Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKGROUND OF TE~E INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a hydraulic
tool and more particularly to a multi-function hydraulic tool
especially intended for use in the servicing of automobiles
and other motor vehicles.
During the servicing of automobile vehicles, it is
often necessary to remove the tapered bolts or shafts of ball
joint assemblies from the mounting arms through which such
shafts extend. In dissembling such ball joints, it is generally
also necessary to remove the nut from the threaded end of such
a shaft. Frequently, such nuts are firmly rusted in position
and can not be removed by unscrewing and/ therefore, have to
be removed by splitting. While manually operated nut splitters
can be used for such a purpose, such usle of those tools is
somewhat time-consuming and, therefore, increases the labour
cost of the vehicle repair.
While various tools have hereinbeEore been suggested
for the press removal of the tayered shafts or ball joint
assemblies, such previously proposed tools have presented
certain practical disadvantages. For example, some of the
known tools have been ~uite difficult to use while others have
been relatively complex in their construction and consequently
so expensive that their use has not been widely accepted.
In other automotive servicing operations, it is
necessary to fit male members into female members and female
members onto male members. Other servicing operations re~uire
the removal of female members from male members.
It is a principal object of this invention to provide
a multi-function hydraulic tool which can be used in many such
automotive servicing operations as well as for splitting nuts.
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It is a further object of this invention to provide
a multi-function hydraulic tool for the aforesaid purpoæes
and which tool is relatively simple in its construction and,
therefore, relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
Other objects of the invention will become apparent
as the description herein proceeds.
SUMM~RY OF THE INVENTION
The invention comprises a multi-function
hydraulic tool which comprises a hydraulic cylinder having a
periph~ral wall, an open end and a closed-end; a piston having
an outer end and slidably mounted in said cylinder for movement
in an axial direction between extended and retracted poRitions
thereof; a port in fluid communication with the interior of said
cylinder ~or the supply thereinto of a hydraulic fluid under
pressuxe to cause outward movement of said piston through said
open end of said cylinder toward said extended position there-
of and for the discharge of such hydraulic fluid from within
said cylinder on movement of said piston axially into said
cylinder toward said retracted poYition thereof; at least one
arm secured to said cylinder an projecting axially beyond
said open end thereof; and a generally semi-circular annular
seating means secured to said arm in axially spaced apart
position relative to said open end of said cylinder for sup-
porting a first member when terminal pressure is applied by
said piston against a cooperating second member so in turn to
cause relative movement of said first and second members~
Such a tool as broadly provided by this invention
canj for example, by used for applying axial pressure to the
end of a male member while a cooperating female member is sup
ported on the seating of the tool. Such application of axial
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pressure can be used for the press removal o such a male member
from su~h a female member or for the press insertion of a male
member in-to a female member.
Usefully a tool in accordance with this invention is
provided with two said arms which are secured, preferably
releas~bly, to the cylinder of the tool in peripherally spaced
apart positions, which project axially beyond the open end of
the cylinder and which are both secured to the seating of the
tool. Usefully, such two arms are disposed diametrically
opposite to each other.
When intended for use in diimantling automobile ball
joints, the seating of a tool in accordance with this invention
usefully has a semi-circular annular configuration with generally
transverse inner and outer faces, the forme.r opposing the open
end of the cylinder.
In a tool in accordance with ~is invention, a blind
bore in usefully formad in the outer end of the piston of the
tool for removably receiving a mating stud of a thrust plate.
The use of such a thxust plate is desirable in that it prevents
~0 damage to the piston itsel during use of the tool and such a
thrust plate can be replaced when worn.
In order to permit the use of a tool in accordance
with this invention as a hydraulic nut-splitter, such a tool is
useful~ly provided with an anvil plate which can be supported on
the inner surface of the seating of the tool and with a wedge-
shaped splitting tool having a cutting edge facing that anvil
plate and a guide stud slidably received in the aforementioned
blind bore in the outer end of the piston of the tool~ ~y
supporting a nut which cannot be unscrewed from a bolt so that
it is supported by one of its peripheral faces on the anvil
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plate, the tool can be operated to press the cutting edge of
the splitting tool against an opposed edge face of the nut
with eventual splitting of the nut. Alternatively, such a nut
can b~ supported by one o its major faces on an annular anvil
plate so that the cutting edges of a hollow splitting tool
disposed in the end of the piston engage the other major face
of such a nut on opposite sides of a bolt projecting there-
tnrough.
Various arrangements of arms and seati~gs are possible
for a hydraulic tool in accordance with this invention are
possible and some typical arrangements for such members are
shown in the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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~he invention will now be described merely by way of
illustration with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
Figure 1 is an axial sectional view through one
embodiment of a multi-function hydraulic tool in accordance
with this invention an~ showing a piston thereof in its
retracted position; : ;
Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view through the
tool shown in Figure 1 when taken aq indicated by the arxows
2-2 of that Figure,
Figure 3 is an axial sectional view similar to that
of Figure 1 and illustrating somewhat schematically the use of
the tool for pressing the tapered bolt of an automobile ball
joint a~sembly out of a mounting arm, the piston of the tool
being shown partially extended;
Figure 4 is an axial sectional view similar to those
of Figures 1 and 3 but showing the tool provided with a removable
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anvil plate and a splitting tool and in use as a nut-splitter;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of an alternate
erl~odiment of a multi-function hydraulic tool in accordance
Wi~l this invention;
Figure 6 is an axial sectional view through the tool
shown in Figure 5 when taken as indicated by the arrows 6-6
of that figure and showing, in a similar manner to Figure 3,
the use of the tool for pressing the bolt of an automobile
ball joint assembly out of a mo~lting arm;
Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of a means
for releasably securing an arm of the tool shown in Figures 5
and 6 on the cylinder (omitted from Figure 7) of that tool,
being taken as indicated by the arrows 7-7 of Figure 6~
Figure 8 is a fragmentary axilal sectional view
through the tool shown in Figures 5 and 6 with the piston of ::
that tool in its fully extended positio~
Figure 9 is a perspective view of a splitting tool
intended to be used with the hydraulic tool shown in Figures 5
and 6;
Figure 10 is a fragrnentary axial sectional view
illustrating the manner in which the splitting tool shown in
Figure 9 is used with the hydraulic tool shown in Figures 5
and 6;-
Figure 11 is a somewhat schematic and fragmentary
view partly in section illustrating the use of two altarnative
a~ns, with the tool shown in Figuras 5 and 6 for pressing a
ball joint housing out of a frame mem~er;
Figure 12 is a pexspective view of one of the alter-
nativa arms shown in Figure 11;
Figure 13 is a somewhat simplified.diagram illustrating
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the use of the tool shown in Figures 5 and 6 for removing a
pulley wheel from a shaft;
Figure 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating the use
of a tool in accordance with this invention for inserting a
male member into a female member;
Figure 15 is another schematic diagram illustrating
the use of the same tool for pressing a female member onto a
male member, and,
Figure 16 is another schematic diagram illustrating
the use of the tool for pushing a female member off a male member.
The several figures of the drawings are located on
the appended cards of drawings as follows:
Card #l: Figures l, 3 and 4;
Card #2: Figures 2, 6 and 8;
Card ~3: Figureq 5, 9, 10 and 12;
Card #4: Figures 7, 13 and 16, and,
Card ~5: Figures 11, lg and 15.
DE5CRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EM~ODIMENTS
Reference will first be made to Figure 1 in whicn
there is indicated generally by the legend 10 one embodiment
Qf a multi-function hydraulic tool in accordance with this
invention.
The tool 10 comprises a generally right cylindrical
hollow c~linder 12 having an upper closed end 13. A solid
cylindrical piston 16 having an outer end 15 is slidably mounted
in the cylinder 12 for movement from the retracted position
snown in Figure 1 in the direction of the arrow A into an
extended position. An annular piston ring 18 having a generally
U-shaped sectional configuration is provided in a groove l9 formed
peripherally in the piston 16 at its upper or inner end. It
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will, of course, be appreciated that the invent.ion is in no way
restricted to the use of any particular form of piston ring,
which ring is merely provided in a conventional manner to
ensure a hydraulic seal ~etween the piston 16 and the cylinder 12.
