Apparatus, in particular insertion aid, for plain bearing shell mounting

Abstract

An apparatus mounts a plain bearing shell of a plain bearing in a bearing seat of a component. The apparatus has an attachment region for releasably attaching the apparatus to the component. The apparatus has a supporting region for supporting the plain bearing shell during an insertion of the plain bearing shell into the bearing seat of the component. During the insertion into the bearing seat, the plain bearing shell can slide along on the supporting region, with the result that the plain bearing shell does not come into contact with an outer edge of the bearing seat.

Claims

1. A method, comprising: using an apparatus during the insertion of a plain bearing shell into a bearing seat of a component, the apparatus including a first attachment region for releasably attaching the apparatus to the component, and the apparatus further comprising a first supporting region for supporting the plain bearing shell during an insertion of the plain bearing shell into the bearing seat of the component, and the apparatus further comprising a grip region for gripping and guiding the apparatus, the grip region being configured to adjoin the first supporting region, so as to lie opposite the first attachment region.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: attaching the apparatus to the component by means of the first attachment region such that the first supporting region projects beyond an outer edge of the bearing seat; inserting a first plain bearing shell comprising a first plain bearing half shell into the bearing seat of the component, the first plain bearing shell being supported on the projecting first supporting region during the insertion, such that the first plain bearing shell is spaced apart from the outer edge of the bearing seat of the component; and removing the apparatus after the insertion of the plain bearing shell into the bearing seat of the component.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein: the component has a fastening element seat comprising a screw hole for receiving a fastening element comprising a screw for fastening a cover, the cover comprising a bearing block cover or a connecting rod cover; and the apparatus is attached releasably to the component by means of the first attachment region which is attached in the fastening element seat or to the fastening element.

4. The method according to claim 2, further comprising: attaching the apparatus to a cover for the component, the cover comprising a bearing block cover or a connecting rod cover, by means of the first attachment region, such that the first supporting region projects beyond an outer edge of a bearing seat of the cover; inserting a second plain bearing shell including a second plain bearing half shell into the bearing seat of the cover, the second plain bearing shell being supported on the projecting first supporting region, such that the second plain bearing shell is spaced apart from the outer edge of the bearing seat of the cover during the insertion; and removing the apparatus after the insertion of the second plain bearing shell into the bearing seat of the cover; and fastening the cover to the component.

Description

(1) The above-described preferred embodiments and features of the invention can be combined with one another in any desired way. Further details and advantages of the invention will be described in the following text with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a side view of an insertion aid for plain bearings in accordance with a first embodiment,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a side view of a connecting rod part with a plain bearing half shell and the insertion aid in accordance with the first embodiment,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of the connecting rod part from FIG. 2,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a side view of an insertion aid for plain bearings in accordance with a second embodiment,

(6) FIG. 5 shows a side view of an insertion aid for plain bearings in accordance with a third embodiment,

(7) FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a bearing block assembly with the insertion aid for plain bearings in accordance with the third embodiment,

(8) FIG. 7 shows a longitudinal sectional view through an insertion aid for plain bearings in accordance with a fourth embodiment, and

(9) FIG. 8 shows a side view through a connecting rod cover with an insertion aid for plain bearings in accordance with the fourth embodiment, in a partially sectioned view.

(10) The embodiments which are shown in the figures correspond to one another at least in part, with the result that similar or identical parts are provided with the same reference signs and reference is also made to the description of the other embodiments and/or figures in order to describe them, so as to avoid repetitions.

(11) Reference is made first of all to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 shows an insertion aid 10 for plain bearings. FIGS. 2 and 3 show the insertion aid 10 mounted on a component 12 with a bearing seat 14, and a plain bearing shell 16 during the insertion into the bearing seat 14. Herein, the insertion aid 10 is also called an apparatus for mounting a plain bearing shell of a plain bearing in a bearing seat of a component. The component 12 can be, for example, a connecting rod part (as shown) or a bearing block part of an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine can be housed, for example, in a commercial vehicle, for example an omnibus or a lorry. It is also possible, however, to use the insertion aid 10 in any other machine which has split plain bearings.

(12) The insertion aid 10 is configured as an elongate body. The insertion aid 10 has an attachment region 18, a supporting region 20 and a grip region 22 (see FIG. 1).

(13) The attachment region 18 and the grip region 22 are arranged at free ends of the insertion aid 10. The supporting region 20 is arranged between the attachment region 18 and the grip region 22. The attachment region 18 and the supporting region 20 together form a mushroom shape. The attachment region 18, the supporting region 20 and the grip region 22 are manufactured integrally from one piece. It is also possible, however, to manufacture the insertion aid 10 in multiple pieces. The insertion aid 10, in particular the supporting region 20 of the insertion aid 10, is preferably manufactured from a non-abrasive material, for example a plastic material and/or an elastomer material. For example, the material of the insertion aid 10, in particular the supporting region 20 of the insertion aid 10, can be manufactured from a material which is softer (less hard) than the material of the plain bearing shell 16.

