CA2060140A1 - Vehicle body straightener - Google Patents
Vehicle body straightenerInfo
- Publication number
- CA2060140A1 CA2060140A1 CA 2060140 CA2060140A CA2060140A1 CA 2060140 A1 CA2060140 A1 CA 2060140A1 CA 2060140 CA2060140 CA 2060140 CA 2060140 A CA2060140 A CA 2060140A CA 2060140 A1 CA2060140 A1 CA 2060140A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- pull
- towers
- chain
- vehicle
- fulcrum bar
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE INVENTION
An apparatus for repairing a deformed yieldable body such as a motor vehicle body. The apparatus includes a platform having a plurality of vertical pull towers mounted thereon to swing in selected horizontal arcs. Vertically adjustable chain guides are provided on the towers and hydraulic chain tensioners are also provided on the towers or on the chain guides. One or more vertical bars slidably mounted on the platform or the chain guides for lateral movement are adapted to be pulled against a damaged area. In addition, pull towers may be provided with vertical extensions secured to the chain guides.
An apparatus for repairing a deformed yieldable body such as a motor vehicle body. The apparatus includes a platform having a plurality of vertical pull towers mounted thereon to swing in selected horizontal arcs. Vertically adjustable chain guides are provided on the towers and hydraulic chain tensioners are also provided on the towers or on the chain guides. One or more vertical bars slidably mounted on the platform or the chain guides for lateral movement are adapted to be pulled against a damaged area. In addition, pull towers may be provided with vertical extensions secured to the chain guides.
Description
20601~(~
VEHICLE BODY STRAIGHTENER
This invention relates generally to a repair and straightening apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for repairing and straightening vehicle bodies and frames.
Many devices have been developed for the purpose of vehicle frame straightening primarily attempting to reduce the substantial amount of time required in setting up a straightening operation. Even a seemingly simple correction can be extremely costly due to the length of time required to set up each pull. Thus efficiency is essential to make a frame straightener economlcal to own and operate. In many of these devices, however, efficiency has been compromised in favour of portability and storage convenience. Accuracy as well as efficiency is lost as a result.
The greatest loss of time in a frame straightening operation occurs when the vehicle must be removed from the work bed and repositioned so that the pulling apparatus is properly aligned. Alternatively some frame straighteners have been devised to allow the pulling apparatus to be repositioned around the vehicle.
This is still a time consuming alternative.
The present invention overcomes both of these difficulties by providing numerous pulling apparatus positioned around the vehicle which are sufficiently adjustable to permit pulling from any angle as well as multiple pulls simultaneously. The increased adjustability of the present invention permits greater accuracy than can be obtained with earlier devices and prevents much of the damage which occurs to a vehicle during other types of straightening operations.
With the wide variety of vehicle structures it is necessary to have a device which is designed to 20~0~.40 accommodate both fram~d and unit body vehicles.
Attempts to overcome to these deficiencies have not been entirely successful. For example~ in United States Patent No. 4,930,333 simplifies alignment of the point of anchoring the chain to the vehicle and the point of mounting of the ram and the point of mounting the chain to the vehicle frame. ~owever~ due to the fact that the ram acts on an intermediate portion of the chain between the vehicle and anchoring point some accuracy is apt to be lost.
The swingable towers as shown for example in United States Patent Nos. 4,336,705 and 4,530,232 lack several desirable features including extensibility and ability to withstand stress. Moveable sleeves associated with pulleys on the hydraulic ram heads are subject to malfunction due to stresses and wear.
United States Patent No. 4,700,559 also shows a power head moveable along a pull tower (Positioning pulleys at right angles to each other as shown could cause stress and wear.) Furthermore, no provision has been made for a horizontally slidable fulcrum bar to minimize damage to ground effect panel and improve repair of side pulls to correct side sway.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a straightening apparatus which facilitates pulling of damaged metal from substantially any angle.
A further object is the provision of an apparatus capable of providing multiple simultaneous pulls while providing convenient and accurate repositioning of the pulling chains on hydraulic rams.
Another object is the provision of horizontal slidable means to facilitate side pulls for side sway repair and minimize damage to lower body portions of a vehicle.
VEHICLE BODY STRAIGHTENER
This invention relates generally to a repair and straightening apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for repairing and straightening vehicle bodies and frames.
