FR3100730A1 - DUST BELLOWS TOOL - Google Patents

Abstract

------ DUST BELLOWS TOOL The invention relates to a dust boot tool which includes a shell (11), a piston (13), a valve (134) and extendable rods (14). The shell (11) includes a chamber (114) in communication with an inlet channel. Pressurized air enters the chamber (114) through the inlet channel. The piston (13) is movable in the chamber (114) by the pressurized air and comprises a first section, a second section opposite the first section, a vent in the first section in the vicinity of the inlet channel, and a conical internal face extending over the second section. The valve (134) includes a portion movably inserted into the vent. Each of the expandable rods (14) includes an expandable end (141) for contacting a dust boot, a stopper end (142) for contacting the tapered inner face of the second section of the piston (13), and a pivotal portion formed between the expandable end (141) and the stopper end (142) and pivotally connected to the shell (11). Figure to be published with the abstract: Figure 5

Description

DUST BELLOWS TOOL

The present invention relates to a tool for vehicles and, more particularly, to a tool for dust boots of vehicle drive shafts.

One end of a drive shaft of a vehicle is inserted into and thereby protected by a dust boot. A specialist tool is required to fit the dust boot around the end of the drive shaft or remove the dust boot from the end of the drive shaft.

For example, Taiwanese Patent No. I330580 discloses a tool that uses pressurized air to push a piston into a cylinder. The piston pushes and thereby causes expandable rods to expand the dust boot. A user freely controls the extent to which he or she extends the dust boot with the tool. However, the user could easily overextend and thereby damage the dust boot.

Taiwan Patent No. I554357 discloses a tool for solving the problems mentioned above. This tool includes an indicator device located on the piston. When the plunger pushes and thereby causes the expandable rods to expand the dust boot to an appropriate extent, the expandable rods strike the indicator device to deliver a sound to remind the user to shut off the pressurized air to keep the expandable rods extending the dust boot at the proper extent. However, it is difficult for the user to hear the sound in a noisy environment such as a garage.

The present invention therefore aims to overcome or at least reduce the problems encountered in the prior state of the art.

It is the main object of the present invention to provide a dust boot tool which automatically stops an extension when it extends to an appropriate extent.

For this purpose, the dust boot tool consists of a shell, piston, valve and expandable rods. The shell includes a chamber in communication with an inlet channel. Pressurized air enters the chamber through the inlet channel. The piston is movable in the chamber by the air under pressure, and comprises a first section, a second section opposite the first section, a vent in the first section in the vicinity of the inlet channel, and a tapered internal face s' extending over the second section. The valve includes a portion movably inserted into the vent. Each of the expandable rods includes an expandable end for contacting a dust boot, a stopper end contacting the tapered inner face of the second section of the piston, and a pivoting portion formed between the expandable end and the abutment end and pivotally connected to the shell.

The present invention therefore relates to a tool for dust boots characterized by the fact that it comprises:

a shell including an inlet channel and a chamber in communication with the inlet channel, pressurized air entering the chamber through the inlet channel;

a piston movable in the chamber by air under pressure and comprising a first section, a second section opposite the first section, a vent in the first section in the vicinity of the inlet channel, and a conical internal face extending over the second section;

a valve comprising a part movably inserted into the vent; And

expandable rods each of which includes an expandable end for contacting a dust boot, a stopper end contacting the tapered inner face of the second section of the piston, and a pivoting portion formed between the expandable end and the abutment end and pivotally connected to the shell.

The shell may include pairs of recesses uniformly disposed around the chamber and the slots each of which is located between the recesses of a corresponding pair, and each of the extendable rods further comprises a pair of pivots formed on the pivoting part and inserted into a corresponding pair of recesses while the pivoting part is inserted into a corresponding one of the slots.

In one embodiment, the dust boot tool may further include a cap connected to the shell to hold the pairs of pivots in the pairs of recesses.

The cap may include slots to receive the pivoting portions of the expandable rods, and pairs of recesses to receive the pivot pairs of the expandable rods.

