Abstract
The invention relates to a straightening apparatus for a vehicle, including a frame (1), a lifting device (2) fastened to the frame, a straightening table (3) which is fastened to the lifting device and which has, on its sides, platforms (5a1, 5a2, 6, 8a1, 8a2, 5, 8) onto which the vehicle may be moved for the straightening work, and anchor beams (4a1, 4a2, 4a3, 4a4; 4) and fasteners (12a1, 12a2, 13a1, 13a2; 11, 12, 13) fastened to the anchor beams for fastening the vehicle to the straightening table for the straightening work, the anchor beams (4a1, 4a2, 4a3, 4a4; 4) being fixedly fastened to the gaps between the platforms (5a1, 5a2, 8a1, 8a2, 5, 6, 8) on the sides of the straightening table (3). The inventive straightening apparatus for a vehicle includes support devices (10a1, 10a2, 10) which are settable at vehicle wheels that are between the beams (9a1, 9a2 ja 9a3, 9a4) at the front pan of the straightening table, below them, when the straightening table is lifted to the working height and arranged to support the wheels as the straightening table and vehicle are lowered.
Claims
1. A straightening apparatus for a vehicle, including a frame, a lifting device fastened to the frame, a straightening table which is fastened to the lifting device and which has, on its sides, platforms onto which the vehicle may be moved for the straightening work, and anchor beams and fasteners fastened to the anchor beams for fastening the vehicle to the straightening table for the straightening work, the anchor beams being fixedly fastened, in gaps between the platforms, to the sides of the straightening table, and beams at a front part of the straightening table, wherein the straightening apparatus for a vehicle includes support devices which are settable under the vehicle wheels that are between the beams at the front part of the straightening table when the straightening table is lifted to the working height and arranged to support the wheels as the straightening table and vehicle are lowered.
2. A straightening apparatus for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fasteners include fastener frames that are fastened to the anchor beams movably in a longitudinal direction of the straightening table.
3. A straightening apparatus for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fasteners include fixtures that are fastened to the fastener frames.
4. A straightening apparatus for a vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein the fastener frame includes a support part for fastening the fixture.
5. A straightening apparatus for a vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fastener frames include two planar parts at a distance from each other, and between them, at a distance from each other, fastening screws.
6. A straightening apparatus for a vehicle as claimed in claim 5, wherein a distance between the fastening screws is larger than a width of the anchor beams.
Description
(1) In the following, the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the attached drawings, in which
(2) FIG. 1 is a diagonal top view of an inventive straightening apparatus for a vehicle,
(3) FIG. 2 is a side view of the straightening apparatus of FIG. 1 in the low position with a vehicle on it,
(4) FIG. 3 is a side view of the straightening apparatus of FIG. 1 lifted up from the low position with a vehicle on it,
(5) FIG. 4 is a side view of the straightening apparatus of FIG. 1 lifted to the high position with a vehicle on it,
(6) FIG. 5 is a side view of the straightening apparatus of FIG. 1 in the working position with a vehicle on it,
(7) FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail of FIG. 5,
(8) FIG. 7 is a side view of the straightening apparatus of FIG. 1 in the working position with a vehicle on it,
(9) FIG. 8 is an enlarged detail of FIG. 7,
(10) FIG. 9 is an alternative side view of using the straightening apparatus of FIG. 1 in the working position,
(11) FIG. 10 shows in detail how the fastener frames are fastened to the anchor beams,
(12) FIG. 11 shows in detail how a fastener is fastened to the upper seam of a rocker panel, and
(13) FIG. 12 shows in detail how a fastener is fastened to the lower seam of a rocker panel.
(14) The straightening apparatus for a vehicle, in accordance with FIGS. 1 to 12, includes a frame which is on a support, a lifting device fastened to the frame, which in these figures is lifting scissors, and a straightening table fastened to the top part of the lifting scissors. On both sides of the straightening table there are platforms onto which a vehicle may be moved for the straightening work.
(15) FIG. 1 shows the straightening apparatus and the parts and devices it includes. A straightening table 3 has on its different longitudinal sides rear platforms 5a1 and 5a2 at the rear part of the straightening table, and centre platforms 8a1 and 8a2 at the centre part. In addition, the straightening table has on its both sides, between the platforms 5a1 and 8a1 and platforms 5a2 and 8a2 removable intermediate platforms 6, and removable intermediate platforms (not shown in FIG. 1) at the front side of the centre platforms. There are gaps between the rear platforms, centre platforms, and front platforms. In these gaps, anchor beams 4a1, 4a2 have been fastened to one side, and anchor beams 4a3 and 4a4 on the other side. The anchor beams 4a1, 4a2, 4a3 and 4a4 are placed on the straightening table 3 at such places where the fastening of the vehicle to the straightening table is possible. The fastener frames are fastened to the anchor beams; the fastener frames 12a1 and 12a2 are at the front part, and the fastener frames 13a1 and 13a2 are at the rear part. In addition, the straightening apparatus according to FIG. 1 includes a separate straightening beam 7 as well as support devices 10a1 and 10a2. Further, FIG. 1 shows, at the front part of the straightening table, beams 9a1 and 9a2 on one side of the straightening table, and beams 9a3 and 9a4 on the other side for the wheels of the vehicle.
