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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
TOOL FOR THE WITHDRAWAL OF RADIAL SEALINGS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/1998/013174
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A tool for the removal of radial sealings comprises a handle (1) transverse of which a channel (6) extends for receipt of a long narrow gripping element (2) in a protruding state at an angle to the handle. In the vicinity of the channel (6), a device (8) is arranged for clamping the gripping element in a desired position relative to the channel. The gripping element (2) may grip in behind the stiff frame of a radial sealing with a hook portion (2'), and then the sealing may be removed by turning or breaking the tool around a support point.

More Like This:
WO/1987/001630RIVETING TOOL
Inventors:
ANDERSSON ERLING (SE)
Application Number:
PCT/SE1997/001589
Publication Date:
April 02, 1998
Filing Date:
September 22, 1997
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
ANDERSSON ERLING (SE)
International Classes:
B25B27/00; (IPC1-7): B25B27/00; B25G63/12
Domestic Patent References:
WO1996008342A11996-03-21
Foreign References:
DE817730C1951-10-18
GB980552A1965-01-13
GB2128535A1984-05-02
GB2066136A1981-07-08
US2961756A1960-11-29
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Johansson, Lars (P.O. Box 68, G�vle, SE)
Download PDF:
Claims:
Claims
1. Tool for the removal of radial sealings, comprising a handle (1) , c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a through channel (6) extends transverse to the handle for receiving a long narrow grip¬ ping element (2) formed with a hook portion (2") in a displaceable state at an angle to the handle, a device (8) being arranged in the vicinity of a mouth of the through channel (6) so as to clamp the gripping element in an adjustment position in which the hook portion (2") is at a desired, variable distance from the handle in connection with the turning or breaking of the shaft around a sup¬ port point (27) distanced from the gripping element.
2. Tool according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the clamping device includes a substantially cylindric roll (8) arranged to cooperate with a seat (9) recessed in the handle in the immediate vicinity of the mouth of the channel (6) , an edge portion (11) of the seat distanced from the channel applying, by means of the roll, a clamping compressive force to the gripping element in connection with said breaking of the handle.
3. Tool according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the roll (8) has a toothed or knurled envelope surface (15) .
4. Tool according to claim 2 or 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the roll (8) is connected to the handle (1) via at least one link (12) , which has a first hinge (13) permitting the link to be turned relative to the handle and a second hinge (14) permitting the roll (8) to rotate in relation to the link.
5. Tool according to any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the handle (1) has a rectangu¬ lar crosssection shape and is delimited by two wide long side surfaces (3, 3') and two thinner, upper and lower surfaces (4, 5) respectively, the channel (16) extending between and opening in the two lastmentioned surfaces (4, 5) .
6. Tool according to claim 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the channel (6) is in the shape of a through hole which is sur¬ rounded by the material of the handle from all sides.
7. Tool according to claim 5 or 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the handle (1) , at a rear end distanced from the clamping device, has a material portion (18) with reduced height extending in prolongation of said lower thin surface (5) .
8. Tool according to any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a transverse, through hole (16) is recessed in the area between the clamping device (8) and a front end (7) of the handle (1) for application of a support ele¬ ment for the tool formed as a supplementary adapter.
Description:
TOOL FOR THE WITHDRAWAL OF RADIAL SEALINGS

Technical Field of the Invention

In order to seal such ring-shaped or tubular spaces which exist between an immobile machine member and a rotatable machine member, for instance a shaft, ring-shaped radial sealings are use which may be of highly varying shapes and dimensions, but which generally are built up by a form-stiff frame and an outer lining of elastic material, at least turned towards the rotatable part. thin sheet is often used in the frame and rubber as the lining.

For each individual case of application, the sealing ring is made with such tight dimensions that the ring is kept in place by means of a press fit. To mount such rings in place is relatively simple. However, the removal is associated with considerable difficulties. Thus, in practice, various, more or less provisional, courses of action are used when the sealing ring is to be removed. For exam¬ ple, knives, screwdrivers or similar tools are used in order to pick out the sealing from the appurtenant ring space or alterna¬ tively destroy the sealing with the purpose of facilitating the removal. In more difficult cases, it may be necessary to first drill a number of holes through the frame of the sealing in order to make it possible to stick in hooks or the like by means of which the sealing may be drawn out from the ring space. Irrespec¬ tive of the method, the work of removing radial sealings has until now always been time-consuming and has many times caused damage not only in the form of physical personal injuries, but also in the form of surface damage on the machine components which are in the immediate vicinity of the radial sealing.

Objects and Features of the Invention

The present invention aims at facilitating the work of removing used radial sealings, more precisely by creating a tool especially suitable for the purpose. Thus, a primary object of the invention is to provide a tool, which in a quick and simple way admits the removal of radial sealings of highly varying shapes, dimensions and locations. Thus, the tool should be able to be brought to an active engagement with the radial sealing even if this is deeply located in narrow spaces and difficult to access. A

further object is to provide a removal tool that is simple " and cheap to manu acture. Furthermore, it should be light and compact so that it can be carried and be brought by the user without dif¬ ficulty. According to the invention, at least the primary object is attained by the features defined in the characterizing clause of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are furthermore defined in the dependent claims.

From GB 2 066 136 it is previously known to detachably mount an Allen key in a shaft, more precisely by the fact that a long branch of the key is brought into a central cavity of the shaft. However, in this case, the shaft only serves as a prolonging handle with the purpose of facilitating the handling of small keys in particular, and cannot at all be used for the removal of radial sealings.

Brief Description of the Appended Drawings

In the drawings : Fig 1 is a perspective view of the tool according to the invention and the appurtenant gripping element,

Fig 2 is a side view of the same tool, Fig 3 is a view from above of the tool, Fig 4 is a side view cf the tool shown immediately before the application onto a gripping element which has been brought into engagement with a radial sealing,

Fig 5 is a side view of the tool in the applied state, the tool being shown in an initial position before breaking, Fig 6 is a side view showing the tool together with the gripping element while removing the radial sealing, and Fig 7 is a partial side view showing the tool in connection with the driving of the gripping element into a radial sealing.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

In figures 1 to 3 , numeral 1 designates a handle, which is arranged to co-operate with a separate gripping element 2. Said gripping element comprises a relatively long and narrow main por¬ tion 2' as well as a considerably shorter, hook-forming portion 2", which protrudes laterally from an end of the main portion 2 1 .

Although it is possible per se to specially manufacture the " grip¬ ping tool 2, said tool may advantageously consist of a conven¬ tional Allen key. Such keys are cheap and are of a polygonal cross-section shape, which facilitates turning, for instance by means of a pair of tongs .

The handle 1 has a rectangular cross-section shape and is delimited by two wide long sides 3, 3' and two thinner, upper and lower respectively surfaces 4, 5. In practice, the height of the tool shaft may be from two to four times larger than the thickness thereof.

A channel designated 6 for receipt of the gripping element 2 extends at an angle to the length extension of the handle. In the preferred embodiment shown, the channel has the shape of a through hole which is surrounded by the material of the handle from all sides, the hole mouthing in the surfaces 4, 5. The hole is located at a certain, although short distance from the front end 7 of the handle. In the vicinity of the hole or the channel 6, a device 8 is arranged for clamping the gripping element in a desired posi ¬ tion in relation to the channel. In the preferred embodiment, said clamping device 8 is in the shape of a substantially cylindric roll, which co-operates with a seat 9 recessed in the topside of the handle. Said seat is curved, preferably about semi-circular, and is delimited by front and rear edges 10 and 11 respectively. The front edge 10 is situated in line with the channel 6. In other words, the channel mouths in the area of said edge.

Although it would be theoretically possible to arrange the clamp roll 8 lying loosely in the seat 9, it is in practice pre¬ ferred to connect it with the handle. This has been realized by means of a link or an arm 12, which has a first hinge 13 permit- ting the link to be turned relative to the handle and a second hinge 14 permitting the roll to rotate relative to the link. The envelope surface 15 of the roll 8 is advantageously toothed or knurled in order to guarantee a good engagement with the gripping element 2. As clearly seen in fig 2, the channel 6 extends perpendicu¬ larly to the length extension of the handle. In the area between the channel 6 and the front end 7 of the handle, a transverse hole 16 is recessed which mouths in the two long side surfaces 3, 3' of

the handle. Said hole may, when necessary, receive a support ele¬ ment (not shown) formed as a supplementary adapter having the pur¬ pose of serving as a support point or a break point in such situa¬ tions when the bottom surface 5 of the handle may not be abutted against another suitable support surface.

At the rear end 17 of the handle, a material portion 18 is formed having a reduced height. The function of this rear, thin end portion 18 is described below in connection with fig 7. There is also a second transverse hole 19 for suspending the tool at the rear end of the handle.

