Abstract:
A tool for releasing a tube from a fluid carrying tubing fitting having a C frame with a first end member and a second longer end member. A screw having a first end and a second end is rotatably coupled to the first and second end members and a knob coupled to the first end of the screw is provided for rotating the screw. A movable jaw is located between the first and second end members and has a threaded opening that engages the first end of the screw. The tool may include a bolster plate which is adapted to be attached to the second end member of the C frame or to the movable jaw to contact the back of a tubing fitting and has an adapter plate with a hook that engages the screw and has a slot for engaging a tube from the front of a tubing fitting.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is directed to a release tool for use with quick connect tube connectors and nut &amp; ferrule tube connectors, and, more particularly to a release tool for releasing a tubular conduit from a connector. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Snap-fit or quick connectors are useful in a wide range of applications. In particular, they are frequently employed for joining fluid carrying conduit in automotive and industrial applications. Release tools for separating the fluid carrying conduit from its fitting is known in the prior art. More specifically, by way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,062,833 to Schann, et al. discloses a sheath that enters between each tab and the cylindrical wall until the means that prevents the withdrawal of locking tabs are released. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,761 to Ostrander, et al. discloses axial sliding a release member through an open end of a quick connector into engagement with a retainer mounted within the quick connector to effect release of legs of the retainer from an annular flange on the fitting and disengagement of the connector from the fitting. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,025 to Szabo discloses engaging surfaces formed between fingers on an inner sleeve engage deflectable legs on a retainer mounted in the bore of a female connector part where a release member is forcibly urged into the bore in the female connector part to deflect the legs radially outward so as to permit separation of a radially expanded flange on a male conduit from the female connector part. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,788 to McNaughton, et al. discloses a plurality of planar surfaces at an outer peripheral surface which bias retainer legs radially outwardly to allow removal of a tube. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,230 to Klinger discloses an elongated handle and a bifurcated body including first and second complimentary body halves which are resiliently carried by the handle which embrace an outer surface of the connector to overlie radial openings. An abutment member which extends from the body halves penetrates the female connector opening(s) to displace the retaining element from an engaged position to a released position. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,376 to Szabo discloses a squeeze-to-release quick connector for engaging a flanged male member includes a cylindrical body portion which is open at one end for receiving the male member and forms a conduit receiving adapter at its opposite end. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,954 to Klinger discloses a quick connector release tool includes a handle and a bifurcated body resiliently mounted to the handle and including one or more finger members extending from each half of the body which form a tapered fitting receiving passageway which is adapted to disconnect male tubular fittings of varying diameters. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,468 to Burge discloses a release tool for releasing a tube which is held by the gripper ring of the fitting. The release tool has a thin, cylindrical section portion which can be received about a tube held in the fitting and then inserted in the fitting raises the gripper to release the tube. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is disclosed a tool for releasing a tube from a fluid carrying tubing fitting which uses a slotted ringed sleeve that surrounds the tube, to lock the tube into the body of the fitting (push release fluid fitting), and requires the sleeve to be depressed into the body to release the tube, with such tool having: a C frame with a first end member (screw support) and a second longer end member (a fixed jaw). A screw having a first end and a second end is rotatably coupled to the first and second end members and a knob that is coupled to the first end of the screw is provided for rotating the screw. A movable jaw is located between the first and second end members and has a threaded opening that engages the first end of the screw. The tool includes a bolster plate having a hook that engages the screw, and which is adapted to be attached to the second end member (the fixed jaw) of the C frame or to the movable jaw to contact the back of a tubing fitting, and an adapter jaw having a hook that engages the screw and has a slot for engaging a tube from the front of a tubing fitting. Such adapter jaws and bolster plates are held in place with either magnets or screws. The purpose of the adapter jaws is to increase the size range of the tool with respect to different hose sizes, 
     In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a tool for releasing a tube from a fluid carrying tubing fitting which uses a ferrule and nut to secure the tube in the threaded body of the fitting, with such tool having: a C frame with a first end member and a second longer end member. A screw having a first end and a second end is rotatably coupled to the first and second end members and a knob that is coupled to the first end of the screw is provided for rotating the screw. A movable jaw is located between the first and second end members and has a threaded opening that engages the first end of the screw. The tool includes adapter jaws having a hook that engages the screw and has a U shaped slot and a thin U shaped blade in the slot, for engaging a tube ferrule from the front of a tubing fitting, engaging the ferrule between the ferrule ring and fitting body. Such adapter jaws increase the range of the tool with respect to different hose sizes, and fitting types, and are used in pairs of the same size. 
