BODY CLAMP FOR AN AUTOMOBILE BODY STRAIGHTENER

Abstract: A body clamp for an automobile body straightener, consisting of a main body (2) which can be fastened to a straightener frame beam (1) and has a pair of jaws (3, 4) attached to it, one of which is fixed to the main body and the other (4) turnably mounted on a shaft (5) attached to the main body (2), the body clamp being provided with a closing device (6), e.g. a heart wheel, by means of which the turnable jaw (4) can be pressed against the fixed jaw (3). The closing device (6) is turnably mounted on a shaft (7) attached to the movable jaw (4) so that, when the closing device (6) is pressed (G) against the frame beam (1), it will generate a clamping force (F) between the jaws, with the result that the body clamp is simultaneously fastened to the straightener frame beam (1) when the jaws (3, 4) are closed.

Description: BODY CLAMP FOR AN AUTOMOBILE BODY STRAIGHTENER The present invention relates to a body clamp for an automobile body straightener, consisting of a main body which is fastened to a straightener frame beam and has a pair of jaws attached to it, one of which is fixed to the main body and the other turnably mounted on a shaft attached to the main body, the body clamp being provided with a closing device, e.g. a heart wheel, by means of which the turnable jaw can be pressed against the fixed jaw, the clamp being simultaneously fastened to the straightener frame beam when the jaws are closed. For example, Finnish patent application 874313 describes a body clamp of this type and associated techniques. The object of the invention is to further develop the body clamp and its action. The body clamp of the invention is characterized in that the closing device is turnably mounted on a shaft attached to the movable jaw, so that, when the closing device is pressed against the frame beam, it will generate a clamping force between the jaws. The invention makes it possible to quickly fasten the automobile body by its edges to the straightener while at the same time fastening the straightener to the frame beam. Since the closing device is mounted on the movable jaw, the clamping and fastening forces will be independent of the thickness of the automobile body edge gripped by the jaws. An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that, during clamping, the closing device, which is a heart wheel known in itself, is pressed against a spacer belonging to the closing device and transmitting the pressure to the frame beam. Thus, the fastening pressure applied to the frame beam will be evenly distributed. Another preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the movable jaw is provided with a toe which, in rela¬ tion to the closing device, is placed on the opposite side of the jaw axle and, during clamping, applies a pressure-via a spring to the spacer, said spring pressure being removed when the clamp is released. Thus, both ends of the fastening plate will be evenly pressed against the frame beam. In the following, the invention is described by referring to the attached drawing, showing the body clamp in sectional view. The body clamp for an automobile body straightener consists of a main body 2 which can be fastened to a straightener frame beam 1 and is provided with a pair of jaws 3,4 attached to it. One 3 of the jaws is fixed to the main body 2 while the other jaw is turnably mounted on a shaft 5 attached to the main body 2. Using a closing device 6 consisting of a heart wheel, the movable jaw 4 can be pressed against the other jaw 3. The closing device is turnably mounted on a shaft 7 attached to the movable jaw 4, so that, when pressed against the frame beam, the closing device 6 will produce a clamping force F between the jaws. When the jaws are pressed against each other, the body clamp is simultaneously fastened to the frame beam. The thickness of the edge gripped by the jaws has no effect on the clamping and fastening forces F, G. During clamping, the heart wheel 6 is pressed against a spacer 8 belonging to the closing device and transmitting the pressure to the frame beam. The movable jaw 4 is provided with a toe 9 which, in relation to the closing device 6, is placed on the opposite side of the jaw axle 5 and, during clamping, applies a pressure via a spring 10 to the spacer 8. When the body clamp is opened by turning the lever 11 in direction 12, the spring pressure 10 causes the jaw 4 to turn open in direction 13, thereby releasing the spacer and enabling the clamp to be moved along the beam 1 to a desired position. When the lever 11 is turned in direction 14, the clamp grips the edge of the automobile body as jaw 4 turns in direction 15 while the heart wheel 6 and cup springs 10 tighten the clamp on the beam 1.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Body clamp for an automobile body straightener, consisting of a main body (2) which can be fastened to a straightener frame beam (1) and has a pair of jaws (3,4) attached to it, one of which is fixed to the main body and the other (4) turnably mounted on a shaft (5) attached to the main body (2), the body clamp being provided with a closing device (6), e.g. a heart wheel, by means of which the turnable jaw (4) can be pressed against the fixed jaw (3), the body clamp being simultaneously fastened to the straightener frame beam (1) when the jaws (3,4) are closed, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the closing device (6) is turnably mounted on a shaft (7) attached to the movable jaw (4) so that, when the closing device (6) is pressed (G) against the frame beam (1), it will generate a clamping force (F) between the jaws. 2. Body clamp according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that, during clamping, the closing device (6), which is a heart wheel known in itself, is pressed against a spacer (8) belonging to the closing device and transmitting the pressure to the frame beam (1 ) . 3. Body clamp according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d in that the movable jaw (4) is provided with a toe (9) which, in relation to the closing device (6), is placed on the opposite side of the jaw axle (5) and, during clamping, applies a pressure via a spring (10) to the spacer (8), said spring pressure being removed when the clamp is in the open position.

Inventors: VIERTO RAINE, VIERTO, RAINE
Applicants: VIERTO RAINE, VIERTO, RAINE
Application year: 1990
Main classification: B25B5
IPC codes: B21D1, B25B5