US2895358A - Radiator fin repair tool - Google Patents

Description

u y c. L. JOHNSON 2,895,358

RADIATOR FIN REPAIR TOOL Filed Oct. 23, 1957 IN VEN TOR.

BY M

C/mlsf L. Johnson United States Patent n r 2,895,358 RADIATORFIN REPAIR TOOL Christ L. Johnson, Everett, Wash. Application October 23, 1957, Serial No. 691,860 r '5 Claims. or. 81-15) This invention relates to a tool .for straightening all types of motor vehicle radiator fins .or other thin metal strips which are close together, making individual straight ening of the fins quite difl'icult.

An object of the invention is to provide a tool which facilitates the job of straightening radiator fins. My tool in a single preferred embodiment, has a pair of shanks whose ends are formed with tines that have confronting surfaces. These surfaces are flat and are adapted to receive a radiator fin between them. The fin that requires repair is placed between the tines by fitting the tool in the radiator, and then the tool is moved along the fin with the confronting surfaces of the tines functioning as presses by which the bent fin is straightened.

Occasionally fins" "of a radiator are so bent or occas'ionally there are radiators where the finsare s'o'stitf that a mechanic ordinarily resorts to a sharp tool like an ice pick or awl to raise the fin enough to get under the fin with a tool. My invention by its very construction, is capable of being used for picking the crushed fin out so that the tool can be placed on it and the complete straightening operation performed by merely running the tool along the length of the radiator fin.

My tool has no springs nor other pants which become easily worn. The tool is heavy duty in the sense that it is capable of being used for many, many jobs without necessity of sharpening or repair of any kind. The tool is adjustable in that there are means provided for spreading or drawing closer together the tines to compensate for various manufacturers makes of radiators and various models thereof. Moreover, the tool is so constructed that the tines thereof have outer surfaces which exercise a straightening function on adjacent fins.

By this is meant the fin that is being worked on is fitted between the confronting surfaces of the tines. But, as the tool is pulled or pushed along in a direction parallel to the fin, the adjacent fins, if bent, are straightened by coming in contact with the outer surfaces of the tines.

A further important feature of my invention is the construction and shape of the tines. They are angulated between their ends to form a fulcrum or heel about which the tool can be rocked or slid. The confronting surfaces and the outer surfaces of the tines have been previously described, and they are adjustable by means which spread the tines or draw them closer together depending on the desires of the user.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tool constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a top view of the tool showing it being used on a fragmentary part of a typical radiator.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 with the radiator omitted.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 2.

This application is copending with my application Serial No. 612,868 which was filed on September 28,

tion 16. The rounded portion 16 and adjacent parts of the shanks constitute a fixed position or non-adjustable handle. The shanks are tapered toward each other as they approach angulated ends 18 and 20. These angulated ends are constructed and arranged to form tines 22 and 24. They are adjustable toward and away from each other by adjusting means 26. These means comprise a plate 28 that is welded or otherwise fastened rigidly to the tines 12 and 14 and that has an opening 30 in the middle thereof. This opening accommodates a screw 32 that has a collar 34 fixed to it. The collar abuts one surface of the plate 28, and nut 36 fixed on screw 32, abuts the other surface thereof. Slide 38 made of a plate in which there are enlarged openings 40 and 42, is disposed. on the pair of shanks 12 and 14 and is movable approximately longitudinally thereof. Screw 32 is threaded in opening 46 of slide 38 and is thereby moved in a direction parallel to the axis of screw 32 in response to movement of nut 36. Since the tines are angulated, movement of slide 38 in this direction will move the tines toward or away from each other depending on the direction of rotation of nut 36.

As shown in Figures 2 and 5 a typical radiator will have radiator tubes 50 and a plurality of fins such as those shown at 51, 52, 53, 54 and 55. The fins are arranged parallel to each other but they become damaged in the normal use of a motor vehicle. My tool facilitates the repair of the radiator by straightening the fins. The tines are placed under a selected fin, for example fin 54, in straddling relation to it. The confronting surfaces 57 and 58 of the tines are flat and they function as pressers for the fins. The outer surfaces 59 and 60 of the tines are also flat and these form straighteners for adjacent fins as fin 54 is being straightened.

It was previously stated that the tines are angulated intermediate their inner and outer ends in order to form a fulcrum or heel 64 that will ride at the inner parts of the fins as the tool is being used. The fulcrum can be used for rocking the tool and also for limiting the depth of penetration of the tool during the normal straightening procedure.

The outer extremities of both tines have points 66 for the purpose of picking fins that are too stiff to straighten by merely pulling the tool along them and for bending and picking out fins that are too crushed to be straightened in the ordinary use of the tool.

In use, after the tool is adjusted to the desired spread of tines, a radiator fin, for example fin 54 (Figure 5) is located between the confronting surfaces of the tines. The tool is then merely pulled along the length of the fin with the surfaces 57 and 58 of the tines functioning as presses to straighten the bent fins. The adjacent fins which happen to be bent and come in contact with the outer surfaces of the tines will also be straightened. It is only necessary to use my tool on every other fin for this reason.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modificationsfiand equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A repair tool for a radiator that has tubes and spaced fins which require straightening, said tool comprising a fixed position handle having a pair of shanks, slender elongate angulated ends, on said shanks which form tines, fiat confronting surfaces on said tines between which a fin Further, since numerous is adapted to be located and straightened by moving said ends lengthwise of the fin, said tines being resilient and converging toward said angulated ends, a slide having openings, through which said shanks extend, and means connected with said slide to move said slide on said shanks thereby adjusting the spacing of said angulated ends.

2,, A repair tool for a radiator that has tubes and spaced fins which require straightening, said tool comprising a fixedposition handle provided with a pair of shanks, angulated ends on said shanks which form tines, flat confronting surfaces on said tines between which a fin is adapted to be located and straightened by moving said ends lengthwise of the fin, and means connected to said shanks for adjusting the spacing between said tines.

3. A repair tool for a radiator that has tubes and spaced fins which require straightening, said tool comprising a fixed position handle, a pair of shanks, slender elongate angulated ends on said shanks which form tines, flat confronting surfaces on said tines between which a fin is adapted to be located and straightened by moving said 4 ends lengthwise the fin, said tines having points thereon so that. the tool can be inverted and used to. pick out crushed portions of fins.

4. A radiator fin repair tool comprising the combination of a fixed position handle, a pair of converging resilient shanks connected with said handle, a pair of parallel elongate slender tines at the ends of said shanks and having outer ends adjacent to each other which are adapted to be inserted into a radiator core between the fins to pick out crushed fins or to facilitate the bending of stiif fins to return the fins to approximately original shape, said tines having confronting surfaces which form a press between which a fin is adapted to be disposed so that when the tool is moved in .a straight continuous motion along a fin and parallel to the general plane of the fin, any bends in the fins are pressed to their straightened condition, and adjustable means connected with said shanks providing limits for the extent of spreading movement of said shanks and consequently said tines.

5. The tool' of claim 4 wherein there is .a smooth heel intermediate. the ends of the shanks and constituting a fulcrum about which to rock said shanks and tines;

References Cited in. the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Johnston Aug. 19, 1952

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