     The more important features of the invention have thus been outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may better be appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claims that follow. 
     Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred feature of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention and that such other structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claim, and the accompanying drawings in which similar elements are given similar reference numerals. 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a release tool for a push release fluid fitting shown with a typical push release fluid fitting in phantom in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a right end view of the release tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a left end view of the release tool of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of a bolster plate and its groove feature; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of a ⅝-¼ inch combination adapter jaw; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of a ⅝-⅜ inch combination adapter jaw; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of another embodiment of a release tool for use on threaded nut-and-ferrule type fluid fittings, in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a right end view of the release tool of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the release tool for a push release type fluid fitting of  FIG. 7  shown with adapter jaws as applied to a nut-and-ferrule type fluid fitting for hose removal in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a front view and end view with close up view of an adapter jaw of the release tool of  FIG. 7  for a three-eighths inch line fitting; 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of an adapter jaw of the release tool of  FIG. 7  for a one-half inch line fitting; 
         FIG. 12  is a front view of an adapter jaw of the release tool of  FIG. 7  for a five-eighths inch line fitting; and 
         FIG. 13  is a front view of an adapter jaw of the release tool of  FIG. 7  for a three-quarters inch line fitting. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 , there is shown a release tool for a push release fluid fitting shown with a typical push release fluid fitting in phantom in accordance with the principles of the invention. 
     The release tool  10  consists of a “C” frame  12 , formed from a suitable tool material, with the ends  14 ,  16  bent at 90 degrees to form a “C” shape. The bent ends are preferably of lengths suitable to the maximum size fitting provided for, with holes through the ends allowing a screw  18  to be fitted. The large end  14  of the C frame  12  (the fixed jaw), has a longitudinal slot  20  for the largest tube size provided for, but not limited to ⅝ of an inch or ¾ of an inch. 
     A movable jaw  22  has a threaded hole  24  to fit screw  18  at one end, and a slot  26  centered along the long axis, from near center to end, to accommodate one or more sizes of tubes such as is used with typical air/liquid fluid tube fittings. 
     Screw  18  is preferably, a single lead screw, of either left or right hand, depending upon the configuration of the tool and its application, with a circular head with a female hexagonal indentation  19  (from  FIG. 3 ), suitable for being driven by a hex wrench, a preferably rolled or ground thread, a machined diameter to fit a knob, a flat for a set screw, or a cross drilled hole for a pin through a fixed knob, and a length sufficiently longer than the “U” section of the C frame  12  in order to extend from the far side of fixed jaw  14  in C frame  12  through short end or screw support,  16 , and engage the knob bore in hex  30  of the knob. 
     The knob has a combination finger section  28  with a female hexagonal drive  21  inside, and wrench receiving section  30 . The wrench section has a hexagon shape suitable for engagement of a socket or wrench. The finger section is a cylindrical grip with a knurled or fluted surface finish having a diameter that is slightly smaller than the hexagon and has a length suitable for gripping with a thumb and forefinger, and has a female hexagonal indentation  21  (See  FIG. 2 ), suitable for being driven by a hex wrench. The knob is located at the first end of the screw  18  to allow hand or wrench operation of screw  18 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a view of a bolster plate. Bolster plate  32  allows the back of the fitting to be held, and is attached to either the inside of the fixed jaw, the long end  14  of the C frame  12 , or the surface of the movable jaw  22  (see  FIG. 1 ) which faces the fixed jaw, the long end  14  of the C frame  12 . The front surface of the bolster plate has a pattern of grooves  43  across the surface at various angles to allow the tool to grip the fitting without slipping and either 1 or more magnets imbedded into the far side surface, or a threaded hole for a locking screw. 
