Abstract:
A tool for removing a retainer from the opposed tangs of a spring-type hose clamp is provided. The tool includes a first member adapted to fit between the retainer and the hose clamp and dislodge the retainer from the tangs of the hose clamp. The tool also includes a second member adapted to retain the retainer to the first member after the removal of the retainer from the hose clamp. A method for employing the tool is also provided.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates generally to assembly tooling and more particularly to tooling for the installation of hose clamps. 
     2. Discussion 
     It is common place in the manufacture of modern vehicles to utilize flexible hoses to direct various vehicle fluids in a desired manner. As compared to rigid fluid conduits, flexible hoses are generally low in cost and easily installed and serviced. Despite the advantages of flexible hoses, several drawbacks have been noted. 
     One particular drawback concerns the labor required to subassemble and install a hose, particularly where engine or vehicle components are in close proximity to one another and render conventional hose clamp repositioning tools difficult to employ. The subassembly operation typically requires that a pair of hose clamps be opened or spread sufficiently and installed to the ends of the hose. Thereafter, the assembly is positioned in a desired manner, the ends of the hose are coupled to various fluid connectors and the clamps are opened a second time and repositioned over portions of the hose that are adjacent to the connectors. 
     In areas where engine or vehicle components are in close proximity to one another, a substantial amount of labor may be expended to reposition the hose clamp in a desired manner. The labor associated with the first opening of the clamps and their initial positioning does not add value to the device manufactured and as such, unnecessarily increases the cost of the vehicle. Furthermore, as the task of opening and repositioning each of the clamps is performed manually, this operation increases the risk that the device manufactured will have a defect, such as an improperly relocated clamp. Such defects require additional labor efforts to diagnose and repair. 
     To alleviate these problems, a retainer has been developed which engages the tangs of the spring-type hose clamps when the clamp is positioned in an expanded condition. The retainer effectively eliminates the need to re-open or spread the hose clamps to permit the hose to be installed to the connectors. Furthermore, the labor associated with repositioning has been eliminated through the use of retaining means which cause the hose clamp to be retained in a given area of the hose while it is being retained in an expanded condition. Such retaining means include adhesives or mechanical fastening. 
     While the use of the retainer has improved the efficiency with which a spring-type hose clamp may be installed in some situations, a new problem, the removal of the retainer in a controlled manner, was encountered. More specifically, while the retainer was easily pried from the tangs of the hose clamp, the energy released by the retainer as it was removed generally caused the retainer to be propelled away from the hose and clamp. Consequently, the issues with the uncontrolled removal of the retainer included the loss of the retainer, damage to the device manufactured as a result of the retainer impacting or becoming lodged into the device, and the safety of the technician installing the hose and those in the surrounding area. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is one object of the present invention to provide a tool for removing a retainer from a spring-type hose clamp which retains the retainer subsequent to its removal. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a tool for removing a retainer from a spring-type hose clamp which utilizes a resiliently biased member to retain the retainer to the tool. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for installing a hose assembly having a spring-type hose clamp. 
     A tool for removing a retainer from the opposed tangs of a spring-type hose clamp is provided. The tool includes a first member adapted to fit between the retainer and the hose clamp and dislodge the retainer from the tangs of the hose clamp. The tool also includes a second member adapted to retain the retainer to the first member after the removal of the retainer from the hose clamp. A method for employing the tool is also provided. 
    
    
     Additional advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tool constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged portion of the tool of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of various spring-type hose clamps; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a spring-type hose clamp as coupled to a hose and retained in an expanded condition; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the tool of FIG. 1 in operative association with a spring-type hose clamp and a retainer; and 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another tool constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a tool constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral  10 . Tool  10  includes a first member  12  and a second member  14 . First member  12  includes a handle  20  and a body portion  22  having a longitudinal axis  24  and first and second ends  26  and  28 . Handle  20  is ergonomically shaped to permit a technician to operate tool  10  in a twisting or prying motion as desired. Body portion  22  is fixedly coupled to handle  20  at second end  28 . First end  26  includes at least one engagement surface  30  which tapers inwardly toward longitudinal axis  24 . In the particular embodiment illustrated, first member  12  is a slotted (or flat bladed) screwdriver and first end includes engagement surfaces  30   a ,  30   b ,  30   c  and  30   d  which are conventionally formed of the drive end of such screwdrivers. 
     Second member  14  is coupled to first member  12  includes a retaining portion  40  and an insertion portion  42 . Retaining portion  40  is coupled to first member  12  and extends axially along body portion  22  parallel to longitudinal axis  24 . Insertion portion  42  is generally V-shaped and includes a first portion  44  and a second portion  46 . First portion  44  depends upwardly away from longitudinal axis  24  and preferably includes a rounded or tapered leading edge  48 . Second portion  46  fixedly couples first portion  44  to retaining portion  40 . Retaining portion  40  preferably biases insertion portion  42  toward longitudinal axis  24 . 
