Patent ID: 9695878
Date: 2017-07-04
CPC Classifications: B23P,F16D

Claim:
1. Apparatus comprising: a plug-in constant velocity (CV) joint attached to a propshaft, wherein the CV joint has a first bi-directional thrust feature accessible from outside the CV joint; a rotating powertrain component configured to connect with the CV joint via a splined shaft coupling with a snap ring interlock that engages when the splined shaft coupling is fully inserted, wherein the powertrain component has a second bi-directional thrust feature accessible from outside the powertrain component; and power tool having a first arm adapted to engage the first bi-directional thrust feature and a second arm adapted to engage the second bi-directional thrust feature after the splined shaft coupling is partially inserted, wherein the arms are relatively movable along a longitudinal direction, wherein the power tool includes an actuator selectively applying a compression force to the bi-directional thrust features adapted to fully insert the splined shaft coupling and engage the snap ring interlock by contracting the first and second arms, wherein the power tool monitors the compression force to detect the full insertion, wherein the actuator automatically applies a predetermined expansion force to the bi-directional thrust features to verify engagement of the snap ring interlock, and wherein the predetermined expansion force is less than a force sufficient to disengage the snap ring interlock.