Automobile body straightener

Abstract

 The apparatus includes a car-supporting platform (14) fitted with a power-operated lift (60) for lifting the vehicle off the platform, so as to facilitate inserting clamps (72) to secure the vehicle body to the platform. One or more L-shaped pulling arms (6) are pivoted to the platform frame for swinging movement around the vehicle body, so as to enable pulling on the latter in any horizontal orientation. In a preferred embodiment, the platform is made of two pivotable sections which can be folded against each other, and the apparatus is provided with wheels (10, 12), so that the same, with the platform in folded position, can be wheeled about and stored in a minimum of space when not in use.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for straightening vehicle bodies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] There are several known types of straighteners of the character described. In general, known straighteners require modification of the garage floor to provide means for anchoring posts or the like which serve as reaction members for the pulling chains to be attached to the vehicle body. Most known straighteners are also permanently mounted on the garage floor and occupy space which cannot be used for other purpose when a straightening operation is not required.

[0003] Also in known straighteners, the operation of lifting the automobile off the platform, in order to insert clamps and secure the clamps to the car body and to the platform, is a time-­consuming operation, since manual lifts are required for such purpose.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is therefore the general object of the present invention to provide an improved vehicle body straightener which will obviate the above-noted disadvantages.

[0005] A more specific object of the invention is to provide a straightener incorporating an integrated car lift to considerably accelerate and facilitate installation of the car on the straightener.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a straightener which forms a complete unit arranged to be easily rolled on a garage floor for storing the same when not in use.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a straightener of the character described, in which the car lift serves to rotate the car to any desired orientation, the platform and clamps being arranged so as to fix the car in the desired orientation, so that a single pulling member can be provided effective to pull and straighten any part of the car body and in the desired direction.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a straightener of the character described, specifically designed for car bodies of monoshell construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The straightener comprises a car-supporting platform, a power-operated lift incorporated to said platform to lift the car of the platform, in order to insert clamps to fix the car body to the platform. Preferably, the lift can rotate the lifted car with respect to the platform, and the clamps can secure the car in any oriented position with respect to the platform. At least one pulling member, of L-shape, defining an upright and a horizontal arm, is pivotally secured at the outer end of its horizontal arm to the platform structure and locked in adjusted position to obtain a pulling force in the desired direction. Preferably, the platform comprises two platform sections pivotally connected to a central beam, whereby the platform sections can be folded one against the other when the straightener is not in use. The straightener in accordance with the last-named embodiment further includes retractable wheels to permit moving the straightener on a garage floor between a stored and an operative position.

[0010] According to further embodiments, more than one pulling members can be provided to enable simultaneous pulling on the car from different angles.

[0011] According to a preferred characteristic of the invention, the upright arm is pivoted on the horizontal arm for folding movement, whereby the apparatus can be shipped to the customer without dismantling the same.

[0012] In a further embodiment, the straightener being of the non-rollable type is arranged for tilting to facilitate loading of a car on the platform.

[0013] There is also disclosed an auxiliary wheel-mounted pulling member assembly which is distinct from the straightener itself and can be releasably attached to the platform for pulling certain parts of the car in any desired direction simultaneously or independently of the pulling section effected by the main pulling members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] In the annexed drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the straightener in folded inoperative position;

Figure 2 is a cross-section of the central beam and pivotable platform sections of the first embodiment, this figure being taken along line 2-2 of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of one end of the beam and part of the platform sections;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the straightener in accordance with the first embodiment;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the straightener of Figure 4 showing the lift in raised position;

Figure 6 is a view similar to that of Figure 5 showing the car body secured to the platform and the car body being in the process of being straightened out;

Figure 7 is a partial section of the pulling member taken along lines 7-7 of Figure 4;

Figure 8, shown on the fifth sheet of the drawings, is a partial side elevation, taken along line 8-8 of Figure 4, showing the central beam raised by the ground-engaging wheels;

Figure 8a is a view similar to that of Figure 8, but showing the beam in lowered position;

Figure 9 is an end view of a clamp as fixed to a platform section, this view being taken along line 9-9 of Figure 6;

Figure 9a is a side elevation of the elements shown in Figure 9;

Figure 9b is a partial side elevation of the clamp on the opposite side from that shown in Figure 9a.

Figure 10 is a cross-section taken along line 10-10 of Figure 5 and showing the indexing system for locking the pulling member in adjusted orientation.

Figure 10a and 10b are views similar to that of Figure 10 showing different positions of the locking pins;

Figure 11, shown on the fourth sheet of drawings, is a plan section taken along line 11-11 of Figure 7;

Figure 12 is an end elevation of the upper part of the pulling assembly;

Figure 13 is a cross-section of the pulley mounted at the top end of the pulling assembly;

Figure 14 is a perspective view of the pulley assembly mounted on the upright arm of the pulling member;

Figure 15, shown on the seventh sheet of drawings, is a side view of the straightener of the first embodiment showing the damaged car rotated 90 degrees with respect to the platform and showing also the use of a restraining member;

Figure 16 is a partial view, partly in cross-section, of one platform section and showing the means to secure the restraining member thereon;

Figure 17 is a bottom plan view of the arrangement of Figure 16;

Figure 18 and Figure 18a are elevation, partly in section, of the locking pin arrangement shown in Figure 3 for locking the two platform sections in operative position;

Figure 19, shown on the sixth sheet of drawings, is a partial side elevation of the indexing system shown in Figure 10;

