AU714859B3 - A locating tool - Google Patents

Description

EDITORIAL NOTE NUMBER 35091/99 NO PAGE 1 WAS FILED WITH THIS SPECIFICATION 2 A LOCATING TOOL The present invention relates generally to tools and in particular to hand tools. More particularly, the present invention relates to hand tools used in the automotive industry, especially for installing, assembling and repairing components in the electrical automotive industry, such as for example starter motors, generators or the like installed in or used in motor vehicles. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to a tool useful in reconditioning electric generators, electric starter motors and similar components, particularly in reassembling the components. The present invention finds particular application as a hand-held tool suitable for removing and locating a circlip and/or circlip keeper from and on a shaft, particularly the shaft or armature of an electrical starter motor or similar electrical component.

Although the present invention will be described with particular reference to a hand-held tool adapted for displacing and locating a circlip and/or circlip keeper from and onto the shaft or armature of an electrical automotive component, it is to be noted that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the described embodiment but rather the scope of the present invention is more extensive so as to include other arrangements of the tool and its use in other applications.

Often it is necessary to recondition electrical automotive components, such as starter motors, generators or similar components, where it is necessary to disassemble the H: \Sigrid\keep\patents\prov-gm23461-dmdm.do 16/06/99 3 components in order to effect repairs, particularly to internal components. As an example, in order to rewind an electrical motor or repair the armature of a starter motor, first it is necessary to remove the housing of the motor and to separate the armature from the remaining components of the starter motor, and then to partially or completely disassemble the armature in order to effect the repairs.

One component located on the shaft to prevent unwanted axial movement of components or to retain the pinion on the shaft of the starter motor is a circlip, which although loosely located in a groove, is maintained in place by a circlip keeper securely fastened to the shaft by interference fit or similar. In order to effect repairs to the shaft or armature, it is first necessary to dislodge the circlip keeper from contact with the circlip in order to allow the circlip to be removed and then to remove the circlip keeper from the shaft by sliding it axially along the length of the shaft over one end. Then the remaining components can be removed from the shaft, leaving the armature which can then be repaired.

Whilst in the past it has been relatively easy to dislodge the circlip keeper from the circlip, it has been extremely difficult and cumbersome to position the circlip keeper over the circlip during final assembly of the starter motor when repaired, owing to the nature, shape and location in which the circlip keeper is positioned.

Owing to the placement of the circlip keeper in close proximity to other components of the starter motor assembly, such as the pinion, spring and stator of the starter motor, about the only effective way to accurately position the circlip keeper over the circlip in order to retain the circlip in place was to lever the circlip in a direction axially along the shaft to the circlip. Owing to the close proximity of the other components of this assembly, there is little space to effect this leverage.

H: \Sigrid\ keep\patents\prov-gm23461-dmdm. doc 16/06/99 4 Often, it was necessary to resort to physical effort and force to move the circlip keeper.

Another manner in which the circlip keeper could be located was to use force, such as by a hammer, to force the keeper along the shaft. With the advent of newly styled starter motors having plastic assemblies in close proximity to or located at the end of the shaft, it was no longer possible to use a hammer to force the keeper into position without running the risk of destroying or breaking the plastic component close by, even if the starter motor was held in a vice, clamp or similar jig. Often the starter motor fell to the ground or bench top when the keeper was struck with a hammer, thereby breaking the plastic components and necessitating the replacement of these components at additional cost.

Therefore, there is a need to be able to quickly and safely locate the circlip keeper over the circlip after repairing a component of a motor vehicle or similar.

Accordingly, it is an aim of the present invention to provide a tool, preferably a hand-held tool, which allows the quick, accurate and safe placement of a circlip keeper about the circlip on the shaft of an automotive electrical component so as to retain the circlip in place without the risk of damaging the remaining parts of the component being repaired.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided A tool for locating a fitting or component in a desired location on a shaft or similar, said tool including a main body having an end portion for contacting the fitting or component in use, said end portion being substantially hollow, and a pulling or drawing means movable with respect to the main body such that when the end portion of the main body is in contact with the fitting 5 or component movement of the pulling or drawing means moves the component or fitting axially with respect to the shaft to the desired location, wherein at least a part of the wall of the end portion is provided with an aperture or cut out being so shaped or profiled as to allow the component or fitting and at least a part of the shaft to be received within the hollow end of the main body to facilitate axial movement of the fitting or component with respect to the shaft in response to operation of the pulling or drawing means.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tool adapted for use in locating an element on a substrate or member, in which the tool includes a main body having an element engaging portion located at one location and the first of a pair of complementary, cooperatively interacting means located at a remote location of the body, and an operative movable member provided with the second of the pair of complementary, co-operatively interacting means, said movable member being movable with respect to the main body in order to effect operation of the tool to locate the element on the substrate or member, wherein the element engaging means contacts the element on a first side of the element, and movement of the movable member causes the element to move in a first direction to locate the element with respect to the substrate or member in a predetermined position.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of locating an element on a substrate or member using the tool of the present invention, comprising locating the element engaging means of the tool on a first side of the element, moving the movable member with respect to the main body of the tool to effect movement of the movable member in a first direction, whereby the element engaging portion located on one side of the element moves the element in a second direction to a I -M

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5A predetermined position in response to movement of the movable member in the first direction.

