Connector and bearing devices

A plate segment for insertion in a hole, cavity or recess to position and/or lock a shaft-like portion of an object within and/or with reference to its bounding wall structure has preferred embodiments comprising plate segments formed of sheet metal in a stamping operation including tooth-like projections. Depending upon the embodiment the tooth-like projections may extend from either or both faces of the plate segments and/or its lateral extremities. The tooth-like projections are formed to provide teeth portions of which are skewed to facilitate the application and anchoring of the segment. In a particularly preferred configuration the plate segment comprises a leading end, a trailing end and side edge portions, the roots of which side edge portions are generally parallel and bound a main body portion of the plate segment which is curved on a uniform radius, in a lateral sense, to provide that the respectively remote faces thereof are formed to resemble a longitudinal portion of a cylindrical surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to improvements in and simplification of the 
available structure for positioning a shaft-like portion of an element 
within a hole, cavity or recess. Depending on the form of its embodiment, 
it may provide a device which has a locking function or a locking and a 
bearing function. 
The prior art has a multitude of keying and bearing devices, the former of 
which include pins, bars, shims and the like and the latter of which have 
various contrived compositions. In no case, however, does there appear to 
be any structure in the form of a simple and very inexpensive stamping 
which can serve either or both purposes. Nor does the prior art appear to 
provide a simple little stamping capable of taking a substantial load in 
use thereof and serving to maintain the position thereof as well as the 
position of related parts. As a matter of fact, the present inventor has 
no knowledge of any particular prior patent which he would construe as 
material to a consideration of the present invention. 
The problems of the prior art the solution to which was the target of the 
efforts which resulted in the development of the present invention were 
many. One target was to reduce the need for multiplicity of devices to 
serve the functions herein described. Another target was to find a way to 
simplify the construction of and substantially reduce the cost of 
production of devices of the type described. Yet a further target was to 
find a way to salvage parts which were accidentally or inadvertently 
formed with oversized holes for accommodating other parts. That the 
targets of the invention have been achieved will become readily evident 
from the following description of the invention by way of illustration of 
some of its preferred embodiments. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides an extremely simple and very inexpensive 
stamping which may be contrived to serve as a locking type connector 
element which may provide a bearing function as well. 
One form of embodiment herein described comprises a plate-like segment 
formed in a stamping operation to include a leading edge, a trailing edge 
and identical side edge portions, the latter of which bound a main body 
portion having a bowed or arced configuration in a transverse sense. The 
side edge portions in this instance have lateral cuts to form of each 
thereof a series of teeth successively adjacent of which are oppositely 
bent and relatively skewed as to their orientation. The device provided by 
this plate segment has its effective lateral extremities tapered from its 
trailing edge to its leading edge. The device accordingly has the 
configuration of a truncated arrowhead and affords means for a press fit 
insertion between a shaft-like portion of an element and a bounding wall 
structure of a second element which defines a hole, cavity or recess in 
which the shaft-like portion is positioned. In the press fit of the plate 
segment the oppositely bent teeth formed in its side edge portions will 
anchor to the respectively opposite surfaces of the shaft-like portion and 
its bounding wall structure. Not only is a relative anchoring of the parts 
between which the segment is easily placed achieved but the parts are 
positioned one relative the other. 
A second embodiment of the invention herein described is similarly stamped 
from sheet metal in a forming operation and provides a plate-like segment 
having with respect to its usual mode of application a leading edge, a 
trailing edge and identical side edge portions of generally triangular 
configuration. Intermediate the side edge portions the main body portion 
of the plate segment is configured similar to the main body portion of the 
embodiment above described. In this case the main body portion which is 
cylindrically arcuate in a transverse sense is bounded by relatively flat 
side edge portions which are co-planar and present flats bounding the 
concave surface of the main body portion. The outermost extremities of the 
side edge portions which define their outer side edges are formed to 
include therein a series of teeth which are spaced axially of the plate 
segment, one following the other. The teeth are symmetrically paired to 
either side of the main body portion and the remote surfaces of the paired 
teeth are tapered to converge towards the leading edge of the segment. 
Again the embodiment of the invention presents a plate segment having, in 
plan view, the shape of a truncated arrowhead. The teeth form barbs on the 
lateral edges of the arrowhead and their trailing ends are distinguished 
by a relatively skewed configuration as related to a line which is 
directly transverse to the surfaces of the plate segment here involved. 
