GB2519796A

GB2519796A - A dismounting device and a process for extracting a motor from a fuel pump

Info

Publication number: GB2519796A
Application number: GB1319195.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mike Piggot
Original assignee: Tokheim Holding BV
Current assignee: Tokheim Holding BV
Priority date: 2013-10-30
Filing date: 2013-10-30
Publication date: 2015-05-06
Anticipated expiration: 2033-10-30
Also published as: GB201319195D0; EP2868616A1; GB2519796B

Abstract

A dismounting device 1 suitable for extracting a motor 2 from a fuel pump 3 in a fuel dispenser 4 comprises a moveable trolley 8, an arm 9 connected to the trolley at one end and with grasping means 11 at the other end and height setting means 13 to adjust the height of the arm 9. The grasping means 11 may comprise a ring shape to be inserted into a groove 14. The grasping means 11 may be perpendicular to the arm 9. The grasping means may comprise of two half rings 15a (15b fig. 3). The second half ring (15b fig. 3) may be connected to and removable from the first half ring 15a via clamping means (16 fig. 3). The arm 9 may comprise length setting means 19. The length setting means 19 may comprise two pipes 27a 27b. The first pipe 27a may be connected to the trolley 8 and the grasping means 11 may be fixed to the second pipe 27b. The second pipe 27b may slide inside the first pipe 27a in a telescopic arrangement. There may be a handle 29 fixed to the second pipe 27b and there may be a slot 30 in the first pipe 27a. There may be a weight setting means 20 which can adjust the weight of the trolley 8.

Description

A DISMOUNTI1G DEVJE AND A PROCESS FOR EXTRACTING A MOTOR

FROM A FUEL PUMP

The invention relates to a dIsmcunting device and a process for extracting a motor from a fuel pump mounted into a fuel dispenser.

A service station comprises usually several fuel dispensers.. A fuel dispenser can.

deliver gasoline or diesel fuel into the tank of a car for instance.

A fuel dispenser comprises several compartments including a hydraulic compartment comprising one *or several fuel pumps, an electronic compartment positioned above the hydraulic compartment and a compartment including the hose management systems.

The fuel pump comprises a motor having a pulley driving another pulley fixed to a pumping unit by means of a transmission belt. The pumping unit is equipped with t least a suction pump (gear pump or vane pump for instance), a filter with the function of eliminate the soBd particles present in the fuel, an air separator arid a recovery chamber to remove air dissolved in the fuel. A pumP ping unit can be linked to two fuel meters: for delivering fuel on each. side of the fuel dispenser.

A hydraulic compartment can comprise more than two pumping units which are cumbersome and heavy. The motor can have a weight of more than 16 kilograms and the space inside the hydraulic compartment, between the pumping units and the motcrs, is limited to obtain a compact hydraulic assembly.

Sometimes, the motor can malfunctior. or be broken. It must be removed from the hydraulic compartment to be replaced on site. The dismantle operation is very d:ifficult for the staff and two persons are needed to extract the motor which is heavy.

The access into the hydraulic compartment is limited. The operation, takes a lot of time and it could be dangerous for the staff. In som.e cases, the employee can have its fingers broken or have its hands cut.

The aim of the invention is to solve these issues in providing a dismounting device for extracting a motor from a fuel pump enabling to reduce the number of employees for extracting the motor. A single employee is required instead of two. The cycle times in carrying out this activity is reduced The labor time on-site Is reduced and the cost is reduced.

Another aim of the invention is to enable the employees to make their job safely and easily, To this end, the invention relates to a dismounting device for extracting a motor from a fuel pump mounted into a fuel dispenser said motor comprising a pulley driving another pulley fixed to a pumping unit by means of a transmission belt The dismounting device comprises: -a trolley mobile with respect to the fuel dispenser, an arm fixed to the frofley at fts first end, said arm comprising grasping means at its second end., adapted to be fixed to the pulley of the motor, and -height setting means provided on the trolley to adjust the h&Qht of the arm sensibly at the height of the pulley.of the motor.

