For Adjusting Variable Positioned Parts Patents (Class 81/484)
  • Patent number: 5553521
    Abstract: A device for adjusting the spring tension in a door closer in situ comprises body having a front side and back side surface. Mounting screw openings are disposed within the body and are positioned at locations corresponding to locations of selected locking screws in the closer used to secure a spring cover. Mounting screws are disposed within respective mounting screw openings. A centrally positioned cavity is disposed within the body and accommodates rotatable placement of an adjustment shaft therein. The adjustment shaft comprises a hexagonal head extending outwardly from the front side surface, and is attached to an adjustment assembly comprising a drive disk extending outwardly from the back side surface of the device. Adjustment pins extend outwardly from the drive disk and are numbered and configured to correspond to adjustment holes in the spring cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Inventor: David S. Dunn
  • Patent number: 5537901
    Abstract: An apparatus for making minute adjustments to a rotary adjuster, such as head alignment of a helical scan device, includes reduction means for receiving an angular displacement and transmitting a reduced angular displacement to an adjustment tool. The adjustment tool is inserted into the top of a rotary adjuster of the helical scan device. The reduction means allows for a complete turn of the knob to produce a minute adjustment to the helical scan device. The adjustment apparatus may be mounted to the helical scan device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Storage Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Curt S. Cichowicz, David T. Hoge, Joseph J. Paone
  • Patent number: 5535651
    Abstract: A tool for adjustably spacing components during an alignment procedure. The inventive device includes a spreader plate pivotally mounted to an engaging yoke. A handle assembly is coupled to the yoke to facilitate manual placement of the yoke and spreader plate between two components to be adjusted. An adjustment assembly is rotatably coupled to the handle assembly for selectively pivoting the spreader plate relative to the yoke to separate the components to a desired spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Inventor: Jose R. Perez
  • Patent number: 5513547
    Abstract: In a turbine system of the type wherein a first large cylinder having a first flange is connected to a second large cylinder having a second flange by a multiplicity of bolts securing the first flange to the second flange, a method of precisely aligning the first and second cylinders includes steps of (a) loosening the bolts that secure the first flange to the second flange so as to permit the first and second cylinders to be slightly shifted with respect to each other; (b) removing at least one of the bolts from its respective boltholes in the first and second flanges; (c) replacing the removed bolt in the respective boltholes with an apparatus for laterally shifting the first flange with respect to the second flange by a controlled amount; (d) shifting the flanges by using the apparatus; (e) tightening the bolts; (f) removing the apparatus; and (g) replacing and tightening the removed bolt. A unique apparatus for performing the lateral shifting is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Alan R. Lovelace
  • Patent number: 5477758
    Abstract: A mechanics flywheel belt tensioning tool kit is formed by a elongated strap metal handle extension removably connected at one end with a selected one of a series of strap metal dogleg-shaped wrench extensions. Each wrench extension is selectively provided on one of its flat surfaces with a rigidly connected laterally projecting standard socket wrench drive or wrench socket capable of entering with the handle extension, relatively narrow crowded spaces in vehicle engine compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Inventor: Jerry L. Cunningham
  • Patent number: 5404774
    Abstract: A tool used for manually adjusting the spacing between disks of a friction clutch includes a handle, and a bolt engaging end. The tool further includes a spacer assembly for providing a clearance above a bolt head and for applying the necessary pressure to maintain a clutch in engagement when rotating the bolt to provide adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventor: Nicholas P. Bond
  • Patent number: 5323889
    Abstract: An apparatus for the operation of the pedals of a motor vehicle including a first telescoping member, a second telescoping member, a brake handle in threaded connection to an end of the first telescoping member and having an opening allowing the second telescoping member to extend therethrough, a first pedal mount pivotally connected to an end of the first telescoping member opposite the brake handle, and a second pedal mount pivotally connected to an end of the second telescoping member opposite the brake handle. The brake handle extends outwardly transverse to a longitudinal axis of the first telescoping member. The second telescoping member has one end extending through the opening of the brake handle. The second telescoping member extends downwardly in generally parallel relationship to the first telescoping member. Each of the first and second telescoping members includes four interconnected sections in telescoping relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Inventor: Thomas Bednarek
