JP2001182832A - O-ring pliers and method and tool for inserting o-ring - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and tool for installation of O-ring capable of decreasing or eliminating a twist of the O-ring generated at the time of installation. SOLUTION: An O-ring pliers 10 has a first 12 and a second handle 14 and a first 16 and a second jaw 18, and each jaw is furnished with a projection 30/32 to form a convex surface 36/40 provided in such a way as contacting with the circumferential surface of the O-ring inside in the radial direction. The jaws 16 and 18 are arranged movable relatively between the first and second positions. In the first position, the projections 30 and 32 can be inserted into the center opening of O-ring, and as the jaws move from the first to the second position, the convex surfaces 36 and 40 contact with the mating part to the circumferential surface of the O-ring inside in the radial direction and elongate the O-ring outward in a specified amount, and it is made possible for the O-ring to be set in an O-ring groove.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an O-ring seal, and more particularly, to a tool and a method for installing an O-ring in a groove.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art O-ring seals are used in various applications and are widely used in gas turbine engines. Such seals may be formed from a variety of materials, including materials such as rubber compositions such as BUNA-N. If the O-ring seal deteriorates prematurely or is completely damaged, it can be costly and, depending on the particular application, a safety problem.

One of the disadvantageous conditions that can significantly reduce the operational life of an O-ring and can cause damage to the O-ring is what is referred to as O-ring twist. The O-ring torsion is a torsion, that is, a torsional stress generated in the O-ring at the time of installation in the O-ring groove or the like. O-ring torsion can cause O-ring failure, commonly referred to as torsional failure, or degradation, known as premature stress aging.

[0004] The O-ring is generally rolled over the work by the installer's thumb or other finger, and is manually installed in the O-ring groove. This manual rolling arrangement can cause harmful twists in the O-ring. O
Conventional tools for installing the ring include conical means located at the end of the workpiece, with the O-ring sliding on the cone to the workpiece. The cone stretches the O-ring outward such that the O-ring slides or rotates past the end of the workpiece. However, the O-ring receives a sliding force on the cone and a sliding or rotating force on the work,
O-ring twisting may occur.

[0005]

There is a need for an O-ring installation tool and method that reduces or eliminates O-ring twisting during installation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide new and improved tools and methods that minimize or eliminate the occurrence of O-ring twist during installation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reliable, convenient and easy to use hand tool for O-ring installation.

[0008] Other objects include those which are clear and those which are described in more detail below.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has been found that a tool for placing an O-ring in an O-ring groove achieves the above and related objects and overcomes the difficulties of the prior art. The tool has first and second spaced support members, each support member including a protrusion forming a convex surface provided to contact a radially inner peripheral surface of the O-ring. I have. These supports are connected so as to relatively move, and move so as to approach and separate from each other between the first position and the second position. In the first position, the protrusion is provided close enough to be insertable into the central opening of the O-ring, and as the support member moves from the first position to the second position. The convex surface comes into contact with the opposing portion of the radially inner peripheral surface of the O-ring,
The O-ring is extended outward by a predetermined amount so that the O-ring can be installed in the O-ring groove. Drive means is coupled to the support member for relatively moving the support member from the first position to the second position.

[0010] In one embodiment of the invention, the O-ring pliers have first and second handles with first and second jaws rotatably connected, the jaws having a handle. They move away from each other as they move closer to each other. Each jaw has a convex surface provided to contact a radially inner peripheral surface of the O-ring so that the O-ring can be inserted into the O-ring groove as the jaw moves from the closed position to the open position. Thus, the O-ring is extended outward by a predetermined amount.

According to the installation method of the present invention, an outward force is applied to the radially inner peripheral surface of the O-ring groove so as to position a part of the O-ring so as to coincide with the groove, and the O-ring is sufficiently removed. Stretched. That portion of the O-ring is placed in the groove after it is aligned with the groove. Next, sufficient additional force is applied to the radially inner peripheral surface of the O-ring to position the remaining portion of the O-ring into alignment with the groove, and then to force the remaining portion of the O-ring into the groove. Outward forces are removed for placement within.

[0012]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Specific embodiments of the present invention have been selected for illustration, and these embodiments are specifically described in the following description, such description being defined by the claims. It is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the O-ring pliers of the present invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10, which includes handles 12,14, jaws 16,18,
It includes a pivot connection assembly 20 and a stop 22.

The handle 12 has an extension 24, and the jaws 16 are fixed to the extension 24 by fasteners 28. Similarly, jaw 18 is secured to extension 26 of handle 14 by fasteners 28. Handle 1
2 and 14 are pivot assemblies 2 so as to rotate.
It is rotatably connected by 0. Handle 12,
14 and jaws 16, 18 are relatively arranged and configured such that the jaws move away from each other as the handle moves toward each other. Such relative movement of the handle or jaw is well known in the prior art and is described in more detail in U.S. Pat. Described.