Many devices have been developed for the purpose of vehicle frame straightening primarily attempting to reduce the substantial amount of time required in setting up a straightening operation. Even a seemingly simple correction can be extremely costly due to the length of time required to set up each pull. Thus efficiency is essential to make a frame straightener economlcal to own and operate. In many of these devices, however, efficiency has been compromised in favour of portability and storage convenience. Accuracy as well as efficiency is lost as a result.
The greatest loss of time in a frame straightening operation occurs when the vehicle must be removed from the work bed and repositioned so that the pulling apparatus is properly aligned. Alternatively some frame straighteners have been devised to allow the pulling apparatus to be repositioned around the vehicle.
This is still a time consuming alternative.
The present invention overcomes both of these difficulties by providing numerous pulling apparatus positioned around the vehicle which are sufficiently adjustable to permit pulling from any angle as well as multiple pulls simultaneously. The increased adjustability of the present invention permits greater accuracy than can be obtained with earlier devices and prevents much of the damage which occurs to a vehicle during other types of straightening operations.
With the wide variety of vehicle structures it is necessary to have a device which is designed to 20~0~.40 accommodate both fram~d and unit body vehicles.
Attempts to overcome to these deficiencies have not been entirely successful. For example~ in United States Patent No. 4,930,333 simplifies alignment of the point of anchoring the chain to the vehicle and the point of mounting of the ram and the point of mounting the chain to the vehicle frame. ~owever~ due to the fact that the ram acts on an intermediate portion of the chain between the vehicle and anchoring point some accuracy is apt to be lost.
The swingable towers as shown for example in United States Patent Nos. 4,336,705 and 4,530,232 lack several desirable features including extensibility and ability to withstand stress. Moveable sleeves associated with pulleys on the hydraulic ram heads are subject to malfunction due to stresses and wear.
United States Patent No. 4,700,559 also shows a power head moveable along a pull tower (Positioning pulleys at right angles to each other as shown could cause stress and wear.) Furthermore, no provision has been made for a horizontally slidable fulcrum bar to minimize damage to ground effect panel and improve repair of side pulls to correct side sway.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a straightening apparatus which facilitates pulling of damaged metal from substantially any angle.
A further object is the provision of an apparatus capable of providing multiple simultaneous pulls while providing convenient and accurate repositioning of the pulling chains on hydraulic rams.
Another object is the provision of horizontal slidable means to facilitate side pulls for side sway repair and minimize damage to lower body portions of a vehicle.
2~14~
A fur~her ob~ect of this invention is the provision of safer, less time consuming hook-up means for connecting pull chains to vehicle bodies pull towers and hydraulic rams.
A still further object of the present invention is the provision of detachable extendable pull towers to enhance the portability of the apparatus while facilitating use of the apparatus for straightening a variety of vehicles including trucks and vans.
Another object is the provision of a hydraulic ram head on a pull tower which can be conveniently repositioned to pull at a desired height with a minimum of malfunctions due to stress and wear.
Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of height adjustable pulling towers having improved ability to withstand stresses.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention:
Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the invention.
Figure 2 is a top plan view of a modified construction of the apparatus of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the apparatus of Figure 2, including a vehicle on the apparatus.
Figure 4 is an end view of a modified version of the apparatus of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a side view of one of the pull towers and horizontal fulcrum bars of Figures 3 and 4.
Figure 6 is a top plan view of the tower of Figure 5 partly in section.
Figure 7 is an end elevation of an alternative embodiment of the invention.
Figure 8 is an enlarged end view of a chain clutch head shown in Figure 5.
20~01~0 Figure 9 is a slde view of the chain clutch head of Figure 7 Figure 10 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment including a vehicle on the apparatus.
Figure 11 is a side elevational view partly in section of a pull tower of the apparatus of Figure 10.
Figure 12 is a side elevation view of an alternative pull tower.
Figure 13 is a side view of the apparatus of Figure 12 after use.
Figure 14 is a side elevational view of an alternative tower.
Figure 15 is a side elevational view of the pull tower head of Figure 14 in the extended position.
Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus for realigning yieldable structures such as vehicle bodies including:
- a platform for supporting a vehicle - means for securing a damaged vehicle to said platform - means for applying aligning force to said vehicle including a flexible tension member wherein the improvement comprises a slidable bar for engaging said vehicle body and adapted to be engaged by said flexible tension member for applying pulling force to a damaged area.
