Patent GB-707789-A (GB)
Title: Improved apparatus for facilitating the servicing of motor vehicles
IPC: B60S13/02
Filed: 1952-01-15
Abstract: 707,789. Cleaning plant for engine sumps &c. BURNETT, M. A. Jan. 15, 1952 [Jan. 23, 1951; March 29, 1951; Nov. 22, 1951], No. 1146/52. Class 116 [Also in Group XXX] Apparatus for use in servicing vehicles includes a conveyer for carrying vehicles past a series of servicing stations, pressure pads for supporting a vehicle on the conveyer such that the wheels of the vehicle do not carry the weight of the vehicle, and separate means for both moving the vehicle into position for engagement by the pressure pads at the feed end of the conveyer and for removing the vehicle from the discharge end of the conveyer. As shown, a vehicle to be serviced runs slowly down a ramp 33 until the front end is over the input end of a pair of parallel. conveyer chains 21 whereupon an operator inserts a front pressure pad between the front wheel suspension and the conveyer chains so that the front end of the vehicle is thereby supported on the chains. Subsequently an operator places a rear pressure pad between the rear axle of the vehicle and the chains whereby the vehicle is wholly supported by the chains 21, which run at two to five feet per minute and are supported and guided in upper guide troughs 28 provided with replaceable wearing strips (not shown) and lower return troughs 29. The conveyer chains traverse the vehicle over an inspection pit 20 where first the engine sump is drained into a sloping channel 40 leading to a collecting vessel (not shown) and subsequently the gearbox and differential are drained by suction appliances, and later the chassis is cleaned and springs &c. re-oiled by various blower, pressure lubricator &c. devices. Finally the vehicle wheels reach a second ramp at the remote end of the pit whereby the vehicle is propelled off the conveyer. Each of the conveyer chains has horizontal plates mounted across the side plates of its links whereby bearer members 72, 82, Figs. 11, 17, of the rear or front pressure pads respectively can be slidably supported thereon by means of grooves 73, 83 respectively on the undersides of said members, thus restricting the latter against lateral movement. Each rear pressure pad, Fig. 17, consists of a transverse member 74 joining the bearer member 72 and shaped to avoid contact with the differential housing of the vehicle, and two uprights 75 on top of which are heads 76 shaped to engage from the rear and support the rear axle of the vehicle. Each front pressure pad, Figs. 11, 13, consists of a transverse rail 80 pivotally connected at 85 with the bearer members 82 and having springs 86 for yieldingly supporting the rail in horizontal attitude. The end portions of the rail are formed with dovetail tracks 88 by means of which two slides 89 are traversable along it. The slides 89 are connected by links 102 to a two-arm lever 101 pivoted at 100 to the rail and having a spring-pressed ball (not shown) engageable with a series of holes in a quadrant 99 for adjusting the distance apart of the slides 89. Upon each slide 89 is pivotally mounted a head 91 by means of a tube 92 passed through aligned lugs 90, 93 on the slide and head respectively. Leaf springs 97 on the head yieldingly support the head in .horizontal attitude. By means of the pivots 85, 92 and springs 86, 97 the head 91 can thereby be adjusted to any desired inclination such that a suspension engaging member (not shown) which may be secured in a socket member 95 on the head 91 can suitably engage the front suspension of the vehicle. In order to align a vehicle approaching the ramp 33 with the conveyer for correct feeding thereto a pair of rails 46, Fig. 5, are transversely movable by scissor linkage 49, 50 and toggle linkage 51 actuated by a lever 55, Fig. 1A. The rails 46 have rollers 58 running on tracks 59, 60 to support them for this transverse movement by which the rails can be set at any desired spacing to suit different vehicles. The leading ends 45 of the rails are bent inwardly whereby the vehicle wheels are guided into position closely adjacent the outer side of each of the rails. To facilitate lateral movement of the vehicle plates 61, 62 are mounted by means of horizontal and vertical rollers to slide transversely while being restricted in the longitudinal direction. These plates are connected to the rails 46 by springs 63 to move resiliently therewith. In a modification, the feeding and discharge ramps are replaced by endless conveyers which are driven at the same speed as the conveyer chains 21.