The cap may also include a disc-shaped part connected to the shell and a cup-shaped part in contact with the valve.

The cap may also include a push member extending from the cap to abut the valve.

The dust boot tool may further include an elastic member compressed between the disc-shaped portion of the cap and the expandable rods such that the expandable rods are normally withdrawn.

The dust boot tool may further include a gasket placed around the piston and in contact with a wall of the chamber.

The piston may include an annular groove to receive the seal.

In one embodiment, the dust boot tool may further include:

a sealing ring inserted in the chamber;

a bushing located on the sealing ring; And

a retaining ring located on the socket and connected to the shell.

A seal can be placed around the piston and be in contact with an internal face of the sleeve.

The piston may further include an annular groove to receive the seal.

The shell may further include:

a regulating channel for receiving an air regulating device to connect the inlet channel to the chamber or separate the inlet channel from the chamber;

a first regulating aperture in communication with the regulating channel and the chamber; And

a second regulating aperture in communication with the regulating channel and the inlet channel.

The air control device may include:

a detent pivotally connected to the shell corresponding to one end of the regulating channel;

a sleeve comprising a tunnel and an opening for connecting the tunnel to the first regulating opening;

a flange comprising a bore formed in one end and a pin formed at an opposite end, the bore being located in the tunnel;

a cover connected to the shell to close an opposite end of the regulating channel and comprising a central opening through which the shaft extends; And

a valve stem comprising:

an inner end inserted into the control channel and mounted in the flange bore;

an outer end extending in contact with the trigger from the regulating channel;

an enlarged portion formed in the vicinity of the inner end of the valve stem;

at least one recess aligned with the second regulating aperture when the valve stem is in a selected position;

at least one sealing ring placed around the valve stem near the outer end; And

an elastic element inserted in the bore and compressed between the enlarged part and the flange to normally urge the opening from the regulating channel.

The air regulating device may further comprise a button connected to the shaft.

Other objects, advantages and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The present invention will be described by means of a detailed illustration of two embodiments referring to the drawings in which:

- is a perspective view of a dust boot tool according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

- is another perspective view of the dust boot tool of Figure 1;

- is a sectional view of part of the dust boot tool shown in Figure 1;

- is a sectional view of another part of the dust boot tool shown in Figure 1;

- is an exploded view of the dust boot tool shown in Figure 1;

- is an enlarged view of part of the dust boot tool shown in Figure 5;

- is an enlarged view of another portion of the dust boot tool shown in Figure 5;

- is an enlarged view of another portion of the dust boot tool shown in Figure 5;

- is an enlarged view of another portion of the dust boot tool shown in Figure 5;

- is an enlarged, cut-away view of a dust boot tool cap shown in Figure 5;

- is a perspective view of the cap shown in Figure 10;

- is a sectional view of a dust boot tool cap according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

- is an enlarged partial view of the dust boot tool of Figure 4;

- is a partial, exploded view of the dust boot tool shown in Figure 13;

- is an enlarged partial view of the dust boot tool in an alternate position to that shown in Figure 13;

- is an enlarged partial view of the dust boot tool of Figure 15;

- is a sectional view of the dust boot tool in another position than that shown in Figure 3;

- is an enlarged partial view of the dust boot tool of Figure 17;

- is a sectional view of the dust boot tool of Figure 13; And

- is a sectional view of the dust boot tool in an alternate position to that shown in Figure 19.

Referring to Figures 1 to 5, it can be seen that a dust boot tool is shown which comprises a shell 11, a seal assembly 12, a piston 13, extendable rods 14, a cap 15, an elastic member 16 and an air regulator 20 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

If one refers to Figures 1 to 7, it can be seen that the shell 11 comprises a handle 111, a bowl 112, an inlet channel 113, a chamber 114, a regulating channel 115, two regulating openings 116 and 117, slots 118 and recesses 119.

The handle 111 and the bowl 112 are formed at two opposite ends of the shell 11.

