Brake drum/brake rotor removal tool

A pulling tool includes a elongated main support body having a plurality of retention holes formed on opposite sides thereof. An actuator stem member is threadably mounted in the support body. A pair of jaw members is slidably mounted on opposite side of the support body. The jaw members have extended hook portions adapted to engage an outer periphery of a wheel element removably mounted on a stationary wheel mounting member. A pair of tubular holders is slidably mounted on opposite sides of the support body, and retained against outer faces of the jaw members to prevent lateral outward movement of the jaw members on the support body and to orient the jaw members substantially perpendicularly to the support body.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to manually-operated tools, and more particularly, pertains to a hand tool for easily removing a brake drum, a brake rotor or similar removable element from a stationary supporting or mounting element, such as a wheel hub.

BACKGROUND

During repair or maintenance of a vehicle, it is frequently necessary to remove wheel elements, such as brake drums and/or brake rotors from axles or wheel hubs. However, tolerances between brake drums or rotors and their wheel hubs is extremely small. Because of the small tolerances, and because wheel hubs bear the weight of the vehicle, extended use of the vehicle can cause the brake drum or brake rotor to become essentially fused or seized on the wheel hub.

Once a wheel element, such as a brake drum or brake rotor, becomes seized on the wheel hub, it can be very difficult to remove the wheel element from the vehicle by hand. Common practice in the vehicle repair industry is to have a mechanic hoist the vehicle, heat the seized wheel element and then hammer on the wheel element from the inside until the brake drum or brake rotor becomes loose enough to remove.

This method, however, can cause damage to the brake drum, brake rotor, wheel bearing or other parts of the vehicle during hammering. Further, this operation can be labor intensive and can jeopardize the safety of the mechanic when hammering the wheel element while under the vehicle.

In order to address these problems, the prior art provides a number of different wheel pulling devices to assist in removal of brake drums, brake rotors, or other similar elements from their mountings on a vehicle. Such devices typically include a main support bar, an actuator screw threaded through a mid-portion of the support bar, and working jaw members removably mounted on opposite ends of the support bar. In use of a conventionally known wheel pulling device, the jaw members are engageable with outer peripheries of the brake drum or brake rotor and the actuator screw is threaded through the support bar against the wheel hub or wheel axle to apply a pulling force against the brake drum or brake rotor through the jaw members. However, the placing and holding of the jaw members in engagement with a brake drum or brake rotor while also rotating the actuator screw proves to be extremely difficult, if not impossible, by one using his own two hands.

Thus, it remains desirable to provide a removal tool for extracting a wheel element, such as a brake drum or brake rotor, from a wheel supporting element, such as a wheel hub, in a manner which improves upon prior art devices, and is efficiently utilized for exerting a quick and uniform pulling force.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a pulling tool for separating a removable wheel element, such as a brake drum or brake rotor, from a stationary wheel mounting member, such as a hub or axle. The pulling tool includes an elongated main support body having a plurality of retention holes formed on opposite ends thereof. An actuator stem member is threadably mounted in the support body. A pair of jaw members is slidably mounted on opposite sides of the support body. The jaw members have extended hook portions adapted to engage an outer periphery of a wheel element removably mounted on a stationary wheel mounting member. A pair of tubular holders is slidably mounted on opposite sides of the support body and retained against outer faces of the jaw members to prevent lateral outward movement of the jaw members on the support body and to orient the jaw members substantially perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the support body. A handle projects from the support body and the jaw members have detents which are engaged in the retention holes of the support body when the hook portions are engaged with the outer periphery of the wheel element.

The retention holes are spaced apart equidistantly from each other. The support body is formed with a threaded center hole for threadably receiving and retaining the actuator stem member. The actuator stem member has an externally threaded main outer body with an upper end provided with a non-threaded cylindrical portion and a wrench engageable portion adapted to receive a turning wrench. The actuator stem member has a lower end provided with a cylindrical adapter adapted to engage the stationary wheel mounting member. The cylindrical adapter is magnetically attached to the lower end of the actuator stem member. Each jaw member has an elongated body portion having an upper mounting end and a lower gripping end. Each upper mounting end has an opening defined by at least one wall, the opening being sized to enable the jaw member to slide upon the support body into alignment over an area defined by the retention holes. Each detent projects downwardly from the wall defining the opening and is engageable in a selected one of the retention holes. Each tubular holder is provided with a threaded aperture for receiving a thumb screw that frictionally engages the support body to retain the tubular holder in a selected position. The handle is located between the actuator stem member and one set of retention holes on one end of the support body. The jaw members are spaced equidistantly from the center hole of the support body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now toFIGS. 1-3, thereshown is a wheel pulling tool10for separating a removable wheel element, such as a brake drum or brake rotor, from a stationary wheel support such as a wheel hub or axle.

The tool10basically comprises a main support body12, an actuator stem member14threadably mounted in a central portion of the support body12, and a pair of jaw members16,18removably connected to opposite ends of the support body12.