Referring now in detail to the drawings, a frame straightening apparatus shown generally at 10 in Figure 1 includes a bench or vehicle support platform 12. The platform 12 is conveniently formed of a plurality of spaced I-beams, in this case six beams shown as 14.
Longitudinal slots 16 are formed between beams 14 for mounting various accessories, and the central opening 18 provides access to accessories to be described below.
20~4~
A plurality of ~ransverse members 20 ~one of which is shown in Figure 1) support the platform 12 which is elevated by means of screw jacks or the like (not shown). The transverse members 20 shown more clearly in Figure 2 are formed of pairs of I-beams or the like.
Slots 22 formed in the transverse member 20 are used for pivotally mounting connector arms 24 of pull towers 28.
Additional pull towers 28 are mounted on the ends of members 30.
The transverse members 30 are conveniently mounted so as to be movable along the length of the platform through the use of clamping plates 39 and bolts 36 extending through the slots 16 in the platform 12.
The transverse members 30 comprise two sections 40 and 42 pivotally connected by a bracket 44 which also limits the travel of the outer end of the section 42. The bracket 44 may be formed of upper and plates having aligned apertures 46 for receiving bolts 48 for connecting the bracket 44 to the transverse sections 40 and 42.
Additional apertures 50 receive pins 52 for locking the section 42 in a selected position.A base 54 on the pull towers 28 is also pivotal with respect to the transverse member section 42. A pivotal base 54 is also provided on towers 28 for mounting the towers 28 on the arms 24.
To provide the required pulling force to repair vehicles placed on the apparatus 10 the pulling towers 28 are securely connected to the platform 12 through the respective bases 54, transverse members 30, and arms 24.
The pull towers are substantially identical in construction and only one need be described in detail.
However, the accessories used on each of the towers 28 may vary in accordance with the requirements of the pulling or straightening operation to be performed.
The tower 28 is conveniently constructed of a pair of I-beams 56 which may have extra transverse reinforcement between the flanges. The beams 56 are spaced apart to provide a slot 58 through which a tension 2 ~
member, usually in the form of a chain 60 can extend.
As shown more clearly in Figure 5 a chain roller support assembly 62 is mounted for vertical travel on the pull tower 28. The assembly 62 is clamped at a selected location on the tower 28 by a bolt 64 in the tower 28 extending out through a slot 58 ~see Figure 6). A
tubular spacer element 66 and a nut 68 are received on the outer end of the bolt 64.
The assembly 62 shown in Figure 5 is guided by rollers 70 at its upper end and has a chain roller 72 mounted adjacent a lower end. A similar chain roller 74 is mounted on the tower 28. Tensioning of the chain 60 is accomplished by activating a hydraulic piston-cylinder assembly 76, one end of which is secured to a suitable bracket 78 on the tower 28. A threaded outer portion of the hydraulic piston is provided with a chain clutch head 80 as shown more clearly in Figures 8 and 9. The chain clutch head 80 has a pair of rollers 82 mounted for rotation on opposite sides thereof and an open ended slot 84 to engage a link of the chain 60. An additional hydraulic piston cylinder assembly 87 is used to raise the assembly 62, a chain 61 is secured at its one end to the bolt 64 passes over the roller 89 on the upper end of the hydraulic assembly 87 and has its other end secured to upright beam 56. An alternative chain roller support 90 shown in Figure 7 does not include all the features of the chain roller support assembly 62 of Figure 5. Pins 92 received in suitably spaced apertures 93 provide vertical adjustment of the assembly 90.
Furthermore, there is the provision of additional chain rollers or apertures 93 in which to install chain rollers 95 to provide additional height adjustment of the chain 60 without using the clamping mechanism 64 of Figure 5.
The assemblies 62 and 90 are conveniently provided with vertical extension bars 94 for purposes shown more clearly in Figures 3 and 4. The extension bar 2 0 ~ 0 94 in Figures 3 and 4 i5 held in place by pins 96 received in suitable apertures. A chain roller 98 is provided on an upper end of the bar 94.
The hydraulic assemblies 76 of Figures 3 and 4 are the same hydraulic assemblies of Figures 1 and 5. To provide maximum versatility the hydraulic assemblies 76 can be mounted on the pulling tower head 90 or on the tower 28 and may be inverted as shown in Figures 3 and 4.
