US1965718A - Means for correlating a plurality of initially separate structural pieces - Google Patents

Description

y 10, 1934- w. R. WILEY MEANS FOR CORRELATING A PLURALITY OF INITIALLY SEPARATE STRUCTURAL PIECES Flled Apnl 15 1932 INVENTOR ATTO RN EYS Patented July 10, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE F INITIALLY SEPARATE PIECES STRUCTURAL William R. Wiley, Detroit, Mich.

Application April 15, 1932, Serial No. 605,545

3Claims.

This invention relates to means for correlating a plurality of initially separate structural pieces, and has for its object an improved organization of parts whereby such articles may be effectively united, though left capable of easy structural disassemblage when this is desired. For convenience and clearness of illustration, my invention will be herein discussed as applied to a valve stem for anchoring the valve compression springs of an internal combustion motor, but it will be obvious that the same principles could be employed in numerous other quite diverse applications, and I desire the scope of this disclosure to be understood accordingly.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a valve stem and spring with one form of my improved anchorage element shown in position relatively thereto.

Figure 2 is a perspective of a preferred form of anchorage element, disassociated from the other parts.

. Figure 3 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a slightly modified form of anchorage element shown in position on a fragmentary portion of a stem.

Figure 4 is a perspective of this form of anchorage disassociated from the stem.

Figure 5 is a partly sectional elevational view of a further modified form of anchorage element, shown in position on a piece of stem or shaft.

Figure 6 is a perspective of this modified form, with the position of the shaft relatively thereto phantomed, in dotted lines.

Figure 7 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a still further modified form in position on a fragmentary portion of a valve stem or similar element.

Figure 8 is a perspective of this modified form alone.

Figure 9 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a further modified form of anchorage element shown in position on the fragmentary representation of a stem.

Figure 10 is a perspective of the modified form of anchorage element shown in Figure 9. g V

Figure 11 is a plan or flattened-out view of the stamping from which the anchorage element, shown perspectively in Figure 10, is formed.

All of the several forms of anchorage element herein illustrated are built around the central idea of interposing a filler or sleeve of uniform wall thickness between two angularly inclined surfaces, which, but for the interposed sleeve, would be spaced from one another, and reliance upon the progressive compression of the constituent material of such interposed sleeve in resisting the relative movement of the two parts, such as the stem and the flanged abutment, against which one end of a compression spring 80 rests.

Referring first to the form illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, A illustrates a valve stem whose otherwise truly circular contour has been slightly reduced, as at B, so as to be of conical cross-section as the stem as a whole is viewed elevationally. The upper end of the compression spring C rests against whatever form of abutment may be chosen, as D, whereas its lower end rests upon the flange F of the formed collar E, whose easy removal for purposes of repair to the engine is often as desirable as is the solidity of anchorage of the lower end of the spring when the engine is fully assembled and operating. The conically inclined surface E of the bore of the collar E is of such diametrical measurement that it is normally spaced from the similarly tapering conical surface B, though the diameter of the bore at its top end, as E, is only slightly in excess of the diameter of the stem A, just enough to permit its slidso ing therealong when first assembled, though beneath the level of the shoulder A on the stem the same thickness of intervening space remains as throughout the length of the collar E.

Interposed between these parts, before the top 5 edge E of the collar is lowered beneath the level of the shoulder A, is a washer or shim G, which in the form shown in Figure 2 is actually composed of a complementary pair of curved pieces of metal or other suitable material, G and G having partly conic surfaces. They are of uniform wall thickness from top to bottom, are spaced slightly at their meeting edges G to allow for compression by the collar E, and are united and "resiliently held in position by the looped projection or handle G.

In the form shown in Figures 1 and 2 these tapered and curved walls G and G are slightly bent at,their lower edges, as G so as to fit with a moderate degree of interlocking connection in the groove A on the stem or shaft. Thus, when this filler piece G is inserted over the conically machined portion B of the stem A, its curved sides of uniform wall thickness, as G and (3*, fully occupy the space otherwise separating the conical surface B from the interior surface of thebore in the collar E. Any attempt thereafter to force the collar E further down the stem A, and quite without reliance upon any major locking influence upon the overbent edge G and the groove A is counteracted by the fact that the further downward travel of the sleeve E encounters the resistance to compression offered by the conical walls G and G and that the further away from the level of the shoulder A the top edge E of the conical curved surface is attemptedly forced the thinner is the space into which the component material of the walls G: and G can be compressed. Thus a very firm anchorage in predetermined relation is effected between the stem andthe collar, though this can be easily and quickly terminated when desired by such intentional lifting of the collar E as will permit the seizure of the handle G of the interposed washer and its detachment from the conical surface B.

rial slightly longer on one side than on the other,

so that when its terminal edges are brought together, as illustrated in Figure 4, the resultant structure would be the frusto-conical piece therein shown perspectively.

