Patent Publication Number: US-6655185-B2

Title: Vehicle repairing device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a vehicle repairing device for restoring a damaged panel surface of a vehicle to the normal configuration. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Conventional vehicle repairing devices for use in sheet metal repairing for restoring a damaged portion in a panel surface of a vehicle to the normal position include a sliding hammer  200  as shown in FIG. 21 and a power lock stand device as shown in FIG.  22 . 
     The sliding hammer  200  is a tool including an iron shaft  201  formed as an integral unit having at one end a hook  204  and at the other end an iron grip portion  203 , and a counter weight  202  provided so as to be slidable on the shaft  201 . It is used for a damaged portion of a relatively small area. 
     The sliding hammer  200  is used as follows: the hook  204  provided at one end of the shaft  201  is hooked on to a weld washer W welded to a damaged portion D beforehand, and the grip portion  203  is held by one hand. Subsequently, the counter weight  202  slidably provided on the shaft  201  is slid to be banged against the grip portion  203  to thereby pull out the damaged portion D. That is, the inertial energy of the counter weight  202  is transmitted by way of the grip portion  203 , the shaft  201 , the hook  204 , and the damaged portion D to thereby pull out the damaged portion D toward the operator side. When this sliding hammer is used, great energy is instantaneously applied to the damaged portion. As a result, the damaged portion D is locally pulled out. 
     The power lock stand device  300  includes a chain  302  stretched between the damaged portion D and the floor surface in proximity of the damaged portion D through the intermediation of a chain block  301 , and a stand  303  for determining the direction (height) in which the damaged portion D is pulled out while maintaining a part of the stretched chain  302  at a fixed height. It is applied to a damaged portion of a relatively large area. 
     The chain block  301  is a device includes a main body portion having a hook, a chain provided in the main body portion, and a take-up device for the chain. By operating the take-up device, it is possible to arbitrarily reduce the chain length. 
     The power lock stand device  300  is operated as follows: first, a hook of the chain block  301  is hooked on to a weld washer W welded to the damaged portion D beforehand. Then, the chain  302  is stretched between the floor surface in proximity of the damaged portion D and the chain block  301 . At this time, the stand  303  is arranged such that a part of the stretched chain  302  is maintained at the same height as the damaged portion D. Then, the chain block  301  is operated to gradually reduce the entire length of the chain  302  stretched, thereby making it possible to pull out the damaged portion to the normal position. When the power lock stand device is used, a force is gradually applied to the damaged portion, so that the damaged portion is pulled back in its entirety. 
     In some cases, a damaged portion in the panel surface of a vehicle consists of a large distortion with a small dent existing locally therein. Conventionally, such a damaged portion is first pulled out in its entirety by using a power lock stand device, and then the local dent is pulledback by using a sliding hammer. 
     It is also possible to increase the number of weld washers welded to the damaged portion beforehand and to use the above two devices simultaneously. In that case, however, it is difficult to weld the weld washers to optimum positions. Further, if the two devices can be appropriately installed, these is a danger of the weld washers which the power lock stand device uses being detached due to the impact of the sliding hammer. 
     In view of this, in the conventional sheet metal repair technique, the repair operation has to be conducted while interchanging the two devices, resulting in a bother for the operator Further, the repairing operation takes a lot of time. 
     The present invention has been made in view of the above problems in the prior art. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle repairing device, which is capable of pulling out a damaged portion safely and easily. Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle repairing device capable of pulling out a damaged portion to a predetermined position in a short time. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a vehicle repairing device for pulling out a damaged portion of a panel surface to a normal position, including a first puller having a first fixing portion to be fixed to the damaged portion and adapted to pull up the first fixing portion in a state in which it is fixed to a predetermined range of the damaged portion, and a second puller having a second fixing portion to be fixed to the damaged portion and adapted to pull up the second fixing portion in a state in which it is further locally fixed to the damaged portion of the panel surface to be pulled up by the first puller. 
     In the present invention, the first fixing portion may include an attachment pad or covering the damaged portion of the panel surface to be pulled up by the first puller, and a pressure reducing means for reducing the pressure of the interior if the attachment pad. 
     In the present invention, the second fixing portion may include a weld member to be welded to the damaged portion of the panel surface, and a holder for holding the weld member. 
     Further, in the present invention, there may be provided a puller main body equipped with a hollow shaft, a slide rod slidably provided inside the hollow shaft, a first ascent/descent device pulling up the hollow shaft, and a second ascent/descent device pulling up the slide rod, wherein the first fixing portion is provided at one end of the hollow shaft, wherein the second fixing portion is provided at one end of the slide rod, and wherein the second fixing portion is provided so as to protrude into the interior of the first fixing portion provided at one end of the hollow shaft. 
     Further, there may be provided a holding portion for holding the puller main body so as to make it perpendicular to the damaged portion of the panel surface, wherein the holding portion holds the puller main body at one point in the axial direction thereof, and wherein one end of the puller main body is movable in all directions by using the one point in the axial direction at which it is held by the holding portion as a fulcrum. 
     At least one of the first ascent/descent device and the second ascent/descent device may include a rack gear extending along an outer peripheral surface of the hollow shaft or the slide rod and in the axial direction thereof, a pinion gear engaged with the rack gear, an engagement pawl engaged with the pinion gear and restricting the rotating direction thereof, an ascent/descent device main body which contains the pinion gear and the engagement pawl and which is supported at a predetermined support point and a rotating means for rotating the pinion gear. 
