GB2397547A

GB2397547A - Universal joint repair tool

Info

Publication number: GB2397547A
Application number: GB0301760A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Damian Barber
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-01-25
Filing date: 2003-01-25
Publication date: 2004-07-28
Also published as: GB0301760D0

Abstract

A tool, for repair of a universal joint, comprising front and back plates 1,2, a recess 5 and pin 6. The recess 5 is located on the back plate 2, opposite the pin 6 on the front plate 1. The plates 1,2 are movable relative to each other so that when a force is applied, the pin 6 and recess 5 engage a universal joint placed therebetween to press the joint apart. A vice (figure 2, 12) may be used to apply the requisite pressure to the front and back plates 1,2, and can be mounted via plates 3,4 attached to the tool. The tool may be constructed of metal.

Description

This invention relates to a universal joint repair tool.

This invention is a tool used for the dismantling and rebuilding of universal joints. This metal universal joint repair tool is used in conjunction with any work shop vice.

This universal joint repair tool will solve the problem, that all vehicle and agricultural mechanics have when repairing such joints. The problem mechanics have with this type of joints is that the only way they are able to change warn components l,e roller bearings, cups and cross, is to hit the end of the cross with a punch tool and hammer. Mechanics also have the problem of holding the universal joint as it moves in many directions, this job becomes even more difficult to replace the new parts as mechanics use a punch tool and hammer to fit the new bearings and cross back in place,. This makes the job very time consuming and unprofessional as damage may be done to the new parts when rebuilding this type of joint.

This invention works by pressing the cross that is in the center of a universal joint over Which enables the roller bearings, cups and cross to be removed and replaced in turn. In each universal joint there are four sets of roller bearings and cups. which need to be taken out and new parts to be fitted in place of old.

The structure of this tool is design to sit on any work shop vice, The size of the vice needs to be an eight inch jaw or smaller With the use ofthe vice this tool will make it far easier and much faster to remove and replace all the universal joint components. On one end of this tool their is a pin and on the other end their is a recess. The recess sits around the bearing cup on one end of the universal joint. The pin is used to press on the other end of the universal joint, So that when the vice is wound up it will push out the parts that needed to be removed, when all the old parts are removed the new parts can then be pressed in place.

This tool will work on the same type of joints such as a prop shaft, a power take off shaft and a drive shaft.

All otthese shafts incorporate a universal joint, but are used on different vehicles.

13y way of example to this invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings Rein: ! Figure I A side view drawing of the tool; Figure 2 A drawing of the tool on the vice; Figure 3 A drawing of a universal joint in the tool; Figure 4 A universal joint and components.

Referring to figure l this drawing is a side view of this invention. the numbered complaints are named as follows.

Figure I ( I) Front plate (2) Back plate (3) Front vice mounting, plate (4) Back vice mounting plate (5) Recess (6) Pin (7) return spring (8) hole (g) Jut ( I O) Supporting rod ( I I) Spring stop ( 14) Line of force Referring to figure 2 this is a drawing of the tool on the vice.

Figure 2 (12) Vice ( 13) Jaws of vice ( 14) Line of force Refening to figure 3 a drawing of a universal joint in the tool.

Figure 3 (5) Pin (6) Recess (21) Bearing cup (22) Yoke hole (23) Shaft Referring to figure 4 a universal joint and components.

Figure 4 (20) Universal cross (21) gearing cup (22) Yoke hole (23) Shaft As shown in figure 1, the front plate (1) and back plate (2) These metal parts make up the vertical struts of the tool that the other metal components are mounted upon. The vice mounting plates (3) and (4) serves a number of purposes, firstly they enables the tool to sit squarely on to the vice (12), they also keep the recess (5) and pin (6) in line with the vice jaws ( 13), so that all of the pressing force generated from winding the vice ( i 2), will only be felt throw pin (6) and recess (5). The line of force ( I 4)shown in fig 2.

As shown in figure I, at the top of this tool there is a spring (7) this is to push front and back plates (1) and (2) apart whilst in the vice, so that when the vice is opened the tool opens with it under spring pressure. In the center ofthe spring (7) there is a supporting rod (10) this keeps the spring in place as well as giving an adjustable width so that this tool can do different sizes of universal joints. At the top of the front plate (I) there is a hole (8) this is so that the supporting rod (10) will fit throw and be able to slide in and out. At the end of the supporting rod (10) there is a nut (9) this is designed to increase or decrees the tension on the spring (7) all depending on what size universal joint that is being fitted, its also designed to come off so that the spring (7) can be replaced when worn. In side the spring (7) there is a spring stop ( 1 1) this is mounted around the hole (8) on the front plate ( I) this allows the sporting rod to move in and out, according to the movement from the vice (123 figure 2, this also stops the spring (7) from being over compressed which may cause' damage to the spring (7).

As shown in figure 2 this diagram shows how the tool sits on the vice ( 12), and in the jaws ofthe vice (13) the dotted line shows the line of force( 14).

Shown in figure 3 tool in the vice with a complete drive shaft ready to be dismantled. The Recess (5) on this tool is designed to sit around the yoke hole (22) figure 4 on the shaft (23) figure 4. The pin (6) goes through the yoke hole (22) figure 4 and presses on to the bearing cup (21) figure 4.the vice ( 12) is now wound in which pushes the bearing cup (21) and cross (20) over towards the recess which in turn pushes the opposite bearing cup (21)out into the recess (5), the vice (12) is then wound off, The pushed out bearing cup (21)is then removed. This will need to be done in turn as there are four bearing cups (21) to one universal joint.

As shown in figure 4 this is an example of a universal joint or also be know as a universal coupling, this joint is incorporated into prop shafts, drive shafts and power take of shafts the repair of these shafts is the same. This universal joint has been broken down in to individual parts and numbered. The universal joint is the role thing, but not the tool. In the center there is a cross (20) on each end of the cross (20) there are bear ng cups (21) in side the bearing cups (21) there are individual rollers that make up the bearings.In most appl cations the universal joint is fitted to yokes and shafts.

Claims

Claims: To this universal joint repair tool 1 This tool comprises of the a

recess, cup which is opposed by a pin. The two are moved together under force, which in turn presses the universal joint apart.
2 This tool according to claim I wherein the size of the pin and recess will accommodate any size of universal coupling joint.

3 according to claim 1 the method in which the pin and recess of the tool are moved together with the use of mechanical method whereby the use of a vice or any screw threads and the use of any gears.

4 according to claim 3 the movement under force may be generated by the means of actuators powered by hydraulic, gas or electric. l

According to clam I this tool is made from a sturdy metal structure enabling it to stand up to the force required to give a complete over hall to any size of universal coupling joint.