Abstract:
A blind hole puller kit includes a plurality of different sized collets, a plurality of pins, an adapter, and a pulling device. The pins have differently sized first ends corresponding to the collets, and second ends that include a common mounting interface receivable in the adapter. A pin corresponding to a desired collet is configured to be mounted via it mounting interface into the adapter to form an actuating device. The actuating device, via an external thread of the adapter, is configured to be threaded into an internal thread of the collet to actuate tines of the collet to grip the inner surface of a hole to be pulled. An end of the adapter opposite the pin is configured to be mounted to the pulling device, whereby the pulling device can be operated to pull the hole.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates generally to mechanical tools, and, in particular, to blind hole pullers. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Blind hole pullers are tools that are used to remove elements like bearings and bushing from inside a larger assembly by grasping an internal diameter of the element and then pulling it out. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a blind hole puller  10  generally includes a collet  12 , an actuator  14 , and a pulling device  16 . The collet  12  is connected to one end of the adapter  14  and is inserted into an opening of an element  15  such as a bearing or bushing to be pulled. The pulling device  16 , in this case a slide hammer  16 , is connected to an opposite side of the adapter  14  and is operated to pull the element  15 . 
         [0003]      FIG. 2  illustrates a blind hole pulling kit  20  that includes a plurality of adapters  14   a - d  and a plurality of collets  12   a - d  along with a slide hammer pulling device  16 . A collet  12  is an expandable part that generally includes a plurality of tines  18  that together form a tube  20 , and a separating device  22 , such as a truncated cone, that gradually forces the tines  18  apart when pushed through the tube  20 . An adapter  14  is generally a threaded part that, when threaded into the collet  12 , forces the separating device  22  to move along the tube  20  in order to force the tines  18  apart. This motion causes an outer diameter of the tube  20  to expand. When this expansion occurs with the collet  12  inserted into an opening of the element  15 , the outer diameter of the collet grasps the interior of the element. 
         [0004]    When the collet is expanded within the element, the pulling device  16  is affixed to an end  24  of the adapter  14  opposite the collet  12  ( FIG. 1 ). While the pulling device  16  in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is a slide hammer, other types of pulling devices are acceptable, such as bridges and the like. The pulling device  16  is then operated to generate a pulling force outwards from the hole or opening in which the element  15  is received. Because the tines  18  are grasping an interior diameter of the element to be removed, the element is pulled out from the hole or opening. 
         [0005]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , collets  12   a - d  are available in a variety of sizes in order to pull holes of various dimensions, and actuators  14   a - d  are respectively sized to match with a corresponding collet  12   a - d . In order to maintain durability and operability, the collets  12   a - d  and adapters  14   a - d  are generally machined within tight tolerances of each other. However, since each size collet  12   a - d  requires a correspondingly sized adapter  14   a - d , the material required, machining needed, and costs for a blind hole puller kit  20  rises for each size collet  12   a - d  to be included in the kit  20 . Additionally, the collets  12   a - d  and actuators  14   a - d  are subjected to significant wear during use, which can limit their operational lifespan. 
         [0006]    Therefore, what is needed is a blind hole puller with reduced material and machining needs, and with an increased durability and operational lifespan 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    In order to facilitate the pulling of blind holes, a blind hole puller kit that exhibits increased durability and operational lifespan and that facilitates production with a reduced amount of machining and material includes a plurality of different sized collets, a plurality of pins, and an adapter. 
         [0008]    Each collet defines a differently sized opening. A first end of each pin defines a common mounting interface for the adapter, and a second end of each pin is sized to correspond to the opening of one of the collets. Each pin is configured to actuate the corresponding collet as the second end of the pin is inserted into the opening of the collet. The adapter includes a receiving interface that is configured to receive the mounting interface common to the first ends of the pins. 
         [0009]    When a pin is received in the adapter, the pin and adapter together form an actuating device for the corresponding collet. The actuating device is operable to actuate the collet in order to grasp an interior of a hole to be pulled. An end of the adapter opposite the pin defines a mount for affixing a pulling device such as a slide hammer or bridge to the actuation device. When affixed to the actuation device, the pulling device is operable to apply a pulling force to the collet in order to pull the blind hole. 
         [0010]    This summary is intended only to introduce subject matter which is discussed in more detail in the detailed description, the drawings, and the claims, and is not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure in any way. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The foregoing aspects and other features of the present disclosure are explained in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of a known blind hole puller being used to pull a blind hole. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective image of a known blind hole pulling kit. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a disassembled blind hole puller according to this disclosure. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a cross-section view of an assembled actuating device of the blind hole puller of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a cross section view of the blind hole puller of  FIG. 3  in an assembled and actuated state. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  are images of a user actuating a blind hole puller according to this disclosure. 