     Looking at  FIGS. 1 ,  5  and  6 , adapter jaws  34 ,  36 , are provided to allow the C frame  12  to be used with various size fittings and tubes. The adapter jaws have longitudinal U shape slots  38  with widths of 0.250, 0.375, 0.500, and 0.625 inches and a length which is about 0.125 of an inch greater than the width. Adapters with larger or smaller inch sizes, and metric sizes are envisioned as well. The slots may be single, i.e., one size per adapter jaw or a combination of sizes, i.e., a 0.250 inch wide slot bisecting the bottom of a 0.625 inch wide slot which allows one adapter jaw to be used with both a ¼ inch tube and a ⅝ inch tube without having to change to another adapter jaw. Other combinations of sizes are possible, as well. 
     In operation, the movable jaw  22  which is threaded on screw  18  which passes through the holes in the ends of the C frame  12  moves along the screw  18  in the open section of the C frame  12 , when turned by the knob on the end of the screw. 
     The bolster plate  32  allows the back of the fitting to be held securely, and is attached to either the inside face of the fixed jaw  14  of the C frame, or to the opposing side of the movable jaw  22  with an arrangement of a hook  47  and a magnet or magnets  42  (see  FIG. 4 ), or a threaded hole and a screw fastener. The hook  47  is a crosswise slot that loosely engages the screw  18  which, when combined with the magnet(s)  42  or alternately, a screw through the slot in the adjacent tool face, will prevent the inadvertent disengagement of the bolster plate  32 . 
     Adapter jaws  34 ,  36  are provided to accommodate various tube and fitting sizes. For example the jaws can have different slot sizes, such as, but not limited to 0.250, 0.375, 0.500, and 0.625 inches. A selected adapter jaw is attached to the movable jaw  22  face, or alternately, to the inner surface of the fixed jaw, or large end of the C frame  12 . Attachment is by one of various means which can include but not limited to an arrangement of the hook  47  and magnet  42 , or a hook and a screw fastener. The hook  47  is a crosswise slot (see  FIG. 4 ) that loosely engages screw  18  which, when combined with the magnet  42  or alternately a screw through the slot in the adjacent tool face, will prevent the inadvertent disengagement of the bolster plate  32 . 
     The relative positions of the bolster plate  32  and the adapter jaws  36 ,  38  can be reversed to accommodate the orientation of the fitting. 
     In an embodiment, two adapter jaws can be used instead of the bolster plate. 
     In another embodiment, the tool can have a C frame that is sized for a specific range of fittings such as, i.e., a one-half inch single or one-quarter and five-eighths inch tube size with the fixed jaw or large end of the C frame closed and the slots machined into the movable jaw of the preferred tube size. This embodiment allows the tool to be used on one or alternately, two fitting sizes. 
     In another embodiment, the tool has a smaller C frame with a slot machined into the fixed jaw, or large end, to fit behind the hex of a straight fitting and the slot in the movable jaw sized to receive a suitable tube size. 
     The tool disclosed surrounds the fitting, which may be a 90 degree elbow or a straight fitting, engages one or more “back” surfaces, straddles the tube and engages the ring around the tube. The ring is the end of a sleeve which extends into the body of the fitting. Depressing the end of the sleeve causes the slotted inner ends of the sleeve to expand and release their grip on the tube. 
     Dirt getting into the clearance between the sleeve, body and tube, or corrosion of the metal components of metal fittings causes the sleeve to be locked to the body and/or tube which prevents easy disengagement of the sleeve and tube assembly. By placing the tool in position on the fitting, disengagement is obtained by turning the knob to advance the movable jaw and any attached adapter plate against the ring surrounding the tube. The bolster plate attached to the fixed or movable jaw, engages the rear side of the fitting, if an elbow, or an adapter jaw  34 ,  36  can be used to engage the back side of the hexagonal body of the fitting if a straight fitting, to secure the position of the tool. If more torque than can be applied by finger pressure is required to turn the screw, a wrench such as a socket, box or open end wrench or hex driver, may be used to turn the knob. Once the ring is depressed against the body of the fitting, the fingers are in a position to release the tube, and the tube is removed by pulling it out of the fitting. 
