Abstract:
This disclosure describes a tool or a family of tools which will provide mechanical force to separate pieces, plates, or parts of machinery or other assemblies which, although de-fastened, still resist separation. This is accomplished by utilizing a bolt-like device and a plurality of gripping inserts, which provide separating force between a plurality of plates or similar structures when the device is operated properly.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority benefit of U.S. Ser. No. 61/284,012, filed Dec. 11, 2009. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     This disclosure relates to the field of tools utilized to separate pieces or parts of machinery or other assemblies which resist separation after removal of any physical fasteners such as for example bolts, or screws. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     This disclosure describes a tool, or a family of tools, which will provide mechanical force to separate pieces, plates, or parts of machinery or other assemblies which, although de-fastened, still resist separation. 
     It occurs frequently in all types of machine and apparatus repair, replacement, modification, or dismantling, etc, that two pieces of material (usually metal, but could be all sorts of materials such as plastic, wood, stone, composites, etc) which have been attached together need to be separated. These pieces might be plates, parts, bosses, covers, bearing holders, or any other type of pieces that, for any reason, may have been attached or fitted together to form, or complete the form of, some type of assembly. To define this broad group of components, the term plates will be utilized. 
     It also occurs frequently that, due to many varied and differing factors, that even once all the bolts, screws, rivets, etc. which were used to hold the plates together have been removed, the individual plates remain firmly together, and resist multiple efforts to separate them. This may be due to oxidation such as rust, adhesives, electrolysis, gaskets, or other factors. 
     Many, many differing forms of “persuasion” have been used over the centuries of the machine in efforts to try to separate plates which have become “stuck” together during their assembled or fitted history, and now resist separation. Men have used hammering force, wedges, pry-bars, heat, cold, vibration, and many other adaptations A very common effort, for instance, is to try to drive the tip of a screwdriver or other tool in between the adjoining faces of the plates in the hope of wedging a gap between the faces which can then be made wider by driving in a bigger screwdriver/wedge and attempting to pry the faces apart. Millions of screwdrivers and other tools have been broken in these efforts, and the faces of millions of plates have been damaged or ruined by the gashes created by having sharp tools forced and hammered into them. 
     This disclosure provides an effective, sensible, tool to assist in separating such plates in a manner which significantly reduces the frustration and time required, increases the success, and does not damage the plates which are being removed. 
     The basic idea of one embodiment is to make a tool which uses the threads already present in one of the plates, or which will be “created” by the tool, to create a measured and gradual force which can, through the use of the tool, be used to separate the plates. 
     Disclosed herein is a tool for physically separating a plurality of plates; the apparatus comprising in one form: a modified bolt comprising a first end threaded portion and a second end non-cylindrical head portion longitudinally opposed to the threaded portion; wherein the threaded portion is configured to interoperate with a borehole within a first plate of the plurality of plates to be separated; the modified bolt comprising a smooth surface tapered region between the threaded portion and the head portion, with the taper narrowing in diameter toward the head portion; a plurality of gripping inserts having an inner frustoconical surface operably configured to interoperate with the smooth surface tapered region of the modified bolt; wherein the gripping inserts further comprise an outer surface having a toothed surface configured to engage an inner surface of a borehole within a second of the plurality of plates; and wherein the tool is configured to exert tensile forces between the first plate and the second plate when operated. 
     The tool as recited may also be produced in a form wherein the modified bolt further comprises a smooth surface cylindrical region longitudinally positioned between the head portion and the tapered region. 
     In one form, the tool described above further comprising a split tube having an inner diameter substantially equivalent to an outer diameter of the smooth surface cylindrical region to interoperate therewith. 
     The tool described may further comprise a plurality of bearings positioned between the gripping inserts and the smooth surface tapered region of the modified bolt. In one form, the bearings are needle bearings. 
     The tool disclosed may further comprise: a tapered element having internal female threads; wherein the internal female threads are configured to interoperate with the threaded portion of the modified bolt. 