Figure 20 is a partial side elevation, partially in section showning the indexing system of Figure 19 and also the pivot of the pulling member to the frame of the straightener;

Figure 21 is a partial top plan view of the elements of Figure 20;

Figures 21a and 21b are a side elevation and a cross-­section respectively of a modified indexing system;

Figure 22 is a schematic view of the pneumatic and hydraulic circuit for operating the various movable parts of the straightener;

Figure 23 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention shown in folded inoperative position, but the ground-engaging wheel partly extended, this embodiment including two oppositely-mounted pulling members;

Figure 24 is a side elevation, partly in section, taken along line 24-24 of Figure 25;

Figure 25 is a top plan view of the straightener of the n inoperative position, and the other in unfolded operative position.;

Figure 26 shown on the 11th sheet of the drawings is a perspective view of a third embodiment which is an improvement over the second embodiment;

Figure 27 is a side elevation of the portion of the pulling member encircled by arrow line 27 in Figure 26;

Figure 28 is an end view partially in section of Figure 27;

Figure 29 is a longitudinal section taking along line 29-29 of Figure 28;

Figure 30 is a view similar to Figure 29 but showing the vertical leg of the pulling member in horizontal position for shipping of the apparatus.

Figure 32 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the straightener of the invention;

Figure 33 is a top plan view of the same, partly in section;

Figure 34 is a partial section taken along line 34-34 of Figure 33; and

Figure 35 is a partial longitudinal section of the fourth embodiment

Figure 36 is a side elevation of the auxiliary wheel-­mounted pulling assembly shown attached in operative position to the platform of the straightener, the latter being in operative position;

Figure 36A is a view of a portion of Figure 36 showing the chain pulling lever at the end of its chain pulling stroke

Figure 37 is a plan section taken along line 37-37 of Figure 36; and

Figure 38 is a rear end elevation of the auxiliary pulling assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE THREE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Referring to Figures 1 to 22 inclusive, which show the first embodiment of the invention, the straightener comprises an elongated beam 1, of square cross-section, an L-shaped pulling member 3 pivoted at one end of beam 1 for horizontal swinging movement. Pulling member 3 has an L-shape, consisting of horizontal arm 5 and of an upright arm 6 rigidly joined together and reinforced by a stay 8, the two arms being tubular and of generally square cross-section.

[0016] A first caster wheel 10 depends from the horizontal arm 5 at its junction with the upright arm 6. A pair of main caster wheels 12 are mounted on beam 1 intermediate its ends for up-and-­down movement with respect to the beam 1, as will be later described. A pair of platform sections 14 are pivotally mounted to the beam 1 about axes extending longitudinally of the beam and parallel thereto, on each side thereof. The platform sections 14 can pivot between an upright folded position, as shown in Figure 1, and a horizontal extended operative position, as shown in dotted line in Figure 2 on each side of the beam 1.

[0017] Each platform section 14 comprises several longitudinal tubular members 16 rigidly interconnectd to cross-arms 18 and maintained in parallel closely-spaced relationship. The ends of members 16 are closed by closure plates 20. The cross-arms 18 extend inwardly from the respective platform sections and are pivotally connected by pivot pins 22 to cross-plates 24 upstanding from and rigidly secured to the top of beam 1 and extending transversely of the same. As shown in Figure 2, each platform section 14 is raised from unfolded to folded position by means of a single-acting hydraulic ram 26 pivoted to the inner end of each cross-arm 18 and to the top of the beam 1 in cross-­relationship.

[0018] Unfolding of the platform sections 14 is effected under the weight of the platform sections, the hydraulic oil being expelled from the rams 26. Each platform section can be locked in horizontal unfolded position by insertions of a locking pin 28 through aligned hols 30 and 32 in cross-arm 18 and in cross-­plates 24, respectively. Locking pins 28 (see Figures 3, 18, and 18a) have a handle 34 at one end and a bayonet slot 36 along its length engaged by a stud 38 fixed to a collar 40, which is in turn secured to the cross-plate 24 and which serves to guide the locking pin 28.

[0019] Figure 18 shows the locking pin in unlocked position and Figure 18a show that the locking pin has been pushed and rotated to its locked position, where it positively maintains the associated platform section in unfolded position.

[0020] Each platform section is provided with a pair of floor-. engaging legs 42 pivoted at their upper end to brackets 44 fixed to the underside of the outer end of each cross arm 18. As shown in Figure 2, links 46 are pivotally connected to legs 42 and to the outer end of cross-plates 24 underneath the pivot pin 22, so arranged to automatically unfold the legs 42 from their folded position alongside of the folded platform section 14, as shown on the left-hand side of Figure 2 to an unfolded right-angle position shown in dotted line on the right-hand side of Figure 2 attained when the platform sections 14 are in horizontal unfolded position. Legs 42 and their links 46 also serve to maintain platform sections 14 in folded position.

[0021] Once the platform sections are in horizontal position, they are locked by the locking pins 28 and preferably further reinforced by a bridge 47 having end channels 47a slidably fitted on the innermost members 16 of platform sections 14. In order to effect locking, the beam 1 must be raised, so that the vertical legs 42 clear the floor. This is achieved by the main caster wheels 12. Referring to Figures 8 and 8a, each caster wheel 12 is mounted at the the outer end of an arm 48 through a lateral bracket 50, the arm 48 extending along the top of beam 1 and being pivoted to said beam at its inner end at pivot pin 52 for up-and-down movement. A single-acting hydraulic ram 54, pivotally interconnected between the arm 48 and beam 1, exerts a downward force on the arm 48, so as to consequently raise the beam 1. Upon release of the hydraulic pressure, beam 1 will lower under gravity. A manually-operable locking pin 56 serves to lock the arm 48 in either one of its lowered or raised position by insertion through a hole in bracket 50 in register with an appropriate hole in a plate 58 secured to the top of beam 1.

