US1700748A - Automobile axle-straightening device - Google Patents

Description

Feb; 5, 1929. 1,700,748 R. A. 'SCHAAF I AUTOMOBILE AXLE STRAIGHTENING DEVICE Filed Jan. 21, 1927 I 2-Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR yg wwz ATTORNEY Q Feb. '5, 1929. 1,700,748

R. A. SCHAAF AUTOMOBILE AXLE STRAIGHTENINQDEVICE Filed Jan. 21, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY atented Feb. 5, 1929.

RICHARD A. SCHAAF, OF SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMOBILE AXLE-STRAIGHTENING DEVICE.

Application filed January 21, 1927. Serial No. 162,461.

This invention relates to appliances as used )y smiths and repair menin straightening ind reconditioning metal beams with particular reference to the front axles of automobiles.

Such axles when sprung or bent out of shape by collisions etc. require restoration to their original condition before the vehicle can be advantageously used and the expense of such reconditioning depends largely on thetime taken in making corrections.

In straightening an axle occasionally the beam portion between its bearing pads requires readjustment and the end members which engage the knuckles almost invariably need flexing, laterally and vertically to cause proper alinement and registration, all of which can obviously be accomplished far more easily and speedily if the axle be operated upon when in a suitably hot condition.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a support stand on which an axle may be rigidly clamped so rapidly that the heat imparted to the axle is not materially dissipated.

A further feature is in the provision of a. stand having at least one adjustable support whereby axles of varying distances between their pads may be accommodated.

Another purpose is to provide a surface plate at one or both ends of the stand in a plane parallel with the support seats, these surface plates being provided with means for testing and gaging the axle end bearings, as to their parallelism, angularity and distances apart.

Finally it is the purpose to produce a simple, "sturdy structure for such uses, readily and conveniently operated and capable of withstanding severe service.

These several objects are attained by the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a material part of this disclosure, and in which 2- Figure 1 is a perspective side view of an embodiment of the invention showing its application to one type of front axle.

Figure 2 is a similar view of-thesame as applied to a different type of axle, parts being broken away to' show the construction.

Figure 3 is aside elevational view of a gage carrying rod used in-connection with the apparatus.

The structure consists of a bed or body 5,

here shown as a suitable length of rolled steel-- beam disposed horizontally, its web being gubstantially parallel with the ground surace.

The beam is supported near one end by rolled angles constituting legs 6 riveted to the flanges, tied by a cross piece 7 and provided with angularly disposed braces 8.

Near the other end the beam is supported by a heavy tube 9 provided with flanges 10 at its end, one of which rests on the floor and the other secured to the under side of the web.

The upper edges of the beam flanges are preferably planed level and uniform to present track-ways 11 on which is secured a'pillow block 12 substantially over the legs 6.

A second pillow block 14 is held adjustably on the track by book bolts 13 engaging under the lower flanges, thus permitting the block 14 to be moved towards and from the block 12.

These blocks have converging front and rear walls leading to levelled seats 15 parallel with the tracks and on which the axle 15 is disposed in an inverted position, the blocks being adjusted to receive the axle pads 17 directly on the seats.

At the back of each block seat is a raised central lug 18 onwhich is a pivoted fork 19 formed on the rear element of a U-shaped clamp frame 20, the forward element of which has pivoted to it a loop-link catch 21 adapted to engage a projection 22 extending rigidly from the front of the blocks below the seats 15. guides 27 on the frames being provided for the link catches. these guides acting as stops upon contact with the upper surfaces of the projections '22.

A clamp screw 23, provided with a bar receiving head 24, is threaded into the upper part of the clamp frame, the lower end of the screw passing through guides 25 movable between the frame sides and terminate in pivoted shoes 26 adapted to rest on the axle over the seats 15. r i

It will'be apparent that by slackening the clamp screws, the links 21 may be engaged or disengaged with the projections 22 and if disengaged, the 1y turned upward out of the way, releasing the axle, which when in an operative position, the clamps rigidly hpld the pads on the seats 15.

As shown in Figure 1 the axle is of the type used in connection with knuckle joint axle clamp frame may be instantends and extends outwards beyond the blocks suficiently to permit of the use of wrenches, levers and the like in reconditioning bends and twists which may have occurred in either I or both the axle ends.

In order to ascertain when the axle has been properly corrected, a spindle 28 may be inserted in the axle end openings and use made of a surface gage 29 having proper feelers 30 adj ustably on the stem of the gage, the base of which is freely movable on a surface plate 31 resting on the track. 11.

Obviously by the use of a properly constructed gage the position of the openings in the axle ends can be. accurately determined, the same being indicated in Figure 2 where a gage with an inclinable stem is shown.

By shiftin the surface plate to the other end of the ax e it may also be readily seen if the endsxof the axle bearings are in register, as well 'as the vertical or angular axis of the openings. t s a The gage shown in Figure 3 consists of a bar 35 of indefinite length on'which is mounted a pair of adjustable V-shaped gages by which the distance between spindles entered in the axle end openings may be calibrated; this gage is also provided with a central element 37 showing the relation of the openings to the sides of the axle.

It is to be noted that, due to the instant application of the clamps, an axle may be treated when at a suitable heat to permit bending, no appreciable loss of time ensuing in rigidly clamping the axle on the block seats, and that the sturdy structure presented admits of heavy blows and severe bending of the axle without detriment, while it will be apparent that by reason of the adjustability of the block 14, axles of varying length may be conveniently treated.

Although the foregoing is descriptive of the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent that minor changes may be made in its construction, without the exercise of invention or conflicting with the scope of the claims hereto appended.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An axle straightening device comprising a bed, a pair of anvil blocks thereon having surfaces to support the straight central portion of an axle at a distance above said bed, frames hinged to said blocks to swing thereover, releasable means for locking said frames to the blocks when in operative position, screws in said frames having pivoted shoes to impinge on an .axle whereby it may be securely clamped at each end parallel to said bed, guides for said shoes to prevent their rotation, and stops for the frame limiting the downward movement.

2. A11 axle straightening device comprising a bed, a pair of blocks thereon having surfaces raised above the plane of saidbed to receive the straight portions of an axle intermediate its ends, one at least of said blocks being adjustable longitudinally on the bed, said blocks having seats parallel with the bed, means carried by said blocks for positiyely and quickly clamping an axle on said seats, a surface plate on said bed, and means at the ends of said bed to support said surface plate parallel with the seats.

3. An axle straightening device comprising a bed, a pair of raised blocks thereon having axle receiving surfaces to support the central portion of an axle while being bent downwardly at its protruding ends, frames carrying clamp screws hinged to fold over an axle disposed on said surfaces, means for clamping the frames in operative position, a surface plate adapted to be positioned on either of the extending ends of said bed, and means operable on said plates to calibrate the ends of an axle held by said frames.

This specification signed and witnessed this 19th day of J an., 1927. p

RICHARD A. SCHAAF.

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