If we refer to Figures 3 to 6, we can see that the inlet channel 113 is made in the handle 111 and that the chamber 114 is made in the bowl 112. The inlet channel 113 is in communication with chamber 114. Entry channel 113 and chamber 114 are both in communication with the exterior of hull 11. Chamber 114 includes a wide section 1142 near a forward end and a narrow section 1144 near from a rear end. A pump (not shown) may be used to pump pressurized air into shell 11 through inlet channel 113.

Referring to Figures 4-6, it can be seen that control channel 115 is a stepped channel extending through handle 111. Control channel 115 includes a wide section 1152, a narrow section 1154, and a transitional section 1156 extending to the narrow section 1154 from the wide section 1152. The wide section 1152 is in communication with the chamber 114 through the regulating opening 116. The narrow section 1154 is in communication with inlet channel 113 through control aperture 117. However, in another embodiment, control channel 115 and control apertures 116 and 117 may be omitted, and the channel input 113 can be in communication with the room 114 directly.

Referring to Figure 7, it can be seen that the slots 118 are uniformly arranged at a front edge of the cup 112 which is opposite the handle 111.

Referring to Figure 7, it can be seen that the recesses 119 are arranged in pairs at the front edge of the bowl 112. Each of the slots 118 is located between the recesses 119 of a corresponding pair.

Referring to Figures 3, 5 and 7, it can be seen that the seal assembly 12 is inserted into the chamber 114. The seal assembly 12 includes a seal ring 122, a sleeve 124 and a retaining ring 126. The sealing ring 122 and the sleeve 124 are inserted into the narrow section 1144 of the chamber 114. The sleeve 124 is located on the sealing ring 122. The retaining ring 126 is inserted into the wide section 1142 of the chamber 114 above the sleeve 124. The retaining ring 126 is connected to the shell 11 by screws (not referenced), for example, to retain the sealing ring 122 and the sleeve 124 in position.

If we refer to Figures 3, 5 and 8, we can see that the piston 13 is introduced into the chamber 114. The piston 13 is movable relative to the shell 11 by pressurized air. The piston 13 is in the form of a cup having an open front end. The piston 13 comprises two sections 131 and 132, a vent 133, a valve 134 and a seal 135.

Sections 131 and 132 are formed at two opposite ends of piston 13. Section 132 comprises an inner face which extends as it extends from section 131. Section 131 comprises, in an outer face , an annular groove 1312 to receive the seal 135. Selectively, the seal 135 is in contact with an internal face of the sleeve 124 of the sealing assembly 12. Thus, the seal 135 , which is connected to section 131 of piston 13, transforms chamber 114 of shell 11 into a closed chamber. However, the seal assembly 12 may be omitted and the seal 135 may be in direct contact with the wall of the narrow section 1144 of the chamber 114 of the shell 11 in another embodiment.

Vent 133 extends through piston 13.

Referring to Figures 3, 5 and 8, it can be seen that the valve 134 is a resilient member which includes two barbs 1341 formed near a forward end, an annular flange 1342 formed near a forward end rear, a reduced section 1343 extending between the front and rear ends, and a cavity 1344 formed in the front end. The diameter of the reduced section 1343 is smaller than the diameter of the annular flange 1342 and than a span of the barbs 1341. The height of the reduced section 1343 is greater than the thickness of the vent 133.

Barbs 1341 are forced through vent 133 such that reduced section 1343 of valve 134 must be inserted into vent 133. Reduced section 1343 is held in vent 133 via barbs 1341 and of the annular flange 1342. The reduced section 1343 of the valve 134 is movable in the vent 133 so that the valve 134 opens or closes the vent 133.

Referring to Figures 1-3, 5 and 9, it can be seen that each of the expandable rods 14 includes an expandable end 141, a stopper end 142, a pivoting portion (not referenced) formed between the expandable end 141 and the abutment end 142, and two pivots 143 extending from two opposite sides of the pivoting part. The pivoting portion of each of the extendable rods 14 is inserted into a corresponding one of the slots 118 as the pair of pivots 143 are inserted into the recesses 119 of a corresponding pair. The abutment end 142 of each of the extendable rods 14 is in contact with the internal face of the section 132 of the piston 13. Thus, the internal face of the section 132 of the piston 13 closes or opens the abutment ends 142 of the extendable rods 14 and thereby stretches or withdraws the expandable ends 141 of the expandable rods 14 as the piston 13 is moved forward or backward in the chamber 114.

