Broach tool and method of repair

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6470846
  • Patent Number
    6,470,846
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, November 15, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, October 29, 2002
    22 years ago
Abstract
A broach tool is provided for use in repairing a camshaft support bearing for operably supporting a camshaft in an internal combustion engine. The engine includes a cylinder head with bearing support towers that operably support journals on the camshaft at multiple aligned bearing locations. A broaching tool is provided that is adapted to be linearly pulled through the aligned bearing locations to reform the bearing support structures. Methods of repair include enlarging at least one camshaft support bearing to an oversized condition, such as by using the broach, optionally repairing the oversized camshaft support bearing by filling voids and galled areas with a thermal setting polymer, as needed, and optionally positioning a bearing insert on the camshaft, and positioning the camshaft including the bearing insert in the camshaft support bearing with the camshaft being rotatably supported in the bearing insert and the bearing insert being secured to the oversized camshaft support bearing.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to bearing inserts for operably supporting a rotatable shaft, such as a camshaft in an internal combustion engine, and further relates to a method for repairing spaced-apart bearing supports to receive the bearing inserts, and still further relates to a broaching tool for use in the method.




Modem internal combustion engines for passenger vehicles typically include a cylinder head and a camshaft rotatably supported at journals by the cylinder head at multiple aligned bearing locations. The cylinder heads include a bearing support structure (sometimes called “bearing housings”) at each of the bearing locations. An oil port is included in each bearing support structure for passing oil to journals on the camshaft. As engines age, the bearing surfaces on the cylinder head and the journals on the camshaft wear, such that these bearing locations sometimes need to be rebuilt. In extreme cases, galling and material deformation may occur, causing the camshaft to roughly rotate or even freeze up on the cylinder head. It is known to repair these bearing locations by welding on the cylinder head to reapply material to the support structure, and thereafter to machine away excess material to reform the bearing surfaces. It is also known to simply machine away material on the cylinder head to form an oversize bearing surface. A problem is that accurate alignment of the bearing locations along a camshaft is very important so that the camshaft is properly positioned for rotation without stress, and so that the intake and exhaust valves of the internal combustion engine work properly, set up for good alignment to re-cut the bearing locations is expensive and time consuming and can easily be done wrong. Further, the tools for cutting and machining the bearing locations can be expensive. Also, a plurality of different tools is required for each different bearing size, such that it requires significant capital investment for a repair shop. There are also the frustrations of not having (or not being able to find) the right size cutting tool for a particular size bearing.




It is known to cut away the bearing support structure and to locate a whole new massive outer bearing in the structure head to support the camshaft. Further, it is known to purchase new replacement camshafts having particular sized camshaft bearing surfaces. However, it is undesirable to cut away substantial material from the cylinder head of modern engines since this can affect their strength, operation, and heat flow in the cylinder head in adverse ways. Further, removal of large amounts of material can lead to mistakes that totally destroy cylinder heads.




Notably, broaching apparatuses and methods have been used to machine internal combustion engine components for many years. For example, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,224,804 and 5,435,676. U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,676 discloses a two-stage broaching method wherein the first broach is advanced through the bores, leaving unbroached ridges therebetween. A second broach then broaches the ridges that are left by the first broach. U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,804 discloses a tooling system and method for broaching engine components wherein the broach bar is forwardly passed through the engine block with the bearing bores being opened a progressively to their final diameter. Thus, there is a need for a one-stage broaching apparatus and method wherein the broach is pulled through the cam housings while accurately and ad efficiently machining the cam's bearing surface.




