EP1500473A1

EP1500473A1 - Multi-purpose tool for maintaining and repairing scale model cars with positive ignition engines

Info

Publication number: EP1500473A1
Application number: EP03706630A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Joan Andr S Berenguer
Original assignee: BYCMO RC MODELS SL
Current assignee: BYCMO RC MODELS SL
Priority date: 2002-04-30
Filing date: 2003-01-10
Publication date: 2005-01-26
Also published as: AU2003211613A1; WO2003092963A1; ES2193894A1; ES2193894B1

Abstract

It is applicable to engines equipped with a flywheel and to aeroplane propellers and comprises an oblong handle (2); a first braking element (3) of the flywheel, arranged at the first end (4) of the handle and comprised of an appendage (5) of the handle, equipped, at its free end, with a cavity (6) in the shape of a portion of cylinder of little height and with its radius essentially equal to the external radius of said flywheel, adapted to be coupled to the latter; and, a implement (3', 8) arranged at the second end (7) of the handle, preferably a plug wrench. It can likewise comprise two polygonal-head socket wrenches (9, 10), positioned at opposite ends of the handle (2), positioned adjacent to the braking element (3), with the first braking element (3) arranged with a certain angularity in relation to the oblong handle (2).

Description

Technical sector of the invention

The invention relates to a multiple-use tool which is particularly applicable to perform maintenance and repair work on scale model internal combustion engine cars, of the type of engines equipped with a fly wheel.

State of the Art

Repair and maintenance work on scale model internal combustion engine cars for model-making, e.g. radio remote-control, are mainly made manually and/or with the aid of specific tools for each purpose.
Thus, there is a conventional tool to tighten and loosen the plugs, known as a plug wrench, of which a large number of embodiments exist; socket wrenches or "Allen type" wrenches for the wheel nuts and other threaded elements, screwdrivers, open-ended wrenches or adjustable wrenches, etc.
Consequently, the user should have a good number of tools at his/her disposal to be able to act at any time to perform these urgent maintenance and repair operations "in situ". This obliges him/her to carry an authentic arsenal of tools, in some cases of considerable volume and weight, which implies the drawback of disturbing and inconveniencing the vehicle control action.
Furthermore, internal combustion engines for this type of model cars normally have a flywheel, typically below the crankshaft, to serve to facilitate the engine ignition, comprised of an indented disk-shaped element. When, due to different causes, the engine accelerates undesirably, e.g. when the vehicle loses traction, for which reason the user wants to stop the engine, it is common that he/she acts on the flywheel with any means at his/her disposal to stop it, not being uncommon to do so with his/her hands. This implies risks of injury, which should be avoided.
The present invention has the purpose of providing a tool which solves these drawbacks and avoids said risk.

Explanation of the invention

For this purpose, the object of the present invention is a multiple-use tool for maintenance and repair work in scale model internal combustion engine cars, of new concept and design, which is essentially characterized in that it comprises an oblong handle; a first flywheel braking element; arranged at the first end of the handle and comprised of a handle appendage, equipped at its free end with a cavity in the form of a portion of cylinder of little height and radius essentially equal to the external radius of said flywheel, adapted to be coupled to the latter; and a implement arranged at the second end of the handle provided to operate on a revolving element of the vehicle.
According to the invention, said implement can be a metal socket wrench, in particular a plug wrench; an Allen wrench or a screwdriver.
In a preferred embodiment, said implement is a second flywheel braking element.
According to another feature of the present invention, the tool comprises at least one polygonal-head socket wrench, arranged at opposite sides of the handle.
Preferably, the tool has two of said polygonal-head socket wrenches, arranged at opposite sides of the handle.
The socket wrench(es) can be positioned adjacent to said first braking element, the latter being arranged with a certain angularity in relation to the oblong handle.
Preferably, the braking element and the socket wrenches integrally are formed in a single first monolithic part of injected plastic; and the handle and the implement are likewise integrally formed free from a single second monolithic part of metal for tools, in particular steel, rigidly joined to said first monolithic part.
According to a variant of the invention, the tool comprises a removable tool, which can be coupled, by coupling means, to one of the socket wrenches, without the possibility of rotation, said tool comprising a solid main body equipped with a truncated-conical cavity, complementary to the rotating element of a propeller device or engine, the removable tool being adapted to exercise the braking thereof.
Said coupling means can be comprised of a solid appendage complementary to that of the hollow of the socket wrenches, preferably with hexagonal section.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Below, a description of different forms of preferred, although not exclusive, embodiments of the tool object of the present invention will be made, accompanied by drawings to provide better understanding, given merely by way of illustrative and not-limiting example, wherein:

Figure 1: is an elevational view of a first embodiment of the multiple-use tool of the present invention.
Figure 2: is a plan view of the tool in Figure 1.
Figure 3: is a plan view of a second embodiment of the multiple use tool of the present invention.
Figure 4: is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the tool according to the invention;
Figure 5: is a section according to a medium plan of the tool of the invention, which shows the form of coupling of the removable tool, with it is dismounted position; and
Figure 6: is a perspective view that shows the tool with the removable tool in operative coupling position.

Description of the preferred embodiments

In relation to the drawing, embodiments of the multiple-use tool 1 of the present invention are shown therein. This tool 1 is particularly, though not exclusively, suitable to perform maintenance and repair work on scale model internal combustion engine cars, of those typically equipped with a flywheel (not shown), normally below the crankshaft. Said flywheel serves to facilitate engine ignition and is comprised of an indented disk-shaped element.
In figures 1, 2 and 4 a first embodiment of the present invention is shown wherein the tool 1 comprises an oblong handle 2 and four implements, 3, 8, 9 and 10, specifically: a first braking element 3, a plug wrench 8, a first socket wrench 9 and a second socket wrench 10.
The first braking element 3 of the flywheel is arranged at one end 4 of the handle 2 and is comprised of an plastic appendage 5, essentially flat in shape although with a certain thickness. The braking element 3 is a curved-concave ended part, equipped at its free end with a cavity 6 in the form of a portion of cylinder equipped with an end thickening of the appendage 5, whose radius is essentially equal to the external radius of said indented engine flywheel.
The braking element 3 is made of hard plastic material, e.g. polyamide with fibre glass, or Bakelite, and is thus adapted to couple to the engine flywheel, so that when a user manually uses the tool 1, e.g. by the handle 2, and tightens the braking element 3 against the rim of the flywheel, the latter brakes due to the action of pressure, totally free from risk of injuring the users hand, solving the problem posed in the prior art.
The two socket wrenches 9 and 10 are different polygonal-head wrenches, with the axis essentially perpendicular to the handle 2, arranged at opposite sides of the latter, adjacent to said first braking element 3. The axes of the socket wrenches 9 and 10 are coaxial and perpendicular to the axis of the handle 2.
According to the invention, the socket wrenches 9 and 10 can have different primitive diameters. Therefore, for example, one of them can be adapted to tightening the wheel nuts and the other for another threaded member of the vehicle.
Figures 1, 2 and 4 show a braking element 3 and the socket wrenches 9, 10 are integrally comprised in a single monolithic part 11 of injected plastic, which can be the same plastic that comprises braking element 3.
Furthermore, in this illustrated embodiment, the braking element 3 is arranged at a certain angle in relation to the oblong handle 2, which facilitates the manual handling and the operation of the tool 1. Preferably, said angle is between 10 and 45°.
The plug wrench 8 is arranged at the second end 7 of the handle 2, opposite the braking element 3, and is integrally formed with the handle 2 in a single monolithic part 12 of metal material, e.g. cemented steel for tools, rigidly joined to said first monolithic part 11.
To replace the plug wrench 8, the tool 1 can have a similar tightening or torsion element such as, for example, an Allen wrench or a screwdriver.
Figure 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the tool 1 wherein, at the free ends 4 and 7 of the oblong handle 2, a first braking element 3 and a second braking element free from wrenches 8, 9 and 10 are arranged.
It will be noticed that the tool 1 of the invention permits having just one manual element, of little weight and volume, of a plurality of tightening and torsion implements for model combustion engine cars, to perform maintenance and repair work thereon. The tool 1 of the present invention is very handy and practical, as it incorporates multiple uses in one, thus permitting dispensing with considerable tool storage space, it is easy to use and economical to manufacture.
In one of its variants, the multiple-use tool 1 according to the invention shown in particular in figures 5 and 6, is equipped with a complement in the form of a removable tool 13, which can be coupled to one of the socket wrench 9, without the possibility of relative rotation, by coupling means, formed in the embodiment illustrated by a solid hexagonal-section appendage 14, complementary to the hollow of the socket wrench 9 whereto it couples.
The removable tool 13 is a main solid body 15, preferably of flexible PVC or rubber, provided with a large truncated-conical cavity 16. This cavity 16 has revolution symmetry and is complementary to a protruding rotating element of a propeller device or engine. In this way, the removable tool 13 can be used to brake a propeller acting on the nose thereof when the removable tool 13 is mounted in the socket wrench 9.
Obviously, the elements described can be replaced by their technical equivalents, the invention having many variants and improvements, all of them within the scope of the attached claims. In this sense, in other configurations of tool 1, it would be possible to include other additional implements, e.g. to tighten or torsion, to those illustrated in the present specification.

