Adjustable tool

Abstract

A tool (10) for rotating a screw-on oil filter cartridge, the tool comprising a driving member (28, 28b); gripping jaws (12a, 12b) movable in relation to each other for gripping an oil filter cartridge; a guide arrangement (13, 14a, 14b) for guiding the gripping jaws; means (16a, 16b) for biasing the gripping jaws towards each other; and a driving mechanism (28, 28c, 24, 22a, 22b, 20a, 20b, 21a, 21b) coupled to the driving (28b) member and gripping jaws (12a, 12b) for converting rotation into movement of the gripping jaws towards each other, into engagement with an oil filter cartridge and applying either screwing or unscrewing torque thereto. The tool comprises: a locking mechanism (30, 32, 28, 24) for releasably locking the gripping jaws (12a, 12b) at a pre-determined distance from each other; and a release actuator (28a) for unlocking the locking mechanism and releasing of the gripping jaws.

Claims

1. A tool (10) for gripping and rotating a screw-on oil filter cartridge (2) for an internal combustion engine (6), the tool comprising: a driving member (28, 28b) having a longitudinal axis (X-X), the driving member being rotatable about the longitudinal axis; gripping jaws (12a, 12b) coupled to the driving member for gripping the body (4) of an oil filter cartridge (2); a guide arrangement (13, 14a, 14b) coupled to the gripping jaws for guiding movement of the gripping jaws in relation to each other; biasing means (16a, 16b) coupled to the gripping jaws for biasing the gripping jaws towards each other; a driving mechanism (28, 28c, 24, 22a, 22b, 20a, 20b, 21a, 21b) coupled to the driving member (28b) and the gripping jaws (12a, 12b) for converting rotation of the driving member about the longitudinal axis (X-X) into movement of the gripping jaws towards each other for engagement with an oil filter cartridge (2) located between the gripping jaws and selectively applying screwing or unscrewing torque thereto; a locking mechanism (30, 32, 28, 24) operable for releasably locking the gripping jaws (12a, 12b) at a pre-determined distance away from each other; and a release actuator (28a) operable for unlocking the locking mechanism and releasing movement of the gripping jaws towards each other; and wherein the release actuator (28a) is movable in relation to the guide arrangement (13, 14a, 14b) and operable by engagement between the release actuator and an oil filter cartridge (2) located between the gripping jaws (12a, 12b), wherein the locking mechanism (30, 32, 28, 24) comprises a profile (42a) with a recess (50a) secured to one of the guide arrangement and the release actuator and a tooth (40a) secured to the other of the guide arrangement and the release actuator, wherein the tooth being seated within the recess locks the gripping jaws (12a, 12b) at the pre-determined distance away from each other and wherein the tooth being unseated from within the recess as a result of engagement between the release actuator and the body (4) of an oil filter cartridge (2) releases the gripping jaws to move towards each other under the bias of the biasing means (16a, 16b).

2. A tool (10) for gripping and rotating a screw-on oil filter cartridge (2) for an internal combustion engine (6), the tool comprising: a driving member (28, 28b) having a longitudinal axis (X-X), the driving member being rotatable about the longitudinal axis; gripping jaws (12a, 12b) coupled to the driving member for gripping the body (4) of an oil filter cartridge (2); a guide arrangement (13, 14a, 14b) coupled to the gripping jaws for guiding movement of the gripping jaws in relation to each other; biasing means (16a, 16b) coupled to the gripping jaws for biasing the gripping jaws towards each other; a driving mechanism (28, 28c, 24, 22a, 22b, 20a, 20b, 21a, 21b) coupled to the driving member (28b) and the gripping jaws (12a, 12b) for converting rotation of the driving member about the longitudinal axis (X-X) into movement of the gripping jaws towards each other for engagement with an oil filter cartridge (2) located between the gripping jaws and selectively applying screwing or unscrewing torque thereto; a locking mechanism (30, 32, 28, 24) operable for releasably locking the gripping jaws (12a, 12b) at a pre-determined distance away from each other; and a release actuator (28a) operable for unlocking the locking mechanism and releasing movement of the gripping jaws towards each other; and wherein the release actuator (28a) is movable in relation to the guide arrangement (13, 14a, 14b) and arranged to engage an oil filter cartridge (2) in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (X-X), wherein the locking mechanism (30, 32, 28, 24) comprises a profile (42a) with a recess (50a) secured to one of the guide arrangement and the release actuator and a tooth (40a) secured to the other of the guide arrangement and the release actuator, wherein the tooth being seated within the recess locks the gripping jaws (12a, 12b) at the pre-determined distance away from each other and wherein the tooth being unseated from within the recess as a result of engagement between the release actuator and the body (4) of an oil filter cartridge (2) releases the gripping jaws to move towards each other under the bias of the biasing means (16a, 16b).