This embodiment of the invention has a specially advantageous application 
for positioning between the head of a punch and its retainer to fix the 
position of the punch. In such case the punch will have a flat on a side 
surface thereof at its head to which the flats on the plate segment will 
be applied as the plate segment is press fit between the flat and the 
bounding wall surface of the hole in the punch retainer in which the punch 
is located. The plate segment will in such event not only serve a locking 
and retaining function but its flats will provide a positioning of the 
punch which will permit the punch withdrawal and replacement as and when 
desired with insurance that the replaced punch will have the same 
orientation as the punch in the first instance. 
It is further contemplated that the last described embodiment of the 
invention may be formed so that the respective remote faces of the main 
body portion of the plate segment of the invention may have an arcuate 
configuration respectively conforming to a portion of a shaft contained in 
the hole and to the wall structure of the hole which is in bounding and 
surrounding relation to the shaft. In using a modification such as just 
described, one may apply it to position a shaft, for example, in an 
oversized hole and enable a bearing relation thereto of the shaft. The 
benefits of this in salvaging parts with oversized holes which are adapted 
to accommodate shafts are believed readily apparent. 
It is accordingly a primary object of the invention to provide connector 
and bearing devices which are very economical to fabricate, efficient and 
satisfactory in use, adaptable to a wide variety of applications and 
unlikely to malfunction. 
A further object of the invention is to provide means for salvaging parts 
with oversized holes. 
Another object of the invention is to provide simple inserts for providing 
an accurate location of a shaft-like portion of an element within a hole, 
cavity or recess which anchor in a manner to inhibit their inadvertent 
loosening or withdrawal. 
An additional object of the invention is to provide connector and bearing 
devices formed of sheet metal in a stamping operation and endowed with 
substantial strength and anchoring capabilities. 
Another object of the invention is to provide bearing and connector devices 
which may be press fit in the application thereof and which possess the 
advantageous structural features, the inherent meritorious characteristics 
and the means and mode of use herein described. 
With the above and other incidental objects in view as will more fully 
appear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected by 
Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and 
combinations thereof, and the mode of operation as hereinafter described 
or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or their equivalents.

As seen in FIG. 1 of the drawings, one embodiment of the present invention, 
comprising an element stamped from sheet metal in a forming operation, 
provides a plate-like segment 10 having, with reference to the usual mode 
of its application, a leading edge 12, a trailing edge 14 and identical 
side edge portions 16. The effective lateral extremities of the side edge 
portions 16 are tapered from the trailing edge 14 to the leading edge 12. 
The root lines or inner extremities of the side edge portions 16 are 
generally parallel and bound what may be considered the main body portion 
18 of the segment 10, one end of which is included in the leading edge 12 
and the other in the trailing edge 14. This gives the main body portion 18 
a generally rectangular outline. As seen in FIG. 4, in a transverse sense 
the main body portion 18 is bowed to form an arc, the arc being created on 
a uniform radius. As so formed, one face or outer surface of the main body 
portion 18 has a convex configuration in a transverse sense and the other 
a concave configuration. As thus provided each of the remote faces of the 
main body portion has the configuration of a longitudinal segment of a 
cylindrical surface. 
The side edge portions 16 are provided with a series of transversely 
extending longitudinally spaced cuts terminating at their root lines. 
These cuts form in each of the side edge portions 16 a plurality of teeth, 
respectively numbered 20, 22, 24 and 26, in a direction inwardly of the 
leading end of the plate segment 10. In the cutting and forming of the 
side edge portions 16, the teeth 20, 22, 24 and 26 are each bent outwardly 
from the main body portion 18 so as to project from the respectively 
remote faces of the plate segment successively in opposite directions. At 
the same time, the adjacent teeth of each of the side edge portions are 
skewed, one relative the other. Viewing the drawings, the teeth 22 and 26 
are bent outwardly of the convex surface of the main body portion of the 
plate segment 10 while the teeth 20 and 24 of each side edge portion 16 
are bent outwardly with respect to the concave outer surface of the main 
body portion 18. The teeth 20 and 24 are distinguished from the teeth 22 
and 26 in that they include inner and outer portions 23 and 25 which are 
angled one relative the other. The inner portions of the teeth 20 and 24 
which join to the root line of the side edge portions 16 of which they 
form a part are generally aligned and lie in a common plane with respect 
to which the main body portion is bowed in a transverse sense. The outer 
portions 25 of these teeth are bent to form with the inner portions 23 an 
obtuse angle so directed to give a hook-like configuration to the outer 
extremities of the teeth 20 and 24 as they project outwardly and commonly 
with respect to the concave side of the main body portion 18. 
