JP3201808B2 - Method and apparatus for manufacturing connecting rod - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a connecting rod for connecting a crankshaft and a piston of an engine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method of manufacturing a connecting rod of an engine, first, a main body and a cap are formed as an integral member, and then the integral member is subjected to a load from the inner peripheral side of a bearing opening. A method of dividing the body into a cap and a cap is known (for example,
4-64729).

In the case of employing such a manufacturing method, usually, a predetermined machining is performed on a necessary portion including an opening for a bearing in a state of an integral member before the division, and thereafter, an apparatus for dividing a predetermined material is provided. And divided into a main body and a cap. Then, by combining the obtained two parts in a pair, matching the divided surfaces thereof, and assembling them with each other, it is possible to relatively easily assemble both parts in a state of being positioned with high accuracy.

[0004]

However, according to the above-described manufacturing method, when a part is divided into two parts, as a result of bending acting on a part of the divided part, a part of the divided surface is distorted or the part is distorted. In some cases, the accuracy may be adversely affected. In other words, the two parts have bifurcated legs due to the division, but at the time of division, the division at both legs does not always proceed at the same time, and the division at either one of the legs is usually performed. In the preceding leg, the division proceeds with a slight time delay in the other leg. Therefore, at the time when the division of one leg is completed, the division of the other leg is still in progress, and at the end of the division of the other leg at the end, The separation of the two parts starts on the side of the leg.

For this reason, at the other leg side where the division proceeds with a delay, at least at the end of the division, the main body side and the cap side rotate relatively to some extent, and are divided in a state where a bending force is applied. As a result, the progress of the smooth division is hindered. As a result, the material is deformed at the edge of each part, and it becomes difficult to correctly combine the two parts after division, and it becomes impossible to maintain the shape accuracy of the bearing opening after reassembly. Problems may occur.

Regarding this problem, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
According to JP-A-64729, each part is cut and separated in a two-stage manner, or each part is divided in a state where an integral member is clamped by a jig in order to regulate the relative rotation between the main body side and the cap side. Although it has been proposed to prevent the occurrence of distortion at the divided surface of the component and deformation at the edge of the divided portion, it is actually necessary to stably and smoothly perform division, which is a kind of destructive phenomenon, in practice. It was not easy.

[0007] Similarly, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
In the publication, a notch portion serving as a stress concentration source is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the bearing opening portion, and division is performed with this notch portion as a starting point, so that the division progresses relatively smoothly, and deformation and division of parts are performed. A method for suppressing the occurrence of surface distortion has been proposed. However, in this conventional method, without applying a dividing force directly to the notch portion, a force is applied to both sides of the notch portion to apply a load to push the notch portion, and a certain force is applied. Although the effect can be obtained, it is still difficult to stably and smoothly perform the division, and in reality, the above problem has not been sufficiently solved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and when dividing an integral member into a main body and a cap, the division is performed smoothly to suppress the deformation of both parts and the occurrence of distortion of the divided surface. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a connecting rod that can be used.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a connecting rod body and a cap are integrally formed, and the integrated member is loaded from at least an inner peripheral side of a bearing opening. A method of manufacturing a connecting rod which is divided into a main body and a cap by adding
A pair of notches are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the bearing opening at positions opposed to each other in a first linear direction passing through the center of the opening and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the integrated member, and A notch pressing member which is provided inside the bearing opening so as to be movable in the first linear direction and which is formed in a tapered shape on the inside and which can be engaged with the notch, and passing through the center of the bearing opening; Another pressing member which is provided so as to be movable in a second linear direction intersecting with the first linear direction and which has an inner side formed in a tapered shape and which can be in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the opening, is provided. A sliding shaft having a tapered portion engaged with the tapered surface of each pressing member and disposed inside each pressing member; and biasing means for biasing each of the pressing members toward the center of the bearing opening. Then, press each pressing member toward the center of the bearing opening. A return device capable of performing a return operation toward the front side, and an expanding operation for moving each of the pressing members from the inside to the outside of the bearing opening through the tapered portion in accordance with the sliding direction of the slide shaft. Alternatively, the return device is configured to perform a return operation of moving toward the center side of the bearing opening, and the pressing operation is performed by expanding the respective pressing members by the sliding operation of the slide shaft. By moving each of the notches from the inner side to the outer side, at least the notch pressing member is engaged with the notch portion, and the pressing member moves the inner peripheral surface of the bearing opening from the inner side to the outer side. And presses to apply a load to divide the integrated member into a main body and a cap.

In a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the first pressing member presses the inner peripheral surface of the bearing opening from the inside to the outside with the pressing members.
By applying an impact load from outside of the integral member toward the notch in the linear direction of the above, the integral member is divided into a main body and a cap.