A further accessory adapted to be mounted on the pull tower 28 as shown in Figure 5 or on the platform as shown in Figure 2 is the lateral travel fulcrum bar 100.
The fulcrum bar 100 is supported by two sets of rollers 102 and 104 and a third set of guide rollers 106 engaging an upper surface. In Figure 5 the guide rollers 102 and 104 are mounted on brackets 110 and 112 at the base of the tower 28 and the rollers 106 are mounted between the I-beams of pull tower 28 to facilitate extending the bar 100 between the beams of the tower 28.
As shown in Figure 7 a safety stand 120 used to support a vehicle 124 has a roller 125 to support an associated end 126 of the fulcrum bar 100. It is desirable to provide the end 126 of the bar 100 with a hinged member 130. In Figure 5 one such hinged member 130 is shown and in Figure 7 an additional hinged member 132 having a chain hook receiving aperture 134 is shown.
The safety stand may be provided with dowel pins for safety reasons.
Alternatively as shown in Figures 10 and 11 a modified frame straightening apparatus 150 includes a vehicle support platform 152 formed of I-beams or the like similar to that of Figure 1.
Swing arms 154, two of which are shown in Figure 10 are secured to the underside of the platform 152. The arms 154 support pulling towers 158 comprising square tubular beams 160 or I-beams 56 secured at lower ends to base 162 as shown in Figures 10 and 11 respectively. The base 162 has horizontal plates 164 to cooperate with 2~al~0 similar plates 165 on outer ends o~ the arms 154. A pin 16a extending throu~h the plates 164 and 166 pivotally secures the tower 158 to the arms 154.
Each of the pulling towers 158 is provided with a pulling tower head 170 shown in more detail in Figure 11. The head 170 is similar to the chain roller support assembly 62 described above in that it is adapted to be secured at a selected location on the tower 158 in this case by a pin 172 extending through aligned apertures 174 and 176 in the head 170 and the beam 160 respectively.
A chain roller 180 is mounted adjacent the lower end of the pulling head 170. A similar roller 182 is provided on a hydraulic piston-cylinder assembly 184.
The base of the assembly 184 is secured to the head 170.
The chain 60 secured to the vehicle 124 passes around the lower roller 180 and over the upper roller lR2. The end of the chain 60 is secured to the pulling head 170 in any convenient manner as by inserting a link of the chain 60 into slot 190 in a chain holder 192 on the pulling head 170. The hydraulic assembly 184 is also adapted to receive a chain clutch head 80 and be repositioned as shown in Figures 3 and 4.
It will be appreciated that the base of the piston assembly 184 is secured to the pulling head at 194 and the chain roller 182 is adapted to move as the piston-cylinder assembly 184 is actuated by hydraulic fluid supplied through hydraulic lines 196.
Alternatively the pulling tower heads can be constructed as illustrated in Figures 12 and 13. A
pulling tower head 220 shown in the retracted position in Figure 12 has a chain roller 222, mounted thereon.
A lever 224 pivotally mounted at its one end to the pull tower head 220 has a chain roller 226 mounted on its free end so that the hydraulic assembly 184, described above, secured at the mid point of the lever 224 moves the roller 226 in an arc (shown in dashed line) as the hydraulic assembly 184 is extended (as shown in 2~0l~a Figure 13), The chain as described above extends over rollers 222 and 226 and has its end secured in a known manner such as being engaged a chain holder 228 on the lever 224.
The pulling tower head 220 is similar to the chain roller support 62 described above in that it is secured at selected locations on the tower 158 in this case by ratchet means 230. A pivoted lever 232 on the head 220 engages raised stop means 234 on the tower 158.
The pull tower head 240 shown prior to use in Figure 14 and in the extended position in Figure 15 has a lever 242 adapted to rotate about a pivot point 244 which is concentric with a chain roller 248. The other end of the lever 242 is secured to the hydraulic cylinder assembly 184. A second chain roller 250 is mounted on the pulling head 240 so that the chain 60 passes over the chain roller 248 and the roller 250 and has its end secured to the lever at 254.
The fulcrum bar 210 shown in Figure 10 is similar in most respects to the fulcrum bar shown in Figure 7.
However the bar 210 is slidably mounted on the platform 152. The fulcrum bar 210 has an upright portion 212 secured thereto as by a bolt 214 and is provided with spaced apertures 216 to receive a hook or the like to be secured to the end of chain 60.
