Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6170360
-
Patent Number
6,170,360
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, September 28, 199924 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, January 9, 200123 years ago
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Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Smith; James G.
- Shakeri; Hadi
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 081 93
- 081 488
- 029 24356
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A tool for removing a retainer from the opposed tangs of a spring-type hose clamp is provided. The tool includes a first member adapted to fit between the retainer and the hose clamp and dislodge the retainer from the tangs of the hose clamp. The tool also includes a second member adapted to retain the retainer to the first member after the removal of the retainer from the hose clamp. A method for employing the tool is also provided.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to assembly tooling and more particularly to tooling for the installation of hose clamps.
2. Discussion
It is common place in the manufacture of modern vehicles to utilize flexible hoses to direct various vehicle fluids in a desired manner. As compared to rigid fluid conduits, flexible hoses are generally low in cost and easily installed and serviced. Despite the advantages of flexible hoses, several drawbacks have been noted.
One particular drawback concerns the labor required to subassemble and install a hose, particularly where engine or vehicle components are in close proximity to one another and render conventional hose clamp repositioning tools difficult to employ. The subassembly operation typically requires that a pair of hose clamps be opened or spread sufficiently and installed to the ends of the hose. Thereafter, the assembly is positioned in a desired manner, the ends of the hose are coupled to various fluid connectors and the clamps are opened a second time and repositioned over portions of the hose that are adjacent to the connectors.
In areas where engine or vehicle components are in close proximity to one another, a substantial amount of labor may be expended to reposition the hose clamp in a desired manner. The labor associated with the first opening of the clamps and their initial positioning does not add value to the device manufactured and as such, unnecessarily increases the cost of the vehicle. Furthermore, as the task of opening and repositioning each of the clamps is performed manually, this operation increases the risk that the device manufactured will have a defect, such as an improperly relocated clamp. Such defects require additional labor efforts to diagnose and repair.
To alleviate these problems, a retainer has been developed which engages the tangs of the spring-type hose clamps when the clamp is positioned in an expanded condition. The retainer effectively eliminates the need to re-open or spread the hose clamps to permit the hose to be installed to the connectors. Furthermore, the labor associated with repositioning has been eliminated through the use of retaining means which cause the hose clamp to be retained in a given area of the hose while it is being retained in an expanded condition. Such retaining means include adhesives or mechanical fastening.
While the use of the retainer has improved the efficiency with which a spring-type hose clamp may be installed in some situations, a new problem, the removal of the retainer in a controlled manner, was encountered. More specifically, while the retainer was easily pried from the tangs of the hose clamp, the energy released by the retainer as it was removed generally caused the retainer to be propelled away from the hose and clamp. Consequently, the issues with the uncontrolled removal of the retainer included the loss of the retainer, damage to the device manufactured as a result of the retainer impacting or becoming lodged into the device, and the safety of the technician installing the hose and those in the surrounding area.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the present invention to provide a tool for removing a retainer from a spring-type hose clamp which retains the retainer subsequent to its removal.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a tool for removing a retainer from a spring-type hose clamp which utilizes a resiliently biased member to retain the retainer to the tool.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for installing a hose assembly having a spring-type hose clamp.
A tool for removing a retainer from the opposed tangs of a spring-type hose clamp is provided. The tool includes a first member adapted to fit between the retainer and the hose clamp and dislodge the retainer from the tangs of the hose clamp. The tool also includes a second member adapted to retain the retainer to the first member after the removal of the retainer from the hose clamp. A method for employing the tool is also provided.
Additional advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a tool constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;
FIG. 2
is an enlarged portion of the tool of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
is a perspective view of various spring-type hose clamps;
FIG. 4
is a cross-sectional view of a spring-type hose clamp as coupled to a hose and retained in an expanded condition;
FIG. 5
is a cross-sectional view of the tool of
FIG. 1
in operative association with a spring-type hose clamp and a retainer; and
FIG. 6
is a perspective view of another tool constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the
FIGS. 1 and 2
of the drawings, a tool constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral
10
. Tool
10
includes a first member
12
and a second member
14
. First member
12
includes a handle
20
and a body portion
22
having a longitudinal axis
24
and first and second ends
26
and
28
. Handle
20
is ergonomically shaped to permit a technician to operate tool
10
in a twisting or prying motion as desired. Body portion
22
is fixedly coupled to handle
20
at second end
28
. First end
26
includes at least one engagement surface
30
which tapers inwardly toward longitudinal axis
24
. In the particular embodiment illustrated, first member
12
is a slotted (or flat bladed) screwdriver and first end includes engagement surfaces
30
a
,
30
b
,
30
c
and
30
d
which are conventionally formed of the drive end of such screwdrivers.
