DESC:FIELD
The present disclosure relates to the field of mechanical engineering. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a snap ring expander tool.
BACKGROUND
Snap rings are used in various mechanical applications for holding various elements. In a typical application, snap rings are used for holding bearings in automobile transmission housing. Snap rings may be fitted in an outer grooved peripheral portion of the race of a ball bearing or in a groove configured on the transmission housing. For fitment of a particular component, the snap rings are spread open for a while so that the component, such as a bearing, is slip into a defined position in the automobile transmission housings.
In some cases as illustrated in Figure 1, three shafts (not illustrated in Figures) are accommodated in a transmission housing 110a and snap rings 80a, 80b and 80c are accessed by disassembling a bearing retainer plate 120a and are fitted onto a deep ball bearing groove to transfer axial load to the housings. Disassembling the entire bearing retainer plate 120a is a cumbersome process.
Alternatively, in some cases, as illustrated in Figure 2 and Figure 3, a bearing retainer plate 120b is integrated with a transmission housing 110b. The bearing retainer plate 120b has access holes (not visible) through which the snap rings may be operated. As seen in Figure 2 and Figure 3, three shafts are disposed in the housing 110b. In order to prevent the axial motion of the shafts, three snap rings are placed near the operative top ends of the shafts. The snap rings arrest the axial motion of the shafts. For their placement or removal, the snap rings need to be expanded through the access holes, which is a considerably difficult and time consuming operation. Conventionally, pliers (not illustrated in Figures) are used for expanding the snap rings. However, operating a plier and holding it at a defined location is a comparatively difficult task and is also time consuming. Also, human intervention is required to operate the plier.
Hence, there is need for a tool that facilitates easy and quick fitting and removal of snap rings, which alleviates the aforementioned problems.
OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows.
It is an object of the present disclosure to ameliorate one or more problems of the prior art or to at least provide a useful alternative.
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a snap ring expander tool, for expanding a snap ring that is comparatively easy to handle.
Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a snap ring expander tool that requires comparatively less time for fitting a component in a snap ring.
Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a snap ring expander tool that requires minimal human intervention.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
A snap ring expander tool of the present disclosure will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates an isometric view of typical transmission housing with a removably connected bearing retainer plate;
Figure 2 illustrates an isometric view of typical transmission housing with an integrally connected bearing retainer plate;
Figure 3 illustrates another isometric view of the transmission assembly of Figure 2;
Figure 4 illustrates an isometric view of a snap ring expander tool, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 5 illustrates another isometric view of a snap ring expander tool disposed on transmission housing, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 6a and Figure 6b illustrate schematic views of a first bolt and a second bolt used in the snap ring expander tool of Figure 4;
Figure 7 illustrates an isometric view of a first pair of expanders of the tool of Figure 4 handling two snap rings;
Figure 8 illustrates an isometric bottom view of a second pair of expanders of the tool of Figure 4 handling one snap ring; and
Figure 9 illustrates a photographic view of the tool of Figure 4 mounted on the transmission housing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A snap ring expander tool of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the embodiments of the present disclosure. The embodiments do not limit the scope and ambit of the disclosure. The description relates purely to the examples and preferred embodiments of the disclosed method and its suggested applications.
The system herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known parameters and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The present disclosure describes a snap ring expander tool for handling and expanding a snap ring, which is comparatively easy to operate and requires comparatively less operation time. Also, the snap ring expander tool for handling the snap ring may be manually actuated or remotely actuated by means of electrical systems or mechanical systems or hydraulic systems or pneumatic systems.
A snap ring expander tool, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, comprises at least one arm and a pair of jaws that is supported on the arm. The number of arms of the snap ring expander tool will depend on the application requirements. In an embodiment, the pair of jaws is displaceably supported on the arm. More specifically, the jaws are displaceable either towards each other or away from each other along the length of the arm. Furthermore, the jaws of the snap ring expander tool are engageable with the ends of a snap ring, for facilitating the expansion of the snap ring when the pair of jaws is moved away from each other. In another embodiment, one jaw of the pair of jaws is fixed while the other jaw of the pair of jaws is displaceable, along the length of the arm, relative to the fixed jaw.
