US3853026A

US3853026A - Oil filter removing tool

Info

Publication number: US3853026A
Application number: US00439535A
Authority: US
Inventors: C Rhodes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-02-04
Filing date: 1974-02-04
Publication date: 1974-12-10
Anticipated expiration: 1991-12-10

Abstract

The invention relates to improved hand tools designed primarily for the removal of oil filters which are mounted on automobiles and other motorized equipment but also adapted for other uses. More particularly the improved tool comprises a latch carrying member comprising a cup shaped casing or housing, the open end of which is adapted to be placed over the outer end of an oil filter to be removed from an automobile. The housing is equipped with suitable flexible latching means coacting with suitable latch actuating wedge means carried by a wedge plate which is preferably mounted in the base of the cup shaped housing. The wedge plate is adapted to be rotated in the proper direction by means of a conventional tool such as a socket wrench or the like coacting with a nut or bolthead to which the wedge plate is attached. Such rotation of the wedge plate causes the wedge means to force the latch means into engagement with the end of the filter. After the wedge means has been rotated to cause the latch means to firmly grip the end of the filter continued rotation of the wedge plate in the same direction causes the latch housing and the filter to be rotated and serves to remove the filter. The latch means may be released from engagement with the filter by rotation of wedge plate a short distance in the opposite direction. Stop means are also carried by the latch housing to prevent undue rotation in the wrong direction.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Rhodes Dec. 10, 1974 OIL FILTER REMOVING TOOL [75] Inventor: Charles W. Rhodes, Victoria, Tex.

[73] Assignee: Alfred L. Burden, Victoria, Tex.

[22] Filed: Feb. 4, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 439,535

Primary ExaminerJames L. Jones, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT The invention relates to improved hand tools designed primarily for the removal of oil filters which are mounted on automobiles and other motorized equipment but also adapted for other uses. More particularly the improved tool comprises a latch carrying member comprising a cup shaped casing or housing, the open end of which is adapted to be placed over the outer end of an oil filter to be removed from an automobile. The housing is equipped with suitable flexible latching means coacting with suitable latch actuating wedge means carried by a wedge plate which is preferably mounted in the base of the cup shaped housing. The wedge plate is adapted to be rotated in the proper direction by means of a conventional tool such as a socket wrench or the like coacting with a nut or bolthead to which the wedge plate is attached. Such rotation of the wedge plate causes the wedge means to force the latch means into engagement with the end of the filter. After the wedge means has been rotated to cause the latch means to firmly grip the end of the filter continued rotation of the wedge plate in the same direction causes the latch housing and the filter to be rotated and serves to remove the filter. The latch means may be released from engagement with the filter by rotation of wedge plate a short distance in the opposite direction. Stop means are also carried by the latch housing to prevent undue rotation in the wrong direction.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDHEC 10 m4 sum 1 or 2 FIG].

FIG.3.

