Apparatus and method for removing bearings

Apparatus for removing a bearing comprising:

• an elongate bearing driving shaft;
• contacting means for contacting an outer annular bearing surface, said contacting means having a tapered outer surface and including a bearing-contacting drive shoulder, said contacting means being connected to said driving shaft when operatively assembled for removing a bearing;
• means for adjusting said bearing drive shoulder to a desired dimension to contact at least a portion of an annular bearing outer surface;
• means for applying a removing force to said outer annular bearing surface through said bearing-contacting shoulder;
• and
• clamp means for clamping said drive shoulder against said outer bearing surface, said clamp means having a tapered inner surface for contact against said tapered outer surface of said contacting means.

A method of removing a bearing in a device comprising:

• expanding an expandable mandrel by inserting a mandrel expansion collar within the expandable mandrel, said expansion collar being threadedly mounted on a driving shaft and having an upper surface in contact with an interior drive shoulder within said mandrel;
• disposing the mandrel about the exterior of the bearing so that one surface of said bearing is in contact with a driving shoulder of said mandrel;
• compressing a lower portion of the mandrel to clamp the mandrel about the exterior of the bearing to secure the mandrel drive shoulder under an outwardly extending lip of said bearing;
• threadedly extending said driving shaft within said mandrel so that a mandrel-received end of said driving shaft contacts a mechanical part extending upwardly from a longitudinal axis of said bearing;
• continuing the extension of the driving shaft within the mandrel to lift the bearing upwardly, thereby removing the bearing from its seated position.

Apparatus for removing a bearing without removal of an internal mechanical part comprising:

• an elongate bearing driving shaft;
• contacting means axially and internally insertable through said bearing for contacting an annular bearing undersurface, said contacting means including a bearing-contacting shoulder, said contacting means being connected to said elongate driving shaft when operatively assembled for removing a bearing;
• a mandrel expansion collar threadedly carried on said driving shaft for expanding an upper portion of said contacting means;
• .›.tapered.!. adjusting means for adjusting said bearing driving shoulder, from an undersurface thereof, to a desired dimension to contact at least a portion of said annular bearing undersurface;
• and
• thrust means for transmitting thrust from said driving shaft to said bearing drive shoulder such that rotation of said driving shaft forces said bearing undersurface upwardly for removal.

A method of removing a bearing in a device comprising:

• inserting a mandrel expansion collar, threadedly carried on an elongate driving shaft, within an expandable mandrel to expand an upper end of said mandrel, said expansion collar being threadedly mounted on a driving shaft and having an upper surface in contact with an interior drive shoulder within said mandrel, said driving shaft carrying an inverted cone on a lower end thereof;
• disposing the mandrel and cone within an interior of the bearing so that an annular undersurface of said bearing is in contact with a plurality of driving shoulders extending outwardly from said mandrel;
• expanding said mandrel by threadedly raising said inverted cone upwardly into said mandrel to secure the mandrel drive shoulders under said bearing undersurface;
• and
• rotating said driving shaft to lift the mandrel drive shoulders to lift the bearing upwardly, thereby removing the bearing from its seated position.

Apparatus for removing a bearing without removal of an internal mechanical part comprising:

• an elongate bearing driving shaft;
• contacting means axially and internally insertable through said bearing for contacting an annular bearing undersurface, said contacting means including a bearing-contacting shoulder, said contacting means being connected to said elongate driving shaft when operatively assembled for removing a bearing;
• a mandrel expansion collar threadedly carried on said driving shaft for expanding an upper portion of said contacting means;
• a mandrel spreader for adjusting said bearing driving shoulder, from an undersurface thereof, to a desired dimension to contact at least a portion of said annular bearing undersurface;
• and
• thrust means for transmitting thrust from said driving shaft to said bearing drive shoulder such that rotation of said driving shaft forces said bearing undersurface upwardly for removal.