GB2240742A

GB2240742A - Door pin removal and replacement

Info

Publication number: GB2240742A
Application number: GB9102617A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gordon Earl Longmore
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-02-07
Filing date: 1991-02-07
Publication date: 1991-08-14
Also published as: GB9102617D0; GB9002732D0

Abstract

There is disclosed an apparatus 1 for the removal of door pins comprising an elongate shaft 2, one end 3 of which is flattened and bifurcated. This end 3 of the apparatus 1 is also formed to include a 'U' shaped recess 4. The opposite end 7 is adapted for attachment to a compressed air tool system. There is also disclosed an apparatus for removal of a hollow hinge pin, wherein the apparatus includes an elongate shaft 20 which may be inserted through the hollow. At each end of the shaft 20 are provided shoulders 22, 23, to one of which may be applied a force so as to pull the hinge pin from its location. There is additionally discosed a door pin replacement apparatus comprising an elongate shaft, wherein one end of the shaft is tapered to a point. <IMAGE>

Description

"Apparatus for Door Pin Removal and Replacement" This invention relates to apparatus for door pin removal and replacement.

Damage to motor vehicle doors, mainly car doors, is extremely common. In some cases repairs to doors can be carried out in situ, however, in many cases the door must be removed for repair or replacement. The cost of repairing and/or replacing car doors can be extremely high in part due to the large number of man hours required to remove the original door. This is due to the method which is used to remove the door, wherein most of the internal facings on the door and on a substantial part of the vehicle dash board must be removed to ensure that there is no plastic and/or leather material in the vicinity of the door hinge before the pins holding the door in place are cut with a flame cutter.

The introduction of an apparatus which would allow the removal and replacement of vehicle doors without requiring the internal facings of the vehicle to be stripped away would constitute a considerable improvement as it would substantially reduce the time required.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for door pin removal comprising an elongate shaft, one end of which is flattened, wherein the end of the flattened area opposite the shaft is bifurcated.

Preferably, the bifurcated end is formed so as to provide a substantially U-shaped recess with symmetrical tines on each side of the recess.

Most preferably, the end face of each tine is tapered.

Preferably, the end face of each of the tines is angled from a distant point at the edge of the apparatus to a near point adjacent the recess.

Preferably, the flattened area is formed with a first section lying in a plane parallel to the axis of the shaft and a second section lying in a plane at an angle to the axis of the shaft.

Most preferably the angle is approximately 50 to the axis of the shaft.

Preferably, the end of the shaft opposite the flattened area is formed so as to be compatible with the standard fittings of and capable of use with a hydraulic or compressed air tool system.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a door pin replacement apparatus comprising an elongate shaft one end of which is tapered to a point.

Preferably the shaft is tapered symmetrically around the central axis of the shaft.

Preferably, the end of the shaft opposite the tapered end is formed so as to be compatible with the standard fittings of and capable of use with a hydraulic or compressed air tool system.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for hollow hinge pin removal comprising an elongate shaft, wherein one end of the shaft includes a receiving means for receiving a first shoulder and the opposite end of the shaft includes a second shoulder, wherein said first and second shoulder are sized larger than the internal diameter of the hollow hinge pin, and wherein said elongate shaft is adapted to be inserted through said hollow hinge pin.

Preferably, the receiving means comprises an external thread part-way along said shaft, and said first shoulder comprises a nut.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a plan and side elevation of a door pin removal apparatus in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic view of a door pin replacement apparatus in accordance with the second aspect of the present invention; and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a hollow hinge pin removal apparatus in accordance with the third aspect of the present invention.

Fig. 1 shows a door pin removal apparatus 1 comprising an elongate shaft 2, one end of which is flattened wherein the end of the flattened area 3 opposite the shaft 2 is bifurcated. The bifurcated end is formed so as to provide a substantially U-shaped recess 4 with symmetrical tines 5 on each side of the recess 4, wherein the end face 6 of each tine 5 is tapered. The end face 6 of each tine 5 is also angled from a distant point at the edge of the apparatus 1 to a near point adjacent the recess 4.

The flattened area 3 is formed with a first section 31 lying on a plane parallel to the axis of the shaft and a second section 32 lying on a plane at an angle to the axis of the shaft 2.

