Air Hammer Tool for Eccentric Locking Collar Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tools for installing eccentric locking collars on shaft-journaling bearings are cumbersome and heavy, limiting accessibility and requiring axial access, which can be impractical in situations where space is restricted, such as with pulley systems, and can be tiring for workers due to their weight.
Innovation Solution
A tool that utilizes an air hammer to apply rotational impacts to the locking collar through a torque arm, allowing for installation at any point along the shaft without axial access, featuring a lightweight design and interchangeable collar-engaging portions for versatility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional impact wrench system with axial access tool is used, then reliable torque application is achieved, but the device becomes heavy and cumbersome, reducing worker productivity and increasing fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical impact wrench system with a pneumatic air hammer system. The air hammer delivers impact forces through compressed air, eliminating the need for heavy mechanical impact wrenches. This substitution maintains reliable torque application while significantly reducing tool weight and improving worker productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a specialized tool as an intermediary between the air hammer and the locking collar. This tool includes a coupling portion that interfaces with the air hammer and a collar-engaging portion that applies torque to the locking collar. The intermediary tool enables effective torque application without requiring the air hammer to directly engage the collar, maintaining reliability while using a lighter pneumatic system.
2Reliability
If a traditional axial access tool is used, then reliable locking collar engagement is achieved, but accessibility is limited in restricted spaces such as pulley systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the access dimension from axial (along the shaft) to radial (around the shaft). The collar-engaging portion of the tool is designed to engage the locking collar from the radial direction, allowing workers to access and install locking collars at any position along the shaft, including restricted spaces like pulley systems, without requiring axial access.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool is segmented into distinct functional portions: a coupling portion for interfacing with the air hammer and a collar-engaging portion for applying torque to the locking collar. This segmentation allows the tool to be designed with specific geometric features that enable radial engagement while maintaining a compact form factor that can access restricted spaces.
3Adaptability or versatility
If interchangeable collar-engaging portions are implemented, then versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal coupling portion design that can interface with standard air hammers, and interchangeable collar-engaging portions that can be attached to the coupling portion. This universal design allows a single base tool to perform multiple functions by simply changing the collar-engaging portion, improving versatility without requiring multiple completely different tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool is divided into a permanent coupling portion and interchangeable collar-engaging portions. The coupling portion remains attached to the air hammer, while only the collar-engaging portions are swapped between different locking collar types. This segmentation simplifies the overall device complexity by maintaining a stable base structure while allowing flexible adaptation to different applications.
Data Source
AI summary
A tool for installing a locking collar on a bearing using an air hammer is provided. The tool includes a first portion having an air hammer coupling portion configured to couple to the air hammer. A torque arm is coupled to the first portion. A collar-engaging portion is coupled to the torque arm and is configured to couple to a locking collar to impart rotational impacts to the locking collar when the air hammer is actuated.