The arrangement of the teeth formed in and comprising the side edge 
portions 16 on the main body portion 18 of the plate segment 10 is to give 
the plate segment the general configuration of a truncated arrowhead, with 
the teeth 20, 22, 24 and 26 resembling skewed barbs bent outwardly from 
each of its remote faces. 
In the preferred fabrication of a plate segment 10 as above described it 
will be stamped from sheet metal so as to have integral therewith an 
elongate handle portion forming an axial extension 30 of the main body 
portion 18 which is of similar configuration and joined thereto by a 
relatively thinned plate segment 32 which forms therebetween a break-away 
joint. 
FIG. 4 of the drawings shows the application of the plate segment 10 
between the hub 31 of a wheel 35 and a shaft-like portion 40 of its axle. 
In application of the plate segment 10 it will be axially directed between 
the outer surface of the shaft-like portion and the bounding inner wall 
surface of the hub 31 of the wheel. The leading end 12 of the plate 
segment will be first inserted and, as the segment is tapped between the 
shaft-like portion 40 and the hub 31, the teeth 22 and 26 will engage into 
the inner wall of the hub and produce a pressured flow of material which 
locks over and behind the teeth as they move axially of the inner surface 
of the hub and in engaging contact therewith. At the same time the 
projected extremities of the teeth 20 and 24 which have a hook-like 
configuration will bite into the shaft-like portion 40 of the axle, 
functioning in similar fashion. As so applied, the teeth of the side edge 
portions of the plate segment will positively interconnect the wheel with 
the shaft. By reason of the form of the teeth on the plate segment and the 
truncated arrowhead-like configuration thereof, not only is an 
interconnection of the shaft-like portion with the hub made possible but 
there is established a relative position of the shaft-like portion to the 
hub of the wheel. Particular attention is directed to the FIG. 4 wherein 
it may be seen that the configuration of the plate segment, in the 
transverse sense, effected by the bow in the main body portion 18, 
produces a bridge-type triangular contact as between the inner surface of 
the hub and the shaft. The strength of the device 10 so applied should be 
readily apparent. Attention is directed to FIG. 6 of the drawings wherein 
it may be seen that three of the plate segments 10 may be equidistantly 
and circularly spaced about the shaft-like portion to give the shaft-like 
portion a firm, centered and balanced relation to the hub of the wheel to 
which it is integrally connected by the plate segments. Of course, it will 
be further self-evident that the tapered arrangement of the connecting 
portions of each plate segment and the arrangement of the teeth as they 
advance inwardly of the parts between which they are inserted to anchor 
thereto will be devoid of transverse sharp cutting edges in advance 
thereof, by virtue of which there is a smooth pressured flow of the 
material which the teeth encounter and this displaced material will flow 
over and to the rear of each tooth to produce a firm anchoring thereof. 
This obviates the problem of possible dislocation under stress and 
vibration in use of the wheel which might be occasioned if the teeth were 
formed to merely cut or gouge the inner surfaces of the wheel hub portion 
31 and the shaft-like portion which it bounds. 
It is contemplated that where the plate segment is integrated with a handle 
portion 30 as shown in FIG. 1 that this handle will not only facilitate 
the start of the plate segment between the wheel hub portion and the 
shaft-like portion which it bounds but may be used as a medium through 
which tapping of the plate segment may be effected to drive it in an axial 
sense and produce the press fit desired between the related parts. 
It will be seen from the foregoing that an embodiment of the invention as 
here described may serve admirably to interconnect one part to another. It 
should be understood that the dimensions of the plate segment 10 can be of 
varying size. The device is so effective that in most embodiments it will 
appear in relatively miniature form and the incorporation of a handle 30 
as described and illustrated will be highly advantageous in such case. In 
any case the device is a simple and inexpensive stamping in its preferred 
embodiment, being formed of very inexpensive sheet metal and being very 
inexpensive to fabricate. 
It should be kept in mind that the device of FIGS. 1-6 is not only a 
connector device but a strong positioning device by reason of its 
configuration. 
Attention is directed to the fact that this device may be utilized in some 
applications singly and used to provide a fit of a shaft-like portion of 
an object in an opening or hole, cavity or recess, which is oversized. 
