Power steering pump bracket tool

A method and apparatus for positioning the power steering pump of an automobile so that the bracket may be adjusted for optimum drive belt tension.

THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for tensioning the drive 
belt for a power steering pump by applying pressure to the pump housing 
final support bracket. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Many contemporary automobiles incorporate power steering units which derive 
energy from a drive belt coupled via a pulley network to the engine drive 
shaft. The drive belt must be properly tensioned to provide adequate power 
and prevent belt slippage. This requires that the pump housing be 
physically urged in a direction which will tension the belt while the pump 
support housing bracket adjustment nuts and bolts are tightened. 
In most installations the power steering pump housing is constructed of 
relatively thin metal which can be easily damaged if a crow bar or similar 
tool is used to wedge the unit away from the engine block to create the 
required drive belt tension. Moving the unit by hand also creates problems 
since the amount of tension required necessitates that a relatively high 
force be applied to the unit. This force, in many instances, can not be 
created simply by pulling the unit with ones hand. 
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a means to 
apply the required force to a power steering pump housing so that the 
drive belt may be tensioned properly. 
It is a further objective of this invention to provide an apparatus adapted 
to slip onto the final mounting bracket of a power steering pump housing 
in a manner which will permit a lever arm to be inserted into an orifice 
provided in the tool so that the required force to hold the power steering 
pump housing against a tensioned drive belt may be imparted through the 
lever arm. 
It is a still further objective of this invention to provide a tool which 
will permit tensioning a power steering housing against the pull of the 
drive belt without applying pressure to the pump housing. 
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a tool adapted 
to cooperate with the final power steering pump housing bracket to provide 
a moving force to the power steering pump through the final bracket 
attachment points so that the power steering pump housing may be 
physically held in the proper position to develop the required drive belt 
tension while the adjustment nuts and bolts are secured. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention is directed to a method and apparatus for adjusting the 
tension of the drive belt for a power steering pump unit in a contemporary 
automobile. 
The method comprises utilizing a lever arm in combination with a tool 
affixed to a final support bracket for the power steering pump housing and 
applying a force through the lever arm to move the power steering pump 
unit away from the primary drive pulley around which the power steering 
pump drive belt passes. 
The tool presented by the subject patent incorporates a hook shaped end 
adapted to fit over the edge of a power steering pump bracket and a stop 
adapted to cooperate with an opposite edge of the pump bracket in 
combination with an offcenter section adapted to receive the coupling end 
of a standard drive socket ratchet, bar, or torque handle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates the primary features of the 
tool shown generally at 10 which permits it to be attached to the mounting 
flange, 21 of FIGS. 2 and 3, for the power steering pump 31. 
The tool 10, in a preferred embodiment, incorporates an elongated body 
section 11 having one end folded so that it will form a recess 12 which 
will slip over the pump support bracket 21. 
The opposite end of the tool incorporates a right angle stop 13 which is 
adapted to cooperate with the edge of the power steering bracket opposite 
the point where the folded member 12 engages the bracket. 
The end of the tool near the stop 13 is thickened to permit forming of a 
square orifice 14 which is dimensioned to cooperate with a standard square 
drive socket wrench, 41 of FIG. 2. 
The method of using the tool includes the steps of slipping the folded 
portion 12 of the tool over the lower edge of the power steering pump 
bracket 21 and rotating the tool body so that the 90 degree stop 13 passes 
the opposite edge of the bracket. The flat underface 15 of the tool rests 
across the broad flange of the power steering pump bracket assembly when 
the tool is properly positioned. A standard square drive ratchet, bar, or 
torque handle is inserted in the socket receptacle 14 of the tool. The 
bolts passing through the adjustment, mounting slots 22 of the power 
steering pump bracket are loosened and the square drive tool handle is 
rotated upward and toward the right angle flange 13 of the tool so that 
the drive shaft 32 of the power steering pump swings away from the primary 
drive pulley of the engine, thus applying tension to a drive belt coupling 
the power steering pump to the primary drive pulley. The pump is held in 
this position while the adjustment bolts are tightened and the tool is 
then removed by rotating it in the opposite direction. This raises the 
shoulder 13 from engagement with the bracket and allows the bracket and 
folded portion of the tool 12 to be disengaged. 
In an alternate embodiment of the present invention a torque wrench is used 
as a lever arm and a conversion chart from foot-pounds to belt tension is 
provided to permit proper belt tensioning without the need of additional 
gages. 
Although the preferred embodiments of this invention have been illustrated 
and described, variations and modifications may be apparent to those 
skilled in the art. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited thereto and ask 
that the scope and breadth of this invention be determined from the claims 
which follow rather than the above description.