RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application (Attorney's Ref. No. P218464pct) claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62/068,400 filed October 24, 2014, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] This disclosure relates to the field of tools for the insertion and/or removal of a bearing race, ring, bushing, or other device press-fit into a recess.

SUMMARY

[0003] Disclosed herein is a gripping mechanism for use with a pulling device for removal of and/or installation of a bearing race, ring, bushing, or other device press-fit into a recess.

[0004] The gripping mechanism in one example comprising: a main shaft having a radial outward surface and a longitudinal axis. The gripping mechanism in one example also comprising: a lower housing comprising in turn; an upper disk including surfaces defining a plurality of pivot shaft guides radially outward of and parallel to the long axis of the main shaft, a surface defining a spring chamber radially outward of the main shaft, a radially inward surface engaging the radial outward surface of the main shaft to allow linear and rotational movement of the main shaft relative thereto; a pivot shaft having an upper end fitted to each of the upper pivot shaft guides; a lower disk attached to the lower end of each pivot shaft so as to form a longitudinal gap between the upper disk and the lower disk, a radially inward surface, and a plurality of surfaces forming longitudinal index pin receivers aligned. The gripping mechanism in one example comprising an arm positioned within the gap between the upper disk and the lower disk, pivoting about each pivot shaft, selectively extending radially outward from the lower disk; having an arm gear surface on a radially inward end thereof. In one example, an index housing may be provided. The index housing in one example having a radially outward surface engaging the radially inward surface of the lower disk so as to rotate relative thereto, and a main gear formed in the radially outward surface. The index housing in one example further has at least one index pin extending longitudinally from the index housing to the lower disk so as to selectively restrict rotation therebetween. To facilitate use of the index pin, a plurality of longitudinally aligned index pin receivers may be provided either in the index housing or the lower disk to removably receive one end of at least one of the index pins. As shown in the drawings, these index pin receivers are aligned at the same radial distance from the main shaft axis so that selective engagement is allowed as the index housing rotates relative to the lower disk. In one example shown, a compression spring may be fitted into the spring chamber and biasing the index housing longitudinally toward the lower disk so as to maintain the at least one index pin into the index pin receivers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Fig. 1 is a top isometric view of one example of the apparatus in an extend orientation and attached to a pulling device;

[0006] Fig. 2 is a side cutaway view taken along like 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the gripping device in the retracted orientation during the process of removing a bearing race from a support housing;

[0007] Fig. 3 is a top cutaway view of the apparatus taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2; [0008] Fig. 4 is a top cutaway view of the apparatus as shown in Fig. 3 with the arms in a partially extended orientation;

[0009] Fig. 5 is a top cutaway view similar to that of the apparatus as shown in Fig. 4 with the arms in fully extended orientation;

[0010] Fig. 6 is a side cutaway view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 in the extended orientation during the process of removing a bearing race from a support housing;

[0011] Fig. 7 is a side cutaway view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 in the extended orientation during the process of removing a bearing race from a support housing;

[0012] Fig. 8 is a detailed cutaway view of the gripping mechanism portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 ;

[0013] Fig. 9 is a detailed cutaway view of the gripping mechanism portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 with the index housing portion lowered to allow rotation relative to the lower disk portion of the gripping mechanism;

[0014] Fig. 10 is a bottom isometric view of the gripping mechanism portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 with the index housing portion shown in a lowered position to view the index pin, main shaft gear;

[0015] Fig. 1 1 is a partial cutaway bottom view of the gripping mechanism portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 with the index housing portion removed to show the index pin and main shaft gear; [0016] Fig. 12 is a partial cutaway bottom view of the gripping mechanism portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 with the index housing portion removed to show the effects of movement of the index pin between adjacent index pin receivers;

[0017] Fig. 13 is a top isometric view of the gripping mechanism portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 with a variant to some of the arm surfaces;

[0018] Fig. 14 is a side cutaway view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 13 in the extended orientation during the process of installing a bearing race into a support housing; and

