Abstract:
A seal driving tool for use with sockets or like devices that are used to position seals. The driving tool may have multiple segments including a force receiving member, an extender and an adapter. All, some or one of these items may be used in accordance with the present invention. The seal driving tool affords extended socket life and flexibility of use situations to the user.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/412,384, filed Sep. 20, 2002, and having the same title and inventor(s) as above. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to seal drivers and, more specifically, to reducing damage to sockets that are mis-used as seal drivers. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Many machines have a spinning or sliding shaft about which seals are provided. Seals typically include a rigid, metal ring or disc interior of which is mounted a flexible rubber or other suitable material. Seals are often used to prevent or reduce lubricant leakage and prevent the accumulation of dust and dirt around ball-bearings or other devices that provide low-friction support to a shaft. Other seal arrangements are also known in the art. 
   Seal drivers have been developed to mount seals into position for subsequent insertion of a shaft into the seal. Typically these drivers consist of a set of sturdy discs or like members that are coupled to a driving member. In use, a disc is placed adjacent a seal and the driving member is struck, creating a force that transfers through the driving member to the disc and then the seal, driving the seal into position. 
   A disadvantageous aspect of current seal driver sets is that they are very expensive, based in part on the specialized nature of the device. Due to their significant expense, many individual mechanics typically do not have a set of seal drivers and larger shops tend to have one set to be shared by several mechanics, leading to situations in which a desired seal driver size is not available. 
   A less expensive alternative to seal drivers is sockets—a standard accessory for most mechanics. Use of a socket is also advantageous because their hollow cylindrical structure permits driving of a seal onto a shaft, whereas the flat discs typically used in seal drivers as described above do not. When using a socket as a seal driver, a mechanic selects the socket size that approximates the size of a given seal and drives that seal into position by striking the socket with a hammer  15  or the like. This use, which is illustrated in  FIG. 1 , constitutes “mis-use” of the socket  16  and often damages the socket resulting in significantly shorted product life. Notwithstanding damage to the sockets, it is standard practice in many shops to drive seals  18  with sockets. 
   This practice is in part exacerbated by tool companies that offer life-time tool warranties that allow mechanics to simply replace the damaged sockets at no charge to the mechanic. This results in financial loss to the tool maker and unnecessary and undesirable resource consumption to generate new sockets. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Given the propensity of mechanics to use sockets to drive seals, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for driving seals with sockets in a manner that significantly reduces damage to the sockets and thus extends their useful life. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide such a device that accommodates sockets of various sizes. 
   It is also an object of the present invention to provide such a device that has an extender mechanism for driving seals located at a distance from the seal driver striking surface. 
   These and related objects of the present invention are achieved by use of a socket life-extending driving tool as described herein. 
   The attainment of the foregoing and related advantages and features of the invention should be more readily apparent to those skilled in the art, after review of the following more detailed description of the invention taken together with the drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram of a hammer striking a socket used to drive a seal. 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram of a socket driving device in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the device of  FIG. 3 , excluding the extender, in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIGS. 4A–4B  are an end view and a side view of a driving shaft in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIGS. 5A–5C  are an end view, a side view and the other end view of an adapter in accordance with the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , a diagram of a socket driving device  40  in accordance with the present invention is shown. The socket driving device  40  includes a driving shaft  50 , an extender  60  and an adapter  70 . In use, a socket  16  is mounted to adapter  70  and aligned with seal  18 . A hammer  15  delivers a driving force through driving shaft  50  that translates through driving device  40  onto socket  16  and seal  18 . 
   Driving shaft  50  is preferably formed of a solid or similarly rigid structure and includes a striking surface  51  on one end and a coupling protrusion  52  on the other end. The striking surface is configured to withstand repeated hammer strikes. Driving shaft  50  is preferably circular in lateral cross-section to distribute driving force, though other cross-sectional shapes may be used without departing from the present invention. The driving shaft may be coupled through extender  60  to adapter  70  or directly to adapter  70  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) or directly to a socket  16 . 
   Extender  60  preferably has a lateral cross-sectional shape that is similar to that of the driving shaft. The extender includes a recess  61  for receiving coupling protrusion  52  and a coupling protrusion  62  for coupling into adapter recess  71 . Coupling protrusion  52  preferably includes a biased ball bearing  53  or the like that positively engages coupling notch  66 . Similarly, coupling protrusion  62  preferably includes a biased ball bearing  63  or the like that positively engages coupling notch  76 . Note that the extender may be provided in various lengths. 
   Adapter  70  includes a coupling protrusion  72 , which may be the same or different size as that of the driving shaft or extender. Adapter  70  may have a cylindrical, conical, fluted or other shape. A fluted configuration is shown in  FIG. 2 . The fluted, conical or like shape serves to distribute driving force across socket coupling surface  78 , resulting in more uniform application of force onto socket  16 . Coupling protrusion  72  preferably includes a biased ball bearing  73  or the like that positively engages coupling notch  19  of socket recess  17 . 
   While the driving shaft, extender and adapter are shown in a linear, inner-connected arrangement in  FIG. 2 , it should be recognized that the present invention may be practiced with less than all three components. As noted above, the driving shaft may be coupled directly to socket  16  or to adapter  70 . In addition, the driving shaft and extender may be coupled directly to a socket, i.e., without adapter  70 . 
   It should also be recognized that the coupling protrusions of the driving shaft and the adapter may be differently sized. For example, the coupling protrusion  52  of the driving shaft  50  may be ⅜″ square while the coupling protrusion of the adapter may be ½″ square. This enables device  40  to accommodate a greater range of socket sizes. It may also serve to better distribute driving force from the driving shaft to larger sized sockets. It should also be recognized that a plurality of different size adapter could be provided to accommodate different size sockets. 
   The driving shaft, extender and adapter are preferably made of hardened steel or other material that is standard is socket manufacture. Alternatively or in combination, parts of the driving shaft, extender and/or adapter may be made of a hard plastic or resin or other material as are the handles of some wood chisels and the like. 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , a perspective view of device  40 , excluding extender  60 , is shown in accordance with the present invention. In use, socket  16  would be mounted on the coupling protrusion  72  of adapter  70 , and a hammer would strike striking surface  51 , thereby transferring a driving force to a seal aligned with the socket. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4A–4B , an end view and a side view of driving shaft  50  in accordance with the present invention are respectively shown. The end view illustrates a ball bearing  53  resident in groove  54  in protrusion  52 . The ball bearing is biased by spring  55  and when inserted into an extender, adapter or socket engages coupling notch  66 ,  76  or  19  in that part. 
   Side view,  FIG. 4B , illustrates the position of ball bearing  53  in protrusion  52  and the opposing arrangement of striking surface  51  and protrusion  52 . Holding section  57  is provided between the striking surface and the protrusion. Holding section  57  includes a tapered depression for ease of holding during use. Other configurations and/or the use of a rubber “no-slip” grip of the like could also be provided in this section. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 5A–5C , an end view, side view and other end view of adapter  70  in accordance with the present invention are respectively shown.  FIG. 5A  illustrates the socket coupling surface  78  and protrusion  72  that includes a ball bearing  73 , groove  74  and spring  75  as discussed above for driving shaft  50  (extender protrusion  62  includes similar components). 
   Side view,  FIG. 5B , illustrates the arrangement of protrusion  72 , recess  71  and the remainder of the adapter body. The other end view illustrates the location of recess  71 , amongst other features. 
   While the invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification, and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth, and as fall within the scope of the invention and the limits of the appended claims.