Safe/fast locking/unlocking tool for engine torsion vibration damper

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11701763-B2
Application number	US-202017074586-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 19, 2020
Priority date	Oct 19, 2020
Publication date	Jul 18, 2023
Grant date	Jul 18, 2023

Abstract

A tool for locking/unlocking a torsional vibration damper screw to/from a crank shaft of an engine includes an elongated tool body having a first end and a second end. The first end of the tool body includes a pair of engagement pins sized and spaced for engaging a pair of apertures in the torsional vibration damper. The second end of the tool body includes an aperture for receiving a fastener for engaging the second end to a mounting location on the engine. A spacer element can be utilized for mounting the second end of the tool body to the engine mounting location.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tool for unlocking a torsional vibration damper screw from a crank shaft of an engine, comprising:
an elongated tool body having a first end and a second end, the first end including a pair of engagement pins sized and spaced for engaging a pair of apertures in a torsional vibration damper, the second end including an aperture:
a centering knob having a first diameter portion received in the aperture in the second end of the elongated tool body and the centering knob having a second diameter portion that is larger than the first diameter portion and is disposed against a face of the tool body, the centering knob included with a fastener for engaging the second end of the elongated tool body to a mounting location on the engine; and
a spacer element disposed entirely on an opposite side of the elongated tool body from the second diameter portion of the centering knob, the spacer element having an aperture receiving the fastener for attaching the spacer element between the second end of the tool body and the engine mounting location.

2. The tool according to claim 1 , wherein the first end of the elongated tool body includes an open region disposed between the engagement pins to allow access to the torsional vibration damper screw.

3. The tool according to claim 2 , wherein the open region includes an aperture in the first end of the tool body.

4. The tool according to claim 1 , wherein the spacer element includes a pin extending therefrom for engagement with an aperture in the engine.

5. The tool according to claim 1 , wherein the pair of engagement pins are press fit in a pair of apertures in the tool body.

6. The tool according to claim 1 , wherein the pair of engagement pins are threadedly engaged with a pair of threaded apertures in the tool body.

7. The tool according to claim 1 , wherein the pair of engagement pins are integrally formed with the tool body.

8. A method for unlocking a torsional vibration damper screw from a crankshaft of an engine, comprising:
engaging a pair of pins of a first end of an elongated tool body to a pair of openings in a torsional vibration damper to inhibit rotation of the torsional vibration damper;
mounting a second end of the elongated tool body to an engine mounting location by a screw inserted through an opening in the second end of the elongated tool body and engaged with a threaded aperture in the engine mounting location;
applying a wrench to a head of the torsional vibration damper screw and applying torque to the torsional vibration damper screw for unlocking the torsional vibration damper screw;
placing a spacer element entirely between the second end of the tool body and the engine mounting location, wherein the spacer element includes an aperture for receiving the screw for engaging the second end to the mounting location on the engine along with the spacer element.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the first end of the elongated tool body includes an open region disposed between the engagement pins that is aligned with the torsional vibration damper screw.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the open region includes an aperture in the first end of the tool body and the torsional vibration damper screw is accessed by the wrench through the aperture.

11. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the spacer element includes a pin extending therefrom and the pin is engaged with an aperture in the engine.

12. The method according to claim 8 , wherein mounting the second end of the elongated tool body to the engine mounting location includes inserting a first diameter portion of a centering knob in the opening in the second end of the elongated tool body with a second diameter portion of the centering knob that is larger than the first diameter portion disposed against a face of the tool body, the centering knob included with the screw for engaging the second end of the elongated tool body to the mounting location on the engine.

13. A method for unlocking a torsional vibration damper screw from a crankshaft of an engine, comprising;
engaging a pair of pins of a first end of an elongated tool body to a pair of openings in a torsional vibration damper to inhibit rotation of the torsional vibration damper;
mounting a second end of the elongated tool body to an engine mounting location including inserting a first diameter portion of a centering knob in an aperture in the second end of the elongated tool body with a second diameter portion of the centering knob that is larger than the first diameter portion disposed against a first face of the tool body, the first face being planar and extending from the first end to the second end of the elongated tool body, the centering knob included with a fastener and the fastener being engaged with a threaded aperture in the engine mounting location;
applying a wrench to a head of the torsional vibration damper screw and applying torque to the torsional vibration damper screw for unlocking the torsional vibration damper screw.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the first end of the elongated tool body includes an open region disposed between the engagement pins that is aligned with the torsional vibration damper screw.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the open region includes an aperture in the first end of the tool body and the torsional vibration damper screw is accessed by the wrench through the aperture.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Barresi Antonino
• Badellino Gianfranco

Classifications

• B25B27/0035 Primary

  for motor-vehicles (wrenches for mounting or dismounting wheels B60B29/003) · CPC title

• B25B23/0085

  Counterholding devices · CPC title

• B23P2700/07

  Crankshafts · CPC title

• F16F2226/04

  Assembly or fixing methods; methods to form or fashion parts · CPC title

• F16F2230/0005

  Attachment, e.g. to facilitate mounting onto confer adjustability · CPC title