Typically, the tool is a hand-held tool, more typically a tool for use in repairing electrical automotive components, such as starter motors, generators or the like of a motor vehicle. Even more typically, the tool is useful for 6 locating an annular element on a shaft, such as for example a circlip keeper about a circlip on a shaft of the electrical automotive component. Even more typically, the tool is also useful for removing the circlip keeper in addition to locating the circlip keeper on the shaft.

Typically, the element is an annular member, more typically a circlip keeper, circlip or similar. More typically, the circlip keeper retains the circlip in a groove on the shaft of the automotive electrical component. More typically, the circlip keeper is substantially L-shaped in section, in which the shaft is received in the circle formed by one leg of the so that the keeper is tightly held to the shaft, whereas the circlip is received in the other leg of the "L" to retain the circlip on the shaft.

Typically, the substrate or member is a shaft or an armature.

Typically, the main body of the tool is a hollow tube, preferably a cylindrical tube, more typically a hollow tube having an enlarged head portion at one end and a stepped cut-away portion at the other end. More typically, the enlarged head potion is a nut having an internal thread.

More typically, the thread may continue axially along the inside of the tube. Even more typically, the stepped cutaway portion includes two or more portions in which the circlip keeper is received in one of the cut-away portions in use.

Typically, the element engaging means is provided with a thickened wall end or a hook portion at one end. More typically, the thickened wall end or hook portion is located at the distal end of one of the stepped cut-away or cut-out portions. Even more typically, the hook portion at least partially surrounds the keeper in use when the keeper is received in the hook portion. More typically, the end H: \Sigrid\keep\patents\prov-gm23461-dmdm.doc 16/06/99 7 of the hook portion contacts one side of the keeper to move the keeper on the shaft.

Typically, one of the pair of complementary, co-operatively interacting means is the internally threaded nut provided on the main body and the second of the pair of cooperatively interacting means is an externally threaded shaft in which the threaded part of the shaft is received in the nut so that rotation of the shaft in the nut causes axial movement of the shaft with respect to the main body.

Typically, the movable member is an operating handle, preferably in the form of a T-bar or similar, in which th shaft of the handle is the threaded shaft, preferably partially threaded along its length. More typically, turning of the T-bar handle causes axial movement of the handle with respect to the body to draw the keeper closer to the circlip in use and to position the keeper over and about the circlip.

Typically, the shaft of the handle is solid or is hollow.

More typically, the shaft if hollow is of a diameter so that the end of the shaft or armature of the component being repaired is received inside the hollow shaft during use of the tool.

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: -FimiT i nre rA.- L e J v w of Lne two parts forming the hand tool of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the assembled form of the tool in situ for displacing the circlip keeper from the circlip on the shaft of a starter motor; Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the assembled form of the tool of the present H: \Sigrid\keep\patents\prov-gm23461-ddm.doc 16/06/99 8 invention in situ, with the keeper received in the end of the tool in preparation for locating the circlip keeper over the circlip; Figure 4 is a side elevation view of the assembled form of the tool of the present invention in situ in a position where the circlip keeper is located over the circlip; and Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 3, showing the circlip keeper on the shaft being received in the cut-out at the end of the tool in preparation for positioning the circlip keeper over the circlip.

In Figure 1 there is shown an exploded view of the hand tool 2 of the present invention separated into two parts, in which the first part is the main body 4 in the form of a hollow cylindrical tube having an internally threaded nut 6 located at or towards one end and an element engaging portion 8 in the form of a stepped cut-away section located at or towards the other end. Nut 6 can be a conventional nut which is welded or otherwise fastened to one end of steel tube 4, or may be an internally threaded insert fitted inside this end of body 4, or tube 4 may be formed as an internally threaded section in the internal diameter of the tube 4.

