Axle pulling means

Structure for use in manipulating an axle such as during installation in and removal thereof from a vehicle drive assembly. The structure includes a construction at one end of the drive axle arranged to be received in a socket end portion of a puller tool. The axle end construction and the socket configuration are coordinated so as to provide a snug fitted association therebetween when the puller tool is installed on the axle end. The axle end and puller tool define cooperating threaded surfaces for removably securing the puller tool to the axle end and additional support surfaces are provided to provide a positive surface engagement between the puller tool and axle end for positive control of the axle during the installation and removal operations. A limit surface is provided for indicating the fitted association of the puller tool to the axle end. The puller tool may include an elongated outer handle portion for facilitated manipulation of the axle secured to the inner end of the tool in cantilevered fashion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to drive servicing structures and in particular to 
means for manipulating the axle of a vehicle drive assembly such as in the 
servicing thereof. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
In one conventional form of vehicle, such as a tractor vehicle, a drive 
shaft, or axle, is provide which, from time to time, may require removal 
from the drive assembly. Similarly, replacement of the drive shaft, or 
substitution therefor, requires the insertion of the drive shaft into the 
drive assembly. As the drive shaft may be relatively heavy, suitable 
manipulation thereof during such removal or installation operation 
requires a positive support of the axle. As the support of the axle during 
such operations is conventionally required to be from one end of the axle, 
substantial problems arise in the holding of the axle. 
It has been conventional to provide wheel pullers and the like for use in 
removing wheels from vehicle mounting means and a wide variety of 
different wheel pullers have been developed in the art. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention comprehends an improved structure for use in 
manipulating an axle such as during installation in and removal from a 
vehicle drive assembly which provides a positive holding of the end of the 
axle during such operations. 
More specifically, the invention comprehends the provision of such 
structure including means at one end of the axle defining a cylindrical 
support surface, an annular boss at the inner end of the support surface, 
a radial outwardly facing limit surface at the inner end of the boss, and 
a male threaded surface at the outer end of the support surface, and a 
puller tool having an inner end portion defining a socket for snugly 
receiving the end of the axle, the socket being defined by a distal end 
surface abutting the axle limit surface, an inner cylindrical portion 
snugly fitting the boss, an intermediate cylindrical portion snugly 
fitting the axle support surface, and a female threaded portion threaded 
to the axle male threaded surface, and an elongated outer end portion 
defining a manipulating handle. 
In one form of the invention, the inner end portion of the puller tool is 
defined by a unitary element secured to the inner end of the elongated 
outer handle portion. The element may be welded to the inner end of the 
handle portion and further, may define a socket into which the inner end 
of the handle portion is inserted prior to the welding thereof. 
In another form of the invention, the inner end portion and the outer 
handle portion of the puller tool may comprise a unitary element. 
Illustratively, the unitary element may comprise a tubular element having a 
machined inner end portion defining the inner end socket for receiving the 
outer end of the axle. 
The manipulating structure of the present invention is extremely simple and 
economical of construction while yet providing an improved axle 
manipulating means as discussed above.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the drawing, a 
drive axle generally designated 10 is provided in a drive assembly, such 
as drive assembly 11, of a vehicle generally designated 12 which, as 
illustrated in FIG. 1, may comprise a track-type vehicle, or tractor. 
Vehicle 12 is illustrative only, it being understood that the present 
invention is directed to the problem of removing and installing an axle or 
other shaft of any of a wide range of different apparatuses. 
As shown in FIG. 2, the axle may be rotatably mounted to a support 13 by 
suitable bearings 14. Access to an outer end generally designated 15 of 
the axle may be provided by a removable cover 16 of a housing 17 such as 
for enclosing a final drive gear assembly 18. The drive assembly may 
include a first sun gear 19 splined to a spline portion 20 of the axle. 
The present invention, as indicated briefly above, is directed to the 
problem of removing and installing the drive shaft 10 in such a drive 
assembly. As the drive shaft may be relatively heavy and elongated, a 
positive, firm support of the drive shaft is required for optimum 
manipulation thereof during such removal and installation operations. The 
present invention comprehends an improved structure for use in such 
manipulation including a puller tool generally designated 21 cooperating 
with the end portion 15 of the axle in an improved manner to provide such 
highly desirable, positive and firm support of the axle during the 
manipulating operations. 
More specifically, as seen in FIG. 3, the invention comprehends the 
provision on the axle outer end 15 of a cylindrical support surface 22, an 
annular boss 23 at the inner end 24 of the support surface 22, and a 
radial, outwardly facing limit surface 25 at the outer end 26 of the boss. 
The axle outer end further defines a male threaded surface 27 defining the 
distal inner end portion of the axle. 
The puller tool 21 includes an inner end portion 28 defining a socket 29 
snugly receiving the outer end of the axle. 
More specifically, the socket is defined by a distal end surface 30 
abutting the axle limit surface 25, an inner cylindrical portion 31 snugly 
receiving the boss 23 of the axle end, an intermediate cylindrical portion 
32 snugly receiving the cylindrical support surface 22 of the axle end, 
and a female threaded portion 33 threaded to the male threaded portion 27 
of the axle end. 
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, inner end portion 28 of the 
puller tool comprises a tubular element which is secured to the inner end 
34 of an outer handle portion 35 of the tool. 
More specifically, the outer end 36 of the tool inner portion 28 defines an 
outwardly opening socket 37 snugly receiving the inner end 34 of the 
handle portion of the tool. The distal end of portion 36 may be secured to 
the handle portion 35 at the outer end of the recess, or socket, 37 by 
suitable means, such as weld 38. 
As shown in FIG. 5, handle portion 35 of the tool 21 may be elongated so as 
to provide a positive support during the axle manipulating operations. 
As a result of the positive and firm support of the axle by means of the 
puller tool, the axle may be readily installed and removed relative to the 
drive assembly by simple threaded connection of the puller tool to the end 
of the axle. As shown in FIG. 3, the snug fit of the inner end portion 28 
of the puller tool with the outer end portion 15 of the axle provides a 
positive, firm support of the handle portion 35 of the tool to the axle 
end for facilitated manipulation of the axle during such operations. 
Referring now more specifically to FIG. 4, a modified form of puller tool 
generally designated 121 is shown to comprise a unitary tubular element 
wherein the handle portion 135 is formed integrally with the inner end 
connector portion 128. The socket 129 of puller tool 121 is suitably 
machined in the inner end portion 128 of the tubular element to define the 
cylindrical surfaces 131 and 132, and the female threaded surface 133. 
The use of puller tool 121 is similar to the use of puller tool 21 in 
manipulating the axle 10. 
The puller tool may be formed of a suitable strong material, such as steel, 
and the cooperating surfaces of the axle end and puller tool may be 
suitably machined therein to provide the desired snug fit discussed above. 
As the puller tool is readily threaded to the axle end, the tool may be 
readily connected to the axle end by simple insertion thereof through the 
cover 17 as discussed above. As the length of the handle portion 35 is 
relatively large, facilitated leverage of the axle is provided for 
facilitated manipulation thereof during the removal and installation 
operations. 
The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of the 
broad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention.