Metal working – Means to assemble or disassemble – Means comprising hand manipulatable tool
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-01
2001-01-09
Watson, Robert C. (Department: 3726)
Metal working
Means to assemble or disassemble
Means comprising hand manipulatable tool
C029S281500, C029S464000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170140
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a tool for manipulating a shaft housed in a bore, for positioning a shaft in a bore, so that the shaft can easily be turned by one finger for alignment and assembly, for centering a shaft within a bore, and for inserting bearings within a bore around a shaft.
2. Description of Related Art
Shaft centering and alignment tools and procedures for using them are common. A special problem exists in the assembly of gearing, such as in transmissions, where in addition to centering one or more shafts, the gears on two or more shafts must be aligned so as to mesh at specific teeth. This occurs where one shaft must be timed with or synchronized with another shaft. This synchronization and alignment is a particular problem where plural functions must be performed at the same time and the weight of the components makes it necessary to use three or more hands.
Solutions to these problems have been suggested. As examples of tools used to manipulate and center shafts, and to assemble shafts having gears thereon, tool numbers 7108 and 7109 sold by OTC Tools in their catalogue printed January 1997 under the title OTC Tools & Equipment for the Professional by SPV Corp. of 655 Eisenhower Drive, Owalonna, Minn. 55060-0995 U.S.A. and assembly procedures such as disclosed by the Eaton® Fuller® Heavy Duty Transmissions Service Manual of October 1995, pages 99-102 by the Eaton Corporation, Truck Components Operations—North America, P.O. Box 4013, Kalamazoo, Mich. 94003, are representative.
The one piece “U” shaped OTC tool, 7108 or 7109, disclosure states that the tool permits “one man” installation of bearings and the ability to slide a counter shaft aside from a main shaft to line up the gears on the shafts. It has been found to be difficult if not impossible for “one man” to use the tool because the weight of the shaft rotates the tool if one hand is not used to keep the tool positioned.
The Eaton® Fuller® service manual discloses alignment and assembly of shafts having gears on the shafts. Included is the use of a screw driver to rotate and align the gears and use of a “U” shaped shaft alignment and centering tool similar to the OTC tools 7108 and 7109. While helpful, these tools are limited in their use and routinely require more than “one man” to align the gears and bring the gears into mesh and center the shaft within the housing bore. The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior shaft manipulating and alignment and centering tools by providing a tool and procedure that results in a truly one man operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A centering and manipulation tool fits into a housing bore having a shaft within the bore. A tool manipulating member has an arcuate outer surface, the same size and shape as the bore, and an inner arcuate area of the same size and shape as the shaft. The inner arcuate area gives way to a flat area that extends to form an essentially wedge-shaped second end. The tool manipulating member works in concert with a presser member that fits within a slot in a first end of the manipulating member. The presser member has a roller in a second end that contacts and selectively presses against either the bore wall or shaft surface. The first end of the presser member has an aperture for a power drive shaft that is firmly secured to it. The first end and side surfaces have flat areas joined by an arcuate surface that permits about 90° relative rotation between the presser member and the manipulation member. The power drive shaft holds a locking bar member adjacent the manipulating member. The locking bar member is free to pivot around the power drive shaft on one end and has a hook, guide areas and a stud recess on a second end that secures the tool in place on a housing by attachment to a stud on the housing. This prevents shaft weight from rotating the tool.
With the tool secured to a housing and in a bore, the power shaft can be rotated in one direction to shift the shaft within the bore and to align a stud with the locking bar recess, then rotated in the other direction to grasp the stud in the locking bar member and press the shaft onto the manipulating member flat inner surface area and against the bore wall surface. In this position, the shaft alone, or with gears attached, and an adjacent shaft, with or without gears on it, can be rotated with one finger. After the shaft is positioned, the tool can be turned in the one direction, moving the shaft up along the bore wall and then having it fall down into the arcuate inner concave area of the manipulating member, centering the shaft within the bore.
With the shaft centered in the front end of a housing by the tool, a one piece shaft positioner can be placed within the bore about the shaft other or second or back end. With the one piece positioner in place, the tool can be removed and the shaft will be held in its centered position. The front bearings can then be inserted around the shaft front end. With the front bearings in place, the one piece positioner can be removed from the rear of the shaft and the rear bearings inserted.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4295276 (1981-10-01), Ellington, III
patent: 4763393 (1988-08-01), Gee
patent: 4934037 (1990-06-01), Shuerg et al.
patent: 4949601 (1990-08-01), Broadwin et al.
patent: 5018414 (1991-05-01), Naumann
patent: 5363543 (1994-11-01), Boyd et al.
patent: 5416964 (1995-05-01), Thomas
patent: 5513547 (1996-05-01), Lovelace
patent: 5806161 (1998-09-01), Schneider
Reg. No. H226 Published Mar. 3, 1987 N.E. Willett.
Eaton Fuller Heavy Transmissions Service Manual, Oct. 1995 pp. 99-102.
OTC Tools & Equipment for the Professional, SPV Corp., Jan. 1997, tool Nos. 7108 and 7109.
Coughenour Clyde I.
Watson Robert C.
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