Method and apparatus employing eccentric bushing

An alignment system to facilitate a coupling between at least a first and a second work piece, the alignment system comprising:

• a first alignment assembly comprising:
• a first eccentric bushing comprising a generally tubular body formed about a body longitudinal axis, the body having a first end and a second end opposed to the first end, the body of the eccentric bushing forming a passage having a passage longitudinal axis laterally offset from the body longitudinal axis, the eccentric bushing having a radially extending flange proximate the first end of the body;
• a first inner bushing comprising a generally tubular body having a first end and a second end opposed to the first end, the body of the first inner bushing forming a passage sized to closely receive the body of the first eccentric bushing, and the first inner bushing having a radially extending flange proximate the first end of the body, an upper surface of the flange beveled to accommodate an off-centered machining of the passage of the first inner bushing;
• and
• a first outer bushing comprising a generally tubular body having a first end and a second end opposed to the first end, the body of the first outer bushing forming a passage sized to closely receive the body of the first inner bushing, the first outer bushing having a radially extending flange proximate the first end of the body, an upper surface of the flange beveled to accommodate an off-centered machining of the passage of the first outer bushing, where the body of the first out bushing is received in an aperture formed in the first work piece secured therein via cold work expansion, the body of the first inner bushing is received in the passage of the first outer bushing and secured therein via cold work expansion, and the body of the eccentric bushing is received in the passage of the first inner bushing and secured therein via cold work expansion;
• a second alignment assembly comprising:
• a second eccentric bushing comprising a generally tubular body formed about a body longitudinal axis, the body having a first end and a second end opposed to the first end, the body of the second eccentric bushing forming a passage having a passage longitudinal axis laterally offset from the body longitudinal axis, the second eccentric bushing having a radially extending flange proximate the first end of the body;
• a second inner bushing comprising a generally tubular body having a first end and a second end opposed to the first end, the body of the second inner bushing forming a passage sized to closely receive the body of the second eccentric bushing, and the second inner bushing having a radially extending flange proximate the first end of the body, an upper surface of the flange beveled to accommodate an off-centered machining of the passage of the second inner bushing;
• and
• a second outer bushing comprising a generally tubular body having a first end and a second end opposed to the first end, the body of the second outer bushing forming a passage sized to closely receive the body of the second inner bushing, the second outer bushing having a radially extending flange proximate the first end of the body, an upper surface of the flange beveled to accommodate an off-centered machining of the passage of the second outer bushing, where the body of the second out bushing is received in an aperture formed in the second work piece secured therein via cold work expansion, the body of the second inner bushing is received in the passage of the second outer bushing and secured therein via cold work expansion, and the body of the eccentric bushing is received in the passage of the second inner bushing and secured therein via cold work expansion, and
• wherein at least one of the first and the second eccentric bushings is rotated about the respective body longitudinal axis of the at least one eccentric bushing to substantially align the passages of the first and the second eccentric bushings.

A method of aligning coupling structures on at least a first and a second work piece, the method comprising:

• locating a first outer bushing having a passage in an aperture formed in the first work piece;
• locating a first inner bushing having a passage in the passage of the first outer bushing;
• securing the first outer bushing and the first inner bushing in the aperture and the passage, respectively, via cold work expansion;
• locating a second outer bushing having a passage in an aperture formed in the second work piece;
• locating a second inner bushing in the passage of the second outer bushing;
• securing the second outer bushing and the second inner bushing in the aperture and the passage, respectively, via cold work expansion;
• locating a first eccentric bushing having a passage in the passage of the first inner bushing, the first eccentric bushing having a first end, a second end opposed to the first end, an inner circumference formed about a first axis, and an outer circumference formed about a second axis laterally offset from the first axis;
• locating a second eccentric bushing having a passage in the passage of the second inner bushing;
• rotating at least one of the first and the second eccentric bushing to approximately align the passages thereof;
• and
• securing the first eccentric bushing with the first inner bushing and securing the second eccentric bushing with the second inner bushing via cold work expansion and after the respective eccentric bushing passages have been approximately aligned.