US2618183A - Removing tool - Google Patents

Description

D- W- COOKE REMOVING TOOL Nov. 18, 1952 Filed May 1, 1951 Patented Nov. 18, 1952 UNITED TES PATENT: OFFICE.

Douglas W. Cooke,-Manhattan Beach, Calif., as- Signor to Northrop Aircraft, Inc., Hawthorne, Calif., a corporation of California 1 Application May 1, 1951, Serial No. 223,851

Theypresent invention relates to tools and more specifically to anovel and useful'tool for removing diodes and the like from-electronic computers, for inspection or replacement.-

Diodes are generally used in great numbers in electronic computers, for example, and the type used in the present example consists mainly of small cylindrical members having short poles extending axially from each end thereof, mounted in banks in friction clips on panels which are usually interspersed throughout the computer. In many cases the panels are situated in areas of the computer which are highly inaccessible. Furthermore, in the interest of compactness and practicability the panels to which the diodes are fastened are usually spaced closely together, making removal of most of the diodes by hand extremely difficult. Also, because of the construction of the friction clips which will be described later in this specification, the diodes can be removed fromthe clips at right angles to the panel only, which necessitates special consideration as to the action of any satisfactory removal tool.

An object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a tool for easily and efficiently removing diodes and the like, which are located in various regions of a computer for example, which will also maintain a firm hold on the diode after removal and prevent its accidently falling into the innermost regions of the mechanism.

Briefly, the present invention, in one preferred form, is a tool which employs a pair of winglike fulcrum elements having a rigid lever member connected thereto which is curved to partially encircle the periphery of a germanium type diode fastened to a panel by friction clips at each end thereof. A spring member is positioned adjacent the lever member to cooperate therewith, by maintaining a grip on the diode during the removal thereof. When the lever member is applied to the diode, the fulcrum elements bear on the panel surface on each side of the clips retaining the diode; the lever usually being positioned between the panel and the diode to pry the diode in a direction away from the panel.

Means for rotating the lever member is connected thereto, and as the lever member is 1'0- tated, the fulcrum elements bearing on the panel surface rockably slide thereon toward the clips thus forcing the diode outwardly from the clips at substantially right angles to the panel. The lever rotating means can conve niently be a handle.-

The -present-invention will 'be more clearly Claims.

2 understood by referring to the specification drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, with some of the panels partially cut away, of one preferred form of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a somewhat diagrammatic view showing the tool of Figure 1, in profile, in two steps of the removal of a diode.

Referring first to Figure 1, germanium type diodes ID, in one embodiment such as are commonly used in electronic computers, consist mainly of a relatively small cylindrical body II having a pole I2 of substantially smaller diameter than the body I I, extending axially from each end thereof. The diodes I0 are usually mounted closely adjacent a panel I4 firmly positioned between a pair of friction clips I5 fastened in the panel I 4 in uniform rows thereon, and projecting at right angles outwardly therefrom. Each clip I5, as best shown in Figure 2, is usually in the form of an elongated rectangular member divided axially into two parallel elements I6, which are joined at one end only, and spaced slightly closer together than the diameter of a diode pole I2. A somewhat arcuate portion I1 is cutaway from each element I6, one opposite the other, adjacent the open end I9 of the clip, to fit around opposite sides of the periphery of the diode pole I2.

The pairs of clips I5 are spaced apart, one parallel of the other, by a distance slightly greater than the length of the diode body II.

The diodes ID in the ,present example are usually inserted into the clip-s I5, the poles I2 being placed at the openings I9 intermediate the par allel elements It and pressed inwardly toward the panel I l spreading the clip elements it on each side of the opening I8 apart. When the vpoles I2 are firmly seated in the arcuate portions I1, the clip elements I6 resume their normal positions.

To remove the diodes It from the clips I5, the present invention in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 employs a rigid lever member 2% positioned at one end of an elongated handle M of relatively non-resilient material. The lever member 20 is curved to fit around a portion of the peripheryof the diode body I Ib adjacent the panel- I4 and intermediate'the clips I5 at each end-of the diode Iii." A substantially resilient springmember 22' is connected to the handle 2I adjacent the lever 26 and in the present example is curved at .the outer end thereof to fit around the opposite sideof the diode body II. The tips site directions to permit the diode I to be inserted and gripped therein-between.

