Abstract:
A tool for removal of a fuel line from a vehicle fuel module by engagement of and displacement of a locking member, said tool including first and second arms with semi-cylindrical sections at each end that may be used in combination to engage the locking member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In a principal aspect, the present invention relates to a tool useful for disconnection of both the inlet and outlet fuel supply lines to the fuel tank of a vehicle. The disconnect tool may be used in other environments, however, to disconnect fluid transport lines of the type which utilize a biased locking cylinder lock for engagement with a fitting compatible with the tube or line. 
   Various modern vehicles utilize fluid transfer lines which incorporate a cylindrical fitting at the end of the line capable of engaging and locking into a fitting. For example, the fuel lines of General Motors vehicles utilize a fuel module which includes an inlet line and an outlet line. Each line includes a cylindrical locking member which is biased in a longitudinal direction so as to lock against a fitting. To remove the fuel line from a fuel module fitting, it is necessary to push the cylindrical locking member against the biasing force. Once positioned in a release position, the cylinder lock no longer engages the fitting and the fuel line may be removed from the fitting. Various other motor vehicles utilize such fitting constructions. 
   Heretofore, there have been made available certain tools for the removal of such lines from fittings. For example, Snap-On Tools provides a fuel line disconnect tool set, Model YA9457 for such use. The described tool is in the form of a pliers which include elements at the distal or outer ends of the arms of the pliers. These elements may be positioned to engage the locking members to effect their disengagement from a fuel module. 
   Nonetheless, there has remained the need to provide a simple and inexpensive tool to disconnect fuel lines from fuel modules, particularly those associated with General Motors vehicles, but also for other vehicles and other instances where such lines are to be disconnected from a fitting. Such a tool, desirably, must be useable in a number of environments where access to the connection assembly is limited. These among other needs led to the development of the present tool. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Briefly, the present invention comprises a tool for removal of, or disconnection of a fuel line from a fitting. The fuel line is of the type which includes a biased generally cylindrical locking ring on the end of the fuel line for engaging and retaining the fuel line with a fitting. In order to disengage the fuel line from the fitting, the cylindrical locking member associated with the fuel line must be biased or moved against the biasing force to release the fuel line from engagement with the fitting. The tool of the present invention accomplishes these objectives by providing a first arm member which includes an elongate body section with semi-cylindrical end sections projecting from opposite ends of the body member. A separate, second arm member, which in a preferred embodiment, is substantially a mirror image of the first arm member. The semi-cylindrical end sections of each of the arm members are designed to be separately engageable with the cylindrical locking ring of a fuel line. 
   In operation, a first one of the semi-cylindrical sections is engaged with the end of the fuel line to move or push the locking ring in a desired manner. The second arm member is then appropriately positioned in combination with the first arm member so that the appropriate cylindrical sections of the first and second arm members are engaged with the locking ring of the fuel line. In this manner, each of the separate arm members may be positioned independently in a manner which in combination will effect release of the fuel line. As a result, the tool is very useful, particularly in highly restricted areas. That is, because the tool is comprised of two separate elements; namely, a first arm member and a second arm member which are independent of one another, the elements may be independently positioned to engage a fuel line locking ring and release that ring. Adjustment of the arm members independently of each other and positioning of the arm members independently of each other, but in the final analysis assembling them in combination, provides a tool which is highly effective for removal of fuel lines, particularly in restricted areas. 
   Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved tool for disconnecting a fuel line from a fitting. 
   It is a further object of the invention to provide a tool for disconnecting lines from fittings wherein the tool is comprised of independent and separate first and second arm members which work in combination to effect such removal. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide a tool for disconnecting a fuel line from a fitting which is economical, easy to use, rugged, and inexpensive. 
   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 side elevation of a first arm member or right hand arm of the tool; 
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the arm of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view of the arm of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a right hand end view of the tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a left hand end view of the tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a plan view of the second arm member or left hand arm of the tool of the invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view of the arm of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the arm of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a right hand end view of the arm of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a left hand end view of the arm of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 11  is an isometric view illustrating the manner of positioning first arm member on a fuel line attached to a fuel module fitting; 
       FIG. 12  illustrates the movement and further positioning of the arm member depicted in  FIG. 11  in an isometric view; 
       FIG. 13  is an isometric view illustrating the positioning of the second arm member in combination with a first arm member on a fuel line attached to a fuel module fitting; and 
       FIG. 14  is an isometric view of the tool of the invention illustrating the first arm member and second arm member joined back to back prior to positioning on a fuel line for removal thereof. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to the drawings, the tool of the invention is comprised of two separate or independent parts. One part comprises a first arm member  20  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1–5 . The second part comprises a second arm member  50  as illustrated in  FIGS. 6–10 . The first arm member  20  and the second arm member  50  are generally mirror images of each other. Thus, many of the aspects of the description of the first arm member  20  apply to the construction of the second arm member  50 . Further, each arm member  20 ,  50  may be made from a molded plastic material such as acetal. However, the material utilized to manufacture the arm members  20  and  50  is not a limiting feature of the invention. 
