Apparatus and method for holding a piece in a bore

A method of holding a piece in a bore of a body, comprising:

• providing a piece-holding device having a cylindrical sleeve constructed to be inserted into the bore and held therein by engagement of its outer surface with an inner surface of the bore and having a series of fins extending longitudinally of an inner surface of the sleeve and projecting inwardly from the inner surface of the sleeve, the fins being spaced from each other circumferentially of the sleeve with tips disposed to engage an outer surface of a piece inserted into the sleeve,
• wherein the sleeve and the fins are integrally formed of resilient flexible plastic, the fins are skewed in a same circumferential direction relative to radial planes of the sleeve, the dimension of each fin along the direction of its inward projection is substantially greater than the thickness of the fin, and the flexibility of the fins is such that the fins can be readily deflected when engaged by an inserted piece;
• inserting the piece-holding device in the bore with its outer surface pressed into engagement with an inner surface of the bore;
• and
• inserting the piece in the sleeve of the piece-holding device with the outer surface of the piece engaging tips of the fins and deflecting the fins.

A method of holding a piece in a bore of a body, comprising:

• providing a piece-holding device having a cylindrical sleeve constructed to be inserted into the bore and held therein by engagement of its outer surface with an inner surface of the bore and having a series of fins extending longitudinally of an inner surface of the sleeve and projecting inwardly from the inner surface of the sleeve, the fins being spaced from each other circumferentially of the sleeve with tips disposed to engage an outer surface of a piece inserted into the sleeve,
• wherein the sleeve and the fins are integrally formed of resilient flexible plastic, the fins are skewed relative to radial planes of the sleeve, the flexibility of the fins is such that the fins can be readily deflected when engaged by an inserted piece, and each fin is tapered by having at least one longitudinal end that extends away from a corresponding longitudinal end of the sleeve and away from the inner surface of the sleeve;
• inserting the piece-holding device in the bore with its outer surface pressed into engagement with an inner surface of the bore;
• and
• inserting the piece in the sleeve of the piece-holding device with the outer surface of the piece engaging tips of the fins and deflecting the fins.

A method of joining a first workpiece having a bore therethrough to a second workpiece having a bore, comprising:

• providing a piece-holding device having a cylindrical sleeve constructed to be inserted into the bore of the first workpiece and held therein by engagement of its outer surface with an inner surface of the bore of the first workpiece and having a series of fins extending longitudinally of an inner surface of the sleeve and projecting inwardly from the inner surface of the sleeve, the fins being spaced from each other circumferentially of the sleeve with tips disposed to engage an outer surface of a piece inserted into the sleeve,
• wherein the sleeve and the fins are integrally formed of resilient flexible plastic, the fins are skewed in a same circumferential direction relative to radial planes of the sleeve, the dimension of each fin along the direction of its inward projection is substantially greater than the thickness of the fin, and the flexibility of the fins is such that the fins can be readily deflected when engaged by an inserted piece;
• inserting the piece-holding device in the bore of the first workpiece with its outer surface pressed into engagement with an inner surface of the bore of the first workpiece;
• inserting the piece in the sleeve of the piece-holding device and through the bore of the first workpiece, with the outer surface of the piece engaging tips of the fins and deflecting the fins;
• aligning the bore of the second workpiece with an end of the piece beyond the bore of the first workpiece;
• and
• fixing the end of the piece in the bore of the second workpiece.

A method of joining a first workpiece having a bore therethrough to a second workpiece having a bore, comprising:

• providing a piece-holding device having a cylindrical sleeve constructed to be inserted into the bore in the first workpiece and held therein by engagement of its outer surface with an inner surface of the bore in the first workpiece and having a series of fins extending longitudinally of an inner surface of the sleeve and projecting inwardly from the inner surface of the sleeve, the fins being spaced from each other circumferentially of the sleeve with tips disposed to engage an outer surface of a piece inserted into the sleeve,
• wherein the sleeve and the fins are integrally formed of resilient flexible plastic, the fins are skewed relative to radial planes of the sleeve, the flexibility of the fins is such that the fins can be readily deflected when engaged by an inserted piece, and each fin is tapered by having at least one longitudinal end that extends away from a corresponding longitudinal end of the sleeve and away from the inner surface of the sleeve;
• inserting the piece-holding device in the bore of the first workpiece with its outer surface pressed into engagement with an inner surface of the bore of the first workpiece;
• inserting the piece in the sleeve of the piece-holding device and through the bore of the first workpiece, with the outer surface of the piece engaging tips of the fins and deflecting the fins;
• aligning the bore of the second workpiece with an end of the piece beyond the bore of the first workpiece;
• and
• fixing the end of the piece in the bore of the second workpiece.