If one refers to Figures 1, 3, 5 and 9 to 11, it can be seen that the cap 15 is connected to the front edge of the bowl 112 of the shell 11, thus closing the chamber 114 and limiting the pivoting of the rods expandable 14 within an appropriate range. Cap 15 includes a disc-shaped portion 151, slots 152, recesses 153, a cup-shaped portion 154, and a push member 155.

Slots 152 are formed in the disc-shaped portion 151 of cap 15. Each of the slots 152 is aligned with a corresponding one of the slots 118 of shell 11 to permit pivoting of the expandable rods 14.

The recesses 153 are formed in a rear face of the disc-shaped part 151 of the cap 15. Each of the recesses 153 is aligned with a corresponding one of the recesses 119 of the shell 11. The pivots 143 are inserted into the recesses 153 and 119 to pivotally connect the extendable rods 14 to the combination of the cap 15 with the shell 11.

Cup-shaped portion 154 extends from the rear face of disc-shaped portion 151. Preferably, cup-shaped portion 154 includes a cavity 1542.

Pushing member 155 is adjustably connected to a rear end of cup-shaped portion 154. Pushing member 155 is aligned with valve 134. Preferably, pushing member 155 is an inserted screw. in a screw hole 1544 formed in the cup-shaped part 154 such that a distance of a tip of the pushing member 155 from the rear end of the cup-shaped part is adjustable.

Referring to Figure 12, it can be seen that the push member 155' is made integral with the cup-shaped portion 154 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figures 3, 5 and 9, it can be seen that the resilient member 16 is preferably a coil spring placed around the cup-shaped portion 154. The resilient member 16 includes an upper end of contact with the disc-shaped part 151 and a lower end in contact with the expandable rods 14 to open the expandable ends 141 of the expandable rods 14.

Referring to Figures 1 through 7, 13 and 14, it can be seen that the air regulating device 20 extends through the regulating channel 115 to adjust the flow rate of pressurized air in the chamber 114 through inlet channel 113 or shut off the pressurized air completely. The air regulating device 20 comprises a detent 21, a sleeve 22, a collar 23, a cover 24, a valve stem 25, an elastic element 26 and a button 27.

Detent 21 is pivotally connected to an outer portion of bowl 112. Detent 21 is aligned with narrow section 1154 of control channel 115.

Sleeve 22 is inserted into wide section 1152 of control channel 115. Sleeve 22 includes tunnel 221, opening 222, and positioning extension 223. Tunnel 221 extends axially through sleeve 22 and includes a section 2212 and a narrow section 2214. Aperture 222 extends through sleeve 22 in a radial manner, corresponding to control aperture 116. Positioning extension 223 extends from one end of the sleeve 22, corresponding to the transitional section 1156 of the regulating channel 115 to facilitate the introduction of the sleeve 22 into the regulating channel 115 and a communication of the opening 222 with the regulating opening 116.

The flange 23 includes a bore 231 formed in a first end and a pin 232 formed at a second end. The first end of the collar 23 is introduced into the sleeve 22 so that the collar 23 closes the sleeve 22.

Cover 24 is connected to handle 111 such that cover 24 closes wide section 1152 of control channel 115. Cover 24 includes a central opening 242. Pin 232 of flange 23 extends through the central opening 242.

The valve stem 25 includes an outer end 251, an inner end (not referenced), an enlarged portion 252, recesses 253 and sealing rings 254. The outer end 251 and the inner end of the valve stem 25 are located opposite each other. The enlarged portion 252 is formed near the inner end of the valve stem 25.

