Abstract:
A tool for removal of a stabilizer link in vehicles includes a first socket adapted to rotationally receive a second socket attached to the shaped end of a threaded bolt. A socket drive rotates the second socket relative to the first socket as the first socket is placed over a nut on the threaded bolt. The first socket includes an attached handle which is gripped to prevent undesirable rotation of the first socket relative to the second socket.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     In a principal aspect the present invention relates to a tool for removal and replacement of fasteners comprised of a nut on a stabilizer bar link ball shaped joint bolt having a round or oval head, a threaded shaft and a polygonal, internal polygonal, TORX® shape, internal TORX® shape, or otherwise non-circular configured tip on the shaft. Such fasteners may be used to connect linkage arms in a vehicle suspension system, for example.  
         [0002]     Stabilizer links are typically incorporated in the front end assembly of a vehicle suspension system. Stabilizer links connect the wheel support assembly of the suspension system to the vehicle chassis or undercarriage. From time to time such links may require repair and/or replacement. Typically, such links are incorporated in the suspension system by attachment thereof by means of a round or oval headed, threaded bolt and a nut with various washers, grommets and the like, incorporated in the attachment assembly. However, the stabilizer link may have a configuration or shape which renders access thereto inconvenient and difficult. Thus, removal of such a link may be especially challenging.  
         [0003]     Many Ford Motor Company vehicles, for example, incorporate such a front stabilizer end link that is difficult to access. That is, such a link has a configuration or shape wherein the end of the link attached to the wheel support assembly is recessed relative to the lower control arm approximately two inches. Access to the end of the link, in order to remove the nut from the threaded fastener holding the link in position is thus extremely limited. Consequently, heretofore, in order to remove the round or oval headed fastener in the form of a bolt and thus disengage the link could require two mechanics. One mechanic would position a pry-bar against the link to hold or fix it in position. The other mechanic would then attempt to place a socket on the nut and turn the nut in order to remove it from the bolt holding the link in position. Because of the inaccessibility of the end of the link and the potential necessity of two workmen in order to remove, repair and replace such a linkage repair is often expensive and, of course, difficult. Thus, there developed a need for a tool and a methodology which would simplify the disengagement or removal of the round or oval headed bolt and the nut attaching such a linkage element.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     Briefly, the present invention comprises a tool which can be used to effect removal and/or replacement of a fastener (i.e. a bolt) for a stabilizer link in a vehicle suspension system, wherein the link is fastened into the system by means of a nut and the threaded fastener which is headed at one end and has a non-circular (generally polygonal) cross-section opposite end or tip. The tool which is used to effect such removal includes a first socket with a radially projecting handle at one end of the socket. The first socket includes a throughbore which is designed to engage the nut that retains the attachment bolt or fastener for the link. The throughbore in the first socket is also designed or configured to receive a second separate socket which may be rotatably inserted into the throughbore in the first socket at the end at which the first socket is attached to the handle to thereby engage the non-circular end or tip of the retention fastener or bolt that holds the link in position. Then a socket drive, either manual, pneumatic, or otherwise powered, may be engaged with the second socket to rotate that second socket relative to the first socket as the first socket is maintained rigidly in position by gripping the handle for the first socket. The first and second sockets, thus, are coaxial with the fastener for the link when in use and may be engaged with the fastener nut and, the fastener, respectively. The first socket engages the nut and the fastener or threaded bolt is engaged by the second socket. Thus, the first socket is adapted to fit over the nut of the linkage fastener and to simultaneously receive the second socket which may be rotatably positioned within the first socket to engage the non-circular tip or end of the bolt.  
         [0005]     It is an object of the invention to provide an improved tool for removal of the fasteners for end links in a suspension system, particularly those associated with various Ford Motor Company products and other motor vehicles.  
         [0006]     Another object of the invention is to provide a link fastener removal tool which may be utilized by a single mechanic to efficiently remove a link fastener.  
         [0007]     Another object of the invention is to provide a rugged, efficient, yet economical and appropriately strong fastener removal tool.  
         [0008]     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  
       [0009]     In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation of a first socket and handle assembly;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the first socket associated with the handle of  FIG. 1  taken along the line  2 -- 2 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is an end view of the socket of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the second socket which is designed to fit within and be rotatably received by the first socket;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a driven-end view of the socket of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is an end view of the second socket of  FIG. 4  viewed from the drive end thereof;  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is an exploded side view illustrating the component parts of a linkage and the socket tool of the invention, which may be utilized to remove the fastener holding the linkage arm or link engaged in a steering assembly of a vehicle;  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is an isometric view illustrating the position of the various component parts of the tool of the invention in association with a linkage arm; and  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is an isometric view of the complement parts comprising the first socket and associated handle or lever arm and the second socket as it would be incorporated or driven by a pneumatic tool.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0019]     The tool of the invention is comprised generally of two separate component parts. The first part is illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2  and  3 . The first component part of the tool comprises a handle  10  in combination with a first socket  12 . The second part of the tool is illustrated in  FIGS. 4, 5  and  6 .  FIGS. 4, 5  and  6  illustrate a second socket  14 . The remaining figures illustrate the combination of the two parts of the tool and their utility.  
         [0020]     The first socket  12  includes a throughbore  16  and a longitudinal axis  18 . The first socket  12  further includes a nut-engagement end or section  20  and a second socket receiving end or section  22 . The first or nut-engagement end  20  and the second socket receiving end  22  are coaxial. Outer end  24  of the first socket  12  has a planar handle  10  welded thereto. The handle  10  extends generally radially from the axis  18  and, in the preferred embodiment, forms an angle  26  of approximately 15°±5° with axis  18 . The length of the handle  10  is in the range of 4-8 inches. The handle  10  may include a grip  17  to facilitate comfort during manual gripping of the handle  10 .  
         [0021]     The nut-engaging end  20  has an internal hexagonal configuration so that it may fit over a nut associated with a linkage as discussed hereinafter. The second socket receiving end  22  comprises a cylindrical, axial counterbore having an internal or counterbore diameter  30 . The counterbore  22  extends axially to define an axial dimension  32  for receipt of the second socket  14 . The axial dimension  32  is typically in the range of 1.5-2 inches.  
         [0022]     As shown in  FIGS. 4, 5  and  6 , the second socket  14  includes an axial throughbore  36  having a longitudinal axis  38  with a driven end  40 , a drive end or section  42  and an intermediate or connecting section  44 . The sum of the axial dimensions associated with the sections  40 ,  42  and  44  is typically greater than the axial dimension  32  of the counterbore  22  of the first socket  12 . This ensures that the second socket  14  will engage the driven end  40  thereof with a linkage bolt  68  and simultaneously will provide for appropriate engagement with a socket drive at the drive end  42 . It should be noted that the intermediate section  44  has an internal diameter  50  which preferably is greater than the maximum radial dimension of the internal passage in driven end  40 . In practice, the bore or passage at the driven end  40  will have a hexagonal polygonal cross-sectional internal configuration or shape. The socket bore or passage at the drive end  42  will have a square or rectangular shape for receipt of a socket drive device, either manual or otherwise powered. The second socket  14  includes, along the length thereof designed to fit within the bore  30 , an outside diameter  52  which is slightly less than the internal diameter  30  of the counterbore  22  of the first socket  12 . Thus the second socket  14  may rotatably fit within the first socket  30 . These dimensional characteristics comprise important features of the invention in order to render the various parts to have appropriate utility.  
         [0023]      FIGS. 7, 8  and  9  illustrate in greater detail the method of use of the tool. As depicted in  FIG. 7 , a link  60  includes an opening  61  for a fastener coaxially aligned with a rubber grommet  62 , a washer  64  and a passage  63  of an attachment bar or second linkage member  66 . The link  60  is attached to the second linkage member  66  by means of an oval headed bolt  68  with a shaft having a threaded section  70  and an outer polygonal or other non-circular cross section end  72 . The end  72  is typically externally hexagonal. However, other external or internal non-circular shapes may be used. The link  60 , grommet  62 , washer  64  are assembled coaxially along the axis  74  and retained together by means of a nut  76  which is threaded onto the threaded section or portion  70  of the fastener or bolt  68 .  
         [0024]     In order to achieve access to the fastener  68  and nut  76  to affect removal of the nut  76 , the first socket  12  and, more particularly, the nut engagement end  20  thereof is fitted over the nut  76 . The handle  10  facilitates such placement. Next, the driven end  40  of the second socket  14  is fitted over the polygonal or hexagonal end or tip  72 . The drive end  42  is then driven by means of a manual or pneumatic tool to disengage the headed fastener  68  from the nut  76 . The handle  10  is retained in a generally unmoved position during nut  76  removal. In this manner, the linkage  60  is detached from the attachment linkage  66 . The inside diameter of the first socket  12  is sized so that the second socket  14  may rotate therein. The axial length of the second socket  14  relative to the socket receiving end  22  of the first socket  12  is such that a socket drive (e.g. driver  80 ) may engage and rotationally drive the second socket  14 . The second socket  14  includes a driven end  40  that fits over the polygonal section  72  of the bolt or headed fastener  68 . Fastener  68  typically projects into the intermediate section  44  of second socket  14  and simultaneously permits a socket drive  80  to engage the drive end  42  of the second socket  14 . The reverse operation may be effected to reattach the links  60  and  66 . Most often, however, the tool is used to facilitate removal of a link  60  from the attachment link  66 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 8  illustrates the almost inaccessible position of the linkage and how the tool enables placement of the first socket  12  and the second socket  14  so as to cause appropriate removal of the headed fastener  68 .  FIG. 9  illustrates the manner in which the second socket  14  may be fitted in to the first socket  12  held by the handle  10  and driven by a pneumatic driver or tool  80 .  
         [0026]     The tool of the invention may be utilized in other environments beyond those described herein to affect disengagement or removal of an appropriate headed bolt from a nut which otherwise retains the bolt in a fixed position, whether it be part of a vehicle or other mechanical device. Variations of the tool may also be adopted, such as the length of the sockets, the diameters of the sockets, the length of the handle, the angular relationship between the handle and the first socket in order to customize the tool for a particular project. Therefore, the invention is to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.