Accordingly, there is a need for a reliable bearing insert and a related method and tools that solve the aforementioned problems and that have the aforementioned advantages.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




In one aspect, the present invention includes a broaching apparatus for use in a structural body having spaced-apart bearing supports with aligned holes defining an axis. The broaching apparatus includes an elongated broach having a longitudinally extending hole extending from end to end of the broach and having first threads formed along at least a portion of the longitudinally extending hole. The broach has a lead section, a cutting section, and a tail section. The cutting section is configured to enlarge the aligned holes from a smaller first diameter to a larger second diameter, and the lead and tail sections are configured to guide the broaching tool linearly through the aligned holes while maintaining accurate alignment with the aligned holes. The broaching apparatus further includes a motivating device including a broach puller and a holder rotatably receiving the broach puller. The broach puller has a shaft that extends through the holder with second threads on one end configured to mateably engage the first threads. The broach puller further has a configured end opposite the one end that is shaped to be engaged and rotatably driven by a machine or hand tool, such as an air impact wrench. The holder includes a first end section rotatably abutting the configured end of the broach puller and a second end section configured to abut the structural body. Thus, the aligned holes in the structural body can be broached by pulling the elongated broach through the aligned holes by rotating the broach puller.




In another aspect, the present invention includes a method of repair comprising steps of providing a cylinder head for an internal combustion engine having spaced-apart bearing housings configured to rotatably support a camshaft, one of the camshaft bearing housings having a galled, non-uniform bearing surface in need of repair; enlarging the non-uniform bearing surface to a slightly oversized condition to form an enlarged bearing housing and positioning a thin-walled insert on the camshaft and in the enlarged bearing housing and frictionally retaining the thin-walled insert in place in the enlarged bearing housing and rotatably supporting the camshaft in the thin-walled insert.




In another aspect, the present invention includes a method of repair comprising steps of providing a cylinder head having spaced-apart and aligned bearing housings configured to rotatably support a camshaft with at least one of the camshaft bearings being galled and in need of repair. The method further includes providing a broach configured to be pulled linearly through the aligned bearing housings to enlarge a diameter of the shaft bearing housing and broaching the galled camshaft bearing by pulling the broach linearly through the galled bearing housing. The method also includes applying polymeric compound to the galled camshaft bearing to fill in void areas.




In yet another aspect, the present invention includes a method of repair comprising steps of providing a cylinder head having spaced-apart and aligned bearing housings configured to rotatably support a camshaft, the camshaft bearings being in need of repair, and providing a broach configured to be pulled linearly through the aligned bearing housings to enlarge a diameter of the camshaft bearing housings. The method further includes broaching at least one of the camshaft bearing housings to an oversized diameter by pulling the broach linearly through at least one bearing housing and positioning at least one insert on the camshaft and in the at least one bearing housing with the camshaft being rotatably supported in the insert.




These and other features, advantages and objects of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims and appended drawings.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a cylinder head having a damaged front bearing, the bearing cap on the front bearing being exploded away to better show the front bearing;





FIG. 2

is an enlarged perspective view of a bottom housing portion of the damaged front bearing shown in

FIG. 1

, the front bearing structure potentially having the bearing cap (not specifically shown) having a similarly damaged surface;





FIG. 3

is a side view of an elongated broach for broaching aligned camshaft housings;





FIG. 3A

is an enlarged side view of the circled area IIIA in

FIG. 3

;





FIG. 4

is a side view of the cylinder head, partially broken away (shown in FIG.


1


), ax with the broach (shown in

FIG. 3

) positioned in the aligned bearing support structure ready to begin the broaching process;





FIG. 5

is a perspective view of the cylinder head after broaching and after filling galled areas with an epoxy filler, and including a release-agent coated sizer rod positioned in the bearing support structure to form the epoxy filler to a predetermined size;





FIG. 6

is an exploded perspective view of the bearing cap and bottom forming an epoxy/repaired bearing housing;





FIG. 7

is a perspective view of a camshaft bearing insert after the bearing insert has been installed in a camshaft housing and after the outward protruding minor section has been deformed and has taken a set;





FIG. 8

is an end view of the bearing insert shown in

FIG. 7

as installed in a camshaft housing;





FIG. 9

is a plan view of a blank of thin sheet material for forming the insert shown in

FIG. 7

;





FIG. 9A

is an end view of the blank from

FIG. 9

formed into a generally circular shape, but that is slightly oval in shape and that is slightly open as to its slit;





FIG. 10

is a side perspective view similar to

FIG. 4

, but showing a modified bench-type broach puller; and





FIG. 11

is a side view of a modified broach similar to that shown in

FIG. 3

, but including multiple replaceable cutting sections forming the broaching tool.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




