Abstract:
Tools having utility in the repair of outboard units. A first tool pulls a propeller off its shaft, and a second tool pulls a bearing carrier off the shaft and removes it from the inside of the outboard unit. Both tools include an elongate screw that axially advances to affect the desired pulling and both tools engage radially disposed struts of the item to be pulled when operatively deployed. The housing of each tool includes puller members terminating in strut-engaging mating surfaces at the distal free end thereof that abuttingly engage the struts from behind and exert a pulling force against them as the screw is rotated.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuing disclosure of an earlier disclosure filed Mar. 25, 1986, Ser. No. 843,639, by the same inventors, now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates, generally, to pulling tools and more particularly relates to tools for removing propellers and bearing carriers, of the type found in outboard units, for maintenance and repair purposes. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Pulling tools are in widespread use among auto mechanics. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,133,697 to Hansen (1938) shows a valve puller of the type used by auto mechanics. In FIG. 2 of the Hansen disclosure, it will there be seen that slot 6 is provided to receive the valve and to engage it as shown in FIG. 1. Hansen also shows an elongated threaded rod 8, nut 10 and cylinder 1. 
     Kellerman, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,008,226 (1961), discloses a device for removing universal joint bearings. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,299,497 to Chmielewski (1967) shows a pulley puller. More particularly, it shows grooves 16 which receive lugs 11 and 12. 
     A 1974 U.S. patent to Michelson, (No. 3,824,672), discloses a tool that removes a ball from a stud upon which it is press fit. 
     Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,291 to Barrow (1980) shows a tool for removing bearing carriers. Its primary feature is its bell-shaped pulling block 22. 
     None of these patents teach or suggest means for pulling propellers and bearing carriers from outboard units. 
     It is the primary object of this invention is to provide a tool that can remove propellers and bearing carriers in a relatively easy manner. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a simple and rugged means to effect the desired pulling. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention accomplishes these and other objects by providing two structurally distinct yet functionally similar tools; each of the tools includes a screw-containing elongate housing having longitudinally extending puller members with enlarged, circumferentially extending mating surfaces formed at the distal free end thereof that abuttingly engage from behind certain radially disposed struts formed on the part to be pulled. 
     The novel tools provide several significant features and advantages. The tool employed to pull propellers grips it inside the propeller exhaust hub by abuttingly engaging the hub struts, as distinguished from the propeller blades or other structural parts that can be damaged responsive to application of force, thus avoiding damage to the propeller by using the strongest structural part of the propeller in the pulling process. 
     The use of the propeller-pulling tool eliminates the prior art usage of a torch to burn off rubber hubs, thereby saving the expense associated with the consumption of oxygen and acetylene. The tool is set up very fast by simply inserting it into clearance areas in the hub body and rotating it about its longitudinal axis of symmetry until its strut-engaging portions are positioned rearwardly of the struts to be engaged during the pulling process. This quick set up saves shop time and customer&#39;s money; indeed, most of the labor is completed in less than a quarter (1/4) of the usual time. In addition, since the tool is of heavy construction it will not break or bend and will endure years of heavy shop use. Moreover, it has no chains or bolts to loosen or break. 
     The removal of a bearing carrier can be one of the most troublesome jobs in servicing outboard units. The tool employed to pull off a bearing carrier according to this invention allows fast and efficient repair jobs while minimizing the chance of damage. One important feature of the bearing puller tool is its heavy construction having no hooks, bolts or chains to loosen or break, which construction makes this tool very resistant to abuse. There are other advantages of this tool as well; it has a much faster setup than any other tool designed for this purpose. It also pulls the carrier straight out with no catching or binding. More pulling power can be applied than with any other tool designed for this purpose because of the unique manner in which it grips the carrier. Also, the reduced use of heat while using this tool will save oxygen and acetylene. 
     The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts that will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the invention showing the operative alignment of the tool for pulling a propeller, the propeller, the bearing carrier and the propeller shaft; 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the propeller showing the engagement of the pulling tool mating surfaces with the radially disposed struts of the propeller; 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the propeller having a portion thereof broken away to show part of the coupled pulling tool according to the invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing structural details of one of the strut-engaging mating surfaces of the propeller pulling tool according to the invention; 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the operative alignment of the bearing carrier pulling tool, the bearing carrier and the shaft inside the outboard unit; 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of the bearing carrier coupled with the pulling tool according to the invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a view of the bearing carrier taken along line 7--7 in FIG. 6, showing the engagement of the pulling tool mating surfaces with the struts of the bearing carrier; and 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of one of the strut-engaging mating surfaces of the bearing carrier pulling tool according to the invention. 
     Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, it will there be seen that the propeller puller, designated as a whole by the reference numeral 10, includes a cylindrical housing 12 integrally formed with three circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending puller members, collectively designated 14, having strut-engaging mating surfaces 14a, 14b and 14c formed at their respective distal free ends. Cylindrical housing or boss member 12 includes an elongate cylindrical section as shown which is integral with an enlarged, disc-shaped base member 13 to which the puller members 14 are fixedly secured, radially outwardly thereof, as shown. As is depicted in FIG. 1, each puller member 14 is of arcuate configuration when seen in end view, as is each mating surface 14a, 14b and 14c. 
     The portions 14a, 14b and 14c are enlarged relative to their associated puller members, extending circumferentially therebeyond as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 4. 
     Housing 12 is internally threaded and is screw threadedly engaged by externally threaded elongate screw 16 as shown. Distal end 18 of screw 16 is positioned against shaft 50 of the outboard unit when the tool is in use; end 18 is formed so that shaft 50 centers upon it. 
