PROCEDURE IN CAR BODY RECTIFYING WORK AND RECTIFYING MEANS ARRANGEMENT

Abstract: Procedure in car body rectifying work. In the procedure the vehicle is driven onto the rectifying table (11) of the car body rectifying means (10) and affixed to skirt attachments (12) provided on the rectifying table. The vehicle is raised, while it is on the rectifying table, with the lifting means (16) of the vehicle rectifying means to desired height for the rectifying work. Hereafter the lifting means (16) is removed from under the vehicle and out of functional connection with the rectifying table (11) and the vehicle is left resting on supporting legs (30) connected with the rectifying table (11). The invention also relates to appparatus conforming to the procedure.

Description: 1 Procedure in car body rectifying work and rectifying means arrangement The object of the present invention is a procedure in car body rectifying work, in said procedure the vehicle being driven onto the rectifying table of the car body rectifying means and fixed 10 with skirt attachments provided on the rectifying table. The invention also relates to a rectifying means arrangement, said arrangeaaeπt σcπprising at least one rectifying table with skirt att__( _nents for fixing the vehicle or equivalent on the rectifying 1.5 table for the rectifying work. In rectifying means of prior art, the lifting means raising the rectifying table is fixβdly disposed in relation to the rectifying table. Said lifting unit has not in existing problem solutions 20 been arranged to be such that it could be detached and moved to be immediately used elsewhere. The aim of the invention is a car body rectifying means which is appropriate to be eπployed in s.imultaneous rectification of severed 25 cars or equivalent which have to be rectified. The aim of the invention is an apparatus design which .a fords a high rectifying * work capacity, yet with low apparatus costs. The * -** of the invention are achieved with a procedure and an 30 apparatus design as taught by the invention. The procedure of the invention is characterized in that the vehicle is lifted, while it is on the rectifying table, with the lifting means of the vehicle rectifying means to desired height for the 35 rectifying work; - the lifting means is removed from under the vehicle and frcm functional connection with the rectifying table and the vehicle is left to be carried by supporting legs cxxmected to the rectifying table. The other characteristic features of the procedure of the invention are stated in claims 2-6. The .apparatus design of the invention is mainly characterized in that the apparatus arrangement ccπprises a lifting means func¬ tionally connected to the rectifying table and which can be moved under the rectifying table and out from there, and said means further comprising supporting legs which connect with the rectifying table, and when the lifting means has been moved away frcm under the rectifying table the rectifying table being arranged to rest an said supporting legs. The other characteristic features of the apparatus of the invention are stated in claims 10-16. In the procedure of the invention the vehicle is driven onto the rectifying table of the car body rectifying means and attached to the skirt attaci__eπts on the rectifying table. While the vehicle is en the rectifying table, it is lifted with the lifting means of the car body rectifying means to a given, desired height for the rectifying work. Thereafter the lifting means is taken away from under the vehicle and out of functional exxmection with the recti¬ fying table. The vehicle is left on the rectifying table, carried by the supporting legs of the rectifying table. As taught by the .invention, the supporting legs are separately detachable and at¬ tachable to the rectifying table. The rectifying means arrangement of the invention orrtrfrisps at least one rectifying table provided with skirt attachments for ixing the vehicle or equivalent to the rectifying table for rectifying work. The apparatus arrangement rnTrri g .of a lifting means functionally connecting with the recti¬ fying table and which can be moved in under the rectifying table and away frcm there, said apparatus further cαπprising supporting legs ccrmecting with the rectifying table, when the lifting means has been moved away frcm under the rectifying table the rectifying table being disposable to rest en the supporting legs. As taught by the invention, the length of the supporting legs is adjustable and, likewise, the position in the breadth dimension of the sup¬ porting legs can be adjusted with reference to the rectifying table. The supporting leg may be telesccpically extendable to desired length. Of course, such a design is also conceivable in which supporting legs of different lengths are used far different lifting heights. By the procedure and the apparatus design of the invention major capital savings are achieved since one single lifting unit can be used in a wortøhop to serve several rectifying tables. The recti¬ fying table itself, and the supporting leg design, is advantageous. The most esqpensive piece of equipment is the lifting means, but in the problem solution of the present invention the investment of one lifting means can be utilized in several rectifying objects at one time. The invention is described in detail in the following by referring to pertain advantageous e__bodiments of the invention, presented in the figures of the appended drawings, but to which the invention is not meant to be exclusively confined. In Fig. 1 is presented an apparatus according to the invention in one rectifying position. The figure is an elevational view, and the car or equivalent object has been placed en the rectifying table and is shown with dotted lines. In Figs 2A-2C the rectifying apparatus and procedure of the in¬ vention are illustrated in the different steps. In Fig. 3 is presented an advantageous way of att»=hing the driving plates to the frame of the lifting unit. The figure is an axeno- metric projection. In Fig. 4 is presented another advantageous eβixdimeπt of the driving plate attachment. In Fig. 5 is presented, in an axonααoetric .and partial projection, an advantageous embodiment of the supporting leg. m Fig. 6 is presented the rectifying table in top view, the recti- fying table being carried by the supporting legs. In Fig. 1, the object to be rectified, that is a car A, has been driven up onto the rectifying -table 11 of the rectifying means 10 arxl is held fast by the skirt attachments .12 ■ ,12",as" 1 and 12' » ". The skirt attachments are most advantageously disposed on beams 13',13",13"' and 13"" projecting from its frame 11a, and they have been disposed to be movable on said beams 13 in accordance with the width of the car in each case. The rectifying means further comprises rectifying heads 14, which are here understood to be αaπpαnents, advantageously beam-like ccnponents, producing a recti¬ fying force or mediating a rectifying force and which have been arranged over a provided rectifying jib 14a and or pull, halfters 14c or equivalent to pull or push at the points where rectification is desired. Said rectifying heads 14 have advantageously been disposed to be located and to attach to the rectifying table 11, to its frame 11a and they may be disposed to be movable on tele¬ scopic beams of said frame 11. The car body rectifying means 10 of the invention further ccnprises driving plates 25, of which there are three in the βtoodiment of the figure: 15a,15b and 15c, en either side of the rectifying means on its longitudinal axis. The driving plates 15b and 15c are disposed to be located on the same level, yet so that the beam 13 of the lifting table has been disposed in its lowermost position to pass through a gap that has been left between the driving plates 15a and 15b. Similarly there are gaps in the driving plates 15 for the other beams 13, or said drivings have been rtiβpriBf-l to be mitually separated in order to form said gap and a passage far the beam 13. As shown in Fig. 1, there is such a qpaoe also between the driving plates 15a and 15b. The rectifying means of the in- venticn furthermore rrr riπofl a lifting means 16. The lifting means advantageously rfi trinfffl a lifting cylinder 17, which most advarrtageously is a hydraulic cylinder. Said lifting means 16 has been arranged to raise and lower the vehicle A on the rectifying table 11, i.e., the lifting means 16 has been arranged to raise and lower the rectifying table 11. According to an advantageous e__∞diment of the invention, the lifting means 16 is advantageously a shearlegs lifting mechanism. The lifting cylinder 17 has been connected between the horizontal upper beam 19 of the lifting means 16 and the frame beam 20 down below in such manner that it is by one end, for instance by the cylinder body 17, connected to the lowermost horizontal beam and to the beam portion 20 closest to the ground and by its other end and by the piston rod end it has been connected to the horizontal frame beam located above. To the horizontal beam 20 are further connected arms 18a and 18b. The arm 18a is by one end attached to the beam 20 and by its other end to the beam 19 and, similarly, the arm 18b is by one end attached to the beam 20 and by its other end to the beam 19. The arms 18a and 18b are pivoted to be tumable in relation to each other, at their centre, by the pivot C 1# Said junctures are pivot junctures and they enable the arms 18 to be disposed to be tumable in relation to the beams 19 and 20 