Tool for removing valve springs and valve guide seals from an engine

Abstract

A tool for removing valve springs and seals from an engine's intake and exhaust valves includes a bracket having apertures spaced therealong and for receiving fastening members therethrough. The tool further includes a plurality of support pedestals provided with channels extending therethrough and for receiving the fastening members respectively so that the bracket is maintained at a substantially stable position. The tool also includes a mechanism for simultaneously compressing a valve spring by exerting pressure upon a valve head keeper and retainer, thereby releasing associated locks keepers so that a user can remove the valve springs and valve seals from the valve head. The compressing mechanism cooperates with the pedestals and the bracket and is rotatable about a fulcrum axis traversing the pedestals wherein the fulcrum axis extends along a horizontal plane subjacent the bracket.

1. A tool for allowing an operator to remove valve springs and valve seals from an engine's intake and exhaust valves without requiring the removal of the engine from a support frame, said tool comprising:
 a bracket formed from rigid material and for distributing external forces away from an engine valve head, said bracket having a plurality of apertures spaced along a perimeter thereof and comprising a plurality of fastening members threadably positionable therethrough for securing said bracket adjacent the valve head;   a plurality of support pedestals having vertically disposed longitudinal axes and being provided with a channel extending axially therethrough, said pedestals for receiving said fastening members therethrough so that said bracket can be maintained at a substantially stable and elevated position during operating conditions; and   means for compressing a valve head keeper and associated locks so that a user can readily remove the valve springs and valve seals from the valve head, said compressing means cooperating with said pedestals and said bracket and being manually rotatable along a selected radial direction and about a fulcrum axis traversing said pedestals.   
     
     
       2. The tool of  claim 1 , wherein said compressing means comprises:
 an elongated anchor bolt defining the fulcrum axis and being disposed along a substantially horizontal plane, said bolt having a threaded end portion and an oppositely disposed head portion extending outwardly from said bracket respectively;   a plurality of fingers secured to said bolt and extending outwardly therefrom along a generally perpendicular path to said bolt, each said finger having an inner surface area provided with a longitudinal axis offset from a vertical plane so that the valve spring can be effectively engaged during operating conditions; and   a plurality of stop members adjustably engaged with said bolt and for defining a linear path along which said bolt can be positioned, one said stop members protruding outwardly and orthogonally from said bolt and adjacent said head portion thereof;   wherein said fingers are rotated downwardly onto the valve spring and the valve head keeper which causes release of the associated locks, said fingers being rotatable upwardly such that the valve springs and the valve seals can be removed.   
     
     
       3. The tool of  claim 2 , wherein said bolt head portion has a substantially hexagonal shape so that a user can readily rotate same by employing a conventional ratchet and socket. 
     
     
       4. The tool of  claim 1 , wherein said bracket has a generally U-shape for extending about the engine valve head. 
     
     
       5. The tool of  claim 2 , wherein said fingers are medially spaced along said bolt and within an inner perimeter of said bracket, said fingers terminating above a top surface of said bracket. 
     
     
       6. The tool of  claim 2 , wherein said bolt further includes an integrally disposed collar portion extending radially therefrom adjacent said head portion, said collar portion being engageable with another said stop members as said bolt is selectively positioned along the linear path. 
     
     
       7. A tool for allowing an operator to remove valve springs and valve seals from an engine's intake and exhaust valves without requiring the removal of the engine from a support frame, said tool comprising:
 an arcuate bracket formed from rigid material and for distributing external forces away from an engine valve cylinder head, said bracket having a plurality of apertures spaced along a perimeter thereof and comprising a plurality of fastening members threadably positionable therethrough for securing said bracket adjacent the valve cylinder head; 
 a plurality of elongated support pedestals having vertically disposed longitudinal axes and being provided with threaded channels extending axially therethrough respectively, said pedestals being aligned and abutted with the bracket apertures for receiving said fastening members therethrough so that said bracket can be maintained at a substantially stable and elevated position during operating conditions; and 
 means for compressing a valve spring by exerting pressure upon a valve head keeper and retainer, thereby releasing associated locks keepers so that a user can readily remove the valve springs and valve seals from the valve head, said compressing means cooperating with said pedestals and said bracket and being manually rotatable along a selected radial direction and about a fulcrum axis traversing said pedestals. 
 
