GB2098522A

GB2098522A - Bench for repairing motor vehicle bodies

Info

Publication number: GB2098522A
Application number: GB8209552A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-05-15
Filing date: 1982-03-31
Publication date: 1982-11-24
Also published as: GB2098522B; IT1135812B; FR2505687B1; DE3216500C2; DE3216500A1; FR2505687A1; IT8121734A0

Abstract

A bench (1) for repairing motor vehicle bodies includes a plurality of slides (7) mounted on the bench (1), by means of respective saddles (8) and carriages (9), so as to be movable in three mutually-perpendicular directions, measuring members (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) for indicating the position of the slides (7) in these three directions, and locking members (16, 17, 18) for locking the slides (7) in a predetermined position in each direction. The slides (7) are also provided with means (19, 20, 21) for fixing a vehicle body to the slides (7). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bench for repairing motor vehicle bodies The present invention relates to a bench for repairing motor vehicle bodies.

Known benches presently in use for repairing damaged motor vehicle bodies have a series of templates for fixing to the bench, which are shaped to correspond exactly to predetermined parts of the body. Those parts of the body which have not been deformed are fixed to their respective templates, while those parts of the body which have been deformed are brought gradually into correspondence with their respective templates, for example, by pulling with chains, and fixed thereto.

Benches of this type, although they are advantageous from many aspects and are widely used, require a set of templates for every vehicle model. It is necessary, therefore, to have a large number of sets of templates available, even when a user is confined to being able to repair only the most common models of motor vehicles. Such a large number of templates involves various disadvantages, both financial, with regard to the enormous tie-up of capital, and technical or organisational, with regard to the difficulties of storage and identification.

The object of this invention is to provide a body repair bench which will have the structural and functional characteristics to overcome the disadvantages cited with reference to the benches presently in use.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a bench for repairing motor vehicle bodies, including a plurality of slides mounted on the bench so as to be movable in three mutually-perpendicular directions, measuring members for indicating the position of each slide in each direction, locking members for locking each slide in a predetermined position in each direction, and fixing means on each slide for fixing a vehicle body thereto.

One embodiment of the invention will now be more particularly described, by a way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 is a partially-exploded and partially cut-away perspective view of a bench according to the present invention, and Figure 2 is a partially-sectioned side elevational view of a part of the bench of Figure 1 on an enlarged scale.

Referring to the drawings, a bench, generally indicated 1, for repairing the damaged motor vehicle bodies, includes a rectangular horizontallyextending frame 2 which is formed by two longitudinal members 3, 4 connected by two cross members 5, 6. The bench 1 includes a plurality of slides 7, only one of which is shown in the drawings and described in detail below.

The slide 7 is mounted on a saddle 8 so as to be slidable vertically, while the saddle 8 is mounted on a carriage 9 so as to be slidable transversely with respect to the longitudinal members 3, 4 of the frame 2. The carriage 9 is, in turn, mounted on the frame 2 so as to be slidable longitudinally. In this way, the slide 7 is mounted on the frame 2 of the bench 1 in such a way as to be movable in three mutually-perpendicular directions, that is, in the vertical, transverse, and longitudinal directions.

The carriage 9 includes a beam 9a which extends transversely of the longitudinal members 3, 4 and is supported thereon by sliding bearings.

The saddle 8 is in sliding abutment with the carriage 9. The slide 7 comprises a cylindrical bar 7a which is engaged slidably in a corresponding cylindrical sleeve 8a in the saddle 8. Preferably, spring-loaded rollers 22, of a known type, are provided between the saddle 8 and the carriage 9, and between the carriage 9 and the longitudinal members 3, 4, to facilitate the sliding of the saddle 8 on the carriage 9 and the carriage 9 on the longitudinal members 3, 4.

Measuring members are provided for indicating the position of the slide 7 in its three directions of movement. These measuring members comprise three millimetric rules 10,11, 12 extending respectively along the cylindrical bar 7a, along the beam 9a, and along the longitudinal member 4, as well as respective reference notches 13, 14, 1 5 in the sleeve 8a, the saddle 8, and the carriage 9.

Locking members are provided for locking the slide 7 in a predetermined position in each direction. More particularly, there are three locking members 16, 17, 18 placed respectively between the slide 7 and the saddle 8, between the saddle 8 and the carriage 9, and between the carriage 9 and the frame 2, for locking the slide 7 to the saddle 8, the saddle 8 to the carriage 9, and the carriage 9 to the frame 2, respectively.

