Patent Publication Number: US-2021190256-A1

Title: Tool for removing and installing bearings and method for changing a bearing

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a U.S. national stage of Application No. PCT/EP2018/081214 filed Nov. 14, 2018. Priority is claimed on German Application No. DE 10 2017 126 855.3 filed Nov. 15, 2017 the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a tool for removing and installing bearings. The invention, furthermore, relates to a method for changing a bearing using such a tool. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     From practice it is known that internal combustion engines are mounted on bases. Accordingly, an internal combustion engine of a ship is mounted on a base of the ship by way of an engine mounting frame of the internal combustion engine. Between the engine mounting frame and the base, on which the internal combustion engine is mounted via the engine mounting frame, bearings are positioned which in particular serves for vibration damping. This serves to ensure that vibrations of the internal combustion engine are not transmitted to the base of the ship and thus lead to an undesirable noise development in the ship. 
     Bearings, via which an engine mounting frame of an internal combustion engine is mounted on a base, typically comprise metallic securing plates located opposite one another and a rubber-elastically deformable damping element extending between securing plates. A first securing plate of a bearing acts on the engine mounting frame and a second securing plate of the bearing on the base. The respective rubber-elastically deformable damping element extends between the securing plates of the bearing. The internal combustion engine supports itself on the bearings via its engine mounting frame, wherein as a consequence of the weight of the internal combustion engine the damping elements of the bearings are elastically deformed. To change a bearing it has been necessary to date to lift the internal combustion engine including the engine mounting frame and thereby take the weight of the internal combustion engine off the bearings. Only then can an old bearing be removed and a new bearing installed. 
     Lifting the internal combustion engine is laborious. There is a need for simplifying the removal and the installation of a bearing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of, the present invention is based on a new type of tool for removing and installing bearings, which simplifies the removal and installation of bearings. Furthermore, a method for changing a bearing using such a tool is to be created. 
     The tool according to one aspect of the invention comprises parallel mounting plates located opposite one another, wherein each mounting plate is mountable to a securing plate of a bearing to be removed or installed. The mounting plates located opposite one another are operatively connected by way of a turnbuckle. The tool according to one aspect of the invention allows the removal and the installation of a bearing without it being necessary to lift the internal combustion engine. During the removal and installation of a bearing, the internal combustion engine can remain in its original position and support itself with its weight on bearings not requiring to be changed. With the tool, a bearing to be changed can then be removed in order to install a new bearing following the removal of the bearing to be changed. By way of this, the installation and the removal of bearings are significantly simplified. 
     Preferentially, the tool comprises coupling rods extending perpendicularly to the mounting plates, wherein with each mounting plate a coupling rod is connected, which extends in the direction of the respective mounting plate located opposite, and wherein the turnbuckle acts on the coupling rods of the mounting plates. This design of the tool is simple and allows a simple removal and installation of bearings without the internal combustion engine having to be lifted for this purpose. 
     Preferentially, a first coupling rod with a first end of the same acts on a first mounting plate, wherein on a second end of the first coupling rod a first external thread is formed. A second coupling rod with a first end of the same acts on a second mounting plate, wherein on a second end of the second coupling rod a second external thread is formed. A turnbuckle acts with a first end or a first internal thread of the first end on the first external thread of the first coupling rod and with a second end or a second internal thread of the second end on a second external thread of the second coupling rod. The first external thread and the first internal thread are each right-hand threads and the second external thread and the second internal thread are each left-hand treads. This design configuration of the tool is particularly preferred in order to make possible a simple removal and installation of a bearing. 
     Preferentially, the turnbuckle has a hexagonal outer contour. By way of this, the turnbuckle can then be actuated by a conventional spanner to make possible the removal and the installation of a bearing, namely without the need for lifting and subsequently lowering the internal combustion engine. 
     Preferentially, the oppositely located mounting plates comprise passage openings for mounting bolts, via which the mounting plates are mountable to the securing plates of a bearing to be removed or installed. This allows simply connecting and disconnecting the tool to and from the securing plates of a bearing to be installed or removed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Preferred further developments of the invention are obtained from the subclaims and the following description. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail by way of the drawing without being restricted to this. There it shows: 
         FIG. 1  is a lateral view of a tool according to the invention for removing and installing bearings; 
         FIG. 2  is the tool of  FIG. 1  in partial cross section; and 
         FIG. 3  is the tool of  FIG. 1  employed together with an engine mounting frame, a base and bearings between the engine mounting frame and the base. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The invention relates to a tool and to a method for removing and installing bearings, namely of such bearings, via which an engine mounting frame of an internal combustion engine is mounted on a base. In particular, the invention relates to a tool and to a method for removing and installing bearings, via which an engine mounting frame of an internal combustion engine of a ship is mounted on a base of a ship. 
       FIG. 3  is an extract from an arrangement of an internal combustion engine  10 , of which an engine mounting frame  11  is shown, and a base  12 , wherein between the engine mounting frame  11  of the internal combustion engine  10  and the base  12 , on which the internal combustion engine  10  is mounted, multiple bearings  13  are arranged. 
     The bearings  13  shown in  FIG. 3  comprise metallic securing plates  14 ,  15  located opposite one another. 
     By way of a first securing plate  14 , the respective bearing  13  is mounted to the engine mounting frame  10 . 
     By way of a second securing plate  15  located opposite, the respective bearing  13  is mounted to the base  12 , namely in the shown exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 3  to a corresponding mounting pedestal  16  of the base  12 . 
     Between the securing plates  14 ,  15  of the respective bearing  13 , a rubber-elastically deformable damping element  17  of the respective bearing  13  extends, which is rubber-elastically deformed under the weight of the internal combustion engine  10 . By way of the damping elements  17  of the bearings  13 , the internal combustion engine  10  is decoupled in terms of oscillation or vibration from the base  12 , so that vibrations of the internal combustion engine  10  are not transmitted to the base  12 . 
     In particular when for example for changing a bearing  13  an old bearing is to be removed and a new bearing  13  installed, it has been necessary to date to lift the internal combustion engine  10  so that the engine mounting frame  11  does not support itself on the respective bearing  13  to be changed, since otherwise neither the bearing  13  to be removed could be removed nor the bearing  13  to be installed could be installed. 
     The invention present here now proposes a tool  18  with which a bearing  13  can also be removed and installed even in particular when the internal combustion engine  10  or the engine mounting frame  11  of the internal combustion engine  10  is not lifted off the relevant bearing  13 . 
     Two bearings  13  are shown in  FIG. 3 , which are installed, offset by 90° between the engine mounting frame  11  and the base  12 . 
     Furthermore,  FIG. 3  shows three tools  18  for installing and removing the bearing  13 . For installing a bearing  13  and for removing a bearing  13 , two tools  18  according to the invention are typically employed for each bearing  13 , namely on sides or ends of the respective bearing  13  located opposite one another, wherein in  FIG. 3  for the left shown bearing  13  only one tool  18  is visible, the invisible tool  18  is situated behind the left bearing  13  in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show a tool  18  for removing and installing a bearing  13  according to the invention in sole representation. 
     The tool  18  according to one aspect of the invention comprises parallel mounting plates  19 ,  20  located opposite one another. Each of the mounting plates  19 ,  20  is mountable to a securing plate  14 ,  15  of a bearing  13  to be removed or installed. As is evident from  FIG. 3 , the mounting plates  19 ,  20  are mountable to the securing plates  14 ,  15  of a bearing  13  in such a manner that outer surfaces  21 ,  22  of the mounting plates  19 ,  20  facing away from one another come to lie against inner surfaces  23 ,  24  of the securing plates  14 ,  15  of the respective bearing  13  facing one another. 
     The mounting plates  19 ,  20  of the tool  18  according to the invention located opposite one another are coupled via a turnbuckle  25  or are operatively connected via the turnbuckle  25 . In addition to the mounting plates  19 ,  20  and the turnbuckle  25 , a tool  18  according to the invention comprises coupling rods  26 ,  27 . From each mounting plate  19 ,  20  of the tool  18 , a coupling rod  26 ,  27  of the tool  18 , which is connected to the respective mounting plate  19 ,  20 , extends in the direction of the respective mounting plate  20 ,  19  of the tool  18  located opposite. 
     The turnbuckle  25  of the tool  18  acts on the coupling rods  26 ,  27  of the tool  18 . 
     As is evident from  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a first coupling rod  27  with a first end acts on a first mounting plate  19 . On a second end of the first coupling rod  27  located opposite, a first external thread  28  is formed. 
     The second coupling rod  26  with a first end acts on the second mounting plate  20  located opposite, while on a second end of the coupling rod  26  located opposite a second external thread  29  is formed. 
     At a first end, the turnbuckle  25  has a first internal thread  30  that interacts with the first external thread  28  of the first coupling rod  27 . At a second end located opposite, the turnbuckle  25  has a second internal thread  31  which interacts with the second external thread  29  of the second coupling rod  26 . 
     The first external thread  28  and the first internal thread  30 , which interact, are preferentially right-hand threads whereas the second external thread  29  and the second internal thread  31  are threads running in opposite direction to the first external thread and the first internal thread, i.e. preferentially left-hand threads. 
     By turning the turnbuckle  25  in a first direction, for example in the clockwise direction, the mounting plates  19 ,  20 , while reducing the distance between the same, can be moved towards one another. By turning the turnbuckle  25  in an opposite direction, for example in the anti-clockwise direction, the mounting plates  19 ,  20 , while increasing the distance between the same, can be moved away from one another. 
     In order to make possible an optimal turning of the turnbuckle  25 , the same has a hexagonal outer contour so that the turnbuckle  25  can then be turned by way of a spanner. 
     On the mounting plates  19 ,  20  of the tool  18  according to one aspect of the invention, passage openings for mounting bolts  32  which are not shown are formed. Of these mounting bolts  32 , a bolt head  32   a  and a bolt shank  32   b  each are visible. The mounting bolts  32  extend in each case, emanating from inner surfaces  33 ,  34  of the mounting plates  19 ,  20 , through the passage openings of the mounting plates  19 ,  20 , i.e. in such a manner that the bolt heads  32   a  of the mounting bolts  32  lie on the respective inner surface  33 ,  34  of the respective mounting plate  19 ,  20  and the bolt shanks  32   b  of the mounting bolts  32  project relative to the respective outer surface  21 ,  22  of the respective mounting plate  19 ,  20 . 
     In particular when in the state shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  the mounting plates  19 ,  20  of the tool  10  are demounted from a bearing  13 , the mounting bolts  32  are held on the respective mounting plate  19 ,  20  by way of nuts. 
     The coupling rods  26 ,  27  extend perpendicularly to the mounting plates  19 ,  20  and are firmly connected to the mounting plates  19 ,  20  with their first ends. The second ends of the coupling rods  26 ,  27  located opposite, which are in engagement or interact with the turnbuckle  25 , are positioned between the two mounting plates  19 ,  20 . 
     In order to now change a bearing  13 , i.e. to exchange an old bearing  13  for a new bearing  13 , an old bearing  13  is initially removed and subsequently a new bearing  13  installed. Preferentially two tools  18  are employed for each bearing  13 . 
     For removing an old bearing  13 , the turnbuckle  25  of the tool  18  is initially actuated in order to move the mounting plates  19 ,  20  of the tool  18  towards one another while reducing their distance, so that a distance between the outer surfaces  21 ,  22  of the mounting plates  19 ,  20  facing away from one another is smaller than a distance between inner surfaces  23 ,  24  of the securing plates  15 ,  16  of the bearing  13  to be removed facing one another, which is still mounted to the engine mounting frame  11  and base  12  typically via bolts. In this state, the tool  18  is positioned between the securing plates  14 ,  15  of the bearing  13  to be removed. 
     By actuating the turnbuckle  25  of the tool  18  in the opposite direction, the mounting plates  19 ,  20 , while increasing their distance from one another, are moved away from one another so that the outer surfaces  21 ,  22  of the mounting plates  19 ,  20  come to lie against the inner surfaces  23 ,  24  of the securing plates  14 ,  15  of the bearing  13 , for the purpose of which the nuts  35  have obviously been removed beforehand, just like the mounting bolts  32 . 
     Following this, the mounting plates  19 ,  20  of the tool  18  are then mounted to the securing plates  14 ,  15  of the bearing  13  to be removed, namely by way of the mounting bolts  32 , which are introduced into the passage openings in the mounting plates  19 ,  20  of the tool  18  and into corresponding recesses of the securing plates  14 ,  15  of the bearing  13  to be removed. The securing plates  14 ,  15  of the bearing  13  to be removed are disconnected from the engine mounting frame  11  and base  12 . 
     Following the disconnecting of the securing plates  14 ,  15  from engine mounting frame  11  and base  12 , the turnbuckle  25  is again actuated namely while reducing the distance between the mounting plates  19 ,  20  and thus while reducing the distance between the securing plates  14 ,  15  of the bearing  13  to be removed. 
     In the process, the damping element  17  of the bearing  13  to be removed and positioned between the securing plates  14 ,  15  is tensioned more, namely while the rubber-elastically deformable material of the damping element  17  is subjected to greater tension. By way of this, a play between the bearing  13  to be removed and the engine mounting frame  12  and base  13  is provided, so that the bearing  13  can be removed without having to lift the internal combustion engine  10  or the engine mounting frame  11 . 
     Following the removal of the bearing  13  to be removed, a bearing  13  to be installed is inserted between engine mounting frame  11  and base  12  with the help of a tool  18  according to the invention, wherein, as already explained, preferentially two tools  18  according to the invention interact with each bearing during the installation and removal. 
     To install a new bearing  13  between engine mounting frame  11  and base  12 , the mounting plates  19 ,  20  of the tool  18  are initially mounted to the securing plates  14 ,  15  of the bearing  13  to be installed, namely in such a manner that the outer surfaces  21 ,  22  of the mounting plates  19 ,  20  of the tool  18  with demounted nuts  35  and mounting bolts  32  come to lie against the inner surfaces  23 ,  24  of the securing plates  14 ,  15  of the bearing  13  to be installed. In the following, the tool  18  is mounted to the bearing  13  via the mounting bolts  32  in that the mounting bolts  32  extend through the mounting plates  19 ,  20  of the tool  18  into the securing plates  14 ,  15  of the bearing  13  to be installed. 
     Following this, the turnbuckle  25  of the tool  18  is actuated in order to move the mounting plates  19 ,  20  of the tool  18  towards one another and thus also reduce the distance between securing plates  14 ,  15  of the bearing  13  to be installed while tensioning the elastically deformable damping element  17  of the bearing  13  to be installed. 
     This is done until a distance between outer surfaces of the securing plates  14 ,  15  of the bearings  13  facing away from one another is smaller than a distance between inner surfaces of engine mounting frame  11  and base  12  facing one another or inner surfaces of engine mounting frame  11  and receiving pedestal  16  of the base  12  facing one another. Thus, the bearing  13  can be positioned with play between engine mounting frame  11  and base  12 . 
     Following this, the turnbuckle  25  is actuated in the opposite direction in order to move the mounting plates  19 ,  20  of the tool  18  and thus the securing plates  14 ,  15  of the bearing  13  to be installed away from one another so that the outer surfaces of the securing plates  14 ,  15  of the bearing  13  to be installed come to lie against the inner surfaces of engine mounting frame  11  and base  12 . 
     Following this, the securing plates  14 ,  15  of the bearing to be installed can then be mounted to the engine mounting frame  11  and base  12 . The mounting plates  19 ,  20  of the tool  18  can be disconnected from the securing plates  14 ,  15  of the bearing  13  to be installed in order to remove the tool  18  from the bearing  13 , if required following the reduction of the distance of the mounting plates  19 ,  20  while forming a play between the mounting plates  19 ,  20  of the tool  18  and the securing plates  14 ,  15  of the bearing  13 . 
     The invention makes possible the installation and removal of bearings  13  without lifting the internal combustion engine. 
     Thus, while there have shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.