The end 7 of the shaft 2 opposite the flattened area 3 is formed into a shape which is suitable for use with a hydraulic or compressed air tool system.

Fig. 2 illustrates a door pin replacement apparatus 8 comprising an elongate shaft 2 one end of which is tapered to a point 9. The end 7 of the shaft 2 opposite the tapered end 9 is formed so as to be compatible with the standard fittings of and capable of use with a hydraulic or compressed air tool system.

When in use, the door pin removal apparatus of Fig. 1 is attached to a compressed air tool system. The operator then places the apparatus on a door pin such that the tines are situated adjacent the pin head and the body surrounding the recess in which the pin is located. The apparatus is then forced between the pin head and the vehicle body by the force applied by the compressed air tool. This can also be achieved manually if the compressed air tool is not available.

The angled and tapered shape of the end face of the tines helps the tines to force a path between the pin and the body of the vehicle. The apparatus is forced between the pin head and the body of the vehicle until the substantially U-shaped recess receives the body of the pin whereupon the application of a downward force on the apparatus will pull the pin out of its recess and thus free the vehicle door from the remainder of the vehicle.

When the repaired or replacement vehicle door is to be re-attached to the vehicle, it is aligned in the desired position and a door pin is inserted by the use of the door pin replacement apparatus of Fig. 2 in the following manner. The door pin is placed beneath the appropriate recess and the door pin replacement apparatus is in turn placed directly beneath the door pin such that the tapered end of the apparatus is located in a central dimple in the pin head. The door pin is then eased into the recess by the force applied by the door pin replacement apparatus.

The invention also provides a means of removing hollow hinge pins from doors and the like. An embodiment of an apparatus for hollow hinge pin removal is shown in Fig. 3. The apparatus comprises an elongate shaft 20 which is threaded at one end. The external thread 21 provides a receiving means for a first shoulder 22, for example a nut. At the opposite end of the elongate shaft 20 is provided a second shoulder 23. In use, the elongate shaft 20 is inserted through the hollow hinge pin (not shown) and the nut 22 is threaded onto the end of the shaft 20. Both the first 22 and second 23 shoulders are adapted to be large enough to prevent the elongate shaft 20 from falling completely through the hollow of the hinge pin. Forcing means, such as a chisel or a hydraulic or compressed air tool system may be applied to either the first or second shoulder which causes the opposite shoulder to act against the hinge pin pulling the hinge pin from its position.

Consequently the door pin removal and replacement apparatus enables the removal and replacement of vehicle doors without requiring the internal facings of the door and vehicle dash board to be removed and consequently enables this work to be done considerably more quickly and more efficiently than is possible to date.

Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

"Claims"

1. An apparatus for door pin removal comprising an elongate shaft, one end of which is flattened, wherein the end of the flattened area opposite the shaft is bifurcated.

2. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the bifurcated end is formed so as to provide a substantially U-shaped recess with symmetrical tines on each side of the recess.

3. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the end face of each tine is tapered.

4. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the end face of each of the tines is angled from a distant point at the edge of the apparatus to a near point adjacent the recess.

5. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the flattened area is formed with a first section lying in a plane parallel to the axis of the shaft and a second section lying in a plane at an angle to the axis of the shaft.

6. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the angle is approximately 50 to the axis of the shaft.

7. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the end of the shaft opposite the flattened area is formed so as to be compatible with the standard fittings of and capable of use with a hydraulic or compressed air tool system.

8. A door pin replacement apparatus comprising an elongate shaft, one end of which is tapered to a point.

9. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the shaft is tapered symmetrically around the central axis of the shaft.

10. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 8 or Claim 9, wherein the end of the shaft opposite the tapered end is formed so as to be compatible with the standard fittings of and capable of use with a hydraulic or compressed air tool system.

11. An apparatus for hollow hinge pin removal comprising an elongate shaft, wherein one end of the shaft includes a receiving means for receiving a first shoulder and the opposite end of the shaft including a second shoulder, wherein said first and second shoulder are sized larger than the internal diameter of the hollow hinge pin and said elongate shaft is adapted to be inserted through said hollow hinge pin.

12. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the receiving means comprises an external thread partway along said shaft and said first shoulder comprises a nut.

13. An apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the drawings.