The movement of the jaws is caused by means of a fastener. The fastener may be a screw or a bolt of a nut-bolt assembly. The pair of jaws has through-holes configured thereon. The through-holes allow the passage of the fastener therethrough. A through-hole configured in a jaw of the pair of jaws has a left hand thread configured therein. Similarly, a through-hole configured in the remaining jaw of the pair of jaws has a right hand thread configured therein. The fastener has a first portion having a left hand thread configured thereon, and a second portion having a right hand thread configured thereon. The first portion of the fastener having the left hand thread is engageable with the left hand thread configured in the through-hole of the jaw of the pair of jaws. The second portion of the fastener having the right hand thread is engageable with the right hand thread configured in the through-hole of the remaining jaw from the pair of jaws. Thus, the rotation of the fastener along its longitudinal axis facilitates the movement of the jaws either towards or away from each other.
The snap ring expander tool of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to Figure 4 and Figure 5. The snap ring expander tool 100 comprises a first arm 10, a second arm 20 coupled with the first arm 10 in a manner that a pre-determined angle is formed between them, a first pair of jaws 30a, 30b displaceably supported on the first arm 10, a second pair of jaws 40a, 40b displaceably supported on the second arm 20, a first fastener 50A adapted to pass through through-holes configured in the first pair of jaws 30a, 30b, and a second fastener 60A adapted to pass through the through-holes configured in the second pair of jaws 40a, 40b. In the embodiment disclosed in Figure 4, the first fastener 50A and the second fastener 60A are screws. In the embodiment disclosed in Figure 5, the first fastener 50B and the second fastener 60B are bolts. Other than the distinction of the first and the second fasteners, the rest of the elements and the working of the snap ring expander tool disclosed in Figure 4 and Figure 5 are identical. Hence, apart from the first fasteners 50A, 50B and the second fasteners 60A, 60B, like elements are referenced with like numerals in the figures, and the operation of the snap ring expander tool disclosed in Figure 4 and Figure 5 is explained in conjunction.
The first arm 10 has an inverted U-shaped portion 10d with a first flange portion 10a and a second flange portion 10b extending from the ends of the inverted U-shaped portion 10d. The first flange portion 10a is detachably connected to a first boss 70a that is configured on a transmission housing 90 on which the snap ring expander tool 100 is to be mounted. An opening is configured on the first flange portion 10a to facilitate the mounting of the first arm 10 onto the boss 70a configured on the transmission housing 90. The first boss 70a prevents the movement of the first arm 10. Similarly, the second arm 20 also has an inverted U-shaped portion 20d with a first flange portion 20a and a second flange portion 20b extending from the ends of the inverted U-shaped portion 20d. The first flange portion 20a is detachably connected to a second boss 70a that is configured on the transmission housing 90. An opening is configured on the first flange portion 20a to facilitate the mounting of the second arm 20 onto the boss 70a configured on the transmission housing 90.The second flange portion 10b of the first arm 10 is coupled with the second flange portion 20b of the second arm such that a pre-determined angle is configured between them. The measure of the pre-determined angle will depend on the application requirements. More specifically, the measure of the pre-determined angle will depend on the positions of the snap rings that need to be expanded by the snap ring expander tool 100.
The first pair of jaws 30a, 30b and the second pair of jaws 40a, 40b is engageable with the ends of at least one snap ring. The first pair of jaws 30a, 30b, subsequent to the engagement with the ends of the snap ring, is displaced away from each other, thereby causing the ends of the snap ring to be displaced away from each other and causing the expansion of the snap ring. The second pair of jaws 40a, 40b operates in a similar manner.
The first pair of jaws 30a, 30b has through-holes configured thereon for receiving the first fastener 50A, 50B. In an embodiment, the through-hole configured in the jaw 30a has a left hand thread configured therein, and the through-hole configured in the jaw 30b has a right hand thread configured therein. As seen in Figure 6A, a shank of the first fastener 50A, 50B has a first portion 50c having a left hand thread configured thereon, and a second portion 50d having a right hand thread configured thereon. The left hand thread configured on the first portion 50c engages with the left hand thread configured in the through-hole of the jaw 30a, and the right hand thread configured on the second portion 50d engages with the right hand thread configured in the through-hole of the jaw 30b. The rotation of the first fastener 50A, 50B causes the pair of jaws 30a, 30b either to move towards or away from each other. As explained previously, the displacement of the pair of jaws 30a, 30b causes the expansion of the snap ring or causes the snap ring to regain original dimensions. More specifically, the displacement of the pair of jaws 30a, 30b away from each other causes the expansion of the snap ring, and the displacement of the pair of jaws 30a, 30b towards each other causes the snap ring to regain its original dimensions subsequent to its expansion. In another embodiment, the through-hole configured in the jaw 30a has a right hand thread configured therein, and the through-hole configured in the jaw 30b has a left hand thread configured therein. In yet another embodiment, the pair of jaws 30a, 30b may be configured to move towards each other on the clockwise rotation of the first fastener 50A, 50B, and move away from each other on the anti-clockwise rotation of the first fastener 50A, 50B. In another embodiment, the pair of jaws 30a, 30b may be configured towards each other on the anti-clockwise rotation of the first fastener 50A, 50B, and move away from each other on the clockwise rotation of the first fastener 50A, 50B.
