Abstract:
A tool adapted for tightly joining two assembly parts into each other is disclosed. The tool comprises a first handle and a second handle hinged together to form a pliers tool. Each handle has an arm extending therefrom. Each arm has a slot therein that receives an assembly part. To couple the two parts together, the two handles are squeezed together to bring the arms and hence, the two assembly parts together. A rotatable mechanism may be turned to pull the arms and hence, the assembly parts closer together after the handles have been squeezed together.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a tool for joining assembly parts and a method for using the tool. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    The construction of a semiconductor processing apparatus comprises multiple fluid exchange circuits along which diverse fluid media, such as processing gases, cleaning gas, heating/cooling liquids, and the like, are flowed into and out of the apparatus during operation. One of these fluid exchange circuits may comprise a water circuit configured to transport water into the processing apparatus. Water is usually supplied along a conduit that has a first end connected to a water source and a second end securely mounted to an inlet of the water circuit in the processing apparatus. A quick connector assembly is usually provided to securely link and seal the second end of the conduit with the inlet, while allowing quick disconnection. 
         [0005]    While the assembly may be called a quick connector assembly, assembling a high pressure water line to an inlet of the water circuit can be a daunting task for a single technician to perform alone. It would be beneficial if a single technician could connect the water line to the inlet. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention generally comprises a tool for connecting two assembly parts together. In one embodiment, a tool for joining two assembly parts together comprises a first handle having a first arm extending therefrom, the first arm having a first slot formed therein, a second handle movably coupled to the first handle, a second arm movably coupled to the first handle and to the second handle, the second arm having a second slot formed therein, a rotatable mechanism coupled to the first handle and functioning to pull the second arm closer to the first arm when rotated in a first direction. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment, a method of coupling two assembly parts together comprises disposing a first assembly part into a first slot of a first arm of a tool, the tool comprising a first handle having the first arm extending therefrom, a second handle movably coupled to the first handle, a second arm movably coupled to the first handle and to the second handle, the second arm having a second slot formed therein, and a rotatable mechanism coupled to the first handle, disposing a second assembly part into the second slot, moving the second arm closer to the first arm while simultaneously moving the second assembly part closer to the first assembly part, and rotating the rotatable mechanism to urge the first and second assembly parts against each other. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, a hand held tool, comprises a first jaw portion having an elongated shape coupled with a first handle and a second jaw portion having an elongated shape coupled with a second handle and pivotally hinged with the first jaw portion. The first jaw portion and second jaw portion collectively comprise a U-shape. The tool may also comprise a spring-biased coupling member connecting the first handle to the second handle and an adjuster wheel connected to the coupling member at a distal end of the second handle. The adjuster wheel may be adapted to receive a socket wrench. The tool may also comprise a tip coupled with each of the first and second jaw portions. The tip may have a slot carved therein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates a quick connector assembly; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2A  is a front elevation view showing an embodiment of a hand held tool adapted for connecting a quick connector assembly; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2B  is a right side elevation view of the hand held tool shown in  FIG. 2A ; and 
           [0013]      FIGS. 3A-3F  show stages of assembling a quick connect assembly with a hand tool according to one embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
       [0014]    To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. It is contemplated that elements disclosed in one embodiment may be beneficially utilized on other embodiments without specific recitation. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    The application describes a hand held tool that can facilitate the connection of assembly parts, such as male and female connectors of a quick connector assembly. The hand held tool comprises two handles hinged together and having extended arm portions adapted to compress the assembly parts against each other. In some embodiments, the hand held tool is also suitable for use with a socket wrench. The socket wrench may be connected to the hand held tool, and operated to transmit a coupling force to the jaw portions to compress the assembly parts against each other. The tool may be suitable for coupling an input line to an apparatus, such as a water inlet to a chemical mechanical polishing apparatus. One exemplary apparatus upon which the tool may be used is a REFLEXION™ LK CMP apparatus and a REFLEXION LK ECMP™ apparatus available from Applied Materials, Inc., Santa Clara, Calif. Other suitable apparatus upon which the tool may be used include Centura™, Endura™, and Producer™ apparatus available from Applied Materials, Inc., Santa Clara, Calif. It is to be understood that the invention may be used on other apparatus, including apparatus provided by other manufacturers. 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  illustrates a quick connector assembly  100 . The quick connector assembly  100  comprises a generally cylindrical female connector  102  coupled to a chamber  112  having a retainer  104  provided on an inlet  106  of the fluid circuit, and a generally cylindrical male connector  108  provided at an end of a conduit  110 . In order to assemble the male connector  108  with the female connector  102 , the retainer  104  is pulled back, the male connector  108  is inserted into the female connector  102 , and the retainer  104  is released or pushed back to the original position. 