[0022] A car lift 60 is associated with the straightener. This car lift 60 includes a single-acting hydraulic ram formed by hydraulic cylinder 62 fitted with a piston, the piston rod 64 of which is shown. The hydraulic cylinder 62 is mounted upright within and secured to a sleeve 66 extending throught the beam 1 and secured thereto. The hydraulic cylinder 62 extends below the beam 1 but its lower end clears the ground at all times, even when the caster wheels 12 are in raised position. The top end of piston rod 64 carries a conventional car lift framework 70 with adjustable car engaging arms 71, as shown in Figure 1 and also in Figure 5. Thus, a car A, the body or frame of which is to be straightened, can be lifted off the platform sections by the car lift 60, as shown in Figure 5. The entire car A can also be rotated with respect to the platform to any desired orientation, since the piton rod can rotate about its axis within the hydraulic cylinder 62.

[0023] It is noted that, when the platform sections 14 are locked in operative horizontal position, the assembly is solely supported by the legs 42. Once the car A is raised off the platform, as shown in Figure 5, clamps can be inserted between the platform sections and the car to fix the latter to the platform sections. Such clamps are shown at 72 and are more particularly designed for clamping car bodies of monoshell construction. Clamps 72 are shown in Figure 6 and in more detail in Figures 9, 9a, and 9b. They include a stand 74 with an enlarged base 76, which can be fixed at any selected position longitudinally of the platform and also in any orientation by means of headed bolts 78 serving to tighten retainer members 79 overlapping the base 76 and bearing against the top of the platform. The heads 80 of the bolts 78 engage the underside of two adjacent tubular members 16; and bolt elements extend through the space between the adjacent members 16.

[0024] The top of the stand 74 carries a transverse tube 74a on which are longitudinally adjustable two clamping assemblies 82, each carried by a collar 82a slidable on tube 74a. The jaws 84 of each assembly 82 can be tightened by bolts 86 against the opposite sides of the usual rib B protruding from the underside of a monoshell car body longitudinally on each side thereof.

[0025] Obviously, clamps to secure a car with a frame could be used with the straightener of the invention.

[0026] The pulling member 3 has its horizontal arm 5 pivoted at its free end portion to one end of the beam 1 (see more particularly figures 1, 20 and 21). An underplate 88 is fixed to the front end of beam 1 and protrudes forwardly thereof and an indexing plate 90 is secured to the front cross-plate 24 and extends forwardly over the arm 5 of the pulling member 3. The end of the arm 5 is pivoted to underplate 88 and to the indexint plate 90 by means of a vertical pivot bolt 92. The indexing plate 90 has a plurality of equally-spaced indexing holes 94 disposed along an arc of a circle of about 180 degrees concentric with the axis of pivot bolt 92.

[0027] The pulling member 3 can be swung to any position through about 180 degrees from an initial position at right angle to the beam 1. The pulling member can be adjustably locked in oriented position by a locking mechanism, shown in Figure 10, 10A, and 10B, 20, 21, and 15. A pair of locking pins 96 are vertically mounted and slidable through two opposite holes made in the horizontal arm 5. Each locking pin is biased upwardly by means of a compression coil spring 98 surrounding the locking pin, abutting at the upper end against a collar 100 of the locking pin, and at its lower end against the bottom wall of the beam 1. When the pin 96 is in locked position, it extends fully through a hole 94 of the indexing plate 90 and through a hole of a reinforcing plate 102 secured to the top of arm 5 and overlying indexing plate 90.

[0028] The distance between indexing holes 94 is less than the distance between the pair of locking pins, in such a way that the pulling member 3 can be locked in consecutive adjusted positions of an angular pitch substantially equal to half the pitch of the indexing holes 94 for obtaining maximum precision of angular adjustment in relation to the required minimum spacing between adjacent holes 94.

[0029] A double headed link rod 104 freely extends through longitudinal slots 106 made in the lower end portion of the two locking pins 96. An operating rod 108 extends alongside the exterior of tubular horizontal arm 5, being rotatably retained therealong by perforated supports 110. The outer front end of the operating rod 108 forms a right-angle operating handle 112 (see Figure 15) to manually rotate operating rod 108. The inner end of the operating rod forms a crank member 114 bearing against the link rod 104.

[0030] Referring to Figures 10 to 10B, it will be obvious that by pivoting handle 112 to the right from the position shown in Figures 10 and 10B to the position shown in Figure 10A, will retract either one of the locking pins 96 from its locking position, and this against the bias of the associated coil spring 98. Proper operation of the handle 112 and swinging movement of the pulling member 3 results in easy adjusting and locking of the pulling member 3 in any adjusted orientation for eventually exerting a pull on the car body to be straightened in the required direction.

[0031] Figures 21a and 21b show a preferred indexing system. Advantageously, the operating rod 108a extends within tubular arm 5 and is thus protected against damage. Its inner crank shaped end 114a, when rotated, raises a thrust plate 114b which is perforated to surround both locking pins 96a. Thrust plate 114b abut collars 100a fixed to pins 96a and thus raise pins 96a against the bias of springs 98a to clear the indexing plate 90.

