Tool for assembling a main assembly using a single stroke
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorChester Fillhard
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tool for attaching a first workpiece and a second workpiece to one another and to a support structure includes a housing and a plunger. The housing includes a main body, a neck portion, and a shoulder portion. The shoulder portion is disposed between the main body and the neck portion and has an outer diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of the main body. A bore extends from a first end within the main body to a distal end of the neck portion. The plunger is disposed within the bore and extends from the distal end of the neck portion. The plunger is biased in a first direction away from the shoulder portion and includes a gripper operable to extend away from an outer surface of the plunger in an expanded state to engage an inner surface of the first workpiece.
Claims18
A system for manufacturing a main assembly, the system comprising:
- a first workpiece, wherein the first workpiece is a bearing having an inner race, the inner race including an outer diameter:
- a second workpiece;
- a support structure;
- a tool, the tool including a housing having a main body, a neck portion extending from the main body and having an outer diameter that is substantially equal to or less than an outer diameter of the first workpiece, a shoulder portion disposed between the main body and the neck portion and including an outer diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of the main body and an inner diameter of an aperture formed in the second workpiece, and a bore extending from a first end within the main body to a distal end of the neck portion;
- and
- a plunger having a first end disposed within the bore and a second end extending from the distal end of the neck portion, the plunger biased in a first direction away from the shoulder portion and including a gripper operable to extend away from an outer surface of the plunger in an expanded state to engage an inner surface of the first workpiece, and wherein the outer diameter of the inner race is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the neck portion, the tool configured to push the first workpiece entirely within the aperture of the second workpiece.
A method for attaching a first workpiece and a second workpiece together and to a support structure, the method comprising:
- providing a tool comprising:
- a housing having a main body, a neck portion extending from the main body and having an outer diameter that is substantially equal to or less than an outer diameter of the first workpiece, a shoulder portion disposed between the main body and the neck portion and including an outer diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of the main body and an inner diameter of an aperture formed in the second workpiece, and a bore extending from a first end within the main body to a distal end of the neck portion;
- and a plunger having a first end disposed within the bore and a second end extending from the distal end of the neck portion, the plunger biased in a first direction away from the shoulder portion and including a gripper operable to extend away from an outer surface of the plunger, wherein the outer diameter of the first workpiece is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the neck portion;
- moving the tool in a second direction towards the first workpiece;
- engaging the distal end of the neck portion with a top surface of the first workpiece as the tool moves in the second direction;
- extending the plunger into an aperture of the first workpiece and into an aperture of the support structure;
- moving the gripper of the plunger from a retracted state to an expanded state to engage an inner surface of the aperture of the first workpiece;
- moving the tool in the second direction towards the second workpiece to engage the shoulder portion with an outer surface of the second workpiece adjacent to the aperture of the second workpiece;
- pressing the first workpiece into the aperture of the second workpiece to form a subassembly as the tool moves in the second direction;
- and pressing the subassembly to the support structure as the tool continues to move in the second direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.