at their pivot points C 2 ,C 3 ,C 4 and C5. In order far the mechanism to be able to operate, the lower end of one arm and the upper end of the other arm have also been disposed to be movable in horizontal direction. The lifting means 16 has thus been disposed to raise and lower the vehicle A. As taught by the invention, the lifting means 16 has been Λia-^_ Λ to be movable out from under the rectifying table 11 and back in under the rectifying table 11. W_βn the lifting means 16 is being moved away frcm conjunction with the rectifying table 11 by removing a locking pin 40 or equivalent, the driving plates 15 are removed and, next supporting legs 30 are applied to the rectifying table 11. There are advantageously four supporting legs 30: 30',30",30"' aid 30"". As taught by the invention, the lifting means 16 may therefore be used in conjunction with several recti¬ fying tables 11, and this can be dene when the rectifying tables 11 are fitted with separate supporting legs 30. This problem sol¬ ution of the invention renders possible the rectifying work dene in one shop en several objects to be rectified and using only one lifting means 16. Said lifting means 16 can thus be adapted to serve several rectifying tables 11. The legs 30 of the rectifying table 11 are most advantageously arranged to be adjustable in length and/or adjustable as to their position in breadth and in such manner that the legs can be fitted in desired supporting positions relative to the rectifying table 11, and thus wide enough apart in the breadth direction. in Figs 2A-2C is presented, step by step, the rectifying procedure of the invention and the use of the apparatus of the invention. In Fig. 2A is shown the vehicle A, lifted to desired rectifying pos¬ ition. The supporting legs 30 have not yet been fastened to the rectifying table 11. In Fig. 2B is depicted the step in which the supporting legs 30, advantageously four supporting legs, have been fastened to the rectifying table 11. The pin 40 is removed or shifted to a position in v__ich it allows the lifting means 16 to be detached from the rectifying table 11 and to be moved away, advantageously by pulling on the rod 25. The beam 20 is provided with wheels 24 or equivalent means which facilitate the removal of the lifting unit 16 frm under the rectifying table 11. There are advaritageously fair wheels 24',24",24"' and 24"". The rod 25, or bar, has been dispose to be pivotally attached to the beam 20 by the pivot C-. Subsequent to the step illustrated in Fig. 2B, the lifting unit 16 may be moved away frcm under the vehicle and the rectifying work may continue, with the vehicle now fixed by the skirt attachment 12 of the rectifying table 11 and resting on the supporting legs 30. In the procedure of the invention, which is well illustrated by Figs 2A-2C, the vehicle is first driven up onto the rectifying table 11. In the next step the rectifying table 11 is raised with the aid of the lifting means 16 so that the skirt attachments 12 cane into contact with the vehicle A. The skirt attachments are then damped en, advantageously by screw action, so that the vehicle A is held fast on the rectifying table 11. The vehicle A is there¬ after raised to desired rectifying height, αr to the rectifying level, which has been indicated with 6 in Figs 1 and 2A. When the desired rectifying level G has been reached, the legs 30, advan¬ tageously four legs 30',30",30"'and 30"", are placed in contact with the rectifying table 11. The supporting legs 30 are secured in desired supporting position to the rectifying table 11. There- after the pin 40, or equivalent locking members, is removed and, as shown in Fig. 2C, the lifting unit 16 is moved away frm under the rectifying table .11. After this moving, the lifting unit 16 is conveyed to the site of rectification of a new vehicle A to be rectified and into a new position under a new rectifying table 11'. it hecxines possible in this way with the apparatus and procedure of the invention to lift and raise several vehicles in one shop with the aid of one lifting unit 16. Only one lifting unit or lifting means 16 is required, and for each rectifying station in the shop there is separately its own rectifying table 11 provided with supporting legs 30. The savings of capital are thus remarkable. In Fig. 3 is depicted the attaching of the driving plates 15b and 15c to the supporting legs 21 of the lifting unit 16. After the -vehicle has been lifted on the rectifying table 11 to desired rectifying height, the driving plates 15 may be detached and moved away so that they will not interfere with the rectifying work. In the invention this has been arranged to take place in that the driving plates 15 have been dispose to be detachable frcm and attachable to -the supporting