[0032] The vertical or upright arm 6 of the pulling member 3 is hollow and opens at its top end to receive a telescopic member 116 (see Figure 7) which carries at its top end an idle pulley 118 which is rotatable in the general plane of the horizontal arm 5. The lower end of telescopic member 116 is attached to the piston rod 120 of a piston 122 slidable in a hydraulic cylinder 124 of a single-acting hydraulic ram 126 which, under pressure, moves telescopic member 116 upwardly. Upon release of hydraulic pressure, the coil spring 128 within the hydraulic ram 126 returns the telescopic member 226 to its lowermost position.

[0033] A pulling chain 130 is provided with a hook 131 at one end or other fastener element to be attached to the part of the car body to be pulled out (figures 5 and 6). This chain 130, as also shown in Figures 14 and 15, is then trained on a pulley 132, then on pulley 118 and the free end of the chain 130 is adjustably locked to the telescopic member 116 by being inserted at the required chain link through a bayonet slot 134 (fig. 11) formed in a lateral bracket 136 fixed to the top portion of telescopic member 116 just below the top pulley 118.

[0034] Pulley 132 is carried by a stirrup 138 freely pivoted about a vertical pivot pin 140 carried by a collar 142 surrounding upright arm 6 and vertically adjustable along the length of arm 6 by means of a locking pin 144 axially movable between locking and clearing retracted position by operation of the handle 146, the locking assembly being similar to that described in connection with Figures 18 and 18A. Locking pin 144 can thus be inserted into any one of a plurality of equally-­spaced holes 150 made in the upright arm 6 (see Figures 1 and 6), so as to adjust the vertical direction in which the chain 130 is pulling.

[0035] Referring to Figure 22, the power system to actuate the various rams comprises a combined, compressed air and hydraulic cylinder-and-piston unit 152, in which the piston 154 of the air cylinder 156 is connected by piston rod 158 to the piston 160 of the hydraulic cylinder 162. The air cylinder 156 is connected by air lines 164 to a conventional pressure air supply found in most garages, indicated at 166 and including an air reservoir 168 fed by an air compressor 170 driven by an electric motor 172. The outlet of reservoir 168 feeds through a check vale 174, and a reversing valve 176, which is manually operated to feed pressurized air on either side of air piston 154 to pressurize and release the hydraulic liquid 178 in hydraulic cylinder 162.

[0036] A manifold 180 is connected to the outlet of hydraulic cylinder 162 and a series of hydraulic lines 182, 184, 186, 188 are selectively connectable to the manifold 180 by means of quick coupling connectors provided with check valves on each side of the connection (not shown) and which are conventional, so that when a hydraulic line 182 to 188 inclusive is disconnected from the manifold 180, hydraulic fluid cannot escape from either the hydraulic lines or the hydraulic cylinder 162. Therefore, the hydraulic rams 26 to raise the platform sections 14 can be actuated through hydraulic lines 182 and hydraulic piston 160. The rams 64 to lower the main caster wheels 12 are operated through lines 184. The ram 62 of the car lift 160 is operated by the hydraulic piston 160 through line 186, while the ram 126 to operate the telescopic member 116 of the pulling assembly 3, is operated through line 188 by hydraulic piston 160.

[0037] The car straightener in accordance with the first embodiment is used as follows: supposing the car straightener is in inoperative folded position, as shown in Figure 1, stored in an out-of-the-way postion in a garage, and it is desired to use it at another place. In this stored position, the straightener rests on the caster wheels 10 and 12. Thus, the straightener can be easily manually moved about to the desired location. Once in this location, the platform sections 14 are manually lowered, while the caster wheels are still in lowered position. The platform sections 14 are locked in horizontal position by the locking pins 28. It is noted that the legs 42 then raised off the floor. The main caster wheels 12 are then allowed to raise with respect to beam 1 and the legs 42 come to rest on the floor and support the entire platform assembly.

[0038] As shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6, the damaged car A is moved along ramps 90 onto the platform sections 14. The car lift 60 is operated to raise the car, so that the clamps 72 can be fixed to the car and to the platform, and then the straightening operation can be started by successively pulling different parts of the car body in the required horizontal and vertical direction by selectively swinging and locking the pulling member 3 in the required horizontal position and adjusting the level of the secondary pulley 132 at each pulling operation. If it is desired to pull side parts of the car body, the car, while raised by lift 60 can be rotated and then fixed to the platform sections by the clamps 82 oriented at an angle to the platform sections.

[0039] As shown in Figure 15, the car can be pulled transversely thereof, with the car transverse to the platform and also with the car wheels directly on the platform sections and using a reaction chain 192 attached to the opposite side of the car body with respect to the pulling chain 130 and retained by an auxiliary post 194.

[0040] Post 194 is rigidly connected to the outer end of a horizontal arm 196 which can be fixed to a platform section 14 in any one of three desired horizontal orientations. For this purpose, the underside of the horizontal arm 196 is provided with a hook 198 with inclined side wings 200 adapted to engage the outermost tubular member 16 of the platform sections 14, so as to be oriented relative to the same. The inner end of the horizontal arm 196 is fixed in proper position by means of a bolt 202 extending through the space between two tubular members 16. The post assembly 194 can be manipulated by means of handles 204, 206. The reaction chain 192 is attached to the post by means of the collar 208 slidably adjusted on the post and locked in position by a locking pin engaging a selected one of holes, similar to holes 150.

[0041] Figures 23, 24, and 25 show a second embodiment of the straightener of the invention, characterized by the fact that it is provided with two pulling members 3A, each swingably mounted at opposite ends of the horizontal beam 1A. Each pulling member 3A is essentially of the same construction as the pulling member 3 and are mounted for swinging movement in a horizontal plane by means of their pivot pin 92A. They have an indexing mechanism, as in the first embodiment, except that the indexing plate 90 is fixed to the beam 1A underneath the horizontal arm of the pulling member 3A instead of the above the same, as in the first embodiment. The straightener has the same car lift system 60 as in the first embodiment. However, the caster wheel system is different from that of the first embodiment. There is no auxiliary caster wheel, such as caster wheel 10 in the first embodiment, mounted underneath the pulling members 3A. There are four main caster wheels 12A, each mounted at the outer end of an arm 210 pivoted for horizontal swinging movement about a vertical pivot pin 212 carried by a bracket 214 fixed to and extending below the center of horizontal beam 1A. Therefore, the four caster wheels 12A can be moved with respect to beam 1A from a retracted position closer to the beam, as shown at the bottom of Figure 25, to an extended position further away from the beam 1A, as shown at the top part of Figure 25. This movement of the arms 210 is automatically effected by the manual or power raising and lowering of the platform sections 14A, which are connected to beam 1A in a manner described in the first embodiment.

[0042] A pair of fulcrum levers 216 are pivoted at their center to brackets 218 fixed to opposite sides of beam 1A at the center of the later. Links 220 and 222 are pivotally attached to the platform sections 14A and to the arms 210, respectively, and by universal joints 223 to the opposite ends of the fulcrum levers 216. The links 222 are attached to the respective arms 210 through a collar 224 rotatable about a vertical pivot pin 226 fixed to the arm 210. With this arrangement, unfolding of the two platform sections 14A will automatically extend the arms 210 to their operative position to support the straightener during car-straightening operation. The ram of the car lift system 60 never touches the ground in either position of the caster wheels 12A. In this arrangement also, it is noted that each pulling member 3A can be swung through a 240-degree angle, so that practically any part of the car can be pulled in any horizontal direction.

[0043] A third embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 26 to 31 inclusive. This third embodiment is an improvement over the second embodiment. This third embodiment is also provided with a car lift 60, 71 with the foldable platform sections 14A which upon unfolding movement causes the automatic spreading apart of the arms 212 and four caster wheels 12A as in the second embodiment. The third embodiment is characterized by the fact that instead of providing two pulling members, each at one of the opposite ends of the beam 1A, the two pulling members, generally indicated at 3C are arranged at one end of said beam 1A. This makes a more efficient car straightening operation. More particularly, the cross-plate 24 is modified as shown at 24A to allow for the pivoting by means of pivot bolts 92A of the two horizontal arms 5 of the pulling members 3C side by side over a modified indexing plate as shown at 19B (see Figures 26 and 31). This indexing plate 19B is provided with two series of indexing holes 94A, each series being co-axial with one of the pivot pins 92A. The indexing mechanism used is as described in relation with Figures 21A and 21B shown on the 16th sheet of drawings. The indexing mechanism is operated by the handle 112 for each pulling member. The arrangement is such as shown in Figure 31 that each pulling member can be swung through about 215°.

[0044] Another characteristic of the third embodiment resides in the fact that the vertical arms 6 of each pulling member is arranged for pivotal movement with respect to the horizontal arm 5 so that these arms 6 can be pivoted to a folded position with its upper end resting alongside the folded platform section 14A which permits much easier shipping of the entire apparatus and its installation in the garage of the customer without having to dismantle the apparatus. It should be noted that the vertical arms 6 expand to an appreciable height so as to permit pulling on the car at a more vertical angle and also to be used as a lift for pulling car part upwardly as described hereinafter in connection with the fourth embodiment.

[0045] More particularly, as shown in Figures 27 and 30, the stay B is replaced by a pair of triangular plates 8A spaced from each other by a triangular web 8B, this assembly of plates 8A and web 8B being welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the top of the outer end of arm 5. The triangular plates 8A extend outwardly from the web 8B to form a U-shaped cavity for receiving the lower end of arms 6 which, in normal position, abuts against the web 8B and the upper end portions of an end plate 264 fixed to the outer end of arm 5. A transverse pin 260 is fixed to arm 6 and protrudes laterally therefrom to slidably engage a slot 262 made in each plate 8A. Holes 266 are made in the bottom end of arm 6 and register with holes 268 made in the triangular plates 8A whereby locking pins can be inserted through the registering holes 266 and 268 when the arm 6 is in operative position. This arm 6 is thus firmly locked in position and, because it abuts against the upper portion of end plate 264 and the upper portion of web 8B, it will resist the pulling action. To fold the arms 6, it is a simple matter to remove the locking pins and to raise the arm 6 so that its pin 260 moves upwardly through slots 262 in the position shown in Figure 29 so that the bottom end of arm 6 clears the top edge of end plate 264 whereby the arm 6 can be pivoted towards the platform sections as shown in Figure 30.