The support body12is an elongated, rigid center bar of generally rectangular shape in transverse cross section having a series of non-threaded retention holes20formed thereon on opposite sides of the bar12. Retention holes20are spaced apart equidistantly from each other, and are all formed with substantially identical diameters. The bar12is also provided with a threaded center hole22, as well as a threaded recess24located between one set of retention holes20and the center hole22on one side of the bar12. Both the center hole22and the recess24have longitudinal axes parallel to each other and the respective longitudinal axes of the retention holes20. In the preferred embodiment, the center bar12has a length of 17 inches and is constructed of a steel alloy which is heat treated.

The actuator stem member14takes the form of an elongated center screw having an externally threaded main outer body26which is threadably engageable with internal threads formed in center hole22. The body26includes an upper end28provided with a non-threaded cylindrical portion27and a socket-preventing, a wrench only-engageable hex head configuration29, and a lower end30having a diameter which is smaller than the diameter of the threaded body26. Cylindrical adapter34receives a magnet32which is held in place by a retention disk33, so that adapter34is magnetically held to lower end30. Upper end28is adapted to receive a turning wrench thereon in use, while adapter34is designed to engage a wheel hub as will be explained.

The jaw members16and18are substantially identical metallic elements and are configured to be slidably and perpendicularly mounted along the opposite sides of bar12at various positions thereof defined by the retention holes20. Each jaw member16,18includes an elongated body portion36having an upper mounting end38and lower gripping end40. Each upper mounting end38has an opening42defined by an upper wall44, a lower wall46and side walls48,50. Each upper wall44of jaw member16,18is provided with a downwardly depending detent member52which is adapted to be engaged in one of the retention holes20. Each opening42is suitably sized to enable the jaw members16,18to be slidably positioned along the opposite sides of bar12over the area defined by the retention holes20. Each lower gripping end40has a laterally extending hook portion54designed to maximize surface contact and provide a uniform grip with outer ends of a removable member such as a brake drum or brake rotor. Preferably, each hook portion54extends from the elongated body portion36at about an 85° angle. It is noted that hook portions54are adapted to face inwardly towards each other for reasons to become obvious. Jaw members16,18may vary in length and size as desired.

The tool10includes a pair of metallic tubular holders or collars56which are slidably received and retained along the bar12, and are engageable against outer faces of the jaw members16,18at upper mounting ends38thereof. Each holder56is suitably shaped for sliding movement along bar12and includes a small threaded aperture58formed through one wall thereof. Each threaded aperture58receives a threaded shaft60of a thumb screw62used to retain the holder46in a selected position along bar12by frictional engagement therewith.

The tool10further includes a handle insert64having a solid rear end66which is retained in an open end68of a plastic handle70. The handle insert64has a front end72provided with a hole74which is aligned with the threaded recess24in bar12. A threaded screw76is passed through the hole74and screwed into the threaded recess24to secure handle70to the bar12. Handle24may be appropriately secured to the bar12for either right handed or left handed users of tool10.

An exemplary use of the tool10for a right handed user will now be described with reference toFIG. 3. Initially, the handle70is attached to the bar12and the center screw14is threaded about half way down in the bar12. The jaw members16,18are slidably positioned on each side of the bar12with the detents52facing the retention hole20and with the hook portions54facing inwardly. With the jaw members16,18extending forwardly, the holders56with the thumb screws62partially threaded in the holes58, are slidably moved along the bar12. Then, holding the tool10up to a brake drum78, jaw members16,18are positioned so that the hook portions54engage an outer circumferential lip80of the brake drum78. Center screw14is turned by hand so that adapter34engages the center of a wheel hub82or the like. Next, the jaw members16,18are positioned so that they are as close to perpendicular to the bar12as possible with detents52aligning with respective retention holes20in the bar12. Jaw members16,18should be equidistantly spaced from the center hole22of bar12and enable the hook portions54to firmly grab behind the outer lip80of brake drum78while maintaining contact of the adapter34against the center of hub82. The holders56are then engaged against the outer faces of the jaw members16,18with the detents52engaged in selected retention holes20(seeFIG. 1), and the thumb screws62are tightened to prevent an axial or lateral outward movement of the jaw members16,18on the bar12. Using a wrench84, the center screw12is turned towards the center of hub82to create tension on the brake drum78. Continuing to hold the tool10in position with one's left hand on handle70, the user's right hand is provided with a hammer (not shown) for gently tapping around the outer edges of the brake drum78and the center of hub82until brake drum78is freed from hub82. Once the brake drum78is carefully removed from hub82, thumb screws62are loosened so that holders56and jaw members16,18are released along the bar12.

The removal tool10as described above saves time and reduces the need to repeatedly strike or heat the brake drum or similar removable wheel element from the hub or other mounting elements so as to prevent damage to the wheel bearing. The bar12and the jaw members16,18can be suitably sized to accommodate the various removable wheel elements. The hook portions54on the jaw members16,18are specially designed to maximize surface contact ensuring a uniform grip on deteriorated brake drums or other elements. The bar12is heated treated steel to withstand high reaction forces while remaining compact and relatively easy to handle. The locking holders56allow fast, simple jaw adjustments and provide support to keep the jaw members16,18aligned during use. Handle70can be attached to the bar12to accommodate right or left handed users.

While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain substitutions, alterations and omissions may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. Accordingly, the foregoing description is meant to be exemplary only and should not be deemed limitative on the scope of the invention set forth with the following claims.