Process and apparatus for producing connections between crankshaft parts

Claim 2

A process for producing force-locking connections between tubular members inserted one into the other, by permanent radial expansion of a plurality of sleeves slid into said tubular members in a coaxial arrangement, the process comprising: providing a plurality of tubular members; providing a plurality of radially expandable sleeves having axially aligned apertures; axially aligning said tubular members such that end portions thereof are in overlapping, juxtaposed relation; filling said sleeves with a fluid; aligning said sleeves such that said apertures are in axial alignment; inserting pistons into the apertures in the sleeves such that the axially aligned apertures of adjacent sleeves are closed by a single piston; inserting the assembly of said pistons and said sleeves into said axially aligned tubular members such that each of said sleeves is in radial alignment with a corresponding juxtaposed portion of said tubular members; inserting a piston into each of the outwardly facing apertures of the two outermost sleeves of the assembly; and bringing the two pistons which close the outwardly facing apertures of the two outermost sleeves closer together such that internal pressure in the sleeves is increased to radially expand said sleeves, and thereby radially expand said tubular members to produce a force-locking connection between the tubular members.

Claim 3

An assembly for producing force-locking connections between tubular members and element slid onto said tubular members, by permanent radial expansion of several adjoining sleeves slid into said tubular members in a coaxial arrangement, the assembly comprising: a plurality of adjoining radially expandable sleeves slid into the tubular members so as to be coaxially arranged, the sleeves having axially aligned apertures with a freely movable piston located between and inserted into the apertures of adjacent sleeves; a device for holding said tubular members and the elements to be attached thereto; a piston arranged so as to close an outer aperture of a sequentially first one of the adjoining sleeves; a fixed stop for the piston closing the outer aperture of the first sleeve; a pressure generating working piston arranged so as to close an outer aperture of a sequentially last one of the adjoining sleeves.

Claim 4

An assembly for producing force-locking connections between tubular members and element slid onto said tubular members, by permanent radial expansion of several adjoining sleeves slid into said tubular members in a coaxial arrangement, the assembly comprising: a plurality of adjoining radially expandable sleeves slid into the tubular members so as to be coaxially arranged, the sleeves having axially aligned apertures with a freely movable piston located between and inserted into the apertures of adjacent sleeves; a device for holding said tubular members and the elements to be attached thereto; a piston arranged so as to close an outer aperture of a sequentially first one of the adjoining sleeves; a fixed stop for the piston closing the outer aperture of the first sleeve; a pressure generating working piston arranged so as to close an outer aperture of a sequentially last one of the adjoining sleeves.

Claim 5

The assembly to claim 2, wherein each of the pistons has a different diameter for generating different pressure levels within the sleeves.

Claim 6

The assembly of claim 3, wherein the diameter of at least some of the pistons is graduated between the sleeves.

Claim 7

A process for producing force-locking connections between a tubular member and a plurality of lobe members slid onto said tubular member, by permanent radial expansion of a plurality of sleeves slid into said tubular member in a coaxial arrangement, the process comprising: providing a tubular member; providing a plurality of lobe members, each said lobe member having an annular hole through its longitudinal axis; providing a plurality of radially expandable sleeves having axially aligned apertures; sliding said lobe members onto said tubular member such that said lobe members and said tubular member are in coaxial arrangement; filling said sleeves with a fluid; aligning said sleeves such that said apertures are in axial alignment; inserting pistons into the apertures in the sleeves such that the axially aligned apertures of adjacent sleeves are closed by a single piston; inserting the assembly of said pistons and said sleeves into said tubular member such that each of said sleeves is in radial alignment with a corresponding juxtaposed lobe member; inserting a piston into each of the outwardly facing apertures of the two outermost sleeves of the assembly; and bringing the two pistons which close the outwardly facing apertures of the two outermost sleeves closer together such that internal pressure in the sleeves is increased to radially expand said sleeves, and thereby radially expand said tubular member to produce a force-locking connection between the tubular member and the lobe members.

Claim 8

A process for producing force-locking connections between a tubular member and a plurality of lobe members slid onto said tubular member, by permanent radial expansion of a plurality of sleeves slid into said tubular member in a coaxial arrangement, the process comprising: providing a tubular member; providing a plurality of lobe members, each said lobe member having an annular hole through its longitudinal axis; providing a plurality of radially expandable sleeves having axially aligned apertures; sliding said lobe members onto said tubular member such that said lobe members and said tubular member are in coaxial arrangement; filling said sleeves with a fluid; aligning said sleeves such that said apertures are in axial alignment; inserting pistons into the apertures in the sleeves such that the axially aligned apertures of adjacent sleeves are closed by a single piston; inserting the assembly of said pistons and said sleeves into said tubular member such that each of said sleeves is in radial alignment with a corresponding juxtaposed lobe member; inserting a piston into each of the outwardly facing apertures of the two outermost sleeves of the assembly; and bringing the two pistons which close the outwardly facing apertures of the two outermost sleeves closer together such that internal pressure in the sleeves is increased to radially expand said sleeves, and thereby radially expand said tubular member to produce a force-locking connection between the tubular member and the lobe members.