 12 over the manifold 14 as explained in detail in subsequent figures.

[0017] Referring to FIG. 3, the turbo assembly 12 is placed over the studs 16 via the holes 18. Two assembly nuts 28 are temporarily tightened over two studs 16 of the manifold 14. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that more than two assembly nuts 28, i.e., three assembly nuts 28 are tightened temporarily over the studs 16 of the manifold 14 for accurately clamping the turbo assembly 12 over the manifold 14, without departing from the meaning and scope of the disclosure. In one embodiment, the two assembly nuts 28 are temporarily tightened over the studs 16 in a diagonal direction. In another embodiment, the two assembly nuts 28 are temporarily tightened over the studs 16 in a linear direction.

[0018] The assembly nuts 28 are temporarily tightened over the studs 16 until the frustoconical surface 36 of the second portion 32 comes in a close contact with the holes 18 of the turbo assembly 12. In other words, the assembly nuts 28 are temporarily tightened over the stud 16 such that the frustoconical surface 36 is unable to move further through the holes 18. Under such configuration, the vertical axis 42’ of the frustoconical surface 36 coincides with the vertical axis 26 of the studs 16. Once the assembly nuts 28 are temporarily tightened, the turbo assembly 12 is assembled with the manifold 14 as described in conjunction with FIG. 4 below.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 4, the two assembly nuts 28 are temporarily tightened over the two studs 16 to aid the alignment. Thereafter, two flange nuts 48 are permanently fastened over the remaining two studs 16, while the two assembly nuts 28 maintain the alignment during the fastening process. In this way, when the two flange nuts 48 are fastened, the two assembly nuts 28 keep the turbo assembly 12 from rotating in its position and misaligning from the axis, either vertical or horizontal. Hence, any positional displacement in the turbo assembly 12 during its installation is restricted using various embodiments of the proposed disclosure. After the flange nuts 48 are tightened over the two studs 16 of the manifold 14, the two tightened assembly nuts 28 are removed exposing the studs. Thereafter, two additional flange nuts 48 are tightened over the exposed studs 16 to complete the installation.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 5, when the turbo assembly 12 is placed over the studs 16 of the manifold 14 through the holes 18, the turbo assembly 12 tends to move off the alignment, since the holes 18 are larger to accommodate the studs 16. Also, while the turbo assembly 12 is installed over the manifold 14 by fastening flange nuts 48, the turbo assembly 12 tends to rotate in its position. As a result, the turbo assembly 12 is not centrally aligned with the manifold 14. Due to such misalignment, the vertical axis 24 of the holes 18 in the turbo assembly 12 is displaced from the vertical axis 26 of the studs 16 of the manifold 14 as shown in figure by a deviation ‘d\ In other words, there is the deviation ‘d’ between the vertical axis 26 of the studs 16 and the vertical axis 24 of the holes 18, when the assembly nut 28 is not utilized for assisting the alignment. As a result, there is a misalignment between the turbo assembly 12 and the manifold 14, which results into further disorientation of other components. In an embodiment, there is a shear/angular displacement between the turbo assembly 12 and the manifold 14.

[0021] It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the assembly nut 28 is utilized to align any mechanical components, without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Further, the assembly nut 28 is manufactured from a variety of materials such as, but not limited to, hardened steel coated with zinc, etc. It will be further apparent to one skilled in the art that an angle of the frustoconical surface 36 is varied, without departing from the meaning and scope of the disclosure. The assembly nut 28 is utilized to align the mechanical components in varied axial (or positional) displacements, such as vertical, horizontal, angular etc., without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Also, any locking mechanism other than the flange nut 48 is used to assemble mechanical components, without departing from the meaning and scope of the disclosure.

Industrial Applicability [0022] Currently, there have been challenges for engineers to install the turbo assembly over the manifold, while assembling an engine. For example, when flange nuts are tightened over studs of the manifold, the turbo assembly tends to rotate in a clockwise direction, and thereby results in misalignment of components. Other tools, such as pins with a clearance fit in a bolt hole, are also utilized, but such tools are ineffective as the manifold is pulled down under gravity. Therefore, conventional techniques are unable to fit the turbo assembly over the manifold in a designed orientation.

[0023] Referring to FIGs. 1-5, the present disclosure provides the assembly nut 28 that is temporarily used to align the turbo assembly 12 centrally on the studs 16 of the manifold 14. The assembly nut 28 is inserted over the stud 16 through the stud hole 18 in such a way that the second portion 32 is adapted to be tightened until the frustoconical surface 36 comes in a close contact with the hole 18 and further the vertical axis 42 of the frustoconical surface 36 coincides with the vertical axis 26 of the studs 16 of the manifold 14. The assembly nut 28 is removed after other flange nuts 48 are fitted to clamp the turbo assembly 12.

[0024] The assembly nut 28 is a temporary fastener and is reusable for assisting alignment of the other mechanical components. The assembly nut 28 aids to the assembling process of mechanical components by assisting in the alignment of the mechanical components. Also, the assembly nut 28 is cost effective since it helps in reducing the maintenance costs, or risk failure costs that incurs if the mechanical components are not aligned properly in an assembly. Further, the assembly nut 28 is easy to manufacture owing to the simple frustoconical shape. Furthermore, the assembly nut 28 has multiple utility.

[0025] While aspects of the present disclosure have been particularly shown and described with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated by the modification of the disclosed machines, systems and methods without departing from the spirit and scope of what is disclosed. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure as determined based upon the claims and any equivalents thereof.

Claims

Claims What is claimed is:
1. An assembly nut comprising: a first portion having a hexagonal shape; a second portion having a frustoconical surface, wherein the second portion is integrally connected to the first portion; and a threaded portion extending from an upper surface of the first portion to an end surface of the second portion, wherein a vertical axis of the threaded portion coincides with a vertical axis of the frustoconical surface; wherein the assembly nut is adapted to be temporarily inserted to align a turbo assembly centrally on studs of a manifold in such a way that the second portion is adapted to be tightened until the frustoconical surface comes in a close contact with a stud opening and further the vertical axis of the frustoconical surface coincides with a vertical axis of the studs of the manifold and thereafter flange nuts are fitted to clamp the turbo assembly before the assembly nut is removed for reuse.