US 2013/0067745 A1 · PINION DISASSEMBLY TOOL AND METHOD

Abstract

A pinion disassembly tool is configured to remove a yoke or a flange member and a pinion fastener from a splined pinion shaft in a pinion assembly. The tool includes a yoke holding plate with a central aperture sized to receive a socket wrench during removal of the pinion fastener. The yoke holding plate includes fastener apertures for connection to the yoke and at least one non-circular aperture for receiving a breaker bar during removal of the pinion fastener. The tool also includes a drive plate with a threaded aperture, the drive plate inserted through the central aperture of the yoke holding plate after removal of the pinion fastener. The tool also includes a drive bolt engaged with the threaded aperture and configured to force the drive plate and the yoke holding plate to pull the yoke from the splined pinion shaft as the drive bolt is rotated.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A pinion disassembly tool configured to remove a yoke or a flange member from a splined pinion shaft in a pinion assembly, the tool comprising:

a yoke holding plate including a central aperture sized to receive a socket wrench during removal of a pinion fastener from the pinion shaft, a plurality of fastener apertures positioned around the central aperture and configured to receive fasteners coupled to the yoke or the flange member, and at least one non-circular aperture configured to receive a breaker bar during removal of the pinion fastener;
a drive plate configured to be inserted through the central aperture of the yoke holding plate after the removal of the pinion fastener, the drive plate including a threaded aperture;
and
a drive bolt engaged with the threaded aperture of the drive plate, the drive bolt operative to force the drive plate and the yoke holding plate to pull the yoke or the flange member from the splined pinion shaft as the drive bolt is rotated into engagement with the pinion shaft.

1 more element

A method of disassembling a pinion assembly including a splined pinion shaft, a yoke or a flange member, and a pinion fastener with a pinion disassembly tool including a yoke holding plate with a central aperture, a drive plate with a threaded aperture, and a drive bolt, the method comprising:

coupling the yoke holding plate to the yoke or the flange member using fasteners;
holding the yoke holding plate and the yoke or the flange member in position while removing the pinion fastener from the pinion shaft;
inserting the drive plate through the central aperture of the yoke holding plate with the drive bolt engaged with the threaded aperture;
and
rotating the drive bolt against the pinion shaft to force the drive plate to pull the yoke holding plate and the yoke or the flange member from the splined pinion shaft.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Pinion disassembly tool and method

Life of this patent

Pinion disassembly tool and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11