U.S. patent application number 10/836848 was filed with the patent office on 2004-10-21 for pulling tool.
Invention is credited to Berg, Michael, Rubino, Carol, Rubino, Michael.
Application Number | 20040205963 10/836848 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27370033 |
Filed Date | 2004-10-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040205963 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rubino, Michael ; et
al. |
October 21, 2004 |
Pulling tool
Abstract
An improved tool for pulling off a rotor of a motor from a shaft
or a fan from a shaft, which improved tool is provided with hooked
arms that are releasably but securely held at one end in the
housing, without the use of retaining clips, so that the arms do
not fall off during use or become lost, and so that they do not
interfere with the use of the tool when using the securing bolts
for pulling off a rotor. The housing of the improved tool of the
invention is circular in shape, and in a first version , is
provided with a plurality of equally-spaced holes about its
circumference, which holes received the hooked ends of the hooked
arms, so that various configurations of hooked arms may be provided
to best suit the configuration of vanes and type of fan being
pulled off a shaft. In another version, instead of the plurality of
equally-spaced holes for holding the hooked ends of the hooked
arms, an annular groove is provided on the upper, horizontal
surface of the lower circular cross-sectioned section of the
housing, which annular groove is preferably continuous for 360
degrees about the upper, horizontal surface of the lower circular
cross-sectioned section of the housing, whereby there is provided
substantially an infinite spacing capability to the hooked ends of
the hooked arms. .
Inventors: |
Rubino, Michael; (Chicago,
IL) ; Berg, Michael; (Elgin, IL) ; Rubino,
Carol; (Chicago, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Milton S. Gerstein
6629 N. Francisco Avenue
Chicago
IL
60645
US
|
Family ID: |
27370033 |
Appl. No.: |
10/836848 |
Filed: |
May 3, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10836848 |
May 3, 2004 |
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10092175 |
Mar 6, 2002 |
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10836848 |
May 3, 2004 |
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08061362 |
May 12, 1993 |
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5390404 |
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08061362 |
May 12, 1993 |
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07900348 |
Jun 18, 1992 |
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5211211 |
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07900348 |
Jun 18, 1992 |
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07737046 |
Jul 29, 1991 |
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5163211 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
29/762 ; 29/244;
29/255 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25B 27/02 20130101;
Y10T 29/53283 20150115; Y10T 29/49821 20150115; Y10T 29/53861
20150115; B25B 27/023 20130101; Y10T 29/49822 20150115; Y10T
29/53843 20150115; Y10T 29/53274 20150115; Y10T 29/49815 20150115;
Y10T 29/5387 20150115; Y10T 29/53796 20150115; Y10T 29/49012
20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
029/762 ;
029/255; 029/244 |
International
Class: |
B23P 019/04 |
Claims
1-11. (Cancelled).
12. A method of using a pulling tool for pulling off a rotor of a
motor or a fan from a shaft, said tool comprising an elongated
screw having a first end and a second end, a housing with which
said screw is threadingly received, said housing comprising a first
open end through which threadingly passes said screw, and a second
open end through which protrudes said second end of said screw,
said housing comprising at least first securing means for
releasably holding a fan, said first securing means comprising a
plurality of hooked securing arm-members, each said arm-member
having a first end and a second hooked end,; said second section
comprising an annular surface portion; said annular surface portion
having groove means formed therein for receiving said second ends
of said arm-members, said method comprising: a) inserting said
first ends of said plurality of arm-members in said groove means;
and (b) slidingly moving said first ends in said groove means in
order to achieve a desired spacing between said first ends, whereby
said arm-members are spaced apart in an optimal fashion.
13-16. (Cancelled).
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part of
copending application Ser. No. 08/061,362, filed on May 12, 1993,
which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/900,348,
filed on Jun. 18, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,211,211, which is a
continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/737,046, filed on
Jul. 29, 1991, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,211.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is directed to a tool for pulling off
a rotor of a motor or a fan from a shaft. In U.S. Pat. No.
