WO2019233619A1

WO2019233619A1 - Tool for positioning a sealing element in a sealing position

Info

Publication number: WO2019233619A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/081737
Authority: WO
Inventors: Brian Pedersen
Original assignee: Ip Booster International Aps
Priority date: 2018-06-07
Filing date: 2018-11-19
Publication date: 2019-12-12
Also published as: EP3801988A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a single-use or disposable tool for installing or positioning a sealing element in a sealing position. The sealing element may be positioned in or used in connection with a motorized vehicle, the sealing element may e.g. be an oil seal such as an oil seal around a crank shaft. The disposable tool comprises an opening (5) having an inner perimeter (PI), a first end (1), a second end (2) and a first contact part (3) having an outer perimeter (PO) positioned between the first end (1) and the second end (2). The first contact part (3) fits into the opening (5) of the sealing element having the inner perimeter (PI) i.e. the outer perimeter (PO) of the first contact part (3) is smaller than the inner perimeter (PI) of the opening (5), and the outer perimeter (PO) of first contact part (3) is variable, and the tool has a thickness of between 0.1 - 1.2 mm and is made of a transparent material.

Description

Tool for positioning a sealing element in a sealing position

Technical field of invention

The invention relates to a single-use or disposable tool for installing or positioning a sealing element in a sealing position. The sealing element may be positioned in or used in connection with a motorized vehicle, the sealing element may e.g. be an oil seal such as an oil seal around a crank shaft.

Prior art

It is necessary to provide an oil seal between the crankshaft of an automotive engine and the engine block. Such a sealing element preventing leakage of lubricating oil from the engine regularly wears out and must be replaced. Sealing elements between a crankshaft and an engine block are notoriously difficult to position correctly without damaging either the sealing element or the crankshaft.

US 6.065.198 disclose a tool for installing a shaft seal such as an oil sea l to replace a worn oil seal that has been removed. For this purpose, a guide plate is provided. The guide plate has a cylindrical radially outer wall of a diameter corresponding to that of the cylindrical outer end of the crankshaft. The guide plate is secured to the outer end face of the crankshaft in a position such that its cylindrical wall is concentric with and contacts the cylindrical outer end of the crankshaft. The guide plate has a frustoconical wall extending axially outwardly and radially inwardly from the cylindrical wa II to enable the seal to be stretched over the frustoconical wall and then slid along the cylindrical wall of the guide plate and onto the outer surface of the crankshaft. To press the seal further along the crankshaft and into the groove, an adapter and a press are provided. After the guide plate is removed, the adapter is secured to the outer end face of the crankshaft with its outer cylindrical wall in concentric relation with the outer end of the crankshaft. The press is engaged over the adapter and has a skirt portion in sliding contact with the outer wall of the adapter and with the outer end of the crankshaft to move the seal along the crankshaft and into the groove.

US 201670061329 disclose a mechanical seal fitting system and a method for applying this seal fitting system. The system relates to a system for installing a seal on a shaft and includes a sleeve wrappable around the shaft which sleeve is sufficiently strong to avoid tear and configured to guide the seal into position along the shaft. The system is formed of a material selected from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), low-density or high-density polyethylene (LDPE or HDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), other polymers or elastomers, or combinations of these. The thickness of the sleeve is between 0.01 inches and 0.05 inches (0.25 mm and 1.27 mm). The sleeve may be coated with on one or both surfaces with a lubricant such as petroleum jelly, oil, polytetrafluoroethylene e.g. Teflon or other components that reduce friction when a seal is slid engagingly along the sleeve surface during installation.

Summary of invention

The present invention provides an improved disposable tool and method for positioning a sealing element such as an oil sealing element e.g. between a crankshaft and an engine block.

A disposable tool according to the invention is constructed of a transparent material allowing the user or operator to see through the material during use or operation. Transparency of the material makes operation easier and also, transparency of the material makes it easier to see whether the disposable tool might have been used before as scratches in the surface of the tool will then appear. Depending on the material of the tool, it may even be possible to see how many times the tool has been used. Using the disposable tool more than once may cause damaging to the seal during installation and is therefore undesirable.

The material used for construction of the tool might be toned or provided with a surface- or constructional- pattern, but not to a degree where it is not transparent.