     In another embodiment, the tool disclosed herein may further comprise: a dual threaded nut having right hand female internal threads, and left hand female internal threads; wherein the dual threaded nut is operatively configured to provide separation forces between the plurality of plates when the threaded nut is rotated relative to both the right hand female internal threads, and left hand female internal threads. 
     In yet another embodiment, a tool for physically separating a plurality of plates is disclosed comprising: a modified bolt comprising a lower threaded portion and an upper end non-cylindrical head portion longitudinally opposed to the lower threaded portion; wherein the lower threaded portion is configured to interoperate with a borehole within a first plate of the plurality of plates to be separated; the modified bolt comprising a smooth surface tapered region between the lower threaded portion and the head portion, with the taper narrowing increasing in diameter toward the head portion; a plurality of gripping inserts having an inner frustoconical surface operably configured to interoperate with the smooth surface tapered region of the modified bolt; a nut having internal threads operatively configured to engage an upper threaded portion of the bolt and a channel configured to engage a protrusion on the gripping inserts so as to retain the vertical relative position between the gripping inserts and the nut as the gripping inserts rotate relative to the nut; wherein the gripping inserts further comprise an outer surface having a toothed surface configured to engage an inner surface of a borehole within a second of the plurality of plates; and wherein the tool is configured to exert tensile forces between the first plate and the second plate when operated. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of one embodiment of the disclosure with the plates shown in a cutaway view. 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of one embodiment of the disclosure with the plates shown in a cutaway view and the jaws removed. 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of one embodiment of the disclosure with the plates and jaws removed. 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of one embodiment of the disclosure with the split tube removed to show the cylindrical region of the bolt portion. 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view of one embodiment of the disclosure with the plates, split tube, and jaws removed to show the bolt portion. 
         FIG. 6  is an isometric detail view of the jaws in one form. 
         FIG. 7  is an isometric detail view of the split tube in one form 
         FIG. 8  is an isometric view of the tool in one form being used to separate a plurality of plates. 
         FIG. 9  is an isometric view of the tool in another embodiment separating plates without a threaded bore. 
         FIG. 10  is an isometric view of another embodiment of the tool. 
         FIG. 11  is an isometric, partial cutaway view of another embodiment of the tool. 
         FIG. 12  is an isometric view of another embodiment of the tool. 
         FIG. 13  is an isometric, partial cutaway view of another embodiment of the tool. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The first disclosed embodiment of the disclosure consists of a plurality of interoperating parts comprising the tool  20 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown, the tool  20  is inserted through a smooth borehole  22  within a non-threaded plate  24 , and also into a threaded hole  26  within a threaded plate  28 . As previously described, the plates  24  and  28  have had the previous fasteners removed, however, the adjoining surfaces  30  are still connected, such as by adhesive, oxidation (rust), gaskets, or other contaminants. 
     Before beginning a detailed description of the embodiments, an axis system  10  is shown, comprising a longitudinal axis  12  and a radially outward axis  14 . Also, as shown in  FIG. 7 , a circumferential axis  16  is shown, which is generally circular in nature and centered about the long axis of the tool  20 . 
     Returning to  FIG. 1 , the tool  20  comprises several interoperating parts, the largest of which is a modified bolt  32 . One embodiment of this bolt is shown in more detail in  FIG. 3  having a head portion  34 , which as shown is hexagonal in cross-section, however, it need only be configured so as to utilize mechanical means for turning the bolt  32 . Longitudinally below the head portion  34  is a cylindrical region  36 , having a smooth outer surface for use as described later. A tapered region or cone  38  is also shown between the lower edge  40  of the cylindrical region and an upper edge  42  of a threaded region  44 . In this form, the cylindrical region  36  will be slightly smaller in diameter than the hole  22 , and the non-threaded plate  24  and the threaded region  44  will be configured to interoperate with the threaded hole  26  of the threaded plate  28 , such as is well known in the art. In another form, shown in  FIG. 4 , the cylindrical region  36  has a diameter quite smaller than the smooth borehole  22 , to allow a plurality of split tube members  46 , such as shown in  FIG. 7 , to be positioned upon the cylindrical region  36   a . In this embodiment, the inner diameter  48  of the split tube  46  will be substantially the same as the outer diameter of the cylindrical region  36   a , and additionally, the outer diameter  50  will be substantially equivalent to the outer diameter  52  of the jaws  54 . The jaws  54  and their use will be described in more detail and can be utilized as a single element, or a plurality of elements such as a group of 2, 3, or more individual jaws. 