A cylinder head


20


(

FIG. 1

) of an internal combustion engine comprises a machined casting


21


, such as aluminum or cast iron, that is particularly configured to operably support various engine components. Such cylinder heads and engine components, as well as the functions that each provide, are generally known in the art, such that they do not need to be described for an understanding of the present invention. The present cylinder head


20


includes a plurality of bearing support structures or cam housings


22


that defme multiple aligned cam bearing locations along a common axis. The bearing support structures


22


each define aligned holes configured to rotatably support a camshaft


23


on its journals


24


. The bearing support structures


22


include a bottom half


25


formed as part of the casting


21


of the cylinder head


20


, and further include a top half or bearing cap


26


secured to the bottom half


25


. A camshaft bearing insert


27


is constructed to friction fit into selected ones of (or all of) the bearing support structures


22


to rotatably support the camshaft


23


. The bearing insert


27


can be used in original castings


21


in new engines, such as to provide a more durable bearing housing at the journals


24


, or can be used in repair procedures to rebuild worn engines, as described below.




Bearing support structures


22


(FIG.


6


), often called cam housings, each comprise a bearing top cap


26


secured to a bearing bottom half


25


. The illustrated top cap


26


includes tubular alignment projections


29


that engage mating locating holes


30


in the bottom half


25


. The illustrated top cap


26


is secured to the bottom half


25


by bolts that extend through tubular projections


29


threadably into the holes


30


. The top cap


26


and bottom half


25


include semi-cylindrical surfaces


31


and


32


, respectively, that join to form axially aligned holes across a top of the cylinder head


20


. The bottom half


25


includes an oil port


33


formed between its side edges that is operably connected to a source of engine oil. The oil port


33


is configured to deliver engine oil to the bearing location for lubricating the journal


24


on the camshaft


23


as the camshaft


23


rotates. The illustrated oil port


33


is circumferentially elongated, but it is noted that different oil port designs are known, including a single hole design or a design including spaced holes, and that the present inventive concepts will work with alternative designs.




Camshaft


23


(

FIG. 1

) is elongated and includes a main shaft


35


with a plurality of axially aligned journals


24


accurately positioned on and spaced apart along the main shaft


35


. Intake and exhaust cams


36


and


37


, respectively, are positioned along the main shaft


35


between the journals


24


for operating valve rockers (not shown) which in turn operate intake and exhaust valves (also not shown) on the cylinder head


20


.




As an engine is used, the bearing surfaces


31


and


32


(

FIG. 1

) and/or the journals


24


can become worn, such that the camshaft


24


no longer is accurately held and such that the camshaft


23


begins to vibrate during operation. In a worse case scenario, the material of the bearing surfaces


31


or


32


can become galled or scored, resulting in severe material removal and/or freezing of the camshaft


23


in the cam housings


22


. This is illustrated at locations


38


in

FIG. 2

on the bearing surface


32


of the bottom half


25


. The present invention provides an insert


27


, repair methods, and tools that can be used to rebuild a worn cam housing


22


, as described below.




It is noted that many cylinder heads in modern vehicle engines are being made from aluminum and other alloys to reduce weight. Sometimes these new materials are not strong or durable enough to provide the service life desired. Also, many cylinder heads have reduced mass and structure, such that some new designs require a reinforcement in high stress areas, such as in the camshaft bearings. Still further, modern vehicles are being operated longer and a corresponding increase in engine life is desired. It is contemplated that the present bearing insert


27


, repair methods, and tools are usable in each of these circumstances.




Bearing insert


27


(

FIG. 7

) is provided for positioning in an oversized reformed cam housing


22


to reform or rebuild a cam housing


22


. The insert


27


is made from a phosphor bronze alloy having high durability and excellent properties for use as a bearing. When installed (see FIG.


