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US 4,034,960 AGranted
Spring compressor tool
OwnerKenneth D. Klosterinventor
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OwnerKenneth D. Klosterinventor
Estimating the term…
An improved spring compressor tool for use on, for example, a MacPherson-type independent suspension assembly of a vehicle, without the necessity of removing the suspension from the vehicle. The tool includes upper and lower U-shaped pressure shoes having helical-shaped outer peripheries which define slots for receiving spaced coils of the spring intermediate the opposed connected ends of the spring. At least one of the shoes is linearly adjustable and both shoes are rotatably adjustable for initial alignment with the spaced spring coils. A pair of pneumatic cylinders are positioned side-by-side between the upper and lower shoes. Air pressure is provided through novel valves mounted on a handle for the tool to the cylinders for moving the shoes toward one another to compress the spring and to vent the cylinders for releasing the spring. Return springs are provided in the cylinders to urge the shoes to a non-compressed position during venting. In a modified embodiment of the tool, the lower shoe is replaced with a bench-mounted clamp which engages the suspension assembly below the spring.
A spring compressor tool for compressing a spring having opposed ends, comprising, in combination, a first pressure shoe having a generally U-shaped helical portion, said helical portion defining a slot, said slot receiving a first coil of such spring at a position intermediate such opposed spring ends for applying a force to such first spring coil, means for applying an opposing force to a second coil of such spring, means for adjusting said pressure shoe for aligning said slot with such first spring coil, said adjusting means including means for infinitely varying the position of said pressure shoe toward and away from said force applying means, and compression drive means positioned between said pressure shoe and said force applying means for moving said pressure shoe and said force applying means toward one another along a linear path to compress the portion of such spring located between said pressure shoe and said force applying means.
A spring compressor tool for compressing a spring having opposed ends, comprising, in combination, a first pressure shoe having a generally U-shaped helical portion, said helical portion defining a slot, said slot receiving a first coil of such spring at a position intermediate such opposed spring ends for applying a force to such first spring coil, means for applying an opposing force to a second coil of such spring, means for adjusting said pressure shoe for aligning said slot with such first spring coil, said adjusting means including means for adjusting the position of said pressure shoe linearly toward and away from said force applying means, said adjusting means further including means for rotatably adjusting said pressure shoe for substantially continuous engagement of said slot with such first spring coil, and compression drive means positioned between said pressure shoe and said force applying means for moving said pressure shoe and said force applying means toward one another to compress the portion of such spring located between said pressure shoe and said force applying means.
A spring compressor with such for compressing a spring having opposed ends, comprising, in combination, a first pressure shoe having a generally U-shaped helical portion, said helical portion defining a slot, said slot receiving a first coil of such spring at a position intermediate such opposed spring ends for applying a force to such first spring coil, means for applying an opposing force to a second coil of such spring, means for adjusting said pressure shoe for aligning said slot wth such first spring coil, said adjusting means including means for rotatably adjusting said pressure shoe for substantially continuous engagement of said slot such first spring coil, and compression drive means positioned between said pressure shoe and said force applying means for moving said pressure shoe and said force applying means toward one another to compress the portion of such spring located between said pressure shoe and said force applying means.
A spring compressor tool for compressing a spring having opposed ends, comprising, in combination, a first pressure shoe having a generally U-shaped helical portion, said helical portion defining a slot, said slot receiving a first coil of such spring at a position intermediate such opposed spring ends for applying force to such first spring coil, means for applying an opposing force to a second coil of such spring, means for adjusting said pressure shoe for aligning said slot with such first spring coil, such second spring coil being at a position intermediate such opposed spring ends, said force applying means comprising a second pressure shoe spaced from said first pressure shoe, said second pressure shoe having a helical portion defining a second slot, said second slot receiving such second spring coil, said adjusting means including means for rotatably adjusting one of said first and second shoes for substantially continuous engagement of the respective slot with the respective spring coil, and compression drive means positioned between said pressure shoe and said force applying means for moving said pressure shoe and said force applying means toward one another to compress the portion of such spring located between said pressure shoe and said force applying means.
A portable spring compressor tool for compressing a loaded spring having opposed ends, comprising, a first pressure shoe having a generally U-shaped helical portion, said helical portion having inner and outer walls defining a continuous first slot which extends at least 180.degree., said first slot receiving a coil of such loaded spring at a position intermediate such opposed ends, a second pressure shoe spaced from said first pressure shoe, said second pressure shoe having a helical portion having inner and outer walls defining a continuous second slot receiving another coil of such loaded spring at a portion intermediate such opposed ends, at least one fluid cylinder including a cylinder body, a piston positioned to slide within said cylinder body and a piston rod attached to said piston, means limiting said piston rod to linear movement as said attached piston is moved in said cylinder body, said cylinder body and said piston defining a fluid chamber, means attaching said first shoe to said piston rod, means attaching said second shoe to said cylinder body, means for adjusting one of said first and second pressure shoes for aligning the respective slot with a spring coil of such loaded spring, said adjusting means including means for adjusting the position of said one of said first and second pressure shos linearly toward and away from the other one of said first and second pressure shoes, means for supplying pressurized fluid to said fluid chamber to move said piston in said cylinder body, said first shoe moving toward said second shoe along a linear path to compress such spring as such pressurized fluid moves said piston, means for venting fluid from said fluid chamber, and return means for urging said first and second shoes apart whereby such loaded spring is compressed without removing such spring from place.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.