   Referring therefore to  FIGS. 1–5 , the first arm member  20  which is also conveniently called a right arm  20 , includes an elongate body member  22 . The elongate body member  22  includes a first end  24  and an opposite or second end  26 . A generally longitudinal straight line axis  28  extends between the ends  24  and  26 . Projecting transversely to the axis  28  is a first, semi-cylindrical section  30  having an axis  32  generally transverse to the axis  28 . Similarly, projecting from the second end  26  is a semi-cylindrical section  34  having an axis  36  also transverse to the longitudinal axis  28 . In the preferred embodiment, the axes  32 ,  36  are parallel and the body member  22  is a straight line body member extending between the ends  24  and  26  and thus the axis  28  is a straight line axis. However, the axis  28  may be curved, angled, or otherwise configured. Most importantly, the body member  22  includes the first and second ends  24  and  26  having the transversely extending semi-cylindrical sections  30  and  34 . Dimensionally, the spacing of the transverse axes  32  and  36  is in the range of 2 inches. The longitudinal extent of the semi-cylindrical members  30  and  34  is in the range of approximately ½ inch. Such dimensional characteristics enable use of the tool in highly restricted areas and facilitate manipulation by a service worker or mechanic. 
   The body member includes a series of projecting tabs  39 ,  40  and  41  which are provided merely for joinder of the first body member  20  to the second body member  50  for purposes of storage or display. In other words, the tabs  39 ,  40  and  41  do not become functionally involved in the operation of removal of a fuel line from a fitting. 
   The semi-cylindrical sections  30  and  34  are preferably formed so as to define a half section of a cylinder. However, the semi-cylindrical sections  30 ,  34  may be formed to be less than the half section of a cylinder. Thus, the invention is not to be limited to strictly semi-circular cylindrical sections  30  and  34 . Lesser sections may be considered to be within the scope of the language “semi-cylindrical”. The radius of each of the semi-cylindrical sections  30  and  34  is different. In other words, the semi-cylindrical section  30  has a lesser diameter or radius than the semi-cylindrical section  34 . The radii or diameters are chosen to be compatible with the locking rings associated with fuel lines and other such lines. 
     FIGS. 6–10  disclose the second arm member  50  which is compatible with and substantially a mirror image of the first arm member  20 . The second arm member  50  is also referred to as the left hand, or left arm member. Second arm member  50  thus includes an elongate body member  52  having a longitudinal axis  54 . It further includes a first end  56  and the second end  58  with a semi-cylindrical section  60  associated with the first end  56  and a distinctly sized, semi-cylindrical section  62  associated with the second end  58 . The semi-cylindrical section  60  has a radius or diameter substantially equal to the radius or diameter of the semi-cylindrical section  30  associated with the first arm  20 . Likewise, the semi-cylindrical section  62  has a radius or diameter substantially equal to that of the semi-cylindrical section  34  associated with the first arm member  20 . The semi-cylindrical section  60  includes an axis  61 . The semi-cylindrical section  62  includes an axis of rotation  63 . The axis  61  and the axis  63  are substantially parallel as are the axes  32  and  36  associated with the first arm member  20 . In operation or use, all of the axes associated with the semi-cylindrical sections; namely, axes  61 ,  63 ,  32  and  36  are parallel to one another. Further, when the arm members  20  and  50  are in their utilitarian position, the semi-cylindrical sections  61 ,  63 ,  30  and  34  project axially in the same direction and for approximately the same distance from the body members  20  and  50 . 
     FIG. 14  illustrates in an isometric view the arm members  20  and  50  which comprise the tool.  FIGS. 11–13  illustrate the manner of use of the tool. Referring therefore to  FIGS. 11–13  there is illustrated a fuel tank module  70  associated with a vehicle. There is also illustrated a fuel line  72 ; namely, a supply line and a return line  74 . Each of the fuel lines  72  and  74  connect with the respective fittings  76  and  78  associated with the module  70 . Further, each of the fuel lines  72  and  74  include a ring element  80  and  82  which serves to retain the end of the fuel line  72  and  74  engaged with the appropriate fitting  76  and  78 . 
   In use, a first arm  20  is positioned so that the appropriate end thereof; namely, the larger end in  FIG. 11 , or in other words, the larger semi-cylindrical section  34  is positioned to engage the locking ring associated with the large fuel supply line  72 . The arm  20  is then rotated so as to enable additional access for second arm  50 . Thus, the arm  20  is rotated approximately 90° to a second position as illustrated in  FIG. 12 . Subsequently, the second arm  50  is positioned in opposition to the first arm  20  as illustrated in  FIG. 13 . When so positioned, the arms  20  and  50  may be manually manipulated so as to be pulled or pushed in the direction of the arrow in  FIG. 13  to thereby release the locking ring member associated with the fuel line  72  and thereby disconnect the fuel line  72  from the fuel module  70 . A similar operation may be performed to remove the second or smaller fuel line  74 . Because the arms  20  and  50  are independent of each other, they may be independently manipulated and positioned so as to effect removal of the fuel line  72  from the fuel module  70 . Further, because the opposite ends of each of the arms  20  and  50  include uniquely sized semi-cylindrical sections, the tool may be utilized with various sizes of fuel lines having variously sized fittings associated therewith. 
     FIG. 14  illustrates the manner in which the first and second arm  20  and  50  may be connected one to the other by means of the interlocking tabs  39 ,  40  and  41 . 
   A preferred embodiment has been described. Variations may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the size and orientation of the various cylindrical sections may be altered. The extent of the formation of the cylindrical sections may be adjusted. The axial configuration of the semi-cylindrical sections may be altered. The invention is therefore limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.