Air Hammer Cone Washer Removal Tool

Abstract

An air hammer tool having a head section defining a blind-hole and a contact surface surrounding the blind-hole, configured to be coupled with an air hammer to provide a percussive force through the contact face of the tool to an axle flange around an axle shaft flange hole, after a flange nut has been removed, to shock a cone-washer disposed therein. The design and solution to this long-felt issue allows for easier removal of the cone-washers from the axle shaft flange holes while not contacting the respective studs and lowering chances for damage of the axle componentry.

Claims

1. An air hammer tool, comprising: a first section having an insert portion, shaft portion, and retaining nub portion disposed therebetween, the first section defining an axis, the insert portion extending along the axis from an end face at a first outer-diameter, the retaining nub portion extending from the insert portion along the axis, increasing to a second outer-diameter greater than the first outer-diameter and returning to a third outer-diameter smaller than the second outer diameter, and the shaft portion extending from the retaining nub portion along the axis at the third outer-diameter; and a second section extending from the first section having a head portion with a fourth outer-diameter, the fourth outer-diameter being larger than the third outer-diameter, the head portion having a contact face substantially orthogonal to the axis, and the head portion defining a blind-hole extending inwardly from the contact face with an inner-diameter smaller than the fourth outer-diameter.

2. The air hammer tool of claim 1, wherein the blind-hole inner-diameter is substantially circular as it extends from the contact face into the second section.

3. The air hammer tool of claim 1, wherein the fourth outer-diameter is substantially circular as it extends along the head portion.

4. The air hammer tool of claim 1, wherein the blind-hole is configured to extend inwardly from the contact face to a depth sufficient to be disposable over a stud extending through an axle shaft flange with a flange nut removed of a vehicle axle utilizing studs, cone washers, and flange nuts to secure a hub assembly to an axle half-shaft.

5. The air hammer tool of claim 1, wherein the blind-hole extends inwardly from the contact face to a full diameter depth of at least 1.8 inches.

6. The air hammer tool of claim 1, wherein the inner-diameter of the blind-hole is configured to be disposable over a stud extending through an axle shaft flange with a flange nut removed of a vehicle axle utilizing studs, cone washers, and flange nuts to secure a hub assembly to an axle half-shaft.

7. The air hammer tool of claim 1, wherein the inner-diameter of the blind-hole is at least 1.0 inches.

8. The air hammer tool of claim 1, wherein the difference between the inner-diameter of the blind-hole and the fourth outer-diameter of the second section provide a wall thickness in the second section of at least 0.35 inches around the blind-hole.

9. The air hammer tool of claim 1, wherein the third outer-diameter is larger than or equal to the first outer-diameter.

10. The air hammer tool of claim 1, wherein the first and second sections are a single unitary piece.

11. An air hammer tool for use on a vehicle axle utilizing studs, cone washers, and flange nuts in combination to secure a hub assembly to an axle shaft flange, comprising: a first section configured to be insertable within an air hammer, and a second section having a contact face and defining a blind-hole extending inwardly from the contact face.

12. The air hammer tool of claim 11, wherein an air hammer is configured to provide a reciprocating driving force direction, and when at least a portion of the first section is inserted within an air hammer, the contact face is configured to be substantially orthogonal to the driving force direction.

13. The air hammer tool of claim 11, wherein the contact face is configured to, after a flange nut is removed, at least partially contact the axle shaft flange at least partially around a cone-washer.

14. The air hammer tool of claim 13, wherein the blind-hole has an inner-diameter of at least 1.0 inches.

15. The air hammer tool of claim 14, wherein the contact face has a thickness of at least 0.35 inches around the blind-hole.

16. The air hammer tool of claim 15, wherein the blind-hole is further configured to be disposable over a stud extending through the cone-washer.

17. The air hammer tool of claim 16, wherein the blind-hole extends inwardly from the contact face to a full diameter depth of at least 1.8 inches.

18. An air hammer tool, comprising: a first section configured to couple with an air hammer, and a second section defining a blind-hole extending inwardly from a contact face, the contact face configured to contact an axle shaft flange substantially around an axle shaft flange hole with a cone-washer at least partially disposed therein to impart a percussive force from the air hammer thru the contact face into the axle shaft flange to shock the cone-washer.

19. The air hammer tool of claim 18, wherein the blind-hole extends inwardly from the contact face to a depth sufficient to be disposable over a stud extending through the cone-washer.

20. The air hammer tool of claim 18, wherein the blind-hole is substantially circular.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 is a side view of an air hammer cone washer removal tool.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a first perspective view of an air hammer cone washer removal tool.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a second perspective view of an air hammer cone washer removal tool.

[0026] FIG. 5 is an end view of an air hammer cone washer removal tool.

[0027] FIG. 6 is illustrative view of an axle assembly identifying the location of a cone washer when assembled.

[0028] FIG. 7 is an illustrative exploded view of an axle half shaft extending through a hub assembly and the axle components used to couple the hub assembly to an axle shaft flange, including relative locations of cone washers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] The illustrated embodiments are disclosed with reference to the drawings. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are intended to be merely examples that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. The specific structural and functional details disclosed are not to be interpreted as limiting, but as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to practice the disclosed concepts.

