Patent Application
20080302218
In a principal aspect, the present invention relates to a tool designed especially for removal of a hub lock associated with a four wheel drive motor vehicle. The tool is designed to grip and facilitate removal of the hub lock.
A hub lock is employed for a four wheel drive vehicle to enable vacuum technology to effect engagement or disengagement of a wheel to a drive shaft. The description and operation of such a mechanism is disclosed at www.motoralldata.com, by way of example. That description is incorporated herewith by reference.
When repairing the four wheel drive mechanism or system of a motor vehicle, such as described in the reference, it is generally necessary to remove the hub lock associated with the mechanism. The hub lock is typically in the form of a cylinder closed at one end and is designed to fit over the vacuum assist mechanism associated with a four wheel drive. When repairing such a mechanism, a technician may need to remove the hub lock. Manually gripping the hub lock and attempting to remove it by pulling on it is often ineffective, inasmuch as the amount of the force required to effect such an operation often exceeds the physical capacity of the technician or mechanic. Alternatives to manual gripping and removal include gripping with a channel lock or pliers. However, this may damage the cover of the hub lock and defeat the effort to effect the repair. In fact, the information set forth in the noted website reference discourages the use of pliers to remove the hub lock because of the damage that may result.
Thus, there has developed the need to provide some means or tool to effectively remove a hub lock, other than the use of pliers with serrated jaws or manually. This need led to the development of the present invention.
Briefly, the present invention comprises a specialty tool and, more particularly, a pliers construction which includes first and second handle members that are constructed with a stop mechanism that limits and thereby controls the travel of the handle members as they are engaged and closed. The opposed jaws of the respective handles each include an arcuate, semi-cylindrical member that is jacketed with an elastomeric material designed to engage a hub lock without damaging the hub lock, while at the same time, enabling a tight grip on the hub lock in order to effect removal thereof from the four wheel drive mechanism of a motor vehicle. The arcuate member attached to each jaw insures that when the jaws are in a closed relation, the hub lock will be surrounded and gripped, and more particularly, the outside cylindrical surface of the hub lock will be engaged. The jaw members thus each include a section in the form of a cylinder surface that is generally co-axial with the cylindrical surface of the hub lock and fits over and in contact with the outside cylindrical surface of the hub lock. Stops associated with the handles of the tool limit the extent of closure of the jaws and handles to thereby avoid pinching the hand of a technician using the tool.
Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved hub lock removal tool.
Further, it is an object of the invention to provide a tool which will avoid engaging the outside surface of a hub lock with serrated jaws and damaging the outside surface of the hub lock.
Further, it is an object of the invention to provide a hub lock removal tool with curved jaw members that tend to conform with the outside surface of a hub lock.
Another object of the invention is to provide a hub lock removal tool which is easy to use, rugged and durable.
These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows.
In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures:
The tool of the invention is used to engage an outside surface 20 and more particularly, a cylindrical outside surface 20 of a hub lock 22 having a generally cylindrical, tubular shaped portion 23 with a center line axis 24. The tool of the invention includes jaws, as described hereinafter, which, when engaged with the hub lock 22, are generally co-axial with the axis 24, although the cylindrical section 23 typically includes a slight fustoconical taper. The jaws may typically be oriented in a fashion that they will engage the outside surface 20 of the hub lock 22, so as to provide for full contact between the jaw members of the tool and the outside surface 20. The construction or configuration of the jaw members facilitates this gripping action inasmuch as the jaw members are jacketed with an elastomeric that serves a multiplicity of functions. For example, the elastomeric provides for an improved grip and protection from damaging the outside surface as well as full surface contact with the surface 20.
As depicted in the figures, the tool includes a first handle member 30 and a second handle member 32. The handle members 30 and 32 are substantially identical and comprise pliers type handle members having an outer jaw section 34, an inner handle section 36, a center or pivot section 37 intermediate the outer jaw section 34 and handle section 36 connected by a pivot pin or shaft 40 engaged through a center pivot opening 42 shown in
The handles 30 and 32 may thus pivot about an axis 43. The handles 30 and 32 each include attached thereto, a jaw grip member 44 and 46, respectively. The jaw grip members 44, 46 comprise generally rectangular plates which have been curved or formed into a generally arcuate shape as depicted in
Adjacent the pivot pin opening 42 is a stop or interference flange 52. The flange 52 comprises an arcuate surface generally transverse to the longitudinal dimension of each handle 30, 32 and defining the boundary between the center section 38 and the hand grip end 36. The flange 52 is generally transverse to the lateral side surface 45 and shaped so that the respective flanges 52 of each handle member 30, 32 will engage as the handle members 30, 32 approach each other upon pivoting about pin 40 toward the closed position. Thus, the handle members 30, 32 are prevented from fully approaching each other or pivoting in an unrestricted manner in order to prevent pinching of the hand of a technician closing the jaw grip members 44, 46. The flanges 52 are therefore arcuate enabling contact generally along a tangent to the surface of flanges 52. In sum, the stop members 52 limit the travel of the handle members 30 and 32 toward one another when they are pivoted about the pivot pin 40.
The jaw grip members 44 and 46 are fitted on and welded to the lands 49. Jaw grip members 44, 46 are arranged in opposed relation so that when the jaw grip members 44, 46 are moved to the position limited by the flanges 52, the jaw grip members 44, 46 will be positioned generally co-axially with the surface 20 of the hub lock as previously described.
Each jaw grip member 44 and 46 includes a pair of elastomeric jackets 60, 62 as depicted in
The jackets 60, 62 typically have a hardness or durometer reading in the range of 60-100 durometer with a preferable durometer value of about 80. The jackets 60, 62 facilitate the gripping action of the jaw grip members 44 and 46 and also accommodate any discrepancy between the shape of the jaws 44, 46 or the configuration of the jaws 44 and 46 when positioned against the outer cylindrical periphery surface 20 of the hub lock 22. Thus, the tool may be utilized to grip the outer surface of the hub lock 22 and twist the hub lock or pull the hub lock as necessary in order to effect appropriate removal from the four wheel drive system of a motor vehicle.
While there has been set forth an embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention may be changed or altered without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. For example, the particular configuration of the jaw members may be altered. The dimensional sizing of the jaw members may be altered as may the material comprising the handles, jaws, and jackets. The setting of the stop flanges is designed to limit the closure of the jaws upon reaching a certain pivotal position by engagement of both stop flanges 52 of the opposite handle members 30, 32 and the limit may be altered or changed, depending on the positioning of the flanges 52. Thus, while the embodiment depicted is a useful embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.
