Abstract:
A tool for uncoupling tubular connections includes a pair of bifurcated arms joined together by an integral, arcuate, bridge member wherein the bifurcated arms of the tool include ends mounted transversely on the arms in opposed relation.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This is a utility application based upon provisional application entitled Tool for Disconnection of Tubing from Coupling, Ser. No. 60/605,027 filed Aug. 27, 2004 and the subsequently filed utility application Ser. No. 11/032,842, filed Jan. 11, 2005 entitled Tool for Disconnection of Tubing from Coupling for which priority is claimed and which are incorporated herewith by reference.  
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     In a principal aspect the present invention relates to a tool which may be utilized to disconnect coupled tubing of the type commonly used in the automotive industry particularly transmission cooler lines in certain vehicles.  
         [0003]     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,455,995 entitled “Tool for Uncoupling Quick Connect Tubular Couplings”, there is disclosed a tool which is useful to disconnect tubular coupling constructions, for example, couplings of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,055,359. Also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,055,359 is a tool which may be used for disconnecting such coupling arrangements. The invention claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,455,995 is an improved disconnect tool which is useful for disconnecting couplings of various sizes.  
         [0004]     More recently in U.S. Pat. No. 6,195,862 B1 entitled “Tubular Disconnect Tool with Angled Semi-Annular Heads” there is disclosed another type of tool which is useful for disconnecting or decoupling tubing connections. U.S. Pat. No. 6,195,862 B1 is incorporated herewith by reference. In this patent, there is disclosed the utilization of first and second pivotally joined arms which are biased by a separate elastic member to cause the two arms to come together so that the semi-cylindrical head mounted on the end of each arm may fit over a tube and then be engaged with a tube coupler in a manner which will effect decoupling. This patent teaches that there should be an angular relationship between the decoupling tube engagement end of the tool and the pivoting, connection leg of the tool. The two legs of the tool are individually molded from a polymeric material and biased toward one another by an elastic band wrapped around the legs.  
         [0005]     While such a device has worked successfully, there are environmental problems which potentially affect this tool. That is, an elastic member such as a rubber band is utilized to cause the separate jaws or legs of the tool to be biased toward one another. The rubber tends to degrade in a workplace environment and, as a result, the tool may be difficult to manipulate or may fail to achieve its intended function. For these and other reasons, an improved decoupling tool has been sought.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     Briefly, the present invention comprises a tubing disconnect tool which is made from a molded plastic material, such as acetal polymeric or resin, and which is comprised of a single molded element incorporating a pair of elastically connected, bifurcated arms with spaced, semi-cylindrical shaped tube engaging, decoupling ends. The opposite end of the tool comprises a generally arcuate, integral, elastic biasing member which connects the bifurcated arms. Each arm is planar along its length between the decoupling ends and the connecting arcuate end. The articulated at an included obtuse angle with respect to the decoupling end. The arcuate connecting end is configured in a manner which facilitates the case of tool manipulation and tool strength.  
         [0007]     Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved tube decoupling tool.  
         [0008]     It is a further object of the invention to provide an integrally molded, unitary decoupling tool.  
         [0009]     Another object of the invention is to provide a decoupling tool which includes an end, for engaging the tubing that is to be decoupled, formed on arms that are transverse with respect to an opposite end wherein an elastic biasing link, element or arcuate connecting end connects the arms, said biasing element being integrally molded with the biasing arms.  
         [0010]     Another object of the invention is to provide an improved decoupling tool which may be easily color coded.  
         [0011]     Another object of the invention is to provide a decoupling tool which may be manufactured in a manner which provides for an elastic connection between the arms of the tool wherein the elasticity is adjustable depending upon the size of the tool and other factors associated with the use of the tool.  
         [0012]     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  
       [0013]     In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures:  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the tool of the invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the bottom side of the tool of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the tool of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of the tool of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is an end view of the tool of  FIG. 4  as viewed from the right hand side of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the tool positioned to engage a coupler; and  
         [0020]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view of the tool engaging a coupler.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0021]     The tool of the invention is comprised of an integrally molded element manufactured, for example, from an elastic polymeric material such as Delrin® acetal resin a trademarked product Dupont. Other polymerics may be used however. The tool may be made in a series of different sizes. A typical size is designed for a ⅜ inch tubing coupler or a ½ inch tubing coupler. The tool is especially useful for decoupling couplers of the type used in various motor vehicle cooling systems, for example, a Ford Motor Company oil cooling system. Each size of the tool thus is designed for utilization with specifically sized tubing and an associated tubing coupler. In other words, each tool is designed to be utilized to effect disconnection of a particular diameter size tubing from connection with other tubing or a port of a device connected with the tubing wherein the tubing is connected by means of a coupler generally of the type described in the Background of the Invention.  
         [0022]     Referring to the figures, the tool is comprised of a first molded arm  10  and a generally mirror image, second molded arm  12  parallel to and spaced from the first arm  10 . The arms  10  and  12  are connected to one another by an arcuate, generally cylindrical connection section  14 . At the opposite end of each of the arms  10  and  12  and extending transversely thereto, are generally semi-cylindrical, projecting tubular sections  16  and  18  respectively. The tubular sections  16  and  18  are arranged in opposed relation to one another.  
         [0023]     The tool of the invention is fashioned and molded in a manner which provides for utilization thereof within the tight confines of motor vehicle engine compartments by way of example. The tool is thus designed for strength yet flexibility and it is sized in a manner which promotes ease of access in situations where access is restricted.  