PATENTEU nu: 10 m4 SHEET 2 0f 2 OIL FILTER REMOVING TOOL The invention relates to improved hand tools designed primarily for the removal of oil filters which are mounted on automobiles and other motorized equipment but also adapted for other uses. More particularly the improved tool comprises a latch carrying member comprising a cup shaped casing or housing, the open end of which is adapted to be placed over the outer end of an oil filter to be removed from an automobile. The housing is equipped with suitable flexible latching means coacting with suitable latch actuating wedge means carried by a wedge plate which is preferably mounted in the base of the cup shaped housing. The wedge plate is adapted to be rotated in the proper direction by means of a conventional tool such as a socket wrench or the like coacting with a nut or bolthead to which the wedge plate is attached. Such rotation of the wedge plate causes the wedge means to force the latch means into engagement with the end of the filter. After the wedge means has been rotated to cause the latch means to firmly grip the end of the filter continued rotation of the wedge plate in the same direction causes the latch housing and the filter to be rotated and serves to remove the filter. The latch means may be released from engagement with the filter by rotation of wedge plate a short distance in the opposite direction. Stop means are also carried by the latch housing to prevent undue rotation in the wrong direction.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The improved tool was designed and built lbecause existing facilities are not adequate in a great number of instances, as indicated by various individuals who have expressed a desire for something more efficient, and an investigation of the problems encountered in the process of filter removal. Accordingly, the primary object of the invention is to aid the maintenance personnel in the removal of the oil filter used on automobiles and other automotive equipment. It is understood that there are presently other devices intended for this purpose, such as the band or strap type filter removers which are useful in some instances. yet there are many instances where the strap or band type cannot be used at all due to the location of the filter on the motor and the lack of space around the filter. On many automobiles the filter is located in a position near the frame, cross-members, steering column. fuel pump, power steering case and possibly other parts of the assembly which prevent the movement of the band type filter tool once it is installed around the filter, therefore making it useless. My oil filter removal device can be installed on any oil filter and with the use of a suitable wrench, or socket and ratchet with suitable extension. the oil filter can be broken loose for easy removal by hand. It will also be noted that in the process of breaking the filter loose from the block the removal tool is locked onto the filter and the filter can then be removed by hand without touching the often hot, grime and oil encrusted filter with the bare hands. In instances when the oil filter is mounted vertically on the motor. oil escapes as the filter is loosened, running down the side of the filter and onto the floor. With the use of my invention, and due to its design, most and possibly all of the escaping oil will be caught inside the tool. It will be understood that this device may be useful in other ways and should not be limited for oil filter service only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description which are intended as illustrative only and not limit the invention to the particular details set forth.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the improved filter removing tool;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 22 of FIG. 1 showing, in broken lines, a fragmentary end portion of an oil filter to be removed and also showing, in broken lines, a fragmentary portion of a socket wrench adapted to cooperate with the head portion of the actuating member connected to the rotatable portion of the improved tool;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the wedge means in operative engagement with the latch means, whereby the latch means is forced into operative gripping engagement with the end of the filter to be removed, the filter being indicated in broken lines; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing in detail the individual portions of the tool including a socket wrench cooperating therewith.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings the reference numeral 10 denotes generally my improved oil filter removing tool.

The tool 10 comprises a cup shaped housing or casing 11 comprising latch mounting means, the open end of which is adapted to be placed over the outer end of a suitable filter l2, represented fragmentarily in broken lines in FIGS. 2 and 3. The latch mounting means 11 serves as a housing or casing for latch means 13 suitably attached as by welding to the interior of the casing wall the latch members 13 are herewith shown as three in number and are substantially equally spaced about the cylindrical wall of the cup shaped casing 11. The function of the latch means is to tightly grip the outer perimeter of the filter when forced into engagement therewith by correspondingly spaced wedge or cam members 14 herein shown as carried by a rotatable wedge or cam member 15 in the form of a plate mounted for rotation with reference to the latch housing member for clamping the latch means to the filter when rotated in one direction and for releasing the same when rotated in the opposite direction. The latch means 13 may be formed of suitable spring material such as spring steel, and are suitably secured to one end to the interior of the latch housing 11 as by welding or riveting. The latch means 13 are preferably provided with teeth 13a to insure a tight grip upon the end of the filter. The free portions of the spring latch means are adapted to be engaged by the wedge or cam members 14 and forced into gripping engagement with the end of the filter as indicated in FIG. 3. When the wedge carrying means is rotated in the direction of the arrow 16 (FIG. 1). Continued rotation in the direction of of the arrow 16 releases the filter from its seat and the filter and tool may then be removed together.

To release the latch means 13 from gripping engagement with the filter it is only necessary to rotate the wedge or cam plate 15 a short distance in the direction of the arrow 17(F1G. 1).

Suitable stop means 18 are provided on the interior of the wall of the casing 11 to prevent rotation in the wrong direction.

