Abstract:
An assembly tool for assembling a fluid line. The tool comprises a handle having a mounting face and a drive mechanism. A first holder connected to the draw bar clamps a fluid line in position along a longitudinal axis spaced apart from the draw bar. A second holder holds a fluid line or a fitting in position along the longitudinal axis. The drive mechanism is manually or electronically actuatable to draw the first holder and draw bar towards the handle.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to assembly tools. More particularly, the present invention relates to an assembly tool for fabricating or repairing fluid lines. Still more particularly, the invention relates to the assembly of fluid lines for motor vehicles.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Fluid lines typically require a variety of tools and a great deal of effort to fabricate. At a minimum, a clamping tool is needed to securely hold the line in place while another tool is used to insert a second component into the line. Existing line fabrication tools are similar in concept and design to a typical caulking gun. One such tool is the K-Line® AT3610 Nylon Fuel Line Fitting Connector Tool. K-Line&#39;s® AT3610 is basically a caulk gun modified to include a series of sub-assemblies for holding a fitting and driving it into fuel line. Each time a different fuel line or fitting is required, one or more of these sub-assemblies must be modified or interchanged to accommodate the variation(s). Since modifying and interchanging these sub-assemblies requires additional tools, line assembling with these caulk-gun-like tools can consume large amounts of time and effort.  
         [0003]     Accordingly, it is desirable to have a tool that is easily adaptable to fittings and fluid lines of various shapes and sizes and requires minimal time and effort to arrange and implement.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0004]     The present invention is a tool for assembling a fluid line. The tool comprises a handle having a mounting face and a drive mechanism, a draw bar, a first holder, and a second holder. The first holder is connected to the draw bar and clamps a work piece in position along a longitudinal axis. The second holder holds a work piece in position with the longitudinal axis. The drive mechanism draws the first and second holders towards each other and assembles the work pieces. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]     A more detailed understanding of the invention may be had from the following description of the preferred embodiments, given by way of example and to be understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective of a fluid line assembly tool;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective of the tool of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective of a holder adapted to secure a fluid line;  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective of the holder of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  is a perspective of a holder adapted to secure straight fittings;  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective of the holder of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 7  is a rear perspective of the holder of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 8  is a perspective of a holder adapted to secure elbow fittings;  
         [0014]      FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective of the holder of  FIG. 8 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 10  is a rear perspective of a portion of the holder of  FIG. 8 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 11  is a cradling insert for use with the holder of  FIG. 8 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 12  is a perspective of another holder adapted to secure a fluid line;  
         [0018]      FIG. 13  is an exploded perspective of the holder of  FIG. 12 ; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 14  is a rear perspective of a portion of the holder of  FIG. 12 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an assembly tool  100  in accordance with the present invention is shown. The assembly tool  100  comprises a handle  102 , a draw bar  108 , a first holder  104  connected to the draw bar  108 , and a second holder  106  adjacent to the handle  102 . The handle  102  has a mounting face  103  for receiving the second holder  106  and a drive mechanism (not shown), such as the type used in a caulk gun, for drawing the draw bar  108  towards the handle  102 . In a preferred implementation, the drive mechanism draws an open end of a fluid line secured in the first holder  104  over barbs of a fitting secured on the second holder  106  until the barbs are inserted into the fluid line. In a manually-driven embodiment, the drive mechanism is actuated by repeatedly squeezing the trigger  107 . Alternatively, the drive mechanism may be power driven, in which case the mechanism may be actuated by depressing and holding the trigger  107 . To reset the draw bar  108 , the release lever  109  is depressed, and the draw bar  108  is freed to move back to its pre-draw position.  
         [0021]     The first holder  104  is preferably connected to the draw bar  108  with an appropriate fastening means, such as with a thumb screw  105 , through an aperture  101  in the draw bar  108 . The thumb screw  105  is preferably extended through a non-threaded opening  120  in the portion of the first holder  104  positioned on one side of the draw bar aperture  101  until it passes through the draw bar aperture  101  and engages a threaded aperture  122  in the portion of the first holder positioned on the opposite side of the draw bar aperture  101 . When connected, the holder  104  is positioned along a longitudinal axis A. The second holder  106  is mounted to the mounting face  103  in position with the longitudinal axis A and aligned with a desired location on the first holder  104 .  
         [0022]     In a preferred embodiment, the first holder  104 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , is configured to secure fluid lines of various sizes. This first holder  104  comprises opposed blocks  202 ,  204 . When secured together, these blocks  202 ,  204  define a first plurality of apertures  203 - 1 ,  203 - 2 ,  203 - 3  for securing fluid lines and a second plurality of apertures  205  for positioning the holder  104  on the draw bar  108 .  
         [0023]     Each of the first plurality of apertures  203 - 1 ,  203 - 2 ,  203 - 3  is generally circular and has a different diameter for securing a particularly-sized fluid line. A portion of each aperture  203 - 1 ,  203 - 1 ,  203 - 1  is grooved at  212 - 1 ,  212 - 2 ,  212 - 3 , respectively, to provide a gripping surface for securing a line. These grooves  212 - 1 ,  212 - 2 ,  212 - 3  provide a uniform compression means that firmly secures the line without crushing or deforming it. The non-grooved portions  213 - 1 ,  213 - 2 ,  213 - 3  of the apertures  203 - 1 ,  203 - 2 ,  203 - 3  have a slightly larger diameter than the grooved portions  212 - 1 ,  212 - 2 ,  212 - 3 . These enlarged portions  213 - 1 ,  213 - 2 ,  213 - 3  provide room for a secured line to expand while being drawn over the barbs of a fitting.  
         [0024]     The second plurality of apertures  205  define complementary openings that receive the draw bar  108 . These apertures  205  are used to selectively secure the first holder  104  to the draw bar  108  in a desired vertical position relative to the line-securing apertures  203 - 1 ,  203 - 2 ,  203 - 3  about the longitudinal axis A and aligned with the second holder  106 .  
         [0025]     The line-securing blocks  202 ,  204  may be secured together by any appropriate means, such as with the thumb screws  210  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Each thumb screw  210  is first extended through a non-threaded aperture  208  in one of the blocks  202 ,  204  and then engaged in an aligned threaded aperture  207  in the other of the blocks  202 ,  204 . Although illustrated with a particular configuration, it should be noted that the threaded and non-threaded apertures  207 ,  208  in the blocks  202 ,  204  may be arranged in any desired configuration.  
         [0026]     Tightening the thumb screws  210  provides the means for securing a line in one of the line-securing apertures  203 - 1 ,  203 - 2 ,  203 - 3 . The thumb screws  210  may have fully threaded shafts, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , or partially threaded shafts, whereby shoulder stops on the thumb screws may be utilized in providing the securing means. By utilizing a securing means such as thumb screws  210 , the line holder  104  may be adapted to secure differently sized lines without requiring the use of additional tools.  
         [0027]     Referring now to  FIGS. 5, 6 , and  7 , various perspectives of the second holder  106  adapted to secure straight fittings are illustrated. This second holder  106  comprises a block chassis  302  having a longitudinal axis B, and a mandrel  304  extending from the chassis  302  along the longitudinal axis B. In a preferred embodiment, the mandrel  304  has a multi-tiered mandrel tip  305  for securing fittings of various sizes and has a spring  306  to provide flex and shock-absorption in the mandrel when securing the fittings. Each tier  305   a ,  305   b ,  305   c  on the mandrel tip  305  is sized to securely snap into a fitting of a different size. Although illustrated as having three tiers  305   a ,  305   b ,  305   c , it should be understood that the mandrel tip  305  may be configured with any desired number of tiers. The mandrel spring  306  is set between the body  304   a  of the mandrel  304  and the mandrel bolt  304   b , whereby the spring  306  rests against an interior surface of a rear wall  308  of the block chassis  302  slightly compressed by the bolt  304   b  residing on an outside surface of the rear wall  308 .  
         [0028]     The rear portion of the second holder  106  defines a complementary mounting slot  309  for receiving the mounting face  103 , thereby providing a means for securely attaching the second holder  106  to the tool handle  102  without requiring the use of additional tools.  
         [0029]     An alternate second holder  406 , illustrated in  FIGS. 8, 9 , and  10 , is adapted to hold elbow-type fittings. This elbow-fitting-adapted second holder  406  comprises a rear portion  402 , a cradling portion  404  for holding an elbowed fitting, and a clamping mechanism  420  for securing an elbow fitting in the cradling portion  404   
         [0030]     The rear portion  402  of the holder  406  is preferably an angle block that defines a complementary mounting slot  407  that receives a mounting face  103 , which provided a means for securely connecting the second holder  406  to the tool handle  102  without requiring the use of additional tools.  
         [0031]     The cradling portion  404  of the second holder  406  is preferably composed of a non-slip, resilient material, such as urethane rubber with a derometer measurement of  95  Shore A, and has a contoured inside surface that forms a cradling pocket for holding elbowed fittings in position aligned with the first holder  104 .  
         [0032]     The clamping mechanism  420  of the holder  406  preferably comprises an angled clamp plate  422 , a guide dowel  424 , and a tightening means, such as a thumb screw  426 .  
         [0033]     An elbowed fitting is secured in the holder  406  by first placing the fitting in the cradling portion  404 . The clamp plate  422  is then slid over the guide dowel  424  through an aperture  425  in the clamp plate  422  until a front portion of the clamp plate  422  contacts the fitting. In a preferred embodiment, the front portion of the clamp plate  422  is angled downwardly to urge the fitting into the cradling portion  404 . Once the fitting and clamp plate  422  are in position, the thumb screw  426  is passed through aperture  423  and engaged in the threaded aperture  410 . The height, and hence, the amount of compression exerted on the clamp plate  422  is adjusted along the dowel  424  by tightening and loosening the thumb screw  426 .  
         [0034]     For securing smaller elbow fittings, a cradling insert  450  may optionally be inserted into the cradle portion  404  of the second holder  406 , as illustrated in  FIG. 11 . The cradling insert  450  is contoured similarly to the inside surface of the cradling portion  404  and allows relatively short fittings to protrude beyond the cradle portion  404 .  
         [0035]     Referring now to  FIGS. 12, 13 , and  14 , various perspectives of another holder  501  adapted to secure fluid lines are illustrated. This holder  501  comprises line-securing blocks  505 ,  507  and a rear portion  502  that defines a complementary mounting slot  503  for receiving the mounting face  103 . The mounting slot  503  provides a means for securely connecting the rear portion  502  of the holder  501  to the tool handle  102 .  
         [0036]     The rear portion  502  comprises a U-shaped bracket having opposed lateral sides  506 . These lateral sides  506  define at least one aperture  513  for securing the line-securing blocks  505 ,  507  to the rear portion  502  in a desired position aligned with the first holder  104 . The blocks  505 ,  507  are opposed and when secured together, such as with a thumb screw  511 , as previously described, the blocks  505 ,  507  define a plurality of generally circular apertures  509 - 1 ,  509 - 2 ,  509 - 3  for securing fluid lines of various sizes. A portion of each aperture  509 - 1 ,  509 - 2 ,  509 - 3  is grooved at  510 - 1 ,  510 - 2 ,  510 - 3 , respectively, to provide a gripping surface for securing a fluid line to be fitted with a fitting. These grooves  510 - 1 ,  510 - 2 ,  510 - 3  provide a uniform compression means that firmly secures a line without crushing or deforming it. The non-grooved portions  512 - 1 ,  512 - 2 ,  512 - 3  of the apertures have a slightly larger diameter than the grooved portions  510 - 1 ,  510 - 2 ,  510 - 3 . These enlarged portions  512 - 1 ,  512 - 2 ,  512 - 3  provide room for a secured line to expand while being drawn over the barbs of a fitting.  
         [0037]     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 14 , the mounting slot  503  of the rear portion  502  of the holder  501  and the mounting face  103  of the tool handle  102  preferably combine to provide a securing means for a fluid line. By partially inserting the mounting face  103  into the mounting slot  503 , an upper portion of the mounting slot  503  and a groove  110  defined by the rear portion  502  combine to define a channel. A fluid line may be secured in this channel by positioning the line in the groove  110  and fully inserting the mounting face  103  into the mounting slot  503 .  
         [0038]     It should be noted that the various embodiments of the second holders described above are preferably interchangeable with one another. Further, since each adapter has a mounting slot for slidedly engaging the mounting face  103 , no additional tools are required to interchange these holders.  
         [0039]     Although the features and elements of the present invention are described in the preferred embodiments in particular combinations, each feature or element can be used alone without the other features and elements of the preferred embodiments or in various combinations with or without other features and elements of the present invention.