Compact Hydraulic Pulley Puller for Tight Engine Bays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pulley pullers are not compact enough to operate within the confines of a modern engine compartment without requiring the removal of other components, making them inconvenient and inefficient for maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A compact pulley puller design featuring a hollow cylindrical barrel with glands and a piston-rod mechanism that allows for the secure gripping and removal/installation of pulleys, utilizing hydraulic pressure to extend or retract the rod for pulley manipulation, and includes hub clamps for accommodating various pulley sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional pulley puller is used, then the pulley can be removed, but other components (power steering pump, cooling fan, radiator) must be removed first to provide clearance
Solution Approach 1:
The puller is divided into separate functional modules: a compact hydraulic cylinder unit, interchangeable hub clamps for different pulley sizes, and a rod mechanism. This segmentation allows the puller to fit in confined spaces while maintaining full functionality for pulley removal without requiring removal of other engine components.
Solution Approach 2:
The puller transitions from a long linear tool to a compact cylindrical form factor that can be positioned radially within the engine compartment. The rod extends axially from the cylinder to provide the necessary pulling stroke, effectively using the cylindrical volume to achieve linear pulling action in a confined space.
2Ease of operation
If a compact pulley puller is designed to fit within engine compartment confines, then no other components need to be removed, but the device must be significantly smaller than traditional pullers
Solution Approach 1:
The hub clamp is designed to nest around the rod, and the rod can be retracted into the cylindrical barrel when not in use. This nesting arrangement minimizes the overall length and footprint of the puller, allowing it to fit within the tight confines of the engine compartment without interfering with other components.
Solution Approach 2:
A hydraulic cylinder mechanism is used to extend and retract the rod, providing compact actuation. The hydraulic system allows the long rod to be stored within the short cylinder when retracted, and extended only when needed for pulley removal, effectively reducing the moving length requirement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the puller accommodates various pulley sizes, then different hub clamps are needed, but this increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The puller is designed with a universal mounting interface and standardized rod connection that works with all hub clamp sizes. The hub clamps are interchangeable but attach to the same basic structure, allowing one puller body to accommodate multiple pulley sizes without requiring multiple complete puller assemblies.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and space-saving pulley replacement within the engine compartment without removing other components, providing a reliable, cost-effective solution that fits within tight spaces and accommodates different pulley sizes.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing hydraulic pressure to extend or retract the rod for pulley manipulation
Data Source
AI summary
A compact pulley puller includes a hollow cylindrical barrel with a gland at each end, a hub clamp formed on each gland, a rod and a piston. Each hub clamp grips a particular size hub of a pulley to be removed or installed. The rod of the puller extends against the shaft of a pulley to remove the pulley. To install a pulley, the rod is threadedly secured to the shaft of the pulley, and the rod of the puller is retracted.