Abstract:
A seal pulling tool includes an elongate shaft extending from a manual grip handle. The shaft is bent and includes a seal gripping hook at its outer end and an adjustable fulcrum support post slidably mounted and laterally projecting from the shaft intermediate the handle and hook.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This is a utility application based upon, incorporating by reference and claiming priority to provisional application Ser. No. 60/697,180 filed Jul. 7, 2005 entitled “Shaft Seal Pulling Device”. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In a principal aspect the present invention relates to a tool for removal of shaft seals, for example, seals of the type utilized in internal combustion engines. Thus, the tool of the invention is designed for removing seals of the type which are utilized with a shaft, such as a cam shaft or crank shaft or otherwise in an internal combustion engine. 
   In the past, various types of seal removal tools have been proposed such as the tool offered by applicant&#39;s assignee, Seal Puller, Product No. 56750. Other types of seal pullers are also available in the marketplace such as KD Seal and Pilot Bearing Puller, KD Model 2824 and KD Seal Puller, Model No. 3245. For removal of large seals these tools are quite useful. However, for removal of the smaller seals used in more recent engine designs, such seal pullers are generally not as utilitarian. Thus, there developed a need for an improved seal puller device or tool. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Briefly, the present invention comprises a seal pulling device or tool having an elongate shank or lever arm with a manual handle at one end, an adjustable support post located intermediate the handle and the opposite end to provide a first class lever arm construction having the support post serve as a fulcrum intermediate the ends of the lever arm. A hook assembly is provided at the opposite or outer end for engaging or gripping and removing a seal. 
   An embodiment of the invention includes a shank which is articulated intermediate the handle and the fulcrum or support post. The support post, which comprises the fulcrum, may thus be adjusted longitudinally on the shank or lever arm to thereby adjust the mechanical advantage of the tool and to facilitate placement of the tool during usage. The hook assembly is pivotally mounted at the extreme outer end of the tool and projects from the tool outwardly therefrom typically at an angle which may be adjusted. The shape or configuration of the hook and the mechanism for attachment of the hook to the shank may also be adjusted. 
   Thus it is an object of the invention to provide an improved seal pulling device or tool. 
   It is a further object of the invention to provide a seal pulling device which is adjustable in order to alter the mechanical advantage as well as the positioning of the tool in order to facilitate removal of a seal. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide a tool for removing seals which is rugged, inexpensive and efficient. 
   Yet another object of the invention is to provide a tool which will enable removal of seals utilized in a number of environments and having a number of configurations, sizes and shapes. 
   Yet another object of the invention is to provide a seal pulling device or tool which will enable removal of seals of various sizes including small size seals used in automotive environments. 
   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 
     In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures: 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of an embodiment of the seal pulling device or tool of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an end view of the hook assembly of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of a sub-assembly of the tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is an end view of the shank of the tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of the push rod and fulcrum assembly of the tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a pictorial view depicting the manner in which the tool of  FIG. 1  is positioned in order to effect the removal of a seal associated with a shaft of a motor vehicle engine; 
       FIG. 7  is a pictorial view depicting the manner in which a seal is engaged with the hook assembly of the device of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 8  is a pictorial view illustrating the manner of use of the pulling device or tool of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to the Figures,  FIG. 1  depicts an embodiment of the seal removal tool. The tool includes a generally cylindrical cross section or rod shaped shank  10  having a first run  12  and a connected second run  14  forming an angle with or articulated with respect to the first run  12 . The shank  10  includes a handle end having a handle  16  molded on or attached thereto and a hook member or hook assembly end  18 . Positioned on the first run  12 , intermediate the handle  16  and the hook end  18 , is a push rod and fulcrum assembly  20 . The push rod and fulcrum assembly  20  includes a thumb screw  22  which facilitates attachment of the push rod  24  to the first run  12  so that the push rod  24  may be fixed in position and non-rotatable as well as retained longitudinally with respect to an axis  30 . Thus, the push rod  24  includes a throughbore  25  and may be longitudinally moved along the length of the first run  12  as well as rotated about the axis  30  of the first run  12  in order to set or adjust the tool in a proper manner to enable effective seal removal. 
   The distal or outer hook end  18  of the shank  10  includes a hook assembly  40 . The hook assembly  40  includes a hook member  42  which is a planar flat steel hook having an end hook section  44  extending transversely to member  42  as in  FIG. 2 . A cap screw  46  is used to connect the hook member  42  to the hook end  18  of the shank  10 . A lock nut  48  cooperates with the cap screw  46  to fix the hook member  42  rigidly in position on the shank  10 . The shank  10  includes flats, such as the flat  50  in  FIG. 3 , and the flat  52  in  FIG. 4 . The flats  50 ,  52  facilitate proper engagement or seating of the hook member  42  onto the distal end  18  of the shank  10 . The hook member  42  may be attached to either side of the distal end  18  inasmuch as there are flats  50  and  52  on both sides thereof. The hook member  42  may also be pivoted about an axis  54  which is transverse to the longitudinal axis  30  of the first run  12 . The hook section  44  may be oriented in either sense or direction and thus is reversibly mounted on cap screw  46 . 
   Preferably, the push rod  24  includes a circular bore passage  25  so it may slidably move along the first run  12  which is generally cylindrical in configuration. Thus, the push rod  24  may be positioned rotatably as well as longitudinally on the first run  12  once the thumb screw  22  is loosened. Upon tightening of the thumb screw  22  the push rod  24  will be maintained in a substantially fixed, non-rotatable and non-movable position. The passage  25  and/or run  12  may be keyed to each other or the run  12  may include axial extending flats or notches. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 6-8  there is depicted the manner of use of the tool. The push rod  42  includes a fulcrum or outer end surface  43  which maybe positioned against a part of the motor or engine of a vehicle, for example, as depicted in  FIG. 8  with the hook member  42  and, more particularly, the hook section  44  thereof positioned to engage the underside or inside of a seal. The handle  16  may then be manipulated or pivoted to withdraw the seal from the shaft on which the seal was mounted as depicted, for example, in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
   Because of the adjustability of the various component parts, the tool is useful for multiple types of seal removal from various shapes and configurations of shaft assemblies. That is, the push rod and fulcrum assembly  20  may be adjusted to accommodate various sizes of seals and various types of seals and engine constructions. The shank  10  may be cylindrical or have another cross sectional configuration. The hook member  42  may also be shaped and adjusted for facilitating insertion thereof between the seal and the shaft associated with a seal. Thus, the distal hook end section  44  of the hook assembly, or hook member  42 , is such that it facilitates placement between a shaft and a seal. The particular configuration of the hook member  42  may become a feature utilized in the preferred embodiment of the invention. Nonetheless, various other alternatives and configurations, sizes and shapes of the various component parts may be adopted. Thus, the invention is limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.