4,077,103--Kelley, which is incorporated by reference herein, there
is disclosed such a tool for pulling off a rotor of a motor or a
fan from a shaft. The tool includes an elongated, rotatable screw
that is partially threaded in a hollow housing. The end of the
elongated screw can be made to protrude from the end of the housing
by rotating the screw in a first direction. By causing the end of
the screw to protrude from the housing, the end may be brought into
abutting engagement with the end of a shaft on which is mounted a
rotor of a squirrel-cage motor, for example, or a fan. The housing
is provided with means for securing the housing to either the rotor
of a motor or to a fan, whereby, after abutting the end of the
elongated screw against the end of the shaft, the screw is rotated
causing the housing, with the securing means, to be translated
along the screw, in a direction away from the shaft, which housing
thereby carries along with it the rotor of the motor or the fan on
the shaft to which the securing means had been applied. The
securing means takes the form of a plurality of rotatable gripping
bolts that are used for gripping the outer surface of a rotor of a
motor, or the like, while, for removing a fan, or the like, from a
shaft, a plurality of hooked arms are provided with an end of each
hooked arm being removably received in a hole of the housing, with
the other end "hooking" a rear surface-portion of the fan, whereby
the respective rotor or fan, or the like, may be pulled off the
shaft according to the method above-described. However, the hooked
arms of this patent suffer from the serious disadvantage of falling
out from their insertion-hole in the housing. Thus, the tool of the
patent is also provided with retaining clips for holding the hooked
arms in place, so they do not fall out and become lost, and so they
do not interfere with the use of the securing bolts when pulling
off a rotor of a motor, or the like, from a shaft. However, these
retaining clips have not been found to be practicable in use, and
have been ineffective in preventing the hooked arms from falling
out and from interfering with the securing bolts for a rotor of a
motor. In addition, the shape of the housing in the tool of the
patent is square-shaped with the holes formed in the housing for
receiving the ends of the hooked arms being provided in two,
adjacent pairs, where one pair of holes is formed in one lateral
surface face of the housing, and the other pair of holes in the
opposite surface face of the housing. This arrangement fixes the
manner in which the hooked arms are arranged with respect to the
housing, which is a severe detriment to the use of the tool, since
not all fans are provided with the same number of vanes nor with
vanes of the same angular extent. Thus, where the hooked arms may
be perfectly suited for a fan with four blades, the tool can only
be used with difficulty for fans having more or less than four
vanes, or a fan having vanes of considerably different angular
extent.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention is directed to an improved tool for
pulling off a rotor of a motor from a shaft or a fan from a shaft,
which improved tool is provided with hooked arms that are
releasably but securely held at one end in the housing, without the
use of retaining clips, so that the arms do not fall off during use
or become lost, and so that they do not interfere with the use of
the tool when using the securing bolts for pulling off a rotor. The
hooked arms of the invention are also hexagonal-shaped, and the
securing bolts are provided with hexagonal-shaped recesses in their
heads, so that the hooked arms may themselves be used for rotating
the securing bolts when pulling off a rotor of a motor from a
shaft. In addition, the housing of the improved tool of the
invention is circular in shape, and is provided with a plurality of
equally-spaced holes about its circumference, which holes received
the hooked ends of the hooked arms, so that various configurations
of hooked arms may be provided to best suit the configuration of
vanes and type of fan being pulled off from a shaft. To ensure that
the each hooked arm is releasably retained in a respective hole of
the housing, the end of the arm is provided with a hook defined by
a straight piece extending at an acute angle with respect with the
main, elongated body of the arm. Also provided are peep-holes for
viewing into the interior of the housing, in order to ensure that
the end of the screw is properly aligned with the end of a shaft
when the tool is used for pulling off a work piece. In another
version, instead of the plurality of equally-spaced holes for
holding the hooked ends of the hooked arms, an annular groove is
provided on the upper, horizontal surface of the lower circular
cross-sectioned section of the housing, which annular groove is
preferably continuous for 360 degrees about the upper, horizontal
surface of the lower circular cross-sectioned section of the
housing, whereby there is provided substantially an infinite
spacing capability to the hooked ends of the hooked arms.