In use it will be understood that skilled technical personnel will carefully analyze the damage to be repaired with the aid of laser measuring systems repair manuals or the like and determine how the apparatus is to be used. The foregoing description and the accompanying drawings show representative collision repairs as examples of how the apparatus of this invention can be used by the skilled technical personnel.
In Figure 10 for example, the arrangement of apparatus 150 is dictated by the requirement to repair a front end collision. A pull tower and the associated pulling head 170 are positioned at the correct angle and 2 0 ~
height at the front of the vehicle and the chain 60 is secured to the vehicle frame member. The manner in which the chain 60 is secured to the vehicle depends upon the make and model of vehicle and it is probable that improvisation will be necessary in some cases. The pulling head 170 is positioned at the correct height through the use of the winch 204 and is locked in place by inserting pin 172. The chain 60 as previously stated extends over the pully 182 on the hydraulic assembly 184 and has its end fixed at 190. Tension is applied to the chain 60 by actuating the hydraulic assembly 184 through conventional controls. In the particular repair situation shown in Figure 10 a side pull is also illustrated. The horizontal fulcrum bar 210 and associated upright portion are positioned to engage the side of the frame portion to be repaired. A chain 60 extends from a pulling lower head 170 on an opposite side of the vehicle to the fulcrum bar upright portion 212.
A different repair situation is illustrated in Figure 3 in this case roof damage requiring a plate to be welded temporarily to the roof of the vehicle. The chain 60 has an end secured to the roof of the vehicle in this manner and extends over the pully 98 on the extension member 94. Tension is applied by the hydraulic assembly as required by the operator. Similarly as shown in Figure 4 chains 60 extending from pull towers on both sides of the vehicle are tensioned by hydraulic actuators to pull the vehicle body in the required manner. Figure 7 illustrates a side pull using the apparatus of Figures
A fur~her ob~ect of this invention is the provision of safer, less time consuming hook-up means for connecting pull chains to vehicle bodies pull towers and hydraulic rams.
A still further object of the present invention is the provision of detachable extendable pull towers to enhance the portability of the apparatus while facilitating use of the apparatus for straightening a variety of vehicles including trucks and vans.
Another object is the provision of a hydraulic ram head on a pull tower which can be conveniently repositioned to pull at a desired height with a minimum of malfunctions due to stress and wear.
Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of height adjustable pulling towers having improved ability to withstand stresses.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention:
Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the invention.
Figure 2 is a top plan view of a modified construction of the apparatus of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the apparatus of Figure 2, including a vehicle on the apparatus.
Figure 4 is an end view of a modified version of the apparatus of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a side view of one of the pull towers and horizontal fulcrum bars of Figures 3 and 4.
Figure 6 is a top plan view of the tower of Figure 5 partly in section.
Figure 7 is an end elevation of an alternative embodiment of the invention.
Figure 8 is an enlarged end view of a chain clutch head shown in Figure 5.
20~01~0 Figure 9 is a slde view of the chain clutch head of Figure 7 Figure 10 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment including a vehicle on the apparatus.
Figure 11 is a side elevational view partly in section of a pull tower of the apparatus of Figure 10.
Figure 12 is a side elevation view of an alternative pull tower.
Figure 13 is a side view of the apparatus of Figure 12 after use.
Figure 14 is a side elevational view of an alternative tower.
Figure 15 is a side elevational view of the pull tower head of Figure 14 in the extended position.
Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus for realigning yieldable structures such as vehicle bodies including:
- a platform for supporting a vehicle - means for securing a damaged vehicle to said platform - means for applying aligning force to said vehicle including a flexible tension member wherein the improvement comprises a slidable bar for engaging said vehicle body and adapted to be engaged by said flexible tension member for applying pulling force to a damaged area.
Referring now in detail to the drawings, a frame straightening apparatus shown generally at 10 in Figure 1 includes a bench or vehicle support platform 12. The platform 12 is conveniently formed of a plurality of spaced I-beams, in this case six beams shown as 14.
Longitudinal slots 16 are formed between beams 14 for mounting various accessories, and the central opening 18 provides access to accessories to be described below.
