Metal working – Means to assemble or disassemble – Puller or pusher means – contained force multiplying operator
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-21
2001-05-08
Watson, Robert C. (Department: 3723)
Metal working
Means to assemble or disassemble
Puller or pusher means, contained force multiplying operator
Reexamination Certificate
active
06226847
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to an extraction device and more particularly, it relates to a puller which is suitable for extracting bushings and bearings from blind holes.
Blind holes are encountered in various mechanical structures and basically such blind holes may be defined as comprise a hole formed in a member with an open top and closed a bottom wall. Such blind holes are often fitted with inner components such as bearings, bushings, and the like. Since these inner components are usually press fitted into the blind hole, they are relatively difficult to extract therefrom. In particular, after bearings have been used for a while, they tend to become quite firmly seated. When the bearing is to be replaced, the blind hole restricts access to the bearing and removal is a problem.
There have been many suggestions in the art for extraction devices to remove such bearings or bushings from the blind hole. In the past, multiple jaw or finger pullers have been used to grasp the bearing. In addition, inclined planes have been suggested as a means of pulling the bearing out. Frequently, resort has been had to cutting torches to remove the bearing or bushing.
The prior art extractors have suffered from various limitations. Many of them are a relatively complex mechanical structure and thus relatively expensive to manufacture. Also, many of the devices rely on a shaft engaging bolt which can cause problems since the rotation of the bolt tends to cause the bolt to be laterally displaced with respect to the shaft.
A further problem associated with many prior art extractors is, in some situations, access to the member to be removed is limited and in particular, when the member does not have a space between the closed bottom wall and the member, the extractors cannot function to remove the member.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an extractor of the type for extracting members from blind holes and which extractor is of a relatively simple construction.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a puller for extracting bushings, bearings and the like, and which puller may be used in blind holes wherein there is a space behind the member to be extracted or not.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a puller for extracting bearings and bushings from a blind hold, said puller comprising an expandable split sleeve, a chuck, and a rod, the expandable split sleeve comprising a tubularly shaped body having first and second ends, a cavity defined by an interior wall extending from the first end to the second end, the body being formed of first and second axially extending body portions, resilient means biasing the first and second body portions to a closed position, a flange proximate the first end of the tubularly shaped body extending radially outwardly from the tubular shaped body, the flange terminating in a cutting edge, the chuck having means for retaining the second end of the tubularly shaped body of the split sleeve, the means for retaining the second end of the tubularly shaped body permitting radial expansion thereof, the rod member being insertable into the cavity from the second end of the tubularly shaped body, the rod and the cavity being sized such that upon insertion of the rod in the cavity the rod will contact the interior wall of the tubularly shaped body and cause the first and second body portions to expand radially outwardly.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for extracting a member from a blind hole, the device comprising a housing having means for attachment to a structural member, the housing having a bore with open ends, an expandable split sleeve comprising a tubularly shaped member having first and second ends, a cavity defined by an interior wall extending from the first end to the second end, the body being formed of first and second axially extending body portions, resilient means biasing the first and second body portions to a closed position, a flange extending proximate the first end of the tubularly shaped body extending radially outwardly from the tubularly shaped body, the flange terminating in a cutting edge, a chuck having means for retaining the second end of the tubularly shaped body of the split sleeve, the means for retaining the second end of the tubularly shaped body permitting radially expansion thereof, the chuck being located proximate one end of the bore to permit access to the means for retaining the second end of the tubularly shaped body, a rod member insertable into the cavity from the second end of the tubularly shaped body, the rod and the cavity being sized such that upon insertion of the rod in the cavity, the rod will contact the interior wall of the tubularly shaped body and cause the first and second portions to expand radially outwardly and lever means mounted at the other end of the bore to exert a force on the rod member.
The puller of the present invention may be used for extracting any suitable member from a blind hole, with such members usually being a bearing or a bushing. In particular, the present invention would find wide application in the automotive field.
In a preferred embodiment, the resilient means for biasing the first and second axially extending body portions to a closed position may comprise an elastic member encircling the first and second axially extending body portions. Even more preferably, the elastic member may be an O-ring formed of a rubber or elastomeric material and which O-ring is seatable in a groove formed within an outer wall surface of the expandable split sleeve. It is desirable that the resilient biasing means be located at a position on the tubularly shaped body substantially corresponding to the point at which the rod contacts the interior wall of the tubularly shaped body.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2380068 (1945-07-01), Patton
patent: 2697872 (1954-12-01), Armstrong
patent: 4050136 (1977-09-01), Shultz
patent: 4280274 (1981-07-01), Filer
patent: 5701650 (1997-12-01), LaFleur et al.
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