           [0018]      FIGS. 7-9  are images of different blind hole pulling kits according to this disclosure. 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is an image of the mounting end of an adapter for a blind hole puller according to this disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    For a general understanding of the present embodiments, reference is made to the drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals have been used throughout to designate like elements. 
         [0021]      FIG. 3  illustrates a blind hole puller  100  according to this disclosure. The puller  100  includes a collet  110 , a pin  112 , and an adapter  114 . 
         [0022]    The collet  110  can be any acceptable type or size of collet that is usable for blind hole pulling. In this embodiment, the collet  110  includes a separation device  116  and tines  118  forming a tube  120 , and defines a first receiving area  122  which forms an axial opening. 
         [0023]    The separation device  116  is configured to slide at least partially into the tube  120 , and has a shape of a truncated cone, such that the separation device  116  is configured to force the tines  118  apart as the separation device  116  slides toward an end  124  of the tube  120 . A natural resilience of the tines  118  acts to move the tines  118  toward the resting positon illustrated in  FIG. 3 , which also causes the tines  118  to act to move the separation device  116  away from the end  124  until the cone of the separation device  116  is not engaged with the tines  118 . In some embodiments, the collet can additionally include a return spring (not shown) that acts on the tines in the direction of the resting position. 
         [0024]    The separation device  116  defines a second receiving area  126  that is configured to receive a first end  128  of the pin  112  such that the separation device  116  is moved with the pin  112  as the pin  112  moves toward the end  124  of the tube  120 . 
         [0025]    The pin  112  has a first portion  130  and a second portion  132 . The first portion  130  includes the first end  128 , and is sized to be received within the second receiving area  126  of the device  116 . In order to maintain contact between the pin  112  and the collet  110 , the first portion  130  is advantageously sized for a close running fit within the second receiving area  126  of the separation device  116 . 
         [0026]    The second portion  132  includes a second end  134  of the pin  112  opposite the first end  128 . The second portion  132  is configured to be received within a third receiving area  136  of the actuator  114 , and also defines a locking region  138  in a region between the second end  134  and the first portion  130 . 
         [0027]    The adapter  114  includes an external thread portion  140  and a locking member  142 , and, in addition to defining the third receiving area  136 , further defines a fourth receiving area  144  and fifth receiving area  146 . 
         [0028]    The third receiving area  136  is configured to receive the second portion  132  of the pin  112 . In order to maintain contact between the pin  112  and the collet adapter  114 , the third receiving area  136  is advantageously sized for a close running fit with the second portion  132  of the pin  112 . The third receiving area  136  also defines a stop surface  148  that delimits an extent to which the pin  112  can be inserted therein. 
         [0029]    The fourth receiving area  144  extends transversely to and intersects with the third receiving area  136 , and is located such that the locking region  138  is accessible via the fourth receiving area  144  when the second end  134  of the pin is in abutment with the stop surface  148 . The locking member  142  is configured to pass through the fourth receiving area  144  in order to engage the locking region  138  of the pin. 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the adapter  114 , where the pin  112  is locked within the adapter  114  so that the pin  112  and adapter  114  together form an actuating device  152 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , when the locking member  142  is engaged with the locking region  138 , the pin  112  is held captive within the adapter  114 . 
         [0031]    In this embodiment, the locking member  142  may be a thumb screw, and the locking region may be defined by a circumferential notch in the second portion  132  of the pin  112 . The thumbscrew includes an external thread, and the fourth receiving area  144  defines an internal thread configured to receive the external thread of the thumb screw. When the thumbscrew is screwed so that a least a portion  150  of the thumbscrew passes into the third receiving area  136  such that the portion  150  is configured to axially bear against the notch of the pin  112  to restrain axial motion of the pin  112  within the third receiving area  136 . Other types of acceptable locking mechanisms are also contemplated. In one embodiment, the locking member  142  is a set screw. In other embodiments, a locking mechanism for locking the pin  112  to the adapter  114  includes a snap, a spring, a magnet, or any other acceptable locking device. 
         [0032]    Additionally, the structure of the second portion  132  of the pin  112  is configured to hold the pin  112  in an axial position relative to the adapter  114 . Regions of the second portion  132  of the pin  112  on each axial side of the locking region  138  are in contact with the interior of the third receiving region  136  and thus hold the pin  112  in an axial orientation within the third receiving area  136 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 5  illustrates the actuating device  152 , namely the adapter  114  with the pin  112  locked therein, and inserted into the collet  110 . The external thread portion  140  surrounds at least a portion of the third receiving area  136  and is configured to be received by the first receiving area  122  of the collet  110 , which includes an internal thread configured to engage the external thread portion  140 . By threading the external thread portion  140  into the first receiving area  122  of the collet  110 , the first end  128  of the pin  112  is forced toward the end  124  of the tube  120 . This motion causes the separating device  116  to move toward the end  124  of the tube and actuate the tines  118 , causing the diameter of the tube  120  to expand at the end  124 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0034]    To thread the external portion  140  into the first receiving area  122 , the adapter  114  and collet  110  are rotated relative to each other about the longitudinal axis  154 . This rotation can be executed by a user by gripping the adapter  114  and collet  110  in each hand respectively and rotating one relative to the other. However, tool-assisted threading is also contemplated.  FIGS. 6 a  and 6 b    are images respectively before and after a user manually twists a collet  110  relative to the adapter  114  in order to expand the collet  110  from the position shown in  FIG. 6A  to the position shown in  FIG. 6B . 