[0019] Fig. 15 is a side cutaway view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 13 in the extended orientation during the final step of installing a bearing race into a support housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Disclosed herein is a pulling tool for use in removal and/or installation of a bearing race, ring, bushing, or other mechanical device which is press-fit, heat-fit, or friction-fit or likewise installed into a recess. For ease in description, the term bearing race will be used to describe this category of components including bearing races, rings, bushings, and other equivalent mechanical apparatuses. The tool when used generally comprises a pulling device attached to a gripping mechanism by way of a main shaft; the gripping mechanism disclosed herein being of particular novelty. Many such pulling devices are known in the art such as lever pullers, one of which is disclosed in US Patent No. 1 ,334,658; pneumatic pullers such as that disclosed in US Patent No. 5,787,561 ; slide hammers such as disclosed in US Patent No. 3,336,652; screw drives such as disclosed in US Patent No. 4,769,890 and equivalents and combinations thereof. Many similar pulling devices are well-known in the art for attachment to the gripping mechanisms which engage bearing races for the installation or removal from a recess.

[0022] In many applications especially in the automotive industry, the tolerance between the outer surface of the bearing race and the inner surface of the recess is very low. As the press-fit forces required for the installation of such components is very high, significant force must often be used to remove or install such bearing races within the recesses without 'racking' or inserting/removing the bearing race within the recess at an offset angle which will tend to bind or jam the bearing race in the recess. As shown in US Patent No. 3,336,652 similar gripping mechanisms generally comprise jaws (30) which pivot about axes or pins (26/27) which are aligned orthogonal to the main shaft 1 1 . While this allows the apparatus to fit into a relatively small opening in the center of the bearing race as shown in Fig. 2 of the US Patent No. 3,336,652 the jaws are generally made to counter substantial tensile forces between the axis of rotation (26/27) and the fingers (37) which actually engage the bearing race. In addition, the pins (26/27) must be made robust enough to withstand repeated use and generally carry the entire force engaged upon the bearing race during removal or installation.

[0023] To aid in description, an axes system 10 is disclosed herein. In Fig. 1 for example, a longitudinal axis 12 is shown centered upon the center of the main shaft and parallel to the long axis thereof. A radial axis 14 is shown extending orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 12 in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 12. In Fig. 12, and arm rotation axis 16 is shown substantially parallel to the long axis 12 and centered upon (tangential to) the pivot of each of the arms.

[0024] Looking to Fig. 1 , the gripping mechanism 20 is shown attached to a pulling device 22 by way of a main shaft 24. The main shaft 24 is shown protruding from the upper end of the apparatus such as can also be seen in the gap between the gripping mechanism 20 and the pulling device 22. In this example, the pulling device 22 comprises an upper housing 26 and a cap 28 engaged around the main shaft 24. The pulling device 22 in this example also comprises a support bar 30 which rests upon the support housing 32 during installation or removal of a bearing race 34 as can be seen in Fig. 6. In at least one example, a thrust bearing/buffer 36 or equivalent apparatus may be positioned between the upper housing 26 and the support bar 30. As previously described, the pulling device 22 is shown schematically so as to represent one or more of the pulling devices disclosed above.

[0025] Returning to Fig. 1 , the gripping mechanism 20 is shown in an extended orientation 38 which is also demonstrated in Fig. 4. Fig. 3 shows the gripping mechanism 20 in a retracted orientation where the arms are

substantially smaller in overall (outer effective) radius. Returning yet again to Fig. 1 , the gripping mechanism as shown generally comprises a lower housing 42 attached to a lower longitudinal end 44 of the main shaft 24. Also shown in this drawing are the top ends of a plurality of pivot shafts 46 of which there are three in this example. However; it is conceived that the apparatus would operate as intended with 1 , 2, 4 or more pivot shafts 46. Each of the pivot shafts 46 forming an arm rotation axis 16 about which each of the associated arms 48 rotate. In addition, each of the pivot shafts 46 is shown having an arm 48 attached thereto so as to pivot the arm 48 about the associated arm rotation axis 16. These arms 48 together therefore expand radially in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 12 of the main shaft 24 and also orthogonal to the arm rotation axes 16. In this way, they are very strongly supported by the upper disk 82 and lower disk 84 as can be seen in the cutaway view of Fig. 8.