The locking members 16 between the slide 7 and the saddle 8 comprise a pair of lugs 1 6c on opposite sides of a longitudinal slot 1 6b in an end portion 1 6a of the sleeve 8a, and a screw 1 6dfor bringing these lugs 1 6c together so as to clamp the portion 1 6a tightly around the bar 7a during locking.

The locking members 17 between the saddle~8 and the carriage 9 comprises a small block 1 7a which is slidingly captive in a T-shaped channel 1 7b in the beam 9a and is fixed to the saddle 8 by a tie-boit 1 7c for clamping block 1 7a and the carriage 9 together to lock the saddle 8 to the carriage 9.

The locking members 18 between carriage 9 and the frame 2 comprise a rack 1 8a extending along the longitudinal member 4, and a rack portion 1 8b mounted on the carriage 9 so as to be movable parallel to the rack for a distance equal to at least one notch of the rack 1 8a, and movable towards and away from the rack 1 8a for engagement and disengagement. A screw 1 8c, which can be slackened for disengagement, is provided to keep the rack portion 1 8b in engagement with the rack 1 8a with a predetermined force. Opposing screws 1 8d, 1 8e, which act in the direction of movement parallel to the rack 1 8a, are provided to lock the rack portion 1 8b in this direction when it is in its position of engagement with the rack 1 8a.Engagement of the rack portion 1 8b with the rack 1 8a under the action of the screw 1 8c effects the required locking of the carriage 9 to the frame 2. This locking between the carriage 9 and the frame 2 is positive, since the greatest tensile forces are exerted in the longitudinal direction.

The slide 7 is also equipped with fixing means, generally indicated 19, for fixing a vehicle body to be repaired to the slide. These means include a cube 1 9b which is fixed by its lower face to the bar 7a of the slide 7, and has a number of tapped screw holes 1 9a in its other faces for the attachment of various small adjustment pieces 1 9c, 1 9d, 1 9e, 1 9f, 1 9g. Each adjustment piece is adapted to be fixed between the cube 1 9b and the body to be repaired, and is shaped according to the shape of a particular part of the body which has to be fixed to the slide 7.

Clearly, the fixing means may have other forms, such as, for example, a clamp 20 of conventional type which is attached to a slide 21 the same as the slide 7.

The use of the bench according to the invention will now be described.

Initially, each of the slides 7 is placed in a predetermined position on the bench 1 according to the part and model of vehicle the body of which is to be repaired. This is effected by moving the slide 7, the saddle 8, and the carriage 9 in their respective directions of movement until the respective reference notches 13, 14, 15 register the desired reading on the respective millimetric rules 10, 1 1, 12. When these positions are reached, the respective locking members 17, 18.

1 9 are operated in a manner which will be apparent from the above description.

At this stage, the body is fixed by its undeformed parts to respective slides 7, using selected adjustment means 1 9c, d, e, f, g, if necessary. When the body is fixed to the bench 1, the deformed parts are subjected to pulling, for example, by chains, in order to bring them successively into engagement with respective, correctly-positioned slides 7 for fixing thereto.

The main advantage of the bench according to the invention is that it permits the body of any model of motor vehicle, even lesser known models, to be repaired simply by knowing the coordinates of the characteristic parts of the body.

Claims

1. A bench for repairing motor vehicle bodies, including a plurality of slides mounted on the bench so as to be moveable in three mutuallyperpendicular directions, measuring members for indicating the positions of each slide in each direction, locking members for locking each slide in a predetermined position in each direction, and fixing means on each slide for fixing a vehicle body thereto.

2. A bench as claimed in Claim 1, in which the bench comprises a frame including two horizontal longitudinal members, and each slide includes a bar mounted for vertical sliding in a respective saddle which is slidable on a respective carriage for movement transverse the longitudinal frame members, each carriage extending between the frame members and being slidable therealong.

3. A bench as claimed in Claim 2, in which respective said locking members are provided to lock the bar of the slide relative to the saddle, to lock the saddle relative to the carriage, and to lock the carriage relative to the frame members, and in which the said measuring members are provided to indicate the positions of the bar, the saddle, and the carriage relative to the saddle, the carriage, and the frame members, respectively.

4. A bench as claimed in Claim 2, in which the fixing means for each slide comprise a cube fixed by one face to the upper end of the bar, and a number of adjustment pieces which are slectively attachable to the other faces of the cube and are shaped to correspond to respective parts of a vehicle body.

5. A bench for repairing motor vehicle bodies, substantially as hereirrdescribed with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.