WO1993007446A1

WO1993007446A1 - Reference assembly for use with vehicle gauging apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1993007446A1
Application number: PCT/AU1992/000538
Authority: WO
Inventors: James Herbert Mason
Original assignee: Mason James H
Priority date: 1991-10-09
Filing date: 1992-10-08
Publication date: 1993-04-15

Abstract

A reference assembly (1) adapted for operative engagement with a stud and nut assembly on a vehicle wherein the free end of the stud defines a datum point for comparative measurement. The reference assembly includes a body (2) comprising a planar mounting portion (3) adapted to be clamped to the vehicle by the nut, a spacing portion (5) adapted to support a collar (10) in spaced apart coaxial relationship with respect to the stud, and an opening (25) adapted to provide access to the nut. The reference assembly further includes an elongate locating element (12) mounted for axial displacement with respect to the collar and is adjustable to abut the free end of the stud to define a surrogate reference point (16) displaced outwardly of the datum point by a distance corresponding to the effective length of the locating element. The remote end of the locating element is adapted for cooperative engagement with the gauging apparatus to provide an indication of vehicle alignment.

Description

TITLE: REFERENCE ASSEMBLY FOR USE WITH VEHICLE GAUGING APPARATUS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the determination of the relative alignment of structural members.

The invention has been developed primarily for use in the automotive industry in connection with the alignment and repair of damaged vehicles, and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use.

BACKGOUND OF THE INVENTION

Numerous devices are known for providing an indication of the relative misalignment of structural members and body panels, to assist in the repair of damaged motor vehicles. One such apparatus is the subject of Australian patent number 595,459, the full contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Australian patent specification 595,459 describes a vehicle gauging apparatus including a first datum bar and a pair of carriages slidably mounted to the bar. Each carriage comprises a spacing element and an associated attachment element adapted for connection to a datum point on the vehicle. A pair of reference elements are disposed on the bar outwardly of the carriages to define external colinear reference points corresponding respectively to the datum points on the vehicle. Each reference element is in turn adapted for connection to a second diagonal or longitudinally extending bar known as a side bar, which may be connected to further transverse bars like the first, together to provide an indication of the relative alignment of the damaged vehicle.

In most cases, the datum point on the vehicle is defined by a stud and nut assembly protruding from a suitable point on the vehicle frame or body. It is therefore generally necessary to remove the nut from the stud to enable the attachment element of the gauging apparatus to be connected to the datum point. Once the necessary measurements have been taken, the attachment elements must be removed and the nuts replaced.

In other prior art systems, dedicated jigs or adjustable frames are mounted directly to a workshop floor and offered up to the damaged vehicle. Again, however, it is generally necessary for such systems to be attached by various fittings to the datum points provided on the vehicle. As with the first type of system discussed above, in order to attach the various connecting fittings, it is generally necessary to first remove the relevant nuts. Once the alignment has been measured, the fittings must again be removed and the original nuts replaced.

In all cases, this is an inefficient and time consuming operation, particularly where a relatively large number of datum points must be compared for relative alignment.

Furthermore, the structural datum point is usually defined by the free end of a stud or bolt. However, the attachment element of the gauging apparatus is generally screwed onto the stud so as to abut the vehicle body. This means that the fitting effectively takes the surface of the vehicle body as its reference, rather than the free end of the stud or bolt. This discrepancy must subsequently be taken into account when comparing certain measurements with standard data sheets provided by the vehicle manufacturer. Again, this is time consuming, inefficient, and susceptible to operator error.

It is an object of the present invention to provide - A - a reference assembly which overcomes or substantially ameliorates at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention consists in a reference assembly adapted for operative engagement with a stud and nut assembly on a vehicle wherein the free end of the stud defines a datum point for comparative measurement, said reference assembly including a body comprising a generally planar mounting portion adapted to be clamped to the vehicle by the nut, a spacing portion adapted to support a collar in spaced apart generally coaxial relationship with respect to the stud, and an opening adapted to provide access to the nut, said reference assembly further including an elongate locating element mounted for axial displacement with respect to the collar and being adjustable to abut the free end of the stud to define a surrogate reference point displaced outwardly of the datum point by a distance corresponding to the effective length of the locating element, the remote end of the locating element being adapted for cooperative engagement with a gauging apparatus to provide an indication of vehicle alignment. The locating element preferably takes the form of a second stud threadedly engageable with the collar which is effectively a special purpose nut. Preferably, the body is generally tubular, and the collar is releasably engageable with the tubular body by means of a bayonet fitting, whereby removal of the collar provides socket wrench access to the vehicle nut.

