Belt installation tool

Abstract

The invention comprises a belt installation tool for installing a flexible belt on a pulley. On one side, the radius of the tool is substantially equivalent to the radius of a pulley flange. The bearing surface on this side of the tool stretches the belt and guides the belt onto the pulley. To avoid damaging the belt, the radius of the tool and the pulley flange should be substantially equal over a substantial length of the pulley. Centric to this radius, a hole is provided to accommodate a single-end socket that projects through the tool. The socket engages a crankshaft bolt, hence, the belt installation tool is centered on the pulley along the socket centerline. The tool and pulley are then turned with a ratchet attached to the socket. The tool comprises a belt bearing surface having a variable radius that allows a belt to be stretched to a proper radius without abrupt radius changes, which could damage a belt. The belt is moved axially from the tool into the pulley grooves by a leaderblock, which is provided at the tool radius on the bearing surface adjacent to the pulley grooves. By turning the tool about the crankshaft the leaderblock guides the belt flank, causing it to move into a pulley groove. The leaderblock comprises a lip to further hold the tool on a pulley rim.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A belt installation tool comprising: 
 a body describing a hole and having a belt bearing surface;    a block extending from the belt bearing surface, the block having a lip for engaging a pulley rim; and    the hole alignable with a pulley shaft bolt such that a portion of the belt bearing surface is adjacent to a pulley groove.    
     
     
         2 . The belt installation tool as in  claim 1 , wherein; 
 the block affixed to the belt bearing surface at a maximum radius and having a belt urging surface extending substantially normal to the belt bearing surface; and    the belt bearing surface further comprises a variable radius, the radius decreasing in a direction away from the block to a minimum radius adjacent to the hole.    
     
     
         3 . The belt installation tool as in  claim 2  further comprising: 
 a surface substantially normal to the belt bearing surface, the surface extending from an edge of the belt bearing surface opposite a pulley rim.  
 
     
     
         4 . The belt installation tool as in  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 a slot having a width extending radially from the hole whereby a fastener is used to compress the groove width and thereby decrease the radius of the hole, whereby the tool grips a shaft.    
     
     
         5 . The belt installation tool as in  claim 4 , wherein the maximum radius is substantially equivalent to the radius of a pulley rim.  
     
     
         6 . A belt installation tool comprising: 
 a body describing a hole and having a belt bearing surface;    a block extending from the belt bearing surface, the block having a lip for engaging a pulley rim; and    the hole coaxially aligned with a pulley shaft bolt such that a portion of the belt bearing surface is adjacent to a pulley groove.    
     
     
         7 . The belt installation tool as in  claim 6 , wherein; 
 the block affixed to the belt bearing surface at a maximum radius and having a belt urging surface extending substantially normal to the belt bearing surface; and    the belt bearing surface further comprises a variable radius, the radius decreasing in a direction away from the block to a minimum radius adjacent to the hole.    
     
     
         8 . The belt installation tool as in  claim 7  further comprising: 
 a surface substantially normal to the belt bearing surface, the surface extending from an edge of the belt bearing surface opposite a pulley rim.  
 
     
     
         9 . The belt installation tool as in  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 a slot having a width extending radially from the hole whereby a fastener is used to compress the groove width and thereby decrease the radius of the hole, whereby the tool grips a shaft.    
     
     
         10 . The belt installation tool as in  claim 9 , wherein the maximum radius is substantially equivalent to the radius of a pulley rim.