     Propeller 20, when in use, abuts the end of carrier 30 as indicated by the broken line appearing in the lower portion of FIG. 1. The end of shaft 50 is inserted into opening 26 formed in propeller 20. 
     Propeller 20 includes housing 24 having three (unnumbered) blades extending radially outwardly therefrom. Circumferentially spaced radial strut members 22a, 22b and 22c extend between housing 24 and hub 22. The length of the strut members 22a, 22b and 22c determines the amount of clearance between hub 22 and housing 24; the respective clearances are indicated by the reference numerals 21a, 21b and 21c. 
     Bearing carrier 30 has a hollow cylindrical housing 36 that is integrally formed with and positioned intermediate of flange 36a and annular ring 36b. Two diametrically opposed web members 37a and 37b extend between flange 36a and ring 36b; two diametrically opposed triangular-shaped strut members 34a and 34b (34b not shown) are formed on housing 36 and join it to ring 36b. Strut members 34a and 34b are abuttingly engaged by the complementally formed distal free ends 46a and 46b of bearing carrier puller 40, hereinafter described, when the invention is in use. 
     FIG. 2 depicts mating surfaces 14a, 14b and 14c of puller members 14 when the same are inserted through clearances 21a, 21b and 21c, respectively. Angular rotation of housing 12 in the direction of arrow 28 positions mating surfaces 14a, 14b and 14c behind strut members 22a, 22b and 22c until they abuttingly engage the respective strut members as indicated by the reference numerals 23a, 23b and 23c. It should be understood that the position shown in FIG. 2 is not the final operative position; continued angular rotation moves mating surfaces 14a, 14b and 14c completely behind strut members 22a, 22b and 22c, respectively. 
     It should be noted that strut members 22a, 22b and 22c are the strongest structural feature of the propeller assembly; accordingly, the teaching of this invention that such struts are the most adviseable portion of the propeller to engage when pulling the propeller from the shaft is one of the more important teachings of this invention. Prior art tools engage weaker portions of the propeller assembly. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates puller 10 coupled with propeller 20 in a position ready for the pulling action. Elongate screw 16 is rotated clockwise (as indicated by directional arrow 25) which rotation axially advances it and which advance positions the screw&#39;s distal end 18 against shaft 50. Continuing rotation of screw 16 effects retraction of housing 12 relative to shaft 50, thereby generating a pulling force between mating surfaces 14a, 14b and 14c against struts 22a, 22b and 22c, respectively, in the direction of arrow 29. This force pulls propeller 20 off shaft 50 since shaft 50 cannot move. 
     FIG. 4 shows the enlarged end portion of mating surface 14a; surface 19a engages strut 22a at the location 23a. Since struts 22a, 22b and 22c are flat on their respective rearward surfaces, mating surfaces 19a, 19b and 19c are also flat. 
     Referring now to FIG. 5, it will there be seen that a puller 40 that is employed to remove bearing carrier 30 includes a housing 42 integrally formed with two diametrically opposed, longitudinally extending puller members, collectively designated 46, having enlarged strut-engaging mating surfaces 46a and 46b formed in their respective distal free ends which strut-engaging portions extend circumferentially to define a means whereby the struts of the bearing carrier may be engaged when said circumferentially extending portions are positioned rearwardly thereof. 
     Housing 42 is internally threaded and receives externally threaded elongate screw 44 therein. During the pulling operation hereinafter described, end face 41 of screw 44 centers against shaft 50 of outboard unit 45. Carrier 30 is normally positioned inside outboard unit 45 and shaft 50 is inserted into opening 32 of carrier 30. 
     Bearing carrier 30 includes body portion 30a which is integrally formed with and positioned intermediate flange 30b and ring member 30c. Struts 34 extend between body portion 30a and ring member 30c as shown in FIG. 7; these struts 34 are structurally the strongest portion of the bearing carrier. The respective lengths of the struts 34 determines the amount of clearance 31a and 31b existing between main body 30a and ring member 30c as is clear from an inspection of FIG. 7. 
     FIG. 7 also shows strut-engaging mating surfaces 46a and 46b of puller members 46 inserted through clearances 31a and 31b, respectively. By applying an angular rotation to housing 40 in the direction of arrow 39, the mating surfaces 46a, 46b rotate behind and abuttingly engage struts 34 as depicted. This is the proper position for the tool to enable its pulling action to remove carrier 30. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates puller 40 coupled with carrier 30 in a position ready for the pulling action. Elongate screw 44 is rotated clockwise (see arrow 47 in FIG. 5) so that it axially advances; its end face 41 is specifically configured so that it centers against shaft 50. Rotation of screw 44 effects retraction of housing 40; such retraction creates a pulling force of mating surfaces 46a and 46b against their respective, associated struts 34 in the direction of arrow 38 (FIG. 6). This force pulls carrier 30 off the shaft 50 and out of the outboard unit. 
     The propeller is removed before the bearing carrier; accordingly, tool 10 is used before tool 40. 
     FIG. 8 shows a portion of mating surface 46a. Surface 48a is positioned at an angle that matches the angle of its associated strut 34a, shown in FIG. 5. In this manner, as in the case of tool 10, the structurally strongest portion of the bearing carrier is abuttingly gripped from behind by a surface that matches it; this allows all of the pulling force to be efficiently transferred to the item being pulled. 
     It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, and those made apparent by the preceding description, are efficiently attained and since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
     It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween. 
     Now that the invention has been described,