[0026] Now to Fig. 2, a pulling device 22 is shown being inserted into the support housing 32 in which a bearing race 34 has been installed. As such, the gripping mechanism 20 is inserted longitudinally past the lower edge 50 of a protrusion 52 of the bearing race 34. In this example, the protrusion 52 has a radially inward edge 54 which is engaged by the arms 48 for removal from the recess 56. As the arms 48 are in the retracted orientation 40 the gripping mechanism 20 will pass longitudinally by the protrusion 52. Looking to Fig. 3, it can be seen that the protrusion 52 of the bearing race 34 has a radially inner edge 58, this edge 58 is generally engaged by the arms 48 during operation. The arms 48 in this retracted orientation 40 will easily pass longitudinally beyond this radially inner edge 58 of the bearing race. Looking to Fig. 4, the arms 48 have been pivoted radially outward in direction of rotation 60 such that the fingers 62 engage the bearing race 34 longitudinally below the radially inner edge 58 as indicated by the dashed line portion of each finger 62. Looking now to Fig. 6, it is clearly shown that by reducing the gap 64 between the upper edge 66 of the gripping mechanism 20 and a lower edge 68 of the support bar 30 and upon actuation of the pulling device 22, tensile forces will be formed in this region of the main shaft 24, biasing the bearing race 34 out of the recess 56. When sufficient tensile force is provided in this region of the shaft 24, the bearing race 34 will be withdrawn as shown in Fig. 7 wherein the gap 64 is substantially smaller than as shown in Fig. 6. This is also shown in the upper longitudinal and where the extension portion 70 of the main shaft 24 above the pulling device 22 is shown substantially shorter in Fig. 6 than in Fig. 7.

[0027] In Fig. 5, a slightly different bearing race is shown wherein the inner edge 58' has a substantially larger inner diameter than that shown in Fig. 4. As such, each of the arms 48 are rotated substantially further in direction of rotation 60 than that shown in Fig. 4 when they contact the inner edge. In the example shown, each of the arms 48 include a finger 62 defined by a finger region 72 which extends radially outward along the perimeter edge of each arm 48 so as to contact the bearing race 34 has shown in Figs. 4 or 5. This design allows contact with the bearing race 34 at several other locations along the finger region 72.

[0028] Looking to Fig. 3, it can be seen how in this example, the ends of each arm 48 opposite the fingers 62 relative to the associated pivot shaft 46 include a gear comprising surfaces defining detents and indents (teeth and grooves) forming an arm gear 74. Looking to the example shown in Fig. 3, each of the arms 48 is shown rotated to a substantially fully retracted orientation 40 wherein the last tooth 76 of the arm gear 74 has engaged the main shaft gear 78. Thus, continued inward rotation of each arm 48 is substantially prohibited.

Looking to Fig. 4, the arms 48 are in a partially extended orientation 38 wherein the arms 48 are free to rotate inward or outward relative to each of the pivot shafts 46. In Fig. 5, the first tooth 80 of each arm gear 74 has engaged the main shaft gear 78 and therefore continued rotation in direction 60 is substantially prohibited. As continued rotation in direction 60 generally tends to retract each of the arm gears inward, such rotation may serve little purpose.

[0029] Looking to Fig. 8, it can be seen in this cutaway view that in this example the main shaft 24 passes through the gripping mechanism 20 in particular, the main shaft is shown in close fit to the radial inner surface of the lower housing 42. As the upper disk 82 portion of the lower housing 42 has a radially inner surface 86 which is substantially the same diameter, or slightly larger diameter as the outer diameter surface 88, the main shaft 24 is

substantially free to pass through the upper disk 82 save for a ring . Likewise, the lower disk 84 has a radially inner surface 90 which in this example is

substantially larger than the outer surface 88 of the main shaft 24 and would likewise allow passage of the main shaft 24 were it not for the index housing 92 attached thereto. In the example shown, the lower longitudinal end of the main shaft 24 comprises male threads 94 which are threaded into female threads 96 of the index housing 92 and therefore fasten the main shaft 24 to the index housing 92. It is to be understood that other fastening systems could be utilized such as welding, heat fit, press-fit etc.