(14) The attachment region 18 is configured to be attached to the component 12 with the bearing seat 14. In the embodiment which is shown, the attachment region 18 is of pin-like configuration. The attachment region 18 can be plugged into a screw hole 24 of the component 12 (see FIG. 3), in order to attach the insertion aid 10 to the component 12. In particular, the pin-like attachment region 18 is adapted to the screw hole 24, with the result that the insertion aid 10 cannot be moved in the screw hole 24 in a perpendicular direction with respect to a centre axis or longitudinal axis A of the insertion aid 10. In other words, an external diameter of the attachment region 18 corresponds substantially to an internal diameter of the screw hole 24. The screw hole 24 can be present in any case in the component 12 for fastening a (bearing) cover, for example a bearing block cover or a connecting rod cover, for the component 12. It is therefore not necessary to adapt the component 12 with respect to the use of the insertion aid 10.

(15) In order to facilitate the introduction of the attachment region 18 into the screw hole 24, the attachment region 18 can have a tapering section 26. The attachment region 18 tapers on the tapering section 26. The tapering section 26 is arranged at a free end of the attachment region 18. The tapering section 26 can be configured as a chamfer.

(16) The supporting region 20 has an annular contact face 32 which adjoins the attachment region 18. By way of the contact face 32, the insertion aid 10 can lie on a contact surface 30 of the component 12 in the attached state. The contact surface 30 can be flat or irregular. For example, the contact surface 30 can be a “cracked” or fracture-split face of a connecting rod.

(17) The supporting region 20 serves to support the plain bearing shell 16 during the insertion of the plain bearing shell 16 into the bearing seat 14 of the component 12. In the embodiment which is shown, the supporting region 20 extends radially to the outside from the centre axis A. In the mounted state of the insertion aid 10, a radial outer section of the supporting region 20 projects beyond a sharp-edged, substantially rectilinear outer edge 28 of the bearing seat 14. The outer edge 28 delimits the bearing seat 14 and the contact surface 30 of the component 12.

(18) The projection of the supporting region 20 beyond the outer edge 28 brings it about that the plain bearing shell 16 does not come into contact with the outer edge 28 during the insertion into the bearing seat 14. In detail, the plain bearing shell 16 has what is known as a spread before the mounting, with the result that a spacing of the free ends of the plain bearing shell 16 is greater than an internal diameter of the bearing seat 14. During the insertion into the bearing seat 14, the free ends of the plain bearing shell 16 are deformed elastically with respect to one another. In particular, a first free end 34 of the plain bearing shell 16 is set against an outer edge 36 of the bearing seat 14, which outer edge 36 lies opposite the outer edge 28. The plain bearing shell 16 is pivoted into the bearing seat 14. A second end 38 of the plain bearing shell 16 comes into contact with the supporting region 20. The second end 38 is guided along the (soft) supporting region 20 and does not come into contact with the outer edge 28. As a result, no score marks and no swarf abrasion occur on the plain bearing shell 16 during the insertion. The material pairing comprising metal of the plain bearing shell 16 and plastic/elastomer of the insertion aid 10 slides on one another satisfactorily. The mounting force is reduced. Finally, the second end 38 of the plain bearing shell 16 passes the supporting region 20, and the plain bearing shell 16 snaps into the bearing seat 14.

(19) It is also possible, for example, to use two insertion aids 10 on both sides of the bearing seat 14. The plain bearing shell 16 can then be pushed into the bearing seat 16 between the respective supporting regions 20 of the two insertion aids 10.

(20) The supporting region 20 can project beyond the outer edge 28 by in a range of greater than or equal to approximately 0.5 mm. In particular, the supporting region 20 can be dimensioned in such a way that it projects beyond the outer edge 28 by between approximately 0.5 mm and approximately 2 mm. In this way, an abrasion of the plain bearing shell 16 on the outer edge 28 can be prevented effectively.

(21) The insertion aid 10 can also be used in an analogous way for mounting a plain bearing shell in the cover for the component 12. The cover can then be mounted with a mounted plain bearing shell on the component 12 with a mounted plain bearing shell 16, in particular by means of a screw which engages into the screw hole 24.

(22) The supporting region 20 is of rotationally symmetrical configuration about the centre axis A. As a result, the insertion aid 10 can be inserted into the screw hole 24 at any rotary angle about the centre axis A. The projection of the supporting region 20 beyond the outer edge 28 remains identical.