The invention enables a reduction in personnel. In order to comply with United Kingdom Hygiene and Security legislation most motor dismounting operations require two men on-site in order to safely lift the motor. The dismounting device enables a single technician to do this job safely.

The invention enables to reduce the cycle-time for extraction. Typical time on-site r this operation is around two hours. The dismounting device permits to do this operation over one hour.

In different possible embodiments, the present Invention also relates to the features which will appea,r during the following description and which should be considered individually or in all their technically possible combinations: The g.raspi:ng means has a ring shape adapted to be inserted into a groove formed around the periphery of the pulley of the motor, the grasping means being sensibly perpendicular to the arm.

The grasping means comprises Iwo half-rings including a first half-ring fixed to the arm and. a second halMng connectable and removable from the first half-ring by means of clamping means enabling to clam.p the two half-rings, together and to tighten said half-rings against the pulley of the motor, The grasping means can be easily and quickly fixed to the motor pulley. It permits to hold the motor in a simple manner.

The clamping means are formed by threaded holes provided at each respective ends of the two half-rings and by two screws, when the hati-rings are positioned around the groove of the p(Jliey of the motor, the threaded holes of the half rings are aligned and the: screws screwed into said holes to join the halfrings together.

The arm comprises length setting means for adjusting the' length of the arm.

The length setting means comprises two pipes including a first pipe. fixed to the trolley and a second pipe movable with respect to the first pipe, the grasping mean.s being fixed to one ends of the second pipe and the second pipe being able to slide inside and along the first pipe between a retracted position and an extended position wherein the second pipe is extended outside the first pipe.

A handle is fixed to the second pipe and a slot is formed in the first pipe for guiding the handle between the retracted and the extended positions.

The slot has a "1" shape including a first longitudinal part extending along the longitudinal direction of the arm and a second part perpendicular to the first longitudinal part.

The dismounting device comprises weight setUng means for adjusting the weight of the trolley so as to be greater than th:e weight of the motor.

This feature enables to use the dismounting device for a wide cargo of motor of a wide range of pumping units.

The invention relates also to a process for extracting a motor from a fuel pump mounted in a fuel dispenser, the motor comprising a pulley driving another pulley fixed to a pumping unit by: means of a transmission belt and the process comprising the steps of: -removing the transmission belt from the pulley of the motor, removing the pulley of the pumping unit, -extracting the motor from the fuel dispenser with the dismounting deVice as defined above.

in. dIfferent possible embodiments, the present invention also relates to the features which will appear during the foRowing description and which should be considered individually or in all their technically possible combinations: The step of extraction of the motor from the fuel dispenser comprises the steps of: -setting: the height. of an arm of the dismounting device in order to adjust this one to the height of the. pulley of the motor, fixing the arm to the pulley of the motor by means of grasping means, -moving the dismounting device toward a direction A opposite to the fuel dispenser in order to extract the motor from. the fuel dispenser.

The step of extraction of the motor from the fuel dispenser comprises, before the step of moving the dismounting device toward a direction A, the steps of: -extending the length setting. means toward a direction. B opposite to the direction A In order to separate the motor from the fuel dispenser, -lowering t:he arm.

In some case, the fixing means enabling to fix the motor to the fuel dispenser comprises a hinge assembly having one or two pins fixed on a bracket of the motor intended to. be inserted in two holes of a dispenser bracket, as illustrated in figure 4. For extracting the motor, the staff has to push the motor in a direction B opposite to the direction A to disengage the pins from the respective hotes.

The direction B is the direction toward the dispenser. The direction A is the opposite direction toward the dismounting device. After this operation, the staff pushes down the motor and moves it in the direction A to extract the motor from the fuel dispenser. ThIs operalion is difficult because the motor is heavy and the space around the motor is limited.