The element engaging portion 8 comprises a number of cutout or cut-away portions in stepped relationship to each other, allowing access to the inside of body 4 whilst being able to retain elements at the end of the body 4. Starting at the more inboard or proximal portion of the hollow tube forming the main body 4 of tool 2, the stepped portion comprises a first cut-away section 10 as shown in the Figures, particularly Figure 1. First stepped portion is defined by side wall portions 12 on either side formed from the side wall of the main body 4 and transverse wall portion 13 interconnecting side walls 12. The second H: \Sigrid\keep\patents\prov-gm2)341 cdm. doc 16/06/99 9 section 14 of the stepped portion is formed at the distal end of tube 4 and is delimited from first section 12 by side walls 16 which form the step between the two sections 14. Second section 14 is defined by side walls 18 located on either side as part of the side walls of tube 4.

A semicircular recess, groove or rebate 19 is formed in the remaining wall portion of body 4 about midway along the length of walls 18 to accommodate the circlip or provide clearance for the circlip. At the distal end of tube 4 is provided a generally U-shaped or hook-shaped rim 20 formed by the metal from which tube 4 is manufactured at the extreme end of the body 4 being folded or bent back upon itself in the form of a flange 22, so as to form the tip of the element engaging portion 8. Thus, edge 24 of flange 22 faces back along the axis of body 4 in the direction towards wall 13 of section 10. The rim 20 is formed so as to provide a larger engaging surface for contacting the circlip keeper in use and so to strengthen the end of the tool, such as for example when using it to dislodge the circlip keeper in use. In use of the tool, rim 20 is located over the outer circumference of the circlip keeper as shown more particularly in Figure 5 and the other end of tool 2 hit with a hammer or similar to dislodge the keeper, as will be described in more detail below. If necessary, a reinforcing ring, collar or insert may be located adjacent flange 22 to provide additional strength or support for the tool or to assist in locating the circlip keeper at the end of the tool.

Alternately, rim 20 may be in the form of a thickened wall portion provided with a reinforcing band or similar for engaging with the circlip keeper. It is to be noted that rim 20 may take any suitable or desirable form.

Turning now to the other part of tool 2, as shown in Figure 1 in particular, this other part is a handle 30 in the form of a T-bar having a transverse rod 32 located H:\sigrid\keep\patens\prov-gm23461-dmdm.doc 16/06/99 10 perpendicularly at the end of shaft 34 to form the T-bar.

Shaft 34 is externally threaded along at least a part of its length in the longitudinally extending axis. If necessary, shaft 34 may be provided with external threads 36 along its entire length or to any desired length. In one embodiment, the end of shaft 34 is in the form of a tip 38 for engaging against the end of the shaft of the automotive electrical component being repaired, as will be described in more detail below. In another embodiment, shaft 34 may be hollow so that the end of the shaft of the armature of the component being repaired may be received inside the hollow shaft 34 so that tip 38 fits over the circlip so as to resize the circlip in the groove and to bear against the side edge of the circlip. If necessary or required, tip 38 may be hardened or reinforced in order to prevent premature wear or to provide a reaction surface sufficiently strong to move the circlip keeper without the tool sustaining damage or wearing the tip. Optionally, a separate tip of harder material or of softer material than shaft 34 may be attached to the end of shaft 34.

Additionally, tip 36 may be arranged to rotate freely with respect to shaft 34 so that it can remain stationary when handle 30 is turned. Alternatively, the open end of shaft 34 if hollow is provided with an insert or reinforcing ring to contact the circlip or is stepped to allow the circlip to be retained whilst at the same time providing a reaction surface for squeezing the circlip keeper onto the circlip.

Use of the tool of the present invention will now be described with particular reference to Figures 2 to 5. In Figure 2 there is shown tool 2 in assembled form in which T-handle 30 is received within body 4 so that external threads 36 are engaged with the internal threads of nut 6 to allow co-operative interaction of the two parts 4 and 30. With starter motor 40 held securely in a vice or similar, tool 2 is positioned with respect to shaft 42 of starter motor 40 so that the end 44 of shaft 42 is received H: \Sigrid\keep\patnts\prov-m23461-dmdm.doc 16/06/99 11 within the element engaging portion 8 at the end of body 4 and pushed towards starter motor 40 until rim 20 contacts the distal facing surface of circlip keeper 46 located about circlip 48 which in turn is located in a circular groove provided on shaft 42. It is to be noted that as circlip 48 is only loosely retained in the groove, it requires close or tight fitting keeper 46 which is of a generally L-shape to be located over or about circlip 48 to retain circlip 48 in place in the groove. Thus, keeper 46 is tightly retained on shaft 42.

With rim 20 of body 4 abutting against the outwardly or distally facing surface of keeper 46, the T-bar handle 32 is struck with a hammer to force keeper 46 off circlip 48 in an axial direction along shaft 42 towards a more proximal position, as shown in phantom in Figure 2, thereby exposing circlip 48 which can be removed in the conventional manner of opening circlip 48 and levering it out of the groove with a screw driver or similar. With circlip 48 removed from shaft 42, the keeper can be lifted off shaft 42 and the remaining components, such as pinion removed from the shaft allowing the armature 52 to be repaired.