     
     
       8. The tool of  claim 7 , wherein said compressing means comprises:
 an elongated anchor bolt defining the fulcrum axis and being disposed along a substantially horizontal plane, said bolt having a threaded end portion and an oppositely disposed head portion extending outwardly from said bracket respectively; 
 a plurality of fingers secured to said bolt and extending outwardly therefrom along a generally perpendicular path to said bolt, each said finger having an inner surface area provided with a longitudinal axis offset from a vertical plane so that the valve spring can be effectively engaged during operating conditions; and 
 a plurality of stop members adjustably engaged with said bolt and for defining a linear path along which said bolt can be positioned, one said stop members protruding outwardly and orthogonally from said bolt and adjacent said head portion thereof. 
 
     
     
       9. The tool of  claim 8 , wherein said bolt head portion has a substantially hexagonal shape so that a user can readily rotate same by employing a conventional ratchet and socket. 
     
     
       10. The tool of  claim 7 , wherein said bracket has a generally U-shape for extending about the engine valve head retainer. 
     
     
       11. The tool of  claim 8 , wherein said fingers are medially spaced along said bolt and within an inner perimeter of said bracket, said fingers terminating above a top surface of said bracket. 
     
     
       12. The tool of  claim 8 , wherein said bolt further includes an integrally disposed collar portion extending radially therefrom adjacent said head portion, said collar portion being engageable with another said stop members as said bolt is selectively positioned along the linear path. 
     
     
       13. A tool for allowing an operator to remove valve springs and valve seals from an engine's intake and exhaust valves without requiring the removal of the engine from a support frame, said tool comprising:
 an arcuate bracket formed from rigid material and for distributing external forces away from an engine valve cylinder head, said bracket having a plurality of apertures spaced along a perimeter thereof and comprising a plurality of fastening members threadably positionable therethrough for securing said bracket adjacent the valve cylinder head; 
 a plurality of elongated support pedestals having predetermined uniform axial lengths respectively, said pedestals further having vertically disposed longitudinal axes and being provided with channels extending axially therethrough respectively, said pedestals being aligned and abutted with the bracket apertures for receiving said fastening members therethrough so that said bracket can be maintained at a substantially stable and elevated position during operating conditions; and 
 means for simultaneously compressing a valve spring by exerting pressure upon a valve head keeper and releasing associated locks keepers so that a user can readily remove the valve springs and valve seals from the valve head, said compressing means cooperating with said pedestals and said bracket and being manually rotatable along a selected radial direction and about a fulcrum axis traversing said pedestals wherein the fulcrum axis extends along a horizontal plane subjacent said bracket. 
 
     
     
       14. The tool of  claim 13 , wherein said compressing means comprises:
 an elongated anchor bolt defining the fulcrum axis and being disposed along a substantially horizontal plane, said bolt having a threaded end portion and an oppositely disposed head portion extending outwardly from said bracket respectively; 
 a plurality of fingers secured to said bolt and extending outwardly therefrom along a generally perpendicular path to said bolt, each said finger having an inner surface area provided with a longitudinal axis offset from a vertical plane so that the valve spring can be effectively engaged during operating conditions; and 
 a plurality of stop members adjustably engaged with said bolt and for defining a linear path along which said bolt can be positioned, one said stop members protruding outwardly and orthogonally from said bolt and adjacent said head portion thereof. 
 
     
     
       15. The tool of  claim 14 , wherein said bolt head portion has a substantially hexagonal shape so that a user can readily rotate same by employing a conventional ratchet and socket. 
     
     
       16. The tool of  claim 13 , wherein said bracket has a generally U-shape for extending about the engine valve head retainer. 
     
     
       17. The tool of  claim 14 , wherein said fingers are medially spaced along said bolt and within an inner perimeter of said bracket, said fingers terminating above a top surface of said bracket. 
     
     
       18. The tool of  claim 14 , wherein said bolt further includes an integrally disposed collar portion extending radially therefrom adjacent said head portion, said collar portion being engageable with another said stop members as said bolt is selectively positioned along the linear path. 
     
