EP3266566B1

EP3266566B1 - Self-centering part extractor

Info

Publication number: EP3266566B1
Application number: EP16754801.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Julio SAMPEDRO MARTÍNEZ
Original assignee: Forza Herramientas SL
Current assignee: Forza Herramientas SL
Priority date: 2015-02-24
Filing date: 2016-03-17
Publication date: 2021-08-11
Anticipated expiration: 2036-03-17
Also published as: EP3266566A4; ES2543281B1; EP3266566A1; ES2543281A1; WO2016135367A1

Description

Technical field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a self-center- ing part extractor, more particularly, a mechanical extractor designed to facilitate the extraction of parts, such as bearings, bushings, etc., which are common parts in a very large set of industrial machines and equipment. The extractor of the invention is of the type that consists of an off-center spindle onto which a body is screwed, which itself has a set of articulated arms that hang around the spindle.

Background of the invention

Currently there exist mechanical extractors consisting of separable or interchangeable arms, far example to extract parts of various sizes, which are fixed in a sliding fork. This fork is part of a transverse trame in which a spindle is located. By centering the spindle and rotating it, the parts can be removed. This type of extractor is very basic and new extractors have since been developed, such as those described in the following documents:

ES 2042353 . This patent describes a mechanical extractor comprising a body into which an off-center spindle is screwed and which carries a set of arms which hang around the spindle. The central body has radial arms to which the arms are connected, through a support. Although this extractor has a good coupling between the arms and the central body and it is very robust, it has the inconveniences of not being able to be used to extract pieces by grasping the interior and the centering of the device to the part to be extracted is not reliable.
ES 2113250 . This patent is for an extractor in which each arm has an associated radial connecting rod which links the movement of each arm with respect to eccentric points on a collar which is mounted such that it can rotate and move axially relative to the off-center spindle. With this extractor it is possible to align the axis of the spindle with the axis of the part to be extracted. Each piece is joined to a radial arm such that it can move by means of articulated flanges and each arm can move independently. A collar mounted on the actuating spindle provides a coaxial guide to each arm. However, this extractor' extraction process is not simple and effective.
US4068365 . This patent discloses a self-centering part extractor comprising a first spindle onto which a body is screwed, which has a series of articulated arms that hang around the first spindle, and further comprising a second, externally threaded, tubular spindle coaxial with, and independent of, the first spindle, which is fixed at its lower end to the body and having fitted, above that body, an upper handle or nut, screwed onto the second spindle and an intermediate annular support which is fixed to the upper handle, which can freely rotate around it, which is independent of the second spindle and is free to rotate and move over it, wherein a hood is mounted that pushes or guides the arms for self-centering. However, this configuration has a limited range of opening amplitude of the arms.
US20090139071A1 , which discloses a non-self-centering extractor with slots on its arms to, in cooperation with pivot members, allow its movement along the spindle, which in this case is only one.

Disclosure of the invention

The invention is a part extractor of the previously described type, which, because it is self-centering, achieves the movement of all the arms in unison by means of a mechanism that is regulated from the top of the extractor, thus providing a simpler and more effective use in the extraction of parts.
The extractor of the invention comprises a first spindle, through which the centering to the part to be extracted is achieved, onto which is screwed a body to which the arms are articulated, being two or more, which hang from the body, spaced around the spindle. On this first spindle, in its upper part and coaxial with it, there is a second regulating spindle, which is fixed at its lower end to the aforementioned body. The first and second spindles are independent and the second spindle is externally threaded.
On the second spindle are mounted: an upper handle that is screwed onto this second spindle; a lower ring, which rotates freely and moves along the second spindle; and an intermediate annular support, also independent of the second spindle, on which it can rotate and move freely, and which is fixed to the upper handle which can turn freely but cannot move axially along it.
To the intermediate annular support are articulated, at one end, a series of radial connecting rods, equal in number and position to the arms, which hang towards those arms, to which they are articulated at their free end. The articulation axes of the connecting rods to the intermediate annular support and to the arms are parallel and perpendicular to the axis of the spindles. Each connecting rod has an intermediate longitudinal slot through which passes a pin that is fixed to the lower ring.

Brief description of the drawings

Next, a series of drawings will be briefly described which will help to better understand the invention and which are expressly related to one embodiment of it, which is presented as a non-exclusive example of it.

Figure 1 shows an elevation view of an extractor constructed according to the invention.
Figure 2 shows the same extractor in cross-section, according to the cut line II-II of Figure 1.
Figure 3 shows one variation of it, corresponding to a three arm extractor.
Figure 4 shows the extractor of Figure 1, in the fully open position of the arms.
Figure 5 shows the extractor of Figure 1 with the arms partly open.
Figure 6 shows the extractor of Figure 1 with the arms fully closed.