Reference is now made to figures 4 to 7, in which numeral 20 designates an immobile, tubular machine member, while 21 desig¬ nates a machine member, for instance a shaft, which is rotatably mounted in bearings relative to the member 20 via a bearing 22. Said bearing is arranged in a ring-shaped or tubular space desig¬ nated 23. In said space, a radial sealing 24 is arranged outside the bearing 22, which, in a conventional way, comprises a stiff, ring-shaped frame 25, for instance of thin metal sheet, as well as an elastic ring part 26, for instance of rubber. Said elastic part 26 is turned towards the rotatable machine member 21. It should also be noted that the inner diameter of the frame 25 is larger than the outer diameter of the rotary member 21, the ring-shaped gap between the rotary member and the inner edge of the frame being filled out by the elastic part 26.

The Function and Advantages of the Tool According to the Invention

When the sealing ring 24, after wear, is to be removed in order to be exchanged for a new sealing ring, the gripping element 2 is, in a first step, brought into engagement with the stiff frame 25 of the sealing ring, as shown in fig 4. In simpler cases, this may be effected in a completely manual way by pressing in the front, hook-equipped portion of the element by hand through the rubber part 26 in the ring-shaped gap between the inner edge of the frame 25 and the envelope surface of the rotary member 21, and then the gripping element is turned 90° so that the hook portion 2" grips behind the substantially radial portion of the frame 25. In the next step, the tool handle 1 is applied onto the gripping element 2. This is effected by bringing the handle downwards so

that the long main portion 2' of the gripping element penetrates the channel 6. In doing so, the clamp roll 8 is turned aside as shown in fig 5. When the handle reaches a lower end position in which the bottom side of the handle abuts against a suitable sup- port surface, for instance the free end portion of the stationary machine member 20, the tool assumes an initial position from which breaking or turning may be effected. When the tool handle, in the next step, is turned upwards around the support point or break point designated 27, as shown with dash dotted lines in fig 5 and with unbroken lines in fig 6, the roll 8 will clamp the gripping element in the given position which the gripping element assumes in the channel in the initial position of the tool according to fig 5. When the handle is turned in the upward direction, the edge portion 11 of the seat 9 will apply a compressive force to the roll which is transferred to the gripping element, whereby said element is steadily clamped in the channel. As the tool is turned from the initial position thereof, the sealing ring 24 will be deformed as well as be brought in the outward direction from the appurtenant space 23 so as to finally be removed from said space. In certain cases, for instance when the rubber part 26 of the sealing ring is particularly robust, it may be necessary to drive in the hook portion 2" of the gripping element with an appropriate tool, e.g. a hammer. In case the sealing ring is easy to reach, this may be effected by bringing the tool to knock directly on the gripping element. In case the sealing ring is placed where it is difficult to reach, the thin end portion of the tool handle, which is designated 18, may also be used for the pur¬ pose. Thus, in fig 7 is shown how said end portion may be held abutting against the hook-equipped portion of the gripping ele- ent, and then a hammer may be knocked against the opposite end 7 of the shaft. In practice, there is, of course, a variety of dif¬ ferent locations and dimensions of not only radial sealings but also of the two machine members between which the sealings act. However, the described tool is useful in a flexible way in highly varying situations. Thus, the requisite breaking movement or turn¬ ing movement may take place around other support points than those available on the stationary machine member. In some cases, it may, as mentioned in the introduction, be necessary to apply particular

supplements in the hole 16 in order to achieve a reliable " support for the tool in connection with the breaking.

A substantial advantage of the invention is that one and the same tool may be used universally for the removal of different radial sealings thanks to the fact that the gripping element may simply and quickly be clamped in various desired positions rela¬ tive to the handle of the tool depending on the external circum¬ stances, in particular the distance between the radial sealing and a suitable support point. Furthermore, the tool as well as the appurtenant gripping element are constructionally simple and cheap to manufacture and/or purchase.

Feasible Modifications of the Invention

The invention is not solely restricted to the embodiment described and shown in the drawings. Thus, it is conceivable to equip the tool with other clamping devices than a roll, although a toothed roll is preferred in practice. Furthermore, the channel for the gripping element may be made open at one side instead of as a through hole. In this case, the gripping element may be inserted from the side of the channel. Furthermore, other elements than Allen keys may be used as gripping elements. The only essen¬ tial thing is that the element is long narrow and has a hook or hook-like part at one end thereof.