(16) FIGS. 2 to 9 show the frame 1 on a support, lifting scissors 2 fastened to the frame, and straightening table 3 fastened to the lifting scissors. On both sides of the straightening table there are platforms 5, 6 and 8 onto which a vehicle may be moved. The figures additionally show anchor beams 4, fixedly fastened between the platforms, and fastener frames 12 fastened to them, and fixtures 11, 13 to be fastened to the fastener frames, and in FIG. 9 a lifting part 15, 16 to be fastened to the fixtures.
(17) When using the inventive straightening apparatus for a vehicle for repairs relating to straightening the vehicle, the vehicle 3 is first moved onto the straightening table as shown in FIG. 2. The front wheels of the vehicle are then between the beams 9a1 and 9a2 at the front of the straightening table, and the rear wheels are on the platforms 5 and/or 6 at the rear. The anchor beams are in the gaps of platforms 6 and 8, and the platforms together with the anchor beams form a driving platform along which the vehicle may be driven onto the straightening table. In accordance with FIG. 3, the straightening table 3 is lifted to such an extent that the straightening beam 7 can be pushed in contact with the straightening table and fastened to the straightening table.
(18) FIG. 4 shows a vehicle in a position where it has first been lifted, by means of the straightening table, up to such a height that the support devices 10 have been successfully placed under the wheels. After this, the straightening table has been moved downward into the position according to FIG. 4. In this position, the fastener frames 12 and the fixtures 11,13 to be fastened to them may be fastened to the anchor beams, the fasteners being at the vehicle fastening points below them.
(19) In FIG. 5, the straightening table is shown in the following position. The straightening table has been lifted upward in the direction of the arrow B, whereby it rises above the support devices, and as the vehicle rises it fastens itself to the straightening table by means of the front fixtures 11 and rear fixtures 13. FIG. 6 shows in a larger scale the anchor beam 4, fastener frame 12 fastened on it, and rocker panel fixture 11 fastened to it.
(20) FIGS. 7 and 8 show the fastening of a vehicle to a straightening table by making use of a double fastener 11, which is fastened to the vehicle by the upper edge A. This is used for vehicles that lack the lower edge of the rocker panel. FIG. 8 shows in a larger scale the anchor beam 4, fastener frame 12 fastened above it, and a fixture 11 fastened with an adjustable arm 14.
(21) When a vehicle has been fastened to the straightening table as shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the straightening work of the vehicle may start. The straightening work is carried out by means of the straightening beam 7 in a manner known per se.
(22) FIG. 9 shows the use of the device in repair and service tasks. In such a case, a lifting part 15 has been installed to the fastener frame 12, the height of which is adjustable with a lock pin 16.
(23) FIG. 10 shows two fastener frames 12 and their fastening to the anchor beams 4 of the straightening table. There are two beams, at a distance from each other, as the anchor beams 4. The fastener frames 12 include two plate-like parts 17 at a distance from each other, and between them, at a distance from each other, fastening screws 18. The distance between the fastening screws is larger than the width of the beams of the fastener frame. As a vehicle is being fastened, the fastener frames 12 are set to the anchor beams 4 so that the anchor beam is between the plate-like parts 17. As shown in FIG. 10, the fastener frames 12 may be moved and shifted in the longitudinal direction of the straightening table as per the arrows. Once they have been successfully set at the desired place at the fastening points of the vehicle, they may be fastened in place by means of the fastening screws 18.
(24) FIGS. 11 and 12 show the fastener frame 12 according to FIG. 10. On the upper plate-like part of the fastener frame there are two sleeves 19, extending upward, to which the fixture 11 may be fastened by means of a tubular intermediate part 20 (FIG. 12). In addition, a fastening part 21 has been fastened to the sleeves, to which the fixture 11 may be fastened by means of a plate-like intermediate part 14 (FIG. 11). The fixture 11 is a plate-like part in the middle of which there are fastening points 22 to fasten it to the intermediate part 14 or 20 by a screw fastening. The plate-like part of the fastener has at both ends fastening members 23, 24 for fastening the fastener to the seam of the rocker panel of the vehicle. As the fastening members 23, 24, there are two plates at a small distance from each other, which may be tightened in relation to each other and meant to be placed on both sides of the vehicle seam and to be fastened/tightened to the seam.
(25) FIG. 11 shows in detail how the fastener is fastened to the upper seam of a rocker panel. In such a case, the fixture 11 is fastened by a screw fastening to the plate-like intermediate part 14. The gap between the fastening plates extends downward and the fastening plates are clamped to the upper seam of the rocker panel of the vehicle.
(26) FIG. 12 shows in detail how a fastener is fastened to the lower seam of a rocker panel. In such a case, the fixture 11 is fastened by a screw fastening to the tubular intermediate part 20. The gap between the fastening plates extends upward and the fastening plates are clamped to the lower seam of the rocker panel of the vehicle.
(27) The same fastener is used for fastening the upper seam and lower seam of the vehicle. The fastener is turned to a different position when the fastening is carried out to the upper seam than to the lower seam.
(28) The invention is not restricted to the preferred embodiments disclosed in the above, but it may vary within the scope of the inventive idea defined in the claims.