A port 14 is provided in the wall of the cylinder 12
for the supply of hydraulic fluid under pressure into tnat
cylinder to cause downward or outward movement of the piston 16
toward its extended position and for the discharge of such
hydraulic fluid from that cylinder 12 on upward or inward
mover.~ent of that piston 16 toward its retracted position.
In the accompanying drawings, the port 14 is shown
as being provided with an internally threaded sleeve 17 for
attachment of a hydraulic hose (not sho~n).
Two elongated arms 20 and 2:2 are secured to the outer
surface of the cylindrical wall of the cylinder 12 in diametri-
cally opposed positions, for example, by welding as partially
indicated at 21. The arms 20, 22 extend downwardly from the
cylinder 1~ beyond the lower open end thereof and, at their
lower ends, are secured, for example, by welding to a semi-
circular annular seating or ring generally indicated at 24.
In the particular embodiment illustrated in Figures
1 to 4, the ring 24 is integrally formed with an upstanding
semi-cylindrical member 2~ which is welded at Z7 to the arms
20 and 22. With further reference to the ring 24, it will ~e
seen that it has an upper or innar planar face 29 which is
: essentially perpendicular to the axial direction of movement of
the piston 16 and a g~nerally frusto-conical outer or under-
surface 31 which tapers inwardly and upwardly. The generally
semi-circular opening in th~ ring 24 is indicated by the
legend 33.
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Referring again to the piston 16, it will be noted
from Figure 1 that a generally axial blind bore 26 is formed
in the outer end 15 of that piston. In Figures 1 and 3, a
circular thrust plate 30 comprising an axial stud 28 which is
removably received in the bore 26 is shown as being so fitted on
the tool 10.
Having completed the description herein of the tool
10, the manner in which that tool is used to press a tapered
bolt 32 of an automobile ball joint assembly generally indicated
at 34 out of a bore 36 in a mounting arm 38 of such a ball joint
assembly will now b~ considered with reference to Figure 3 of
the accompanyiny drawings. To effect such a removal, the
mounting arm of such a ball joint assembly is placed so that
it abuts the top or inner face 29 of the seating or ring 24.
Elydraulic fluid is then introduced uncler pr~ssure into the
cylinder 12 through the port 14 havin~ first positioned the
thrust plate 30 on the lower end 15 o~' the piston 16. Such
introduction of hydraulic fluid into the cylinder 12 causes the
piston 16 to be extended in the direction of the arrow A
O against the end of the bolt 32 to force that bolt out of the
bore 36.
The frusto-conical under~rface 31 of the ring 24
has in practice been found to be beneficial in that it facilitates
the positio~ing of the tool with the ring 24 in the relatively
limited space available in automobile ball and socket joints
between the mounting arm 38 and the socket housing shown
schematically at 35 in Figure 3.
Referenc~ will next be made horein to Figure 4 of
the accomp~nying drawings which shows the use of the tool lO
3Q as a nut splitter. For such a purpose, the aforem~ntioned
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thrust plate 30 is removed and replaced by a splitting tool
generally indicated at 40 and having a wedge-shaped cutting
head 41 and a stud 43 dimensioned so as to fit into the
aforementioned bore 26 in the outer end of the piston 16. The
cutting head 41 has a transverse cutting edge indicated by the
legend 45.
To split a nut 42 for the purpose of removing it
from a bolt 47, a generally semi-circular anvil plate 44 is
positioned on the inner face 29 of the ring 24 for supporting
the nut 42 as will readily be understood from Figure 4. On
the introduction of hydraulic fluid under pressure through
the port 14 into the cylinder 12, the cutting head 41 is pressed
down against the side of the nut 42 so to split that nut and
allow it to be removed from the bolt 47.
While the use of the tool 13 has been specifically
described with reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying
drawings with respect to its use for the press removal of the
thraaded bolt 32 from the mounting ann 38 of an automobile
ball joint assembly 34, it will be understood that the tool
will find application in many other situations where it is
desired to pxess a male member out of a female member. Addition-
ally, the tool 10 can be used for the press insertion of a
male member into a female member.
Reference will next be made fo Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8
of the accompanying drawings in which there i5 indicated
generally at 50 another embodiment of a multi-function
hydraulic tool in accordance with this invention.