The iençth setting means enable to extend the arm toward the direction B to disengage the pins of the motor bracket from the holes of the. dispenser bracket. The trolley does not move during this operation. The handle is translated along the first part of the slot toward the direction B.. It permits to separate the motor from the dispenser easily and safely.

After this step of separation of the motor, the motor is lowered by the height setting means and the handle of the arm is put in a retracted positIon. The handle is translated along the first part of the sl.t toward the direction A. The handle is then introduced in the second part of the slot to block the handle before the step of translation of the dismounting device toward the direction A for extracting the motor from the thspens.er.

The length setting means combined with the height setting means enabre an accurate movement of the motor according to two directions (horizontal and vertical.).

Complex movements can be done to extract the motor fmm Its tight compartment The Invention will be described more in detail with reference to the appended drawings wherein: -FIGURE 1 represents a thsrnounti.ng device extracting a motor from a fuel dispenser according to the invention, -FIGURE 2 represents the arm of the dismounting device according to the invention, -FIGURE 3 represents a front view of the grasping means, -FIGURE 4 represents. an example of fixing means enabng to fix the mc tar to the fuel dispenser.

The figure 1 represents a fuel dispenser 4 comprising two fuel pumps 3.

Each fuel pump 3 comprises a motor 2 having a pulley 5 drMng another pulley 6 fixed to. a pumping unit 21 by means of a transmission belt 7.

As illustrated in figure 4 the motor, is fixed to the fuel dispenser 4 by fixing means 36 comprising a hinge assembly 3m, 37b including two motor hinç:e parts STe fixed on a bracket 38 of the motor 2 and two dispenser hinge parts 37h fixed on a dispenser bracket (not shown) The bracket 38 of the motor 2 is fixed to the motor 2 and the dispenser bracket is fixed to the fuel dispenser 4.

Each motor hinge part 3Th comprises a pin 41 and each dispenser hinge part 3Th comprises a hole 39 intended to receive one pin 41. This hinge assembly 37a, 3?b enables the motor 2 to rotate with respect to the pumping unit 21 which is fixed to the fuel dispenser 4.

This fixing means 36 is described as an example. The dismounting device i can be used for othe.r kinds of fixing means and arrangements.

The dismounting device 1 as illustrated in figure 1 comprises a trolley 8 mobile in translation with respect to the fuel dispenser 4 and an arm 9 fixed to the trolley B at its first end 10. The arm 9 comprises grasping means 11 at its second end 12 adapted to be fixed to the pulley 5 of the motor 2. The dismounting device ¶ comprises height setting means 13 to adjust the height of the arm 9 sensibly at the height of the first pulley 5 of the motor 2.

In. the embodiment of figure 1,. the trolley 8 comprises four rollers 40, The height setting means 13 are integrated in the trolley 8. In the embodiment of figure 1, the troRey 8 is a floor jack as used fo.r lifting cars to replace tires.. Other kinds of trolley 8 can be used. A handle. 34 is provided on the trolley Oto activate the lifting of the arm 9.

Thus, the height of the arm 9 can be set at the same height of the pulley 5 of the motor 2.

The trolley 8 comprises weight setting means 20 for setting the weight of the trolley a. Weights 22 can be added on the trolley 8. The weights 22 act as a counter weight. The trolley weight is set so as to be greater than weight of the motor 2 and the arm 9 Thus, the dismounting device I can be used to extract motors 2 of different weights. A tray 23 is provided at the back of the trolley 8 to bear the weights 22. The tray 23 is sensibly horizontal and can comprise a vertIcal rod 24 to thread the wehts 22. The weights 22 comprise a hole 35 to be inserted in the rod 24.

The grasping means 11 have a ring shape adapted to be inserted into a groove 14 formed around the periphery of the pulley 5 of the motor 2, The grasping means 11 is preferably sensibly perpendicular to the arm 9. Alternatively, the grasping means 11 can be inclined with respect to the arm 9.

