Metal working – Means to assemble or disassemble – Valve applying or removing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-27
2001-11-27
Hail, III, Joseph J. (Department: 3723)
Metal working
Means to assemble or disassemble
Valve applying or removing
C029S214000, C029S220000, C029S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06321432
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention is a tool for automotive engine work, and more specifically a tool for removal and reinstallation of engine valve springs, retainers, and keepers.
An automotive engine “valve job” involves removal of the valve cover and cylinder head, followed by disassembly and removal of each valve from the cylinder head for replacement or repair. The valves are held in place in the cylinder head, each by a compression spring acting on the valve stem keeping it tightly closed. A dish-shaped retainer centered on top of the valve spring has a frusto-conical inner ramp surface which engages a pair of frusto-conical “keepers”, forcing them into positive locking engagement with the valve stem. The two keepers are halves of a split ring, together forming a frusto-conical ring to surround and engage the inner ramp of the retainer. The inner surfaces of the keepers together form one or more circumferential keys to engage corresponding circumferential keyways near the top of the valve stem. The conical inner surface of the retainer engages the conical outer surface of the keepers to force them into locking engagement with the valve stem.
To disassemble and remove a valve, it is first necessary to further compress the valve spring, move the retainer out of engagement with the keepers, remove the keepers which are now loose, remove the retainer and spring (which are now free), then slide the valve stem (which is now free) out through the underside of the cylinder head.
In the prior art, the procedure just described is performed by using a C-clamp or the like to compress the valve spring, then using one's fingers or long nose pliers to remove the keepers. Another expedient is the use of a lever having a notch at its end to straddle the valve stem, the fulcrum of the lever being anchored to a rocker arm stud. The lever is pivoted about the rocker arm stud to thereby compress the valve spring and permit manual removal of the keepers. These devices are the prior art that I know of.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is a tool for removal to an automotive engine valve from a cylinder head, the valve including a valve stem, valve spring, and keepers locking the spring in engagement with the valve stem. The tool compresses the valve spring to remove the keepers from the valve stem to thereby permit removal of said valve. The tool includes a working head and a shaft/handle extending up from it. The working head includes axially aligned bottom and top members separated by spacer posts. The bottom member includes an annular ring with a center aperture and an upstanding cylindrical sidewall, and magnets on the annular ring within the sidewall. The shaft/handle are connected to the top member and extend upward from the working head in axial alignment with it. Axial movement of the working head along the valve stem and against the valve spring compresses the spring to release the keepers from the valve stem for attachment to the magnets. To reassemble the valve, a flexible diaphragm removably fastened to the bottom of the annular ring adapts the tool to reengage the keepers with the valve stem.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4304035 (1981-12-01), Ecker
patent: 5119556 (1992-06-01), Hseu
patent: 5207196 (1993-05-01), Kuonen et al.
patent: 5915740 (1999-06-01), Weitner
patent: 5996201 (1999-12-01), Ringle
Bird Robert J.
Hail III Joseph J.
Wilson Lee
LandOfFree
Tool for automotive engine valve removal and replacement does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Tool for automotive engine valve removal and replacement, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Tool for automotive engine valve removal and replacement will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2616190