  • Patent number: 5323674
    Abstract: A clamp for rotating the adjustable mechanism of a hand tool to open and close it. The clamp including spring biased arms forcing upper jaws toward each other to engage the hand tool and a lower shaft engageable with a drive socket of a power tool. The clamp comprising two clamp arms that are spring biased to force the jaws toward each other for gripping the adjustable mechanism of a hand tool. The clamp capable of rotating the hand tool to tighten or loosen it depending upon the rotation of the drive socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Inventor: Edward J. Fidkowski
  • Patent number: 5285704
    Abstract: A caster angle regulating tool for automobile wheels includes a prismatic head (15), a set of wheel drum plate mounting disks (18, 19, 20) interchangeably attachable by screws (25) in holes (23) therethrough to screw threaded bores (17) in bosses (16) on the prismatic head (15), a pivotable adjusting nut (11) pivotly mounted by opposite axle shafts (12) thereon in bearings (13) in brackets (14) mounted on the prismatic head, a screw threaded adjusting shaft (6) engageable in the adjusting nut (11) and a clamping device (1, 2, 3, 4) rotatably mounted on one end (5) of the adjusting screw for clamping onto a stub axle (M) attached to the wheel drum plate (R). Rotation of the adjusting shaft (6) in the adjusting nut (11) thereby moves the spring stub axle to increase or decrease the caster angle, depending upon the direction of rotation of the adjusting shaft during alignment of the wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Inventor: Pedro Santana Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 5271115
    Abstract: A brake slack adjuster and tire tester tool including a main support assembly having mounted thereon a connector hook assembly and, on an outer end, an arm connector and tire tester assembly. The tool support assembly has a main handle assembly having on one end a hand gripper assembly which is operable to be grasped by the user thereof. The connector hook assembly is provided with a main hook member secured to an outer portion of the main handle member and operable to grasp onto a portion of a rocker arm assembly of an air brake assembly on a truck/trailer assembly. The arm connector and tire tester assembly is provided with a tire tester section and an arm connector section. The tire tester section is operable for impacting an outer surface of a tire member to check the condition thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Inventor: Richard A. Senters
  • Patent number: 5246157
    Abstract: A tweezer-type heating device for installation and removal device of electronic components with respect to a substrate, such as for SMC installation and through hole installation or removal. More specifically, a handheld tweezer-type heating device is provided in which a wide variety of different sized (and shaped) tips can be used with a high degree of accuracy in terms of thermo/mechanical contact. Tolerances in the parts of the handpiece, the assembly, the heaters and the tips that may bring the bottom edges of the tips out of their alignment plane are very easily corrected with an adjustable hinge which, by loosening of a screw and sliding the parts with respect to each other, allows proper alignment to be achieved. Still further, a thumb screw is provided at the back of the handpiece to allow the gap between the tips to be slightly opened or closed. This is useful in accommodating tolerances in the components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Assignee: Pace, Incorporated
    Inventor: William J. Siegel
  • Patent number: 5181440
    Abstract: A compound or multi-function tool facilitates manually moving of the brake rod of a motorized land vehicle, and provides a dimensional scale integrally therewith by which the distance of travel of the brake rod between its brake-off and brake-on positions is visually observed and measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Inventor: Clarence D. Jagt
  • Patent number: 5123314
    Abstract: A tool for manually rotating the crankshaft of a racing engine. The tool consists of a plate mounted on the torsion damper covering the end of the crankshaft and having a hex head on the outside for engagement with a long handled wrench to provide the leverage to rotate the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Inventor: Raymond H. Wittmann
  • Patent number: 5092204