Preferably also, the tubular body contains a side opening to accommodate the vehicle nut, and the mounting portion includes a radial slot to accommodate and centrally locate the vehicle stud, the side opening and the slot together enabling the body to be slid transversely into position around the stud, without removal of the nut.

In the preferred embodiment, the radial slot in the mounting portion is defined by a slotted washer adapted releasably to clip into a complementary retaining formation, which is preferably a circumferential recess formed in the tubular body. The slotted washer is preferably selectively interchangeable with a variety of similar washers incorporating different sized slots, thereby enabling the assembly to be adapted for use with studs of different diameters.

In the preferred embodiment, a mounting block is rotatably retained in operative engagement with a corresponding circumferential groove formed in the remote end of the locating element. The mounting block preferably incorporates a swivel fitting adapted for releasable engagement with complementary fittings formed in various elements of the gauging apparatus, thereby to permit measurement from the centre line of the locating element to other datum points on the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is au exploded perspective view showing a reference assembly according to the invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawing, the invention provides a reference assembly 1 for use with a vehicle gauging apparatus (not shown) . The reference assembly is adapted for operative engagement with a stud and nut assembly (also not shown) on the vehicle wherein the free end of the stud defines a datum point, which may correspond to a particular reference coordinate on a standard data sheet provided by the vehicle manufacturer. The reference assembly 1 includes generally tubular body 2 comprising a substantially planar mounting portion 3 adapted to be clamped to the vehicle by the nut. The longitudinal side wall of the tubular body 2 defines a spacing portion 5 adapted to support an internally threaded collar 10 in spaced apart generally coaxial relationship with respect to the vehicle stud. The reference assembly further includes an elongate locating element in the form of a further stud 12 in threaded engagement with the collar 10. The locating element 12 is mounted for axial displacement with respect to the collar and is thereby adjustable, in use, to abut the free end of the vehicle stud. The remote end of the locating element defines a surrogate reference point 16 displaced outwardly of the datum point defined by the free end of the vehicle stud by a distance corresponding to the effective length of the locating element. This length is preferably between 30 and 60 mm, and in the preferred embodiment, is 45 mm.

The collar 10 is releasably engageable with the tubular body 2 by means of a bayonet fitting comprising a series of outwardly protruding lugs 20 formed on the collar, and a corresponding series of complementary L-shaped slots 21 formed in the body. In this way, removal of the collar provides convenient access to the vehicle nut for a conventional socket wrench.

The body 2 preferably incorporates a side opening 25 configured to accommodate the vehicle nut. Similarly, the mounting portion 3 includes a slot 26 extending radially outwardly from the centre to the peripheral edge thereof. The side opening 25 and radial slot 26 together enable the body to be slid transversely into position and located around the stud, without removal of the nut, as described in more detail below.

In the preferred embodiment, the radial slot 26 in the mounting portion 3 is defined by a slotted washer 28 adapted releasably to clip into a circumferential recess 29 formed in the body. The slotted washer 28 is selectively interchangeable with a variety of similar washers incorporating different sized slots, thereby enabling the assembly to be adapted for use with studs of different diameter.

A mounting block 35 is rotatably retained in operative engagement with a corresponding circumferential groove 36 recessed into the remote end of the locating element 12 by a grub screw or other suitable retaining means. The mounting block 35 incorporates a swivel fitting 38 adapted for releasable engagement with complementary fittings 39 formed in various elements 40 of the gauging apparatus, thereby to permit measurement from the center line of the locating element to other datum points on the vehicle.

Turning now to describe the operation of the assembly in more detail, a suitable reference stud on the vehicle is first selected, having regard to the nature of the damage which the vehicle has sustained. A suitable slotted washer 28, corresponding to the diameter of the stud is then selected, and inserted into position in the circumferentially extending recess 29 formed in the body adjacent the mounting portion 3. The nut associated with the vehicle stud is then loosened to provide sufficient axial clearance for the mounting portion and slotted washer.

The body 2 is then slid transversely into position. During this movement, the nut slides through side opening 25 of the body and the stud slides through the radial slot 26 formed in the washer until it abuts the blind end of the slot. At this point, the stud is located coaxially with respect to the body.

A suitable socket wrench is then simply inserted into the open end of the body and the nut tightened, whereby the mounting portion is clamped securely against the vehicle body. The threaded collar 10 is then fitted to the body by engaging bayonet lugs 20 with corresponding slots 21. The locating element 12 is then threadedly engaged with the collar, and screwed up until it abuts the free end of the vehicle stud. The mounting block 35 is then positioned on the remote end of the locating element, for attachment to a suitable element 40 of the vehicle gauging apparatus.