Alternatively, the annular. groove may be discontinuous so as to
provide a plurality of individual, separated, smaller groove, any
one of which may receive therein a hooked end of a hooked arm. In
this modification, these smaller grooves are also preferably
equally spaced about the upper, horizontal surface of the lower
circular cross-sectioned-section of the housing, although their
spacing may be staggered rather than equally-spaced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] The invention will be more readily understood with reference
to the accompanying drawing, wherein:
[0005] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the pulling tool of the
invention;
[0006] FIG. 2 is an isometric view thereof showing the tool in use
for pulling off a fan from a shaft;
[0007] FIG. 3 is a detail view, in partial cross section, showing
the shape of the upper end of each hooked securing arm for
releasable but securely mounting it in a hole of the housing of the
tool of the invention;
[0008] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the tool
showing the hooked securing arms in use;
[0009] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of
FIG. 4;
[0010] FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the supplemental use of each
hooked securing arm for rotating the securing bolts; and
[0011] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of
FIG. 6;
[0012] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a modification of the
pulling tool of the invention in which there is are provided
sight-holes for viewing the emplacement of the tool;
[0013] FIG. 9 is a top view thereof;
[0014] FIG. 10 is an isometric view of a modification of the
pulling tool of the invention, in which a larger-diameter
adapter-tube is attached to the tool of FIG. 1 for pulling off
extra-large components with the bolts;
[0015] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 11-11 of
FIG. 10;
[0016] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 12-12 of
FIG. 10;
[0017] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of another modification of
the tool of FIG. 1, in which a smaller-diameter adapter-tube is
attached to the tool of FIG. 1 for pulling off smaller-size
components with the bolts;
[0018] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 14-14 of
FIG. 13;
[0019] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 15-15 of
FIG. 13;
[0020] FIG. 16 is an isometric view showing still another
modification of the invention where all of the first and second
plurality of holes for the bolts and securing arms are contained in
one plane near the bottom, open end of the housing;
[0021] FIG. 17 is an isometric view showing yet another
modification of the invention where an enlarged, circular disc is
placed over the frusto-conical section of the housing by which
larger components may be pulled off with the securing arms;
[0022] FIG. 18 is an isometric view of another adapter-component
that is used to help brace a component being pulled off by the
securing arms;
[0023] FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view showing the
adapter-component of FIG. 18 in use.
[0024] FIG. 20 is an isometric view showing still another
embodiment of the tool of the invention, where, instead of the
plurality of equally-spaced holes for holding the hooked ends of
the hooked arms, an annular groove is provided on the upper,
horizontal surface of the lower circular cross-sectioned section of
the housing;
[0025] FIG. 21 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of the tool
of FIG. 20;
[0026] FIG. 22 is an enlarged detail view, in partial cross
section, showing the connection of a hooked end of a hooked arm in
the annular groove for retention thereby; and
[0027] FIG. 23 is an isometric view showing a modified form of the
tool of FIG. 20 where a plurality of annular grooves are
provided.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0028] Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, the tool of
the invention is indicated generally by reference numeral 10. The
tool includes an elongated, rotatable screw 12 that is rotatably
mounted in a hollow housing 14. The length of the screw 12 is
greater than the length of the housing, so that the end 12' of the
screw may be made to protrude out of the enlarged open end 14' of
the housing. The housing 14 is itself divided into a
narrow-diameter portion 16, and an larger-diameter portion 18. The
narrow-diameter portion prevents the screw 12 from wobbling during
use. The larger-diameter portion 18 mounts securing means which
contact the element, such as a rotor of a motor or a fan, for
pulling it off a shaft. The securing means has a first set of bolts
20 that are rotatable in holes 22 formed in the housing which grip,
at their interior ends, the outer, circumferential surface of a
rotor to be pulled off from a shaft. The securing means also has a
series of hooked, securing arms 26 that are used for gripping a fan
for pulling the fan off from a shaft. Each securing arm has a main,
elongated portion 26', a first end 28 for passage through one of a
plurality of holes 30 formed in the housing, and a second end 32
that "hooks" the fan from behind, in the manner depicted in FIGS. 2
and 4. The above-described parts are conventional, as shown in U.S.