Claims

Multiple-use tool (1) for maintenance and repair work on scale model internal combustion engine cars, of the type of engines equipped with a flywheel, characterized in that it comprises an oblong handle (2); a first flywheel braking element (3), arranged at one end (4) of the handle and comprised of an appendage (5) of the handle, equipped at its free end with a cavity (6) in the form of a portion of cylinder of little height and radius essentially equal to the external radius of said flywheel, adapted to be coupled to the latter; and an implement arranged at the second end (7) of the handle, said implement (3') being of the type adapted to produce a braking action on a rotating element of the vehicle, or an implement (8) of the type engageable with a threaded member of the vehicle to tighten o loosen said member.
Multiple-use tool (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said implement (8) is a metal socket wrench, in particular a plug wrench (8).
Multiple-use tool (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said implement is an Allen-type wrench.
Multiple-use tool (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said implement is screwdriver.
Multiple-use tool (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said implement is a second flywheel braking element (3').
Multiple-use tool (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one polygonal-head socket wrench (9, 10), with the axis essentially perpendicular to the handle (2).
Multiple-use tool (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises two polygonal-head socket wrenches (9, 10), arranged at opposite sides of the handle (2).
Multiple-use tool (1) according to either of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the socket wrench(es) is/are positioned adjacent to said first braking element (3).
Multiple-use tool (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that said first braking element (3) is arranged with a certain angularity in relation to the oblong handle (2).
Multiple-use tool (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the braking element (3) and the socket wrenches (9, 10) are integrally formed in a single monolithic part (11) of injected plastic; and in that the handle (2) and the implement (8) are likewise integrally formed in a single monolithic part (12) of metal for tools, in particular steel, rigidly joined to said monolithic part.
Multiple-use tool (1) according to any of claims 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, characterized in that it comprises a removable tool (13) which can be coupled, by coupling means, to one of the socket wrenches (9, 10) without the possibility of rotation, said tool (13) comprising a main solid body (15) equipped with a truncated-conical cavity (16), complementary to a rotating element of a propeller device or an engine, the removable tool being adapted to brake thereon.
Multiple-use tool (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that said coupling means are comprised of a solid appendage (14) complementary to the hollow of the socket wrenches (9, 10).
Multiple-use tool (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that said solid appendage (14) is of hexagonal section.