     
       19. A tool for allowing an operator to remove valve springs and valve seals from an engine's intake and exhaust valves without requiring the removal of the engine from a support frame, said tool comprising:
 a support structure adapted to be mounted fixedly relative to an engine cylinder head;   and means for compressing a valve spring by exerting pressure upon a valve retainer in a compression direction, thereby releasing associated keepers so that a user can readily remove the valve springs and valve seals from said cylinder head, said means for compressing cooperating with said support structure and being manually rotatable about a fulcrum axis positioned substantially orthogonally skew relative to said compression direction wherein said means for compressing a shaft rotatably mounted co-axial with said fulcrum axis and wherein said pressure is generated by rotation of said shaft.   
     
     
       20. A tool according to claim 19, said fulcrum axis defined by said shaft. 
     
     
       21. A tool according to claim 20, said shaft being rotatably supported by the support structure. 
     
     
       22. A tool according to claim 19, said support structure comprising:
 a bracket formed from rigid material and for distributing external forces away from said engine cylinder head, said bracket having a plurality of apertures spaced along a perimeter thereof and comprising a plurality of fastening members threadably positionable therethrough for securing said bracket adjacent said cylinder head; and   a plurality of support pedestals having vertically disposed longitudinal axes and being provided with a channel extending axially therethrough, said pedestals for receiving said fastening members therethrough so that said bracket can be maintained at a substantially stable and elevated position during operating conditions.   
     
     
       23. A tool according to claim 22, wherein said means for compressing comprises:
 an elongated anchor bolt defining said fulcrum axis and being disposed along a substantially horizontal plane, said bolt having a threaded end portion and an oppositely disposed head portion extending outwardly from said bracket respectively;   a plurality of fingers secured to said bolt and extending outwardly therefrom along a generally perpendicular path to said bolt, each said finger having an inner surface area provided with a longitudinal axis offset from a vertical plane so that the valve retainer can be effectively engaged during operating conditions; and   a plurality of stop members adjustably engaged with said bolt and for defining a linear path along which said bolt can be positioned, one of said stop members protruding outwardly and orthogonally from said bolt and adjacent said head portion thereof;   wherein said fingers are rotated downwardly onto the valve retainer which causes release of the associated keepers, said fingers being rotatable upwardly such that the valve springs and the valve seals can be removed.   
     
     
       24. A tool according to claim 23, wherein said bolt head portion has a substantially hexagonal shape so that a user can readily rotate same by employing a conventional ratchet and socket. 
     
     
       25. A tool according to claim 22, wherein said bracket has a generally U-shape. 
     
     
       26. A tool according to claim 23, wherein said fingers are medially spaced along said bolt and within an inner perimeter of said bracket, said fingers terminating above a top surface of said bracket. 
     
     
       27. A tool according to claim 23, wherein said bolt further includes an integrally disposed collar portion extending radially therefrom adjacent said head portion, said collar portion being engageable with another said stop members as said bolt is selectively positioned along the linear path. 
     
     
       28. A method of using a tool in conjunction with an engine including valves, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a tool comprising an arcuate bracket formed of rigid material, said bracket having a plurality of apertures spaced along a perimeter thereof, a plurality of fastening members positionable through said apertures, a plurality of elongated support pedestals having longitudinal channels extending axially therethrough, and means for compressing a valve spring rotatable about a fulcrum axis;   securing said bracket at a substantially stable and elevated position above a cylinder head by positioning each fastening member through one of said bracket apertures, aligning each support pedestal channel with one of said bracket apertures, positioning each fastening member through one of said channels of said support pedestal, and threadably engaging each fastening member with a threaded aperture provided on said cylinder head; and   using said means for compressing to compress a valve spring by exerting pressure upon a valve retainer to release associated valve keepers.   
     
     
       29. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of removing valve springs and valve seals from the valve while said valve keepers are released. 
     
     
       30. The method of claim 28 wherein after said securing step, said fulcrum axis is in a position substantially parallel to said bracket. 
     
     
       31. The method of claim 28 wherein said means for compressing is used in cooperation with said support pedestals and said bracket, and manually rotatable along a selected radial direction and about said fulcrum axis. 
     
     
       32. The tool of claim 7 wherein said fastening members are threadably positionable through said apertures in said bracket. 
     
     
       33. The tool of claim 13 wherein said fastening members are threadably positionable through said apertures in said bracket.