Pat. No. 4,077,103--Kelley.
[0029] The tool 10, however, is a considerable improvement over the
prior art, as described hereinbelow. Whereas the prior art housing
was rectilinear in cross section, the larger-diameter housing
portion 18 is circular in cross section, with the holes 30 equally
spaced thereabout. The number of holes is preferably six in number.
This arrangement of the holes 30 allows for the securing arms 26 to
be equally-spaced apart which better matches the vanes of a fan to
be pulled off, and also allows for different arrangements. For
example, when a fan with only three vanes is to be pulled off, only
three securing arms 26 need be used, which three are inserted into
every other hole 30 to better match the configuration of the fan to
be removed. The arrangement of holes 30 allow for other
arrangements of the securing arms 26 that suit the particular fan,
or similar device, to be pulled off, providing a much more
adaptable and flexible tool to suit various types of jobs and
environments.
[0030] Each securing arm has a first, hooked end 28 made up of a
first, substantially-horizontal section 28', and a second, angular
section 28". The angular section 28" forms an acute angle with
respect to the vertical, center line of the main elongated portion
26' of the securing arm. In the preferred embodiment, this acute
angle is between 30 and 60 degrees with respect to the vertical,
when viewing FIG. 3. This acute-angle section 28" with horizontal
section 28' allows for insertion of the first end of the securing
arm through a hole 30 in a relatively easy manner, and yet prevents
the accidental removal of the first end from the housing 14. The
straight, horizontal section 28' acts as a fulcrum, and ensures
that the main elongated portion 26' of the securing arm is allowed
to hang downwardly as close to vertical as possible, and provide
enough leeway, so that the second end of the securing arm may be
"hooked" about the back of a fan, or the like to be pulled off from
a shaft, such leeway also resulting from the acute-angle section
28" and its contact against the interior wall surface adjacent the
respective hole 30, which provides a fulcrum for rotation a
direction perpendicular to the rotation allowed by the horizontal
section 28', whereby the securing arm may be rotated to a limited
enough degree for entraining the second hooked end of the securing
arm in back of the fan for gripping it, if necessary. Each hole 30
has a diameter larger than the diameter of the securing arm, so as
to also provide the necessary leeway to the first end 28' of the
securing arm to ensure the limited pivoting of the first end 28'
about the fulcrum provided by the acute-angle section 28".
[0031] Each securing arm 26 of the invention has an hexagonal
cross-sectional shape, as seen in FIG. 7. The reason for this is to
allow the use of each securing arm for rotating the securing bolts
20. Each bolt has a hex-head portion 40 that may be gripped by a
conventional wrench for rotating the bolt, and also has, according
to the invention, a hexagonal-shaped recess 42 which receives the
hexagonally-shaped end 32' of the second end 32 of a securing arm,
whereby the securing arm may be used as a driver for rotating the
bolt. Since, when the bolts 20 are used for pulling off a rotor of
a motor, the securing arms 26 are not needed, the present invention
allows for a dual-function for the securing arms. The other arms 26
not being used to rotate the bolts 20 are prevented from falling
out during their nonuse period by the acute-angle section 28"
above-described, and also are prevented from interfering with the
bolts 20, since they cannot accidentally fall out, and since they
only have a very limited capability of angular pivoting in a
direction where the second end 32 moves toward the housing portion
18.
