Transmission seal installation kit

The transmission seal installation kit includes a forward drum seal driver, reverse drum seal driver, a snap ring removal tool, an axle seal installer, and a handle. The tool kit is used for installing and removing a retaining seal that is fitted inside of the forward drum, reverse drum, and axle seal of a transmission, or for the removal of a coast piston from a direct and coast drum.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

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REFERENCE TO APPENDIX

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of seal installation kits, more specifically, a seal installation kit for a transmission.

B. Discussion of the Prior Art

As a preliminary note, it should be stated that there is an ample amount of prior art that deals with transmission seal installation kits. As will be discussed immediately below, no prior art discloses a transmission seal installation kit that includes the types of tool accessories useful in installing new seals in a transmission.

The Diaz patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,656,715) discloses a tool set designed to facilitate the removal or installation of clutch housing from the transmission case of a vehicle. However, the tool set is not configured for re-installing a seal in the forward drum of a transmission after removing the old seal.

The Lagatta patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,119) discloses a tool for installing the planetary assembly and reverse clutch assembly of an automatic transmission. The tool includes an elongated tubular handle extending along a longitudinal axis having a first end and an opposed second end, and a grip along the first end with a handle extension. However, the tool is not suited for removing or installing a seal in the forward drum of a transmission.

The Shultz, Sr. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,211,446) discloses a tool having a handle grip and protective shield for pulling and removing annular or ring-shaped seals from an automobile transmission housing. Unfortunately, the tool is not capable of installing a new seal onto the forward drum of a transmission.

The Williams Patent Application Publication (U.S. Pub. No. 2007/0157764) discloses a universal tool for installation of an annular seal for a front axle, as well as a rear axle of a vehicle, which includes a handle, a customized body member capable of being reversibly attached to the handle for placement and insertion of one of two sizes of seals in the motor vehicle axle housing. However, the universal tool is not suited for use in installing a seal in a forward drum of a transmission.

The Ellis patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,174,006) discloses an installation tool to install an annular seal or hub or housing at an axle or shaft of a motor vehicle. However, the installation tool is suited for use installing a seal onto an axle or shaft of a motor as opposed to a new seal for a forward drum.

The Graham et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,202) discloses a tool and method by which the inner oil seal may be installed in the hub of a dual tire and wheel assembly (or a single tire and wheel assembly) while it remains in a normal, upright position. However, the tool is not suited for use in installing a seal in the forward drum of a transmission, but rather a tire and wheel assembly.

The Seredich patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,141) discloses a press for seating a joint seal and metal retainer ring on a constant velocity axle. However, the press is for use with a joint seal for an axle that is constantly rotating as opposed to a seal for a forward drum of a transmission.

While the above-described devices fulfill their respective and particular objects and requirements, they do not describe a transmission seal installation kit that is useful in installing new seals in a transmission. In this regard, the transmission seal installation kit departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The transmission seal installation kit includes a forward drum seal driver, reverse drum seal driver, a snap ring removal tool, an axle seal installer, and a handle. The tool kit is used for installing and removing a retaining seal that is fitted inside of the forward drum, reverse drum, and axle seal of a transmission, or for the removal of a coast piston from a direct and coast drum.

It is an object of the invention to provide a tool kit for the installation of a retaining seal in a forward drum, reverse drum, or axle seal of a transmission.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a series of seal drivers that are designed to install new seals to various transmission drums without damaging the seal during installation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a snap ring removal tool for use with snap ring pliers when removing a coast piston from a direct and coast drum assembly.

These together with additional objects, features and advantages of the provide a transmission seal installation kit will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the provide a transmission seal installation kit when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In this respect, before explaining the current embodiments of the transmission seal installation kit in detail, it is to be understood that the transmission seal installation kit is not limited in its applications to the details of construction and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustration. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept of this disclosure may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the transmission seal installation kit. It is therefore important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the transmission seal installation kit. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

Detailed reference will now be made to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated inFIGS. 1-8A. A transmission seal installation kit10(hereinafter invention) includes a reverse drum seal driver11, a forward drum seal driver12, a snap ring removal tool13, a handle14, and an axle seal installer16.

It shall be noted from the outset that the invention10is most suitably used with the installation of new seals in a 4T40 transmission. However, it shall be further noted that the invention10may be adopted for use with other transmissions.

The reverse drum seal driver11has a small opening11A. The handle14has a shoulder14A containing both an inner grooved notch14B and an outer grooved notch14C. The inner grooved notch14B has an O-ring15situated such that the handle14is snuggly fitted to the reverse drum seal driver11, as depicted inFIG. 3. The forward drum seal driver12has a small opening12A, and attaches to the handle14in the same way as the reverse drum seal driver11.

Referring toFIGS. 5-5B, a reverse drum assembly20is composed of a snap ring21, a spring & retainer22, a reverse piston23, an inner seal24, and the reverse drum housing25. The invention10is used with the installation of a new inner seal24with the reverse drum assembly20.FIG. 5Adepicts the reverse drum assembly20installed inside of the reverse drum housing25. When the time comes to replace the inner seal24, an end user would remove in order: (1) the snap ring21, (2) the spring & retainer22, (3) the reverse piston23, and (4) the inner seal24. Next, an end user would place a new inner seal24onto the reverse drum housing25, and then push via the invention10, the inner seal24down until it is seated against a bottom surface25A of the reverse drum housing25.

Referring toFIGS. 6-6D, a direct and coast drum assembly30is composed of a snap ring31, a retainer32, a spring33, coast piston34, and a direct and coast housing35. The invention10is used with the removal of the snap ring31prior to replacement of the coast piston34. Absent the invention10, upon removal of the snap ring31would result in the separation of the spring33and retainer32. A foot press50and the snap ring removal tool13are used to stabilize the spring33during removal of the snap ring31via snap ring pliers51, seeFIGS. 6 and 6C.

Referring toFIGS. 7-7C, a forward drum assembly40is composed of a snap ring41, a spring & retainer42, a forward piston43, an inner seal44, and a forward drum45. The invention10is used to install a new inner seal44with the forward drum seal driver12in a manner analogous to that of the reverse drum seal driver11mentioned above.FIG. 7Adepicts the forward drum assembly40installed inside of the forward drum housing45. When the time comes to replace the inner seal44, an end user would remove in order: (1) the snap ring41, (2) the spring & retainer42, (3) the forward piston43, and (4) the inner seal44(seeFIG. 7Bdetailing the use of a hand tool52to remove the inner seal44from the forward drum housing45). Next, an end user would place a new inner seal44onto the forward drum housing45, and then push via the invention10, the inner seal44down until it is seated against a bottom surface45A of the forward drum housing45.

Referring toFIGS. 8-8A, a transmission case60has an axle seal61that extends slightly from the transmission case60. Removal of the axle seal61is accomplished via a hand tool52. Installation of a new axle seal is achieved via the axle seal installer16. The axle seal installer16has a shoulder16A that has a distance equal to that of the slight extension of the axle seal61from the transmission case60, mentioned above. The axle seal installer16insures that the axle seal61is installed at the proper distance with respect to the outer surface of the transmission case60.

All told, the invention10is useful in removing or installing various components of a transmission via a handle14and corresponding drivers. The utility of the invention10is in the ease of driving seals to the appropriate positions without damage to the seal or surrounding assemblies.