Detailed description of an embodiment of the invention

The features, operation and advantages of the extractor of the invention will be better understood from the following description of the example embodiment shown in the drawings.
Figures 1 and 2 show a two-arm extractor, constituted in accordance with the invention, which comprises a first spindle (1), around which a second, tubular, independent spindle (2) is disposed coaxially, which is externally threaded. The second spindle (2) is shorter than the first spindle (1) and is arranged around the top of the first spindle (1).
A body (3) is screwed onto the first spindle (1) to which are articulated a series of angularly equidistant arms (4), two in the example shown in the drawings, located opposite each other, hanging around the first spindle (1). Each arm (4) is hinged to the body (3) along an axis (5) perpendicular to the spindle (1).
The second spindle (2) is fixed at its lower end to the body (3), and cannot rotate or move axially relative to it.
To the second spindle (2) are fixed:

An upper handle (6) which is screwed onto said second spindle.
A lower ring (7), which is independent of the second spindle, such that it can freely rotate and move over it.
An intermediate annular support (8) which is also independent of the second spindle (2), such that it can freely rotate and move over it, but is linked to the upper handle (6) with the freedom to rotate but with no axial mobility relative to it, so that when rotated in one direction or the other, the handle (6) will move the annular support (8) along its axis.

The extractor further comprises a series of radial connecting rods (9), equal in number and position to the arms (4), which are hinged at their upper end to the annular support (8) and at the lower end to the facing arm (4), through axes (10 and 11) parallel and perpendicular to the spindles.
Each connecting rod (9) has an intermediate longitudinal slot (12), through which a pin (13), fixed to the lower ring, passes, which can move along that slot (12).
In Figures 1 and 2 the extractor includes two arms (4), located diametrically opposite each other. Figure 3 shows an extractor with three pairs of arms (4), located 120° apart, using the same reference numbers to designate equivalent elements or components.
With the composition described, the upper handle (6) rotates in one direction or another, causing the axial displacement of the intermediate annular support (8) (freely rotating relative to the upper handle (6)) which pulls the connecting rods (9) in the same direction which, in turn, pull or push on the arms (4), at the same time as the pins (13) and the intermediate ring (7) move, also in the same direction, securely controlling the movement of the connecting rods (9) to ensure the opening or closing of the arm assembly.
The operation of the extractor is described with reference to Figures 4 to 6. In Figure 4, with the handle (6) at the top of the second spindle (2), the arms (4) are in the fully open position. Turning the handle (6) clockwise, for example manually, it moves downwards along the first spindle (1), pushing the connecting rods (9) in the same direction, causing the arms (4) to pivot about the axis of their hinges (5). During this movement the connecting rods (9) move and partially pivot around their axes (10), which movements are controlled by means of the slots (12) and pins (13), as the longitudinal edges of those slots press on the pins, pushing them downwards and also moving the lower ring downwards.
By moving all the connecting rods (6) simultaneously, with linear movement and pivoting around the axes (10 and 11), all the arms progressively close, Figure 5, until they are fully closed, Figure 6. When the lower ring (7) reaches its lowest position, Figure 6, it touches the body (3) and the upper handle (6) can no longer turn in the same direction.
To open the arms (4), reverse the process described by turning the upper handle (6) counterclockwise. The motive power for the extractor of the invention could be provided automatically, for example by hydraulic systems.
The movement of the arms (4) driven by the upper handle (6) is transmitted through the connecting rods (9) and is controlled by the action of the pins (13) on the edges of the slots (12). The arrangement of the connecting rods (9) is applicable however many arms (4) the extractor may have.
The use of two spindles in the extractor of the invention, with the positioning of the second spindle (2) relative to the first, allows both spindles to be easily accessible, which facilitates the possibility of connecting the extractor to hydraulic drive systems.
The body (3) can be formed from two separate semi-circular parts, joined together, with the arms (4) between them for the case of a two-arm extractor, Figure 1, or by three equally shaped parts, for the case of three arms, Figure 3.
The arms (4) have a longitudinal elbow (14), close to the point of articulation (5) with the body (3), which point is also where the articulation axis (11) is for the arms (4) and the connecting rods (9).

Claims

Self-centering part extractor, comprising:
- a first spindle (1) onto which a body (3) is screwed on which a series of arms (4) are hinged around the first spindle (1),

- a second, externally threaded, tubular spindle (2) coaxial with, and independent of, the first spindle, which is fixed at its lower end to the body (3) and having fitted, above that body, an upper handle (6), screwed onto the second spindle (2),

- an intermediate annular support (8) which is fixed to the upper handle (6), which can freely rotate around it, which is independent of the second spindle (2) and is free to rotate and move over it
characterized in that:
- the annular support (8) is articulated to a series of radial connecting rods (9), equal in number and position to the arms (4), each of whose connecting rod is hinged at its free end to the facing arm (4),

- comprises a lower ring (7) that rotates freely around, and slides over, the second spindle (2); and;

- each connecting rod (9) has an intermediate longitudinal slot (12) through which passes a pin (13) fixed to the lower ring (7).
Extractor according to claim 1, characterized in that the arms (4) have, near the point of articulation (5) with the body (3), an elbow (14) in the same place as the articulation axis (11) of the arm and the connecting rod (9).
Extractor according to claim 1, characterized in that each arm (4) is connected to the annular support (8) through a single connecting rod (9).
Extractor according to claim 1, characterized in that each arm (4) is linked to the annular support (8) through two close and parallel connecting rods, articulated around points on the arms (4) and on the annular support (8) and provided with facing longitudinal slots through which pass two pins (13) fixed to the lower ring (7).