8


), the insert


27


is forced to take on a closed ring shape with opposing semi-cylindrical portions


40


and


41


joined by a short bulging section


42


on one side and a closed slit


43


on the other side. The short section


42


extends outwardly slightly from the circle of semi-cylindrical portions


40


and


41


, and is configured to engage a mating recess


44


(

FIG. 6

) located in the cam housing


22


, such as at a joint line between bearing surfaces


31


and


32


. The short section


42


is formed when the insert


27


is clamped in place in the cam housing


22


between housing halves


25


and


26


. A length of the blank


46


is closely controlled so that when edges


40


A and


41


A abut, there is excess material along a length of the bearing insert


27


. Therefore, as the cap half


26


is fully tightened, the short section


42


bulges outwardly to engage the recess


44


to act as an anti-rotation device to provide additional resistance against the torsional forces of the journals


24


as the camshaft


23


rotates within the bearing insert


27


on cam housings


22


. The forces are sufficient, such that after installation, the short section


42


takes on a permanent set, as shown in FIG.


7


. An oil port


45


is formed in a center of the illustrated semi-cylindrical portion


40


and extends circumferentially about halfway toward each end of the semi-cylindrical portion


40


or, in other words, about a total of 90 degrees in the insert


27


. Notably, the oil port


45


can be a single hole, two holes, a circumferential slot, a longitudinal slot, a “tear drop” shape, or any other configuration required for a particular cam housing design.




The illustrated bearing insert


27


is one piece and is preferably made from a blank


46


(

FIG. 9

) of flat stock of surface hardened phosphor bronze alloy material similar to that in the insert of U.S. Pat. No. 4,768,479, which has excellent memory and bearing properties. The blank


46


can be made in various ways, but in a preferred form the blank


46


is stamped and formed into a sleeve-like cylindrical shape close to the shape of bearing insert


27


. It is contemplated that the alloy material and thickness of the material of the blank


46


can be optimized for particular applications. Nonetheless, the illustrated insert


27


has a wall thickness of less than about 0.032 inches, and preferably that is about 0.008 inches to 0.020 inches, and most preferably that is about 0.016 inches. Further, the insert


27


is sized to a diameter and length of a camshaft journal, such as anywhere from about a 1.00 inch diameter to about a 2.00 inch diameter, and about 0.50 inches long to about 1.00 inches long for a journal for a camshaft in an internal combustion engine. The illustrated insert


27


is about one inch in diameter and is about ½ inch long. As formed, the insert


27


is formed with the slit


43


slightly opened up about ⅛ inches. The insert


27


is also formed to be slightly oblong or oval, such as about 0.125 inches longer in the dimension D


1


than in the dimension D


2


(FIG.


9


A). This oblong shape and the squareness of edges


40


A and


41


A cause edges


40


A and


41


A to abut on the camshaft journal


24


during installation, thus preventing problems with overlapping of edges


40


A and


41


A during installation. Further, wall of the insert


27


is resilient, such that the insert


27


can be flexed toward a more open condition and thereafter flexed to a more closed condition without kinking or breaking the insert


27


. This allows the insert


27


to be flexed open, such that the insert


27


can be snapped onto any one of the journals


24


from a side of the camshaft


23


without unacceptable distortion of the insert


27


. This is advantageous because the valve cams


36


and


37


(

FIG. 1

) are often larger than the journals


24


. Thus, the flexible insert


27


can be easily manually flexed and positioned on the camshaft


23


, even where the valve cams


36


and


37


are so large as to prevent slipping the insert


27


into position from an end of the camshaft


23


. After positioning the insert(s)


27


on the journal(s)


24


of the camshaft


23


, the camshaft


23


is set onto the bottom halves


25


with the oil ports


45


of each insert


27


being accurately aligned on the oil ports


33


on the bottom halves


25


.




