EXTRACTION TOOL

Abstract: An extraction tool comprises a flexible shaft (50), a handle (40) at one end, connection means (20) at the other end and a sliding weight (30) on the shaft. By operating the tool as a slide hammer, it can be used to extract conveyor belt spindles (10), and in panel beating, for example. The flexible shaft allows the tool to be used in confined places, such as in mining operations.

Description: EXTRACTION TOOL The present invention relates to an extraction tool. In particular, the invention is directed to a sliding hammer having a flexible shaft which is particularly, but not 5 solely, suited for extracting spindles from joins between £ conveyor belts. BACKGROUND ART The present invention operates generally as a slide hammer. Although slide hammers are known, they are 10 restricted to having rigid shafts, in mining situations, ribs, props and conveyor structures often make the use of such rigid shaft slide hammers awkward or impossible since there is limited space in which the slide hammer can be used. When the slide hammer is used in an awkward 15 configuration, the operator may not be able to apply his full force to the slide hammer. It is an object of the present invention to overcome, or substantially ameliorate, the above described disadvantage by providing an extraction tool which comprises 20 a slide hammer having a flexible shaft. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Accordingly, in the one broad form, the present invention provides an extraction tool comprising a flexible shaft, a handle at one end of said shaft, a hammer weight 25 slidable on said shaft to contact said handle, and connection means at the other end of said shaft for connecting said shaft to an object to be pulled. The extraction tool of the present invention can be held at odd angles to avoid obstacles and still achieve easy 30 and efficient extraction of objects, such as spindles. Moreover, by bending the shaft, the operator can ensure that . the hammer weight and the handle are conveniently positioned to enable the operator to apply his full force to the f sliding hammer against the handle. 35 One method of joining the ends of conveyor belts is to insert a spindle through a series of overlapping loops which are laced to the belts. After some use of the conveyor, the spindle is difficult to remove. To date, when extending the OΛIPI conveyor belt, the belt had been cut on either side of a join, an extra length of belt added, and the ends of the extra length joined to the cut ends by the standard procedure of stitching the loops to the ends and re-inserting a spindle. Such a process is not only wasteful, but also time-consuming. Increased down-time results in less efficient operation. The present invention provides an extraction tool which allows the spindle to be removed quickly and easily. The extra length of conveyor belt can then be added to the existing belt. If the loops are pre-stitched to the extra length of belt, the time taken for the operation is governed only by the time required to remove and insert the spindles. The extraction tool of the present invention is not limited to removing spindles from conveyor belts, however. It has general application as a slide hammer or extraction tool for removing dents in panels, and removal of bearings, bearing cases, seals and cups etc. The connection means can be varied to suit the particular application. For example, for extracting spindles from conveyor belts a spindle clamp is used. A chain loop can be used for straightening car and door columns. A hook can be used as a general purpose connection, for example, in freeing persons trapped in cars after an accident. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Notwithstanding any other form of the invention, a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the extraction tool of the preferred embodiment when used as a conveyor belt spindle puller, Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the connection means of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the handle of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the sliding hammer of Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the flexible shaft of Fig. 1. BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION As shown in Fig. 1, the extraction tool comprises a flexible shaft 50 having a handle 40 at one end and connection means 20 at the other end for fastening to a spindle 10. A hammer weight 30 is slidable along the flexible shaft 50 to contact the handle 40 and thereby provide a tensile force to the spindle 10 upon each impact of the hammer 30 against the handle 40. When removing conveyor belt spindles, a spindle clamp as shown in Fig. 2 can be used as the connection means. The spindle clamp 20 is connected to the flexible shaft 50 by a swage fitting 24. Square headed blocking screws 22 ensure that the spindle 10 is firmly held by the spindle clamp 20. An "eyed" swage fitting is provided at the other end of the flexible shaft 50 and serves as a stop for the handle 40 as shown in Fig. 3. The eye can come out of the handle and be used for storing the tool on a hook away from mud and spillage that often exists in a mine. The handle can be made of any suitable material, such as brass or cast-iron. It should be of a manageable weight, .typically 1-3 kilograms The sliding hammer 30 has bevelled ends 32 on its bore to prevent fraying of the flexible shaft 50. The weight of the hammer is a compromise between a heavy weight for added force and a light weight for ease of handling. Typically, the hammer 30 has a weight between 2 and 5 kilograms. An advantageous feature of the extraction tool is the flexible shaft 50. Preferably, the shaft is resiliently flexible. In the preferred embodiment, the shaft comprises a 7 X 19 stainless steel cable which is resilient yet flexible. Such a cable will maintain initial tension between the handle 40 and the connection means 20 so that the operator need not worry about pulling on the handle. The foregoing discloses only one embodiment of the present invention, and modifications which are obvious to those skilled in the art may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. For example, the connection means 20 can be varied to suit particular applications in panel beating, or in bearing extraction. 'BϋRE

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An extraction tool comprising a flexible shaft, a handle at one end of said shaft, a hammer weight slidable on said shaft to contact said handle, and connection means at the other end of said shaft for connecting said shaft to an object to be pulled. 2. An extraction tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shaft is resilient. 3. An extraction tool as claimed in claim 2, wherein said shaft is a steel wound cable. 4. An extraction tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said connection means comprises a member having a bore therein to receive a conveyor belt spindle, and means for fastening said member to said spindle. 5. An extraction tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said connection means and said handle are detachable from said flexible shaft. 6. An extraction tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said hammer weight is in the range of 2 kilograms to 5 kilograms. 7. A tool for pulling spindles from conveyor belts, said tool comprising a flexible shaft having a handle at one end and connection means at the other end of said shaft for connecting said tool to said spindle, and a hammer weight slidable on said shaft to contact said handle and impart a tensile force to said spindle upon impact of said hammer weight on said handle. 'BURE __O P

Inventors: OWEN KENT LINDEN, OWEN, KENT, LINDEN
Applicants: OWEN KENT LINDEN, OWEN, KENT, LINDEN
Application year: 1984
Main classification: B25B27
IPC codes: B25B27, B25D1