Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
  • B66F—HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD
  • B66F7/00—Lifting frames, e.g. for lifting vehicles; Platform lifts
  • B66F7/22—Lifting frames, e.g. for lifting vehicles; Platform lifts with tiltable platforms
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
  • B21D—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
  • B21D1/00—Straightening, restoring form or removing local distortions of sheet metal or specific articles made therefrom; Stretching sheet metal combined with rolling
  • B21D1/14—Straightening frame structures

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a body alignment bench for 5 passenger vehicles, comprising a subframe resting on the ground, a movable mounting frame onto which the vehicle may be secured, and actuating means for moving the mounting frame, the mounting frame being connected to the subframe and being tiltable about the longitudinal and transverse axis of 1" the bench.
• a body alignment bench or jig of this type is known from 0- 87/07190 and WO-87/07191. These alignment benches are only capable of elevating the vehicle in its substantially !5 horizontal position.
• the apparatus comprises a drive ramp having elevating means
• EP-0,307,331 relates to a body alignment bench having a drive ramp and lift means, the front end of the alignment bench is pivotably mounted and its rear end may be raised by means of actuator cylinders.
• EP 0,163,216 relates to a body alignment bench for vehicles where the vehicle is positioned on a turntable that is rotatable in the horizontal plane, and a column having various movable arms which can be fixedly tied to the body of the car.
• a lifting device of the type mentioned by way of introduction is also known from EP A-0,378,743.
• This lifting device is first and foremost adapted for placing a vehicle in a desired slant position or tilted position. Furthermore, the object of the lifting device is to avoid having a lifting column at each corner and thus to facilitate access to the various components of the vehicle.
• the total structure is, however, is of little rigidity, and, in opposition to the present alignment bench, it is rather unsuited for active alignment operations.
• the presently proposed body realignment or alignment bench has many technical and ergonomic advantages when compared with the alignment benches on the market today. By maneu ⁇ vering the alignment bench, it is possible to place the car in a very convenient work position.
• the alignment bench is particularly advantageous when used together with a pulling machine which makes it possible to apply the versatile movement functions of the apparatus to the rough part of body alignment work. This is quite different from previously known jig arrangements.
• the alignment bench is constructed in such a way that it is 10056 stable in all positions and has no problems in withstanding the heavy loads to which a body alignment bench normally is exposed.
• the versatility of the alignment bench also makes it well suited as a conventional lifting device for carrying out mechanical work, such as overhaul of brakes.
• the vehicle By means of the completely independent maneuvering of a vehicle on the alignment bench, the vehicle can be placed in any desired position, both for working purposes and in connection with a pulling machine.
• the maneuverability of the alignment bench in combination with its stability and use of great force makes it particularly suitable for body 5 alignment work.
• the mounting frame is connected to the 10 subframe via an intermediate frame, the mounting frame is attached to the intermediate frame and is tiltable about an axis coinciding with or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mounting frame, the intermediate frame is pivotable about a first transversal axis located in one end area of the
• intermediate frame and the intermediate frame is pivotable about a second transversal axis located in the other end area of the intermediate frame.
• pivotable link mechanisms one at each end of the intermediate frame.
• One link mechanism is pivotably fixed in relation to the subframe and the other link mechanism is pivotable and displaceable along the subframe.
• the mounting frame be pivotable about its longitudinal axis by means of at least one actuating cylinder operating independently of the subframe.
• At least one actuating cylinder be *> mounted between the subframe and the intermediate frame in each end area for operating the intermediate frame about said transverse axes.
• a pulling machine is relea ⁇ ably attached to the » subframe in order to carry out straightening operations by means of the maneuverability of the mounting frame.
• the alignment bench is positioned on the floor via the subframe.
• the subframe may be secured to the floor.
• the mounting frame may, as indicated, be maneuvered across three axes, tilting both ways in its longitudinal
• the mounting frame may, for example, have a lifting force of 140,000 N and a downward pulling force of about 90,000 N, since the actuating cylinders have dual functions.
• the alignment bench may be maneuvered by means of a hydrau ⁇ lic/electrical system and be controlled by a simple electric hand panel.
• Measuring equipment may be mounted on the '5 mounting frame, moving with the mounting frame and the movements of the vehicle. The mounted measuring equipment does not interfere with the functions of the body alignment bench.
• Fig. 1 shows schematically a side view of the body alignment bench according to the invention
• Fig. 2 shows the alignment bench according to Fig. 1, seen from above
• ° Fig. 3 shows the alignment bench according to Fig. 1 seen from the front
• Fig. 4 shows the alignment bench seen from the side and having the mounting frame and the intermediate frame partly raised in its front end area
• Fig. 5 shows the alignment bench according to Fig. 4 having the mounting frame removed and the intermediate frame raised in both end areas
• Fig. 6 shows the alignment bench according to Fig. 4 having the mounting frame and the intermediate frame lowered in the front area and raised in the rear end area
• Fig. 1 shows schematically a side view of the body alignment bench according to the invention
