Abstract:
A device for removing fuel injector sleeves is disclosed. The device allows for the removal of a fuel injector sleeve without dismantling the cab, engine, or head. The device comprises a housing, a threaded rod that engages a threaded aperture defined by a proximal end of the housing and passes through the housing, a fuel injector sleeve remover coupled to a distal end of the threaded rod, and a nut defining a threaded aperture that engages the threaded rod. By twisting the nut about the threaded rod, the fuel injector sleeve remover and fuel injector sleeve is drawn up through a distal end of the housing and into the housing.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to engines and, more specifically, to a device for removing fuel injector sleeves. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Fuel injector sleeves often become corroded and cracked and require replacement. After the fuel injector sleeve is threaded with a tap, a slide hammer is typically used to remove the fuel injector sleeve. However, because the slide hammer is so large and cumbersome, a person will need to remove the cab, engine, or head in order to access the fuel injector sleeve. This process is time consuming and requires that the vehicle be partially dismantled in order to replace the small fuel injector sleeve. 
         [0003]    Therefore a need exists for an improved device that will allow for removing fuel injector sleeves from an engine. The device will allow a person to access and remove the fuel injector sleeve without having to dismantle the cab, engine, or head. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    An object of the present invention is to provide an improved device for removing fuel injector sleeves. 
         [0005]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a device that will allow a person to remove a fuel injector sleeve without having to dismantle the cab, engine, or head. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0006]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a device for removing a fuel injector sleeve is disclosed. The device comprises a housing, a threaded rod that engages a threaded aperture defined by a proximal end of the housing and passes through the housing, a fuel injector sleeve remover coupled to a distal end of the threaded rod, and a nut defining a threaded aperture that engages the threaded rod. 
         [0007]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a device for removing a fuel injector sleeve is disclosed. The device comprises a housing that has a length of approximately 3 inches, that has a proximal end defining a threaded aperture having a diameter of approximately ⅝ inch, and that has a distal end that has an inner diameter of approximately 1⅝ inches, and that has an outer diameter of approximately 1⅞ inches; a threaded rod that has a diameter of approximately ⅝ inch, that has a length of between approximately 3.5 inches and approximately 5 inches, and that engages the threaded aperture defined by the proximal end of the housing and passes through the housing; a fuel injector sleeve remover having a length of approximately 4 inches and having a width of approximately 1.5 inches, the fuel injector sleeve remover being coupled to a distal end of the threaded rod; and a nut defining a threaded aperture that engages the threaded rod, the threaded aperture having a diameter of approximately ⅝ inch. 
         [0008]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method of removing a fuel injector sleeve is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: providing a device for removing a fuel injector sleeve comprising a housing, a threaded rod that engages a threaded aperture defined by a proximal end of the housing and passes through the housing, a fuel injector sleeve remover coupled to a distal end of the threaded rod, and a nut defining a threaded aperture that engages the threaded rod; coupling a threaded distal end of the fuel injector sleeve remover to a threaded proximal end of the fuel injector sleeve; twisting the nut about the threaded rod until the nut contacts the proximal end of the housing; and twisting the nut about the threaded rod to draw the fuel injector sleeve remover up through a distal end of the housing and into the housing. 
         [0009]    The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of the device of the present invention, shown in use removing a fuel injector sleeve from a cylinder. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1   a  is an exploded view of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the device of  FIG. 1 , shown with the fuel injector sleeve remover being pulled up and into a distal end of the housing. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of another embodiment of the device of the present invention, wherein the fuel injector sleeve remover is integral to the threaded rod. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3   a  is a perspective view of a proximal end of the threaded rod. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the device of  FIG. 3 , shown in use removing a fuel injector sleeve from a cylinder. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the device of  FIG. 3  shown removing a fuel injector sleeve from an engine cylinder. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]    The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrated embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals and symbols represent like elements. 
         [0018]      FIGS. 1-5  together disclose a device  10  for removing fuel injector sleeves from an engine. The device comprises a housing  12 , a threaded rod  20 , a fuel injector sleeve remover  32 , and a nut  46 . When the fuel injector sleeve remover  32  is coupled to a fuel injector sleeve  42 , the nut  46  is twisted about the threaded rod  20  to draw the fuel injector sleeve remover  32  up into the housing  12  and the fuel injector sleeve  42  out of the engine cylinder  50 . 
         [0019]    A proximal end  14  of the housing  12  defines a threaded aperture  18 . The threaded rod  20  is dimensioned to engage the threaded aperture  18  and to pass through the housing  12  and out of a distal end  16  of the housing  12 . The housing  12  is preferably approximately 3 inches long and the distal end  16  preferably has an inner diameter of approximately 1⅝ inches and an outer diameter of approximately 1⅞ inches. However, it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit may be derived from the housing  12  having different dimensions so long as the housing  12  is sized to sit just above the head of the cylinder  50 . 