Outer end 251 extends out of handle 111 through narrow section 2214 of control channel 221 and abuts detent 21. Enlarged portion 252 is inserted into wide section 2212 of tunnel 221 of sleeve 22. The inner end of the valve stem 25 is inserted into the bore 231 of the flange 23. Thus, the valve stem 25 is movable together with the flange 23.

The recesses 253 are located between the outer end 251 and the inner end of the valve stem 25. The recesses 253 are arranged uniformly around the valve stem 25. The recesses 253 are selectively aligned with the regulating opening 117 when the outer end 251 is pushed by the detent 21. The recesses 253 differ from each other in width and depth.

Sealing rings 254 are located around valve stem 25. Sealing rings 254 are located between outer end 251 and inner end of valve stem 25.

The elastic element 26 is preferably a coil spring introduced into the bore 231 of the flange 23. The elastic element 26 comprises an end in contact with the enlarged part 252 of the valve stem 25 and a closed end of bore 231. Thus, recesses 253 of valve stem 25 are normally biased from or out of alignment with control opening 117.

Button 27 is arranged around axis 232 of collar 23. In other words, axis 232 of collar 23 is mounted in button 27. Button 27 is operable to rotate collar 23.

As discussed above, the dust boot tool according to the present invention is made. The use of the dust boot tool will be described.

Referring to Figures 1 through 6, a dust boot (not shown) is disposed around the extendable ends 141 of the extendable rods 14. The handle 111 is connected to an air supply such as a pump (not shown) of such so that pressurized air can be introduced into the inlet channel 113 of the shell 11 from the air supply.

Normally, the valve stem 25 of the air regulator 20 is urged by the elastic member 26 so that the recesses 253 of the valve stem 25 are urged from the regulation opening 117 (the channel inlet 113) of the shell 11. Now pressurized air cannot enter the chamber 114 from the inlet channel 113.

Referring to Figures 15 through 17, it can be seen that a user can squeeze trigger 21 to push valve stem 25 through rounded end 251 to compress resilient member 26. Thus, a recess selected from the valve recesses 253 of the stem 25 is aligned with the regulating opening 117 of the shell 11.

Pressurized air enters the tunnel 221 of the sleeve 22 from the regulating opening 117 via the selected recess 253 and the space between the valve stem 25 and the wall of the regulating channel 115. Pressurized air still enters chamber 114 through opening 222 and regulating opening 116, thereby pushing piston 13 forward (or upward as shown). Now valve 134 is also pushed forward by the pressurized air so that flange ring 1342 abuts against the rear end of piston 13 and vent 133 is closed.

During the movement of the piston 13, the internal face of the section 132 of the piston pushes the abutment ends 142 of the extendable rods 14. As a result, the extendable rods 14 pivot about the pivots 143. As a result, the extendable ends 141 of the expandable 14 open or stretch to expand the dust boot.

Referring to Figures 17 and 18, it can be seen that, to prevent overstretching of the expandable rods 14, the push member 155, which extends from the rear end of the cap 15, pushes valve 134 when piston 13 is moved forward by pressurized air to a predetermined extent. Thus, pressurized air is admitted into section 131 of piston 13 via vent 133. In other words, pressurized air is vented. Therefore, overstretching of the expandable rods 14 is avoided.

If one refers to Figures 13, 14, 19 and 20, it can be seen that to facilitate the regulation of the pressurized air in the chamber 114, the user can actuate the button 27 to rotate the collar 23 and the valve stem 25. Thus, another recess 253 having a different width and depth can be aligned with the regulating opening 117. In other words, the flow rate of the pressurized air is adjusted.

The present invention has been described through the illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can obtain variations of the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment does not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.

Claims (15)

– Tool for dust boots characterized by the fact that it includes:
a shell (11) including an inlet channel (113) and a chamber (114) in communication with the inlet channel (113), pressurized air entering the chamber (114) via the input channel (113);
a piston (13) movable in the chamber (114) by pressurized air and comprising a first section (131), a second section (132) opposite the first section (131), a vent (133) in the first section (131) in the vicinity of the inlet channel (113), and a conical internal face extending over the second section (132);
a valve (134) including a portion movably inserted into the vent (133); And
extendable rods (14) each of which includes an extendable end (141) for contacting a dust boot, an abutment end (142) contacting the tapered inner face of the second section (132) of the piston ( 13), and a pivoting part formed between the extendable end (141) and the abutment end (142) and pivotally connected to the shell (11). - Dust boot tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the shell (11) comprises pairs of recesses (119) uniformly disposed around the chamber (114) and slots (118) each of which is located between the recesses (119) of a corresponding pair, and each of the extendable rods (14) further comprises a pair of pivots (143) formed on the pivoting part and inserted into a corresponding pair of recesses (119) while the pivoting part is inserted into a corresponding one of the slots (118). - A dust boot tool according to claim 2, further comprising a cap (15) connected to the shell (11) to retain the pairs of pivots (143) in the pairs of recesses (119). - Dust boot tool according to claim 3, characterized in that the cap (15) comprises slots (152) to receive the pivoting parts of the extendable rods (14), and pairs of recesses (153) to receiving the pairs of pivots (143) of the extendable rods (14). - Tool for dust bellows according to claim 3, characterized in that the cap (15) comprises a disc-shaped part (151) connected to the shell (11) and a cup-shaped part (154) in contact with the valve (134). - Dust boot tool according to claim 5, characterized in that the cap (15) comprises a pushing element (155) extending from the cap (15) to abut against the valve (134). - A dust boot tool according to claim 5, further comprising an elastic member (16) compressed between the disc-shaped portion (151) of the cap (15) and the expandable rods (14) such that the rods extenders (14) are normally removed. - A dust boot tool according to claim 1, further comprising a seal (135) placed around the piston (13) and in contact with a wall of the chamber (114). - Tool for dust bellows according to claim 8, characterized in that the piston (13) comprises an annular groove (1312) to receive the seal (135). - A dust boot tool according to claim 1, further comprising:
a sealing ring (122) inserted in the chamber (114);
a sleeve (124) located on the sealing ring (122); And
a retaining ring (126) located on the sleeve (124) and connected to the shell (11). - A dust boot tool according to claim 10, further comprising a seal (135) placed around the piston (13) and in contact with an internal face of the sleeve (124). - Tool for dust bellows according to claim 11, characterized in that the piston (13) further comprises an annular groove (1312) to receive the seal (135). - Tool for dust bellows according to claim 1, characterized in that the shell (11) further comprises:
a control channel (115) for receiving an air control device (20) to connect the inlet channel (113) to the chamber (114) or separate the inlet channel (113) from the chamber (114 );
a first control aperture (116) in communication with the control channel (115) and the chamber (114); And
a second regulating opening (117) in communication with the regulating channel (115) and the inlet channel (113). - A dust boot tool according to claim 13, wherein the air regulating device (20) comprises:
a detent (21) pivotally connected to the shell (11) corresponding to one end of the regulating channel (115);
a sleeve (22) comprising a tunnel (221) and an opening (222) for connecting the tunnel (221) to the first regulating opening (116);
a flange (23) comprising a bore (231) formed in one end and a pin (232) formed at an opposite end, the bore (231) being located in the tunnel (221);
a cover (24) connected to the shell (11) to close an opposite end of the control channel (115) and including a central opening (242) through which the shaft (232) extends; And
a valve stem (25) comprising:
an inner end inserted into the regulating channel (115) and mounted in the bore (231) of the flange (23);
an outer end (251) extending in contact with the detent (21) from the regulating channel (115);
an enlarged portion (252) formed in the vicinity of the inner end of the valve stem (25);
at least one recess (253) aligned with the second regulating opening (117) when the valve stem (25) is in a selected position;
at least one sealing ring (254) placed around the valve stem (25) near the outer end (251); And
an elastic element (26) inserted in the bore (231) and compressed between the enlarged part (252) and the flange (23) to normally urge the opening from the regulating channel (115). - A dust boot tool according to claim 14, wherein the air regulating device (20) further comprises a button (27) connected to the shaft (232).