         [0024]     Each of the arms  10  and  12  includes a flat, planar lower surface  20  extending the total length of each arm  10 ,  12 . A generally centerline axis  22  is parallel to the planar surfaces  20  and extends in the direction of arms  10 ,  12 . Transverse to the axis  22  is an axis  24  which is the access of rotation of the semi-cylindrical sections  16  and  18 . Each of the arms  10  and  12  further includes a generally planar top face or surface  26  parallel to and spaced from the bottom face or surface  20 . A typical dimension associated with distance between bottom face  20  and the top face  26  is approximately 0.15 inches. A typical dimension of the extension of the semi-cylindrical sections  16  and  18  from the surface  26  is in the range of 0.55 to 0.60 inches with a preferred range or dimension being approximately 0.58 inches.  
         [0025]     The arms  10  and  12  include a lateral outside surface  30  and  32  respectively. These lateral outside surfaces  30  and  32  are generally parallel to one another and extend along the length of each of the arms  10  and  12  from their opposite ends. The arms extend axially in the range of 2 to 3 inches and preferably about 2.6 inches. The parallel faces of lateral sides  30  and  32  define the outer side limits of the tool and thus the semi-cylindrical sectors  16  and  18  are between those outside surfaces  30  and  32 .  
         [0026]     The outside surfaces  30  and  32  connect with an arcuate, generally semi-cylindrical connection bridge, sector or section  14  and do so as tangential extensions of a semi-circular arc having an outer face  36 . The distance or dimension between the lateral side surfaces  30  and  32  is on the order of 1 inch or less. The diameter of the arcuate face  36  is substantially the same as the dimension of the distance between the lateral sides  30  and  32 .  
         [0027]     The arcuate section  14  has a generally uniform thickness between outer face  36  and an inner face  38 . That thickness is in the range of 0.125±0.05 inches. The height dimension of the arcuate section  14  is illustrated in  FIG. 3  as the distance between the bottom face  20  and a top face  40  of the arcuate section  14 . This dimension is in the range of 0.40±0.05 inches in the embodiment shown. This thickness of this arc or section  14  is constant for the full semi-circular run of the arcuate section  14 . The arcuate section  14  thus defines a circular or generally semi-circular face  38  which connects with a slit  42  defined by opposed inner faces  41 ,  43  of the arms  10  and  12 . The dimension of the inner slit  42  is in the range of 0.0625 inches±0.005 inches.  
         [0028]     The tool in its rest position or unbiased position is depicted in  FIG. 2 . Thus, the arcuate section  14  may be biased by spreading the arms  10  and  12  to enlarge the slit  42 .  
         [0029]     The arcuate section  14  is connected by lateral side filets  50  and  52  to the top planar face  26 . The width of the filets  50  and  52  is the same as that of the arcuate section  14 . The construction of the filets  50 ,  52  is an important feature of the invention inasmuch as since the arcuate section includes the filets  50 ,  52  an efficient means for a manual gripping of the tool is provided and further a means is provided for strengthening of the tool so that it does not bend in an undesired manner when being utilized for decoupling. Thus, the relative dimensions and the relative ratio of those dimensions for the component parts described becomes an important feature of the invention to achieve the functional objectives. The dimensions set forth may be altered or amended but should generally do so in a ratio corresponding to the dimensions set forth and described. The filets  50  and  52 , for example, extend toward the decoupling sectors  16  and  18  approximately to the midpoint of the distance between the opposite ends of the tool.  
         [0030]     The decoupling sections  16  and  18  also have a unique construction when taken in combination with the other aspects of the invention as described. That is, the sectors  16  and  18  define or include a counterbore  70 . The counterbore  70  has an internal diameter greater than the external diameter  72  of an outside face of the semi-cylindrical sector  74  of the decoupling sections  16  and  18 . This is necessary in order to engage the tool properly over projecting ribs that are associated with couplers of the type on which the tool is being utilized. On the other hand, the sectors or sections such as the outer section  74  must have an internal diameter  76  and an external diameter  72  which will enable the sectors  16  and  18  to be properly inserted within a coupler to effect appropriate disconnection of the coupler by engaging the coupler and the springs therein in a proper fashion. Further, there is a land or ledge  78  between the outer or upper sections  74  and an inner or lower sections  80 . This land provides a feel during tool use and functions to limit the insertion of the decoupler tool when it is being used.  
         [0031]     The extreme end of each of the bifurcated arms  10  and  12  include a pair of faces  90 ,  92  outwardly inclined at an obtuse angle. Faces  90 ,  92  typically intersect at an angle of approximately 120 degrees. These faces  90 ,  92  lead into the slit  42 . These faces  90 ,  92  facilitate pushing of the tool onto a tube in order to fit the semi-cylindrical sectors  16  and  18  around a tube. Thus, these faces  90  and  92  facilitate bifurcation or splitting of the arms  10  and  12  and fitting of the decoupling mechanism onto tubing to engage a coupler that is to be decoupled.  
         [0032]      FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate the typical method of use of a tool of the type described may be utilized. Referring to those figures, tubing  96  is engaged by means of a coupler  98  to an automotive cooling system, for example. The tubing  96  includes a raised rib  100 . The decoupler tool must be positioned on the tubing  96  in order to move longitudinally along the tubing to engage the coupling  98  to effect disconnection. The counterbore  70 , previously described, makes it possible to fit the tool onto the tubing with appropriate clearance for the rib  100  and then ultimate manipulation of the tool as depicted in  FIG. 7  longitudinally into engagement with the coupler  98  to effect release of the coupler  98  by means of the tool. Thus the semi-cylindrical sectors  16  and  18  can be properly positioned into the annular space surrounding the coupler between the coupler and the tubing  96  to effect decoupling by means of the tool of the invention. The design and shape of the connection end  14  of the tool including the filets provides for adequate strength yet flexibility of the tool to effect decoupling.  
         [0033]     While there have been set forth specific examples of the tool it is to be understood that the tool construction is to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.