# US 8,769,787 B2 · Head removal device for an internal combustion engine

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 8,769,787 B2
- Document ID: US8769787B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/847,199
- Filed: 2010-07-30
- Published: 2011-11-10
- Granted: 2014-07-08
- Earliest claimed: 2010-05-07
- Applicants: Lonnie Koehne
- Inventors: Lonnie Koehne
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8769787B2

## CPC

- B66C 1/10: by mechanical means
- B66C 1/107: {for lifting engines}
- Y10T 29/49233: Repairing, converting, servicing or salvaging
- Y10T 29/49822: by applying force
- Y10T 29/53: Means to assemble or disassemble
- Y10T 29/53683: Spreading parts apart or separating them from face to face engagement
- Y10T 29/53796: Puller or pusher means, contained force multiplying operator
- B66C: CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES ({specially adapted for lifting invalids A61G7/10;} rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms, braking or detent devices therefor B66D; specially adapted for nuclear reactors G21)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A head lifting device for lifting the head off of an internal combustion engine. The head lifting device is typically used for an engine having multiple separate heads. It includes a crane assembly that has a support member. At one end of the support member is a bracket for attaching to a first head. At the second end of the support member is a gearbox. The second end of the support member is positionable over a second head, the second head typically being adjacent the first head. Hanging down from the gearbox is a shaft threaded, and at the end of the shaft is an assembly for engaging the second head. Driving the gearbox will allow the shaft to move upward through the gearbox and, with a second head attached thereto, allow the second head to lift off the engine block.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A head removing device for removing a head from an engine having multiple heads, the head removing device comprising:
a crane assembly, the crane assembly including a fixed length, non-extendable support member having a first end and a second end, the crane assembly including mounting means near the first end of the support member, the mounting means adapted to engage a first head of the engine, at least a portion of the support member adapted to rotate about a vertical axis such that the second end of the support member is positionable over a second head of the engine;
a gear box located near the second end of the support member, the gearbox including a drive gear and a driven gear directly meshingly engaged with one another with the drive gear having a drive mechanism which has a tool engaging portion thereon, the driven gear having a threaded inner perimeter, the gearbox including a gearbox housing for substantially enclosing the at least two gears;
a rigid threaded lifting shaft having a longitudinal axis, the lifting shaft having a removed end, the lifting shaft for engaging the threaded inner perimeter of the driven gear, such that when such gear is rotated, the lifting shaft moves; wherein the lifting shaft passes through the gearbox housing;
wherein the drive and driven gears lay in a first plane and the rigid, threaded lifting shaft moves in a plane perpendicular to the first plane; and
a head anchor assembly including at least a pair of anchor head engaging bolts for attaching to the removed end of the lifting shaft, the head anchor assembly including at least a pair of spaced apart members adapted to receive at least a pair of anchor head engaging bolts, a pair of spaced apart members dimensioned to engage a head separate from the head of the crane assembly mounting means.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The head removing device of claim 1, wherein the gearbox housing includes walls, including a top wall and a bottom wall, and wherein the first gear is engaged with the top and bottom wall, and rotatably articulates with respect to the top and bottom walls.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The head removing device of claim 1, wherein the at least two gears include toothed outer perimeters for meshing engagement and wherein the second of the at least two gears includes means to engage the lifting shaft such that rotation of the second gear imparts linear motion to the lifting shaft, along its longitudinal axis.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The head removing device of claim 3, wherein the lifting shaft is threaded and wherein means to engage the lifting shaft includes a threaded inner perimeter of the second gear.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The head removing device of claim 1, wherein the removed end of the lifting shaft includes a hook, the hook adapted to engage the head anchor assembly.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The head removing device of claim 1, wherein the head anchor assembly includes a horizontal cross-member, and wherein the members of the head anchor assembly that are adapted to engage the anchor head engaging bolts are engaged with and separated by the horizontal cross-member.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The head removing device of claim 1, wherein the removed end of the lifting shaft includes a hook, the hook adapted to engage the head anchor assembly; and wherein the pair of members of the head anchor assembly are adapted to engage the anchor head engaging bolts engaged with and separated by a horizontal cross-member.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The head removing device of claim 1, wherein the gearbox housing includes walls, including a top wall and a bottom wall, and wherein the first gear is engaged with the top and bottom wall, and rotatably articulates with respect to the top and bottom walls; and wherein the lifting shaft passes through the top wall and the bottom wall.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The head removing device of claim 1, wherein the gearbox housing includes walls, including a top wall and a bottom wall, and wherein the first gear is engaged with the top and bottom wall, and rotatably articulates with respect to the top and bottom walls; wherein the lifting shaft passes through the top wall and the bottom wall; wherein the at least two gears include toothed outer perimeters for meshing engagement and wherein the second of the at least two gears includes means to engage the lifting shaft such that rotation of the second gear imparts linear motion to the lifting shaft, along its longitudinal axis; wherein the lifting shaft is threaded and wherein means to engage the lifting shaft includes a threaded inner perimeter of the second gear; wherein the removed end of the lifting shaft includes a hook, the hook adapted to engage the head anchor assembly; and wherein the members of the head anchor assembly are engaged with and separated by a horizontal cross-member; and wherein the hook of the lifting shaft is adapted to engage the horizontal cross-member.