[0046] A fourth embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 32 to 35 inclusive. In this third embodiment, the two platform sections 14b are not foldable but are rigid with the central beam indicated at 228. The car lift is shown at 60B in Figure 32, with its lifting ram (not shown) mounted within a sleeve 230. This sleeve 230 is rigidly secured to beam 228 and to a base 232 and this base is tiltable by a single acting ram 231 relative to a floor engaging framework 234 about a tilting axis 235 between a tilted position, as shown in Figure 32, in which the platform is inclined to facilitate receiving through ramps 236 a car A to be repaired, and a horizontal position of the base 232 and of the platform 14b, the base then being locked by locking pins inserted through aligned holes 238, 240 made in the base 232 and a floor-engaging framework 234. This fourth embodiment is also characterized by the fact that there are two pulling members 3B, each swingably mounted about pivot pins 242 near the sleeve 230 and car lift 60b on diametrically-opposite sides thereof. Each pulling member 3B can be swung through an arc of about 300 degrees, as shown in Figure 33, so as to be able to pull on the car from practically any horizontal angle and concurrently from opposite sides of the car. Preferably also, the horizontal arm of each pulling member 3b is made telescopic and power extendable and retractable, as shown at 246, to occupy less space around the platform, if required. In this case, the operating rod 248 for operating the indexing mechanism would also be made telescopic. This indexing mechanism includes the two superposed indexing plates 250, one for each pulling member 3B, and each secured to sleeve 230 and beam 228. Indexing plates 250 extend one over and the other below the horizontal arm of the related pulling member 3b.

[0047] At least one pulling member 3b has at its top a hoist arm 244 power operated up and down by a hydraulic arm 252. The hoist arm 244 and ram 252 are pivotally attached to pulling member 3b by universal joints 254, 256 respectively. Hoist 244 can be used to lift equipment off the damaged car. A such as the engine and radiator, and to pull up top car parts such as the roof.

[0048] An auxiliary wheel-mounted pulling assembly is shown in Figures 36 to 38 inclusive. This assembly is a separate unit which can be stored away when not use and which can be fixed to the platform in any position and which is provided with its own chain pulling means. This assembly comprises a T-shaped base 300 defined by a front forwardly-extending longitudinal leg 302 and a transverse rear leg 304. A single caster wheel 306 is mounted at the front end of longitudinal leg 102. There are provided two idle wheels 308, each rotatably carried by the free end of a pair of levers 310, the other ends of which are fixed to a pivot shaft 312. This shaft is rotatably carried by the transverse leg 304 and extends along the back thereof. There are thus provided two rear idle wheels 308, each mounted adjacent the free end of the transverse leg 304 of the base 100. A Z-shaped lever handle 314 is fixed to the pivot shaft 312 and extends upwardly from the base to be manually operated, so as to lower the levers 310 and, consequently, the wheels 308 with respect to base 300, so as to raise the rear end portion of said base off the ground. A post 316 is fixed to base 300. More particularly, post 116 is defined by a pair of spaced parallel channel members 318 secured together by a top cross-plate 320 and a bottom cross-plate 322, the latter fixed to the transverse leg 304 of base 300.

[0049] The channel members 318 are provided with a series of equally-spaced holes 324 registering transversely in pairs for rotatably carrying a pulley 326 at an adjusted level along the post.

[0050] A link chain 328 is trained on pulley 326, this chain 328 carrying a hook 330 adapted to be attached to a selected part of a car body for pulling on the same. A support arm 332 is rigidly fixed to the post 316 and extends laterally horizontally therefrom, being parallel to the base 300 and being spaced above said base 300 a distance slightly smaller than the height of the top surface of the platform 14 of the body straightener when said platform is in horizontal operative position for supporting a car to be straightened which is clamped to the platform.

[0051] The support arm 332 is long enough to overlie at least three tubular members 16 forming the platform 14. Means are provided to releasably secure the arm 332 to the platform 14. These means include a bolt 334 provided at its lower end with a plate 336. The bolt is inserted between two tubular members 16 with the plate 336 underlying tube members 16 and the bolt extends through holes made in arm 332 and firmly fixed by a nut threaded on the bolt.

[0052] A U-shaped rear handle 338 is fixed to the post 316 at the level of arm 332 and extends rearwardly thereof. A U-shaped bracket 340 is fixed to the post 316 just below the rear handle 338. A triangularly-shaped chain pulling lever 342 is mounted upright between the two channel members 318 of post 316. The lower end portion of the lever 342 is pivoted to the post by a transverse pivot pin 344. The uppr rear portion of lever 342 is provided with a chain link-engaging notch 345 for removably attaching the chain 328 to the lever. A forwardly-extending U-­shaped support 346 is firmly fixed to the post 316 and extends generally parallel to the support arm 332 at a distance below said arm slightly greater than the thickness of the platform 14.

[0053] A double-acting hydraulic ram 348 extends between the two sides of the support 346, being pivoted at its front end to the support 346 by a front pivot pin 350 and being pivotally connected to the upper portion of the chain pulling member 342 by a rear pivot pin 352.

[0054] A chain lock 354 is also provided in the form of a separate plate having a notch for engaging a link of the chain 328.