[0030] As shown, the index housing 92 comprises a radially outer flange 98 which prohibits passage of the index housing 92 through the surface 90. In addition, the flange 98 in this example has an index pin 100 fixed thereto so as to selectively engage an index pin receiver 102. Thus, as the index housing 92 is rotated relative to the lower disk 84, the index pin 100 may align with an index pin receiver 102 whereupon insertion of the index pin 100 prohibits rotation of the index housing 92 relative to the lower disk 84.

[0031] Looking to Fig. 4, it can be seen how as the main shaft gear 78 rotates relative to the pivot shafts 46, the arm gears 74 contact and are rotated by the main shaft gear 78 between the first arm gear tooth 80 and the last arm gear tooth 76. This rotation is accomplished as can be seen relative to Fig. 10. As the main shaft 78 is pressed downward relative to the lower disk 84, the index housing 92 will bias downward such that the index pin 100 is no longer engaged by any of the index pin receivers 102, (See Fig. 9) then movement of the main shaft 78 and/or indexer housing 92 relative to the lower disk 84 will rotate each of the bearing race engagement arms 48 radially inward or outward depending on the relative rotation of the index housing 92. This is also shown in the partial cutaway view of Fig. 1 1 and Fig. 12. In Fig. 12, the relative angle of rotation 104 is indicated based upon the rotation of the index housing 92 relative to the lower disk 84 from one index pin receiver 102A to an adjacent index pin receiver 102B.

[0032] Looking back to Fig. 8, a circumferential groove 106 is shown on the shaft 78 with a retaining ring 108 (piston ring, snap ring, e-ring, self-locking retaining ring, and equivalents) disposed therein. The retaining ring 108 provides a surface upon which a coil spring 1 10 disposed within a spring chamber 1 12 of the upper disk 82 or attached component presses to bias the main shaft and connected components longitudinally upwards. The coil spring 1 10 being of the compression type, although the apparatus may be re-configured for use of a tension coil spring. The coil spring 1 10 in this example extending radially between the outer surface 88 of the main shaft 24 and a radially inner surface 1 14 of the spring chamber 1 12. Likewise, the compression coil spring 1 10 is longitudinally disposed between a lower edge 1 16 of the spring chamber 1 12 and in the retaining ring 108. This coil spring 1 10 biases the main shaft 24 upwards away from the lower disk 84 and simultaneously biases the index pin 100 into the selected index pin receiver 102. The compression spring maintains the arms 48 in the desired extended or withdrawn position during operation. In Fig. 9 the index housing is positioned downward, and the spring 1 10 is compressed between the retaining ring 108 and the lower edge 1 16. In this example, the retaining ring 108 slides within the spring chamber 1 12. In this position as with the position shown in Fig. 8, at least a portion of the main shaft gear 78 engages each of the arm gears 74.

[0033] Looking to Fig. 13 is shown a variation of the arms 48 wherein the finger portion 62 is substantially the same, however, the arm portion 1 18 longitudinally above the finger portion 62 relative to the main shaft 24 is angled from a vertical plane. Looking to Figs. 14 and 15, it can be seen how the entire apparatus is rotated or flipped vertically so as to be used to insert a bearing race 34 into the recess 56. In this particular example, the bearing race has an angular portion 120. In this example, the angular portion 1 18 of each arm 48 corresponds to the angular portion 120 of the bearing race 34 so as to more properly engage the bearing race during insertion whereas the arms shown in Fig. 1 , for example, are substantially vertical and may interfere with insertion of a bearing race 34 such as shown in Fig. 14.

[0034] It is important to note that in Figs. 14, 15 and also in Fig. 6, that although it appears in the drawings that the fingers 62 of one side of the apparatus do not contact the edge of the bearing race 34, this is an illusion caused by the example using three (3) arms in combination with the cutaway view.

[0035] While the present invention is illustrated by description of several embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments are described in detail, it is not the intention of the applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications within the scope of the appended claims will readily appear to those sufficed in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicants' general concept.