The special tool is not intended for use for installing the filter but only for removal of the same. The filter is intended to be installed by hand in the usual manner.

The wedge or cam carrying means is shown in the form ofa plate initially having a central opening 20 and concentric with an opening 21 in the bottom 22 of the latch housing 11. To rotate the cam carrying plate 15 from the outside any suitable means may be employed. As shown a bolt 25 having a head 26 with flattened sides (FIG. 4) may be employed. The head 26 is provided with a stem 27 which is inserted through the opening 21 in the bottom of the housing 11 and through the opening 20 in the bottom of the cam carrying plate 15 to which it is thereafter secured by any suitable means as by welding or the like.

The head 26 may be either integral with the stem 27 as in the case of a bolt or may be in the form of a nut initially removable from the stem, in which case the stem 27 may be integral with the cam plate 15 and may be inserted through the hole 21 in the bottom of the housing 11 and the head 26 may thereafter be threaded onto the stem 27 and may be permanently secured thereto as by soldering or may be tightly screwed onto the stem. in the latter case the screw threading will be such as to insure rotation in the direction of the arrow 16 when it is desired to remove the filter and the threaded connection will be sufficiently tight to permit rotation in the unlatching direction indicated by the arrow 17 to remove the cams or wedges 14 from the latches 13 as indicated in FIG. 1 of the drawings.

Any suitable tool such as a socket wrench 30 may be employed for engagement with the head 26 to actuate the cam or wedge carrying plate 15.

GENERAL COMMENTS OF INVENTOR This device was designed primarily for use in removing oil filters on automobiles and other motorized equipment.

The plan view of FIG. 1 shows the device 10 from its open end through which it is placed over the outer end of the filter 11 to be removed. it will be noted that the removal tool 10 is designed to operate in one direction which is the direction for removal of the filter only as indicated by the arrow 16, as it is not recommended that a tool or device of any kind (other than the hands) be used for installing any filter of the type used on automobiles. Thus stop plate 18 has been installed to prevent rotation in the wrong direction. FIG. 1 shows the inner parts and their position before the removal operation is started. FIG. 2 shows the wedge mounting plate 15 as a disc plate with the wedges 14 attached, and mounted inside of and at the bottom of the housing 11 and being attached to the wrench nut 26. This view also shows the latch means 13, which are spring type plates fastened to the inside of the housing 11 and are equally spaced as are the knife-like wedges or cams 14.

FIG. 2 shows the inner plate 15 with the wedges or cams 14 removed from the latch housing 11 for a clearer view of the two main parts and the pieces attached to them.

OPERATION The open end of the tool 10 is placed over the outer end of the filter to be removed. Filter guide and wedge arms carried by the casing 11 guide the tool over the filter l2 and position the tool so that the filter is centered within the tool. The guide and wedge arms 100 hold the tool 10 securely on the filter 12. The wrench or socket 30 is placed on the nut 26 and the nut is rotated in the indicated direction for the removal of the filter. As the nut 26 is turned the wedge mounting plate 15 is rotated in the same direction causing the wedges 14 to be forced between the housing 11 and the spring type latches or latch plates 13. As the wedges 14 are forced between the housing 11 and the latch plates 13 the free end of the latch plates 13 are forced inward causing the notched end 13a of the latch plates 13 to be forced into the side of the filter. This action by the ends of the latch plates 13 causes an impression to be formed in the side of the filter without tearing holes in thefilter; thus no oil leaks out. With the notched edges 13a of the latch plates 13 imbedded in the side of the filter the nut 26 is further rotated which causes the wedges 14 to become lodged between the latch plates 13 and the wall of the housing 11. This device is then locked in position on the filter. By turning the nut 26 in the indicated direction 16 the filter will be easily loosened from the engine block. The operation of locking the device onto the filter is done so that when the wrench 30 is removed, the oil filter removal tool 10 remains locked on the filter 12 and the filter can be unscrewed from the block by holding onto the tool 10 rather than the filter 12, which is often hot and covered with oil, grit, etc. The tool 10 is then easily removed from the filter 12 by rotating the nut 26 in the opposite direction 17 until the wedges 14 are freed. This tool 10 has been made and its operation proven.

The invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration but it will be obvious that various modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention in its broadest aspects.

What is claimed is:

l. A hand tool for removal of oil filters and the like comprising a cup shaped latch carrying housing having an open end adapted to fit over one end of a filter to be removed, said housing including a cylindrical wall portion, latch means carried by the interior of said wall portion including a portion attached to the housing wall and having a resilient free portion extending along the wall and having a filter gripping portion extending inwardly therefrom, and rotatable latch actuating cam means adapted for engagement with the free end portion of said latch means to force the same into operative engagement with said filter, means rotatably mounting said cam means concentrically with the cylindrical wall of said latch carrying housing. and means for rotating said mounting means in one direction to bring the cam means into operative engagement with the latch means to engage said filter and to rotate said filter for removal from its seat and for rotating said mounting means in the opposite direction to disengage the cam means from the latch means.

2. A hand tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein the latch means comprises a leaf spring having a portion secured to the wall of the housing and having a free portion extending circumferentially along the wall.

3. A hand tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein the filter gripping portion of said latch means is toothed.

4. A hand tool as set forth in claim I wherein stop means are provided to prevent rotation of the filter in the wrong direction.

5. A hand tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein the mounting means for said cam means includes a cam carrying plate rotatably mounted in the base portion of said cup shaped latch carrying housing.

6. A hand tool as set forth in claim 5 wherein said cam means comprises knife-like members projecting upwardly from said cam carrying plate.

7. A hand tool as set forth in claim 5 wherein said cam carrying plate is provided with a stem portion projecting through an opening in the base of said cup shaped housing and fiatheaded means carried by said stem outside of said housing for engagement with a socket wrench or the like.

8. A hand tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing is provided with filter guide and cam means to facilitate assembly of the filter with the filter removing tool.

9. A hand tool as set forth in claim 8 wherein the filter guide and cam means comprises a plurality of upright straps, each secured at one end to the interior of the cylindrical wall of said casing or housing and including free portion inclined at its outer end to provide cam means to guide the end of the filter into the latch carrying housing.

10. A hand tool as set forth in claim 9 wherein the latch means comprises a plurality of spaced leaf spring latch members, each having a portion secured to the cylindrical casing and having a free portion extending circumferentially from the fixed portion, said guide means comprising leaf spring members corresponding in location and number to said latch members and each being secured to said casing adjacent the fixed portion of one of said latch members and each having a flexible free portion extending over the fixed portion of the corresponding latch member, the end portion of each of said flexible free portions being inclined to serve as a guide or cam for the end of the filter as it is assembled with said tool.

Claims

1. A hand tool for removal of oil filters and the like comprising a cup shaped latch carrying housing having an open end adapted to fit over one end of a filter to be removed, said housing including a cylindrical wall portion, latch means carried by the interior of said wall portion including a portion attached to the housing wall and having a resilient free portion extending along the wall and having a filter gripping portion extending inwardly therefrom, and rotatable latch actuating cam means adapted for engagement with the free end portion of said latch means to force the same into operative engagement with said filter, means rotatably mounting said cam means concentrically with the cylindrical wall of said latch carrying housing, and means for rotating said mounting means in one direction to bring the cam means into operative engagement with the latch means to engage said filter and to rotate said filter for removal from its seat and for rotating said mounting means in the opposite direction to disengage the cam means from the latch means.

4. A hand tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein stop means are provided to prevent rotation of the filter in the wrong direction.

7. A hand tool as set forth in claim 5 wherein said cam carrying plate is provided with a stem portion projecting through an opening in the base of said cup shaped housing and flatheaded means carried by said stem outside of said housing for engagement witH a socket wrench or the like.