[0055] The apparatus in accordance with Figures 36 to 38 inclusive is used as follows: with the levers 310 stopped in horizontal position, as shown in Figure 36, the entire apparatus can be wheeled to any place on the floor and be stored away when not in use. To use the apparatus, it is wheeled to the platform 14, and when in proximity thereto, and blocking base 300 with one's foot, the post 316 is pulled rearwardly by the user, thereby lifting the forward end of the support arm 332 to clear the edge of the platform 14. The handle 338 can be used for this purpose. Once the forward end of the support arm 332 rests on the platform, lever handle 314 is pulled rearwardly by the user, thereby lowering the rear idle wheels 308 and lifting the rear portion of the base 300 off the ground, so that it is easy to push the entire assembly with the arm 332 sliding over the platform to the position shown in Figure 36. The arm 332 is then clamped to the platform by means of the bolt 334. The apparatus, once clamped in position, is raised completely off the ground, so that any reaction due to the pulling force exerted by the chain 328 is not transferred to the wheels 306-398. The pulley 326 is adjusted to the required level on post 316 and the hook 330 is attached to the car body part to be pulled and straightened. The selected chain link is nserted within the chain notch 345 of the chain pulling lever 342 and the lever 342 is actuated into an active stroke from the position shown in Figure 36 to the position shown in Figure 36A by the hydraulic ram 348. The torque exerted on the post 316 is resisted by the arm 332 and also by the forward support 346 which may engage the underside of the platform 314. At the end of the power stroke exerted by the lever 342, the chain lock 334 is inserted in the chain link just below the rear bracket 340, and a new chain link is inserted in the chain notch 344, so that the cycle is repeated to pull the chain 328 through another length of about 6 inches.

[0056] The apparatus of the invention may be used concurrently with any of the straighteners described in Figures 1 to 35.

Claims

1. An automobile vehicle body straightener comprising: a vehicle-supporting platform; a power-operated lift carried by the central portion of said platform for lifting off said platform, a vehicle the wheels of which rest on the platform; clamps removably fixed to said platform and to the underside of said vehicle body and a first pulling member carried by said platform, said first pulling member having an L-shape defining an upright arm and a generally horizontal arm, the outer end of said horizontal arm pivotally attached to said platform for swinging movement of said first pulling member relative to said platform; first locking means to selectively lock said pulling member in adjusted horizontal orientation relative to said platform; and power-operated pulling means carried by said pulling member and including a cable means attachable to a part of said vehicle body and carried by said upright arm, so as to pull said part in said adjusted horizontal orientation.

2. A straightener as defined in claim 1, wherein said upright arm is tubular and said power-operated pulling means includes a telescopic member telescopically movable within said upright arm and a hydraulic ram located in said upright arm and attached to the latter and to said telescopic member, said cable means trained at the upper end portion of said telescopic member.

3. A straightener as defined in claim 2, wherein said platform includes a central elongated beam and a pair of platform sections located on opposite sides of said beam and pivotally connected thereto about axes substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said beam for pivotal movement between a folded, inoperative upright position in which said platform sections are close to each other above said beam, and an operative position in which said platform sections are substantially co-planar to receive said vehicle wheels; and further including second locking means to lock said platform sections in operative position.

4. A straightener as defined in claim 3, further including first power means to pivot said platform sections from said operative position to said inoperative position.

5. A straightener as defined in claim 4, further including floor-engaging legs pivotally carried by said platform sections for pivotal movement between an inoperative position folded against said platform sections and an operative position substantially normal to said platform sections.

6. A straightener as defined in claim 5, further including link means pivotally attached to said legs and to said beam to automatically pivot said legs to their folded inoperative position as said platform sections move from their operative to their inoperative position.

7. A straightener as defined in claim 6, further including a pair of floor-engageable wheels movably and bodily carried by and on opposite sides of said beam for up-and-down movement relative to said beam, and second power means to lower said wheels relative to said beam in a position wherein said legs are raised off the floor while still in operative position; and third locking means to lock said wheels in down position.

8. A straightener as defined in claim 7, wherein said horizontal arm of said pulling member carries a floor engageable caster wheel adjacent said upright arm, so that the straightener can be moved about a floor while rolling on said pair of wheels and on said caster wheel, with said platform sections in folded inopreative position, and said pair of wheels locked in their down position.

9. A straightener as defined in claim 3, wherein said first locking means include an indexing plate fixed to said beam and having a series of spaced holes located a circular arc concentric with the pivotal axis of said pulling member on said platform; a locking pin carried by said horizontal arm and shiftable between a locking position engaging any selected one of said holes, and a release position clearing all of said holes and manually-operable control means mounted along said horizontal arm and acessible adjacent said upright arm to actuate said locking pin between its locking and its release position.

10. A straightener as defined in claim 1, wherein said lift includes an upright ram formed of a cylinder carried by the central portion of said platform and of a piston rod upstanding from said cylinder, and a framework carried by the upper end of said piston rod for directly engaging the underside of a vehicle, said framework and piston rod rotatable about the axis of said piston rod to rotate relative to said platform a vehicle raised by said lift off said platform.

11. A straightener as defined in claim 2, wherein a first idle pulley and a chain lock are carried by the top end portion of said telescopic member with said chain lock disposed below said pulley; a collar encircling and slidable longitudinally of said upright arm; fourth locking means to lock said collar at an adjusted level on said upright arm; and a horizontally-orientable second idle pulley carried by said collar; said cable means comprising a link chain trained on said two pulleys and having an end portion issuing from said second pulley, to be attached to a vehicle part, and an opposite end portion adjustably locked to said telescopic member by said chain lock.

