US1321081A

US1321081A - Adjustable shim for automobiles

Info

Publication number: US1321081A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1919-11-11
Anticipated expiration: 1936-11-11

Description

G. G. BEHN.

ADJUSTABLE SHIM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY27. 1919.

1 ,32 11,081 Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

'- e. s. BEHN.

ADJUSTABLE SHIM FOR AUTOMOBILES. APPLICATION FILED MAY 27. 1919.

1,321,081., Patented Nov. 11; 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

GUIDO G. BEHN, 0F

PAT FFTQE.

DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 ESSEX MOTORS, OF DETROIT,

MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN. I

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. ii, 19119.

Application filed May 27, 1919. Serial No. 300,057.

To all whom it may concern Be it knownthat I, Gnmo G. BEHN, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of \Vayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Adjustable Shims for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

In the manufacture of automobiles, it is customary to place between the frame of the chassis and the sill of the body, shims composed of felt, brake lining material or similar materials which are s mewhat resilient and absorb the jar and vibration. The body is then bolted down on the frame. If the shimming has not been well done, the body will be distorted by the pressure exerted by the bolts and will be injured. The doors will not close satisfactorily, and squeaks and rattles will develop. As is well known to those skilled in this art, there are always some variations in the frame and sill so that shims of different thicknesses are required at different points along the length of the frame. Since the sills of the body must rest on the frame of the chassis with a substantially uniform pressure at all points and must be bolted rigidly to the frame of the chassis, the task of shimming up the body so that it will rest equally at all points and when bolted down will not be sprung or twisted, is one requiring skill, patience and the expenditure of a large amount of time. It has been found by long experience that the workmen frequently leave the body improperly shimmed or loosely bolted down so that trouble rapidly develops. This matter is one of great importance, particularly in themanufacture of high-grade automobiles and automobiles having expensive closed bodies, the purchasers of which expect to'have the bodies remain in perfect condition without the development of squeaks or rattles.

My invention has for its object to provide an adjustable shim by which variations in the chassis frame or body sill may be easily compensated for and the body caused to rest with uniform pressure at all points of contact with the chassi frame. It is so constructed that it reduces toa minimum the time required for shimming up a body and the skill necessary for this work. It also provides means by which a new adjustment may be easily and quickly made to take care of any wear which may have occurred.

The invention will be fully understood from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features thereof will be pointed out and clearly defined in the claims at the close of this specification.

Inthe drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of a portion of the sill of the body of an automobile and of the frame of a chassis together with the preferred'form of adjustable shim and body bolt embodying my 1nvention.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2, 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section showing another embodiment of my invention. 1

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4, 1 of Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawings, at A is shown a portion of the sill of the body, and at B is shown a portion of the frame of the chassis. At 11 is shown a member which is conveniently a hollow insert set in a suitable hole in the underside of the sill A and secured in place by nails 12. This insert has a circular central hole 13 through which passes the body bolt 14:. The body bolt 14 has a squared or other non-circular shank a (see particularly 'Fig. 2), and a head' I) which is countersunk so that it is flush with the upper surface of the sill A. The lower end of the bolt is screw-threaded as shown at c and passes through a hole in the horizontal flange d in the frame member B. The bolt isprovided with a nut 15, there being a suitable lock washer 16 between the nut and the frame flange d. The cylindrical insert 11 is screw-threaded on its interior surface as shown at e and receives within it a screw-threaded collar 17 provided with a square or other non-circular hole 7 corresponding in shape with the cross section of the body bolt 14:. This collar 17 is formed with a flange as ShOWII at k which has secured to its underside a washer 18 of some suitable cushioning material, as for instance, felt or brake lining material. The cushioning material 18 is secured to the collar 17 by rivets 19 or in any other convenient manner.

In using my improved adjustable shim, the insert 11 and the collar 17 to which is attached the washer 18 of cushioning material are securedin place in the hole in the sill A, it being understood that these adjustable shims are placed at the usual points under the body. The body is then placed on the frame of the chassis. The bolts 14 for each of the shims are then inserted and thecollars 17 raised or lowered by turning the bolts lLby a socket wrench until each of the shims exerts a uniform pressure on the frame of the chassis. The nuts 15 and the lock washers 16 are then put in place and turned up, thereby securing the body to the chassis.

If at any time, the body shows signs of becoming loose on the chassis or developing squeaks or rattles, or if the doors do not close properly, indicating that the body .is out of line and is no longer resting evenly on the chassis at all points, adjustments may be quicklyand easily made by loosening the nuts 15 and-turning the bolts 14 until uniform pressure on the chassis is again afforded.

In the application of my invention, as shownin Figs. 3and 4., the collar 17 is hollow as shown at g and may be made from a stamping.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with the sill of the body of an automobile and the frame of the chassis, an insert secured to the sill, an adjustable collar provided with a layer of cushioning material and having a non-circular hole therein, a bolt of non-circular crosssection corresponding in shape to said hole, said bolt passing through said insert IsJaid collar and said frame, and a nut on said olt.

2. In combination with the sill of the body of an automobile and the frame of the chassis, an insert secured to the sill and screw-threaded on its inner surface, a screwthreaded collar therein having a non-circular hole, a layer of cushioning material secured to said collar, a bolt of non-circular cross section corresponding in shape to said hole, said bolt passing through said member ls)aid collar and said frame, and a nut on said olt.

3. In combination with the sill of the body of an automobile and the frame of the chassis, an insert in the sill, an adjustable collar provided with a layer of cushioning material and having a non-circular hole therein, a bolt of non-circular cross section corresponding in shape to said hole, said bolt passing through the sill the insert the collar and the frame, and a nut on said bolt, the opposite ends of said bolt and nut resting on the frame and sill respectively.

4:. In combination withv the sill of the body of an automobile and the frame of the chassis and an interiorly threaded member secured to one of said members, a screwthreaded collar in said member, said collar being provided with a layer of cushioning material and having a non-circular hole therein, a bolt of non-circular cross section corresponding in shape to said hole, said bolt passing through said collar, and a nut on said bolt.

5. In combination with the sill of the body ofan automobile and the frame of the chassis, a screw-threaded member immovably secured to the sill or the frame, a sec- 0nd screw-threaded member engaging the immovable member and having a non-circular hole therein, said member being provided with a layer of cushioning material, and a bolt having a shank of corresponding non-circular shape engaging the sill and frame respectively.

ture.

GUIDO G. BEHN.

In testimony whereof I alibi my signa