Abstract:
The cam gear holding and turning wrench includes first and second arms which are slidably attached one to the other and which include angled extensions that have transverse rods projecting therefrom so that the spacing of the rods may be adjusted while maintaining the region between the extensions accessible.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In a principal aspect, the present invention relates to a special purpose wrench which may be utilized to engage and hold a cam or spur gear of the type having radial access openings in a fixed position or alternatively to rotate the gear. 
   When repairing vehicle engines it may be necessary to engage and hold a cam in a fixed position or to rotate the cam to facilitate removal of the cam for replacement of the seals or for some other engine repair operation. Typically, such cams (often termed cam shaft pulleys or spur gears) may include peripheral teeth and a generally flat planar hub section with a center opening for attachment of the cam to a camshaft by means of a bolt or other fastening device. Further, such cam shaft pulleys will typically include a series of axial passages spaced radially from the center of the spur gear or camshaft. To effectively remove the camshaft pulley or spur gear from a camshaft, it is necessary to hold the gear in a fixed position while engaging and removing the center bolt that holds the cam on the shaft with a wrench, for example, an impact wrench or air driven wrench. However, access to the bolt which holds the camshaft pulley or spur gear in position may be precluded in the event that some type of tool is utilized to engage the teeth of the pulley or spur gear or otherwise hold the gear in position. Thus, there has developed a need to provide a tool which will effectively hold the camshaft pulley or spur gear in a fixed position while at the same time providing access to the center axial camshaft pulley bolt or spur gear bolt which retains the pulley or gear mounted to and attached to a shaft. 
   Heretofore, various types of tools have been proposed for such an operation. For example, Baum Tools provides a camshaft and an injection pump gear holding and turning tool, Product No. 4394 for such a purpose. The tool includes a straight bar and a pivoting bar attached thereto. Each bar has a projecting rod which fits into an opening defined in the hub of the cam gear. 
   Another tool useful for such functions is made by Schley Products, Product No. 95800. This product includes an elongate arm with bifurcated arms projecting therefrom and having attached thereto transverse rod members designed to engage the cam openings associated with the hub of a camshaft pulley spur gear. 
   Each of the aforesaid tools is useful for its intended purpose. However, its utility is limited by the fact that the tool has limited adjustment capabilities. In other words, the described tools may not be used for successful engagement and turning of cams having various diameters with the hub openings positioned in spaced relation with respect to one another. Thus, there has developed a need for a more universal tool which would accomplish the function of holding a spur gear or camshaft gear and also which can be used for turning such a spur gear or camshaft pulley or gear. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Briefly, the present invention comprises a cam gear holding and turning wrench which includes a first elongate arm having a first section which is a generally flat planar section and a second section extending therefrom generally at an obtuse angle. An elongate slot is provided in the first section. A second arm is slidably mounted to the first arm. The second arm includes a third section generally parallel to and overlying the first section of the first arm. The second arm further includes a fourth section generally parallel to and spaced from the second section of the first arm. The first and third sections are slidably mounted and adjustable with respect to one another. The second and fourth sections each include projecting rods which extend transversely from the ends thereof for engagement with the radial openings defined in a camshaft pulley, spur gear or the like. The rods may thus be adjustably spaced to accommodate the spacing of the openings associated with a cam shaft pulley or spur gear. Inasmuch as the space or region between the rods is unoccupied by any metal or any part of the tool, that space is accessible for positioning a wrench on the center mounting bolt associated with the spur gear or camshaft pulley while the rods associated with the tool are adjusted and engaged with the radial openings of the camshaft pulley or spur gear. 
   Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved tool or wrench for holding a cam gear in a fixed position and for turning of that cam gear. 
   It is a further object of the invention to provide a wrench which is capable of adjustment of the spacing of the rods or members which are utilized to hold the cam gear in a fixed position or for turning of the cam gear. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide a cam gear holding and turning wrench which is made from generally flat bar stock and which includes a mechanism for adjusting the wrench to accommodate camshaft pulleys, spur gears and the like having various sizes and configurations. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a cam gear holding and turning wrench which is designed to avoid interference of the wrench with the center axis of the gear or sprocket so that another wrench or tool may be utilized to remove the bolt or fastener which holds the spur gear or camshaft pulley in position within the engine of an engine compartment. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive, rugged, easily used and easily adjusted cam gear holding and turning wrench. 
   These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     In the detailed description which follows reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures: 
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of the wrench of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side wrench of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded isometric view of the tool of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the tool of  FIG. 1  depicted as it is used to engage a or cam gear. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to the figures, the tool of the invention includes a first elongate arm  10  having a grip end  12  with a grip member  14 , comprising a plastic or rubber grip member, attached thereto. The first arm  10  has an elongate center section or first section  16  extending along a longitudinal axis  18 . The first arm  10  further includes a second section  20  which extends from the first section  16  at an obtuse angle  22 . The second section  20  includes a first rod  24  extending transversely from the distal end  26  of the second section  20 . The first rod  24  is a generally cylindrical rod having a circumferential groove  30 . The first rod  24  is fastened by means of a bolt or fastener  31  to the second section  20  and extends along an axis  32  transversely to the plane of the first arm  10 . The first arm  10  is formed from flat planar bar stock in the preferred embodiment, although other starting materials and stock may be utilized in the practice of the invention. 
   The first arm  10  further includes a through slot  38  within the first section  16  which extends axially in the direction of the axis  18 . In the preferred embodiment, the slot  38  is approximately midway between the opposite ends of the first section  16  and extends in the range of 1–5 inches. The purpose or function of this slot  38  is to permit adjustment of the wrench to accommodate various sizes of cam gears, camshaft pulleys, sprockets and the like. 
   A second or sliding arm  40  includes a third section  42  which is generally parallel to and overlies the first section  16  of the first arm  10 . The second arm  40  further includes a fourth section  44  having an axis  46  which forms an obtuse angle  48  generally equal to the obtuse angle  22  between the first section  16  and second section  20 . Thus, the second section  20  and fourth section  44  are generally parallel to one another. The second arm  40  is likewise made from flat bar stock similar to the stock utilized to make the first arm  10 . 
   First and second spaced bolts  50  and  52  in combination with nuts  54  and  56  are utilized to retain the first arm  40  attached to the second arm  10 . The bolts  50  and  52  thus fit through the slot  38 . The bolts are spaced approximately one inch from one another. The diameter of the bolts  50  and  52  is such that the main shaft  51 ,  53  respectively thereof is sized to slide or fit through tubular spacers  55 ,  57  within the slot  38 . The nuts  54  and  56  may be tightened on the bolts  50  and  52  to hold the first arm  10  and second arm  40  together, but slidable in slot  38  and thereby space the second section  20  and fourth section  44  from one another. 
   The fourth section  44  includes a second rod  60  having substantially the same construction as the first first rod  24  thus including a groove  62  at its distal end and an attachment bolt  64  to hold the second rod  60  in place. The rods  24  and  60  extend an equal distance from the arms  10  and/or  40  so that the grooves  30  and  62  are substantially in the same plane. In practice, the rods  24  and  60  are in the range of 1–3 inches in length and extend at right angles or in a perpendicular direction from the bar stock forming the first arm  10  and the second arm  40 . In practice, the obtuse angles  22  and  48  are in the range of 100–160° and are equal. 
   The use of the tool is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . That is, the cam gear or spur gear or cam  80  typically includes a center bolt  82  for attachment to a shaft. The cam gear  80  further includes radially spaced openings  84  and  86 . Thus, the rods  24  and  60  may be uniquely spaced to conform to the spacing of the openings  84  and  86  in the spur gear or cam gear  80 . This is done by adjustment of the spacing of the second section  20  and fourth section  40  which is effected by the sliding of or fastening members or bolts  50  and  52  in slot  38 . The spacing, thus, of the rods  24  and  60  can be made to accommodate the spacing of the openings  84  and  86 . 
   Once the spacing is adjusted appropriately, the engagement of grooves  30 ,  62  will effectively maintain that spacing. The ends of the rods  24  and  60 , and more particularly the slots or grooves  30  and  62 , are thus fitted against the center hub or plate defined by the gear  80  and, more particularly, defined by the edges of the openings  84  and  86 . The space or region between the rods  24  and  60 , on a straight line, is open so that easy access is maintained to the cam fastening bolt  82  associated with fastening of the cam gear to its shaft. Bolt  82  may thus be engaged by a socket as the openings  84  and  86  are engaged by rods  24  and  60  to hold the cam gear  80  in a fixed position or to effect turning to the extent desired. The bolt  82  which holds the cam gear in position may be loosened while the cam gear  80  is held in such a position. 
   Thus, with the tool of the present invention, there is almost infinite adjustment available for use of the tool with variously sized cam gears, pulleys, or the like. The tool has generally universal application for multiple types of vehicle engine repairs. 
   The design of the tool may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. For example, the angles of the first and second sections and the angle of the third and fourth sections may be varied. The stock for the manufacture of the tool may be varied and include stock other than flat bar stock. The design and construction of the rods  24  and  60  and the number and position of grooves therein may be varied. The grooves need not be totally annular grooves. In other words, the grooves  30 ,  62  need not extend entirely about the periphery of the rod. The rods  24  and  60  need not necessarily be cylindrical rods. Other configurations may be utilized. Though there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that the invention is limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.