As illustrated in figure 3, the grasping means 11 comprise two half-rings 15a, 1Gb including a first half-ring 45a fixed to the arm 9 and a second half-ring lSb connectable and removable from the first half-ring 1 5a by means of clamping means 16 enabling to clamp the two half-rings iSa, lSb together and to tighten the half-rings against the pulley 5 cf the motor 2.

The clamping means 16 comprise threaded holes 17 provided at each respective ends of the two half-rings la, ISb and two screws 18. When the half-rings are positioned around the groove 1.4 of the motor pulley 5., the threaded holes 17 of the h:affrings are aligned. The screws 18 are then screwed into said holes 17 to join the half-rings together.

The first half-ring I Se comprises two legs 25 fixed on two respective legs 26 of the arm. The grasping means 11 can have a diameter of 0 mm or 70 mm for example, This diameter is adapted to the diameter of the motor pulley 5.

In the e.m.bodimer.t of figure 1, during the extraction operation, the first half-ring I 5a is positioned bellow the pulley of the motor 2 and the second half-ring I 5b is positioned above this one. Alternativ&y, the first half-ring ISa could be positioned above the motor pulley 5 and the second half-ring 1 Sb could be positioned bellow this one.

Alternatively, other kinds of grasping means 11 can be used.

The arm 9 extends along a longitudiflal direction. It has an elongate shape.

For example, it can have a length of 41.2 mm.. Other lengths are possible..

As illustrated in figure 2, the arm 9 comprises length selling means 19 for adjusting the length of the arm 9. The arm 9 is telescopic. The length setting means 19 comprises two pipes 27a, 27b including a first pipe 27a fixed to the trolley 8 via an arm linking bracket 28 and a second pipe 27b movable With respect to the first pipe 27a. The second pipe 27b slides inside and along the first pipe 27a. The grasping means Ii are fixed to the end of the second pipe 27a which is the end 12 of the arm 9. A handle 29 is fixed to the second pipe 27b to ext end the length of the arm 9. A user can push or pufl the second pipe Va via the handle 29. The. handle 29 has a T shape.. A slot 30 is provided in the first pipe 27a for guiding handle 29 which can move from a retracted position when it is near the arm linking bracket 2 up to an extended position when rroved in the opposite direction 8 toward the motor 2.

The slot 30 has a "1" shape including a first longitudinal part 32 extending along the longitudinal direction of the arm 9 and a second part 33 perpendicular to the first longitudinal, part 32 The slot 30 is positioned above the first pipe 27a. The second part of the slot 3.3 is near the arm linIsing biacket 28. The handle 29 crosses the slot 30 end slides along the slot, The front end 31 of the first ionçitudinal part 32 acts as a stop to stop the handle 29 When totally extended toward th:e direction A. The handle 29 can move, toward the direction B to reach the retracted position. The handle 29 can move toward the direction A to reach the retracted position. The handle 29 is then inserted into the second part 3.3 of the slot 30 to block the arm 9 in the retracted position. The second part 33 of the slot 30 has a curved shape. It could be semi-circular for instance.

The handle 29 can have a stroke comprised between 40 mm and 80 mm. It can be 62 mm for instance.

The process for extracting a rnoto.r 2 from a fuel pump.3 mounted in a fuel dispenser 4 is described below.

The extraction process is desc1bed for extracting a motor 2 but it can be also applied for the reverse operation consisting in mounting a motor 2 into a fuel dispenser The extraction process comprises the steps of: -removing the transmission belt 7 from the pulley 5 of the motor 2, -removing the puliey 6 of the pumping unit 21, -extracting the motor 2 from the fuel. dispenser 4 with the dismounting device 1 as defined above.

The step of extracting the motor 2 from the fuel dispenser 4 compiises the sub-steps of: setting the height of the arm 9 of the dismounting device 1 in order to adjust this one to the height of the pulley S of the motor 2, -fixing the arm 9th the pulley S of the motor 2 by means of the grasping means 11, -removing the fixing means enabling to fix the motor 2 to the fuel dispenser 4, translate the dismounting device I toward a direction A opposite to the fuel dispenser 4 in order to extract the motor 2 from the fuel dispenser 4..

The steps above described are preferably done i.n this order. Alternatively, it can be done in a different order.

As said above and iflustrated jj figure 4, in some case the meter 2 is fixed to the fuel dispenser 4 by fixing means 36 comprising a hinge assembly 9Th 37b including two motor hinge parts 3Th fixed on a bracket. 38 of the. motor 2. and two dispenser hinge parts 37b fixed on a dispenser brEcket (not shown). The bracket 38 of the motor 2 is fixed to the motor 2 and the dispenser bracket is fixed to the fuel dispenser 4.

Each motor hinge part 37a comprises a pin 41 and each dispenser hinge part 37b comprises a hole 39 intended to receive one pin 41. This hinge assembly 3Th, 37b enables the motor 2 to rotate with respect to the pumping unit 21 which is fixed to the fuel dispenser 4.

For extracting the motor 2, the staff has to.psh the motor 2 in a direction B opposite to the direct. ion A to disengage the pin 41 of the motor ltnge parts Va from the hole 39 of the dispenser hinge parts 5Th. After this operat ion the staff can tower the motor 2 and move it in the direction A to extract it from the dispenser. This operation is difficult because the motor 2 is heavy and the space.amund the motor 2 is limited.

In a preferred embodiment, the extraction process comprises, before the translation of the dismounting device I toward a direction A, a step of extending the arm length by means of the length Setting means 19 toward the direction B to disengage the pin 41 of the. motor hinge parts 8Th from the respective hole 39 of the dispenser hinge parts 37b, The handle 29 of the arm is moved toward the direction B to reach the extended position. During this step, the trolle.y 8 dces not move, The handle. 29 is translated along the first part 32 of the slot toward the direction B. After this step, the arm 9 is lowered via the height setting means 13 (or lifting means)..

After this step of separation of the motor, the:hanthe 29 of the arm is put in a retracted, position. The handle 2. is translated along the first part of the slot 32 toward the direction A. The handle 29 is then introduced in the second part 33 of the slot to blOck the handle 29 before the step of translation of the dismounting device 1 toward the direction A for extracting the motor completely from the fuel dispenser.

It permits, to extract the motor from the dispenser easily and safely.

Fixing means for fixing the motor to the dispenser can be different In a general manner, the length salting means 19 permits to push or pull the motor with respect to the dispenser during the dismounting process. In add Won, the height setUng means 1.3 enable to lift or lower the arm 9. Thus the motor 2 can be manipulated easHy and with accuracy according two directions (vertical and horizontal) and in a narrow space.

When the motor 2 is removed from the fuel dispenser 4, the employee can tflt the dismountable device I to put the motor 2 on the floor.

As a result, the dismounting operation can be done by only one employee instead of two and in safer conditions.

The dismounting devIce 1 can be used for the reverse operation consisting mounting the motor 2 into the fuel dispenser 4.

The process for mounting the motor 2 into the fuel dispenser 4 comprises the steps of: -fixing the grasping means 11 of the dismounting device I on the pulley S of the motor 2, sethng the weight of the dismounting device I which must be greater than the weight of the motor and the arm via the weight setting means 20, -setting the height of the arm 9 of the dismou.ntJng d:e'ice. I via the height setting means 13 in order to put the motor 2 in front of the motor housing positioned below the pumping unit, -introducing the motor in the motor housing of the fuel dispenser by moving the dismounting device I in the direction B, rifling the motor 2 via the height setting means 13 when the hinge parts 37a of the motor is in front of the hinge parts Sib of the dispenser bracket, -translate the motor 2 in the direction A via the length setting means 19 to insert the hinge parts 3Th of the motor in the hinge parts 37b. of the dispenser bracket1 removing the grasping means 11 from the pulley 5 of the motor.

The steps above described are preferably done in this order. Alternatively, it.

can be done: in a different order.