Similarly, the second pair of jaws 40a, 40b has through-holes configured thereon for receiving the second fastener 60A, 60B. In an embodiment, the through-hole configured in the jaw 40a has a left hand thread configured therein, and the through-hole configured in the jaw 40b has a right hand thread configured therein. As seen in Figure 6b, a shank of the second fastener 60A, 60B has a first portion 60c having a left hand thread configured thereon, and a second portion 60d having a right hand thread configured thereon. The left hand thread configured on the first portion 60c engages with the left hand thread configured in the through-hole of the jaw 40a, and the right hand thread configured on second portion 60b engages with the right hand thread configured in the through-hole of the jaw 40b. The rotation of the second fastener 60A, 60B causes the pair of jaws 40a, 40b either to move towards or away from each other. As explained previously, the displacement of the pair of jaws 40a, 40b causes the expansion of the snap ring or causes the snap ring to regain original dimensions. More specifically, the displacement of the pair of jaws 40a, 40b away from each other causes the expansion of the snap ring, and the displacement of the pair of jaws 40a, 40b towards each other causes the snap ring to regain its original dimensions. In another embodiment, the through-hole configured in the jaw 40a has a right hand thread configured therein, and the through-hole configured in the jaw 40b has a left hand thread configured therein. In yet another embodiment, the pair of jaws 40a, 40b may be configured to move towards each other on the clockwise rotation of the second fastener 60A, 60B, and move away from each other on the anti-clockwise rotation of the second fastener 60A, 60B. In another embodiment, the pair of jaws 40a, 40b may be configured to move towards each other on the anti-clockwise rotation of the second fastener 60A, 60B, and move away from each other on the clockwise rotation of the second fastener 60A, 60B.
In an embodiment, the first arm 10 has a first baseplate 10c having a slot configured thereon, on which the first pair of jaws 30a, 30b are displaceably supported. The first baseplate 10c is configured within the inverted U-shape portion of the first arm 10. The displacement of the first pair of jaws 30a, 30b on the first baseplate 10c will be controlled by the first fastener 50A, 50B, as explained in the previous sections of the present disclosure. Similarly, the second arm 20 has a second baseplate 20c on which the second pair of jaws 40a, 40b are displaceably supported. The second baseplate 20c is configured within the inverted U-shape portion of the second arm 20. The displacement of the second pair of jaws 40a, 40b on the second baseplate 20c will be controlled by the second fastener 60A, 60B, as explained in the previous sections of the present disclosure.
Now, to explain the subsequent sections, reference is made to Figure 7, Figure 8, and Figure 9 In the present embodiment, the first pair of jaws 30a, 30b engages with the ends of two snap rings, viz., a first snap ring 80a and a second snap ring 80b. The rotation of the first fastener 50A, 50B will cause the pair of jaws 30a, 30b to move away from each other, thereby displacing the ends of the first snap ring 80a and the second snap ring 80b away from each other and causing expansion thereof. The second pair of jaws 40a, 40b engages with only one snap ring, viz., third snap ring 80c. The displacement of the jaws 40a, 40b away from each other will cause the ends of the snap ring 80c to be displaced away from each other, thereby causing the expansion of the snap ring 80c.
Thus, the snap ring expander tool 100 of the present disclosure is used for handling/expanding three snap rings 80a, 80b, 80c at a time, and hence a comparatively less time period is required for assembly. The snap ring expander tool 100 may be remotely operated. As such, the operation of the snap ring expander tool 100 will require comparatively less manual intervention and is comparatively easy to operate.
In an exemplary embodiment as illustrated in Figure 9, the snap ring expander tool 100 for expanding the snap rings 80a, 80b, and 80c is used for fitting the snap rings 80a, 80b and 80c on a transmission housing 110 having three shafts for preventing the axial motion of the shafts. The snap ring expander tool 100 may be placed on a bearing retainer plate 120.
The number of arms in the snap ring expander tool 100 of the present disclosure can be varied as per the application requirements. A person skilled in the art may use the principle of the snap ring expander tool of the present disclosure to come up with various embodiments thereof. As such, all such embodiments are well within the ambit of the present disclosure.
The jaws 30a, 30b, 40a, 40b have dimensions such that they can be easily slid into the gap in between the ends of the snap ring. Furthermore, the snap ring expander tool 100 also eliminates the use of conventional pliers, which were cumbersome to operate.
TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS AND ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE
The technical advancements offered by the present disclosure include the realization of a snap ring expander tool that:
• is comparatively easy to handle;
• requires comparatively less time for fitting a snap ring;
• is either manually actuated or remotely actuated; and
• requires minimal human intervention.
Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiment will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiment herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiment without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiment. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiment herein has been described in terms of the preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiment herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiment as described herein. ,CLAIMS:1. A snap ring expander tool comprising:
- at least one arm; and
- a pair of jaws displaceably supported on said arm, said pair of jaws displaceable along the length of said arm, towards one another or away from one another, said pair of jaws is engageable with ends of at least one snap-ring for facilitating the expansion of said at least one snap-ring when said pair of jaws are displaced away from one another.