20~4~
A plurality of ~ransverse members 20 ~one of which is shown in Figure 1) support the platform 12 which is elevated by means of screw jacks or the like (not shown). The transverse members 20 shown more clearly in Figure 2 are formed of pairs of I-beams or the like.
Slots 22 formed in the transverse member 20 are used for pivotally mounting connector arms 24 of pull towers 28.
Additional pull towers 28 are mounted on the ends of members 30.
The transverse members 30 are conveniently mounted so as to be movable along the length of the platform through the use of clamping plates 39 and bolts 36 extending through the slots 16 in the platform 12.
The transverse members 30 comprise two sections 40 and 42 pivotally connected by a bracket 44 which also limits the travel of the outer end of the section 42. The bracket 44 may be formed of upper and plates having aligned apertures 46 for receiving bolts 48 for connecting the bracket 44 to the transverse sections 40 and 42.
Additional apertures 50 receive pins 52 for locking the section 42 in a selected position.A base 54 on the pull towers 28 is also pivotal with respect to the transverse member section 42. A pivotal base 54 is also provided on towers 28 for mounting the towers 28 on the arms 24.
To provide the required pulling force to repair vehicles placed on the apparatus 10 the pulling towers 28 are securely connected to the platform 12 through the respective bases 54, transverse members 30, and arms 24.
The pull towers are substantially identical in construction and only one need be described in detail.
However, the accessories used on each of the towers 28 may vary in accordance with the requirements of the pulling or straightening operation to be performed.
The tower 28 is conveniently constructed of a pair of I-beams 56 which may have extra transverse reinforcement between the flanges. The beams 56 are spaced apart to provide a slot 58 through which a tension 2 ~
member, usually in the form of a chain 60 can extend.
As shown more clearly in Figure 5 a chain roller support assembly 62 is mounted for vertical travel on the pull tower 28. The assembly 62 is clamped at a selected location on the tower 28 by a bolt 64 in the tower 28 extending out through a slot 58 ~see Figure 6). A
tubular spacer element 66 and a nut 68 are received on the outer end of the bolt 64.
The assembly 62 shown in Figure 5 is guided by rollers 70 at its upper end and has a chain roller 72 mounted adjacent a lower end. A similar chain roller 74 is mounted on the tower 28. Tensioning of the chain 60 is accomplished by activating a hydraulic piston-cylinder assembly 76, one end of which is secured to a suitable bracket 78 on the tower 28. A threaded outer portion of the hydraulic piston is provided with a chain clutch head 80 as shown more clearly in Figures 8 and 9. The chain clutch head 80 has a pair of rollers 82 mounted for rotation on opposite sides thereof and an open ended slot 84 to engage a link of the chain 60. An additional hydraulic piston cylinder assembly 87 is used to raise the assembly 62, a chain 61 is secured at its one end to the bolt 64 passes over the roller 89 on the upper end of the hydraulic assembly 87 and has its other end secured to upright beam 56. An alternative chain roller support 90 shown in Figure 7 does not include all the features of the chain roller support assembly 62 of Figure 5. Pins 92 received in suitably spaced apertures 93 provide vertical adjustment of the assembly 90.
Furthermore, there is the provision of additional chain rollers or apertures 93 in which to install chain rollers 95 to provide additional height adjustment of the chain 60 without using the clamping mechanism 64 of Figure 5.
The assemblies 62 and 90 are conveniently provided with vertical extension bars 94 for purposes shown more clearly in Figures 3 and 4. The extension bar 2 0 ~ 0 94 in Figures 3 and 4 i5 held in place by pins 96 received in suitable apertures. A chain roller 98 is provided on an upper end of the bar 94.
The hydraulic assemblies 76 of Figures 3 and 4 are the same hydraulic assemblies of Figures 1 and 5. To provide maximum versatility the hydraulic assemblies 76 can be mounted on the pulling tower head 90 or on the tower 28 and may be inverted as shown in Figures 3 and 4.
A further accessory adapted to be mounted on the pull tower 28 as shown in Figure 5 or on the platform as shown in Figure 2 is the lateral travel fulcrum bar 100.
The fulcrum bar 100 is supported by two sets of rollers 102 and 104 and a third set of guide rollers 106 engaging an upper surface. In Figure 5 the guide rollers 102 and 104 are mounted on brackets 110 and 112 at the base of the tower 28 and the rollers 106 are mounted between the I-beams of pull tower 28 to facilitate extending the bar 100 between the beams of the tower 28.
