Patent Publication Number: US-11383364-B2

Title: Puller tool and adapter

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates generally to a puller tool and an adapter. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a puller tool and adapter for servicing components such as vehicle components for example, wheel hubs, brake drums and brake rotors. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Puller tool kits such as the OTC 6575 HUB GRAPPLER tool kit help to remove and install wheel bearings right on the vehicle without alignment. Quick-fit puller legs wrap around hubs and reduce setup time. While these puller tool kits are versatile. There is a desire to make them even more versatile. 
     SUMMARY 
     One aspect of this disclosure is directed to a puller tool comprising: a cross bar with a central portion having a through hole defining a first axis; a forcing screw configured to extend through the through hole; and an adapter detachably attached to the cross bar and having a threaded hole defining a second axis for the forcing screw, and wherein the first axis and second axis are substantially aligned. 
     In some embodiments, the adapter is attachable to the puller tool and detachable from the puller tool without the use of another tool. 
     In some embodiments, the adapter is attached to the cross bar with at least one attachment device selected from a group consisting of ball detents, thumb screws, clamps, straps, springs, and magnets. 
     In some embodiments, the cross bar has a first axial side and a second axial side opposite from the first axial side, wherein the adapter is located on the first axial side, and wherein the forcing screw has a bolt head which is located on the second axial side. 
     In some embodiments, the central portion has a first minimal radial dimension perpendicular to the first axis, the adapter has a base portion containing the threaded hole and at least a first wall portion extending away from the base portion and arranged adjacent to a first lateral side of the central portion of the cross bar, and the first distance from the second axis to the at least first wall portion is at least half as big as the first minimal dimension of the central portion. 
     the adapter has a second wall portion extending away from the base portion and parallel to the first wall portion, wherein the second wall portion is arranged adjacent to a second lateral side of the central portion of the cross bar opposite from the first lateral side. 
     In some embodiments, the central portion of the cross bar is arranged between the first wall portion and the second wall portion. 
     In some embodiments, the first and second wall portions are curved around the central portion. 
     In some embodiments, the first wall portion and the second wall portion extend along the lateral sides of the cross bar away from the central portion with first and second outer wall segments, wherein the outer wall segments are flat and parallel to each other. 
     In some embodiments, the adapter is attached to the cross bar with at least one attachment device selected from a group consisting of ball detents, thumb screws, clamps, straps, springs, and magnets, and wherein the at least one attachment device is contained in at least one of the outer wall segments. 
     In some embodiments, the first lateral side and the second lateral side each have a recess, and wherein the at least one attachment device is arranged in one of the recesses. 
     In some embodiments, the puller tool comprises jaws arranged on the cross bar and the adapter is located between the jaws. 
     In some embodiments, further including a kit of auxiliary tools configured to cooperate with the puller tool to remove and replace a hub, wherein the auxiliary tools include at least one of the following: a forcing screw nut to threadably engage an end of the forcing screw, a tube, a bearing installer, a washer, a hex nut, a hex head cap screw, an adapter, a wheel hub installer, a bearing remover, a sleeve, a small adapter assembly, a race puller adapter, an outer tie rod remover, and an adapter for a specific model of car. 
     Another aspect of this disclosure is directed to an adapter configured to be attached to a cross bar of a puller tool, the cross bar having a central portion, the central portion having a through hole for a forcing screw, the forcing screw configured to extend through the through hole and the through hole defining a first axis, the central portion having a first minimal radial dimension perpendicular to the first axis, the adapter comprising: a threaded hole configured to receive the forcing screw and defining a second axis, wherein the first axis and second axis are substantially alignable; a base portion containing the threaded hole and arrangeable adjacent a first axial side of the cross bar; at least a first wall portion extending away from the base portion and arrangeable adjacent to a first lateral side of the central portion of the cross bar, wherein the at least first wall portion has at least a first distance from the second axis, wherein the first distance is at least half as big as the first minimal radial dimension of the central portion, and wherein the adapter is detachably attachable to the cross bar. 
     In some embodiments, the adapter is attachable to the cross bar with at least one attachment device selected from a group consisting of ball detents, thumb screws, clamps, straps, springs, and magnets. 
     In some embodiments, the at least one attachment device is arranged in the at least first wall portion. 
     In some embodiments, the adapter has a second wall portion extending away from the base portion and arrangeable adjacent to a second lateral side of the central portion of the cross bar opposite from the first lateral side, wherein the second wall portion has at least a second distance from the second axis, wherein the second distance is as big as the first distance so that the central portion is receivable within the adapter, and wherein the adapter is configured to transmit torque from the threaded hole through the base portion and at least one side wall to at least one lateral side of the cross bar. 
     In some embodiments, the adapter is attachable to the cross bar with at least one attachment device selected from a group consisting of ball detents, thumb screws, clamps, straps, springs, and magnets, and wherein the at least one attachment device is arranged at least in the second wall portion. 
     In some embodiments, the first and second wall portions are curved around the central portion and wherein the first wall portion and the second wall portion extend along the lateral sides of the cross bar away from the central portion with first and second outer wall segments, and wherein the outer wall segments are flat and parallel to each other. 
     In some embodiments, the wall portions contain at least two attachment devices selected from a group consisting of ball detents, thumb screws, clamps, straps, springs, and magnets. 
     The above aspects of this disclosure and other aspects will be explained in greater detail below with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a puller tool with an adapter. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom view of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective and partially exploded view of the puller tool and adapter. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a puller tool in use with a brake drum. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a puller tool engaged with a wheel hub on a spindle assembly. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a wheel hub remover as a component of a kit of several tools which may be used in removing and replacing a wheel hub for a wheel hub apparatus 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of an adapter according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of an adapter according to a further embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of an adapter according to yet another embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of an adapter according to a final embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The illustrated embodiment is disclosed with reference to the drawings. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiment is intended to be merely an example that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. The specific structural and functional details disclosed are not to be interpreted as limiting, but as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to practice the disclosed concepts. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a basic puller tool kit  10 . The puller tool kit  10  includes at least a puller tool  12  comprising a cross bar  14 , a forcing screw  16 , jaws  18  and an adapter  20 . The jaws  18 , shown with dashed lines, have foot portions  18 . 1 . They can be identical to each other and assembled facing each other. In other embodiments, the jaws  18  may not be identical to each other. They may also be designated as legs. The adapter  20  is located between the jaws  18 . The puller tool kit  10  may further comprise a washer  22 , shown with dashed lines. The forcing screw  16  is configured to extend through a through hole  24  that has a first axis  25  and that is located in a central portion  26  of the cross bar  14 . The through hole  24  is not threaded in accordance with some embodiments and allows the forcing screw  16  to spin freely in the through hole  24 . The forcing screw  16  may also include a bolt head  28 . The bolt head  28  may be hex shaped and may be configured to be turned by a socket, a wrench, an impact driver or any other suitable tool. The washer  22  may separate the bolt head  28  from the cross bar  14 . The puller tool kit  10  may further comprise a forcing screw nut  30 , shown with dashed lines. The forcing screw nut  30  has an interior hole with threads that can communicate with threads  32  located on the forcing screw  16 . The forcing screw nut  30  may be hex shaped as shown in order to be held or turned by a wrench, or any other suitable tool. 
     The adapter  20  is detachably attached to the cross bar  14  and has a threaded hole  34  defining a second axis  35  for the forcing screw  16 . The first axis  25  and second axis  35  are substantially aligned. Substantially aligned may mean that the first axis  25  and the second axis  35  may be radially offset by up to the size of the gap between the forcing screw  16  and the through hole  24 , and if they are not fully parallel they may define an angle of up to 5°. 
     The cross bar has a first axial side  38  and a second axial side  40  opposite from the first axial side  38 . The adapter  20  is located on the first axial side  38 . The bolt head  28  is located on the second axial side  40 . 
     The central portion  26  has a first minimal radial dimension  42  perpendicular to the first axis  25 . The central portion  26  has a bigger thickness than the remainder of the cross bar  14 . The central portion  26  and the remainder of the cross bar  14  may also have an even thickness. The adapter  20  has a base portion  44  containing the threaded hole  34  and a first wall portion  46  extending away from the base portion  44 . The first wall portion  46  is arranged adjacent to a first lateral side  48  of the central portion  26  or the cross bar  14 . A first distance  50  from the second axis  35  to the first wall portion  46  is at least half as big as the first minimal radial dimension  42  of the central portion  26 . 
     The adapter  20  may have a second wall portion  52  extending away from the base portion  44  parallel to the first wall portion  46 . A second distance  53  from the second axis  35  to the second wall portion  52  is also at least half as big as the first minimal radial dimension  42  of the central portion  26 . The second wall portion  52  is arranged adjacent to a second lateral side  54  of the central portion  26  or the cross bar  14  opposite from the first lateral side  48 . Therefore, the central portion  26  of the cross bar  14  is arranged between the first wall portion  46  and the second wall portion  52 . As can be further seen in  FIG. 4 , the first and second wall portions  46 ,  52  are curved around the central portion  26 . The resulting diameter of the two curved segments  46 . 1 ,  52 . 1  is bigger than the first minimal radial dimension  42 . 
     The first wall portion  46  and the second wall portion  52  extend along the lateral sides  48 ,  54  of the cross bar  14  away from the central portion  26  or the curved segments. The first wall portion  46  has a first outer wall segment  46 . 2  on one side of the curved segment  46 . 1  and a second outer wall segment  46 . 3  on the other side of the curved segment  46 . 1 . The first wall portion  52  has a first outer wall segment  52 . 2  on one side of the curved segment  52 . 1  and a second outer wall segment  52 . 3  on the other side of the curved segment  52 . 1 . The first outer wall segments  46 . 2  and  52 . 2  are flat and parallel to each other. The second outer wall segments  46 . 3  and  52 . 3  are also flat and parallel to each other. This results in the adapter  20  having substantially a U-shaped cross section. 
     The adapter  20  is attachable to the puller tool  12  and detachable from the puller tool  12  without the use of another tool. For this, the adapter  20  is attached to the cross bar  14  with four ball detents  36 . The tips of the four ball detents  36  are in contact with recesses  56  in the lateral sides  48 ,  54 . Each outer wall segment  46 . 2 ,  46 . 3 ,  52 . 2 ,  52 . 3  contains a ball detent  36 . However, it may be sufficient for the adapter  20  to have one, two or three ball detents  36 . For assembling the puller tool  12 , the cross bar  14  is slid between the first and second wall portions  46 ,  54 . The tips of the ball detents  36  get pushed back until the cross bar  14  reaches the base portion  44  of the adapter  20 . The tips of the ball detents  36  come to sit in the recesses  56 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates how the puller tool  12  is used to remove a brake drum  200 . The puller tool  12  is engaged with a vehicle component that is being serviced, such as the brake drum  200 . The brake drum  200  is installed on a wheel hub  210  and needs to be removed in order to be serviced or replaced. However, the brake drum  200  may be stuck on the wheel hub  210  due to grime, and other contaminants and needs the puller tool  12  in order to be removed from the wheel hub  210 . In this view, the puller tool  12  and its components are coupled to the brake drum  200 . The forcing screw  16  is engaged with the wheel hub  210  by rotating the forcing screw  16  in a first direction with a rotational tool. When the forcing screw  16  is engaged with the wheel hub  210 , the adapter  20  pushes against the cross bar  14  and so the puller tool  12  has leverage to pull on the brake drum  200  when the forcing screw  16  is rotated in a desired direction. Also shown are the jaws  181  with the hooked feet engaged with the brake drum  200  after being positioned. A strap  300  is received around a bottom portion of the jaws  181 . In one embodiment, the strap  300  may be secured to the jaws  181  with a holder  158  that is received by retaining tabs  156 . The strap  300  can help to ensure that the jaws  181  are properly attached to the brake drum  200 . However, the strap  300  is not required to be used with the puller tool  12 . By rotating the forcing screw  16  again in the first direction, the adapter  20  and hence the cross bar  14  will move towards the end of the forcing screw  16  engaged with the wheel hub  210  and thus moving the jaws  181  and the brake drum  200  with it. This will allow the brake drum  200  to be removed from the wheel hub  210  and serviced or replaced. In order to remove the puller  12 , the forcing screw  16  can be moved in the second direction. Because of the adapter  20 , the forcing screw  16  pushes the cross bar  14  and the jaws  181  away from the brake drum. Without the adapter  20  the cross bar  14  with the through hole  24  could not be used to remove the drum brake  200 . 
     At a minimum, the adapter  20  is a threaded block. It has a base portion  44  with a threaded hole  34  and at least one wall portion  46  or  52 . This would result in the adapter  20  at least having an L-shaped cross section compared with the U-shaped cross section mentioned above. The at least one wall portion  46  or  52  enables torque from the forcing screw  16  to be transmitted through the threaded hole  34  and at least one wall portion  46  or  52  to the cross bar  14 . Because the jaws  181  grappling the brake drum  200  prevent the adapter  20  and cross bar  14  from turning, the brake drum  200 , jaws  181 , cross bar  14  and adapter  20  move up along the threads  32  of the forcing screw  16  away from the wheel hub  210  until the brake drum  200  no longer sits on the wheel hub  210 . 
     To use the puller tool  12  as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the adapter  20  needs to be removed. Due to the ball detents  36 , the cross bar  14  can easily be pulled out of the adapter  20  without the need for a tool. A washer  22  is put on the forcing screw  16  between the bolt head  28  and the cross bar  14 . The jaws  181  are replaced with jaws  18 .  FIG. 6  shows a rear perspective view of a puller tool  12  removing a hub  66  from a spindle assembly  68 . The bolt head  28  and washer  22  are shown to be spaced away from the cross bar  14  to better illustrate these features. However, under normal operation the bolt head  28  and the washer  22  are not spaced from the cross bar  14 . The jaws  18  as positioned so that the foot portions  18 . 1  are behind the hub  66  and press against a solid portion  76  of the spindle assembly  68 . A part  72  may be placed on the forcing screw  16  between the forcing screw nut  30  and the spindle assembly  68  to spread the force generated by the forcing screw nut  30  in a desired way around the back of the hub  66 . As the forcing screw  16  is turned in a tightening direction, the forcing screw nut  30  applies force (in some instances via a part  72 ) against the back of the hub  66  to remove the hub  66  from the spindle assembly  68 . 
       FIG. 7  shows the basic puller tool kit  10  or puller tool  12  as part of a kit  70  of auxiliary tools configured to cooperate with the puller tool  12  to remove and replace a hub, brake drum or brake rotor. The puller tool kit  10  and auxiliary tools can be fit in a carrying case  74 . The auxiliary tools include some or all, but at least one of the following: a forcing screw nut to threadably engage an end of the forcing screw, a tube, a bearing installer, a washer, a hex nut, a hex head cap screw, an adapter, a wheel hub installer, a bearing remover, a sleeve, a small adapter assembly, a race puller adapter, an outer tie rod remover, and an adapter for a specific model of car. 
     The adapter  20  may be sold separately to make existing kits more versatile. The adapter  20  is therefore configured to be attached to the cross bar  14  of the puller tool  12 . The cross bar  14  may have a central portion  26  with a through hole  24  for the forcing screw  16 . The forcing screw  16  is configured to extend through the through hole  24 . The through hole  24  defines a first axis  25 . The central portion  26  has a first minimal radial dimension  42  that is perpendicular to the first axis  25 . However, the cross bar  14  may have a constant thickness over its entire length. The adapter  20  comprises a threaded hole  34  configured to receive the forcing screw  16  and defines a second axis  35 . The first axis  25  and second axis  35  can be substantially aligned. The adapter  20  further has a base portion  44  containing the threaded hole  34 . The base portion  44  can be arranged adjacent the first axial  38  side of the cross bar  14 . At least a first wall portion  46  extends away from the base portion  44  and is arrangeable adjacent to the first lateral side  48  of the central portion  26  of the cross bar  14 . The first wall portion  46  has at least a first distance  50  from the second axis  35 . The first distance  50  is at least half as big as the first minimal radial dimension  42  of the central portion  26 . The adapter  20  is detachably attachable to the cross bar  14 . 
     The adapter  20  is attachable to the cross bar  14  with the ball detents  36 . The ball detents  36  are the first wall portion. Even though the adapter  20  may only have the first wall portion  46  it may also have the second wall portion  52  which also extends away from the base portion  44  and is also arrangeable adjacent to the second lateral side  54  of the central portion  26  or the cross bar  14  which is opposite from the first lateral side  48 . The second wall portion  52  has at least a second distance  53  from the second axis  35 . The second distance  53  is as big as the first distance  50  so that the central portion  26  is receivable within the adapter  20 . The adapter  20  is further configured to transmit torque from the threaded hole  34  through the base portion  44  and at least one sidewall portion  46  and/or  52  to at least one lateral side  48  and/or  54  of the cross bar  14 . 
     The adapter  20  is attachable to the cross bar  14  with at least one attachment device selected from a group consisting of ball detents, thumb screws, clamps, straps, springs, and magnets, and wherein the at least one attachment device is arranged at least in the second wall portion. 
     The first and second wall portions  46  and  52  are curved so they fit around the central portion  26 . The first wall portion  46  and the second wall portion  52  extend along the lateral sides  48  and  54  of the cross bar  14  respectively away from the central portion  26  with first and second outer wall segments  46 . 2 ,  46 . 3  and  52 . 2 ,  52 . 3 . The outer wall segments  46 . 2 ,  46 . 3  and  52 . 2 ,  52 . 3  are flat and parallel to each other. The wall portions  46  and  52  contain at least two ball detents  36 . 
     Besides ball detents  36  other attachment devices can be used.  FIG. 8  illustrates an adapter  220  with thumb screws  236  in wall portions  246  and  252 . The thumb screws  236  may also be arranged in a through hole in a base portion  244  and be received in a threaded hole in a first axial side of a cross bar.  FIG. 9  illustrates an adapter  320  with springs  336  that are arranged on wall portions  346  and  352  facing each other. One spring  336  may be sufficient.  FIG. 10  illustrates an adapter  420  with a strap  436  which can be wrapped around a cross bar and then secured to the adapter  420  or itself. FIG.  11  illustrates an adapter  520  with magnets  536 . The magnets  536  may be sitting in recesses in a base portion  544  or one or several wall portions  546 ,  552 . Thus, the ball detents  36 , thumb screws  236 , springs  336 , strap  446  and magnets  536  form a group of attachment devices from which at least one is chosen. All these attachment devices allow adapters to be attached and removed without the use of tools. Of course, attachment devices that require tools may be used as well.