Abstract:
Described herein is a tool for removing a wear ring, the tool comprising: a base; a leg base; a spreader disc comprising: a top, bottom, and sloped edge; a plurality of legs comprising: a first end coupled to the leg base, and a saw tooth shaped end; a plurality of spreader bolts, passing though the base and threaded into the spreader disc; and a puller bolt, passing through the base and spreader disc; and threaded into the leg base.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure is directed generally to tools for removing wear rings. Specifically, a tool for pulling a jet ski impeller wear ring from the impeller housing. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Some vehicles are propelled using water jets. Water is pulled into a channel using an impeller. The impeller spins and pulls water through the channel, the channel may be tapered such that the exit is a smaller diameter than the entry. A housing typically encases the impeller, a motor, and the channel. In some cases, a tapered channel allows for an increase in the speed of the water passing through the channel, thus causing a water jet to propel a vehicle connected to the housing. To improve efficiency, the impeller and the channel should be substantially similar in diameter. The housing may have a replaceable wear ring around the impeller. The wear ring wears as debris, for example sand or rock, is pushed against it by the impeller. As it wears, the wear ring may need replacement in order for the efficiency of the motor to remain high. Presently wear rings are removed by chipping them out with a screw driver or other chisel like tool, breaking the wear ring into pieces and consuming a significant amount of man hours to remove. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In an embodiment, a tool for removing a wear ring is described. The tool comprising: a base; a leg base; a spreader disc comprising: a top, bottom, and sloped edge; a plurality of legs comprising: a first end coupled to the leg base, and a saw tooth shaped end; a plurality of spreader bolts, passing though the base and threaded into the spreader disc; and a puller bolt, passing through the base and spreader disc; and threaded into the leg base. 
     In another embodiment a tool for removing a wear ring is described. The tool comprising: a base; a spreader disc comprising: a top, bottom, and sloped edge; a plurality of legs comprising: a first end coupled to the base, and a saw tooth shaped end; a plurality of spreader bolts, passing though the base and threaded into the spreader disc; and a puller bolt, passing through the spreader disc; and threaded into the base. 
     In another embodiment, a method for wear ring removal is described. The method comprising the steps of inserting legs of a wear ring removal tool into a channel formed by the wear ring, the legs coupled to a base; tightening a plurality of spreader bolts causing a spreader to engage the legs with the wear ring, the spreader bolts passing through holes in the base into the spreader; and tightening a puller bolt, the puller bolt passing through the spreader and engaging an impeller. 
     The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of a preferred embodiment of a tool for pulling an impeller wear ring. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of a tool for pulling an impeller wear ring. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a tool for pulling an impeller wear ring. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of a preferred embodiment of a tool for pulling an impeller wear ring. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a tool for pulling an impeller wear ring. 
         FIG. 6A  is a diagram of a preferred embodiment of a tool for pulling an impeller wear ring insertion. 
         FIG. 6B  is a diagram of a preferred embodiment of a tool for pulling an impeller wear ring after insertion. 
         FIG. 6C  is a diagram of a preferred embodiment of a tool for pulling an impeller wear ring removal. 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram of an alternate embodiment of a tool for pulling an impeller wear ring. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram of a preferred embodiment of a tool for pulling an impeller wear ring  100 . The tool for pulling an impeller wear ring  100  may comprise an upper base  110 , several spreader bolts  120 , a puller bolt  130 , a leg base  140 , several legs  150 , and a spreader  160 . Embodiments of spreader  160  may be shaped like a disc with an angled side, such that the top of spreader  160  may have a smaller diameter than the bottom of spreader  160 . 
       FIG. 2 - FIG. 5  show various views of an embodiment of a tool for pulling an impeller wear ring  100 . The tool for pulling an impeller wear ring will be described in further detail in light of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . Legs  150  may have a hole through one end for securing legs  150  to leg base  140 . The opposite end of legs  150  may be of a saw tooth shape to allow for increased grip against a wear ring. Legs  150  may be coupled to leg base  140  using a bolt  210  secured by a nut  220 . While a bolt  210  and nut  220  are depicted, any mechanism for securing legs  150  to leg base  140  may be used, so long as the legs can pivot at the leg base connection. 
     Hole  230  in upper base  110  may be of a slightly larger diameter than puller bolt  130 . Hole  230  may also be unthreaded to allow puller bolt  130  to move freely through hole  230 . Holes  240  in upper base  110  may be of a slightly larger diameter than spreader bolts  120 . Holes  240  may also be unthreaded to allow spreader bolts  120  to move freely through holes  240 . Hole  270  in leg base  140  is preferably threaded to fit puller bolt  130 . Holes  250  in spreader may be threaded to fit spreader bolts  120 . Hole  260  may be of a slightly larger diameter than puller bolt  130 . Hole  260  may also be unthreaded to allow puller bolt  160  to move freely through hole  260 . 
       FIG. 6A - FIG. 6C  are diagrams showing the operation of an embodiment of a tool for pulling an impeller wear ring  100 . The tool for pulling an impeller wear ring  100  may be inserted into a cavity surrounded by wear ring  610 . Spreader  160  may be positioned near the saw tooth end of legs  150 , reducing the overall diameter of the tool for pulling an impeller wear ring  100 . The position of spreader  160  is determined by tightening or loosening spreader bolts  120 . As spreader bolts  120  are tightened, spreader  160  is drawn upwards. Spreader  160  has tapered sides which may cause legs  150  to spread outward toward the wear ring  610  as spreader  160  is drawn upwards towards leg base  140 . During insertion of tool for pulling an impeller wear ring  100 , spreader  160  will be closer to the saw tooth portion of legs  150  than leg base  140 . The tool for pulling an impeller wear ring  100  may be inserted into the cavity surrounded by the wear ring to a depth about equal to the saw tooth portion of the legs  150 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6B , after the tool for pulling an impeller wear ring  100  has been inserted into the channel to a depth about equal to the saw tooth portion of the legs  150 , spreader bolts  120  may be tightened. When spreader bolts  120  are tightened, spreader  160  may be pulled towards leg base  140 , causing legs  150  to spread and press against wear ring  610 . While tightening of bolts are described herein, other devices may be used that cause the spreader to be pulled toward upper base  110 , for example a ratcheting device. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6C , after the legs  150  are pressed firmly against wear ring  610 , puller bolt  130  may be tightened. As puller bolt  130  is tightened, it may press against impeller  620 . As puller bolt  130  is further tightened, leg base  140  is drawn up puller bolt  130  by the threads in hole  270  and begins to pull legs  150  out of the cavity surrounded by the wear ring  610 . Because legs  150  are engaged with wear ring  610 , legs  150  will pull wear ring  610  from the impeller housing. As puller bolt  130  is further tightened, wear ring  610  is removed from the impeller housing. Once wear ring  610  is removed, a new wear ring may be inserted. While tightening of bolts are described herein, other devices may be used that cause the legs to be pulled toward upper base  110 , for example a ratcheting device. 
       FIG. 7  is a diagram of an alternate embodiment of a tool for pulling an impeller wear ring  700 . In this embodiment, upper base  110  of  FIG. 1  and leg base  140  of  FIG. 1  may be replaced by a single base  710 . In this embodiment, the puller bolt hole in single base  710  may be threaded. The remaining functionality of the tool for pulling an impeller wear ring remains substantially similar to that of tool for pulling an impeller wear ring  100  of  FIG. 1 . 
     Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.