12. A straightener as defined in claim 9, wherein said locking pin is spring loaded to its locking position and said manually-operated control means includes a torsion rod extending along said horizontal arm and rotatable about its longitudinal axis relative to said horizontal arm, a right-angle extension at the outer end of said rod forming a manually-­operable lever for rotating said rod and a crank lever extension at the inner end of said rod engageable with said locking pin to shift the latter to its release position.

13. A straightener aas defined in claim 12, wherein said horizontal arm is tubular and said torsion rod is journalled within said tubular horizontal arm.

14. A straightener as defined in claim 13, further including an additional spring-loaded locking pin carried by said horizontal arm, the horizontal distance between the two locking pins being greater than the distance separating adjacent holes in said indexing plate; and further including a trust plate slidably surrounding the two locking pins and engaged by said crank lever extension, a collar fixed to each locking pin and abutting said trust plate, the spring of each locking pin acting on said collar.

15. A straightener as defined in claim 12, further including an additional spring-loaded locking pin carried by said horizontal arm, the horizontal distance between the two locking pins being greater than the distance separating adjacent holes in said indexing plate; and further including a link pivotally interconnected to the two locking pins and engaged by said crank lever extension, said link permitting said crank lever extension to shift that one of the two locking pins which is in locking position, to its release position.

16. A straightener as defined in claim 9, further including a second pulling member similar to said first-­named pulling member, said second pulling member pivotally attached to said platform, said second pulling member associated with its own first locking means; and second power-operated pulling means and second cable means carried by said second pulling member.

17. A straightener as defined in claim 16, wherein said first and second pulling members are pivotally attached to opposite ends of said platform.

18. A straightener as defined in claim 16, wherein said first and second pulling members are pivotally attached to one end of said platform.

19. A straightener as defined in claim 18, wherein said first and said second pulling members are pivoted side-by-side to said beam and said indexing plate is common to both pulling members and includes two series of spaced holes concentric with the respective pivotal axes of said two pulling members.

20. A straightener as defined in claim 1, wherein said upright arm is pivoted to said horizontal arm for folding movement alongside the latter and retaining means to releasably retain said upright arm in upright operative position.

21. A straightener as defined in claim 20, wherein said upright arm carries a transverse pivot pin spaced upwardly from the bottom end of said upright arm and said retaining means include a web and side plates fixed to and upstanding from said horizontal arm and forming a U-shaped cavity for receiving the bottom end portion of said upright arm when the latter seats upright on said horizontal arm, and a stop plate fixed to and upstanding from the latter, said stop plate overlapping the bottom end of said right arm.

22. A straightener as defined in claim 21, wherein said pivot pin is fixed to, protrudes from the sides of said upright arm and engages vertical slots in said side plates whereby bodily lifting of said upright arm permits clearing of said stop plate and folding of said upright arm.

23. A straightener as defined in claim 3, further including at least four radial arms each having an inner end pivotally connected to the central portion of said beam under the same for horizontal swinging movement of each arm between a folded position with its outer end close to said beam to an extended position with its outer end laterally spaced from said beam, a floor-engaging wheel carried by the outer end of each radial arm and linkage means interconnecting said platform sections to said radial arms, said linkage means being operable to cause, upon unfolding of said platform sections from inoperative to operative position, swinging movement of said radial arms from folded to extended position, said wheels, when said arms are in extended position, located two by two under each platform section to support and stabilize said straightener on a floor.

24. A straightener as defined in claim 1, further including a second pulling member similar to said first-­named pulling member, said first and second pulling members pivotally mounted one below the other about the central portion of said platform and below the same, said second pulling member associated with its own first locking means, power-operated pulling means and cable means.

25. A straightener as defined in claim 24, further including a floor-engaging base located under said platform, the latter mounted on said base for tilting movement.

26. A straightener as defined in claim 1, wherein said horizontal arm is composed of telescopic sections.

27. A straightener as defined in claim 1, further including a hoist arm universally pivotally carried by the upper portion of said upright arm and ram means connected to said hoist arm and to said upright arm to pivot said hoist arm upwardly relative to said upright arm

28. In combination with the straightener of claim 1, an auxiliary wheel-mounted pulling member assembly comprising a wheeled base having a front end and a rear end, a post upstanding from said base, a forwardly-extending lateral arm fixed to said post spacedly above said base, a pulley carried by said post above said arm, means to adjust the position of said pulley along said post, a pulling chain trained on said pulley, power-operated lever means pivotally carried by said assembly and engageable with said chain to pull the latter, and means to releasably secure said arm over said platform.

29. The combination as defined in claim 28, wherein said base has at least one caster wheel carried by said front end and two laterally-spaced idle wheels at said rear end, levers pivoted to said rear end for up-and-down movement, said idle wheels carried by the free ends of said levers, and handle means connected to said levers for raising the rear end of said base off the ground by lowering said idle wheels relative to said base.

30. The combination as defined in claim 29, wherein said power-operated lever means include a forwardly-­extending support fixed to said post and spaced below said arm a distance to receive said platform therebetween, an upstanding chain pulling lever pivoted to said post below said support, a hydraulic ram pivotally connected to a forward portion of said support and to an upper portion of said chain pulling lever, and chain-gripping means carried by the upper portion of said chain pulling lever, actuation of said ram in one direction causing said chain pulling lever to pivot through a chain pulling stroke, return of said ram causing said chain pulling lever to pivot in an opposite return direction.

31. The combination as defined in claim 30, further including means to lock said chain to said post when said chain pulling lever pivots in its return direction.

Drawing