     To utilize the tool in one form, as previously mentioned, the bolts holding a plurality of plates  24  and  28  are removed, at which time the tool  20  is inserted through the smooth borehole  22  and into the threaded hole  26 . It is obviously not necessary that the bolt  32  “bottom out” at the bottom end  56  of the threaded hole  26 , nor is it important that the lower edge  58  of the head portion  34  be in contact with the upper surface  60  of the plate  24 . However, it is important that the jaws  54  not extend into the threaded plate  28 . Once properly in position, the jaws  54  are forced downward  62 , and as the jaws  54  engage the tapered region  38 , such downward force forces the jaws  54  radially outward, such that the teeth  64  bite into the inner diameter of the smooth borehole  22 . Thus, when the head portion  34  is rotated such as to remove the threaded region  44  of the tool  20  from the threaded hole  26 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , the plates  24  and  28  begin to disengage. As right hand threads are most common in the art, the bolt  32  will be rotated in direction  66 , thus resulting in longitudinal travel in the direction  68 , thus exerting additional force outward  70  between the jaws  54  and the plate  24 . Of course the device could be configured to utilize left hand threads. As the bolt  32  rotates within the jaws  54 , substantial force is exerted in opposing directions as shown at  72  between the plates, and when sufficient force is exerted, the plates will separate. 
     Looking to  FIG. 4 , a bolt  32  is shown wherein the cylindrical region  36   a  is substantially smaller in diameter than the outer diameter  52  of the jaws  54 . This is shown in more detail in  FIG. 5 , where the smallest diameter  74  of the tapered region  38  is substantially equivalent to the outer diameter  76  of the cylindrical region  36   a . This may be more easily seen in  FIG. 2 , where the jaws  54  have been removed to show the position of the tapered region  38  within the smooth borehole  22  of the non-threaded plate  24 . 
     To further engage the teeth  64  within the smooth borehole  22 , a sliding member may be disposed between the head portion  34  and the jaws  54  and pressed downward  78 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . While several mechanisms could be utilized, the split tube  46  shown in  FIG. 7 , as well as  FIGS. 1 and 8 , could be utilized for such a function. Once again, a tool, wedge, threaded mechanism, or other apparatus could be so utilized to force the split tube  48  downward  78  or to force the jaws  54  without the split tube  46 . 
     Another embodiment is shown in  FIG. 9  comprising a threaded element  80  having a surface  82  and a threaded bore  84 . In one form, the tapered surface  82  is cone shaped having a minor diameter  86 , which is smaller than the smooth borehole  88  in the plates  24  and  90  and further has a major diameter  92 , which is substantially larger than the diameter of the smooth borehole  88 . In this embodiment, the bolt  32  is inserted as previously described, but is threaded into the female threaded, tapered element  80  rather than into the lower plate. In this embodiment, the tool is utilized where non-threaded through holes exist in both plates to be separated, rather than one plate being separated as detailed in the first embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 1 and 8 . 
     To decrease the frictional coefficient between the gripping inserts  54 , and the tapered region  38 , lubricants, bearings, or other materials could be inserted therebetween. For example, needle bearings  118  could be inserted as shown in  FIG. 4 . Such needle bearings are well known in the art. 
     In this embodiment, the threaded portion  94  of the tool  20   a  is of smaller diameter than would be utilized if the hole  88  was threaded, as in the first embodiment. The smaller diameter of the threaded portion  94  allows for the threaded tapered element  80  to be positioned within the smooth borehole  88 . 
     The tapered element  80  may be anchored to the plate  90  by wedges, external cutting threads, teeth, or such expanding apparatus as might be described elsewhere in this invention or as may be known in the art. With the bolt  32   a  threaded into the tapered element  80  which is in-turn firmly anchored into the plate  90 , the plates  90  and  24  may easily be separated, as previously described. 
     Looking now to another embodiment shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , this embodiment represents a greater departure from the first embodiment in that this embodiment utilizes two separate interoperating components to result in the separating force between the plates  24  and  28 . 
     In this embodiment, the bolt  32   b  may be formed in a similar manner to the previous bolt and then drilled lengthwise to produce a hole through the entire length of the bolt. The head portion  34  ( 34   a  in  FIG. 9 ) of the previous embodiments is omitted, as well as the threaded portion  44  previously shown. In this embodiment, the tapered region  38  remains with the previously mentioned hole drilled therethrough as well as the cylindrical region  36 . 
     Initially, a shaft  94  is threaded into the threaded hole  26 , as previously described, and extends upwards through the smooth borehole  22  in the non-threaded plate  24 . A shaft  94  continues upward and comprises a threaded portion  96 . Furthermore, the shaft  94  comprises a rod like member which extends through the tube  46   c  as well as the jaws  54   c . In this embodiment, the tube  46  need not be split, but could be a unitary structure connected to a threaded portion  98 . As with other embodiments, the bolt itself, or other components other than the split tube  46  could be utilized to reposition the jaws  54   c . As the jaws  54   c  will need to expand outward upon downward force thereupon, it may be most desirous to have them be interoperating components. A slider  100  comprises the tapered region  38 , the cylindrical region  36 , and the threaded portion  98   
     Once the shaft  94  is firmly seated (threaded) into the plate  28 , and the jaws  54   c  are firmly engaged with the plate  24 , the threaded portion  96  of the shaft  94 , and the threaded portion  98  of the slider  100 . can be drawn together. This can be accomplished by providing opposing threads in threaded portions  96  and  98  and providing a dual threaded nut  102  thereupon. Thus, once the nut  102  is rotated, the threaded portions  96  and  98  will be drawn together (or pulled apart if rotated in the opposing direction), thus providing a separating force between the plates  24  and  28 . 
     Another embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . One significant difference in this is the tapered region  38   d  has the larger portion at the uppermost edge  106  and the narrower portion at the lower end  108 . Thus, the jaws  54   d  are inverted from previous embodiments. The head portion  34   d  and threaded portion  44   d  are substantially the same as in previous embodiments. As shown, the bolt  32   d  further comprises a plurality of threads  110  around what was previously a cylindrical region  36  in previous embodiments. The threads  110  are configured to interoperate with a nut  104 . 
     Looking to  FIG. 13 , it can be seen how the jaws  54   d  comprise a protrusion  112 , which is configured to interoperate with a channel  114  within the nut  104 . As shown, the nut  104  has a substantially cylindrical outer surface, however, non-cylindrical surfaces may be utilized to be able to adapt to a tool for further rotation and tensioning. In use, the tool  20   d  is threaded into the lower threads of a plate, as previously described, whereupon the nut  104  is rotated so as to move it in a vertically upward direction  116 , thus drawing the jaws  54   d  therewith. As the jaws  54   d  are drawn upward  116 , they tend to reposition outward such that the teeth  64   d  engage the smooth bore of the upper plate, as previously described, and engaging therewith. Thus, as the bolt  32   d  is rotated, the jaws remain affixed to the upper plate, while the nut  104  rotates with the bolt  32   d , thus creating tensional force between the two plates and separating them, as previously described. 
     While the present invention is illustrated by description of several embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments are described in detail, it is not the intention of the applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications within the scope of the appended claims will readily appear to those sufficed in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicants&#39; general concept.