Endplay measurement tool and method
First Claim
1. A tool for measuring play between relatively movable parts of an assembly, comprising:
- a fluid-operated device comprising a housing and a through-rod that has opposite ends protruding from opposite ends of the housing and that is movable relative to the housing;
a first element on one end of the through-rod for attaching the through-rod to one of the relatively movable parts;
a second element for attaching the housing to the other of the relatively movable parts;
a third element on the other end of the through-rod for moving the through-rod to attach the first element to the one part when fluid is not operating the device; and
a measuring device comprising a body mounted on the housing of the fluid operated device for measuring relative movement that occurs between the through-rod and the housing when, with the first element attached to the first part and the second element attached to the second part, fluid operates the fluid-operated device to impart movement to the through-rod.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tool (10) and method for measuring endplay between an axle shaft (36) and an axle hub (34) of an axle assembly. A mounting plate (22) is fastened to the hub, and one end of a through-rod (16) whose ends protrude from opposite ends of a housing (14) of a fluid-operated device (12) is fastened to the axle shaft by applying an external force to the other end of the through-rod while fluid is not operating the fluid-operated device. With the mounting adapter and the through-rod secured as described, fluid is delivered to the fluid-operated device to move the through-rod relative to the housing, and the resulting relative movement between the through-rod and the housing is measured by a measuring device (48).
57 Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A tool for measuring play between relatively movable parts of an assembly, comprising:
-
a fluid-operated device comprising a housing and a through-rod that has opposite ends protruding from opposite ends of the housing and that is movable relative to the housing; a first element on one end of the through-rod for attaching the through-rod to one of the relatively movable parts; a second element for attaching the housing to the other of the relatively movable parts; a third element on the other end of the through-rod for moving the through-rod to attach the first element to the one part when fluid is not operating the device; and a measuring device comprising a body mounted on the housing of the fluid operated device for measuring relative movement that occurs between the through-rod and the housing when, with the first element attached to the first part and the second element attached to the second part, fluid operates the fluid-operated device to impart movement to the through-rod. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method of using a measuring tool having a fluid-operated device, to a housing of which a mounting adapter is attached, for measuring endplay between relatively movable parts of an axle assembly, the method comprising:
-
registering outer through-holes of the mounting adapter with diametrically opposite lugs of an axle hub and advancing the tool toward the axle hub to place the mounting adapter on the axle hub with the diametrically opposite lugs protruding through the through-holes, securing the mounting adapter to the axle hub by threading lug nuts onto the ends of the lugs and tightening the lug nuts, securing to an axle shaft one of opposite ends of a through-rod that protrude from opposite ends of the housing of the fluid-operated device by applying an external force to the other of the opposite ends of the through-rod while fluid is not operating the fluid-operated device, with the mounting adapter and the through-rod secured, delivering fluid to the fluid-operated device to move the through-rod relative to the housing, and measuring resulting relative movement between the through-rod and the housing. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
-
Specification