[0032] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, there is shown a modification 70
of the tool. The pulling tool 70 is substantially identical to the
tool 10, except for the additions of a plurality of peep-holes or
sight holes 72. The holes 72 are placed on the frusto-conical
section 74 of the housing section 76. As seen in FIG. 9, two such
holes 72 are provided, spaced 180 degrees apart, although more or
less than two may be used. When more than two are provided, the
holes would also be spaced equidistantly apart. The peep-holes 72
provide a line-of-sight to the interior of the housing 76 when the
tool 70 is being put in place. Without the provision of the
peep-holes 72, it sometimes may occur that the end 78 of the screw
80 may not placed directly against the end of the shaft, or the
like, but against a different portion, without the user of the tool
being aware of it. By providing the peep-holes 72, the user may
gaze directly into the interior of the housing section 76, and see
directly if the end 78 of the screw 80 is in proper, abutting
contact against the end of the shaft. Owing to the frusto-conical
shape of the housing section 74, the surface thereof slopes
upwardly to meet at a common area. Therefore, the lines of sight
provided by each peep-hole 72 intersect the lines of sight provided
by the other peep-holes 72, where at least some line-of-sight
provided by each peep-hole 72 intersects the end 78 of the screw
when the end is extended into its operative engagement with a
shaft-end. The holes 72 are made large enough, so that, for all
extensions of the screw-end 78, there is a line-of-sight provided
thereto. By virtue of the fact that the peep-holes 72 are provided
on the frusto-conical section 74, the required size thereof is
reduced, since the sloping surfaces of the frusto-conical section
74 naturally direct the lines-of-sight toward the end 78 of the
screw, whereby the structural integrity of the housing proper is
less compromised. The peep-holes 72 are also preferably placed high
enough along the sloping surface of the frusto-conical section 74
so that the required lines-of-sight clear the hooked ends 28 of the
securing arms 26 described above, which project into the interior
of the housing 74 through the equally-spaced holes 30 seen in FIG.
1. Thus, preferably, each peep-hole 72 is placed above and
arcuately between two adjacent holes 30 rather than being aligned
with any one of them, although, of course, the alignment thereof
may be provided, as long as the peep-holes 72 are large enough in
order to provide the proper lines-of-sight.
[0033] Referring to FIGS. 10-12, there is shown a modification 90
in which an adapter-tube or component 92 is capable of removable
assembly with the tool. The adapter-tube 92 is circular in cross
section, and has a larger, inner diameter than the outer diameter
of the larger, circular section 18 of the housing of the tool. The
adapter-tube 92 has a first plurality of holes 94 that allow some
of these holes 94 to align with all of the lower plurality of holes
22 of the tool proper, so that each aligned pair of holes 94-22 may
receive therethrough a bolt, like the bolts 40, for fastening the
adapter-tube 92 to the housing 18, as seen in FIG. 10. As seen in
FIGS. 11 and 12, there is, preferably, provided six such holes 94,
in order to be able to secure the adapter-tube 92 to a housing
having either three or four holes 22 spaced equidistantly about the
lower end of the housing 18 of the tool. Thus, four holes 94' are
spaced 90 degrees apart, while two holes 94" are spaced 120 degrees
apart. In FIG. 11, the adapter-tube 92 is shown secured to a tool
having just three holes 22 for the bolts 20. The adapter-tube 92
also has a lower plurality of holes 96, which are preferably four
in number, which holes 96 receive therein bolts 98, like the bolts
20, for attaching the adapter-tube 92, and, therefore, the entire
tool, to a larger-diameter rotor, or other larger-diameter
component that is to be pulled off, in the same manner as the bolts
20 are used in the embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0034] Referring to FIGS. 13-15, there is shown another
modification 100 in which a smaller-diameter adapter-tube or
component 102 is capable of removable assembly with the tool. The
adapter-tube 102 is circular in cross section, and has a smaller,
outer diameter than the inner diameter of the larger, circular
section of the housing 18 of the tool. The adapter-tube 102 has a
first plurality of holes 104 that allow some of these holes 104 to
align with all of the lower plurality of holes 22 of the tool
proper, so that each aligned pair of holes 104-22 may receive
therethrough a bolt like the bolts 20, for fastening the
adapter-tube 102 to the housing 18, as seen in FIG. 13. As seen in
FIGS. 14 and 15, there is preferably provided six such holes 104,
in order to be able to secure the adapter-tube 102 to a
housing-having either three or four holes 22 spaced equidistantly
about the lower end of the housing 18 of the tool. Thus, four holes