Second member
14
is coupled to first member
12
includes a retaining portion
40
and an insertion portion
42
. Retaining portion
40
is coupled to first member
12
and extends axially along body portion
22
parallel to longitudinal axis
24
. Insertion portion
42
is generally V-shaped and includes a first portion
44
and a second portion
46
. First portion
44
depends upwardly away from longitudinal axis
24
and preferably includes a rounded or tapered leading edge
48
. Second portion
46
fixedly couples first portion
44
to retaining portion
40
. Retaining portion
40
preferably biases insertion portion
42
toward longitudinal axis
24
.
Second member
14
may be fabricated from any structural material, such as a metalloid, a metal or a plastic material. An appropriate fastening means
50
is then employed to secure second member
14
to first member
12
. Examples of such fastening means
50
includes welding, mechanical fasteners, adhesives and adhesive tapes. In the particular embodiment illustrated, second member
14
is fabricated from a steel material and has a length of about 6 inches, a width of about 0.5 inches and a thickness of about 0.015 inches. Second member
14
is welded to body portion
22
.
In
FIG. 3
, several types of spring-type hose clamps are illustrated. With particular reference to
FIG. 3D
, hose clamp
60
is illustrated to include a clamp body
62
and a pair of opposed tangs
64
which are fixedly coupled to clamp body
62
. Hose clamp
60
is operable between a retracted condition, wherein the interior
66
of hose clamp
60
has a first diameter, and an expanded condition, wherein the interior
66
of hose clamp
60
has a second diameter larger than the first diameter. Hose clamp
60
is formed from a flat spring steel which resiliently biases hose clamp
60
to the retracted condition. Application of a force to both of the tangs
64
in excess of a predetermined magnitude causes the tangs
64
to move toward one another and expand the interior
66
of hose clamp
60
. Withdrawal of the force to the tangs
64
causes the tangs
64
to move away from one another and retract the interior
66
of hose clamp
60
.
In
FIG. 4
, a hose assembly
70
is illustrated in cross section. Hose assembly
70
includes hose clamp
60
, a hose
72
, a retainer
74
, and a hose clamp securing means
76
. In the particular embodiment illustrated, hose clamp securing means
76
is a super glue (ethyl cyanoacrylate) material which permits a portion of hose clamp
60
to be adhesively bonded to hose
72
. Preferably, the super glue material sublimes at elevated temperatures to permit hose clamp
60
to be removed from hose
72
for subsequent servicing. PERMATEX® Super Glue GELMATIC manufactured by Loctite Corporation is one such super glue material. Alternatively, hose clamp securing means
76
may be a conventional mechanical fastener.
Retainer
74
is conventional in construction and a detailed description need not be provided herein. Briefly, retainer
74
is relatively rigid structure having a generally U-shaped construction. The fork members
80
of retainer
74
are spaced apart a predetermined distance and are configured to engage the tangs
64
of hose clamp
60
when the hose clamp
60
has been positioned in an expanded position. Retainer
74
is therefore operable for inhibiting the movement of tangs
64
in a separating or spreading direction and prevents hose clamp
60
from returning to the retracted position. Retainer
74
is described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,206 which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
In
FIG. 5
, tool
10
is shown in operative association with hose assembly
70
. Hose assembly
70
is initially installed to a fluid connector
90
such that hose
72
is positioned over connector
90
. Tool
10
is then placed proximate hose clamp
60
and the first end
26
of first member
12
is inserted into the void
92
between hose clamp
60
and retainer
74
. As first end
26
is being inserted into void
92
, the first portion
44
of insertion portion
42
contacts retainer
74
and guides second member
14
along the top surface
94
of retainer
74
. Further insertion of first member
12
into void
92
causes insertion portion
42
to slide over top surface
94
and trap retainer
74
between first member
12
and retaining portion
40
. Handle
20
is then manipulated in either a levering motion or a rotating motion to cause one of the engagement surfaces
30
to contact the bottom surface
96
of retainer
74
and forcibly withdraw retainer
74
from tangs
64
.
Removal of retainer
74
from hose clamp
60
allows tangs
64
to move relative to one another and permits hose clamp
60
to return to the retracted position. Clamp body
62
is then operable for exterting a clamping force on the perimeter of hose
72
, causing hose
72
to forcibly contact connector
90
and create a seal therebetween in a conventional manner. As retainer
74
is trapped between first and second members
12
and
14
, the energy stored in retainer
74
is permitted to dissipate when it is removed from hose clamp
60
without propelling retainer
74
away from hose assembly
70
. Retainer
74
is thereafter removed from tool
10
and returned to the area fabricating hose assemblies for re-use.
While the tool of the present invention has been described thus far as having a second member fixedly coupled to the first member, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention, in its broader aspects, may be constructed somewhat differently. For example, as illustrated in
FIG. 6
, second member
14
′ may be slidingly engaged to first member
12
′. In this arrangement, retaining portion
40
′ includes a clip structure
100
adapted to slidingly engage body portion
22
′. Clip structure
100
includes extension means
102
which is adapted to receive a force exerted by the thumb of a technician. In response to the application of force to extension means
102
, second member
14
′ is caused to slide across body portion
22
′ along longitudinal axis
24
′. In operating tool
10
′, first end
26
′ is initially placed in void
92
. A force is next applied to extension means
102
and second member
14
′ is pushed toward hose clamp
60
until insertion portion
42
′ has traveled over top surface
94
and retaining portion
40
has engaged retainer
74
.
While the invention has been described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment illustrated by the drawings and described in the specification as the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include any embodiments falling within the description of the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. A tool for removing a retainer device from a spring-type hose clamp, the retainer device retaining the spring-type hose clamp in a generally open condition, the tool comprising:a first member having a longitudinally extending body portion with a first end, the first end having at least one surface which tapers inwardly toward a longitudinal axis of the body portion; and a second member coupled to the first member, the second member extending from the first member in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body portion such that a distal end of the second member extends over the first end of the body portion; wherein the first end of the first member is adapted to fit between the retainer and the hose clamp and the second member is adapted to fit over the retainer such that the second member inhibits movement of the retainer when the first member is caused to dislodge the retainer from the hose clamp.
- 2. The tool of claim 1, wherein the first member is a slotted (or flat bladed) screwdriver.
- 3. The tool of claim 1, wherein the second member includes an insertion portion adapted to guide the second member over the retainer.
- 4. The tool of claim 3, wherein the second member is in sliding engagement with the body portion.
- 5. The tool of claim 3, wherein the second member further includes a retaining portion coupled to the insertion portion, the retaining portion biasing the insertion portion toward the longitudinal axis of the body portion.
- 6. The tool of claim 5, wherein the insertion portion includes first and second portions, the first portion spaced apart from and extending generally away from the longitudinal axis, the second portion extending downwardly toward the longitudinal axis and past the first end.
- 7. The tool of claim 1, wherein the second member is formed from a metal material.
- 8. The tool of claim 7, wherein the second member is formed from a steel material.
- 9. The tool of claim 8, wherein the second member is formed from a spring steel material.
- 10. The tool of claim 1, wherein the second material is formed from a plastic material.
- 11. The tool of claim 1, wherein the second material is formed from a metalloid material.
- 12. A tool for removing a retainer device from a spring-type hose clamp, the hose clamp having a pair of opposed tangs adapted to expand the interior circumference of the hose clamp in response to the application of a predetermined force thereto, the retainer device coupled to the pair of opposed tangs and retaining the hose clamp in a generally open condition, the tool comprising:a first member having a handle and a longitudinally extending body portion, the body portion including first and second ends, the first end having a surface which tapers inwardly toward a longitudinal axis of the body portion, the second end fixedly coupled to the handle; a second member coupled to the first member and having a retainer portion and an insertion portion, the retainer portion extending along the first member in a direction parallel the longitudinal axis of the body portion, the insertion portion including first and second portions, the first portion spaced apart from and extending generally away from the longitudinal axis, the second portion extending downwardly toward the longitudinal axis and past the first end, the insertion portion adapted to guide the retainer portion over the retainer, the retaining portion biasing the insertion portion toward the longitudinal axis of the body portion; wherein the first end of the first member is adapted to fit between the retainer and the hose clamp and the retaining portion is adapted to fit over the retainer such that when the first member is caused to dislodge the retainer from the hose clamp, the second member inhibits movement of the retainer.
- 13. The tool of claim 12, wherein the first member is a screwdriver.
- 14. The tool of claim 12, wherein the second member is in sliding engagement with the first member.
- 15. A method for coupling a hose to a hose coupling comprising the steps of:providing a spring-type band clamp operable between a fully retracted condition, wherein the interior circumference of the band clamp has a first diameter, and an expanded condition, wherein the interior circumference of the band clamp has a diameter larger than the first diameter, the spring-type band clamp including a pair of opposed tangs adapted to expand the interior circumference of the band clamp in response to the application of a predetermined force thereto; coupling the band clamp to a first end of the hose; coupling a retainer to the tangs of the band clamp to retain the band clamp in the expanded condition; coupling the first end of the hose to the hose coupling; providing a tool having a first member, a handle and a second member, the first member having a longitudinally extending body portion with first and second ends, the first end having at least one surface which tapers inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the body portion, the handle coupled to the second end of the body portion and the second member coupled to the first member, the second member extending from the first member in a direction parallel the longitudinal axis of the body portion such that a distal end of the second member extends over the first end of the body portion; coupling the tool to the retainer such that the first end is inserted between the retainer and the hose clamp and the second member is positioned over the retainer; and removing the retainer from the pair of opposed tangs with the first end such that the retainer is retained between the first and second members.
US Referenced Citations (10)