According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a tool for positioning of a sealing element (4) comprising an opening (5) having an inner perimeter (PI), the tool comprises a first end (1), a second end (2) and a first contact part (3) having an outer perimeter (PO) positioned between the first end (1) and the second end (2), the first contact part (3) fits into the opening (5) of the sealing element having the inner perimeter (PI) i.e. the outer perimeter (PO) of the first contact part (3) is smaller than the inner perimeter (PI) of the opening (5), and the outer perimeter (PO) of first contact part (3) is variable, and the tool has a thickness of between 0.1 - 1.2 mm and comprises or is constituted of a sheet or sleeve of a transparent material.

The known devices may also have a varying outer perimeter; however, this variation is a function of the length of the tool, i.e. at a given length position l_a the outer perimeter has a constant value PO_a, and at a second length position l_b the outer perimeter has a constant value PO_b. The present invention provides a tool having an outer perimeter PO_a which may vary between PO_a,min and PO_a,max at a length position l_a.

According to any embodiment of the invention, the tool has a thickness of between 0.2 and 1.0 mm, or between 0.2 and 0.9 mm or between 0.2 and 0.085 mm. Alternatively, the tool has a thickness between 0.3 and 0.9 mm, or between 0.4 and 0.9 mm, or between 0.4 and 0.8 mm.

According to any embodiment, the material(s) constituting the tool may be either colorless or toned and/or provided with a pattern. The pattern may be provided by dark lines provided on the surface or embedded in the material.

According to any embodiment, the tool may be constructed of a composition material comprising at least two different materials e.g. by co-extrusion.

According to any embodiment, the tool may be prepared from a combination of materials having different properties, e.g. prepared by co-extrusion, providing a tool having both a necessary strength and a soft and/or smooth surface which may be influenced, e.g. scared, if in operational contact with a sealing element.

According to any embodiment of the invention, the transparent material constituting the tool may be a polymer such as PET. However, PET may appear opaque, white or transparent depending on its crystalline and amorphous structure, and if using PET, a type of PET which is both transparent and has a soft influential or scratchable surface should be chosen.

It is not simple to find a single material having both the necessary strength and a surface which will be scratched or otherwise influenced during use. A material having both a desired strength, transparency and an outer surface which is smooth and influenced during use, may therefore be constructed of a composition material composed of more than one material e.g. a co-extruded film or foil having a surface of one material and a base of different material of larger strength e.g. such as PET GAG.

When using a tool prepared from a combination of materials having different properties, e.g. co extrusion, it is possible to provide a tool which has both has a necessary strength and a soft and/or smooth surface which may be influenced, e.g. scared, if in operational contact with a sealing element, which soft and smooth surface may also make it possible to avoid use of lubricant during operation, i.e. the outer contact surface provides necessary smoothness.

PET GAG is a co-extruded film with a core of A-PET and an outer layer of PET-G (Amorphous co polyester). The inner layer of A-PET gives the foil strength and the outer layer of PET-G adds different properties to the surface layer, e.g. making the foil suitable for pressure, welding and gluing with solvent-based adhesives, or making the surface soft and smooth as it is desired in accordance with the present invention.

Material(s) to be used for the tool may be colorless or toned while also being transparent, the material(s) are not opaque, nor is/are the material(s) frosted, darkly colored or similar which makes it difficult or impossible to see through the material(s).

Known materials having the above defined properties may be recognized and chosen by a skilled person.

According to any embodiment, the tool may be produced from a biodegradable material, e.g. starch based plastics such as polylactic acid (PLA), polybutylene adipate terephthalate, polybutylene succinate, polycaprolactone and/or polyhydroxyalkanoates such as polyhydroxybutyrate. Alternatively, a biodegradable material may be based on polysaccharide e.g. chitosan, such as shrilk. When

constructing a disposable tool e.g. from a blend of biodegradable materials it is possible to control the mechanical properties of a tool such as the flexibility and strength of a sheet and the softness and/or smoothness of the surface.

According to any embodiment of the invention, the sealing element may after mounting constitute part of a motorised vehicle and/or the sealing element is designated to be an oil seal i.e. the sealing element provides a seal for oil between a moving part and a non-moving part.

According to any embodiment of the invention, the means used to vary the outer perimeter (PO) of the first contact part (3) may comprise a flexible material constituting the first contact part (3) which material when pressed can be reduced in volume and when not pressed can reach an increased volume and a relaxed state.

According to any embodiment of the invention, the first contact part (3) may be shaped as a pipe i.e. have a pipe-shape, and the means used to vary the outer perimeter (PO) of the first contact part (3) may comprise a longitudinal opening allowing the sides along the opening(s) to move relative to each other, normally at least partly in a direction towards and away from each other.