Viewing FIG. 6, it may be seen that one can use appropriately sized plate 
segments 10 and center the shaft-like portion 40 in a fixed position in 
any oversized hole, such as may be provided by an oversized hub portion 
31. By reason of the preferred configuration illustrated there will be a 
strong and balanced positioning of the shaft-like portion or axle and 
correspondingly a firm connection and balanced position for the 
interrelated wheel. 
It is believed that the general application of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 
through 6 is clearly evidenced from the description and drawings at hand 
and the application is no way to be construed as being limited to that 
described. Of course the device can be used to great advantage where the 
one end of the hub is counterbored or in the alternative the shaft-like 
portion bounded by the hub has a step. A shoulder is provided in each case 
against which the leading end of the plate segment 10 may seat, if so 
desired. 
Reference is now made to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in 
FIGS. 7 through 12 of the drawings. As seen in FIG. 7, this embodiment 
comprises an element stamped from sheet metal in a forming operation 
providing a plate-like segment 50 having, with reference to its usual mode 
of application, a leading edge 52, a trailing edge 54 and identical side 
edge portions 56. In this case the side edge portions 56 have a generally 
triangular plate-like configuration the root lines or inner extremities of 
which are generally parallel and bound what may be considered the main 
body portion 58 of the segment 50, one end of which provides the leading 
edge 52 and the opposite end of which forms a part of the trailing edge 
54. The main body portion 58 is bowed to form an arc in a transverse 
sense, which arc is formed on a uniform radius similar to the main body 
portion 18 of the segment 10. As thus provided, the main body portion 58 
has one face or outer surface which has a convex configuration in a 
transverse sense and an opposite face or outer surface which has a concave 
configuration, each of which surfaces has the form of a longitudinal 
segment of a cylindrical surface. The side edge portions 56 of the segment 
50 are co-planar and the surfaces thereof which bound the concave side of 
the main body portion 58 provide thereon co-planar flats 55, the purpose 
of which will be further described. The lateral extremities of the plate 
segment 50, in a transverse sense, diverge from the outermost edges of the 
flats 55 as seen in FIG. 8. 
Formed in the outer edge surfaces of the side edge portions 56 are a series 
of teeth 60 which are longitudinally spaced and configured to give the 
plate segment 50, in plan view, the configuration of a truncated 
arrowhead. In this case the outer edge portions of the teeth 60 to each of 
the sides of the plate segment 50 are shaped to diverge from the ends 
thereof adjacent the leading edge 52. As thus provided, from the leading 
edge 52 to the trailing edge 54 of the plate segment 50 the teeth present 
a series of steps in the tapered side edges of the plate segment. The 
taper of the plate segment as defined by the toothed lateral extremities 
thereof is less than 10.degree. in a preferred embodiment thereof. The 
relatively projected ends of the teeth 60 remote from the leading edge 52 
of the plate segment are relatively skewed to angle from the leading to 
the trailing end of the plate segment. The arrangement is such that in 
application of the plate segment it will facilitate a pressured flow of 
material about these teeth and in a manner to anchor over the teeth and 
prevent accidental or inadvertent dislodgement of the plate segment from 
the parts to which it is applied. 
In a stamping operation to fabricate a preferred embodiment of the 
invention per FIGS. 7 through 11 one of the plate segments 50 will be 
formed on each of the opposite ends of a handle 70, connected thereto by a 
relatively thinned and weakened plate portion 72. 