[0030] FIG. 1 shows an air hammer tool 10, and FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1. Air hammer tool 10 may also be referred to as an air hammer cone washer removal tool 10. Air hammer tool 10 may be used on a vehicle axle utilizing studs, cone washers, and flange nuts in combination to secure a hub assembly to an axle shaft flange (see FIGS. 6 & 7). FIGS. 1 and 2 show air hammer tool 10 having a first section 12 and a second section 14. At least a portion of the first section 12 is configured to be insertable within an air hammer (not shown), thus first section 12 is configured to couple with an air hammer. The second section 14 is configured to, after a flange nut is removed, to at least partially contact an axle shaft flange at least partially around a cone-washer (see FIGS. 6 & 7).

[0031] The air hammer tool 10 has an end face 16 shown on the far right of each figure. An insert portion 18 extends from the end face 16 at a first outer-diameter 20. The insert portion 18 of the first section 12 defines an axis 22. Axis 22 may be a central axis 22 to a tubular insert portion 18, however many different shapes may be used for insert portion 18, and the axis may be any straight line running longitudinally with the first section 12. Insert portion 18 extends along the axis 22 from the end face 16.

[0032] The first section 18 has a retaining nub portion 24 which extends from the insert portion 18 along the axis 22. The retaining nub portion 24 increases to a second outer-diameter 26. The second outer-diameter 26 is greater than the first outer-diameter 20. The retaining nub portion returns to a third outer-diameter 28. The third outer-diameter 28 is smaller than the second outer-diameter 26. The third outer-diameter 28 may be larger than or equal to the first outer-diameter 20. The first section 18 also has a shaft portion 30 extending from the retaining nub portion 24 along the axis 22, extending at the third outer-diameter 28. The retaining nub portion 24 is disposed between the insert portion 18 and the shaft portion 30.

[0033] The air hammer tool 10 has a second section 14 which extends from the first section 12 directly or via a transition section 32 or coupling section (not shown). A coupling section could provide a threaded portion to couple the second section 14 to the first section 12, or decoupled and recoupled to a hand-held segment for use with a hammer. The second section 14 has a head portion 40 at a fourth outer-diameter 42. The fourth outer-diameter 42 is larger than the third outer-diameter 28. The fourth outer-diameter 42 is substantially circular as it extends along the head portion 40. The head portion 40 ends at a contact face 44.

[0034] The contact face 44 is opposite the end face 16, and the contact face 44 is substantially orthogonal to the axis 22 of the insert portion 18. Substantially, as used within this application, means within +.sub./- 5 degrees. Although the contact face 44 is substantially orthogonal to the axis 22, the end face 16 need not be parallel with the contact face 44 nor orthogonal to the axis 22. When at least a portion of the first section 1 2 is inserted within an air hammer (not shown), the contact face 44 is configured to be substantially orthogonal to a driving force direction of the air hammer.

[0035] The head portion 40 defines a blind-hole 46. Alternatively, and possibly more broadly, the blind-hole 46 may be defined by the second section 14. The blind-hole 46 extends inwardly from the contact face 44. The blind-hole extends inwardly in the second section 14 to a depth 48 sufficient to be disposable over a stud extending through an axle shaft flange with a flange nut removed of a vehicle axle utilizing studs, cone washers, and flange nuts to secure a hub assembly to an axle half-shaft (see FIGS. 6 & 7). Said another way, the blind-hole extends inwardly in the second section 14 to a depth 48 sufficient to be disposable over a stud extending through the cone-washer. In one embodiment, the full diameter depth 48 of the blind hole 46 is at least 1.8 inches.

[0036] The blind-hole 46 may be substantially circular. Substantially, as used here, merely means that it does not have to be a perfect circle. In fact, it is envisioned that the head portion 40 and the blind-hole 46 may be an oval or a polygon. The operation of the air gun is to reciprocate in a direction along the longitudinal length of an air hammer tool inserted, and not to rotate like that of a drill, thus concentricity is not necessary.

[0037] The blind-hole has an inner-diameter 50. The inner-diameter 50 is smaller than the fourth outer-diameter 42. The inner-diameter 50 is larger than the first outer-diameter 20. The blind-hole inner-diameter 50 is substantially circular as it extends from the contact face 44 into the second section 14. The inner-diameter 50 of the blind-hole 46 is configured to be disposable over a stud extending through an axle shaft flange with a flange nut removed of a vehicle axle utilizing studs, cone washers, and flange nuts to secure a hub assembly to an axle half-shaft. The inner-diameter 50 of the blind-hole 46 is at least 1.0 inches.

[0038] The difference between the inner-diameter 50 of the blind-hole 46 and the fourth outer-diameter 42 of the head portion 40 define a wall thickness 52 in the second section 14. The wall thickness 52 is at least 0.35 inches thick around the blind-hole 46. The blind-hole 46 is configured to, after a flange nut is removed, at least partially contact the axle shaft flange at least partially around a cone-washer (see FIGS. 6 & 7). Said another way, the blind-hole 46 is configured to contact an axle shaft flange substantially around an axle shaft flange hole with a cone-washer at least partially disposed therein to impart a percussive force from the air hammer thru the contact face into the axle shaft flange to shock the cone-washer.

[0039] FIGS. 3 and 4 are first and second perspective views, respectively, of an air hammer cone washer removal tool 10. FIG. 5 is an end view of an air hammer cone washer removal tool 10 showcasing the contact face 44, the blind-hole 46, and the wall thickness 52 therein defined. Although shown as circular here, it is well mentioned again that it is envisioned to be of any shape such as an ellipse or polygonal shape, or any combination of the two.

[0040] While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the disclosed apparatus and method. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as claimed. The features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the disclosed concepts.