METHOD BY REPLACING FRONT SUSPENSION COMPONENTS IN A VEHICLE AND DEVICE TO PERFORM THE METHOD

Abstract: Method and device for replacing front suspension components of a vehicle from a damaged to an intact front suspension traverse (1), by means of a pressurized cylinder (5) and a lifting arm (3) to compress the spring (6) of the vehicle. Thereafter the spring (6) is locked, the front suspension components are dismantled from the front suspension travers (1) and the lifting arm (3) with the front suspension components are displaced laterally on a shaft (7) to an intact front suspension traverse.

Description: "Method by replacing front suspension components in a vehicle and device to perform the method" This invention relates to a method for replacing front suspension components in a vehicle and a device to perform the method. By damage of a front suspension traverse ofa vehicle, the single front suspension components are taker, from the damaged traverseand mounted on an intact front suspension traverse. Especially the spiral spring of the vehicle causes problems by such a dismantling as this spring has to be compressed before dismantling and be retained compressed when the components of the front suspension are moved to the intact front suspension traverseand mounted thereto. The practicle difficulties connected with the dismantling and fitting of those components to front suspension traverses, are overcome by the method and device according. o the invention. Hereby a compression of the spring effectuated in a safe manner by locking the spring and the dismantling and mounting respectively to the front suspension traverses are performed in a safe and accurate manner. With the method according to the inven-ion a damaged .and an intact front suspension traverseare" placed in parallel on a front suspension work bench, whereafter a mounting plate , of a lifting arm is secured to the wheel hub of the damaged traverse, and hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder is activated to lift the mounting plate of the lifting arm to fcrce the wheel hub against the spiral spring of the traverseand to compress this, whereafter the spring is locked in a compressed condition, thereafter the front suspension components with rhe spring and the hub are dismantled from the travers, the cylinder there¬ after being deactuated and the lifting arm with the components is moved to the intact front suspension traverse thereafter the components are mounted to the intact traverseand the locking of the spring is released. The device according to the invention comprises a lifting arm protruding from each side of the frcr.t Suspension working bench, being displacable secured to a lcr.gitudinal shaft of the bench and comprising a lower arm and an upper arm being pivoted to eachother, the upper arm being capable of turning out from and in towards the bench for fitting to different front suspension traverses, and the upper arm having a mounting plate being adjustable in the hight for mounting to a wheel hub belonging toa.front suspension traversemounted in the bench, and hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder being provided in the bench, which by activating is pressed against the lifti arm in a way that the mounting plate is lifted and compressing the spring of the front suspension components so much that dismantling and succesive mounting is simplified. The subject matter of the invention provides a significant time reduction compared to known embodiments, such as disclosed in US 3 067 500. The most wide spread method of today is based on the principles of this patent. Comparedwith the mentioned known device , the subject matter according to the present invention has the advantage of arranging the bench underneath the car, as the bench runs on wheels, the car thereby may be arranged on a dobble shafted lift in such a way that the complete front suspension may be dropped directly i ' n place on the front suspension bench andafterwards transferred to another working place. Corresponding the mounting after the repare is performed in the same way, without the need for physical strength which up till now very often has required two men's work. As the front suspension bench may be moved a more correct working position is accomplished what is looked upon as a considerable improvement. Additionally the hydraulic lifting arms perform the heaviest work. The device according to the "invention is disclosed in the drawings, where fig. 1 discloses a perspective view from the front of the front suspension bench with one intact and one damaged front suspension traversemounted, and fig. 2 discloses a perspective view of the connection between the li ting arms and the front suspension components. One intact and one damaged front suspension traverse are* mounted in parallel on the upper side of a front suspensio. bench 2. A lifting arm 3 comprises a lower arm -9 and an upper arm 10, in the resting position creating an angle of 90° in respect to the lower arm 9 pivotable 45° out from and against the bench 2. The lower arm 9 is pivotally and displacable mounted on a shaft 7 arranged along the lower side portion of the front suspension bench 2. A mounting plate 4 is slideable ,- arranged on the upper arm 10 for fixation to a wheel hub 8, one of the front suspension components. Mounting plate 4, lifting arm 3 and shaft 7 are mounted in both longitudinal sides of the front suspension bench 2. One end of the lower arm 9 is pivotally connected with the upper arm 10, whereas the end of the lower arm 9 has an abutment means 12 transferring force from a first beam 11 against one end of the lower arm 9 , the other end of the arm 9 upon rotation around the shaft 7 thereby being forced in opposite direction together with the upper arm 10 and the mounting plate 4. The lifting arm 3 initially is such displaced on the shaft 7 that the mounting plate 4 may be mounted to the wheel hub 8. Hereby the guiding means 13 of the mounting plate 4 is secured to the upper arm 10, the abutment means 12 thereby abutting against the thrust beam 11 as a pneumatic or hydraulic piston of a pressure cylinder 5 is placed in its inner most position abutting against the thrust beam 11 which again is forced against the piston rod by a helical spring • (not shown) . Activation of the piston will force the thrust beam 11 against the abutment means 12, the lower arm 9 thereby being pivoted and pressed against the upper arm 10 with the mounting plate 4 and the wheel hub 8, the spring 6 of the vehicle thereby being compressed. When the spring 6 is compressed it is locked in this position and the front suspension components are dismantled from the front suspension traverse 1. When the front suspension components are released from the front suspension traverse, the pressure cylinder 5 is deactivated and the lifting arm 3 with the front suspension components are displaced on the shaft 7 to the intact front suspension traverse. At the same time also the cylinder 5 is displaced to the intact ront suspension traverse . Upon activating the cylinder 5, the front suspension components may be mounted on the intact front suspension traverse, the locking of the spring 6 may be released and the cylinder 5 deactuated upon which the mounting plate 4 may be released from the wheel hub 8.

Claims: P a t e n t c l a i m s 1. Method by replacing front suspension components in a vehicle, characterized in mounting a damaged and an intact 5 front suspension traverse (1) in parallel to a such adapted front suspension bench (2) , securing a mounting plate (4) connected with a lifting arm (3) to the wheel hub (8) of the damaged traverse, activating a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder (5) in such a way that the mounting plate (4) of the lifting 0 arm (3) is lifted and thereby forcing the wheel hub (8) against a helical spring (6) of the traverse (1) thereby compressing the spring, locking the spring (6) in compressed condition, dismantling the front suspension components with the spring (6) and the hub (8) from the traverse (1) , deactivating the 5 cylinder (5) , displacing the lifting arm (3) with the components to the intact front suspension travers, mounting the components on the intact traverseand releasing the locking of the spring (6) . 2. Device for replacing front suspension components of 0 * vehicle, characterized in a lifting arm (3) protruding from each side of a front suspension working bench (2) and being slideable secured to a longitudinal shaft (7) in the bench (2) and further comprising a lower arm (9) and an upper arm (10) being pivotally connected to eachother, whereby the upper 5 arm (10) is arranged to be pivoted out from and in against the bench (2) to be adjusted to different front suspension traverses, the upper arm (10) comprising a mounting plate (4) which is adjustable in the hight for mounting to a wheel hub (8) belonging to a front suspension traversemounted in the 0 bench (2) , and a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder (5) arranged in the bench in such a way that by activating it is forced against the lifting arm (3) , the mounting plate (4) thereby being lifted and compressing the spring (6) of the front suspension components, dismantling and succeeding mounting o thereby being simplified.

Inventors: FORRE ALF
Applicants: BILSKADESENTERET AS, FORRE ALF
Application year: 1982
Main classification: B25H5
IPC codes: B25B27