Supercharger Pulley Puller Axial Extraction Tool
Solution Overview
Problem
In automobile engines, removing a pulley from a shaft is challenging due to tight spacing requirements, often necessitating the removal of other parts, which increases labor and expense.
Innovation Solution
A puller with adjustable proximal and distal plates and a push rod that engages the shaft, allowing for the application of force to the pulley to facilitate its removal, featuring a C-shaped distal plate and threaded engagement of the push rod to the proximal plate, enabling efficient pulley extraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional pulley removal methods are used, then the pulley can be removed, but other parts must be removed first which increases labor and expense
Solution Approach 1:
The puller device is divided into distinct functional segments: proximal plate for shaft engagement, distal plate for pulley engagement, frame members for structural support, and push rod for force application. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, enabling pulley removal without interfering with other engine parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The puller acts as an intermediary tool between the technician and the pulley-shaft assembly. It mediates the removal process by providing a controlled mechanical interface that applies force directly to the pulley through the shaft, eliminating the need to remove surrounding parts while reducing labor time and complexity.
2Ease of operation
If traditional pulley removal methods are used, then the pulley can be removed, but the process becomes complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The puller is designed as a universal tool that can remove pulleys of various sizes and configurations by adjusting the distance between the proximal and distal plates. The same basic mechanism handles different pulley types, simplifying the removal process and reducing the need for multiple specialized tools, thereby decreasing overall device complexity and expense.
Solution Approach 2:
The puller incorporates adjustable plate spacing that can be dynamically configured to match different pulley dimensions. This dynamic adaptability allows a single device to handle multiple pulley types without requiring complex tool changes or adjustments to the fundamental removal mechanism, reducing process complexity while maintaining ease of operation.
3Force
If force is applied directly to the pulley, then the pulley can be removed, but the tight spacing in the engine makes this difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The puller utilizes the axial dimension along the shaft to apply force, rather than requiring radial or lateral workspace that would be constrained by tight engine spacing. By engaging the shaft axially through the proximal plate and applying pull force through the distal plate in the same axial direction, the device operates within the limited radial space while effectively removing the pulley.
Solution Approach 2:
The puller components are nested around the shaft-pulley assembly: the proximal plate engages the shaft, the frame members surround the assembly, and the distal plate contacts the pulley outer diameter. This nested configuration allows force application within the tight engine spacing by utilizing the existing cylindrical space around the shaft without requiring additional lateral clearance.
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
The puller effectively reduces the labor and expense associated with pulley removal by allowing for precise force application, enabling easier extraction without the need to remove additional parts, thus simplifying the process.
Implementation Method 1
The push rod is threadably engaged to a proximal plate and centered with respect to the frame members. The push rod engages the shaft as the push rod is rotated into the proximal plate.
Data Source
AI summary
A puller for removing a pulley off of the shaft is disclosed. The puller may have proximal and distal plates that are disposable around the pulley so that the pulley is disposed entirely between the proximal and distal plates. These plates are held together by frame members. A push rod is threadably engaged to a proximal plate and operative to be further inserted into the proximal plate so that a distal end of the push rod may push against the shaft and transfer a removing force through the puller to the backside of the pulley for removing the pulley off of the shaft.