The reassembly of circlip 48 and keeper 46 will now be described with particular reference to Figures 3 and 4.

After repairing the armature and almost reassembling the components on shaft 42, the keeper 46 is located on shaft 42 and circlip 48 is located in position in the groove. At this stage the keeper is spaced apart from and located more proximally on shaft 42 than circlip 48. With handle 32 in a relatively retracted position with respect to body 4, tool 2 is located adjacent and parallel to shaft 42 with rim 20 located in a position corresponding to being more proximally along shaft 42 than keeper 46 but transversely spaced apart, and then moved transversely as shown in Figure 5 so that shaft 42 is received through the cut-away H: \Sigrid\keep\patnts\prov-gm2341-mdm. doc 16/06/99 12 section to be located within body 4, thus allowing a portion of the keeper 46 to be located through the cut-away and to nestle in the wall portion of the end of tube 4 near flange 22 so that edge 24 of flange 22 contacts the proximal facing edge of keeper 48 as shown in Figure 3.

Handle 32 is turned to rotate shaft 34 so that the mating threads of shaft 34 and nut 6 co-operate to allow the handle 30 to move axially with respect to body 4 towards the end of shaft 42. Handle 32 is turned until tip 38 is about the level of end 44 of shaft 42 whereupon further movement of handle 30 causes shaft 42 to be received in the end of hollow shaft 34 and for shaft 34 to move axially towards the component 40 being repaired until tip 38 is located over circlip 48 to resize the circlip in its groove. Further operation of handle 32 causes shaft 34 to move axially towards circlip 48 until tip 38 is constrained from further axial movement, which in turn causes corresponding movement of flange 22 axially along shaft 42 in the distal direction. As the edge 24 of flange 22 is in contact with keeper 46, further movement of the handle against the end of the shaft causes keeper 46 to be forced axially along shaft 42 until the keeper is located over and about the circlip, resulting in circlip 48 being received in one of the legs of the L-shaped keeper and thus being retained in place as shown in Figure 4.

With the keeper in place, T-bar 32 is turned in the opposite direction until tip 38 is free of shaft end 44, whereupon tool 2 can be disengaged from starter motor 40 by moving the tool transversely away from the shaft 42.

Thus, by use of the tool 2, the automotive electrical component can be disassembled and reassembled quickly and easily with safety, thereby avoiding the risk of damage to delicate plastic parts associated with the component and without having to use unnecessary force to move the keeper Hz \Sigrid\keep\patents\prov-gm23461-dmdm.doc 16/06/99 13 into its final position for retaining the circlip in the groove.

Advantages of the present invention include the following: The tool of the present invention is lightweight, compact and portable; It is of a simple construction, having only two main parts; Its use obviates the need to use a press to remove the circlip keeper; It is easy to use and easy to install over the armature shaft; It is simple to use and may be manually operated; therefore it does not require the use of hydraulic fluid to operate the tool.

The described arrangement has been advanced by explanation and many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which includes every novel feature and novel combination of features herein disclosed.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It is understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications which fall within the spirit and scope.

H: \Sigrid\keep\patents\prov-gm23461-dmdm.doc 16/06/99

Claims (3)

1. A tool for locating a fitting or component in a desired location on a shaft or similar, said tool including a main body having an end portion for contacting the fitting or component in use, said end portion being substantially hollow, and a pulling or drawing means movable with respect to the main body such that when the end portion of the main body is in contact with the fitting or component movement of the pulling or drawing means moves the component or fitting axially with respect to the shaft to the desired location, wherein at least a part of the wall of the end portion is provided with an aperture or cut out being so shaped or profiled as to allow the component or fitting and at least a part of the shaft to be received within the hollow end of the main body to facilitate axial movement of the fitting or component with respect to the shaft in response to operation of the pulling or drawing means.

2. A tool according to claim 1 in which the aperture or cut out provided at the hollow end portion of the main body is stepped having two or more side edges which are stepped to define two or more stepped portions wherein the fitting or component is received in the terminal stepped portion located at the tip of the end portion.

3. A tool according to claim 2 in which the end portion of the main body is provided with a recess located in the internal wall of the end portion extending between opposed stepped side edges forming one of the stepped portions and is provided with a rim portion having a flange or similar at the tip of the end portion for positively contacting the fitting or component in use of the tool so as to assist in moving the fitting or component to the desired location. 15 Dated this 17th day of November 1999 DARYL JOHN ROBERTSON By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia