Abstract:
A bearing alignment and insertion tool wherein a gimble bearing must be rotatably aligned with a grease fitting during insertion. The tool utilizes an alignment shaft with a cylindrical mounting sleeve slidably positioned thereon. A mounting plate secures the tool to the engine&#39;s bell housing allowing incremental advancement of the shaft there against. The shaft is keyed to the cylindrical sleeve advancing same against the bearing for proper insertion and seating.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Technical Field 
   This invention relates to marine engine applications that require bearing replacement. Due to the relative positioning of the bearing it is oftentimes a difficult procedure to both align the bearing and press fit it into place. 
   2. Description of Prior Art 
   Prior art devices of this type have been directed to bearing insertion and pulling tools that are used to insert and remove bearings. Such insertion and removal tools can be seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,722,057, 4,255,839, 5,836,067, 6,006,411 and published Patent 2002/0010996 A1. 
   In U.S. Pat. No. 3,722,057 a bearing securing tool can be seen in which an elongated rod has a pivoted bearing engagement member. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,255,839 discloses an automotive clutch alignment tool having a dummy drive shaft for aligning parts including splined cylindrical and smooth tubular members for engagement with the clutch disk and relative bearing parts. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,067 claims a tool for removing hub assemblies from outboard stern drive engines. The tool threadably engages the end of a bearing carrying shaft and applies removal pressure thereto by rotation of a threaded nut thereon. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,006,411 discloses a bearing carrier puller with improvements for a marine drive train. Improvements are applied to a “Barrow&#39;s” tool by eliminating the abutment handle so an air socket wrench can be used in place thereof. Other improvements consist of preliminary nut rotation beyond a safe point as will be evident to those familiar with the “Barrow&#39;s” tool. 
   Patent publication US 2002/0010996 A1 is directed to a method and apparatus for installing and removing bearing races. A cross block with oppositely disposed alignment bolts has a central bearing engagement bolt which is threadably advanced pulling against the bearing race. 
   Other prior art bearing insertion tools can be seen in publications Exhibit A and Exhibit B under mercstuff.com on a MerCruiser alignment tools and gimbal bearing drivers to align and seat a bearing. The alignment tool is an elongated shaft with multiple areas of reduced diameter to accommodate different bearing application situations. The gimbal bearing driver shown in Exhibit B is an elongated shaft with varying diameter areas and a drive head secured to it. 
   Essentially the concept behind both of these tools is that you engage the bearing with the drive head and pound the opposite end of the shaft until the bearing is seated. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A marine bearing alignment and insertion tool that rotatably orients the bearing for proper grease fitting compliance and progressive advancement of the bearing into position under gradual linear pressure. The tool provides for a bearing orientation to be maintained during the insertion process. 
   A sliding sleeve engages and holds and advances the gimbal bearing during insertion. The sleeve is advanced by engagement with an alignment shaft on which the bearing is positioned. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of the bearing alignment insertion tool of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of a drive shaft of the invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the sleeve of the invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a side elevational view thereof; 
       FIG. 5  is an end elevational view on lines  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is an end elevational view on lines  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view thereof; 
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the bearing engagement positioned on the insertion tool; and 
       FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the insertion tool with portions broken away. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1-4  of the drawings, a bearing alignment insertion tool  10  of the invention can be seen. The tool  10  has a main shaft  11  with a main body member portion  12  with oppositely disposed ends  13  and  14 . Areas of reduced diameter at  15  and  16  extend inwardly from the shaft end  14  to accommodate different bearing requirements as will be discussed in detail hereinafter. A threaded area of reduced diameter at  17  extends inwardly from said oppositely disposed end  13  for engagement of an advancement nut washer assembly  17 A thereon. A drive orientation sleeve  18 , best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4  of the drawings has an annular bearing engagement fitting  19  secured at one end thereof. The bearing engagement fitting  19  has a central opening at  20  there through with a recessed area  21  defining an annular perimeter shoulder  22 . A pair of oppositely disposed upstanding arcuate bearing engagement keys  23  and  24  extend from the shoulder  22  adjacent the perimeter edge of the recess area  21  as best seen in  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  6  of the drawings. The bearing engagement fitting  19  is secured to the main sleeve body  11  by welding becoming an integral part thereof. An annular bushing  25  is pressed fit into the opposite end of the sleeve  18  at  26  to provide a wear engagement surface for the drive nut and washer assembly  17 A as will be described in detail hereinafter. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6  and  7  of the drawings, a mounting plate  27  of the bearing insertion tool  10  can be seen having a generally rectangular configuration with a main central aperture at  28  there through and multiple longitudinally aligned channel notches  29 ,  30 ,  30 A and  30 B intersecting same as best seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5  of the drawings. A plurality of mounting apertures  31  extend through the mounting plate  27  for securing the plate  27  to a bell housing  32  during use as seen in  FIG. 1  of the drawings. The tool  10  of the invention as assembled, best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 6  of the drawings, has the main shaft  11  inserted within the drive and alignment sleeve  18  with an engagement pin  33  extending through a transverse aperture at  34  inwardly of the end  13  of the main shaft  11  in spaced relation to a transition point at  35  between the threaded area of reduced diameter at  17  and the main body member portion  12 , best seen in  FIGS. 4 and 7  of the drawings. A pair of oppositely disposed elongated parallel slots at  36 A and  36 B are formed within the sleeve  18  registerable with the hereinbefore described engagement pin  33  extending from the main shaft  11  which allows for linear force transfer from the main shaft  11  to the sleeve  18  and associated bearing engagement fitting  19  as will be noted. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 8  of the drawings, a gimbal bearing assembly  37  can be seen for mounting within the marine bell housing  32 . The bearing assembly  37  includes a bearing holder  38  with a greased fitting  40  for supplying lubrication to the bearings within from a correspondingly aligned transfer portal shown at  41  for illustration and description purposes only. 
   As seen in  FIG. 8  of the drawings, a gimbal bearing seat  42  is illustrated with the bearing assembly  37  rotatably keyed onto the bearing engagement fitting  19  via the alignment lugs  23  and  24  and rotatably oriented for alignment of the greased fittings as hereinbefore described. 
   In use, the bearing insertion tool  10  of the invention with the bearing assembly  37  aligned thereon is inserted into the bell housing  32  which has multiple threaded mounting studs  43  extending there from. The mounting plate  27  is secured thereto by multiple threaded fasteners (nuts)  44  engageable on the respective studs  43  and tightened with the bearing assembly  37  as previously described against the bearing seat  42  ready for insertion. The pin  33  is, as noted, engaged through the respective slots  36 A and  36 B against the sleeve  18  illustrated in broken lines in  FIG. 7  of the drawings. The nut and washer assembly  17 A threadably positioned on the area of reduced threaded shaft  17 A is then rotated against the bushing  25  advancing the sleeve  18  with the bearing engagement fitting  19  seating the bearing fitting assembly  37  within the bearing seat  42  as illustrated in  FIG. 8  of the drawings. 
   The bearing insertion tool  10  is then removed from the bell housing  32  leaving the gimbal bearing assembly  37  properly oriented for lubrication and seated within. 
   It will be evident from the above description that the bearing alignment insertion tool  10  of the invention will allow easy gimbal bearing installation. It will align the grease port  40  on the bearing to the grease port  41  within the gimbal housing. The tool  10  will align the gimbal bearing with the engine coupler and press fit the bearing assembly  37  therein easier and with less possible damage as hereinbefore possible. 
   The gimbal bearing tool  10  of the invention is easier and quicker to use than commonly used methods. It allows for less time aligning the gimbal bearing assembly  37  and engine coupler. The need for manually aligning bearing grease ports is not necessary when using the tool and the pressing of the bearing is easier and there is little possibility of damage, as noted, to the bearing or the gimbal housing when utilizing the installation tool  10  of the invention. 
   It will be evident from the above description that by utilization of multiple channel notches  29 ,  30  and  30 A shown in broken lines that a variety of different marine engines can be addressed. 
   It will thus be seen that a new and novel marine bearing alignment insertion tool has been illustrated and described and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.