According to any embodiment of the invention, the first contact part (3) may be shaped as a pipe, i.e. be pipe-shaped, and the means used to vary the outer perimeter (PO) of the first contact part (3) may comprise a longitudinal opening allowing the sides along the opening(s) to move relative to each other either as the sides overlap each other when forced together or as the sides move towards each other, e.g. colliding in an end position, when forced together.

According to any embodiment of the invention, the tool or at least the first contact part of a tool may comprise or may be constituted of a flat piece of material which piece of material is flexible enough to be rolled or folded into a pipe-shape fitting inside an opening of a sealing element.

An advantage of a tool flexible enough to be delivered as a piece of flat material is that it will reduce the volume of tool-kits during storage as a piece of flat material takes up very little space.

According to any embodiment of the invention, the tool or at least the first contact part of a tool may be elastic enough to extend into a state where the first contact part (3) presses or pushes against the inner perimeter (PI) of an opening (5) of a sealing element when the first contact part (3) is positioned inside the opening (5).

According to any embodiment of the invention, the tool may comprise or be constituted of a polymer e.g. a biodegradable material, and/or a metal and/or carbon fiber material. A biodegradable material may e.g. be prepared from starch or polysaccharide or similar e.g. originating from corn, rice, shells (chitosan, chitin), bamboo or the like. Metal or carbon fiber material may be used as inlays e.g. for reinforcement of the tool.

According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a method for mounting a sealing element having an opening using a tool, the tool comprising a first and a second end and a first contact part, which method comprises the following steps:

a) reducing the outer perimeter of the first contact part (3) and then positioning the tool through the opening of the sealing element, optionally lubricating the outer surface first contact part and/or the first end before or after reducing the outer perimeter of the first contact part;

b) adapting the outer perimeter (PO) of the first contact part (3) to contact the inner perimeter (PI) of the opening of the sealing element;

c) position the first end of the tool around and/or in contact with an outer surface of an operational position where the sealing element is to be positioned;

d) forcing the sealing element from the position relative to the first contact part (3) obtained in step b) towards the first end (1) of the tool until the sealing element is at least partly positioned around at the operational position;

e) removing the tool by pulling at the second end, optionally pushing against the sealing element to prevent the sealing element from following the tool.

According to any embodiment of the invention, the outer perimeter of the first contact part (3) may be reduced during step a) by pressing on the sides e.g. on two opposite sites, of the first contact part (3).

According to any embodiment of the invention, the outer perimeter of the tool may be adapted to the inner perimeter (PI) of the opening of the opening of the sealing element due to the elasticity of the first contact part (3). According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a kit comprising a tool according to one of the claims 1-7 as filed and a sealing element having an opening.

According to any embodiment of the third aspect, the tool may be toned or provided with a surface pattern or embedded pattern or print which may be adapted to a specific sealing element e.g. defining a specific size or use of such sealing element. Despite toning or patterning it should still be possible to see through the tool, i.e the tool is still conceived as transparent by the user. The toning or pattern may provide the user with information on how to use the tool.

According to any embodiment of the invention, the sealing element may be an oil-sealing element, e.g. the sealing element is to be operationally positioned between a crankshaft and an engine block.

Definitions:

"elastic deformation" - his type of deformation is reversible, and the new shape of an object caused by the deformation is temporary. Once the forces are no longer applied, the object returns to its original shape.

"plastic deformation" - plastic deformation result in a new shape of the object being subjected to the deformation.

"in general" - when description is preceded with this text, the described features may be used with all embodiments of the invention.

"a" - in the present text the word "a" refers to "one or more".

"perimeter" - is a distance around a two-dimensional shape, e.g. the perimeter of a circle is the circumference of the circle.

"pipe shape" - a pipe shaped piece is a piece extending in a longitudinal direction and normally having a closed perimeter, however in the present text, a pipe-shaped piece may include a longitudinal opening either in part of length or in the complete length of the pipe-shaped piece. The opening will for any length constitute less than 180 degrees of the perimeter, normally less than 90 degrees, e.g.

between 20 and 90 degrees. The length of a pipe-shaped piece according to the present text may be smaller than the diameter or width of the piece. Normally, a pipe-shaped piece is hollow, i.e. the piece is provided with an internal e.g. a central opening in the complete length of the piece, no matter whether the wall of the pipe-shaped piece may also be provided with a longitudinal opening.

List of figures

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a tool having overlapping sides, this embodiment may be prepared from a relatively soft and flexible plate which maintains the folded or rolled up position when held by the user.

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a tool having a longitudinal opening in the complete length of a pipe shaped piece, this embodiment may be prepared by molding from a relatively rigid but yet flexible material. Figure 3 shows an embodiment, e.g. the embodiment shown in fig. 1 before folding i.e. in a pre-use state before folded and held by a user.

Figure 4 shows a cut-through view of the second embodiment inserted in a sealing element.

Figure 5 shows a cut-through view of the first embodiment inserted in a sealing element.

Detailed description of invention

In general, a tool according to the present invention comprises a first contact part 3 for a sealing element 4 which first contact part 3 during use of the tool is in contact with a sealing element 4 in such a way that the outer perimeter of the first contact part 3 is positioned within an opening 5 of the sealing element 4 and is in contact with a circumferential surface of the opening of the sealing element. Also, the tool comprises a second contact part 6 for an operational position of the sealing element, the operational position of the sealing element is the position where the sealing element is finally positioned to prevent oil leaking e.g. the end of a rod such as an outer end of a crankshaft. During use of the tool, the second contact part may be positioned around or at least in close contact with an outer perimeter of the end of a rod, i.e. the inner perimeter of the second contact position may be larger than the outer perimeter of the operational position of the rod.

In general, the size of the outer perimeter of the first contact part 3 may be varied. This allows for the outer perimeter of the first contact part 3 to be decreased while positioning the tool within the opening of the sealing element thereby reducing the risk of damaging the sealing element. Also, the outer perimeter of the first contact part 3 may be increased when the tool has been inserted into the opening of the sealing element and then - when the first contact part 3 is correctly position through the opening 5 of the sealing element - the tool is able to provide a pressure towards the circumferential surface of the opening of the sealing element thereby expanding the opening in the sealing element as far as the flexibility of the sealing element allows.

In general, the means providing variations of the perimeter of the first contact part 3 may be a combination of the construction of the material constituting the first contact part 3 and the elasticity of the material constituting the first contact part 3. Alternatively, the means providing the variations of the perimeter of the first contact part may be due to the construction of the material of the first contact part 3 alone, in this case, the first contact part may be switched between to states - a state having an extended perimeter and a state having a decreased perimeter - by the user e.g. by the user applying force both when decreasing and when extending the perimeter.

Fig. 1 disclose an embodiment of a tool according to the invention comprising a first end 1, a second end 2 and a first contact part 3 which embodiment may either be constructed of a flat rectangular sheet of elastic material which the user of the tool has folded or rolled into a pipe shape having overlapping side-parts, or which may be constructed of a flat rectangular piece of material being molded or folded by machinery into a pipe-shape having overlapping side-parts. The flexibility/elasticity of the material used for the tool determines whether it may be shaped by the user from a completely flat piece of material or whether it may be pre shaped into a pipe-form during manufacturing. The tool including the first contact part 3 is shaped as a piece of a pipe having two overlapping side-parts, the free overlapping side parts provides the tool with an elastic flexibility which makes it possible to vary the width or diameter of the tool.

The tool of fig. 1 has a complete length I = l_a-l_b and the first contact part for a sealing element is indicated between the lengths l_c and I_d, the length l_c - I_d, may be considerably longer than the length of the area covered by the sealing element during use of the tool. The tool of fig. 1 comprises the first end 1, shown as the upper third of the tool, and the second end 2 opposite the first end 1 and shown as the lower third of the tool in fig. 1. The first end 1 may be defined as having the length li = l_a-l_c, and the second end 2 may be defined as having the length l₂ = Id-lb.

The embodiment of the tool shown in fig. 1 may be used in the shown form, however, the embodiment may also be provided with a handle e.g. attached to or at the second end 2 of the tool such a handle may make it possible to hold the tool and/or to extend or decrease the perimeter of the first contact part 3.

The outer perimeter of first contact part will often be round or approximately round to fit into and to provide an equally distributed pressure towards a round or roundish inner surface of an opening in a sealing element. However, if the inner surface of the opening of a sealing element is not round but elliptic or a different shape, then the shape of the outer perimeter of the first contact part 3 may be adapted.

The length of the first contact part 3, l_ci = l_c - I_d, should be at least the same length as the length of the contact surface of a sealing element to be placed.

