Retainer for preassembly of mechanical components

A retainer is provided for holding at least two valve rocker trunnions in predetermined, fixed relationship prior to and during installation in a diesel engine assembly. The retainer is an elongated strip arcuate in cross-section and provided with shoulders. At least two cut-out sections provided with pairs of opposing spring members are adapted to receive the trunnions in an interference fit and hold them in fixed relationship while the retainer and trunnions are installed in the engine. Means are provided for holding the retainer in position on the engine assembly during installation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to a retainer for preassembling components destined 
to be assembled later in a complex mechanism. 
2. Descriotion of the Prior Art 
In the assembly of complex mechanisms such as automobile engines and the 
like, it is common practice to preassemble various components prior to 
introducing them into the main assembly. In many instances it is necessary 
to ensure that the components in the pre-assembly are held in a 
predetermined fixed relationship one to another and that this relationship 
is maintained as the preassembly is introduced into the engine or other 
main assembly. 
This invention is directed to an improved retainer for use in such 
preassembly of mechanical components. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention comprises a retainer for holding at least two components in 
predetermined, fixed relationship one to another preparatory to 
installation of said components in a complex assembly, the retainer 
comprising an elongated strip provided with shoulders along each of the 
longer sides thereof and having an arcuate-shaped lateral cross-section. 
At least two cut-out sections are disposed in predetermined relationship 
in the elongated strip and are each provided with a pair of opposed spring 
members adapted to receive, and hold therebetween in predetermined fixed 
relationship, at least two components to be installed in a complex 
assembly. The retainer is also provided with means for engaging the jig 
employed in forming the complex assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The invention will be illustrated by reference to the drawings which show a 
particular embodiment for use in assembling the rocker trunnions which 
form part of a rocker arm assembly of a diesel engine and which have to be 
preassembled and held securely in predetermined position during assembly 
in the engine. 
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the retainer, shown generally as 4, comprises 
an elongated strip 6 of steel of arcuate cross-section having reinforcing 
shoulders 7 and 9. Cut-out sections 8 and 10 are provided with oppositely 
disposed spring members shown as 12 and 14 in cut-out section 8 and as 16 
and 18 in cut-out section 10. The dotted lines shown associated with each 
spring member represent the axes about which the said members are adapted 
to bend or hinge when components are inserted into the cut-out sections 
with which the spring members are associated. Aperture 20 in the 
approximate center of strip 6 serves to engage an appropriately located 
pin in the jig (not shown) employed in the assembly of the diesel engine 
and thereby hold the retainer and components held therein in the requisite 
position for permanent installation in the engine. 
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 after insertion of 
two rocker trunnions 22 and 24 in interference fit with spring members 12 
and 14 in the case of trunnion 22 and spring members 16 and 18 in the case 
of trunnion 24. Trunnions 22 and 24 are provided with central passageways 
26 and 28, respectively, through which retaining bolts (not shown) can be 
inserted to anchor the trunnions in the final assembly of the mechanism 
into which they are to be introduced. As shown in the side elevation view 
in FIG. 4, the insertion of trunnion 24 in the retainer 4 has caused 
spring members 16 and 18 to be deflected downwards so that they lie in a 
plane which describes an angle "a" with respect to the plane in which lie 
the lower edges of shoulders 7 and 9. In order to secure the trunnion 24 
firmly in place in predetermined position and relationship with respect to 
companion trunnion 22 (not shown in FIG. 4) and hold both trunnions in 
place not only in the preassembly itself but also during the final 
installation by bolting or other means in the diesel engine assembly, it 
is preferred that the angle "a" be of the order of 25 degree. However, the 
size of the angle is not critical and larger or smaller angles can be 
employed without departing from the scope of the invention. As will be 
apparent to one skilled in the art the particular angle "a" formed in any 
given instance is a function of the width A of the rectangular 
cross-section of trunnion 24 and the distance between the outer edges of 
spring members 16 and 18. 
In a particular embodiment of the retainer illustrated in FIG. 3 it has 
been found that highly satisfactory results are achieved, in terms of 
gripping trunnions 22 and 24 in accurately parallel relationship and 
retaining them in position despite handling and twisting forces exerted 
during bolting down in the final assembly, if the following relative 
dimensions of components are present. The cross-sectional width C of 
retainer 4 is preferably twice the cross-sectional width A of trunnions 22 
and 24 and the depth D of shoulders 7 and 9 is preferably 0.4 times the 
cross-sectional width A. The dimensions E and F, which are respectively 
the distance between the centers of cut-outs 8 and 10 and the total length 
of retainer 4, are less important and governed by different 
considerations. However, the relationship between the two is preferably 
such that dimension F is at least equal to the sum of E plus 2B. 
The retainer 4 is preferably fabricated by stamping out from spring steel 
with subsequent heating using conventional procedures to temper the metal. 
Advantageously, the thickness of spring steel employed is of the order of 
0.05 A but the optimum thickness of steel and the optimum relative 
dimensions A, B, C, D, E, and F in any given instance can be determined 
readily by a process of trial and error. 
The embodiments described above have been given for purposes of 
illustration only and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the 
invention. Various modifications which can be made without departing from 
the scope of the present invention will be readily apparent to one skilled 
in the art.