Each of the jaws 16 and 18 has a projection 3
0,32. The protrusion 30 is provided on the flat surface 3 of the jaw 16.
While extending outward from 4 to form a convex surface 36,
It extends substantially along the end 43 of the jaw 16. Similarly, the protrusion 32 extends outwardly from the plane 38 of the jaw 18 to bestow the convex surface 4 as best seen in FIG.
0 and extend substantially along the end 42.

The convex surfaces 36 and 40 are provided so as to be in contact with the radially inner peripheral surface 44 of the O-ring 46 and apply an outward force to the O-ring to stretch it for installation (FIG. 1). 7). The flat surfaces 34, 38 adjacent the protrusions 30, 32 contact the sides of the O-ring 46 and hold the O-ring on the convex surfaces 36, 40 during the installation process. The jaws 16, 18 are desirably formed of a material such as Delrin that does not damage the O-ring or damage the work during stretching or installation.

In FIG. 1, the handles 12, 14 are in a first open or spaced apart position. Meanwhile, Joe 1
6, 18 are in the closed position, the jaws are in contact along the ends 42, 43, the projections 30 and 32 are adjacent and the corresponding convex surfaces 36, 40 are in opposite directions. Facing outward. In FIG. 7, the handles 12, 1
4 is shown in a second closed position, with the jaws 16, 18 correspondingly in an open or spaced apart position. When the handles 12, 14 are squeezed together, the jaws 16, 18 rotate from the closed position of FIG. 1 to the open position of FIG. The stopper 22 limits the movement of the handles 12, 14 to approach each other.

The stopper 22 is a projection extending from the handle 12 toward the handle 14 and has an end 48. The stopper 22 is fixed to the handle 12 by a fastener 50, and the handles 12, 14
The end 48 is provided in contact with the inner end 52 of the handle 14 when both are squeezed together, thereby defining the maximum separation between the convex surfaces 36,40. As described below, the size of the stopper 22 is an element that limits the maximum amount of extension of the O-ring.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 7, the O-ring has protrusions 30, 32 extending through the central opening of the O-ring and holding surfaces 34, 38 contacting the peripheral sides of the O-ring. As described above, they are arranged on the jaws 16 and 18. O
Preferably, the ring is lubricated with a standard lubricant. At this point, the pliers 10 are at the position shown in FIG. The handles are squeezed (ie, moved) together so as to rotate from the first position of FIG. 1 to the second position of FIG. In response, as the jaws rotate from the first position of FIG. 1 to the second position of FIG.
The 6, 40 contacts the opposing portion of the radially inner peripheral surface of the O-ring and applies an outward force to stretch the O-ring without twisting the O-ring.

The O-ring in the extended position shown in FIG. 7 has the shape of a quadrilateral, designated by the numeral 53, which comprises a linear upper section 54, an opposing linear lower section 56, And convex sections 58, 60 that contact convex surfaces 36, 40, respectively. Several factors determine the extent to which the O-ring is stretched. Such elements include: 1) a projection 3 provided along the ends 43, 42 of the jaws relative to the pivot 20;
0,32 position, 2) convex surface 36,40 bow dimension, 3)
The size and position of the stopper 22 are included. In determining the desired amount of stretching and shape, it has been found that the nominal or loose O-rings should not exceed 80% of the allowed elongation. The shape of the elongated O-ring is also affected by the dimensions of the work including the O-ring groove.

Referring to FIG. 6, a workpiece or tube 62 including an O-ring groove 64 is shown. In FIG.
2 has an outer diameter dimension 66. In determining the shape of the quadrilateral 53, the size of the upper section 54 is desirably larger than the outer diameter 66 of the work 62 so that the linear upper section 54 can be disposed in the groove 64. In the embodiment shown, the arcuate length of the convex surfaces 36, 40 is:
It is almost equal to the radius of the work. However, O-ring is 80%
The length of the bow can be varied to facilitate installation without exceeding the stretching limit of the bow.

When installing the O-ring, the O-ring 4
6 is adjacent to the end face 68 of the workpiece and the holding faces 34, 38
The tool and the O-ring in the state of FIG. 7 are positioned on the end face 68 of the work such that the. With the handle in the closed position, the pliers 10 are manually positioned to insert the upper section 54 of the O-ring into the upper portion 70 of the O-ring groove 64 shown in FIG. As the O-ring section 54 is inserted into the O-ring groove 64, the tool 10 is moved downward (relative to FIG. 6), inserting the lower section 56 of the O-ring into the lower portion 72 of the O-ring groove. When placing the lower section 56 in the O-ring groove 64,
So that the O-ring is completely set in the O-ring groove 64,
The convex surfaces 36, 40 are gently pulled out of the O-ring.