As shown in Figure 7 a safety stand 120 used to support a vehicle 124 has a roller 125 to support an associated end 126 of the fulcrum bar 100. It is desirable to provide the end 126 of the bar 100 with a hinged member 130. In Figure 5 one such hinged member 130 is shown and in Figure 7 an additional hinged member 132 having a chain hook receiving aperture 134 is shown.
The safety stand may be provided with dowel pins for safety reasons.
Alternatively as shown in Figures 10 and 11 a modified frame straightening apparatus 150 includes a vehicle support platform 152 formed of I-beams or the like similar to that of Figure 1.
Swing arms 154, two of which are shown in Figure 10 are secured to the underside of the platform 152. The arms 154 support pulling towers 158 comprising square tubular beams 160 or I-beams 56 secured at lower ends to base 162 as shown in Figures 10 and 11 respectively. The base 162 has horizontal plates 164 to cooperate with 2~al~0 similar plates 165 on outer ends o~ the arms 154. A pin 16a extending throu~h the plates 164 and 166 pivotally secures the tower 158 to the arms 154.
Each of the pulling towers 158 is provided with a pulling tower head 170 shown in more detail in Figure 11. The head 170 is similar to the chain roller support assembly 62 described above in that it is adapted to be secured at a selected location on the tower 158 in this case by a pin 172 extending through aligned apertures 174 and 176 in the head 170 and the beam 160 respectively.
A chain roller 180 is mounted adjacent the lower end of the pulling head 170. A similar roller 182 is provided on a hydraulic piston-cylinder assembly 184.
The base of the assembly 184 is secured to the head 170.
The chain 60 secured to the vehicle 124 passes around the lower roller 180 and over the upper roller lR2. The end of the chain 60 is secured to the pulling head 170 in any convenient manner as by inserting a link of the chain 60 into slot 190 in a chain holder 192 on the pulling head 170. The hydraulic assembly 184 is also adapted to receive a chain clutch head 80 and be repositioned as shown in Figures 3 and 4.
It will be appreciated that the base of the piston assembly 184 is secured to the pulling head at 194 and the chain roller 182 is adapted to move as the piston-cylinder assembly 184 is actuated by hydraulic fluid supplied through hydraulic lines 196.
Alternatively the pulling tower heads can be constructed as illustrated in Figures 12 and 13. A
pulling tower head 220 shown in the retracted position in Figure 12 has a chain roller 222, mounted thereon.
A lever 224 pivotally mounted at its one end to the pull tower head 220 has a chain roller 226 mounted on its free end so that the hydraulic assembly 184, described above, secured at the mid point of the lever 224 moves the roller 226 in an arc (shown in dashed line) as the hydraulic assembly 184 is extended (as shown in 2~0l~a Figure 13), The chain as described above extends over rollers 222 and 226 and has its end secured in a known manner such as being engaged a chain holder 228 on the lever 224.
The pulling tower head 220 is similar to the chain roller support 62 described above in that it is secured at selected locations on the tower 158 in this case by ratchet means 230. A pivoted lever 232 on the head 220 engages raised stop means 234 on the tower 158.
The pull tower head 240 shown prior to use in Figure 14 and in the extended position in Figure 15 has a lever 242 adapted to rotate about a pivot point 244 which is concentric with a chain roller 248. The other end of the lever 242 is secured to the hydraulic cylinder assembly 184. A second chain roller 250 is mounted on the pulling head 240 so that the chain 60 passes over the chain roller 248 and the roller 250 and has its end secured to the lever at 254.
The fulcrum bar 210 shown in Figure 10 is similar in most respects to the fulcrum bar shown in Figure 7.
However the bar 210 is slidably mounted on the platform 152. The fulcrum bar 210 has an upright portion 212 secured thereto as by a bolt 214 and is provided with spaced apertures 216 to receive a hook or the like to be secured to the end of chain 60.
In use it will be understood that skilled technical personnel will carefully analyze the damage to be repaired with the aid of laser measuring systems repair manuals or the like and determine how the apparatus is to be used. The foregoing description and the accompanying drawings show representative collision repairs as examples of how the apparatus of this invention can be used by the skilled technical personnel.
