Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6401575
-
Patent Number
6,401,575
-
Date Filed
Friday, June 15, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, June 11, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Hail, III; Joseph J.
- Thomas; David B.
Agents
- Millen, White, Zelano & Branigan, P.C.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 081 17615
- 081 1762
- 081 119
- 081 1211
- 081 1242
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A wrench cap of molded plastic defines an interior space into which project a plurality of lugs. The lugs engage ribs projecting from a threaded cover for a fuel filter housing. A conventional wrench or wrench handle cooperates with a hex coupling on the wrench cap to rotate the wrench cap and thus the threaded cover. This facilitates removal of the cover from the fuel filter housing so that a filter element in the housing can be changed.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to wrenches for fuel filter housing covers. More particularly, the present invention is directed to wrenches for fuel filter housing covers which cooperate with projecting features on the fuel filter covers to facilitate loosening and removing fuel filter covers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A large number of vehicles manufactured from 1994 to the present utilize cartridge-style fuel filter housings having injection molded, ribbed housing covers. The fuel filter housings are positioned on engines at locations which make access to the housings and covers very difficult so that the mechanic or other person making filter changes must strain to access housing covers for removal, which is the first step in changing filter elements within the housings. The housing covers have a diameter which is too large to be grasped by hand so that screw drivers are used to force housing covers open. Utilizing a screwdriver for this task is difficult in of itself and can lead to warped housing covers which can result in fuel leaks while vehicles are in operation. Accordingly, there is a need for a tool which can conveniently grip these fuel filter housings so that mechanics need not resort to using screwdrivers which can result in hazardous fuel leaks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the aforementioned considerations, the present invention is directed to a wrench adapted to remove a cover of a fuel filter housing, wherein the cover includes a top surface with a peripheral portion and an array of radial ribs having a selected radial extent terminating at a peripheral portion to define a rib-free area of a selected width and maximum diameter. The cover also has a threaded portion thereon for threadably coupling with a threaded mouth of the housing to retain a filter element within the housing. In accordance with the invention, the wrench comprises a disk having a diameter larger than the radial extend of the ribs and includes a flange extending from the disk which encloses a space having a diameter larger than the radial extent of the ribs, but less than the maximum diameter of the peripheral portion. The flange is adapted to engage the peripheral portion of the top surface of the cover and has a plurality of lugs spaced from one another and extending inwardly from the flange. The lugs are adapted to engage the ribs in a circumferential direction to apply torque to the cover, while the flange is adapted to engage the ends of the ribs in a radial direction to keep the disk correctly positioned radially with respect to the cover. A coupling on the disk is adapted to couple with a wrench handle for applying torque to the disk.
In accordance with a more specific aspect of the invention, the coupling on the disk has a surface configuration adapted to complement a surface configuration on the handle wherein the handle is, for example, a projecting hex nut having a square aperature therethrough.
In still a further aspect of the invention, the wrench is configured for cooperation with at least two cover configurations, wherein one cover configuration has an array of straight linear ribs and another cover has T-shaped ribs with arcuate lateral portions having gaps therebetween for receiving the lugs on the wrench.
In a more specific aspect of the invention, there are six lugs on the wrench for cooperation with six ribs on the cover.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a side view of an engine shown in dotted lines with a fuel filter housing configured for cooperation with the wrench of the present invention;
FIG. 2
is a perspective view of the fuel filter housing of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
is a side view, partially in elevation, of the fuel filter housing of
FIG. 2
showing a filter element retained in the housing by a cover;
FIG. 4
is a top view of the cover in
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 5
is a perspective view of the inside of a wrench cap configured in accordance with the principals of the present invention;
FIG. 6
is a perspective outside view of the wrench cap
FIG. 5
;
FIG. 7
is a top view showing an open wrench being applied to the outside of the wrench cap of
FIGS. 5 and 6
;
FIG. 8
is a view of a socket with a rachet being applied to the wrench cap of
FIGS. 5 and 6
;
FIG. 9
is a view of a socket rachet coupling being applied directly to the wrench cap of
FIGS. 5 and 6
; and
FIG. 10
is a perspective view of the wrench cap of the present invention shown for use with another embodiment of filter cover, wherein the filter cover is integral with the filter element.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to
FIG. 1
, there is shown an engine
5
having a filter housing
7
with a circular cover
8
thereon, which circular cover is accessed by a cap wrench configured in accordance with the present invention.
Referring now to
FIGS. 2-4
where the housing
7
and cover
8
are shown in isolation, it is seen that the housing
7
contains a filter element
9
which is held within the housing
7
by the cover
8
. The housing
7
has an internally threaded mouth
10
to which an externally threaded portion
11
of the cover
8
, which projects from a disk portion
12
thereon is threadably received to seal the filter element
9
within the housing
7
.
Fixed ribs
14
project from the top surface
15
of the disk
12
of the housing
8
in the illustrated first embodiment of
FIGS. 2-4
. The ribs
14
are T-shaped with arcuate cross member
16
projecting laterally from radially extending rib portions
18
. Between the cross member
16
, are gaps
20
. The ribs
14
have a radial extent which is less than the diameter D of the disk
12
so as to define a peripheral portion
25
on the disk
12
which has a width between the ends
26
of the ribs and the diameter D of the disk.
As is seen in
FIGS. 3
,
5
and
6
a wrench cap
30
, configured in accordance with the principals of the present invention, cooperates with the configuration of the top surface
15
and the ribs
14
of the cover
8
in order to apply torque thereto, so as to facilitate rotation of the cover with respect to the housing
7
, thus allowing the cover easily removed in order to change the filter element
9
(FIG.
3
). As is seen in
FIG. 5
, the filter cap
30
is disposed about a central axis
32
and is comprised of a disk
34
and a flange
36
which extends in one direction from the disk terminating in an edge
37
so as to define a cylindrical space
38
.
Projecting inwardly in a radially orientation from the circular flange
36
are a plurality of rectangular lugs
40
. The rectangular lugs
40
adjoin both the inner surface
42
of the disk
34
and the inner surface
46
of the circular flange
36
to define a unitary structure. Each lug
40
has first and second radially extending side surfaces
50
and
52
; a radially facing end surface
56
and a radially extending exposed surface
58
. There is a second space
59
defined by the end surfaces
56
of the lugs
40
which accommodates any central projections on the cover
8
(see FIG.
10
). Preferably, the entire wrench cap
30
is a molded plastic unit.
When the wrench cap
30
is placed over the cover
8
, the bottom surface
37
of the circular flange
36
engages the peripheral area
22
of the disk
12
with the lugs
40
fitting in the gaps
20
between the ribs
14
. In the cover embodiment of
FIGS. 2-4
where the ribs
14
are T-shaped, the gaps
20
are between the cross members
16
of the ribs
14
. Consequently, when the wrench cap
30
is rotated about its axis
32
, one of the radially extending faces
52
and
54
engages the ribs
14
at the ends of the cross members
16
. Whether it is the faces
52
or the faces
54
which engage the ribs
14
depends on which direction the wrench cap is turned. For unscrewing the wrench cap
30
, the wrench cap is rotated counterclockwise. Moreover, the wrench cap can not slip radially with respect to the cover
8
because the cross members
16
, the ribs
14
engage the inner wall
46
of the circular flange
30
. Preferably, the edge
37
of the circular flange
36
abuts the peripheral surface
25
while the exposed surfaces
58
of the lugs
40
also rest on the top surface
15
of the disk
12
. Consequently, the wrench cap
30
can nest snugly against the filter cover
8
.
As is seen in
FIG. 6
, the cap wrench
30
has a projecting hex nut
70
which extends from the outside surface
72
thereof. The hex nut
70
has six flat sides
74
and a central square aperture
76
which projects through the inside wall
36
, as is seen in FIG.
5
. Hex nut
70
is molded unitary with the wrench cap
30
above the axis
32
so that when torque is applied to the hex nut
70
or to the aperture
76
, the wrench cap
30
rotates the filter cover
8
(see FIGS.
2
-
4
). By having the plurality of surfaces
74
and a square aperture
76
he hex nut
30
provides a coupling with a surface configuration which is adapted to complement a plurality of surface configurations on various wrenches and wrench handles.
As is seen in
FIGS. 7
,
8
and
9
, the hex nut coupling
70
complements various wrenches used frequently by mechanics such as an open wrench
80
(
FIG. 7
) which could also be a closed wrench; a socket wrench
82
(
FIG. 8
) or the rectangular projection of a socket wrench handle
84
(see FIG.
9
).
Referring now to
FIG. 10
, the wrench cap
30
is usable with another embodiment
8
′ of the filter cap wherein a filter cap
8
′ is integral with a filter element
9
′. Like the filter cap
8
, the filter cap
8
′ has a threaded portion
11
′ which is threaded into the housing
7
. However, the top surface
90
of the filter cap
8
′ is different in that it includes straight linear ribs
14
′ without cross members
16
. The lugs
40
align with spaces
20
′ between the rib
14
′ and engage the ribs
14
′ when the wrench cap
30
is rotated so that the wrench cap can apply torque to and unscrew the filter cap
8
′ when rotated counterclockwise and thus allow removal of the filter element
9
′ from its housing
7
(see FIGS.
2
-
4
). The cover
8
′ includes a hex nut projection
92
which is accommodated in the space
59
defined between the lugs
40
of the wrench cap so that the cap wrench can engage the peripheral portion
25
′ with its edge
37
.
From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.
Claims
- 1. A wrench cap adapted to remove a cover of a fuel filter housing, wherein the cover includes a top surface with a peripheral portion and an array of radial ribs having selected radial extent terminating at the peripheral portion to define a rib-free area of a selected width and maximum diameter, the disk cover having a threaded portion thereon for threadably coupling with a threaded mouth of the housing to retain a filter element within the housing, the wrench cap comprising:a disk having a diameter larger than the radial extent of the ribs; a flange extending from the disk and enclosing a space having a diameter larger than the radial extent of the ribs but less than the maximum diameter of the peripheral portion, the flange having an edge adapted to engage the peripheral portion of the top surface of the disk cover; a plurality of lugs spaced from one another and extending inwardly from the flange, the lugs being adapted to engage the ribs in a circumferential direction to apply torque to the cover, the flange being adapted to engage the ends of the ribs in the radial direction to keep the wrench cap from slipping radially with respect to the cover, and a coupling on the disk adapted to couple with a wrench handle for applying torque to the disk.
- 2. The wrench cap of claim 1 wherein the coupling on the disk has a surface configuration adapted to complement a surface configuration on the handle.
- 3. The wrench cap of claim 2 wherein the coupling on the disk has a surface configuration adapted to complement a plurality of surface configurations on various wrenches and wrench handles.
- 4. The wrench cap of claim 3 wherein the coupling on the handle is a projecting hex nut having a square aperature therethrough,wherein the hex nut cooperates with either an open or closed end wrench or socket, and wherein the square aperature receives a square coupling of a ratchet drive.
- 5. The wrench cap of claim 3 wherein the wrench cap is a plastic molding.
- 6. The wrench cap of claim 1 in combination with the cover of the fuel filter housing wherein the ribs are straight linear members and wherein there is a hex nut projecting from the top surface.
- 7. The wrench cap in combination of claim 6 wherein there are six ribs on the cover and six lugs on the wrench.
- 8. The wrench cap of claim 1 in combination with the cover of the fuel filter housing wherein the ribs are T-shaped with arcuate lateral portions having gaps therebetween for receiving the lugs on the wrench therebetween.
- 9. The wrench cap in combination of claim 8 wherein there are six ribs on the cover and six lugs on the wrench.
- 10. The wrench cap of claim 1 wherein there are six lugs.
- 11. The wrench cap of claim 1 wherein the lugs are rectangular and extend radially toward the axis of the disk, terminating to define a space adjacent the axis of the wrench cap, the space adapted to receive a projecting member on the cover.
US Referenced Citations (9)