In this form I have brought out in Figure 3 the shoulder K on the stem K which' would serve as the equivalent for the positive groove A shown in Figure 1, but the same idea as to substantial uniformity of thickness of the walls of the washer H is maintained, and the same principle of operation as regards its compression by the tapering or frusto-conical walls L of the collar M is adhered to.

The modified form illustrated in Figure 5 and 6, though in cross-sectional representation re- ,embling the showing in Figure 3, varies therefrom in that the shim elements consist of a pair of flat pieces Q of sheet metal of suitable gauge or other equivalent material which are laid against correspondingly flattened or slabbed-ofi surfaces P on opposite sides of the stem or shaft P. As the accurate positioning of these individual shim pieces Q and the suitable holding of them in place while the collar P is being slipped thereover would sometimes be diflicult, these pieces may, if desired, be united by a resilient looped holding element, as Q, functioning in the same manner as the handle G shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Themodified construction shown in Figures '7 and 8 varies from those previously-described principally in that the frusto-conical reduction or contouring R of the stem S has the anchorage groove T placed at the top or narrowed end of the portion R, and to eifect the removal of the washer U, U therefrom it is necessary that the collar V be moved upwardly along the stem S to such a degree that the inbent flanges of the washers or shims may be freed from the groove T, as in the other cases, the substantial uniformity of wall thickness of the washer or shim U is maintained.

The form illustrated in Figures 9, 10 and 11 is, in many respects, similar in principle to that 11- lustrated in Figures 1 and 2, in that the shaft or stem W has both a conically tapered surface X and a groove W, and therebeneath, into which latter theunderbent flanges Y of the shim or washer Z may be fitted, the partly conoidal and slightly spaced side portions Z and Z. are designed to flt about the sloping surface of the similarly contoured part X similarly to the parts G and Ci of the first described form. In this form, as in the others, the substantial uniformity of wall thickness of the shim Z is maintained and the resistance thereof to compression by the sloping surface of the bore M of the collar N is adhered to. The ease with which any of these forms of shim can be stamped out from blanks of sheet metal or other material which are subsequently die pressed to proper curvature is made especially clear in Figure 11.

It should be clearly understood that while for convenience and accuracy of manufacture I have, in the various forms of shim above described, mentioned the handle or correlating loops, G of Figure 2, Q of Figure 6, and Z of Figure 10, as made unitary with the stem-engaging curved side pieces, as G: and G3 of Figure 2 and Z and Z of Figure 10, the scope of this disclosure is intended to be inclusive of a shim built up from two originally separate side pieces, as G and G united in proper relation by the welded-on ends of an initially separate loop of wire.

Similarly I desire to emphasize that while my experience has shown the desirability of close adherence to uniformity of wall thickness of the flller pieces, the intended scope hereof is inclusive of such pieces as are actually a few thousandths of an inch thinner at the top edge of the cone shell which they form; such a slight change, without modification of the function performed by these parts, would bring about no material change therein.

What I claim is:

1. Means for securing an abutment upon a rod, including a tapered portion of reduced diameter carried by the rod, an abutment member having an aperture therein with a similarly tapered inner surface arranged outside and spaced from the tapered portion of the rod, said aperture in the abutment member having a minimum diameter greater than the maximum diameter of the tapered portion of the rod, means including a plurality of shim sections insertable between said tapered surfaces for preventing movement of the abutment relatively to the rod in onedirection, and means for handling said sections and for resiliently positioning them relatively to each other, the sections and the handling and positioning means being integrally formed of sheet metal and comprising a pair of shims inclined similarly to said tapered portion of the rod and a looped spring portion secured to each and projecting therefrom.

2. Means for securing an abutment upon a rod, including a tapered portion of reduced diameter carried by the rod, the rod having also a slot adjacent the tapered portion, an abutment member having an aperture therein with a similarly tapered inner surface portion, said tapered aperture having a minimum diameter greater than the maximum diameter of the tapered portion of the rod, means for preventing movement of the abutment relatively to the rod, including a plurality of separate shim sections inserted between said tapered surface portions, a portion integral with a shim projecting into the slot in the rod, and a combined handle and spring portion also integral with and resiliently connecting said shim members and projecting laterally therefrom.

3. Means for securing an abutment member upon a rod, comprising a rod having a reduced and tapered surface portion and a slot adjacent the tapered portion, an apertured abutment member arranged outside but spaced from the tapered rod portion and having a similarly tapered inner surface whose minimum diameter is greater than 15 the maximum diameter oi. said tapered portion of the rod, an interposed filler for locking the abutment against movement along the rod in one direction, comprising a plurality of similarly tapered sections of substantially uniform thickness arranged between said tapered surface portions of the rod and abutment member, a combined

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