     Second member  14  may be fabricated from any structural material, such as a metalloid, a metal or a plastic material. An appropriate fastening means  50  is then employed to secure second member  14  to first member  12 . Examples of such fastening means  50  includes welding, mechanical fasteners, adhesives and adhesive tapes. In the particular embodiment illustrated, second member  14  is fabricated from a steel material and has a length of about 6 inches, a width of about 0.5 inches and a thickness of about 0.015 inches. Second member  14  is welded to body portion  22 . 
     In FIG. 3, several types of spring-type hose clamps are illustrated. With particular reference to FIG. 3D, hose clamp  60  is illustrated to include a clamp body  62  and a pair of opposed tangs  64  which are fixedly coupled to clamp body  62 . Hose clamp  60  is operable between a retracted condition, wherein the interior  66  of hose clamp  60  has a first diameter, and an expanded condition, wherein the interior  66  of hose clamp  60  has a second diameter larger than the first diameter. Hose clamp  60  is formed from a flat spring steel which resiliently biases hose clamp  60  to the retracted condition. Application of a force to both of the tangs  64  in excess of a predetermined magnitude causes the tangs  64  to move toward one another and expand the interior  66  of hose clamp  60 . Withdrawal of the force to the tangs  64  causes the tangs  64  to move away from one another and retract the interior  66  of hose clamp  60 . 
     In FIG. 4, a hose assembly  70  is illustrated in cross section. Hose assembly  70  includes hose clamp  60 , a hose  72 , a retainer  74 , and a hose clamp securing means  76 . In the particular embodiment illustrated, hose clamp securing means  76  is a super glue (ethyl cyanoacrylate) material which permits a portion of hose clamp  60  to be adhesively bonded to hose  72 . Preferably, the super glue material sublimes at elevated temperatures to permit hose clamp  60  to be removed from hose  72  for subsequent servicing. PERMATEX® Super Glue GELMATIC manufactured by Loctite Corporation is one such super glue material. Alternatively, hose clamp securing means  76  may be a conventional mechanical fastener. 
     Retainer  74  is conventional in construction and a detailed description need not be provided herein. Briefly, retainer  74  is relatively rigid structure having a generally U-shaped construction. The fork members  80  of retainer  74  are spaced apart a predetermined distance and are configured to engage the tangs  64  of hose clamp  60  when the hose clamp  60  has been positioned in an expanded position. Retainer  74  is therefore operable for inhibiting the movement of tangs  64  in a separating or spreading direction and prevents hose clamp  60  from returning to the retracted position. Retainer  74  is described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,206 which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
     In FIG. 5, tool  10  is shown in operative association with hose assembly  70 . Hose assembly  70  is initially installed to a fluid connector  90  such that hose  72  is positioned over connector  90 . Tool  10  is then placed proximate hose clamp  60  and the first end  26  of first member  12  is inserted into the void  92  between hose clamp  60  and retainer  74 . As first end  26  is being inserted into void  92 , the first portion  44  of insertion portion  42  contacts retainer  74  and guides second member  14  along the top surface  94  of retainer  74 . Further insertion of first member  12  into void  92  causes insertion portion  42  to slide over top surface  94  and trap retainer  74  between first member  12  and retaining portion  40 . Handle  20  is then manipulated in either a levering motion or a rotating motion to cause one of the engagement surfaces  30  to contact the bottom surface  96  of retainer  74  and forcibly withdraw retainer  74  from tangs  64 . 
     Removal of retainer  74  from hose clamp  60  allows tangs  64  to move relative to one another and permits hose clamp  60  to return to the retracted position. Clamp body  62  is then operable for exterting a clamping force on the perimeter of hose  72 , causing hose  72  to forcibly contact connector  90  and create a seal therebetween in a conventional manner. As retainer  74  is trapped between first and second members  12  and  14 , the energy stored in retainer  74  is permitted to dissipate when it is removed from hose clamp  60  without propelling retainer  74  away from hose assembly  70 . Retainer  74  is thereafter removed from tool  10  and returned to the area fabricating hose assemblies for re-use. 
     While the tool of the present invention has been described thus far as having a second member fixedly coupled to the first member, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention, in its broader aspects, may be constructed somewhat differently. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6, second member  14 ′ may be slidingly engaged to first member  12 ′. In this arrangement, retaining portion  40 ′ includes a clip structure  100  adapted to slidingly engage body portion  22 ′. Clip structure  100  includes extension means  102  which is adapted to receive a force exerted by the thumb of a technician. In response to the application of force to extension means  102 , second member  14 ′ is caused to slide across body portion  22 ′ along longitudinal axis  24 ′. In operating tool  10 ′, first end  26 ′ is initially placed in void  92 . A force is next applied to extension means  102  and second member  14 ′ is pushed toward hose clamp  60  until insertion portion  42 ′ has traveled over top surface  94  and retaining portion  40  has engaged retainer  74 . 
     While the invention has been described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment illustrated by the drawings and described in the specification as the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include any embodiments falling within the description of the appended claims.