US2496005A

US2496005A - Gripping device to remove bushings and the like

Info

Publication number: US2496005A
Application number: US707377A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert H Grant
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-11-02
Filing date: 1946-11-02
Publication date: 1950-01-31
Anticipated expiration: 1967-01-31

Description

Jam M Wfifi GRANT 2,496fi05 GRIPPING DEVICE TO REMOVE BUSHINGS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 2, 1946 Z 36 O 5/ 39 W/BE Patented Jan. 31, 1950 UNITED STATES GRIPPIN G DEVICE TO REMOVE BUSHING AND THE LIKE I Robert H. Grant, Everett, Mass. Application November 2, 1946, Serial No. 707,377

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a gripping device for removing bushings or the like, particularly from steering post assemblies in automobiles.

In repairing or making changes in the steering post assembly of some automobiles the bushing around the post must be removed, and since it is tightly fitted in the outside housing or jacket it is customary to forcibly hammer and pry it out. This often irreparably damages it. My principal object is to provide a special device to withdraw said bushing easily without damaging it.

Another object is to provide a said device that is compact, simple in operation, and that can be manufactured at a reasonable cost.

The foregoing and other objects which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction, combination and arrangement of parts such as is disclosed by the drawings and specification. The nature of the invention is such as to render it susceptible to various changes and modifications, and, therefore, I am not to be limited to said disclosure; but am entitled to all such changes therefrom as fall within the scope of my claim.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a jaw member.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a clamp supporting ring.

As illustrated, my device has a relatively long supporting sleeve ID which is interiorly screw threaded as at [2 and has an enlarged neck portion l4 at the bottom. There is an interior opening It extending longitudinally therethrough.

I provide means to grip the bushing 45 of a steering post assembly, later described, having two substantiall semi-circular jaw members [8 the outer surfaces of which preferably flare downwardly, so that the lower edge of this gripping means is of greater circumference than the upper edge. The upper portions of said jaw members 18 are thicker as at I811 than the lower portions l8b. Both side edge extremities of said jaw members slant downwardly inward thus leaving considerable space I 9 between one said jaw member and another at the lowe portions I817 thereof to make the gripping of the bushing rim 45, later described, easier. An inwardly extending rim at the lower edges of said jaw members I B provides a shoulder 20 which overlaps and extends under the rim 46 of the bushing when positioned for use, as later described.

A channel 22 is formed in the outer surfaces of said upper portion law of jaws I8 to receive a circular, coiled spring 24- which holds said jaw portions H3 in assembled position. A hole 26 extends through the side of each jaw portion l8 at upper portion of said thinner portion I 8b.

Mounted within said gripping means between said two jaw members It is a clamp supporting ring 30 which has two screw-threaded extensions 32 each of which extends through a said hole 26 and around which are coil springs 34 which bear against the interior surfaces of said jaw members l8 that surround said holes 26. These springs 34 keep said jaw members 18 under some tension to hold the assembly firmly. Said neck portion [4 of said supporting sleeve [0 serves as a stop to prevent said ring 39 slipping off said sleeve.

Cooperating with said screw-threaded extensions 32 are movable clamp members 36, each of which has a handle 31 attached to the head of a socket 38 that is interiorly screw-threaded as at 39. Said socket 38 is larger than said hole 26 hence the outside end surface of each said socket bears against the outside surface of a said jaw member l8 surrounding a said hole 26 when said clamp members 36 are tightened by screwing them up on said screw-threaded extensions 32. This pressure on the outside of said jaw portions l8 forces them towards each other thus tightening said gripping means.

Cooperating with said supporting sleeve n0 is a forcing member 42 having a long, screwthreaded portion 43 Which extends into said interior opening 16 in said supporting sleeve l0 and screw-threadedly connects with said threads l2. Its head or finger portion is wider than said opening l6.

In Figures 1 and 2 my device is shown positioned on a bushing 45 which ordinarily has an outwardly projecting rim 46 at the top. The steering post 49 of the type of automobile or other vehicle this device is adapted for normally extends into the opening H; of said supporting sleeve it directly below the lower end of said forcing screw 42 when my device is positioned for use.

In use, the clamp members 36 are loosened and said gripping means is placed on said bushing 45 with said shoulder 20 of the gripping means extending over and bearing against the inner surface of said bushing projecting rim 46 so that any upward movement of said gripping means will tend to pull said bushing away from said steering post assembly. Then said clamp members 36 are tightened, thus moving said jaw members I8 together to tightly hold said bushing 45 in said gripping means. The forcing screw 42 is screwed downwardly against said steering post 49, which is in fixed position, hence said bushing is raised, thus gradually withdrawing it from the steering post assembly.

What I claim is:

A gripping device comprising a supporting sleeve having a neck portion at the bottom that is of greater width than the adjoining portion thereof, two substantially semi-circular jaw members each having a peripherally extending channel in their upper portion outer surfaces,

a spring in said channels extending. around both.

ring having two extensions embodying screw threaded portions that extend through said jaw member holes, coil springs around said extensions the outer ends of which bear against the inner surfaces of the portions of said jaw members that surround said holes, two clamp members for said two extensions each embodying a handle and a screw-threaded socket portion that are in screwthreaded engagement with said extensions.

ROBERT H. GRANT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,858,238 Cornwall May 17, 1932 2,377,973 Scott June 12, 1945 2,421,324 Graham May 27, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 331,320 Great Britain Feb. 5, 930