Broach apparatus


50


(

FIG. 4

) includes a broach


51


and a motivating device that comprises a broach puller


52


and a puller holder


53


. The broach


51


is elongated and rod shaped and includes a lead section


54


, a cutting section


55


, and a tail section


56


. The lead and tail sections


54


and


56


are configured to guide the broach


51


through the aligned holes in the cam housings


22


, while accurately maintaining alignment of the broach


51


with an axial centerline of the cam housings


22


. Optimally, the lead section


54


has a diameter about equal to the diameter of the aligned holes in the cam housings


22


before they are broached by the cutting section


55


. Also, the tail section


56


has a diameter about equal to the diameter of the aligned holes in the cam housings


22


after they are broached by cutting section


55


. The illustrated tail section


56


has longitudinally extending relief areas


57


formed therein to reduce a risk of the tail section


56


dragging clips to scoring, marking, or scratching the re-cut aligned holes in the cam housings


22


as the tail section


56


is pulled therethrough. The cutting section


55


includes multiple circular knife edges


58


, five to eight of which are illustrated. Each knife edge


58


(

FIG. 3 and 3A

) is followed by a ring-shaped marginal surface


59


extending downstream of the knife edges


58


. The marginal surfaces


59


extend at an inward angle “A” from the knife edges


58


, and provide relief for the re-cut bearing surfaces


31


and


32


after each knife edge


58


passes over the bearing surfaces


31


and


32


. A relatively large ring-shaped undercut recess


60


is provided ahead of each knife edge


58


for receiving chips and cutaway material from the bearing surfaces


31


and


32


. A hole


61


extends through broach


51


from end to end and includes a threaded section


62


in the lead section


54


. The threaded section


62


includes Acme threads that are chosen to be relatively resistant to damage and resistant to binding from debris that may get into the threads. Nonetheless, it is contemplated that other threads could be used and still satisfy the functional requirements of the design.




The broach puller


52


(

FIG. 4

) includes an elongated threaded rod


64


shaped to threadably engage the thread section


62


in the broach. The broach puller


52


further includes a thrust bearing


65


and an enlarged hex head


66


. The puller holder


53


includes a tube


67


shaped to closely receive the threaded rod


64


, and further includes a first end


67


′ shaped to abuttingly engage the thrust bearing


65


and a second end


68


shaped to abuttingly and stably engage an end of the cylinder head


20


. As shown in

FIG. 4

, the broach apparatus


50


is configured so that the broach


51


can be positioned in one end with the lead section


54


positioned in a first couple jO of the aligned cam housings


22


at one end of the cylinder head


20


. The rod


64


of the broach puller


52


is extended through the puller holder


53


at the other end of the cylinder head


20


, through all of the cam housings


22


and threadably into the broach


51


. An air impact wrench


69


with a socket


70


shaped to engage the hex head


66


of the broach puller


52


can be used to rotate the broach puller


52


to pull the broach


51


through the cam housings


22


of the cylinder head


20


. The puller holder


53


abuts the thrust bearing


65


and the enlarged head


66


of the puller


52


and also abuts the end of the cylinder head


20


, such that the broach


51


is forcibly pulled through the cylinder head


20


as the broach puller


52


is rotated. Further, it is noted that the puller holder


53


can be grasped by the repairman for stabilizing the arrangement during the manual broaching process.




A method of manual broaching the cam housings


22


of a cylinder head


20


is performed as follows. Initially, the cam bearing support structures or cam housings


22


are measured for warp. If the range of misalignment is too great, the cylinder head


20


is first straightened. Such procedures are known in the art. Next, the cam housings


22


are inspected for galling. If any of the cam housings


22


have galling (see FIG.


2


), the damaged cam housing


22


can be repaired with epoxy putty, as noted below. The housing caps


26


are secured to the bearing bottom half


25


by torquing attachment bolts that extend through the tubular protrusions


29


threadably into the holes


30


to an appropriate specification, e.g., to about 16 ft/lbs. The lead section


54


of the broach


51


(

FIG. 4

) is placed in the last two cam housings


22


from a rear of the cylinder head


20


. The broach puller


52


and puller holder


53


are placed on an end of the cylinder head


20


, with an end of the rod


64


threaded into the broach


51


. A liberal amount of lubricant, such as WD-


40


®, is applied to all bearing housings


22


and to the broach


51


. Using the air impact wrench


69


to rotate the broach puller


52


, the broach


51


is pulled through the housings


22


. The combination of the lead and tail sections


54


and


56


keep the broach


51


accurately aligned in the cam housings


22


as the cutting section


55


of the broach


51


reforms the cam housings


22


. Normally, it is contemplated that all cam housings


22


will be broached at a single time, although it is contemplated that a single cam housing


22


can be broached by pulling the broach


51


only far enough to reform the single cam housing


22


.




