Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~329318
TOOL FOR REMOVING WHEEL HUBS
FROM AUTO~OTIVE EQUIPMENT
The present invention relates to a method for removing wheel
hubs from automotive equipment and a tool which has been prepared
and designed to accomplish this purpose.
Conventionally, the servicing of wheel hubs and wheel bearings
on automotive equipment and in particular on front wheel drive
vehicles is accomplished by removing the wheel bearing housing from
the automobile and then pressing the wheel hub out from the wheel
bearing and wheel bearing housing with a press or similar device.
This permits access to the wheel bearing for inspection, removal
or service. However, the wheel bearing housing is often connected
to a suspension strut by a pair of bolts which are used for
adjusting and securing the wheel camber geometry. The adjusting
and securing of wheel camber on front wheel drive cars by this
method is well known. If this wheel camber adjustment is
disturbed, as for example when the wheel bearing housing is
separated from the suspension strut, the wheel camber must be re-
aligned to the recommended configuration, a labour intensive task.
It is desirable therefore, when removing a wheel bearing housing,
to avoid disturbing the wheel camber by avoiding the separation of
the wheel bearing housing from the suspension strut.
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In the past, however, servicing of a wheel hub or wheel
bearing has required separation of the wheel bearing housing from
the suspension strut or removal of the suspension strut and wheel
bearing housing as a single unit. In either case, it is usually
necessary to remove the tie-rod end from the wheel bearing housing
and the lower ball joint from the wheel bearing housing. It also
requires removal of the drive shaft and various brake components
such as the brake calliper and rotor on disc brake vehicles. It
also requires either the separation of the wheel bearing housing
from the suspension strut, or, where the wheel bearing housing is
not separated from the strut, the removal of the suspension strut
from the strut tower.
The object of the present invention is to provide a quick and
effective way of removing a wheel hub from within a wheel bearing
and wheel bearing housing on an automobile without removing the
wheel bearing housing from the automobile.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a tool
which, when used in the manner set out herein, overcomes the need
to separate the wheel bearing housing from the automobile when
repairing or replacing wheel bearings or wheel hubs.
In one broad aspect, the present invention relates to a tool
to be used with an air hammer for removing a wheel hub from a wheel
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bearing within a wheel bearing housing comprising a head, having
a face to engage the inboard end of the wheel hub, a shank adapted
to be securely engaged by the air hammer and a means for rigidly
connecting the head to the shank.
In another broad aspect, the present invention relates to a
method for removing a wheel hub from a wheel bearing housing while
the wheel bearing housing remains attached to the suspension strut
of a car with a hub punch and air hammer, which comprises removing
the drive shaft axle nut, wheel, brake calliper and brake-rotor;
disconnecting the tie rod from the steering arm knuckle of the
wheel bearing housing and the lower ball joint from the wheel
bearing housing; removing the drive shaft from the wheel hub;
engaging the hub punch into the air hammer; and placing the hub
punch face against the inboard end of the wheel hub and activating
the air hammer until the wheel hub is free from the wheel bearing.
In drawings which illustrate the present invention by way of
example:
Figure 1 is an elevation of one embodiment of the hub punch
tool of the present invention;
Figure 2 is an elevation Gf the general layout of a front
wheel drive assembly, showing an exploded view of the wheel hub
within the wheel bearing and wheel bearing housing.
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Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a particular advantageous
embodiment of the present invention is illustrated therein.
The tool of the present invention, illustrated in Figure 1 is
designed to be used in association with an air hammer and is to
permit the easy removal of the wheel hub from the wheel bearing and
wheel bearing housing while the wheel bearing housing remains
attached to a car and in particular, to a suspension strut. In its
preferred embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the hub punch head
1 has a circular face 2 formed at one end of the head, the face
having a diameter very slightly less than the inside diameter of
the wheel bearing 3 and greater than the inside diameter of the
wheel hub splined shaft 4. In another embodiment, the hub punch
head is hollowed and present a ring-shaped face, the outside
diameter of which is also very slightly less than the inside
diameter of the wheel bearing 3 and greater than the. inside
diameter of the wheel hub splined shaft 4.
Defining its length, the tool of Figure 1 has a shaft of
diameter no greater than the inside diameter of the wheel bearing
3. This permits the hub punch head 1 to travel through the wheel
bearing 3, driving out the wheel hub 6 without damaging the end of
the wheel hub splined shaft 4.
1 3293 1 8
The hub punch is provided with a shank 7 which permits the hub
punch to be securely held by an air hammer chuck. The shank 7
dimensions are dictated by the type of air hammer chuck to be
utilized. In the preferred embodiment, the shank is provided with
a collar 8 which is positioned so that the collar abuts the chuck
of the air hammer to prevent damage to the shank when the air
hammer is activated and used. The shank 7 is attached to the shaft
5 which is attached to the head 1.
In one embodiment the head diameter is reduced at the shank
end to reduce the weight and material used in the manufacture of
the tool. It is expected that those skilled in this art would vary
the head shape in a variety of manners to reduce the weight of the
tool while maintaining strength and rigidity. For example, the
head may be conically-shaped, the base of the cone forming the face
of the head. Moreover, head and face diameters of various sizes
are required to permit utilization of the tool of the present
invention with wheel hubs of various sizes.
The method of using the hub punch of the present invention to
remove a wheel hub from a wheel bearing and wheel bearing housing
on a typical front wheel drive car is as follows: First, the drive
shaft axle nut 9 is removed, the car is hoisted and the wheel is
removed, exposing (in the case of a wheel with a disc brake) the
brake calliper 10 and rotor 11, which are disconnected and removed
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from the wheel bearing housing 12 and wheel hub 6 respectively.
The tie rod 13 is removed from the steering arm knuckle 14 of the
wheel bearing housing 12. The lower ball joint 15 is removed from
the wheel bearing housing 12 and the drive-shaft 16 is removed from
the wheel hub 6. It can be appreciated that the foregoing steps
may follow a varied sequential pattern from the method referred to
above without detracting from the invention, and that this method
would be adapted with minor variations in the case of a wheel with
a drum brake and in the case of other variations in the steering,
braking and drive components.
At this stage, the suspension strut l9 and wheel bearing
housing 12 are still attached to one another as a single unit and
are attached to a vehicle because the suspension strut 19 is still
attached to the strut tower. The hub punch of the present
invention, which is used in association with an air hammer or
similar device is then placed into the air hammer, the shank 7 of
the hub punch being securely held by the air hammer chuck. The
circular face 2 of the hub punch is then placed flush against the
inboard end 17 of the wheel hub in a manner such that the hub punch
is not resting against and will not damage the wheel bearing when
the air hammer is activated. The air hammer is then activated,
driving the hub punch against the wheel hub 6, thereby forcing the
wheel hub through and free from the stationary wheel bearing in a
matter of seconds. The wheel bearing remains stationary against
B
,,
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the action of the hub punch, being held in position against such
action by a circlip 18. Once the wheel hub is free from the wheel
bearing, the wheel bearing can be serviced or removed easily in a
manner well known to an automobile mechanic.
It is to be understood that the examples described above are
not meant to limit the scope of the present invention. It is
expected that numerous variants will be obvious to the person
skilled in the automotive tool design art, without any departure
from the spirit of the present invention. The appended claims,
properly construed, form the only limitation upon the scope of the
present invention.
