Lock ring spreader

A lock ring spreader capable of being mounted to a lock ring defining a first end, a second end opposite to the first end, a first axial face, a second axial face opposite to the first axial face, and an outer radial face between the first axial face and the second axial face, the lock ring spreader comprising:

• a first mount mountable to the lock ring near the first end of the lock ring, the first mount configured to substantially conform to at least one of the first axial face, the second axial face, and the outer radial face;
• a second mount mountable to the lock ring near the second end of the lock ring, the second mount configured to substantially conform to at least one of the first axial face, the second axial face, and the outer radial face;
• a crank arm having a first end that is pivotally coupled to the first mount near the first end, wherein the crank arm includes a first latch member having a latch lever pivotally coupled to the crank arm, the latch lever including a grip portion and an engagement portion;
• and
• a link arm having a first end and a second end, the link arm is pivotally coupled to the second mount near the first end and to the crank arm near the second end, wherein at least one of the second mount and the link arm includes a second latch member having a land, the first latch member and the second latch member are selectively coupled to inhibit relative movement between the crank arm and the second mount;
• wherein pivoting the crank arm radially inward toward the second mount relative to the lock ring pivots the link arm relative to the crank arm and initially expands a distance between the first mount and the second mount to an over-center position and then reduces the distance between the first mount and the second mount to a locked position once the lock ring spreader has moved past the over-center position, in the locked position the engagement portion contacts the land to inhibit relative movement between the first latch member and the second latch member.

A lock ring spreader capable of being mounted to a lock ring having a first end and a second end, the lock ring spreader comprising:

• a first mount mountable to the lock ring near the first end of the lock ring;
• a second mount mountable to the lock ring near the second end of the lock ring;
• a crank arm pivotally coupled to the first mount about a first axis, wherein the crank arm includes a first latch member having a latch arm slidably coupled to the crank arm, the latch arm including a grip portion and an engagement portion;
• and
• a link arm pivotally coupled to the second mount about a second axis and the crank arm about a third axis, the second axis being closer to a central axis of the lock ring than the third axis when the lock ring spreader is mounted to the lock ring, wherein at least one of the second mount and the link arm includes a second latch member having a recess, the first latch member and the second latch member are selectively coupled to inhibit relative movement between the crank arm and the second mount;
• wherein pivoting the crank arm about the first axis between a first position and a second position pivots the link arm about the second axis and the third axis and expands a distance between the first mount and the second mount to an over-center position and then to a locked position once the lock ring spreader has moved past the over-center position, in the locked position the engagement portion extends into the recess to inhibit relative movement between the first latch member and the second latch member;
• and
• wherein pivoting from the over-center position to the locked position reduces the distance between the first mount and the second mount.

A lock ring spreader capable of being mounted to a lock ring having a first end and a second end, the lock ring spreader comprising:

• a first mount mountable to the lock ring near the first end of the lock ring;
• a second mount mountable to the lock ring near the second end of the lock ring;
• a crank arm pivotally coupled to the first mount and extending radially outward from the first mount relative to the lock ring, wherein the crank arm includes a first latch member having a latch arm slidably coupled to the crank arm, the latch arm including a grip portion and an engagement portion;
• and
• a link arm pivotally coupled to the second mount and the crank arm and extending radially outward from the second mount relative to the lock ring, wherein at least one of the second mount and the link arm includes a second latch member having a recess, the first latch member and the second latch member are selectively coupled to inhibit relative movement between the crank arm and the second mount;
• wherein pivoting the crank arm radially inward relative to the lock ring pivots the link arm relative to the crank arm and expands a distance between the first mount and the second mount to an over-center position and then to a locked position once the lock ring spreader has moved past the over-center position, in the locked position the engagement portion extends into the recess to inhibit relative movement between the first latch member and the second latch member, and
• wherein pivoting from the over-center position to the locked position reduces the distance between the first mount and the second mount.