The O-ring is first placed on the upper part 7 of the O-ring groove 64.
0, and subsequently into its lower part 72, the planes 34, 38 adjacent to the corresponding convex surfaces 36, 40
It functions to hold the ring on a convex surface. When the tool 10 is moved downwardly after the upper section 54 has been inserted into the upper part 70, the O-ring contacts the inside or bottom surface of the O-ring groove, and the O-ring further outwards as the tool moves further downwards. It is stretched. O described above
Since the force applied to the ring is the outward stretching force,
The risk of torsion and torsional stress of the ring is reduced or eliminated.

In determining the relative dimensions of the pliers, it is desirable for the pliers to accommodate the discontinuous dimensional range of the O-ring and workpiece. Therefore, the spacing of the convex surface in the open position and the arcuate length of the convex surface need to be selected to accommodate the various dimensions of the O-ring.

Although the O-ring installation tool of the present invention has been shown and described with respect to O-ring pliers, other tool shapes having a convex surface facing the corresponding support member may be used. These support members are connected to be relatively movable so as to approach and separate from each other. The driving means is connected to the support member so that the support member moves from the first position to the second position.

In the method of the present invention, an outward force is applied to the opposing portion of the radially inner peripheral surface of the O-ring, and a part of the elongated O-ring is inserted into the work in alignment with the O-ring groove. The O-ring is stretched to a predetermined dimension sufficient to allow. A portion of the O-ring is inserted into the O-ring groove, and the O-ring is then applied outwardly with respect to its radially inner peripheral surface such that the remainder of the O-ring matches the groove. It is stretched slightly further by the additional force applied. Subsequently, the stretching force is removed so as to release or insert the rest of the O-ring into the O-ring groove.

As can be seen from the foregoing description, a new and improved tool and method for O-ring installation has been described that minimizes or eliminates the occurrence of O-ring twist. This O-ring tool is reliable, convenient and easy to use.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, various modifications and improvements can be made to the structure described above without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an O-ring pliers according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the O-ring pliers of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of one jaw of the O-ring pliers.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the jaw of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a work having an O-ring groove.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the work of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the pliers of FIG. 2 in an open position, including the O-ring in an extended state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... O-ring pliers 12, 14 ... Handle 16, 18 ... Jaw 30, 32 ... Projection part 36, 40 ... Convex surface

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Patrick R. Caray United States, Connecticut, Rockfall, Maple Street 32