legs 21 attaching to the lifting unit 21. The supporting legs 21 have receiving recesses or holes 22 into which the driving plates 15 can be fitted by their supporting legs 23 and by the ends thereof. The supporting legs 21 of the lifting unit 16 ha e been provided with a plurality of receiving recesses 22 for the driving plates 15. Therefore the supporting legs 23 or equivalent of the driving plates 15 can be fitted in different receiving recesses, in accordance with the desired breadth. The supporting legs 21 may advantageously be L section bars, in which case the bottom of the L section has been di g -p-*-*^ to abut on the ground, with the largest possible ccπtact area in order to achieve large supporting breadth and stable support. The sipporting legs may be, as shown in Fig. 3, movable in the direction of arrow L telesccpically within the beam 20, whereby when the lifting unit 16 is being moved away from under the rectifying table 11 the supporting legs 22 may be moved frαn their spread position so as not to interfere with the transport. In the embodiment of Fig. 3 has been shown cne supporting leg 21. There may be several supporting legs 21, and they have in this embodiment of Fig. 3 been disposed to join fixedly on the lowermost horizcπtal beam 20 of the lifting means 16, and they have been so disposed that they rest with their lowermost surf.ace against the ground, supporting the lifting of the rectifying table and of the vehicle. There are advantageously four legs 21, but their number may equally be smaller or larger. In Fig. 4 is presented another es_xx_iment of the supporting leg 21. In this e__xdiment the sipporting leg only cαπprises one receiving recess 22', one supporting leg 23' of the driving plate 15c being H-ι*-pn«_a to enter said receiving recess 22' and the adjacent supporting leg 22' being dispose merely to rest on the ground. In this eπbodimeπt, too, the supporting leg 21' of the lifting unit 16 has been disposed to connect directly with the beam 20, advantageously with its lowermost side face portion. in Fig. 5 is presented an advantageous e___odi___πt of the invention. In the figure is only depicted the connection of one supporting leg 30 of the rectifying table 11 to the rectifying table 11, to its frame 11a. The embodiment is advantageously the same also in the case of the other supporting legs 30. In Fig. 5 is shown the supporting leg 30'. The supporting leg 30 advantageously ccnprises a horizontal beam portion 30a and a beam portion 13b connecting therewith and serving as a vertical leg. The beam section 30a has been disposed to be movable in relation to the frame of the recti¬ fying table 11, advantageously in such manner that it is movable relative to the frame 11a of the rectifying table 11 within a beam 13' ccπnecting with the frame 11a. On the beam 13' projecting from the lifting table 11, on the top face, are located movable skirt attachments 12. The leg 30 is horizontally displacβable to assume different positions in the breadth direction relative to the lifting table 11, and advantageously relative to its frame beam 11a. Said moving met advantageously takes place in that the beam portion 30a has been disposed to be attachable by means of fixing elements 37 αr equivalent in various breadth positions. In the en_xdi_oent of Fig. 5, the beam 13' has receiving recesses, and correspondingly the beam 30 has corresponding recesses on its horizontal portion 30a. A cotter pin 37, or another equivalent quick fixing means, can be passed through these receiving recesses, whereby the leg 30' is held exactly in horizontal position relative to the frame 11a. As taught by the invention, the leg 30 is disposed to be adjustable in length. Therefore in the vertical portion 30b of the leg 30' have been provided telescopic sections 30 ! and 30b_, these being ■^ g p i --H to be movable in relation to each other, in such manner -that one part αr the other has been arranged to be movable and slidable in relation to the other part into different fixing pos¬ itions. Advantageously, the beam portion 30b^ has been disposed to be movable within the beam portion 30b2, in such manner that the beam portion 30b^ has receiving recesses 34ai,34a2,34a 3 ,etc. and similarly the beam portion 3Gh>2 has receiving recesses 35a 1 ,35a 2 , etc. The pin 38 or equivalent quick fixing element can be passed through these receiving recesses, whereby the leg 30' will be locked in a given length position. In Fig. 5 has only been shown one mode of attaching the leg 30 of the invention to the rectifying table U. There may be a plurality of telescopic sections, or the leg 30 may have fixed length. In Fig. 6 is presented the apparatus of the invention viewed frcm above, with the supporting legs attached to the rectifying table 11.