2. A snap ring expander tool comprising:
- at least one arm; and
- a pair of jaws supported on said arm, wherein a jaw of said pair of jaws is fixed, and another jaw of said pair of jaws is displaceable along the length of said arm relative to said fixed jaw, said pair of jaws is engageable with ends of at least one snap-ring for facilitating the expansion of said at least one snap-ring when said displaceable jaw is displaced away from said fixed jaw.

3. The snap ring expander tool as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein at least one jaw of said pair of jaws is displaceable along the length of said arm by means of a fastener, wherein said fastener passes through through-holes configured in said pair of jaws.

4. The snap ring expander tool as claimed in claim 1, claim 2, or claim 3, wherein the shank of said fastener has a first portion having a right hand thread configured thereon and a second portion having a left hand thread configured thereon, wherein said right hand thread of said fastener is engageable with a right hand thread configured in said through-hole of one jaw of said pair of jaws, and said left hand thread of said fastener is engageable with a left hand thread configured in said another through-hole of said another jaw of said pair of jaws, wherein a rotation of said fastener displaces said pair of jaws towards or away from each other for facilitating a displacement of said ends of said at least one snap ring towards or away from each other, thereby expanding said at least one snap ring or causing said at least one snap ring to regain original dimensions.

5. The snap ring expander tool as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said at least one arm has an inverted U-shaped portion with flange portions extending from ends of said inverted U-shaped portion, said flange portions having at least one opening configured thereon for facilitating the mounting of said at least one arm.

6. The snap ring expander tool as claimed in claim 5, wherein said at least one arm comprises a baseplate configured within the inverted U-shaped portion of said at least one arm, said baseplate having a longitudinal slot configured thereon to receive and displaceably support at least one jaw of said pair of jaws.

7. A snap ring expander tool comprising:
- a first arm coupled with a second arm in a manner that a pre-determined angle is formed between said first arm and said second arm;
- a first pair of jaws displaceably supported on said first arm, and second pair of jaws displaceably supported on said second arm, said first and second pair of jaws are displaceable along the length of respective arms, towards one another or away from one another, said first pair of jaws and said second pair of jaws are engageable with ends of at least one snap-ring for facilitating the expansion of said at least one snap-ring when said first pair of jaws and said second pair of jaws are displaced away from one another.

8. The snap ring expander tool as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first pair of jaws and said second pair of jaws are displaceable along the length of said respective arms by means of a fastener, wherein said fastener passes through through-holes configured in said first pair of jaws and said second pair of jaws.

9. The snap ring expander tool as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein a shank of said fastener has a first portion having a right hand thread configured thereon and a second portion having a left hand thread configured thereon, wherein said right hand thread of said fastener is engageable with a right hand thread configured in said through-hole of one jaw of said pair of jaws, and said left hand thread of said fastener is engageable with a left hand thread configured in said another through-hole of the remaining jaw of said pair of jaws, wherein rotation of said fastener relative to said through-holes causes a movement of said pair of jaws towards or away from each other for facilitating a displacement of said ends of said at least one snap ring towards or away from each other, thereby expanding said at least one snap ring or causing said at least one snap ring to regain original dimensions.

10. The snap ring expander tool as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first arm and said second arm have an inverted U-shaped portion with flange portions extending from the ends of said inverted U-shaped portion, wherein a first flange portion of said first arm is coupled with a first flange portion of said second arm, and wherein a second flange portion of said first arm and a second flange portion of said second arm have at least one opening configured thereon to facilitate the mounting of said first arm and said second arm.

11. The snap ring expander tool as claimed in claim 10, wherein said first arm and said second arm comprise a baseplate configured within the inverted U-shaped portion of said first arm and said second arm, said baseplate having a slot configured thereon to receive and displaceably support said first pair of jaws and said second pair of jaws.