In Figure 10 for example, the arrangement of apparatus 150 is dictated by the requirement to repair a front end collision. A pull tower and the associated pulling head 170 are positioned at the correct angle and 2 0 ~
height at the front of the vehicle and the chain 60 is secured to the vehicle frame member. The manner in which the chain 60 is secured to the vehicle depends upon the make and model of vehicle and it is probable that improvisation will be necessary in some cases. The pulling head 170 is positioned at the correct height through the use of the winch 204 and is locked in place by inserting pin 172. The chain 60 as previously stated extends over the pully 182 on the hydraulic assembly 184 and has its end fixed at 190. Tension is applied to the chain 60 by actuating the hydraulic assembly 184 through conventional controls. In the particular repair situation shown in Figure 10 a side pull is also illustrated. The horizontal fulcrum bar 210 and associated upright portion are positioned to engage the side of the frame portion to be repaired. A chain 60 extends from a pulling lower head 170 on an opposite side of the vehicle to the fulcrum bar upright portion 212.
A different repair situation is illustrated in Figure 3 in this case roof damage requiring a plate to be welded temporarily to the roof of the vehicle. The chain 60 has an end secured to the roof of the vehicle in this manner and extends over the pully 98 on the extension member 94. Tension is applied by the hydraulic assembly as required by the operator. Similarly as shown in Figure 4 chains 60 extending from pull towers on both sides of the vehicle are tensioned by hydraulic actuators to pull the vehicle body in the required manner. Figure 7 illustrates a side pull using the apparatus of Figures
3 and 4 as well as the fulcrum bar 100.
Claims (7)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. An apparatus for repairing a deformed yieldable body such as a motor vehicle body, said apparatus including a platform having a plurality of vertical pull towers mounted thereon to swing in selected horizontal arcs, vertically adjustable chain guides on the towers and means for securing hydraulic chain tensioners to the towers and the chain guides.
2. A vehicle straightening system comprising:
a raised vehicle platform having a hydraulic ramping mechanism;
a plurality of pull towers having horizontal and vertical adjustability, chain guides and a hydraulic pulling mechanism wherein:
each of said pull towers is provided with rollers to receive a lateral travelling fulcrum bar, said lateral travelling fulcrum bar supporting a vertical fulcrum bar having multiple apertures to receive a chain hook-up from an opposite side pull tower at an adjustable height.
a raised vehicle platform having a hydraulic ramping mechanism;
a plurality of pull towers having horizontal and vertical adjustability, chain guides and a hydraulic pulling mechanism wherein:
each of said pull towers is provided with rollers to receive a lateral travelling fulcrum bar, said lateral travelling fulcrum bar supporting a vertical fulcrum bar having multiple apertures to receive a chain hook-up from an opposite side pull tower at an adjustable height.
3. A pull tower for a vehicle frame straightening system as claimed in claim 2 wherein:
said pull tower is pivotally mounted to said platform such that one of said pull towers can be positioned at any point around said platform;
said pull tower has a hydraulic cylinder to vertically adjust the pulling height;
said pull tower is adapted to receive said lateral travelling fulcrum bar.
said pull tower is pivotally mounted to said platform such that one of said pull towers can be positioned at any point around said platform;
said pull tower has a hydraulic cylinder to vertically adjust the pulling height;
said pull tower is adapted to receive said lateral travelling fulcrum bar.
4. A vehicle frame straightening system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said pull towers are arranged in pairs around the entire periphery of said platform.
5. A vehicle frame straightening system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said pull towers receiving a lateral travelling fulcrum bar and vertical fulcrum bar are adapted to be used in opposite cooperating pairs.
6. A vehicle frame straightening system as claimed in claim 2 wherein a vertical fulcrum bar is mounted on the lateral travelling fulcrum bar.
7. A vehicle system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pull towers are adapted to be provided with vertical extension secured to said chain guides.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2060140 CA2060140A1 (en) | 1992-01-28 | 1992-01-28 | Vehicle body straightener |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2060140 CA2060140A1 (en) | 1992-01-28 | 1992-01-28 | Vehicle body straightener |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2060140A1 true CA2060140A1 (en) | 1993-07-29 |
Family
ID=4149169
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2060140 Abandoned CA2060140A1 (en) | 1992-01-28 | 1992-01-28 | Vehicle body straightener |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2060140A1 (en) |
-
1992
- 1992-01-28 CA CA 2060140 patent/CA2060140A1/en not_active Abandoned
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |