Dual purpose threaded insert/compression limiter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10683885-B2
Application number	US-201715654675-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 19, 2017
Priority date	Jul 19, 2017
Publication date	Jun 16, 2020
Grant date	Jun 16, 2020

Abstract

A cover member includes a body member made of a composite material and including a mounting flange. A plurality of compression limiters are disposed in the mounting flange, the compression limiters have a predetermined thickness and an internally threaded aperture therein. The dual function compression limiters eliminate the need for separate threaded inserts. With the dual function compression limiter, every bolt location provides a potential location for a jack screw.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An internal combustion engine, comprising:
an engine structure having a plurality of threaded bolt holes therein;
a cover mounted to the engine structure and made from a composite material, the cover including a flange portion having a plurality of compression limiters disposed therein, the compression limiters having an internal thread having a internal diameter larger than the threaded bolt holes in the engine structure; and
a plurality of mounting bolts extending through the compression limiters and threadedly engaged with the threaded bolt holes in the engine structure.

2. The internal combustion engine according to claim 1 , further comprising bolt retainers received within the compression limiters between the mounting bolts and the compression limiters.

3. The internal combustion engine according to claim 1 , wherein the cover is an oil pan.

4. The internal combustion engine according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of compression limiters are made from metal.

5. The internal combustion engine according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of compression limiters include a radially extending flange.

6. The internal combustion engine according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of compression limiters have a polygonal outer surface.

7. The internal combustion engine according to claim 1 , further comprising a jack screw having a larger diameter than the plurality of mounting bolts and being threadedly received in the compression limiters for prying the cover away from the engine structure.

8. A method of removing a composite cover from an internal combustion engine including an engine structure having a plurality of threaded bolt holes, and a composite cover including a flange portion connected to the engine structure by a sealant and having a plurality of compression limiters disposed therein, the compression limiters having an internal thread having a pitch diameter larger than the threaded bolt holes, a plurality of mounting bolts extending through the compression limiters and threadably engaged with the threaded bolt holes in the engine structure, the method comprising:
removing the mounting bolts from the threaded bolt holes in the engine structure and threadably inserting a plurality of bolts into the internal thread of the compression limiters and against the engine structure surrounding the plurality of bolt holes to apply a separating force to the cover to overcome the sealant connection of the flange.

9. A cover member, comprising:
a body member made of a composite material and including a mounting flange;
a plurality of compression limiters made of metal and disposed in the mounting flange, the compression limiter having a predetermined thickness and an internally threaded aperture therein;
a plurality of mounting bolts received in the compression limiters; and
a plurality of annular bolt retainers removably received within the compression limiters between the mounting bolts and the compression limiters.

10. The cover member according to claim 9 , wherein the cover is an oil pan.

11. The cover member according to claim 9 , wherein the plurality of compression limiters include a radially extending flange.

12. The cover member according to claim 9 , wherein the plurality of compression limiters have a polygonal outer surface.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Friedrich Marc L
• Scott Martin K
• Herrala Kevin W

Classifications

• F02F7/006 Primary

  Camshaft or pushrod housings · CPC title

• F16B19/02

  Bolts or sleeves for positioning of machine parts, e.g. notched taper pins, fitting pins, sleeves, eccentric positioning rings · CPC title

• F16B33/004

  Sealing; Insulation (by means of washers F16B43/001) · CPC title

• F16B41/002

  Measures against loss of bolts, nuts or pins (devices for fastening nuts to surfaces F16B37/04) · CPC title

• F16B31/021

  by means of a frangible part (F16B31/025, F16B31/028 take precedence; break members in torque limiters or torque indicators in wrenches or screwdrivers B25B23/1415) · CPC title