    Abstract: An apparatus for rotating a bearing assembly secured in an aperture at one end of a male connection member is provided. This apparatus includes an L-shaped member one leg of which engages a first surface formed on a longitudinal portion of a shaft member of such bearing assembly and a second leg which during use will be aligned with a bore formed in such outer end of the shaft member. A nut-like member is secured to an outer surface of such second leg which can be engaged by a tool capable of applying a force thereto for rotating such bearing assembly. Such nut-like member has a cavity formed therein adjacent an outer surface thereof. Such apparaus further includes a device for securing such apparatus to such bearing assembly in a removable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventor: Mike Labriola
  • Patent number: 5079676
    Abstract: A mechanism for adjusting the orientation of vehicle headlamps or the like includes a molded gear housing having a gear journaling bore for rotation of an adjusting gear journaled therein, and an adjusting member movably coupled to the adjusting gear such that rotation of the adjusting gear imparts linear movement to the adjusting member for the headlamp adjustment. The housing also includes aperture means through which the adjustment member slidably extends, and the aperture means cooperates to prevent rotation of the adjusting member during the linear movement thereof. Additional features of the preferred adjusting mechanism provide a drive shaft and drive gear meshed to drive rotation of the adjusting gear. The drive shaft extends through a cap portion of the housing for manual access to the shaft, and the cap bears against an annular retainer portion on the drive shaft in order to prevent retraction of the shaft from the drive gear and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Assignees: Ryder International Corporation, Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen P. Lisak
  • Patent number: 5074175
    Abstract: A hand tool for use in adjusting caliper type bicycle brakes. Said tool consists of a brake clamping device and a pivotal lever to first remove slack cable and then apply and hold cable tension against the brake suspension plate while the brake cable lock nut is tightened. Thereby obtaining correct brake adjustment. Said tool may then be used to trim excess cable length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Inventor: Delbert L. Earle
  • Patent number: 5050462
    Abstract: A method and tool is provided for deciphering electronic codes and recreating lost or missing vehicle ignition keys for vehicle ignition systems in which an ignition key is employed which has a diode containing one of a plurality of possible electronic codes which must be sensed to operate the vehicle. Once the mechanical key code is determined for the cuts on the key by removal of the ignition lock portion, a key blank without cuts but containing a diode having one of the possible electronic codes is inserted into the lock portion, and a tool is inserted into the steering column which has been opened by the removal of the lock portion to move the rack gear to operate the ignition switching assembly to the start position. If the diode code on the key blank is the correct code, the engine will start. If it is the incorrect code, a different key blank containing a diode having another one of the possible codes is inserted in the lock portion, and the foregoing procedure is repeated until the engine starts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: A-Affordable Key & Lock Inc.
    Inventor: W. Richard Perry
  • Patent number: 5020400
    Abstract: An improved tool for folding and unfolding spring-loaded missile wings is sclosed. The tool comprises an angled aluminum shaft with an unlocking stud sized to engage the wing deployment mechanism inside the wing. After a U-bracket has been attached to the wing's mounting bar, the tool is inserted into the U-bracket until the unlocking stud in positioned over the hole in the wing leading to the wing deployment mechanism. Pushing the unlocking stud through the hole forces the wing deployment mechanism to unlock, thus allowing the wing to be folded. The tool is also designed to assist in the wing spreading operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Robert E. Sylvia, Thomas E. Dillard
  • Patent number: 5018414
    Abstract: The torque converter repair tool of this disclosure includes a small plate that can be mounted on the torque converter housing with the starter motor removed. A positioning hole in the plate engages over a locator stud, which is normally used to position the starter motor, and another hole slideably receives a hand screw that threads into a tapped hole in the housing to secure the tool temporarily in place. A shaft is rotatable in the plate, and, when in place, a pinion on the inboard portion of the shaft engages the ring gear of the torque converter. The outboard end of the shaft may be engaged by a socket wrench for hand rotation of the shaft and, with it, the flywheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Inventor: Richard C. Naumann
  • Patent number: 4979409
    Abstract: An adjusting tool by which the adjusting ring of a clutch assembly can be rotated respective to the clutch cover. The tool is attached to the clutch cover at the access hole. Part of the tool engages the circumferentially extending spaced lugs formed near the outer periphery of the adjusting ring. The tool has gear teeth of a configuration to mesh with the spaced lugs on the ring and to drivingly engage and rotate the ring when the shaft is rotated about the longitudinal axis thereof. A mounting fixture is removably attached the cover access hole with the drive gear device extending into the access hole and into engagement with the lugs of the ring so that the wrench engaging means can be engaged with a suitable wrench and the ring rotated respective to the housing to thereby adjust the spring tension on the clutch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Inventors: Junior G. Garrett, Robert L. Meadows
  • Patent number: 4930337
    Abstract: An autobody door latch alignment tool comprising a lever arrangement including:a strike pin engaging slot adapted to engage, and be rotatable about a strike pin mounted on a first door post of an autobody opposite a second door post arranged apart from and generally parallel to the first door post;a door latch engaging pin adapted to engage a door latch on a misaligned door that is hung by hinges from the second door post of the autobody, with the door latch engaging pin being arranged in mutually spaced apart relation from the strike pin engaging slot at respective points defining a chord along an arc subtended by an angle of the doors rotation about its hinges; and,a lever arm;with the door latch engaging pin and strike pin engaging slot being interconnected through a connection extending transversely to the chord, and being adapted to be secured in fixed relation with the lever arm, in which arrangement the strike pin engaging slot is operable to act as a fulcrum when securely engaged in rotatable relation
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1990
    Assignee: Levrite Inc.
    Inventor: Herm Schaap
  • Patent number: 4922771
    Abstract: A new method and an apparatus for manually rotating the adjusting screw mechanism or star wheel of a vehicle wheel brake is adapted to displace the pawl of the brake adjusting mechanism and disengage it from the star wheel, thereby allowing rotation of the star wheel while the pawl remains disengaged through the use of a single tool, leaving both hands of the mechanic free to manipulate the brake tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1990
    Inventor: Delmer E. Campbell
  • Patent number: 4823917
    Abstract: A simple hand tool is provided for clamp engagement with the "pig tail" terminal end of a bicycle hand brake cable assembly core, and an abutment is threadably supported from the tool for infinite adjustment relative thereto and is operable to engage and to displace the caliper brake arm usually clamp engaged with the cable core toward the brake arm from which the housing of the brake cable assembly is stationarily supported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Inventor: Thomas L. Kenny
  • Patent number: 4805959
    Abstract: The cover of a rigid sliding roof is sealed against the solid roof region around it by means of a peripheral hollow chamber seal, a bead of this seal being only locally in contact with protrusions which are formed at the front of a rail fixing the hollow chamber seal. So that an adjustment procedure can be carried out in the case of a lack of pressure effect or in the case of too much pressure effect by means of tools, one appropriate to each case, each protrusion is aligned with and at a distance from a penetration which can be plastically deformed so that in each case the protrusion is moved towards or away from the penetration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rolf Ohrle, Werner Herlemann, Jochen Parisch
  • Patent number: 4796494
    Abstract: A vehicular headlight position adjusting assembly (100) is provided. Assembly (100) includes a two-part housing (2, 4) within which meshingly engaged gears (22, 32) are rotationally supported in a manner providing an angular relationship between their respective rotational axis. Gears (22, 32) are rotated by an input drive member (16) extending from housing (2, 4). Gear (32) is threadingly engaged with an adjustment member (20) having an end operatively engaged with a movable frame (46) upon which the headlight is mounted and having an elongate flat (26) that slidingly engages a projection (24) of gear (22) operative to prevent adjustment member (20) from rotating such that rotation of drive member (16) in opposite directions causes adjustment member (20) to traverse without rotation in opposite directions to adjust the headlight position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Robert T. Eckenrode, Joseph J. Dillon, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4753454
    Abstract: A device is disclosed for the adjusting of wheels of a motor vehicle, particularly for the adjusting of a wheel camber. The wheels, via control arms and spring struts, are heald at the vehicle body, the wheel carrier, on the one side being flexibly connected to the pivotable control arm and, on the other side being adjustably connected with the lower end of the spring strut via two fastening screws. At least one of the fastening screws is developed as part of an adjusting element, in which case a head or a nut of the element is connectable with the eccentric sleeve of a manually operable adjusting tool that can be fitted on in a formlocking way and can be detached. The eccentric sleeve can be rotated around a central axis of the screw, between two opposite supports at a lower fastening clip of the spring strut, resulting in a transverse shifting of the screw that adjusts the wheel camber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1988
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hans-Jurgen Woehler
  • Patent number: 4726263
    Abstract: A device for extending reach of a driver within a vehicle for operation of toggle, push-pull and lift levers and other buttons such as door lock devices. The devices comprises an elongated handle having an operating end and an opposing gripping end. A T-shaped plate member is coupled at the operating end and includes an annular grommet for use with headless, anti-theft lock knobs, a slotted channel for conventional lock knobs and a domed recess to provide a homing location for the head of the lock knob when depressing it to its locked configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Inventor: James N. Lake
  • Patent number: 4589153
    Abstract: A combination spark plug gapping tool which has the capability of opening or closing the spark plug gap on a variety of aircraft, industrial, or automotive spark plugs. The single tool may be used with side electrode designs containing up to three electrodes, including both stud and wire electrode types. Also included is a sight gauge hole for visual checks of the center electrode, and a pointed end for scraping carbon. One end of the tool contains an offset two-pronged slotted fork which is sized to reach around the center electrode to open the gap by raising two side electrodes at a time. When turned over, the two offset prongs reach around the electrode being set and bear against the inner plug wall, thereby permitting gap closure by pushing. A center slot on the edge of the tool is used to adjust side wire electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1986
    Inventor: Edward J. Paquette
  • Patent number: 4577534
    Abstract: A camber adjusting tool in a strut type vehicle suspension system. The tool is in the form of a socket wrench having an eccentric cam portion defining a cylindrical cam surface having its radius of curvature offset from the principal axis of the socket. The cam surface is adapted to be positioned in cammed engagement with raised guide surfaces of a strut-clamping bracket when the head of a wheel support bolt is received in the socket recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1986
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph Rayne
  • Patent number: 4543859
    Abstract: A tool is disclosed for adjusting the tilt of a stylus in a probe. The tool includes a pair of arcuate caliper arms having inwardly directed pins for engaging openings in a pair of beveled washers extending between opposing faces of the probe housing and an adapter. In the disclosed method, the tool is then moved about the circumference of the probe until a given tool portion is generally in line with the direction of the tilt of the stylus. Then, the tool is used to move the pins toward each other to cause relative rotation of the washers to thereby bring the axis of the stylus into a desired orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1985
    Assignee: GTE Valeron Corporation
    Inventor: Robert F. Cusack
  • Patent number: 4535655
    Abstract: An apparatus useful for manually rotating a rotatable system, e.g., engine, located in a stationary housing having a hole therethrough, comprises a plate having at least one slot and being securable to the housing so that at least a portion of the slot extends into the space defined by the perimeter of the hole; and a bar having first and second ends, and being capable of being placed in the slot so that the first end contacts the system and the second end can be manually held. With the bar in this position, manually rotating the bar about the slot causes the system to rotate.An improved method for manually rotating a system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1985
    Inventor: Robert C. Avery
  • Patent number: 4517722
    Abstract: A tool apparatus for altering the geometric configuration of bar stock feeding equipment and for particularly opening the constraining end of the bar stock feeding conduit member for the purpose of removing, in a facilitated manner, the bar stock feed pads located within the conduit. A single integrated tool permits one individual, through either one or two hands, to position adjustable handle elements and prompting elements about and in the conduit member and to simultaneously enlarge prompting apertures in the conduit member about the conduit member's alteration slots. The handle elements may be spring loaded so as to automatically extend while it is prompted into position about the cylindrical periphery of the conduit member so as to further permit automatic snapping into place of the prompting elements within the respective prompting apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1985
    Inventors: Robert J. Cimarusti, Stanley A. Posinger