The tool 50 ccmprises a generally xight cylindrical
hollow cylinder 51 having an uppar closed end 52. The port 53
provided with an internally threaded sleeve 54 for the attachment
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of a hydraulic hose (not shown) is provided for the supply of
hydraulic fluid into the cylinder 51 and for the discharge of
such fluid therefrom.
A hollow cylindrical piston 55 having an upper closed
end 55 is slidably mounted in the cylinder 51 for movemen-t from
the retracted position shown in Figure 6 in the direction of
the arrow B into an extended position as shown in Figure 8. A
piston ring 57 is seated in a peripheral recess 58 provided at
tne upper or inner end of the piston 55. A radially outwardly
projecting annular rib 59 is integrally formed with the piston
55 partially to prcvide the seating for the piston ring 57 and
for sliding engagement with the cylinder wall 5~ A threaded
ring 60 removably screwed into the lower end of the cylinder
51 engages the rib 59 and constitutes a limit means so that
when the piston is in its fully extended position as shown in
Figure 8, it prevents accidental expu:Lsion of the piston 55
completely out of the cylinder 51.
Secured to the cylinder wal:L 51, for example, by
Welding as indicated at 61 are two diametrically opposed and
radially extending arm-engagi~g means or ears 62 and 63. For
a reason which will be more readily understood as the descrip-
tion herein proceeds, each of the ears 62 and 63 is formed with
an inner and upper bore 64 as well as with an outer and lower
bore 65 therethrough.
In Figures 5, 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings,
there are also shown first and second arms 66 and 67 respectively
which are releasably secured to the ears 62 and 63. These arms
66 and 67 are bifurcated at their upper ends to provide separate
limbs 68 and 69 between which respective ones of the ears 62 and
63 can be received, aligned bores 70 being provided in the limbs
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68 and 69 for receiving Eastening bolts 7] (Figures 6 and 7) for
releasably fastening the arms 66 and 67 to the ears 62 and 63
respectively, such bolts then extending through the upper and
inner bores 64 in those ears. Nuts 7~ (Figure 7) are utilized
to prevent accidental disengagement.
` At their lower ends, the arms 66 and 67 are secured,
for e~ample, by welding as indicated at 73 to a seating com-
prising a semi-cylindrical sleeve 74 which in turn is in-tegrally
formed with an essentially semi-circular member having a radially
extending top surface 75 and an inwardly and upwardly sloping
undersurface 76 as will readily be understood by reference to
Figure 5.
The tool S0 is shown in Figure 6 in use for the press
removal of a tapered bolt 32 from the mounting block 38 of the
ball joint assembly 34. Since the tool 50 is used for such an
operation in essentially the same manner as is the tool lO and
as already described herein, it is not considered to be necessary
to describe such an operation in further de tail herein. It
should perhaps, however, be noted thatl for such operation, a
circular thrust plate 78 has its cylindrical locating stud 79
inser1 ed into the recess 55a in the lower end of the piston
55 as actually shown in Figure 6.
Reference will next be made herein to Fi~ures 9 and lO
in which there is indicated generally at 96 an alternative form
of nut-splitting tool intended to be used in the hydraulic tool
50 in the manner shown in Figure lO. The tool 96 comprises a
generally cylindrical locating stud 97 dimensioned so as to ba
received within the open lower end of the piston 55 of the tool
50 and a larger integrally formed collar 9~ which engages the
lower end of the piston wall when the tool 96 is so disposed.
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selow the collar 98,the tool 96 is integrally formed
with a hollow cylindrical wall which is cut aback or chamfered
as at 99 to provide two radially extendin~ cutting edges 100.
The tool 96 is intended to be used in conjunction with an
annular supporting plat~ 101 which is itself supported on the
top surface 75 of the seating so as then to support a nut 102
which is to ~e split by the tool 96 as will readily be under- :-
stood by reference to Figure 10. In such use, one major face
of the nut 102 is supported on the plate 101 and the cutting
edges laO are forced downwardly against the other major face ~.
of that nut 102, the bolt 103 extending through the central
aperture 109 of the plate 101.