Claims: Claims 1. A procedure in car body rectifying work, wherein the vehicle is driven onto the rectifying table (11) of the car body rectifying means (10) and affixed to skirt attachments (12) provided on the rectifying table, c___racter__Bβd in that the vehicle is raised, while it is on the rectifying table, with the lifting means (16) of the vehicle rectifying means to desired height far the rectifying work, - the lifting means (16) is removed from under the vehicle and out of functional connection with the rectifying table (11) and the vehicle is left resting an supporting legs (30) aaπnected with the rectifying table (11) . 2. Procedure according to cladm 1, c___ract___ized in that the lifting means (16) is moved in under another rectifying table (11) , en which second rectifying table (11) is performed lifting of the vehicle to desired height and the second rectifying table (11) is left resting on its supporting legs (30) . 3. Procedure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that before the lifting means is moved away from under the rectifying table the supporting legs are attached to the rectifying table. 4. Procedure according to airy one of the preceding claims, charac¬ terized in that the lifting unit (16) is arranged to serve several rectifying tables (11). 5. Procedure according to any one of the preceding claims, charac¬ terized in that the supporting leg (30) αr sipporting legs (30) are adjusted to desired length. 6. Procedure according to .any one of the preceding claims, charac¬ terized in that in the procedure the position in the breadth direc¬ tion of the supporting legs (30) is adjusted in order that the stablest possible support of the vehicle upon the rectifying table (11) is obtained. 7. Procedure according to any one of the preceding claims, charac- terized in that far lifting means (16) a shβarlegs lifting mechanism is used. 8. Procedure according to any one of the preceding claims, charac¬ terized in that the lifting means (16) is moved about on rotatable support means, e.g. en rollers (24*,24"). 9. A rectifying arrangement comprising at least one rectifying -table (11) with skirt attachments (12) for fixing the vehicle or equivalent to the rectifying table (11) far the rectifying work, characterized in that the apparatus .arrangement comprises a lifting means (16) functionally connecting with the rectifying table (11) and which is movable in under the rectifying table (11) and away frcm there, and said apparatus further ccoprising supporting legs (30) connecting with the rectifying table (11), the rectifying table (11) being disposed when the lifting means (16) has been moved away frαn under the rectifying table to rest on said support¬ ing legs (30) . 10. Apparatus arrangement according to claim 9, <_fc___aσterized in that the supporting legs (30) have been disposed to be detachably attachable to the rectifying table (11). 11. Apparatus arrangement according to the preceding cladm, charac¬ terized in that the sipporting legs (30',30",30"'.30"") have been dispoβed to be adjustable in length, whereby they are attachable in various length positions with the add of fixing elements (38). 12. Apparatus a_xanga_eπt according to any one of the preceding claims 9-11, c±aracterized in that the supporting legs have been disposed to be adjustable with inplemeπts (37) in their breadth position relative to the rectifying table (11) . ' 13. Apparatus .arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims 9-12, characterized in that the supporting legs (30) have been disposed to be attachable to a cantilever beam (13',13",13"', 13"") αamecting with the rectifying table (11) . 14. Apparatus arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims 9-13, characterized in that the sipporting leg has been disposed to be coπnectable to the rectifying table (11) , to its cantilever beam (13), in such manner that a beam (30a) of the 0 supporting leg (30) has been disposed to move telesoopicadly rela¬ tive to the cantilever beam (13) of the rectifying table (11) . 15. Apparatus arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims 9-14, c__aracterized in that the lifting unit (16) has been disposed to be oonnectable to the rectifying table (11) by means of fixing elements (40), advantageously by a fixing pin or equiv¬ alent. 16. Rectifying means arrangement according to any one of the 0 preceding claims 9-15, characterized in that the lifting unit ccnpcises rotatable sipporting means, advantageously support rollers (24) or equivalent, supported by which the lifting unit (16) can be moved away frαn under the rectifying tabl (11) and back again under the rectifying table. 5 0 5

Inventors: VENAELAEINEN OLAVI, VENAELAEINEN, OLAVI
Applicants: AUTOROBOT FINLAND
Application year: 1987
Main classification: B21D1
IPC codes: B21D1, B60S3, B60S5, B66F7