[0011] Further, the third invention of the present application relates to a method of applying a load from at least an inner peripheral side of a bearing opening to a body of a connecting rod in which a body and a cap are integrally formed. An apparatus for manufacturing a connecting rod to be divided, wherein the inside of the bearing opening is provided so as to be movable in a first linear direction passing through the center of the opening and substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the integral member, and the inside is provided. A notch pressing member formed in a tapered shape and capable of engaging with a pair of notches formed on the inner peripheral surface of the bearing opening at opposing positions in the first linear direction; The inner side is provided so as to be movable in a second linear direction passing through the center of the opening and intersecting the first linear direction, and the inner side is formed in a tapered shape, and is formed in the second linear direction. Other pressing members that can abut against the inner peripheral surface of the bearing opening, a slide shaft having a tapered portion that engages the tapered surface of each of these pressing members, and a slide shaft disposed inside each pressing member; A return device having biasing means for biasing the pressing member toward the center of the bearing opening, and a return device capable of returning each pressing member toward the center of the bearing opening; In accordance with the sliding direction, the pressing members move toward the center of the bearing opening by the return device, or the expanding operation of moving from the inside to the outside of the bearing opening through the tapered portion. And a sliding operation of the slide shaft to cause the pressing members to expand and move from the inside to the outside of the bearing opening. Moving each of the pressing members in the first linear direction and the second linear direction, and at least engaging the notch pressing member with the notch portion, and pressing the inner peripheral surface of the bearing opening portion. A load applying means for applying a load by being pressed from the inside to the outside is provided.

Further, in a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect, the pressing member presses the inner peripheral surface of the bearing opening from the inside to the outside with the pressing member. An impact load applying means for applying an impact load from the outside of the integral member toward the notch portion in the linear direction is provided.

[0013]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, at least the notch pressing member is engaged with the notch portion, and each pressing member moves the inner peripheral surface of the bearing opening from the inside to the outside. In order to apply a load by pressing the notch toward the notch, the splitting force is positively applied to the notch, and the notch is further expanded by the other pressing member. The integral member can be easily and smoothly divided using the portion as a starting point, and deformation of the edges of the main body and the cap and distortion of the divided surface can be suppressed.

Further, according to the second invention of the present application, in the first invention, the first pressing member presses the inner peripheral surface of the bearing opening from the inside to the outside with the respective pressing members. An impact load is applied from the outside of the integral member toward the notch in the linear direction of the integral member, so that a dividing force can be applied to the notch more effectively, and the integration can be more smoothly performed. By dividing the member, deformation at the edges of the main body and the cap and distortion of the divided surface can be more effectively suppressed.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, since the notch pressing member, another pressing member, and the load applying means are provided, at least the notch pressing member is engaged with the notch portion. The load can be applied by pressing the inner peripheral surface of the bearing opening from the inside to the outside by the pressing members, and a dividing force is positively applied to the notch, and the other By applying a force for expanding the notch with the pressing member, the integral member can be easily and smoothly divided from the notch as a starting point, thereby suppressing deformation of the body and the edges of the cap and distortion of the divided surface. can do.

Further, according to the fourth invention of the present application,
In the third aspect, since the impact load applying means is provided, the inner peripheral surface of the bearing opening is pressed from the inside to the outside by the pressing members, and is integrally formed in the first linear direction. An impact load can be applied from the outside of the member toward the notch portion, and by applying a dividing force to the notch portion more effectively, the integrated member is further smoothly divided, and the main body and Deformation at the edge of the cap and distortion of the divided surface can be more effectively suppressed.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory plan view showing a large end portion of a connecting rod of, for example, an automobile engine according to the present embodiment in a state of an integrated member in which a main body and a cap are integrally formed. As described above, the large end Wa is provided with an opening Wh (bearing opening) through which a crankpin (not shown) is inserted, and a machined portion such as an inner peripheral surface of the opening Wh has It is finished to predetermined dimensions in the state of an integral member.

In the present embodiment, the integral member W of the connecting rod is more preferably formed of a sintered metal. After being formed into the integral member W and fired, it is divided into a main body Wb and a cap Wc. Prior to this, the required machining is performed on the predetermined location. The inner peripheral surface of the bearing opening Wh may be used in a state of being formed by sintering without having to be particularly finished by machining, depending on the level of dimensional accuracy at the time of molding and required dimensional accuracy. It is also possible. Although not specifically shown, the large end W
a, a bolt hole into which the bolt member is screwed (or inserted) when the body Wb and the cap Wc are divided after being divided into the main body Wb and the cap Wc, in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis Lw of the integral member W. It is provided in.

The integral member W has a bearing opening Wh.
Body having a small end (not shown) connected to a piston pin (not shown) by being divided into two (divided surfaces S, S) along a direction passing through the center of Wb,
The cap Wc is combined with an end of the main body Wb to constitute a large end Wa. A bearing metal (not shown) that rotatably supports a crank pin (not shown) is fitted into the bearing opening Wh of the large end Wa, for example, during reassembly after division.

In the present embodiment, a pair of V-shaped notches Wv cut out in the inner peripheral portion of the bearing opening Wh in a direction passing through the center of the opening Wh and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Lw. Is provided at a position facing 180 degrees, and when the integral member W is divided into two parts, the dividing force is actively applied to the notch portion Wv so that the division proceeds stably and smoothly. I can do it. Hereinafter, an apparatus and a method for dividing the integrated member W into a main body Wb and a cap Wc will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the dividing device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a base 2 that supports a table 4 on which the large end Wa of the integrated member W is mounted, and a side portion of the base 2. A side receiving base 3 installed on the base member and supporting the side surface of the integral member W; a slide shaft 6 slidably disposed in the center of the base 2 and the table 4 in a vertical direction; Drive shaft 7 to drive
A hydraulic device 8 for applying a driving force to the drive shaft 7; and a hydraulic device 8 mounted on the upper portion of the slide shaft 6 and extending from the inside to the outside of the bearing opening Wh of the integral member W during the dividing operation. And second pressing members 1 for pressing the inner peripheral portion of
1, 11 and 12, 12 are constituted as main parts.

As shown in more detail in FIG. 4, the first pressing members 11 and 11 are provided in pairs at 180 ° facing each other in the direction of the longitudinal axis Lo of the apparatus 1 through the center of the slide shaft 6. At its outer portion, an engaging portion 11v that can engage with the notch portion Wv of the bearing opening Wh of the integral member W is formed. Further, the second pressing member 1
The pair 2 and 12 are provided in pairs at 180 ° opposing positions in a direction passing through the center of the slide shaft 6 and orthogonal to the longitudinal axis Lo of the device 1, and have a bearing opening of the integral member W on the outside thereof. A contact surface 12f that can contact Wh along the inner peripheral surface thereof is formed.

The inside of each of the pressing members 11, 11, 12, 12 is formed in a tapered shape, and each tapered surface (only the tapered surface 11t of the first pressing member 11 is shown in FIG. The pressing members 11 and 12 are horizontally supported on the upper end side of the slide shaft 6 by engaging with the tapered portion 6t formed at the upper end of the slide shaft 6t. Further, each of the pressing members 11, 1
2, a return device 13 is attached to the upper portion, and the return device 13 has pressing members 11, 11, 1.
2 and 12 (FIGS. 2 and 3 show first grooves).
The return springs 15,..., 15 each having one end engaged with the groove 11g of the pressing member and the other end locked to the ceiling plate 14, respectively, are mounted. Members 11, 11, 12, 1
2 is biased toward the center.

Then, by sliding the slide shaft 6 upward, the respective pressing members 11 and 12 are expanded through the tapered portion 6t, and both the first pressing members 11 are moved in the longitudinal axis Lo direction of the device 1. And each second pressing member 12
Can be simultaneously moved from the inside to the outside in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis Lo of the device 1. On the other hand, when the slide shaft 6 is slid downward, the pressing members 11 and 12 are returned to the center side by the action of the return springs 15 while following the downward movement of the tapered surface 6t of the slide shaft 6. It is supposed to be.

A spring 1 for urging the slide shaft 6 downward is provided in the middle of the slide shaft 6 in the vertical direction.
6 is mounted, and a tapered portion 6p is provided between the portion on which the spring 16 is mounted and the lower end guide portion 6b so as to engage with the tapered end 7p of the drive shaft 7. The drive shaft 7 is disposed so as to be movable in the horizontal direction, and its terminal side is connected to a piston member 17 that partitions the left and right pressure chambers 25 and 26 of the hydraulic device 8 in a liquid-tight manner.

Oil supply and discharge pipes 27 and 28 are connected to the left and right pressure chambers 25 and 26, respectively.
A three-way solenoid valve (not shown) is interposed, for example, on the upstream side of the valve. By controlling the opening and closing switching operation of the solenoid valve to supply and discharge the oil in the left and right pressure chambers 25 and 26, a predetermined timing is provided. Thus, the drive shaft 7 can be moved left and right. That is, for example, the right pressure chamber 26
When the oil is supplied to the left side and the oil in the left pressure chamber 25 is discharged, the drive shaft 7 is moved leftward, and at this time, the slide shaft 6 is slid upward. On the other hand, when sliding the slide shaft 6 downward,
The oil supply and discharge conditions for the left and right pressure chambers 25 and 26 may be reversed.

Particularly, in the present embodiment, the notch is provided on the side of the table 4 on the base 2 from outside the large end Wa of the integral member W along the longitudinal axis Lo of the apparatus 1. Department Wv
There is provided a hammer device 30 for applying an impact load F in the direction of. The hammer device 30 is installed so as to face the side receiving base 3 with the setting jig 5 on the table 4 interposed therebetween, and the height of the integral member W set on the setting jig 5 is substantially reduced. The setting is such that an impact load F can be applied at a height position corresponding to the center.

When the integrated member W is divided into the main body Wb and the cap Wc using the apparatus 1 configured as described above, first, when the slide shaft 6 is at the lowered position, the integrated member W Is mounted on the table 4 such that its longitudinal axis Lw is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis Lo of the apparatus 1. At this time, the pressing members 11, 12 are in a state of being moved to the center side, and these pressing members 11, 11,
12 and 12 are positioned in the bearing opening Wh to form the integral member W
Can be set in the device 1. The table 4 is fastened and fixed to the upper surface of the base 2 by bolt members 21,..., 21. A ring-shaped set jig 5 is fastened and fixed to the table 4 by a screw member 22, and is an integral member. The large end Wa of W is set on the upper surface side of the setting jig 5.

Next, the slide shaft 6 is slid upward by operating the hydraulic device 8 to move the drive shaft 7 to the left. As a result, each of the pressing members 11 and 12
The spread operation is performed on the table 4 in a horizontal plane, and the table 4 is moved from the inside to the outside. At this time, since the inside of each of the pressing members 11 and 12 is guided by the upper end tapered portion 6t of the slide shaft 6, the outside is in contact with the inner peripheral portion of the journal opening Wh of the integral member W. Thus, the center of the opening Wh and the center of the slide shaft 6 can be easily matched. In this contact state, the engaging portions 11v of the first pressing members 11 are respectively engaged with notches Wv provided on the inner peripheral portion of the opening Wh.

In the present embodiment, more preferably, each first pressing member 11 is moved to some extent before the contact surfaces 12f, 12f of the second pressing members 12, 12 contact the inner peripheral surface of the opening Wh. Is set so as to engage with the notch portion Wv. When the inner peripheral surface of the opening Wh is pressed from the inside by the pressing members 11 and 12, at least The notch portion Wv is engaged with the engaging portion 11v of the first pressing member 11.
Is pressed, a pressing load is applied.

By further raising the slide shaft 6, the pressing members 11 and 12 can be further moved outward, and a pressing force can be applied to the inner peripheral portion of the opening Wh. That is, each first pressing member 11 is in the longitudinal axis direction Lo of the device 1 (that is, the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis Lw of the integrated member W).
Is further moved outward, and the tip of the engaging portion 11v cuts the notch bottom of the notch Wv of the opening Wh. By applying a dividing force directly to the notch portion Wv, the integral member W can be easily and smoothly divided from the notch portion Wv as a starting point.

Further, each of the second pressing members 12 is connected to the device 1
Is moved further outward in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Lo of the first member W (that is, in the longitudinal axis Lw direction of the integral member W), and presses the inner peripheral surface of the opening Wh outward. This second
Due to the pressing force of the pressing members 12, 12, a force is applied to the notch portion Wv to push the notch portion Wv to both sides, and the division at the notch portion Wv can proceed more smoothly.

Further, in particular, each of the pressing members 11, 11, 1
In a state where the inner peripheral surface of the bearing opening Wh is pressed from the inside to the outside at 2 and 12, the hammer device 30 is used to push the inner member W from the outside of the integral member W in the longitudinal axis Wo direction of the dividing device 1. By applying the impact load F toward the notch portion Wv, the dividing force can be applied to the notch portion Wv more effectively, and the integral member W can be divided more smoothly.

As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to apply a dividing force to the notch portion Wv and to apply a force to push the notch portion Wv. The integral member W can be easily and smoothly divided using the portion Wv as a starting point, and deformation of the edges of the main body Wb and the cap Wc and distortion of the divided surface can be suppressed. Further, in particular, by applying an impact load F from the outside of the integral member W to the notch Wv in a state where the inner peripheral surface of the bearing opening Wh is pressed from the inside to the outside, Notch part Wv
Can more effectively apply the splitting force to
This makes it possible to divide the integrated member W more smoothly.

In the above embodiment, in addition to a pair of notch pressing members (first pressing members 11, 11) which can be engaged with the notch portion Wv, the inner peripheral surface of the bearing opening Wh of the integral member W is provided. Although another set of pressing members (second pressing members 12, 12) was disposed in the opening Wh as another pressing member for pressing, two or more sets of the other pressing members were disposed. May be moved in a linear direction passing through the center of the opening Wh.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a large end of a connecting rod integrated member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory plan view of the dividing device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional explanatory view in the AA direction of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory cross-sectional view taken along a line BB in FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Dividing device 6 ... Slide shaft 7 ... Drive shaft 8 ... Hydraulic device 11 ... 1st pressing member 11v ... Engaging part 12 ... 2nd pressing member 12f ... Contact surface 30 ... Hammer device F ... Impact load Lo ... Dividing device Lw ... Longitudinal axis of integral member W ... Connecting rod integral member Wb ... Main body Wc ... Cap Wh ... Bearing opening Wv ... Notch

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A connecting rod wherein a main body and a cap of a connecting rod are integrally formed, and the integrated member is divided into a main body and a cap by applying a load from at least an inner peripheral side of a bearing opening. The manufacturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a pair of notches are cut out at positions opposed to each other in a first linear direction that passes through the center of the opening on the inner peripheral surface of the opening for bearing and that is substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the integrated member. A notch pressing member which is provided inside the bearing opening so as to be movable in the first linear direction and which is formed in a tapered shape on the inner side and which can be engaged with the notch; Another pressing member which is provided so as to be movable in a second linear direction passing through the center of the opening and intersecting with the first linear direction, and which is formed to have a tapered inner side and which can contact the inner peripheral surface of the opening. A sliding shaft having a tapered portion that engages with a tapered surface of each of these pressing members, and a slide shaft disposed inside each of the pressing members, and urging each of the pressing members toward the center of the bearing opening. A return device that has an urging means that allows each pressing member to return toward the center of the bearing opening, and that, according to the sliding direction of the slide shaft, presses each of the pressing members with the taper. The opening operation for moving from the inside to the outside of the opening for bearing through the portion, or the return operation to move toward the center of the opening for bearing by the return device, The notch pressing member is provided at least in the notch by moving the respective pressing members in the expanding operation by the sliding operation of the slide shaft and moving the pressing members from the inside to the outside of the bearing opening. In the engaged state, the load is applied by pressing the inner peripheral surface of the bearing opening from the inside to the outside by the respective pressing members, and the integral member is divided into a main body and a cap. Of producing connecting rods. 2. In a state where the inner peripheral surface of the bearing opening is pressed from the inside to the outside by each of the pressing members, in the first linear direction, from the outside of the integral member toward the notch portion. 2. The method for manufacturing a connecting rod according to claim 1, wherein the integral member is divided into a main body and a cap by applying an impact load. 3. A connecting rod manufacturing apparatus for dividing an integral member of a connecting rod in which a main body and a cap are integrally formed into a main body and a cap by applying a load from at least an inner peripheral side of a bearing opening. And wherein the inside of the bearing opening is provided so as to be movable in a first linear direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the integral member through the center of the opening, and the inside is formed in a tapered shape,
A notch pressing member capable of engaging with a pair of notches formed on the inner peripheral surface of the bearing opening at opposing positions in the first linear direction; and a notch pressing member inside the bearing opening. It is provided movably in a second linear direction passing through the center and intersecting with the first linear direction, and has an inner side formed in a tapered shape so as to contact the inner peripheral surface of the bearing opening in the second linear direction. Other pressing members that can be in contact with each other, a slide shaft having a tapered portion that engages with a tapered surface of each of these pressing members, and a slide shaft disposed inside each of the pressing members; And a return device having biasing means for biasing the pressing members to return the pressing members toward the center side of the bearing opening, and providing the pressing members in accordance with the sliding direction of the slide shaft. Through the above taper The sliding device is configured to perform an expanding operation of moving from the inside to the outside of the bearing opening or a return operation of moving toward the center of the bearing opening by the return device. A shaft is slid to move each of the pressing members to expand and move from the inside to the outside of the bearing opening, so that each of the pressing members is moved in the first linear direction and the second linear direction. And a load applying means for applying a load by pressing the inner peripheral surface of the bearing opening from the inside to the outside in a state where the notch pressing member is engaged with at least the notch portion. An apparatus for producing a connecting rod. 4. In a state where the inner peripheral surface of the bearing opening is pressed from the inside to the outside by the respective pressing members, in the first linear direction, from the outside of the integrated member toward the notch portion. 4. The connecting rod manufacturing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising an impact load applying means for applying an impact load.