Description

(1) The present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the following drawings, of which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a tops view of a general automobile engine according to the present invention for attachment or removal of a screw-on type engine oil filter cartridge;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a top view of an adjustable socket-type tool according to the present invention for attachment or removal of a screw-on type engine oil filter cartridge;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a side cross-sectional view III-III of the tool of FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a side cross-sectional view IV-IV of the tool of FIG. 2;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the tool of FIG. 2 from above;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the tool of FIG. 2 with cut-out VI;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the tool of FIG. 2 from below;

(9) FIG. 8 shows aside elevation view of a driving spindle and driving disc of the tool of FIG. 2;

(10) FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a plastic body of the tool of FIG. 2 from above; and

(11) FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of cylindrical cap of the tool of FIG. 2 from above.

(12) Referring to FIGS. 2 to 10, there will be described a new design of adjustable socket-type tool 10 with an automatic locking mechanism. The tool 10 comprises a pair of metal gripping jaws 12a, 12b each slideably connected to the underside of a metal guide arrangement 13 having guides 14a, 14b which permit and guide linear sliding movement of the gripping jaws relative to each other. The gripping jaws may be manually moved apart to fit around an oil filter cartridge. The metal gripping jaws are biased towards each other by a pair of return springs 16a, 16b so that they may grip the oil filter cartridge once the automatic locking mechanism is unlocked, as is described in more detail below.

(13) The top end 18a, 18b of each gripping jaw 12a, 12b is pivotally connected to a respective driven pin 21a, 21b on the underside of one end of a respective link rod 20a, 20b. The other end of each link rod is pivotally connected to a respective drive pin 22a, 22b on the underside of a metal driving disc 24. The driving disc may be coupled to the output spindle of a ratchet wrench.

(14) The driving disc 24 of the tool 10 has a square central hole 26 surrounding a central driving spindle 28 having a longitudinal spindle axis X-X. Referring to in particular to FIG. 8, the driving spindle has lower cylindrical section 28a and an upper cylindrical section 28b with a square blind hole 28bb into which the output spindle of a ratchet wrench may be inserted. In between the lower and upper cylindrical sections is a square waist section 28c. The square waist section 28c is sized to slidingly engage the square central hole 26 of the driving disc 24. The driving disc 24 may slide in the direction of spindle axis X-X along the length of the square waste section 28c. The square waist section 28c is rotatingly coupled to the square central hole 26 of the driving disc 24. The driving disc 24 rotates about the spindle axis X-X with the driving spindle 28. A plastic generally cylindrical cap 30 surrounds the upper cylindrical section 28b of the driving spindle 28. The cap 30 is rigidly connected to the spindle 28 coaxial with the spindle axis X-X and rotates with the spindle.

(15) The pins 22a, 22b are on diametrically-opposed sides of the spindle axis X-X at the same radial distance from the spindle axis X-X. As is shown in particular in FIGS. 2 and 10, the driving spindle 28 and the cap 30 may be turned either clockwise, in the direction of arrow A, or anticlockwise, in the direction of arrow B, by a ratchet wrench coupled to the square blind hole 28bb. Clockwise or anticlockwise rotation of the driving spindle 28 rotates the driving disc 24 and the drive pins 22a, 22b around the spindle axis X-X which has the effect of wrapping the link rods 20a, 20b around the spindle axis X-X and pulling the driven pins 21a, 21b and the gripping jaws 12a, 12b closer together so that they grip an oil filter cartridge more tightly than can be achieved manually. In other words, rotation of the driving spindle's upper cylindrical section 28b in either direction produces coordinated radial movement of the gripping jaws 12a, 12b for progressive engagement with the oil filter cartridge 2 to apply torque thereto. The adjustable disposition of the two gripping jaws 12a,12b enables the tool 10 to be used with oil filter cartridges 2 of all conventional sizes. Clockwise rotation screws the oil filter cartridge to the engine. Anticlockwise rotation unscrews the oil filter cartridge from the engine.

(16) Referring in particular to FIGS. 2 to 7, the tool 10 further comprises a plastic body 32 rigidly connected to the top of the guide arrangement 13. The top of the body 32 has an open mouth in the form of generally cylindrical recess 34. The cap 30 is biased downwardly into the recess 34 by a return spring 36 located in compression between the driving spindle 28 and the bottom of the guide arrangement 13. The return spring 36 is protected by a shroud 38.

(17) Referring to FIG. 9, the body 32 has a pair of diametrically-opposed teeth 40a, 40b at the circumference of the cylindrical recess 34. Referring to FIG. 10, the cap 30 has a pair of diametrically-opposed profiles 42a (42b not shown) in an otherwise regular cylindrical skirt 44 around the circumference of the bottom of the cap. The teeth 40a, 40b are biased by the return spring 36 to engage either the skirt 44, or a respective profile 42a, 42b, according to the rotational position of the cap.