Severely galled cam housings


22


can be repaired as follows. The galled housing halves


25


and


26


(

FIG. 6

) are ground with a handheld die grinder and/or are broached to a depth of about 0.020 to 0.050 inches below the original housing surface. A shaft mold


75


(

FIG. 5

) is provided having a section with a particular diameter that has a release-agent coated or Teflon coated area corresponding to the cam housings


22


. The coated area of the rod-shaped shaft mold


75


has the desired final diameter of the repaired cam housings


22


′. A suitable polymeric filler


76


, such as Devcon Titanium Putty, is mixed and applied to the ground cam housing


22


(or to the coated area on the shaft mold


75


). With the housing caps


26


off, the shaft mold


75


is cradled in the cam housings


22


. The housing top caps


26


are then reattached to the bearing bottoms


25


, and the cap attachment bolts are appropriately torqued to a specification, e.g., about 16 ft/lbs. The putty is allowed to dry for an appropriate time, such as about four hours. Then the top caps


26


are disassembled and any excess putty is ground off. (See

FIG. 6

, which shows repaired surfaces


31


′ and


32


′ on the top cap


26


and bottom half


25


.) The oil ports


33


are cleaned out, such as with a hand drill.




To install the inserts


27


(FIG.


1


), the bearing inserts


27


are flexed open and snapped onto journals


24


of a camshaft


23


, either from a side thereof or over an end of the camshaft


23


. The camshaft


23


is then positioned on the surface


32


of the bottom half


25


of the cam housing


22


, making certain that the oil slot


45


is aligned with the oil port


33


on the bottom half


25


of the cam housing


22


. The top caps


26


are placed in their order and assembled to the bottom halves


25


of the cylinder head


20


, including torquing them to an appropriate torque specification, e.g., 16 ft/lbs. The cam housing repair is complete.




It is contemplated that modifications can be made to the present inventive concepts while still being included in the present invention. For example, a bench-type broaching apparatus


80


(

FIG. 10

) can be used in place of the air impact wrench


69


. The bench-type apparatus


80


includes a stand


81


with spaced-apart blocks


82


and


83


holding a hydraulic cylinder


84


, and a stop


88


spaced from the front block


83


. An extendable/retractable rod


85


extends from the cylinder


84


and through the second block


83


and also through the stop


88


into an area where a cylinder head


20


is supported on a stand


86


against the stop


88


. A hydraulic fluid powering system


87


is attached to the cylinder


84


for motivating the extendable/retractable rod


85


. The broach


51


is positioned in the cylinder head


20


and is threadably connected to an end of the rod


85


. The broach


51


is pulled through the cylinder head


20


by operating the powering system


87


to move the broach


51


. It is contemplated that a semi-automatic powering system could also be configured to rotate, so that it could be used to rotate the broach puller


52


to pull the broach


51


by use of the rod


64


.




In yet another modification, a modified broach


51


′ (

FIG. 11

) is provided with replaceable cutter sections


55


′. It is contemplated that the cutter sections


55


′ can be separate cutter rings as shown or can be a single modular unit. The illustrated cutter sections


55


′ include a center body


89


having a nose


90


shaped to closely mateably engage a recess


91


on the structure upstream from the nose


90


, and further includes a recess


91


for receiving the nose


90


on a downstream adjacent structure. The cutter knife edges


58


extend from the structural rings


92


that extend radially from the center body


89


. In the illustrated modified broach


51


′, the tail section


56


′ is threaded. Thus, the tail section


56


′ compresses the assembly of the lead, cutter, and tail sections


54


′,


55


′, and


56


′, respectively, as the rod


64


pulls the broach


51


′ through the cam housings


22


. Alternatively, the noses


90


and the recesses


91


can be threaded or friction fit to retain them together. In still another alternative, a long tubular mandrel (not specifically shown) extending from the lead section to the tail section (or visa versa) can be used to mount the cutter sections


55


′.




The above description is considered that of the preferred embodiments only. Modification of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art and to those who make or use the invention. Therefore, it is understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above are merely for illustrative purposes and not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law, including the doctrine of equivalents.



Claims
  • 1. A broaching apparatus for use in a structural body having spaced-apart bearing supports with aligned holes defining an axis, comprising:an elongated broach having a longitudinally extending hole extending from end to end of the broach and having first threads formed along at least a portion of the longitudinally extending hole, the broach having a lead section, a cutting section, and a tail section, the cutting section being configured to enlarge the aligned holes from a smaller first diameter to a larger second diameter, and the lead and tail sections being configured to guide the broach linearly through the aligned holes while maintaining accurate alignment with the axis; and a motivating device including a broach puller and a holder rotatably receiving the broach puller, the broach puller having a shaft that extends through the holder with second threads on one end configured to mateably engage the first threads, the broach puller further having a configured end opposite the one end that is shaped to be engaged and rotatably driven by a machine, the holder including a first end section rotatably abutting the configured end of the broach puller and a second end section configured to abut the structural body, whereby the aligned holes in the structural body can be broached by pulling the elongated broach through the aligned holes by rotating the broach puller.
  • 2. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said motivating device is configured to be manually driven.
  • 3. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said motivating device includes a hand-held impact wrench shaped to engage the broach puller.
  • 4. A method of repair comprising steps of:providing a cylinder head having spaced-apart and aligned bearing housings configured to rotatably support a camshaft, at least one of the camshaft bearings being galled and in need of repair; providing a broach configured to be pulled linearly through the aligned bearing housings to enlarge a diameter of the shaft bearing housing; broaching the galled camshaft bearing by pulling the broach linearly through the galled bearing housing; and applying polymeric compound to the galled camshaft bearing to fill in void areas, including removing any excess polymeric compound in oil-delivery holes in the bearing housing.
  • 5. The method of repair defined in claim 4, wherein said polymeric compound is an epoxy putty.
  • 6. The method of repair defined in claim 4, further comprising the step of positioning the at least one bearing insert on the camshaft and in the at least one bearing housing, with the camshaft being rotatably supported by the insert.
  • 7. The method of repair defined in claim 4, wherein said step of broaching is conducted prior to said step of applying said polymeric compound.
  • 8. A method of repair comprising steps of:providing a cylinder head having spaced-apart and aligned bearing housings configured to rotatably support a camshaft, the camshaft bearings being in need of repair; providing a broach configured to be pulled linearly through the aligned bearing housings to enlarge a diameter of the camshaft bearing housing; inspecting said cam housings for galling; broaching at least one of the camshaft bearing housings by pulling the broach linearly through at least one of the bearing housings; applying a polymeric compound to fill any of said galling still present after said broaching; and grinding off any excess polymeric material, including removing any excess polymeric material in oil-delivery holes in the bearing housing.
  • 9. The method of repair defined in claim 8, wherein said polymeric compound is an epoxy putty, and wherein the step of applying the epoxy includes mixing the epoxy and allowing the epoxy to harden.
  • 10. The method of repair defined in claim 8, further comprising the step of positioning at least one bearing insert on the camshaft and in the at least one bearing housing with the camshaft being rotatably supported in the insert.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of co-pending application, Ser. No. 09/301,629, filed Apr. 29, 1999, entitled BEARING INSERT FOR SUPPORTING ROTATABLE SHAFTS, METHOD OF REPAIR, AND RELATED BROACH TOOL.

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Non-Patent Literature Citations (2)
Entry
Exhibit A is a prior art brochure entitled Engine Parts-Supplies, published by Silver Seal Products Company, Inc., Trenton, Michigan, date unknown, including the front and rear of the catalog and pp. 10 and 11.
Exhibit B is a prior art label from a can of epoxy putter material sold by Illinois Tool Works Company, Danvers, Massachusetts.
Continuations (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 09/301629 Apr 1999 US
Child 09/714498 US