104' are spaced 90 degrees apart, while two holes 104" are spaced
120 degrees apart. In FIG. 15, the adapter-tube 102 is shown
secured to a tool having just three holes 22 for the bolts 20. The
adapter-tube 102 has a lower plurality of holes 106, which are
preferably four in number, which holes 106 receive therein bolts
108, like the bolts 20, for attaching the adapter-tube 102, and,
therefore, the entire tool, to a smaller-diameter rotor, or other
smaller-diameter component that is to be pulled off, in the same
manner as the bolts 20 are used in the embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0035] In each modification 90 or 100 , when the respective
adapter-plate is attached, the securing arms associated with the
tool may, under certain circumstances, be used in the holes 96 or
106, respectively, instead of the bolts therefor, although the
primary function of these adapter-tubes are for the bolts for
pulling off rotors.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 16, there is shown yet another
modification 120 in which all of the first and second plurality of
holes 22, 30 of the embodiment of FIG. 1 are contained, or located,
in substantially one plane, or level, near the open end of the
housing. Thus, in the modification 120, a first plurality of holes
122 for the bolts 120 are three in number, and a second plurality
of holes 130 for the securing arms 126 are six in number. The holes
122 are spaced equidistantly apart about the lower end of the
circular part 118 of the housing of the tool, which constitutes 120
degrees of arcuate separation. The holes 130 are also spaced
equidistantly apart about the lower end of the circular part 118 of
the housing of the tool, which constitutes 60 degrees of
separation. Moreover, each hole 122 is sandwiched between, or
flanked, by two holes 130, where each hole 130 is, also, separated
from another, adjacent hole 130 by one hole 122, as can be seen, in
FIG. 16.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 17, there is shown yet another
modification 140 in which the tool of FIG. 1 is provided with a
larger-diameter disc or plate 142. The plate 142 has a central
opening 142' which is smaller than the largest-diameter section of
the frusto-conical portion 28", but larger than the
smallest-diameter section of the frusto-conical portion 28", so
that the plate may be removable supported on the frusto-conical
portion 28", as seen in FIG. 17. The plate 142 has a plurality of
equally-spaced holes 144, which form a circular array of holes
about the center of the opening 142'. The radius of this circular
array, as measured form the center of the opening 142' to the
inner-most radial sections of the holes 144, is greater than the
outer diameter of the larger, circular section 18 of the housing of
the tool, so that the hooked ends of the securing arms 146 may be
inserted in chosen ones of the holes 144, for pulling off
larger-diameter components. As shown in FIG. 17, 14 such holes 144
are provided, whereby three or four, or even more than four,
securing arms may be inserted into selected ones of the holes 144,
which selected holes are those best suited to the specific,
larger-size component being pulled off. The securing arms 146 are
the same as the arms 26 of FIG. 2, and are used in the same manner.
In order to ensure that the plate 142 is supported firmly and
equally about its entire periphery, the frusto-conical section 28"
may be provided with an intermediate, annular, flat stepped-portion
upon which the plate 142 rests. In a version of the tool 10 where
there is no frusto-conical section 28", but just the sudden, flat,
stepped transition from the smaller-diameter housing-portion 16 to
the larger-diameter section 18, then the plate 142 will rest
directly upon this transition step.
[0038] Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, there is shown a reinforcing
ring 150 that may be used with any of the above-described
embodiments. The ring 150 is preferably circular in shape, although
such is not a prerequisite, and has an opening, or gap, 152 in it.
The reinforcing ring 150 is used when the securing arms pull off a
fan, or the like. Since the forces created in the hub of the fan
when the securing arms are pulling the fan off are extremely large,
there is a possibility that the bending moments created on the hub
will harm or warp the hub, preventing its further use, or will
impede the process of removal. By placing the reinforcing ring 150
between the hub of the fan (shown in dotted lines in FIG. 19) and
the gripping-ends of the securing arms, the forces are distributed
over a much larger surface-area, thereby preventing damage to the
hub of the fan. Preferably, the diameter of the ring 150 is greater
than the diameter of the hub being pulled off so that no portion of
the hub is contacted by the securing arms. The gap 152 allows the
ring 150 to clear, or pass therethrough, the shaft of the hub of
the fan, so that the ring may be emplaced against the hub, as seen
in FIG. 19.
