Hand powered hydraulic rescue strut

Abstract

A manual rescue tool is disclosed. In one embodiment, the rescue tool has a hydraulic pump assembly having a hydraulic manifold block and an extension tube assembly extendable by the hydraulic pump assembly. The extension tube assembly may be mounted to and supported by the manifold block. The rescue tool may further include a first end tool operably connected to a first end of the extension tube assembly and an end plate assembly rotatably mounted to the manifold block.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A manual rescue tool comprising:
 (a) a hydraulic pump assembly comprising:
 i. a manual hydraulic pump; 
 ii. a hydraulic manifold block in fluid communication with the hydraulic pump; 
 iii. a cylinder tube mounted to the hydraulic manifold block, the cylinder tube defining an interior volume that is in fluid communication with an outlet side of the manual hydraulic pump; 
 iv. an oil reservoir tube mounted to the hydraulic manifold block, the oil reservoir tube and the cylinder tube defining an oil reservoir in fluid communication with an inlet side of the manual hydraulic pump; 
 v. a cylinder rod having a first end and a second end, the first end having a piston slidable within the cylinder tube; and 
   (b) an extension tube assembly comprising:
 i. an outer support tube mounted to the pump assembly hydraulic manifold block; 
 ii. an inner support tube slidably received within the outer support tube, the inner support tube being operably connected to the second end of the cylinder rod; 
   (c) a first end tool operably connected to the inner support tube of the extension tube assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The manual rescue tool of  claim 1 , wherein the extension tube assembly further comprises an extension tube connected to the inner support tube and the first end tool, the extension tube being slidable within the inner support tube. 
     
     
         3 . The manual rescue tool of  claim 2 , wherein the extension tube is adjustably connected to the inner support tube by a mounting pin. 
     
     
         4 . The manual rescue tool of  claim 3 , wherein the extension tube is provided with a plurality of openings configured to align with at least one opening on the inner support tube and wherein the relative position between the extension tube and the inner support tube is fixed by the mounting pin. 
     
     
         5 . The manual rescue tool of  claim 1 , wherein the outer support tube is removably connected to the pump assembly hydraulic manifold block. 
     
     
         6 . The manual rescue tool of  claim 5 , wherein the outer support tube is connected to the manifold block by a connection pin. 
     
     
         7 . The manual rescue tool of  claim 1 , further comprising an end plate assembly rotatably mounted to the pump assembly hydraulic manifold block. 
     
     
         8 . The manual rescue tool of  claim 7 , wherein the end plate assembly is connected to the pump assembly hydraulic manifold block by a removable pin. 
     
     
         9 . The manual rescue tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a push block mounted to the inner support tube, the push block being in direct connection with the second end of the cylinder rod. 
     
     
         10 . The manual rescue tool of  claim 9 , wherein the push block includes a wear ring configured for slidable engagement with the outer support tube. 
     
     
         11 . A hydraulic pump assembly comprising:
 (a) a manual hydraulic pump;   (b) a hydraulic manifold block in fluid communication with the manual hydraulic pump;   (c) a cylinder tube mounted to the hydraulic manifold block, the cylinder tube defining an interior volume that is in fluid communication with an outlet side of the manual hydraulic pump;   (d) an oil reservoir tube mounted to the hydraulic manifold block, the oil reservoir tube and the cylinder tube defining an oil reservoir in fluid communication with an inlet side of the manual hydraulic pump; and   (e) a cylinder rod having a first end and a second end, the first end having a piston slidable within the cylinder tube;   (f) wherein the cylinder tube has a bypass feature configured to allow hydraulic fluid to flow from the interior volume of the cylinder tube into the oil reservoir when the piston is moved within the cylinder tube beyond the bypass feature.   
     
     
         12 . The hydraulic pump assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the oil reservoir tube is secured to the hydraulic manifold block by an end cap wherein the end cap is secured to the cylinder tube 
     
     
         13 . The hydraulic pump assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the end cap additionally defines the oil reservoir. 
     
     
         14 . The hydraulic pump assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the end cap has a shaft wiper member. 
     
     
         15 . The hydraulic pump assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the bypass feature includes one or more openings extending through a sidewall of the cylinder tube. 
     
     
         16 . The hydraulic pump assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the bypass includes a circumferential groove in the cylinder tube sidewall at the location of the one or more openings. 
     
     
         17 . The hydraulic pump assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the bypass feature includes ring seal mounted within the groove. 
     
     
         18 . The hydraulic pump assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the ring seal provides a seal against the one or more openings when fluid pressure in the interior volume of the cylinder tube is negative or below a first fluid pressure and expands to allow fluid flow through the one or more openings when fluid pressure in the interior volume of the cylinder is at or above the first fluid pressure.