Reference will next ~e made to Figures 11 and 12 of
the accompanying drawings in which there is indicated generally
and fragmentarily at 80 an alternative structure for the arms
used with the tool 50 and particularl~r intended for use in
pressing a ball joint hoùsing 81 out of a supporting frame
; member 82.
Each of the two arm assemblies 80 as shown in Figure
11 comprises an elongated rod 83 which is secured, for example,
by welding as indicated at 84 at its upper end to two mutually
spaced lugs 85 and 86 provided with aligned bores 87 to permit
the arm assembly pivotally to be secured to a respective one of
the ears 62 and 63 by mean~ of a bolt 88 passing through the
bores 87 and the outer and lower bore 65 in the respective one
of the ears 62 and 63 as best shown in Figure 11.
` At its lower end, each rod 83 is bent inwardly at 89
and is terminally welded as indicated at 90 to a seating 91
comprising an arcuate wall portion having a top edge surface 92
disposed in a plane which extends radially with respect to the
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axi~ of the piston 55, an inner surface 93 generally coaxial
with such axis and an undersurface 94 which tapers upwardly
from a lowermost central position toward the outer ends of t~e
top edge surface 92.
For use, the arms 80 are connected by the ~olts 88
to respective ones of the ears 62 and 63 and those arms are ~hen
pivoted into position beneath the supporting frame members 82
as actually shown in Figure 11. On the introduction of hydraulic
fluid under pressure into the cylinder 51, the thrust plate 78 ~ :
then causes the ball joint housing 81 to be pressed out of the
frame member 8~.
In Figure 13, there i5 illustrated somewhat schematic-
ally the use of the tool 50 for removing a pulley wheel 104
from a shaft 105. For this purpose, the tool 50 is used in
conjunction with two arms 106 which are fonned at their lower
ends with threaded portions 107 which are screwed into threaded
bores in the pulley wheel 104. At their upper ends, the arms
106 are formed with hook-like portions 108 which, in use, are `~
inserted in the outer lower bore~ in the ears 62 and 63. In ~:
such use of the tool 50, the thrust plate 78 is once again
utilized to allow the application of axial pressure to the ~ :
shaft 105 as will be readily understood from Figure 13.
It will now be under tood that the uses of the tool
50 as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 6, 11
and 13 of the accompanying drawings all involve the pushing of
a rnale member out of a female member. Figure 14 shows somewhat
schematically the alternative use of the tool 50 with the thrust
plate 78 for press fitting or inserting a male mer~er 111 into
a bore 113 provided in a female member 112. It will be noted
that ~he tool is shown somewhat schematically in Figure 14 as
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being provided with arms 114 connected to ears 115 on the
cylinder 51 and carrying at their lower ends a seating 116.
In asimilar schematic mannerç Figure 15 illustrates
the use of the tool 50 for press fitting a female member 117
having an axial bore 118 o~to an upstanding shaft or male member
119 projecting from a disc 120. For this purpose, insread of the
thrust plate 78, there is used a different thrust plate 121
having an annular wall 122 defining an axial recess 123 and
an axial stud 124~ In use, the undersurface of the wall 122
engages the female member 117, the shaft or male r,lember 119 then
entering the recess 123 during such press fitting.
Finally, reference will be made to Figure 16 which
illustrates also schematically the use of the tool 50 for the
press removal of a female member or collar 125 from a shaft 1~6
terminating in a head 127. For such 2m operation, the head 127
is supported on the seating 116 secured to the arms 114~ A
locating stud 12~ carrying outwardly ~!xtending members 129 is
disposed within the lower end of the piston 55. The diametric-
ally opposed and radially extending members 129 are secured to
downwardly extending arms 130 which are in turn provided at
their lower ends with inwardly projecting feet 131 for sngaging
th~ top surface of the collar 125. On downward movement of the
piston 55, the head 127 of the male member is held in position
on the seatin~ 116 while the femal~ member or collar 125 is
pushed downwardly off the shaft 126 by the feet 131.
Havin~ completed the specific description herein of
the construction and use of several embodiments of a multi-
function tool as provided by this invention, it should perhaps
be stressed that the invention is in no way restricted to those
specific embodiments but embraces numerous variations in and
modifications of the described structure.
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