A typical application for the embodiment of FIGS. 7-11 would be with 
reference to the application of a punch P in its retainer 64. Referring to 
FIGS. 8 and 9 of the drawings, it will be seen that the device 50 is being 
utilized in connection with a punch the head of which is provided with a 
flat 62 producing a step in its outer surface in the portion thereof which 
fits into the retainer 64. The opening for the punch in its retainer 64 is 
normally an aperture in which the flatted body portion of the punch is 
inserted with a light push or slip fit. Upon an insertion of the punch 
into the passage, aperture or hole in the retainer, the flat 62 will face 
a portion of the bounding wall structure which defines this hole. There is 
then inserted between the flat and the bounding wall structure, from the 
end of the punch constituting its head end a plate segment 50. The plate 
segment is applied so that flats 55 thereof will face the flat 62. The 
leading end of the plate segment is inserted first and as the device 50 is 
tapped inwardly between the flat 62 and its bounding wall structure, the 
teeth 60 will successively pressure material from the surface of the 
bounding wall structure in the path thereof to displace laterally. Due to 
the taper on the lateral edges of the plate segment 50 formed to include 
the teeth 60 and the skewed configuration of the trailing end portions of 
the teeth, a particular facility is provided to move material in the path 
of the teeth to displace therefrom and to overflow to the rear thereof 
once the teeth have passed. As seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, there is produced 
thereby a firm and positive anchoring of the teeth 60, that is the 
portions thereof which move interiorly of the surface of the wall 
structure bounding the flat 62, to preclude the inadvertent withdrawal or 
displacement of the plate segment. The net effect is that the teeth 60 
generate burrs which nearly fill the voids produced between the trailing 
edge of each tooth and the leading edge of the following tooth. These is 
thus produced a locked position of the plate segment 50 in connection with 
the wall of the punch retainer which bounds the opening accommodating the 
flatted body portion of the punch P. At the same time the flats 55 
determine a plane and abutment surface for the flat 62 on the punch. This 
will position the punch in a precisely required relation to the associated 
element or elements. One feature of this invention is that in effect the 
plate segment 50 once inserted and anchored to the retainer provides a 
plane of reference and accommodates a withdrawal of the punch from the 
wedged relation in which it is positioned by the plate segment and a 
replacement or reassembly thereof as and when required. The flats 55 will 
in any case provide a relatively permanent plane of reference for the 
positioning of any punch which is to be inserted in the retainer for a 
particular application. 
Take particular note that the convex surface of the plate segment 50 is 
formed on an arc to conform or substantially conform to the arc produced 
by the radius of the opening in which the punch P is positioned for use 
thereof. Thus, there is a partial or full bearing of the convex portion on 
the wall bounding the flat 62 and there are transversely spaced flats 55 
which bear against the flat of the punch and thereby insure a firm and 
positive location thereof. 
Attention is directed to FIGS. 12 and 13 which reveal that both the convex 
and the concave surface portions of the main body portion 58 of the device 
50 may be formed on radiuses which closely correspond on the one hand to 
the curve or radius of a contained shaft and on the other to the curve or 
radius of a bounding wall structure of a hole, cavity or recess in which a 
portion of the shaft is located. In such case, the device 58 may serve to 
provide a bearing for a shaft in an oversized hole. The application of the 
device 50 is as previously described, the only difference being that both 
the convex and the concave side surfaces of the main body portion of the 
plate segment will serve a useful bearing function, being complementary to 
the parts between which they position to permit rotation of one relative 
the other. The very small difference in the diameters of the plate segment 
50 from the inner diameter of the hole and the outer diameter of the 
applied shaft provides additional tolerance of size control and the spring 
temper of the plate segment exerts enough force to provide bearing area in 
contact with both the wall defining the hole and the shaft up to full 
contact of both faces of the plate segment, one with the shaft and the 
other with the wall surface defining the hole. 
The significance of the utilization of a modification of the device of FIG. 
7 as just described in particularly evident when one considers how many 
times parts must be scrapped due to oversized holes. With devices in 
accordance with the invention available one can overcome the problem of 
oversized holes or mislocated holes in parts and salvage these parts for 
effective use thereof. As noted, one or more of the devices may be used to 
offset the position of a shaft in a hole or by the same token a plurality 
may be used to center a shaft in a hole. 
While the invention has been particularly described with reference to 
dealing with the positioning or retention of elements having a shaft-like 
portion in a hole, cavity or recess, it should be understood that the 
peripheral and circumferential surface of the "shaft" or other element 
need not be round or precisely round. 
The foregoing discloses only exemplary forms of embodiments and 
applications of the invention but it is felt that a mechanism versed in 
the art would certainly be able to see its wide range of application and 
various modification as comprehended by the nature and scope of the 
present invention. 
It should be understood that the reference to a "hole" as used herein in an 
individual sense is meant to include a cavity, recess or the like and 
where the term "hole" is used in the claims it is to be construed as 
inclusive of the equivalent, that is a cavity, recess, etc. 
From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided 
a device of the character described possessing the particular features of 
advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is 
susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction 
and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or 
sacrificing any of its advantages. 
While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described 
in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be 
understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features 
shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but 
one of several modes of putting the invention into effect and the 
invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within 
the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.