Normally, the length of a sealing elements is less than 10 mm, e.g. less than 5mm, or less than 3 mm, i.e. the length of the first contact part should be at least 3 mm, or at least 5 mm or at least 10 mm, but the length of the first contact part may be significantly longer, e.g. between 3 mm and 150 mm, or between 3 mm and 100 mm, or between 3 mm and 50 mm.

There may be no well-defined limit between the first contact part 3 and the first end 1 and/or the second end 2 of a tool, which will make it difficult to establish a maximum length of the first contact part 3, the limit or the transition between the first contact part 3 and the first and/or second end 1,2 may be constituted of a continuous surface. In this case the extend of the first contact part 3 may be determined by the actual position of a sealing element during use, and the length of the first contact part will then depend on the length of the sealing element to be positioned.

The "length of the sealing element" is the dimension of the surface provided by the perimeter of the opening 5 of the sealing element which is in contact with the first contact part 3, measured in same direction as the length I of the tool.

The tool of fig. 1 has a complete width w = w_a-Wb at the second end 2, and in the shown embodiment the width is approximately the same along the complete length of the tool.

In general, the width or outer diameter or outer perimeter of the tool may be varied at least along the length of the first contact part 3 (l_ci), i.e. the first contact part 3 of length l_ci has at least two states, one state with a reduced width/outer diameter/outer perimeter and a second state with an expanded width/outer diameter/outer perimeter. Advantageously, the width/outer diameter/outer perimeter may be gradually increased from the first state to the second state, thereby allow the outer perimeter of the first contact part to adapt to the inner surface of the sealing element during use. When in a relaxed state, which may be a state of use, the tool may have an almost constant width/outer diameter/outer perimeter as shown for the embodiments in fig. 1 and 2. Alternatively, the width or outer diameter of an embodiment in a relaxed state or a use-state may vary along the complete length of the tool, , i.e. the width/outer diameter/outer perimeter may be larger at the first end 1 of the tool to fit over the operational position, and if the second end 2 constitutes a handle, it may be advantageous that the second end has a larger width/outer diameter/outer perimeter or that the second end 2 is shaped to improve the grip.

The first end 1 of a tool according to the invention may also have two states, an expanded state and a reduced state, for the inner and outer perimeter of the first end 1 which is to fit an operational position for the sealing element e.g. the end of a crankshaft. In general, the first end 1 of the tool may fit the operational position for the sealing element by having a slightly larger inner perimeter than the outer perimeter of the operational position. Advantageously, the inner perimeter of the first end 1 is in sliding contact with the operational position for the sealing element when the sealing element is positioned during use of the tool.

The means varying the inner and/or outer perimeter may either comprise a mechanic construction where elements constituting the perimeter are either forced outwards away from a center of the first end 1 or forced inwards towards a center of the first end 1. Alternatively, the means varying the inner and/or outer perimeter may by constituted of an elastic flexibility of the material constituting the first end or an elastic construction of the first end i.e. the individual elements constituting the perimeter may not be elastic but the way the individual elements are joined and shaped may constitute an elastic construction. That a material or construction is elastic means that the material or construction will reverse into the original shape if nothing is preventing this.

In general, a tool according to the invention comprises a first contact part 3 in form of a longitudinally extending part having an outer perimeter on which a sealing element 4 is positioned during use. The tool is positioned through an opening 5 in the sealing element 4, and during positioning of the tool, the tool may be in a state having a reduced width/outer diameter/outer perimeter allowing the tool to enter the opening 5 of the sealing element 4 without damaging the sealing element.

When the tool is in a desired longitudinal position relative to the sealing element, the tool is brought into a second state of extended width/outer diameter/outer perimeter. In this second state the opening 5 of the sealing element is extended to a degree allowed by the flexibility of the sealing element. Then the first end 1 of the tool is forced against the operational position of the sealing element, and normally the first end 1 will be further extended allowing the inner surface of the first end 1 to fit around the operational position for the sealing element. When the first end of the tool is in fitting contact with the operational position, the sealing element may be pushed or forced from the first contact part 3 to first end 1 of the tool and finally to the operational position as the sealing element slides along the outer surface of the first contact part 3 and the first end 1 of the tool in the longitudinal direction.

Fig. 2 disclose an embodiment of a tool according to the invention which embodiment may be constructed of a flat rectangular piece of material being molded or folded as a pipe having a through-going opening in the complete length of the tool. The through-going opening allows the sides of the pipe to move according to the flexibility of the material used for the tool. By pushing the sides along the through-going opening together it will be possible to vary the width or outer diameter of the tool.