(23) The insertion aid 10 can be gripped and moved manually by means of the grip region 22. In this way, the insertion aid 10 can be guided to the component 12 and removed from the component 12 in a simple way. The grip region 22 can be configured integrally with the projection region 20.

(24) FIG. 4 shows a second exemplary embodiment for the insertion aid. The insertion aid 110 of FIG. 4 has the attachment region 18, the supporting region 20 and the grip region 22, just like the insertion aid 10 of FIGS. 1 to 3.

(25) In addition, the insertion aid 110 has a second attachment region 118 and a second attachment region 120. The attachment regions 18, 118 are arranged at opposite ends of the insertion aid 110. The supporting regions 20, 120 are arranged between the attachment regions 18, 118.

(26) As a result of the two attachment regions 18, 118 and the two supporting regions 20, 120, the insertion aid 110 can serve as an insertion aid for plain bearing shells of two different components. For example, the attachment region 18 can be adapted to the screw hole 24 of the connecting rod part of FIGS. 2 and 3. The attachment region 118 can be adapted to another screw hole, for example, of a main bearing block of a crankshaft bearing. In this way, the insertion aid 110 can be used in two ways.

(27) It is possible in principle to provide an insertion aid which can be used in n ways, with n different attachment regions and/or supporting regions, it being possible for n to be an integral natural number.

(28) The second attachment region 118 can have, for example, a tapering section 126 which is configured as a chamfer. The second supporting region 120 can have an annular contact face 132 in a similar manner to the contact face 32 of the first supporting region 20.

(29) FIGS. 4 and 5 show a third exemplary embodiment for the insertion aid. The insertion aid 210 of FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 has a plurality of the insertion aids 10 and an elongate body 240.

(30) In detail, the insertion aids 10 are fastened to the elongate body 240 such that they are spaced apart from one another along the elongate body 240, for example a bar. The insertion aid 210 is configured in such a way that the attachment regions 18 of the insertion aids 10 can be attached to components 212, for example bearing block parts, which are arranged next to one another. In this way, the insertion aid 210 has to be mounted only once, in order to then insert a plurality of plain bearing shells into the components 212.

(31) For example, the insertion aid 210 can combine between two and six insertion aids 10 with one another. It is also possible that, for example, a plurality of insertion aids 110 (see FIG. 4) are combined with one another.

(32) In addition to the attachment regions of the insertion aids 10, the insertion aid 210 can have further attachment regions which are arranged, for example, at opposite ends of the insertion aid 210.

(33) FIGS. 7 and 8 show a fourth exemplary embodiment for the insertion aid. The insertion aid 310 of FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 has an attachment region 318, a supporting region 320 and a grip region 322.

(34) The supporting region 320 and the grip region 322 surround the attachment region 318. The supporting region 320 and the grip region 322 can be of similar configuration, for example, with respect to the supporting region 20 and the grip region 22 (see FIGS. 1 to 3) as disclosed herein.

(35) The attachment region 318 is configured as a seat, in particular a blind bore. Via the attachment region 318, the insertion aid 310 can be plugged, for example, onto a screw shank of a screw 342 which has already been pre-mounted. For example, the screw 342 for connecting the component 312 which is configured as a connecting rod cover to the component 12 which is configured as a connecting rod (see FIGS. 2 and 3) can already be pre-mounted on the component 312 before the plain bearing shell 316 is inserted into the bearing seat 314 of the component 312. In order to facilitate plugging onto the screw 342, the attachment region 318 can have a tapering region 336 which widens towards an opening of the attachment region 318. The insertion aid 310 can lie on the component 312 by means of a contact face 332.

(36) The invention is not restricted to the above-described preferred exemplary embodiments. Rather, a multiplicity of variants and modifications is possible which likewise utilize the concept of the invention and therefore fall within the scope of protection. In particular, the invention also claims protection for the subject matter and the features of the subclaims independently of the claims, to which they refer. In particular, the features of independent claim 1 are disclosed independently of one another. In addition, the features of the subclaims are also disclosed independently of all the features of independent claim 1 and, for example, independently of the features with regard to the presence and/or the configuration of the attachment region and the supporting region of independent claim 1.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(37) A Centre axis 10 Insertion aid (apparatus for mounting a plain bearing shell) 12 Component 14 Bearing seat 16 Plain bearing shell 18 (First) attachment region 20 (First) supporting region 22 Grip region 24 Screw hole 26 Tapering section 28 Outer edge 30 Contact surface 32 Contact face 34 First end 36 Outer edge 38 Second end 110 Insertion aid 118 Second attachment region 120 Second supporting region 126 Tapering section 132 Second contact face 210 Insertion aid 212 Component 240 Elongate body 310 Insertion aid 312 Component 314 Bearing seat 318 Attachment region 320 Supporting region 322 Grip region 332 Contact face 342 Screw