[0039] Referring to FIGS. 20-22, there is shown an other embodiment
200 of the tool of the invention. In this version, instead of using
a plurality of equally-spaced holes for holding the hooked ends of
the hooked arms, an annular groove or depression is provided
instead, as described hereinbelow. The tool 200 has a main housing
202 consisting of a first, narrower section 204, and a second,
larger-diameter section 206, which, as shown, is preferably
circular in cross section, although other, noncircular cross
sections may be used. In this version, the larger-diameter section
206 is not connected to the upper section 204 by means of a
frustoconical section, but is connected to it directly, as seen in
FIGS. 20 and 21, to define an upper, annular, stepped horizontal
flat surface 210. In this upper, annular, stepped horizontal flat
surface 210, there is provided an annular groove or well 212,
which, in the preferred embodiment, is continuous and extends a
full 360 degrees about the upper flat surface 210. The annular
groove 212 has a depth, as best seen in FIG. 22, that allows for
firm retention therein of any of the hooked ends 214 of the hooked
arm members 216. Preferably, the bottom of the groove 212 is
U-shaped, and of such a depth so that when a hooked end 214 is
inserted therein, any rotation of the respective hooked arm 216
will cause the end or tip 214' of the hooked end to abut against a
portion of the interior wall 212', to thereby prevent the hooked
end from escaping the groove, and, thereby, be firmly retained
therein. In the preferred embodiment, the interior wall 212' is
actually formed by the outer circumferential surface of the first,
narrower section 204, as seen in FIGS. 21 and 22. When viewing FIG.
22, the respective hooked arm 216 is allowed ample rotation in the
clockwise direction in order to allow for the lower, gripping end
216' thereof to be adequately maneuvered place for gripping a fan
blade, or the like, but counter-clockwise direction is limited by
the contact of the tip 214' of the hooked end against the
juxtapositioned portion of the interior wall 212', whereby, during
the use of the tool 200 for pulling-off a fan, or the like, the
necessary take-up forces are provided between the housing section
206 and the hooked end 214. By utilizing a continuous, 360-degree,
annular groove, there is provided a substantially infinite spacing
capability for the plurality of hooked ends 214 of the hooked arms.
Thus, the only positions which the annular groove 212 could not
accommodate are those portions of the groove directly in-line with
the bolts 226, since the bolts would interfere with the hanging of
the hooked arms and their proper use. However, in the case of the
tool 200 where there are no bolts provided, or where the bolts 226
have been removed, then virtually an infinite spacing capability
between hooked ends and hooked arms may be achieved, whereby the
hooked arms 216 may be spaced apart those distances that suit the
particular job for which the pulling tool 200 is being used.
Moreover, when the tool 200 is provided with bolts 226, the
location of these bolts relative to the lower edge 206' is not
critical, since there are no equally-spaced holes required for the
hooked ends 214, such as the holes 30 of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
Thus, the bolts may be located much farther away from the lower
edge 206', thereby providing a greater degree of telescoping of the
lower housing section 206 over the part that is to be gripped by
the bolts 226 and pulled off thereby. Such an enhanced telescoping
capability is advantageous for those parts that are stepped or have
sections of different diameters.
[0040] Although it is preferred that the groove 212 be continuous
for 360 degrees, alternatively, the annular groove may be
discontinuous, so as to provide a plurality of individual,
separated, smaller groove-sections 240, any one of which may
receive therein a hooked end of a hooked arm, as shown in FIG. 23.
In this modification, these smaller groove-sections 240 are also
preferably equally spaced about the upper, horizontal surface of
the lower circular cross-sectioned section of the housing, although
their spacing may be staggered rather than equally-spaced. The
number of these smaller groove-sections may vary, and can be as few
as two, as shown in FIG. 23, or can, preferably be six, equally
spaced-apart groove-sections, the same number as the holes 30 in
the tool of FIG. 1.
[0041] It is also possible to connect the two housing sections 202,
206 by a frustoconical transitional section, such as that shown in
the other embodiments, as long as there is provided an outer
annular, stepped surface portion for forming therein the annular
groove 212.
[0042] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown
and described, it is to be understood that numerous changes and
modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope,
spirit and intent of the invention as set forth in the appended
claims.
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