In this configuration, it will be appreciated that the mounting block itself, located within the circumferential groove 36 formed in the locating element, defines the surrogate reference point 16. This point is displaced outwardly from the datum point defined by the free end of the vehicle stud by a distance corresponding to the effective length of the locating element, which in the preferred embodiment is 45 mm. Since this distance is accurately known, it can automatically be compensated for in the various calibrated scales formed on the elements of the gauging apparatus, so that measurements taken on the vehicle can be correlated directly to the dimensional specifications provided on the standard data sheets.

The reference assemblies may also be used conveniently and efficiently simply to provide comparative measurements on the vehicle, for example between corresponding diagonals, without reference to standard data sheets. In either case, the assembly is readily fitted and removed from the datum points, without the need to remove the nuts from the vehicle studs.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms. For example, the body need not be tubular, but could simply comprise a structure or frame of any suitable shape or configuration. The locating element need not be a threaded stud but could simply be of cylindrical or prismatic configuration, for example. Similarly, the collar need not be internally threaded in the form of a special purpose nut, but could simply comprise a suitable clamping arrangement such as a grub screw, for example. Moreover, the collar need not be removable from the body, in which case spanner access to the vehicle nut could simply be provided by a suitable side opening in the body.

Claims

CLAIMS : -

1. A reference assembly adapted for operative engagement with a stud and nut assembly on a vehicle wherein the free end of the stud defines a datum point for comparative measurement, said reference assembly including a body comprising a generally planar mounting portion adapted to be clamped to the vehicle by the nut, a spacing portion adapted to support a collar in spaced apart generally coaxial relationship with respect to the stud, and an opening adapted to provide access to the nut, said reference assembly further including an elongate locating element mounted for axial displacement with respect to the collar and being adjustable to abut the free end of the stud to define a surrogate reference point displaced outwardly of the datum point by a distance corresponding to the effective length of the locating element, the remote end of the locating element being adapted for cooperative engagement with a gauging apparatus to provide an indication of vehicle alignment.

2. A reference assembly according to claim 1, wherein said locating element comprises a threaded member engageable with a correspondingly threaded aperture formed in the collar such that said axial displacement is effected by rotation of the locating element relative to the collar.

3. A reference assembly according to claim 2, wherein said collar is effectively a special purpose nut.

4. A reference element accordingly any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the body is genera?ly tubular in configuration and the collar is releasably engageable with the body, whereby removal of the collar provides socket wrench access to the vehicle nut.

5. A reference assembly according to claim 4, wherein the collar is releasably engageable with the tubular body by means of a bayonet fi€ting.

6. A reference assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said body incorporates a side opening adapted to accommodate the vehicle nut and wherein said mounting portion includes a radial slot adapted to accommodate and centrally locate the vehicle stud, said side opening and said slot together enabling the body to be slid transversely into position around the stud without removal of the nut.

7. A reference assembly according to claim 6, wherein said radial slot in said mounting portion is provided by a slotted washer releasably retained by a complementary retaining formation in the body, said slotted washer being selectively interchangeable with a variety of similar washers incorporating different sized slots, thereby enabling the reference assembly to be adapted for use with vehicle studs of different diameter.

8. A reference assembly according to claim 7 wherein said retaining formation comprises a circumferential groove effectively recessed into an interior side wall of the body.

9. A reference assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, further including a mounting block releasably retained in operative engagement with a remote end of the locating element.

10. A reference assembly according to claim 9 wherein said mounting block is rotatably retained in operative engagement with the locating element by means of a grub screw extending radially through the mounting block and engaging a corresponding circumferential groove formed in the remote end of the locating element, thereby selectively permitting rotational displacement of the mounting block relative to the locating element, and preventing relative axial movement therebetween.

11. A reference assembly according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein said mounting block incorporates a fitting adapted for releasable engagement with complementary fittings formed in selected elements of said gauging apparatus, thereby to permit measurement of distances between the surrogate reference point defined by the locating element and other datum points on the vehicle.

12. A reference assembly according to claim 11, wherein the fitting on the mounting block is a swivel permitting rotation about an axis substantially normal to a longitudinal axis of the locating element.

13. A reference assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the effective length of the locating element is between 30 mm and around 60 mm.

14. A reference assembly according to claim 13, wherein the effective length of the locating element is approximately 45 mm.