         [0035]      FIG. 7  illustrate a blind hole pulling kit  200  that includes a plurality of collets  110   a - e , a plurality of pins  112   a - e , and a common adapter  114 . In this embodiment, at least a portion  202  of the adapter  114  and a portion  204  of the collets  110   a - e  have a hexagonal outer shape  206 . The hexagonal outer shape  206  enables the adapter  114  and/or the collet  110   a - e  to be gripped by, for example, a vice, a wrench, or the like to facilitate the threading of the adapter  114  into the collet  110   a - e . Other outer shapes that facilitate gripping are also contemplated. 
         [0036]    Each pin  112   a - e  has a first portion  130  configured with a different size matched to a corresponding collet  110   a - e . However, the second portions  132  of the pins  112   a - e  are of the same configuration, and thus define a common mounting interface that is configured to be received in the common adapter  114 . Thus, the single adapter  114  can be used for pulling a variety of sizes of holes by installing a pin  112   a - e  that is sized for the collet  110   a - e  configured to pull the hole.  FIG. 8  illustrates images depicting an adapter  114  alternatingly mounting different pins  112   a - d  via the common mounting interface. 
         [0037]    To produce a conventional blind hole pulling kit, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , where each size collet is matched to an actuating device of a corresponding size, each collet and actuating device are preferably precisely machined so that the interface therebetween complies with the close running fit needed for efficient operation. If each actuator does not have a close running fit with its corresponding collet, the collet may warp, bind, or jam during operation, and may be difficult to remove from the collet at the end of the operation. The machining needed to produce the precise running fit increases the cost and complexity of the production for each size collet to be included in the kit. Including an adapter for each collet also increases the amount of material needed to produce the kit. 
         [0038]    In the blind hole pulling kit  200  according to this disclosure, rather than separately machining different actuating devices that each have different sizes as in the prior art, only a single adapter  114  need be produced that can form differently sized actuating devices by being combined with differently sized pins  112   a - e . While the pins  112   a - e  are sized to correspond to the common adapter  114  on one end and different sizes of collets  110   a - e  on the other, the shape of the pins  112   a - e  is relatively simple, and facilitates a fast and straightforward production. The pins  112   a - e  do not include any threaded surfaces or complex operational elements, and can be produced by an acceptable production process known in the art. 
         [0039]    During operation, components of the blind hole puller kit  200  ( FIG. 7 ) may be subjected to intense forces, heat, and strain. In one embodiment, at least one of the adapter  114 , pin  112 , and collet  110  is formed, at least in part, from a heat treated steel. In one embodiment, at least a portion of at least one of the adapter  114 , pin  112 , and collet  110  is formed from a  4041  steel alloy. 
         [0040]    The action of the pin  112  reduces strain acting between the collet  110  and adapter  114  relative to the strain between a conventional collet and actuator. The pin  112  is free to rotate within the adapter  114  and collet  110 , and furthermore acts as a stress intermediary therebetween. A blind hole puller according to this disclosure thus exhibits increased durability and has an increased operational lifespan relative to conventional hole pullers. 
         [0041]      FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a blind hole puller kit  300  that includes a slide hammer  302  and a bridge  304  in addition to the collets  110   a - e , pins  112   a - e , and adapter  114  discussed above. As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the slide hammer  302  and the bridge  304  each have an end  306  that defines a common mounting interface configured to be received in the fifth receiving area  146  of the adapter  114  ( FIG. 3 ). Other pulling devices having the common mounting interface are also contemplated. The common mounting interface allows the adapter  114 , pines  112   a - e , and collets  110   a - e  to be used with a variety of pulling devices for a variety of operations.  FIG. 10  is a perspective image of the adapter  114 . In this embodiment the fifth receiving area  146  is a threaded hole that extends axially from a side of the adapter  114  opposite the pin  112 . 
         [0042]    Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous modifications can be made to the specific implementations described above. Therefore, the following claims are not to be limited to the specific embodiments illustrated and described above. The claims, as originally presented and as they may be amended, encompass variations, alternatives, modifications, improvements, equivalents, and substantial equivalents of the embodiments and teachings disclosed herein, including those that are presently unforeseen or unappreciated, and that, for example, may arise from applicants/patentees and others.