     The knob can be cross drilled for a pin, or tapped for a set screw. A smooth hole which goes fully or partially thru is provided to fit the machined end of the screw. A female hexagonal drive depression  21  can be provided in the knob portion  28  to receive a hex driver. 
     The bolster plate has crosswise grooves at 45 degrees, both sides of center, and 90 degrees centrally located. 
     The adapter jaws are slotted to clear and wrap around the screw as a hook to allow the jaw to slide sideways into engagement with the screw and held to the movable jaw or the fixed jaw of the C frame with a centrally located magnet(s) or fastening screw, and having a centrally located groove along the long axis which is sized to a tube width of 0.250, 0.375, 500, or 0.625 of an inch. Some grooves can be combined such as a 0.250 and a 0.625 groove for use with two sizes of tubes. Additional inch and metric sizes are possible, as well. 
     In use, a user selects the bolster plate and an appropriate adapter jaw for the size tube at hand, and installs them on the tool in whichever position is required as is determined by the orientation of the fitting and its tube. Now, holding the tool in one hand, or optionally, at the end of a socket which engages the knob hex, or a hex driver engaging the end of the knob, user places the frame of the tool around the fitting, and depending upon which direction the fitting and its tube are oriented, user engages the grooved surfaces of the bolster plate with the back side of the body of the fitting with the slotted adapted plate straddling the tube. Now, turning the screw in a direction which will cause the slider to close on the fitting (this depending upon which hand of screw is incorporated, as determined by the various embodiments or design application of the tool), whether the backside or tube side, and depresses the ring of the locking sleeve of the fitting to cause it to release its grip on the tube engaged in the fitting. The tube can now be released from the fitting by pulling on it. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , there is shown a side view of another embodiment of a release tool for a push release fitting with adapters mounted allowing the removal of the tube from a nut &amp; ferrule type fluid fitting and  FIG. 8  is a right end view of the release tool of  FIG. 7  in accordance with the principles of the invention. 
     As noted above in the brief description of the drawings, similar elements in the various embodiments are given similar reference numerals. 
     Continuing with  FIGS. 7 and 8 , release tool  10  consists of a “C” frame  12 , ends  14 ,  16  bent at 90 degrees to form a “C” shape. The bent ends are preferably of lengths suitable to the maximum size fitting provided for. Machined holes through the ends allow for a screw  18  to be fitted. 
     A movable jaw  22  has a screw threaded hole  24  to fit screw  18  at one end, a slot  26  centered along the long axis, from near center to end, to accommodate one or more sizes of tubes such as is used with typical air/liquid fluid tube fittings, and a screw clearance opening for receiving a screw  27  that threads into an adapter jaw  40 B and attaches the adapter jaw to the movable jaw  22 . If magnets are used for securement, screw clearance openings can be used to engage the magnet. 
     Another screw clearance opening is located in the fixed jaw  14  of frame  12  for a screw  29  that threads into a mating adapter jaw  31 B. If magnets are used for securement, screw clearance openings can be used to engage the magnet. 
     Screw  18  is preferably, a single lead screw, with a preferably rolled or ground thread, a round head with a centrally located female hexagonal impression  19  ( FIG. 3 ) suitable for driving with a hex driver, a machined diameter to fit a fixed knob, and with a length equal to that of the “U” section of the tool plus the length of the head and engagement length of the knob. 
     The knob has a combination finger section  28  and wrench receiving section  30 . The wrench section has a hexagon shape suitable for use with a socket or wrench. The finger section is a cylindrical grip with a knurled or fluted surface finish having a diameter that is slightly smaller than the hexagon and has a length suitable for gripping with a thumb and forefinger, and a female hexagonal depression  19  (See  FIG. 3 ) in  28  suitable for driving with a hex driver. 
