Method for straightening an eccentric shaft

1. A method of straightening an induction hardened eccentric shaft having a rotational axis comprising the steps of:

engaging with a set of rollers an integrally-formed element of the induction hardened eccentric shaft, said element having a centerline;

engaging a mid-section of the element with at least one support roller;

rotating the shaft; and

selectively applying through the set of rollers to the element of the eccentric shaft a compressive force sufficiently large to align the centerline of said element with the rotational axis of the eccentric shaft, said sufficiently large compressive force being applied only during contact of said set of rollers with a predetermined circumferential segment of the element, said segment being smaller than 180°.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compressive force is variable within said predetermined circumferential segment of the element.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein a compressive force insufficient to align the centerline of said element with the rotational axis of the eccentric shaft is applied to the portion of said shaft not within said predetermined circumferential segment of the element.

4. The method claim of 1 , wherein the eccentric shaft is a crankshaft.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the element is at least one of a crankpin and a journal.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a material in an area of contact between said roller and said predetermined circumferential segment of said element is martensitic steel.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the eccentric shaft is a camshaft.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compressive force in the application step is applied at an angle to a fillet disposed between said element and adjacent shaft structure.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compressive force is applied sequentially to a plurality of elements of the eccentric shaft.

10. A method for straightening an induction hardened eccentric shaft comprising the steps of:

mounting the induction hardened eccentric shaft into a deep fillet rolling machine;

rotating the induction hardened eccentric shaft;

determining the straightness of the induction hardened eccentric shaft;

selectively applying through a set of rollers and a support roller to an element of the induction hardened eccentric shaft a compressive force sufficiently large to reposition said element relative to a rotational axis of the induction hardened eccentric shaft, said sufficiently large compressive force being applied only during contact of said set of rollers with a predetermined circumferential segment of the element;

repeating the application of a compressive force on the element of the induction hardened eccentric shaft at least one of: once and more than once until a portion of the induction hardened eccentric shaft adjacent to the element is substantially straight.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the compressive force is an impulse force applied at a central location of the predetermined circumferential segment of the element between each of the set of rollers and the support roller.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the compressive force is variable within said predetermined circumferential segment of the element.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein a compressive force insufficient to reposition said element relative to the rotational axis of the eccentric shaft is applied to the portion of said shaft not within said predetermined circumferential segment of the element.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the measuring step repeats, following at least one selective application of the compressive force.

15. A method for straightening a hardened eccentric shaft comprising the steps of:

engaging with a first roller a first continuous peripheral groove disposed about said shaft at a first intersection of an element of said shaft with adjacent shaft structure;

engaging with a second roller a second continuous peripheral groove disposed about said shaft at a second intersection of said element of said shaft with adjacent shaft structure, said second intersection being axially displaced from said first intersection;

engaging with a third roller a body of the shaft, wherein the body of the shaft is disposed between the first intersection and the second intersection of said element;

rotating said shaft through a series of angular positions thereof;

applying a compressive force of variable magnitude through said rollers to both of said grooves and to said body;

varying the magnitude of the compressive force depending on the angular position of the eccentric shaft; and

causing solid material flow adjacent to the element, thereby relocating the element relative to the adjacent shaft structure.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein magnitude of the compressive force varies from zero to an amount sufficient to cause plastic deformation in the grooves.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the compressive force is only applied over a circumferential segment of the element, said segment including a rotational plane of maximum run-out of said eccentric shaft.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the compressive force causes solid material flow in said circumferential segment, and no material flow in a diametrically opposed segment of said element.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the solid material is martensitic steel.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the compressive force is an impulse force applied at the intersection of the circumferential segment of the element and the rotational plane of maximum run-out.