Fig. 3 illustrates the length and width of a rectangular piece which may be used to fold or roll the embodiment of fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows a cut-through view of the embodiment of a tool of fig. 2 in a use situation where the tool is positioned through a central opening of a sea ling element. When the tool is placed in a position where the first end of the tool is placed around and/or in contact with an outer surface of an operational position for the sealing element, then the second contact part 6 may be seen through the opening 5. When the sealing element is forced or pushed from the position relative to the first contact part 3 towards the first end 1 of the tool, the sealing element will slide along the outer surface of the tool until it slides over the first end 1 and into the operational position on the second contact part 6.

Fig. 5 shows a cut-through view of the embodiment of a tool of fig. 1 in a use situation where the tool is positioned through a central opening of a sea ling element.

Claims

Patent claims

1. A disposable tool for positioning of a sealing element (4) comprising an opening (5) having an inner perimeter (PI), the tool comprises a first end (1), a second end (2) and a first contact part (3) having an outer perimeter (PO) positioned between the first end (1) and the second end (2), the first contact part (3) fits into the opening (5) of the sealing element having the inner perimeter (PI) i.e. the outer perimeter (PO) of the first contact part (3) is smaller than the inner perimeter (PI) of the opening (5), and the outer perimeter (PO) of first contact part (3) is variable

characterized in that the tool has a thickness of between 0.1 - 1.2 mm and is made of a transparent material.

2. A tool according to claim 1, wherein the tool has a thickness of between 0.2 and 1.0 mm, or between 0.2 and 0.9 mm or between 0.2 and 0.085 mm, or the tool has a thickness between 0.3 and 0.9 mm, or between 0.4 and 0.9 mm, or between 0.4 and 0.8 mm.

3. A tool according to any previous claim, wherein the tool is prepared from a combination of materials having different properties, e.g. prepared by co-extrusion, providing a tool having both a necessary strength and a soft and/or smooth surface which may be influenced, e.g. scared, if in operational contact with a sealing element.

4. A tool according to any previous claim, wherein the material(s) constituting the tool is either colorless or toned.

5. A tool according to any previous claim, wherein the tool is constructed of a composition material comprising at least two different materials e.g. by co-extrusion.

6. A tool according to claim 1, wherein the means used to vary the outer perimeter (PO) of the first contact part (3) comprises an elastic material constituting the first contact part (3) which material when pressed or forced is reduced in volume and when not pressed can reach an increased volume and a relaxed state.

7. A tool according to any previous claim, wherein the first contact part (3) is shaped as a pipe and the means used to vary the outer perimeter (PO) of the first contact part (3) comprises a longitudinal opening allowing the sides along the opening(s) to move relative to each other.

8. A tool according to any previous claim, wherein the first contact part (3) is shaped as a pipe and the means used to vary the outer perimeter (PO) of the first contact part (3) comprises a longitudinal opening allowing the sides along the opening(s) to move relative to each other either as the sides overlap each other when forced together or as the sides move towards each other e.g. collide when forced together.

9. A tool according to any previous claim, wherein the tool or at least the first contact part of a tool comprises or is constituted of a flat piece of material which piece of material is flexible enough to be rolled or folded into a pipe-shape fitting inside an opening of a sealing element.

10. A tool according to any previous claim, wherein the tool or at least the first contact part of a tool is elastic enough to extend into a state where the first contact part (3) presses against the inner perimeter (PI) of the opening (5) of a sealing element when the first contact part (3) is positioned inside the opening (5).

11. A tool according to any previous claim, wherein the tool comprises or is constituted of a polymer e.g. of a biodegradable material and/or of a metal and/or of carbon fiber material.

12. A method for mounting a sealing element having an opening using a tool, which tool comprises a first and a second end and a first contact part, which method comprises the following steps:

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the outer perimeter of the first contact part (3) is reduced during step a) by pressing on the sides e.g. on two opposite sites, of the first contact part (3) and/or the outer perimeter of the tool is adapted to the inner perimeter (PI) of the opening of the material due to the elasticity of the first contact part (3).

14. A kit comprising a tool according to claims 1-11 and a sealing element having an opening.

15. A kit according to claim 14, wherein the tool is toned or provided with a surface pattern or embedded pattern or print which is adapted to a specific sealing element e.g. defining a specific size or use of such sealing element.