Patent Number: 054616476
Section: description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, it is seen in FIG. 1 that the invention is generally indicated by the numeral 10. The invention is a drive tool for engaging and driving the reusable locking arrangement between the guide tubes and the upper end fitting illustrated in FIG. 6. Drive tool 10 is generally comprised of driver 12, wrench 14, and positioner 16. Driver 12 is formed from a shaft with a first end that has a larger diameter than the remainder of the shaft. Drive head 17 is received on the first end of driver 12 to provide an attachment point for tool extensions. The transition to the smaller diameter forms a shoulder that accommodates a thrust washer 18 that is received on the shaft from the second end. Thrust washer 18 serves to help maintain spring 20 in its installed position over the narrower diameter of the shaft. A radial notch and axial slots in communication with the radial notch are provided a selected distance from the tapered end. Radial notch 22, best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, is formed by a reduced diameter section. Four axial slots 24 are provided that begin at radial notch 22 and extend toward the second tapered end of the shaft. Axial slots 24 are spaced ninety degrees apart around the circumference of the shaft. Wrench 14, seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, is attached to the shaft in a suitable manner such as by a roll pin 26 that is inserted through the shaft and wrench 14. This will result in corresponding rotation of wrench 14 with driver 12. Wrench 14 is provided with slots at its lower end, four in the preferred embodiment, that are equally spaced apart around the circumference. Slots 28 are sized to cooperate with the collar of the locking arrangement on the guide tubes and upper end fitting illustrated in FIG. 6 and will be further explained below. Positioner 16, seen in FIG. 1, is attached to driver 12 at radial notch 22 and axial slots 24 for positioning wrench 14 and for allowing selected axial and rotational movement of driver 12 relative to positioner 16 when in position on the upper end fitting. The upper end of positioner 16 is provided with a circular bore sized to slidably and rotatably receive the shaft of driver 12. Bushing 30 is received on the shaft between positioner 16 and spring 20. The lower end of positioner 16, seen in FIG. 3, is provided with slot 32, the purpose of which will be explained below. Set screw 34 is threaded through positioner 16 so as to be slidably received in radial notch 22 and any of axial slots 24 depending upon the position of driver 12, as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. This provides for movement of driver 12 relative to said positioner 16 between a first normal position where set screw 34 is located at the end of one of the axial slots 24 distant from the radial 22 notch and a second operational position where set screw 34 is located in the radial notch 22 for rotation of driver 12. In operation, the tapered end of driver 12 is inserted into the quick disconnect collar 36 seen in FIG. 6 with upper end fitting 38. Drive tool 10 is lowered until slot 32 on positioner 16 is seated on one of the grillages 40 and aligns slots 28 in wrench 14 with projections 42 on quick disconnect collar 36. Driver 12 is in its first normal position at this time. Downward pressure against spring 20 causes driver 12 to move to its second operation position and causes engagement of wrench 14 with projections 42. FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the operation of set screw 34 during downward movement of driver 12. Axial slots 24 interact with set screw 34 to prevent rotation of driver 12 until it has moved downwardly enough such that set screw 34 is received in radial notch 22, which then allows rotation of driver 12. Driver 12 is then rotated ninety degrees to unlock the quick disconnect collar 36 from upper end fitting 38. Spring 20 forces driver 12 back to its first normal position after ninety degrees of rotation unless downward pressure is maintained. This provides a means of positive indication to the operator that drive tool has been used properly to unlock or lock the quick disconnect collar 36 from the upper end fitting 38. It should be noted that FIG. 6 illustrates all quick disconnect collars 36 in the locked position and that drive tool 10 may be selectively used to rotate quick disconnect collars 36 between either their locked or unlocked positions on upper end fitting 38. This eliminates the need for separate tools for locking and unlocking the upper end fitting 38 in place as in the past. Interaction between set screw 34, slots 24, and notch 22 serve to prevent unwanted rotation of driver 12 when in the first normal position and to help provide positive ninety degree rotation during operation.