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. An O-ring pliers for inserting an O-ring into an O-ring groove formed in a work, wherein the O-ring forms a central opening and defines a radial direction bounding the central opening. A first rotatably connected handle having an inner peripheral surface, wherein the pliers rotate about a pivot between and away from each other between a first open position and a second closed position; And a second handle, wherein the first handle is rotated about the pivot so as to approach or move away from each other between a first closed position and a second open position in response to rotation of each of the handles. And the second
A first jaw and a second jaw respectively connected to the handles of the first and second handles, wherein the jaws move away from each other as the handles move closer to each other; The first jaw includes a first protrusion that forms a first convex surface provided to contact a radially inner peripheral surface of the O-ring, and the second jaw includes a first jaw of the O-ring. A second protrusion forming a second convex surface provided so as to be in contact with a radially inner peripheral surface, wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion have the respective jaws. When in the first closed position, the O-rings are adjacent to be inserted into the central opening of the O-ring, and the first convex surface and the second convex surface are each such that each jaw is 2 when in the open position, the radially inner peripheral surface of the O-ring O-ring pliers, wherein the O-ring is in contact with an opposing portion of the O-ring and is spaced apart so as to extend the O-ring outward by a predetermined amount to insert the O-ring into the groove. 2. The first convex surface and the second convex surface define a radially inner peripheral surface of the O-ring as each of the jaws rotates from the first position to the second position. The O-ring pliers according to claim 1, wherein an outward force is applied to the opposing portion. 3. Each of the jaws has a retaining surface adjacent to the first convex surface and the second convex surface, respectively, the retaining surface being configured to be inserted when the O-ring is inserted into the groove. O
The O-ring pliers according to claim 1, wherein a ring is held on each of the convex surfaces. 4. The O-ring has opposite side surfaces,
The O-ring pliers according to claim 3, wherein the respective holding surface of each of the jaws is adjacent to one of the side surfaces when the O-ring is stretched by the respective convex surface. 5. The O-ring pliers according to claim 4, wherein each of the holding surfaces faces the groove when an O-ring is inserted into the groove. 6. The work has a predetermined outer diameter, and the first convex surface and the second convex surface are configured such that the O-ring is formed when the jaw is at the second position. Extending along the arc to be stretched by the convex surface to form a quadrilateral, the quadrilateral having an opposing convex section in contact with each of the convex surfaces, a linear upper section, and a linear lower section. Wherein the first convex surface and the second convex surface have a predetermined length in which the linear upper section is larger than the outer diameter of the work when the jaw is at the second position. The O-ring pliers according to claim 1, wherein the O-ring pliers are spaced apart from each other. 7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a stopper for restricting an approaching movement of the handle to a predetermined range, the stopper restricting a distance between each of the convex surfaces and an extension of the O-ring. O-ring pliers as described. 8. The O-ring pliers according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined amount of elongation of the O-ring is less than 80% of the O-ring before installation. 9. A tool for inserting an O-ring into an O-ring groove formed in a workpiece, wherein the O-ring forms a central opening and surrounds a radially inner periphery that bounds the central opening. Surface, the tool comprising a first support member and a second support member spaced apart, the first support member contacting a first portion of a radially inner peripheral surface of the O-ring. A first protrusion that forms a first convex surface provided so that the second support member is provided so as to contact a second portion of a radially inner peripheral surface of the O-ring. A second projecting portion forming a second convex surface, wherein the first supporting portion and the second supporting portion approach and separate from each other between a first position and a second position. Are relatively movably connected as described above, and in the first position,
The first protrusion and the second protrusion are sufficiently close so that they can be inserted into the central opening of the O-ring, and at the second position, the first protrusion and the second protrusion are in contact with the first convex surface. The second convex surface is in contact with an opposing portion of a radially inner peripheral surface of the O-ring, and is separated so as to extend the O-ring outward by a predetermined amount for insertion into the groove, And a driving unit coupled to at least one of the first supporting member and the second supporting member, the driving unit relatively moving the respective members from the first position to the second position. A tool for inserting an O-ring, wherein the O-ring is operated in a dynamic manner. 10. The first convex surface and the second convex surface, as the first support member and the second support member move from the first position to the second position,
The O-ring according to claim 9, wherein an outward force is applied to the first portion and the second portion of the radially inner peripheral surface of the O-ring. tool. 11. Each of the support members includes a holding surface for holding the O-ring on the first convex surface and the second convex surface when inserted into the groove. Item 10. A tool for inserting an O-ring according to Item 9. 12. The O-ring includes a radially outward peripheral surface and an opposing peripheral side surface, wherein each of the support members is adjacent to each of the protrusions and one of the side surfaces of the O-ring. The tool for inserting an O-ring according to claim 9, further comprising a holding surface that comes into contact with the O-ring. 13. The workpiece has a predetermined outer diameter, and the first convex surface and the second convex surface are formed such that the O-ring is stretched by the respective convex surfaces at the second position to form a quadrilateral. Extending along an arcuate shape to form a quadrilateral, the quadrilateral comprising opposing convex sections in contact with each of the convex surfaces, a linear upper section, and a linear lower section; The first convex surface and the second convex surface are separated at the second position such that the linear upper section has a predetermined length larger than the outer diameter of the work. A tool for inserting an O-ring according to claim 9. 14. The predetermined amount of elongation of the O-ring,
The tool for inserting an O-ring according to claim 9, wherein the O-ring is smaller than 80% of the O-ring in a reference state. 15. A method for installing an O-ring in an O-ring groove formed in a work, the work having an outer diameter dimension, wherein the O-ring forms a center opening and the center opening. Having a radially inner peripheral surface that bounds the part,
Applying an outward force to a radially inner peripheral surface of the O-ring to extend the O-ring sufficiently to position the segment of the O-ring in alignment with the groove; Locating the segment of the O-ring in the groove; and providing sufficient additional outer perimeter on the radially inner peripheral surface of the O-ring to position the rest of the O-ring to coincide with the groove. A method of installing an O-ring, comprising: applying an orienting force; and removing the outward force to place a remaining portion of the O-ring in the groove. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein applying the outward force comprises applying an outward force to opposing sections of a radially inner peripheral surface of the O-ring. How to install an O-ring. 17. The method of claim 15, wherein applying the additional outward force comprises applying a force by hand. 18. The step of applying an outward force,
16. The method of claim 15, including applying a force to stretch the O-ring such that the linear section is larger than the outer diameter dimension of the workpiece. 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the extension of the O-ring is less than 80% of its nominal dimension.