A pair of wing shaped fulcrum segments 25 are provided on the handle 2| adjacent the lever 20 and are formed to bridge the diode I!) and contact the panel 14 on each side thereof. The contact portions 26 of the fulcrum segments 25 are rounded to permit free slidingof the portions 26 on the panel [4 surface, and are spaced by a distance from the handle 2| to allow the engagement of the lever 20 with the diode l0 placing the opposite end of the handle 2| well forward of the lever 20 so that when the diode I0 is firmly gripped between the lever 20 and spring 22'and the handle 2| is moved toward the panell l, the fulcrum contact points 26 slidably bear against the panel I4 prying the diode l0 out of the clips l away from the panel 14 and at right angles thereto, the diode I0 beingfirmly gripped in the end of the tool. v p

1 It is at once apparent that here is ahighly useful tool, which can be made to reach'into highly inaccessible areas of complex electronic equipment by bending the handle 'tovarious desired angles, and in which even the'fulcrum members can be positioned at any point-between the ends of the handle, or placed forwardly of the lever member to reverse the removing action; Many heretofore unobvious useful operations in other applications will doubtless become apparent in view of the foregoing disclosure.

Whatisclaimed r l. A tool for removing a cylindrical member removably fastened adjacent a panel, between a pair of friction clips, one at each end thereof, comprising-fulcrum means adapted to bridge saidmember to 'slidably bear on said panel adjacent each end of said' member, a lever of relatively non-resilient material connected to said fulcrum'means, said lever being shaped to partially fit around said member intermediate said member and' said panel, resilient means connected to saidfulcrum means adjacent said lever, said re'silient meansbeing adapted to cooperate with said lever to grip said member when said lever is applied 'to said member for removal thereof, and actuating means connected to rotate said lever in a direction away fromsaid panel, said fulcrum means sliding on said panel toward said clips prying said member outwardly from said clips in a direction away from said panel. I

2.'A' tool for removing a cylindrical member removably held by friction clips at each end thereof, said clips being mounted closely adjacent to a panel, which comprises an elongated handle of relatively non-resilient material, a rigid lever positioned at one end of said handle, said lever being shaped to partially encircle said member between said clips, said lever being positioned around said member intermediate said member and said panel, resilient means connected to said handle adjacent said lever, said meansbeingformed with respect to said lever, said means cooperating with said lever to grip said member therebetween, and fulcrum means, said fulcrum means being provided on said handle adjacent said lever, said fulcrum means bearing on said panel on each side of said member adjacent said clips, said fulcrum means being spaced by a distance from said handle to permit the engagement of said lever with said member, the end of said handle opposite said lever being positioned forwardly of said lever with said fulcrum me ans 'slidably bearing on said ,panel,

whereby-when said handle is moved toward said rigid lever positioned on one end of said handle,

said' lever being shaped to partially encircle said member around the periphery thereof between said'engaging means, a spring of substantially resilent material connected to said handle adjacent said lever, said spring being shaped to admit said member between said spring and said lever, said spring being curved to contact said partially encircled member and firmly grip said member in saidlever, and a pairof alar fulcrum elements, said elements being connected to said handle, one on each side of said lever, said elements bearing on saidpanel intermediate said lever and'the center of said handle, said elements sliding toward said clips on said panel wheni said handle is moved to pry said member linearly from said clips;

4. Artool for use in removing a cylindrical member removably held by spring clips at each end thereof, closely adjacent a panel to which said clips are attached, which'comprises a handle of relatively non-resilient'material, said handle having at one end thereof a'portion curved to fit around a portion of one of said members, a resilient element attached to the same end of said handle curved to fit around an opposite portion of said member, the outer end of said resilient element being flared outwardly to permit separation of said curved portions so that said member can be gripped by said portions, and a fulcrum portion attached to said handle adjacent said curved portion and sized to bear on said panel with said handle at an angle thereto when said curved portions are fitted around one of said members spring clipped to said panel, whereby when said handle is moved to a positionmore nearly parallel with said panel, said member will be pried outwardly at a right angle from said panel and be removed from said spring clips.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein' said tool is made capable of removing one of: saidmembers from'a pluralityof said members closely spaced with said axes parallel, by having said fulcrum portion made from a pair of wing portions spaced across: said handle by a-distance where said wing members will bridge the next adjacent member, to bear on said panel on each'side of the clip members holding said next adjacent member, and when moved will slide so that fulcrum point is moved toward said memberdirecting' said member'outwardly at a right angle from said panel.

DOUGLAS W. COOKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

j v UNITED STATES. PATENTS I Date

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