Tool for disassembling hydraulic valve lifters

Claim 2

A tool for disassembling hydraulic valve lifters of the type having a housing enclosing a plunger longitudinally movable through a cylindrical cavity therein, the plunger having a coaxial cavity therein with a circumferential lip or groove adjacent the open end thereof, said tool comprising in combination: a shaft for communicating into said coaxial cavity of said plunger, said shaft having at the distended end thereof engaging means for engaging said circumferential lip adjacent said open end of said plunger; activating means coupled to said shaft for activating said engaging means to engage said circumferential lip; a frame for communicating with said housing for restraining the longitudinal movement thereof, said frame comprising a plurality of legs movably depending longitudinally therefrom with each of said legs being rotatable about a first pivot generally perpendicular to said shaft for movably engaging or disengaging said housing; and first means movably coupled between said shaft and said frame for longitudinally moving said shaft relative to said frame, whereby said shaft having said plunger coupled thereto by said engaging means is extracted from said cavity within said housing by the movement of said first means.

Claim 3

A tool as described in claim 1 wherein said engaging means comprises an annular head at said distended end of said shaft for engaging said circumferential lip of said plunger, said distended end of said shaft and said annular head having a first longitudinal slot centered therethrough and parallel to the axis of said shaft.

Claim 4

A tool as described in claim 2 wherein said activating means includes second cam means for separating the juxtaposed sides of said first longitudinal slot, thereby enlarging the effective diameter of said annular head for engaging said circumferential lip adjacent said open end of said plunger.

Claim 5

A tool as described in claim 3 wherein said second cam means rotatably communicates within said first longitudinal slot for separating the juxtaposed sides thereof.

Claim 6

A tool as described in claim 3 wherein said second cam means is pivotally coupled to said shaft adjacent said first longitudinal slot for rotatably camming against one of said juxtaposed sides of said longitudinal slot for enlarging the effective diameter of said annular head.

Claim 7

A tool as described in claim 2 wherein said distended end of said shaft includes a reduced diameter section adjacent to said annular head for increasing the effective communication between said annular head and said circumferential lip of said piston.

Claim 8

A tool as described in claim 2 wherein said frame includes a plurality of legs depending longitudinally therefrom, said legs having at the distended end thereof recessed notches for engaging and restraining said housing therein.

Claim 9

A tool as described in claim 1 wherein said first means comprises: a first cam movably coupled to said shaft about a second pivot perpendicular thereto, said first cam having a curvilinear surface thereon for communicating across said frame as said first cam is rotated about said second pivot; lever means coupled to said first cam perpendicular to said second pivot for adding mechanical advantage to a force exerted thereon for rotating said first cam.

Claim 10

A tool as described in claim 8 wherein said shaft includes a second longitudinal slot centered therein and adjacent to said second pivot shaft, the plane of said second longitudinal slot being parallel to the plane of said first cam for allowing said first cam to pass therethrough as said first cam is rotated about said second pivot.

Claim 11

A tool as described in claim 9 wherein said plane of said second longitudinal slot is perpendicular to a plane of said first longitudinal slot.

Claim 12

A tool for disassembling hydraulic valve lifters of the type having a housing enclosing a plunger longitudinally movable through a cylindrical cavity therein, the plunger having a coaxial cavity therein with a circumferential lip adjacent an open end thereof, said tool comprising in combination: a shaft for communicating longitudinally into said coaxial cavity of said plunger, said shaft having at a distended end thereof engaging means for engaging said circumferential lip adjacent said open end of said plunger; activating means coupled to said shaft for activating said engaging means to engage said circumferential lip; a frame having a plurality of legs extending longitudinally therefrom communicating with said housing for restraining the longitudinal movement thereof, and wherein each of said legs is movably coupled to said frame about a first end thereof for allowing a distended end thereof to be moved away from said shaft for providing increased visibility of and access to said coaxial cavity within said plunger, with each of said legs including at said distended end thereof a notch therein for coupling with an outside circumferential surface of said housing for restraining a motion thereof in a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal direction; and first cam means movably coupled between said shaft and said frame for longitudinally moving said shaft relative to said frame, whereby said shaft having said plunger coupled thereto by said engaging means is extracted from said cavity within said housing by the movement of said first cam means.

Claim 13

A tool for disassembling hydraulic valve lifters of the type having a housing enclosing a plunger longitudinally movable through a cylindrical cavity therein, the plunger having a coaxial cavity therein with a circumferential lip adjacent an open end thereof, said tool comprising in combination: a shaft for communicating longitudinally into said coaxial cavity of said plunger, said shaft having at a distended end thereof engaging means for engaging said circumferential lip adjacent said open end of said plunger; activating means coupled to said shaft for activating said engaging means to engage said circumferential lip; a frame having a plurality of legs extending longitudinally therefrom communicating with said housing for restraining the longitudinal movement thereof, and wherein each of said legs is movably coupled to said frame about a first end thereof for allowing a distended end thereof to be moved away from said shaft for providing increased visibility of and access to said coaxial cavity within said plunger, with each of said legs including at said distended end thereof a notch therein for coupling with an outside circumferential surface of said housing for restraining a motion thereof in a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal direction; and first cam means movably coupled between said shaft and said frame for longitudinally moving said shaft relative to said frame, whereby said shaft having said plunger coupled thereto by said engaging means is extracted from said cavity within said housing by the movement of said first cam means.

Claim 14

The tool as described in claim 11 wherein each of said legs is movably coupled to said frame within a slot radially extending from said shaft, whereby each of said legs may be moved and spaced radially from said shaft.

Claim 15

The tool as described in claim 12 wherein each of said legs includes a dove-tailed wedge thereon for being movably restrained within a dove-tailed slot within said frame extending radially from said shaft.

Claim 16

The tool as described in claim 13 wherein said engaging means comprises a bifurcated annular head formed on a distended end of said shaft; and wherein said activating means is coupled within a slot defined between said bifurcated annular head sections of said shaft for increasing the separation therebetween, whereby said annular head section of said shaft may be expanded to couple with said circumferential lip of said plunger.

Claim 17

The tool as described in claim 12 wherein said first cam means comprises: a first cam movably coupled to said shaft about a pivot generally perpendicular thereto, said first cam having a curvilinear surface thereon for communicating across said frame as said first cam is rotated about said pivot; and lever means coupled to said first cam perpendicular to said pivot for adding mechanical advantage to a force exerted thereon for rotating said first cam.