(18) Each of the profiles 42a, 42b has the same basic shape which, for brevity, will be described with reference to one profile 42a only. Transition between the regular part of the cylindrical skirt 44 and the profile 42a is defined by a clockwise cam surface 46a at the portion of the profile 42a which engages its respective tooth 40a when the cap rotates in the clockwise direction of arrow A. Transition between the regular part of the cylindrical skirt and the profile 42a is defined by an anticlockwise cam surface 48a at the portion of the profile 42a which engages said respective tooth 40a when the cap rotates in the anticlockwise direction of arrow B. The cam surfaces 46a, 48a are inclined with regard to the bottom of the cap 30. Said respective tooth 40a causes the cap 30 to progressively rise from the body 32 against the bias of the return spring 36 as the cap rotates in clockwise direction A, in the case of engagement between the tooth 40a and clockwise cam surface 46a, or as the cap rotates in the anticlockwise direction, in the case of engagement between the tooth 40a and anticlockwise cam surface 48a. Located between the cam surfaces 46a, 46b is a recess 50a in the profile 42a. The bottom of the recess 50a is roughly in line with the bottom of the skirt 44. The bottom of the recess is interrupted by a double-sloped projection 56a projecting away from the bottom of the cap. An apex 58a of the projection is slightly to one side of the mid-point M of the recess.

(19) The automatic locking mechanism comprises the cap 30, the body 32, the driving spindle 28 which can slide along spindle axis X-X relative to the driving disc 24, and the return spring 36 which biases the cap 30 towards the body 32. Operation of the automatic locking mechanism shall be described in detail, again, for brevity, with reference to one tooth 40a and one profile 42a, it being understood that the other tooth 40b and profile 42b behave correspondingly.

(20) When an operator pulls the gripping jaws 12a, 12b apart against the bias of the compression springs 16a, 16b the link rods 20a, 20b are pulled apart which causes the driving spindle 28 and the plastic cap 30 to rotate about the axis X-X. The tooth 40a slides along the cylindrical skirt 44 and the cap 30 remains seated within the recess 34 until the cap has rotated nearly 90 degrees upon which stage the tooth 40a encounters its respective profile 42a. Depending on the position from which the cap starts rotating and its direction, the tooth 40a slides along one of the cam surface 46a, 48a, causing the cap 30 to rise against the bias of the return spring 36 and un-seat itself from within the recess 34. At the end of the cam surface 46a, 48a, the tooth 40a falls into the recess 50a and collides with the projection 56a, and the cap 30 re-seats seats itself within in the recess 134 of the body 132, under the bias of the return spring 36. The automatic locking mechanism is set. The gripping jaws 112a, 112b are locked in an open position because a wall 52a, 54a at each circumferential edge of the recess confine said tooth 40a and, in doing so, prohibit all but minimal rotation of the cap 30, the driving spindle 28 and the driving disc 24 about axis X-X. The apex 58a tends to guide said tooth 40a to abut the wall 52a on the clockwise side of the recess 50a. This can be over-ridden by an operator who manually turns the cap 30 in the anticlockwise direction B, using finger holds 60, so that said tooth 40a abuts the wall 54a on the anticlockwise side of the recess 50a instead.

(21) The socket 10 is now ready to fit around an oil filter cartridge 2. In doing so, the lower cylindrical section 28a of the driving spindle 28 abuts the cylindrical outer body 4 of the oil filter cartridge 2. This compresses the return spring 36 and raises the cap 30 from the body 32. The automatic locking mechanism is activated. The cap 30 un-seats itself from the recess 34 and the tooth 40a is freed from the confines of the walls 52a, 54a at the edges of the recess 50a. The gripping jaws 12a, 12b are unlocked from the open position and are permitted to close against the outer body 4 of the oil filter cartridge 2 under the bias of the compression springs 16a, 16b. The driven pins 21a, 21b move closer together with the gripping jaws 12a, 12b which pushes the link rods 20a, 20b closer together and wraps them and the drive pins 22a, 22b round spindle axis X-X. The drive pins rotate the cap 30, the driving spindle 28 and the driving disc 24 about the spindle axis X-X. The direction of rotation is pre-determined. If said tooth 40a abuts the wall 52a on the clockwise side of the recess 50a, then rotation of the cap 30, the driving spindle 28 and the driving disc 24 in the anticlockwise direction B has already partially started. The tool 10 is set for gripping and unscrewing an oil filter cartridge 2 from an engine. Conversely, if said tooth 40a abuts the wall 54a on the anticlockwise side of the recess 50a, then rotation of the cap 30, the driving spindle 28 and the driving disc 24 in the clockwise direction A has already partially started. The tool 10 is set for gripping and screwing an oil filter cartridge to an engine.

(22) The automatic locking mechanism allows an operator to reliably connect the tool 10 to an oil filter cartridge 2 in awkward positions and with only one hand. The driving disc 24 of the tool 10 is set for rotation in either the anticlockwise direction B (default position) or the clockwise direction A (manual override required). When a ratchet wrench coupled to the upper cylindrical section 28b turns the driving spindle 28, the gripping jaws 12a, 12b pull together and grip an oil filter cartridge more tightly than can be achieved manually. Once the operation is complete, the operator disconnects the ratchet wrench from the square blind hole 28bb and slides the tool 10 from the oil filter cartridge 2. The tool 10 is ready to be re-set for re-use.