     The knob is located at the end of the screw  18  to allow hand, or wrench or hex driver operation of screw  18 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , there is a side view of the release tool for a push release fluid fitting of  FIG. 7  with two adapter jaws  70 A and  70 B engaged with a nut-and-ferrule type fluid fitting for hose removal in accordance with the principles of the invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , there is shown a view of an adapter jaw  40  for a three-eighths inch line fitting. Adapter jaws  40 ,  50 ,  60 , and  70  are used in mating pairs ( 40 A and  40 B,  50 A and  50 B, and so on) where one adapter jaw is attached to the surface of the movable jaw  22  (see  FIG. 9 ) which faces the fixed jaw  14  of the C frame  12  and the mating adapter jaw is attached to the inner surface of the fixed jaw  14  of the C frame  12 . The thin U shaped blades  45   FIG. 10  machined into each adapter slot engage the gap between the ferrule ring and the end of the threaded body of the fitting, causing them to separate when the screw  18  is turned, the direction determined by the hand of the screw  18 . This separating motion pulls the ferrule and tube from the body of the fitting. Adapter jaws  40 ,  50 ,  60  &amp;  70  have a thin semicircular U shaped blade  45   FIG. 10  machined into them allowing them to be nested together to engage the gap between the ferrule ring and body of the fitting. 
     Looking at  FIGS. 10-13 , adapter jaws  40 ,  50 ,  60 , and  70  are provided in pairs to allow the C frame  12  to be used with various size fittings and tubes. The adapter jaws have U shape slots  44  with semicircular U shaped blades  47   FIG. 10  machined into them, in widths to fit the ferrules of 0.375, 0.500, 0.625 and 0.750 inch tubes and a length which is about 0.125 of an inch greater than the width. Adapter jaws  40 ,  50 ,  60  &amp;  70  have a thin semicircular U shaped blade  45  machined into them allowing them to be nested together to engage the gap between the ferrule ring and body of the fitting. Additional inch and metric sizes are possible. 
     In operation, movable jaw  22  which is threaded on screw  18  which passes through the holes in the ends of the C frame  12  moves along the screw  18  in the open section of the C frame  12  when turned by the knob on the end of the screw. 
     Looking at  FIG. 9 , adapter jaws  70  A and  70 B when mounted to the inside face of the fixed jaw  14  of the C frame  12 , and movable jaw  22 , and secured by hook  43  which is a crosswise slot that loosely engages the screw  18 , and screws  27 , &amp;  29 , or optionally, magnet(s)  42 , nest together when movable jaw  22  is closed allowing the two thin blades to engage the slot between the ferrule ring and the fitting body and separate the ferrule &amp; tube assembly from the body of the fitting when the screw  18  is turned. 
     Adapter jaws  40 ,  50 ,  60 , and  70  are provided to accommodate various tube and fitting sizes. For example the adapter jaws, which are used in pairs, can have different slot sizes, such as, but not limited to those appropriately sized for 0.375, 0.500, 0.625 and 0.750 inch tube ferrules. A selected adapter plate is attached to the movable jaw  22  face and a mating adapter plate of the same size is attached to the fixed jaw of the C frame  12 . Attachment may be by one of various means which can include but not limited to an arrangement of a magnet(s) or a screw fastener. The hook  47  is a crosswise slot (see  FIG. 10 ) that loosely engages screw  18  which, when combined with a screw will prevent the inadvertent disengagement of the adapter plate. 
     The adapter jaws are slotted to clear and wrap around the screw as a hook to allow the plate to slide sideways into engagement with the screw and be held to the slider or long end of the C frame with a centrally located magnet(s) or fastening screw, and having a centrally located groove along the long axis which is sized to fit the outer ring of a ferrule for a tube width of 0.375, 0.500, 0.625 or 0.750 of an inch. 
     In use, a user selects an appropriate pair of adapter plates for the size tube at hand, and installs them on the tool, one adapter plate fastened to the inner surface of the fixed jaw  14  of C frame  12 , and the other to the facing side of the movable jaw  22 , with the U shaped slot blade  47  side facing toward the other adapter jaw, either magnetically, of with screw fasteners. The screw  18  is then rotated to bring the two adapter plates into contact with each other, in a nested position with the slot blades adjacent to each other. Now, holding the tool in one hand, or optionally, at the end of a socket or hex driver, the user engages the blades of the adapter jaws into the slot between the ferrule ring and body of the fitting, and turns the screw  18  causing the adapter jaws to separate, pulling the ferrule and tube from the body of the fitting. 
     While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention and not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are entitled.