• Fig. 2 shows the alignment bench according to Fig. 1, seen from above
• ° Fig. 3 shows the alignment bench according to Fig. 1 seen from the front
• Fig. 4 shows the alignment bench seen from the side and having the mounting frame and the intermediate frame partly raised in its front end area
• Fig. 7 shows the mounting frame and the intermediate frame according to Fig. 4 seen from the front.
• FIG. 1 shows a vehicle 20 placed on the body alignment bench 1.
• the vehicle 20 may be driven up on the alignment bench 1 by means of inclined ramps 15 and support means 16 and tracks 19 located therebetween. These may be removed after the vehicle 20 has been placed on the 1 5 alignment bench 1.
• the alignment bench 1 consists of a subframe 10 placed on the ground or a floor. Although not strictly necessary, the subframe may be fixed to the floor.
• the alignment bench also serves as a subframe 10 placed on the ground or a floor. Although not strictly necessary, the subframe may be fixed to the floor.
• the alignment bench also serves as a subframe 10 placed on the ground or a floor. Although not strictly necessary, the subframe may be fixed to the floor.
• the alignment bench also
• 25 frame 5 is connected with the subframe 10 via an intermediate frame 13.
• the subframe 10 is stationary, whereas the mounting frame 5 is maneuverable about three axes.
• the mounting frame 5 is
• the tilting angle is relatively limited, being in the magnitude range of 10° in relation to the horizontal plane in both directions.
• Fig. 2 shows from above the body alignment bench having transverse beams 11 secured to the mounting frame 5.
• the transverse beams 11 have clamping devices 17, optionally said support pads, mounted thereon.
• the drawing also shows a pulling machine 12 which is attached to the subframe 10.
• the pulling machine 12 may be attached to any area around
• the pulling machine 12 is of a completely conventional design and will not be further described here.
• Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show the maneuverability of the intermediate
• the link mechanism 6 is rotatably connected to the subframe 10 in one end or its lower end area. In its other or upper end area the link mechanism 6 is pivotably attached to the intermediate frame 13 by means of a shaft or trunnion which forms a first 5 transverse axis 3 about which the intermediate frame 13 can pivot. In the other end area of the intermediate frame (to the right in Figs. 4, 5 and 6) an additional link mechanism 7 forms a connection between the intermediate frame 13 and the subframe 10. The link mechanism 7 is pivotably connected to
• the link mechanism 7 is in its other or upper end pivotably attached to the intermediate frame 13 by means of a rotatable shaft or trunnion which forms a second
• the mounting of the vehicle 20 is simple and quick since the vehicle can be driven up or be pulled onto with a winch.
• the alignment bench 1 is low in the drive-up or mounting position, measuring, for example in a constructed prototype,
• Securing clamps are, as on all other alignment benches, provided with special features for individual car types.
• the driving ramps will automatically be fixedly locked, but may be removed, as needed, by simple manipulation.
• the body alignment bench may, as indicated, be placed freely on the floor, but if fixedly mounted thereon it will provide even greater functional benefits.
• the alignment bench will also function as ordinary lifting means and can with '5 advantage be used also in connection with repairs of, for example, motors and in the mounting and dismantling of the front suspension or rear end of the car.
• ordinary body alignment benches are often an o b stacle to the work in the repair shop whereas the present alignment bench will also readily serve as a versatile "work bench" for cars.
• two brackets 14 absorb the axial forces in both directions between the mounting frame 5 and the intermediate frame 13. Further, the bracket 18 and the link 6 absorb the axial forces between the intermediate frame 13 and the subframe 10. The width of the link mechanisms 6 and 7 and the strong bearings of the subframe 10 and the intermediate frame 13 absorb forces in the transverse direction.
• the body alignment bench may be equipped with a safety device which automatically locks the bench in an upper or approximately fully raised position.
• a safety device comprises at least one locking rod 30 which in its upper end is rotatably mounted in the bracket 14 and may be rotated about the same axis as the cylinder 9.
• the other or lower end of the locking rod 30 slides or rolls on a ramp surface 32 placed on a bracket 31 which may also form a part of the lower attachment to the subframe 10 for the actuating cylinder 9.
• the locking rod 30 When the intermediate frame 13 is completely lowered, the locking rod 30 is primarily in a horizontal position. As the intermediate frame 13 is raised, the locking rod 30 pivots down and slides on the bracket 31. This movement can occur reversibly until a certain height of the intermediate frame 13 is achieved. At this predetermined height the lower end of the locking rod 30 slides across a sill 33 and irreversibly down the ramp surface 32 and locks the interme- diate frame 13 in this raised position. In order to release the intermediate frame 13 once more, it must be raised somewhat and the locking rod or rods 30 be pivoted back across the sill 33, whereupon the frame 13 can be lowered.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Geology (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)
• Vehicle Cleaning, Maintenance, Repair, Refitting, And Outriggers (AREA)
• Chair Legs, Seat Parts, And Backrests (AREA)
• Special Chairs (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=19897946

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Cited By (8)

Citations (3)

• 1995
  • 1995-02-20 NO NO950629A patent/NO180574C/no unknown
• 1996
  • 1996-02-13 AU AU48516/96A patent/AU4851696A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1996-02-13 WO PCT/NO1996/000034 patent/WO1996026152A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (3)

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