         [0020]    The nut  46  defines a threaded aperture  48  and is dimensioned engage the threaded rod  20 . Preferably, the threaded aperture is approximately ⅝ inch in diameter. However, it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit may be derived from the threaded aperture  48  having a different diameter so long as the nut is dimensioned to engage the threaded rod  20 . 
         [0021]    A proximal end  22  of the threaded rod  20  will preferably define a slit  24  which may be engaged by a flat head screwdriver (not shown). The screwdriver may be used to twist the threaded rod  20 . Further preferably, the proximal end  22  of the threaded rod  20  may also have at least two opposing flat sides  26  (shown in  FIG. 3   a ), which may be engaged by a wrench (not shown). The proximal end  22  of the threaded rod  20  may define a slit  24  only, may have only opposing flat sides  26 , may have both the slit  24  and opposing flat sides  26 , or may have neither. 
         [0022]    The distal end of  28  of the threaded rod  20  may be removably coupled to the proximal end  34  of the fuel injector sleeve remover  32  (see  FIGS. 1-2 ) or the distal end  28  of the threaded rod  20  may be integral to the proximal end  34  of the fuel injector sleeve remover  32  (see  FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  5 ). The threaded rod  20  may be between approximately 3.5 inches and approximately 5 inches long. It should be clearly understood, however, that substantial benefit may be derived from the threaded rod  20  having a different length, as long as the threaded rod  20  is long enough to have its proximal end  22  protrude out of the threaded aperture  18  of the housing  12  and to have its distal end  28  protrude out of the distal end  16  of the housing  12  and be coupled to the proximal end  34  of the fuel injector sleeve remover  32 . 
         [0023]    Where the threaded rod  20  is removably coupled to a fuel injector sleeve remover  32 , the standard sized fuel injector sleeve remover will have a proximal end  34  that defines a threaded aperture  36 . In order to engage this standard sized fuel injector sleeve remover  32 , the threaded rod  20  will preferably have a thread  30  of approximately 1.25 inch by 20. It is further preferable that the threaded rod  20  has a diameter of approximately ⅝ inch and that the threaded aperture  18  defined by the proximal end  14  of the housing  12 , correspondingly, be approximately ⅝ inch in diameter. But, it should be clearly understood that further substantial benefit may be derived from the threaded aperture  18  and threaded rod  20  having a different diameter size, so long as the threaded rod  20  is dimensioned to engage and pass through the threaded aperture  18  defined by the proximal end  14  of the housing  12 . It should be further understood that substantial benefit may be derived from the threaded rod  20  having a thread  30  of a different size, as long as the threaded rod  20  is able to engage the threaded aperture  36  defined by the proximal end  34  of the fuel injector sleeve remover  32 . 
         [0024]    The fuel injector sleeve remover  32 , whether integral to or removably coupled to the threaded rod  20 , will preferably have a length of approximately 4 inches and have a width of approximately 1.5 inches. However, it should be clearly understood that further substantial benefit may be derived from the fuel injector sleeve remover  32  having a different length and/or width, so long as the fuel injector sleeve is dimensioned to be coupled to a fuel injector sleeve  42  and is dimensioned to be received within the housing  12 . The thread  40  of the fuel injector sleeve remover  32  will preferably be approximately 1.25 inch by 20 because a tap (not shown) is typically used to create 1.25 inch by 20 threads  45  in the proximal end  44  of the fuel injector sleeve  42 . It should be clearly understood that substantial benefit may be derived from the fuel injector sleeve remover  32  having a different size thread  40  so long as it is dimensioned to engage the thread  45  created by the tap in the proximal end  44  of the fuel injector sleeve  42 . 
       Statement of Operation 
       [0025]    In order to use the device  10  of the present invention, a tap must be used to create threads  45  in the proximal end  44  of the fuel injector sleeve  42 . The distal end  38  of the fuel injector sleeve remover  32  must then be coupled to the proximal end  44  of the fuel injector sleeve  42  by twisting the fuel injector sleeve remover  32  so that the threads  40  on the distal end  38  of the fuel injector sleeve remover  32  engage the threads  45  in the proximal end  44  of the fuel injector sleeve  42 . 
         [0026]    If the threaded rod  20  is integral to the fuel injector sleeve remover  32 , then twisting the threaded rod  20  will cause the fuel injector sleeve remover  32  to couple to the fuel injector sleeve  42 . If the threaded rod  20  is removably coupled to the fuel injector sleeve remover  32 , then the threaded rod  20  must be twisted so that the thread  30  of the threaded rod  20  will engage the threaded aperture  36  defined by the proximal end  34  of the fuel injector sleeve remover  32 . 
         [0027]    The proximal end  22  of the threaded rod  20  must protrude out of the threaded aperture  18  defined by the proximal end  14  of the housing  12 . The nut  46  will then be twisted about the threaded rod  20  until the nut  46  contacts the proximal end  14  of the housing  12 . By continuing to twist the nut  46  about the threaded rod  20 , the fuel injector sleeve remover  32  will be drawn up through the distal end  16  of the housing  12  and into the housing  12 , thereby removing the fuel injector sleeve  42  from the cylinder  50 . 
         [0028]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.