Slide hammer tool and method of removing a keeper ring

In combination with a trenching machine having an endless track of chain links each with at least one collar, and a tooth with a cylindrical groove of a predetermined radius removably retained in said at least one collar by a keeper ring in the tooth groove, the keeper ring having radial end surfaces, an outer diameter, and a predetermined width,

• apparatus for selectively removing the keeper ring from the tooth groove and for seating the keeper ring in the tooth groove comprising:
• a. an elongated rod having first and second ends;
• b. means for producing first and second impacts on the rod;
• c. means for transmitting the first impact to the keeper ring to push the keeper ring off the tooth groove and thereby enable the tooth to be removed from said at least one collar, wherein the means for transmitting the first impact to the keeper ring comprises a wedge rigidly held in the rod first end, the wedge defining a pair of surfaces at respective locations that are immoveable relative to each other and that converge at a predetermined angle and a cutout in the converging surfaces, the cutout having a continuous uninterrupted arcuate surface of a first radius at least as large as the predetermined radius, the wedge converging surfaces being placed in abutting contact with the keeper ring radial end surfaces when the first impact is produced on the rod, so that the first impact is transmitted to the wedge converging surfaces and then to the keeper ring radial end surfaces and the wedge converging surfaces remain immoveable relative to each other to push the keeper ring off the tooth groove in response to the first impact being produced on the rod;
• and
• d. means for transmitting the second impact to the keeper ring to seat the keeper ring in the tooth groove.

In combination with a trenching machine having an endless track of chain links each with at least one collar, and a tooth with a cylindrical groove of a predetermined radius removably retained in said at least one collar by a keeper ring in the tooth groove, the keeper ring having radial end surfaces, an outer diameter, and a predetermined width,

• apparatus for selectively removing the keeper ring from the tooth groove and for seating the keeper ring in the tooth groove comprising:
• a. an elongated rod having first and second ends;
• b. means for producing first and second impacts on the rod;
• c. means for transmitting the first impact to the keeper ring to push the keeper ring off the tooth groove and thereby enable the tooth to be removed from said at least one collar, wherein the means for transmitting the first impact to the keeper ring comprises a pair of surfaces on the rod first end that are immoveable relative to each other and that converge at a predetermined angle and that define a cutout in the converging surfaces having a continuous and uninterrupted arcuate surface between the converging surfaces of a radius at least as large as the predetermined radius, the converging surfaces being placed in abutting contact with the keeper ring radial end surfaces when the first impact is produced, so that the first impact is transmitted to the rod converging surfaces without relative movement therebetween and to the keeper ring radial end surfaces to push the keeper ring off the tooth groove in response to the first impact being produced on the rod;
• and
• d. means for transmitting the second impact to the keeper ring to seat the keeper ring in the tooth groove.

A method of replacing a worn tooth retained by a keeper ring having an outer diameter and an opening defined by two radial end surfaces in a chain link of a trenching machine comprising the steps of:

• a. producing a first impact on the keeper ring radial surfaces sufficient to temporarily expand the keeper ring opening, and pushing the expanded keeper ring off the worn tooth comprising the steps of:
• i. placing a pair of converging surfaces that are immovable relative to each other against a respective radial end surface of the keeper ring;
• and
• ii. transmitting the first impact to the converging surfaces and the abutting keeper ring radial end surfaces while maintaining the converging surfaces immoveable relative to each other;
• b. removing the worn tooth from the chain link;
• c. installing a new tooth in the chain link;
• d. placing the keeper ring opening against the new tooth;
• e. abutting a concave surface against the keeper ring outer diameter;
• and
• f. producing a second impact on the keeper ring outer diameter sufficient to temporarily expand the keeper ring opening, and seating the keeper ring on the new tooth.

A method of removing a keeper ring having an outer diameter of a first predetermined radius and an opening defined by two radial end surfaces from a cylinder of a second predetermined radius comprising the steps of:

• a. producing a first impact simultaneously against the keeper ring radial end surfaces sufficient to expand the keeper ring, wherein the step of producing a first impact comprises the steps of:
• i. abutting a pair of rigid converging surfaces at locations immoveable relative to each other against associated end surfaces of the keeper ring;
• and
• ii. transmitting the first impact to the converging surfaces and the keeper ring radial end surfaces while maintaining the locations of the converging surfaces relative to each other;
• b. pushing the expanded keeper ring off the cylinder;
• c. placing the keeper ring opening adjacent the cylinder;
• d. abutting a concave surface against the keeper ring outer diameter comprising the steps of:
• i. providing an arcuate groove on a rod second end having a bottom surface with a radius substantially equal to the first predetermined radius, and a pair of parallel side walls between the bottom surface and the rod second end;
• and
• ii. abutting the rod arcuate groove bottom surface against the keeper ring outer diameter with the keeper ring being partially between the groove side surfaces;
• and
• e. producing a second impact between the concave surface and the keeper ring outer diameter sufficient to temporarily expand the keeper ring opening;
• and
• f. seating the keeper ring on the cylinder.