         [0017]      FIG. 2A  is a front elevation view showing an embodiment of a hand held tool  200  adapted for connecting assembly parts, such as those of a quick connector assembly. The hand held tool  200  comprises a first arm  202  and a second arm  204  hinged together to form a pliers tool. In one embodiment, the pliers may be configured as locking-grips or locking pliers, also known as vice grips. The first arm  202  and the second arm  204  may be of substantially equal or different length. The first arm  202  is movably coupled to a first handle  216  and has a first jaw portion  220 , and the second arm  204  is fixedly coupled to a second handle  218  and has a second jaw portion  222 . The second arm  204  is pivotally coupled to the first arm  202  at a pivot point  217 . A coupling member, such as spring-biased member  224  also movably couples the second handle  218  to the first handle  216 . The spring-biased member  224  is further connected to an adjuster wheel  226  provided at a distal end of the second handle  218 . The adjuster wheel  226  comprises an end shaped to couple with a socket wrench. When the adjuster wheel  226  is rotated, the spring-biased member  224  is movable to lock the position of the first arm  202  at a varying distance from the second arm  204  so that the jaw portions  220 ,  222  exert more or less compression force on assembly parts held between the jaw portions  220 ,  222 . In one embodiment, the first arm  202 , the second arm  204 , the first handle  216 , and the second handle  218  may comprise steel. 
         [0018]    As shown in  FIG. 2A , each of the jaw portions  220 ,  222  is formed in a plate shape that is connected to a fork member  240 ,  228  linking with each of the handles  216 ,  218 , respectively. The jaw portions  220 ,  222  extend to form a generally U-shape profile that defines a gap  230  between the two jaw portions  220 ,  222 . The gap  230  is dimensioned to receive the assembly parts to join by squeezing action between opposite contact surfaces of the jaw portions  220 ,  222 . Each of the jaw portions  220 ,  222  may also have a tip  236 ,  238  configured to facilitate the engagement of the jaw portions  220 ,  222  on the assembly parts to join. 
         [0019]      FIG. 2B  is a right side elevation view of the hand held tool  200  of  FIG. 2A . As shown, the tip  238  of the jaw portion  222  may be provided with a slot  239  that is adapted to receive an end portion of one of the assembly parts to join. For example, in the case where the assembly parts have a generally cylindrical shape, the slot  239  may have a half circular profile to fit with the cylindrical end portion of the assembly parts. In one embodiment, the slot  239  may also have a diameter between about 0.25 inches and about 0.75 inches. It should be understood that the slot  239  may also be differently shaped and sized to adapt diverse shapes and sizes of the end portions to join. A same slot may be provided on the tip  236  of the other jaw portion  220 , aligned with and opened in a same direction as the slot  239 . The slot structure provided at the tips  236 ,  238  allows larger areas of the contact surfaces to be in contact with the assembly parts when the jaw portions  220 ,  222  are urged against the assembly parts. As a result, the engagement between the jaw portions  220 ,  222  and the assembly parts to join may be stable. 
         [0020]    To further illustrate some advantages provided by the hand held tool  300 ,  FIGS. 3A-3F  show exemplary use configurations of the tool  300  for joining a quick connector assembly  302 .  FIG. 3A  is a schematic drawing of connector parts that form a quick connector assembly  302 . The quick connector assembly  302  comprises a male connector  304  provided at an end of a fluid conduit  306 , and a female connector  308  provided at a fluid inlet (not shown). The female connector  308  is coupled with a retainer  310 , which is moveable and is used to receive and tighten the male connector  304 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 3B  illustrates an initial stage in the mounting operation of the quick connector assembly  302  by using the hand held tool  300 . In one embodiment, the operator inserts the male connector  304  into the female connector  308 . In another embodiment, the operator inserts the male connector  304  and the female connector  308  into the tool  300  prior to coupling together. After the male connector  304  is fitted in the female connector  308 , the operator positions the hand held tool  300  in an opened state so that the tip  326  of the jaw portion  320  engages with an end of the male connector  304  and the tip  324  of the jaw portion  322  engages with an opposite end of the female connector  308 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 3C  illustrates an intermediate stage in which the hand held tool  300  is operated to securely fit the male and female connectors  304  and  308 . After the tips  324  and  326  of the hand held tool  300  have been fitted onto the male and female connectors  304  and  308 , the retainer  310  is loosened by the operator to allow the male connector  304  to be better accepted by the female connector  308 . The operator then presses on the handles  328  and  330  of the hand held tool  300  to bring the jaw portions  320  and  322  closer to each other, which thereby urge the male and female connectors  304  and  308  into each other. 
         [0023]    Instead of pressing on the handles  328  and  330 ,  FIG. 3D  illustrates an alternate embodiment in which a socket wrench  332  may be used to bring the jaw portions  320  and  322  closer to each other. After the socket wrench  332  is coupled to the adjuster wheel  334 , the operator rotates the socket wrench  332  to cause the jaw portions  320  and  322  to squeeze against the male and female connectors  304  and  308  that thereby tightly fit into each other. After the quick connector assembly  302  is securely joined, the tool  300  may be removed. 
         [0024]      FIG. 3E  is illustrates the quick connector assembly  302  after the male and female connects have been tightly fitted into each other with the tool  300 . The operator can then rotate and retighten the retainer  310 . The male and the female connector  304  and  308  are now tightly connected with each other to allow fluid exchange. The tool  300  then may be removed, as shown in  FIG. 3F . 
         [0025]    By providing the foregoing tool, the operation for connecting assembly parts such as quick connector assemblies is significantly facilitated. 
         [0026]    While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.