     Further, in the present invention, there may be provided a supporting device for supporting the puller main body, wherein the supporting device has a longitudinal rail and a lateral rail slidably provided on the longitudinal rail, and wherein the holding portion is slidably held by the lateral rail. 
     In accordance with the present invention, it is possible to pull out a damaged portion in a damage state in which a small dent locally exists in a large distortion to a predetermined position safely and easily. 
     Further, it is possible to pull out a damaged portion in a damage state in which a small dent locally exists in a large distortion by a single device, so that the operator is spared the trouble of interchanging a plurality of devices. Further, the requisite time for the repair can be substantially reduced. 
     Further, when there is provided a supporting device capable of supporting the puller main body at any angle and any position near the damaged portion, it is possible to pull out the damaged portion in a desired direction, making it possible to obtain a metal sheet repaired surface extremely approximate to the normal configuration. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a vehicle repairing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the principle of a pulling-up operation in accordance with the vehicle repairing device of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a front view showing a main portion of a puller main body according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a puller main body according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a puller main body according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a holding portion according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of a holding portion according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a top view of a base plate according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a base plate according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a condition in which only a second puller according to an embodiment of the present invention is pulled up; 
     FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a condition in which only a first puller according to an embodiment of the present invention is pulled up; 
     FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a condition in which first and second pullers according to an embodiment of the present invention are simultaneously pulled up; 
     FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a support device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 14 is a side view showing a support device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 15 is a plan view showing a support device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a portion in the vicinity of an end portion of a lateral rail according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 17 is a front view showing a lateral rail retaining bracket according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 18 is a sectional view showing a lateral rail retaining bracket according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a condition in which a lateral rail according to an embodiment of the present invention is movable; 
     FIG. 20 is a sectional view of a support leg provided in a support device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 21 is a diagram showing how a conventional sliding hammer for sheet metal repair is used; 
     FIG. 22 is a diagram showing how a conventional power lock stand device for sheet metal repair is used; and 
     FIG. 23 is a sectional view of a vehicle repairing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 
     Schematically, a vehicle repairing device according to this embodiment includes a puller main body  1  equipped with a first puller  2  and a second puller  3  integrated with each other, a holding portion  4  holding the puller main body  1  so as to be perpendicular to a damaged portion of a panel surface (hereinafter simply referred to as the damaged portion), and a support device  5  capable of moving the holding portion  4  in plane-matrix directions with respect to the damaged portion. 
     The first puller  2  is composed of a first fixing portion  21  for fixing (holding) the damaged portion in a predetermined range, a metal hollow shaft  22  having the first fixing portion  21  on its lower end side, and a first ascent/descent device  6  for raising the hollow shaft  22  using the holding portion  4  as a fulcrum. 
     Here, the lower end of the hollow shaft  22  means an end portion facing the panel surface of the vehicle when the vehicle repairing device of this embodiment is being used. In the following, the terms below, lower end, lower surface, etc. always indicate a direction to the vehicle panel surface (damaged portion). 
     As shown in FIGS. 3 through 5, the first fixing portion  21  is composed of a cylindrical main body portion  23 , a duplex attachment pad  25  fastened to the lower surface of the main body portion  23  by means of a plurality of bolts  24 , and an intake passage  26  one end of which opens on the inner side of the attachment pad  25  and the other end of which is connected to a negative pressure generating device equipped with a negative pressure source (not shown). In FIG. 5, reference numeral  27  indicates an opening of the intake passage  26  one end of which communicates with the inner side of the attachment pad  25 . 
     The attachment pad  25  is of a duplex structure composed of an outer attachment pad  25   a  and an inner attachment pad  25   b . Then, when the negative pressure generating device is operated, with the attachment pad  25  being pressed against the damaged portion, the pressure of the space surrounded by the outer attachment pad  25   a  and the inner attachment pad  25   b  is reduced by the negative pressure, and the damaged portion is firmly fixed (held) by the first fixing portion  21  in an area corresponding to a diameter of the attachment pad  25 . 
     The attachment pad  25  is of two types: circular and elliptical, the appropriate one of which is used according to the area and the configuration of the damaged portion. When replacing the attachment pad  25 , the bolts  24  for fixing the attachment pad  25  to the main body portion  23  are removed. Thus, in this embodiment, a suction device for holding the damaged portion by utilizing negative pressure is adopted as the first fixing portion  21 . 
     It is also possible to form the main body portion  23  and the attachment pad  25  by using a transparent material. Further, it is possible to provide an inspection window in the main body portion  23 . In this case, the condition in the first fixing portion  21  can be ascertained, making it possible to perform a more accurate pulling-out operation. Examples of the transparent material include a resin material, such as acrylic resin. 
     Then, at the center on the upper surface side of the main body portion  23 , there is provided a metal hollow shaft  22  to be raised by the first ascent/descent device  6 . Further, a second puller through-hole  28  communicating with the interior of the hollow shaft  22  is provided in the main body portion  23  and the attachment pad  25 , and a second puller  3  which is concentric with the first puller  2  is provided so as to extend through the interior of the second puller through-hole  28  and the hollow shaft  22 . 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the second puller  3  does not directly extend through the attachment pad  25 , so that even in the state in which the second puller  3  is provided, the sucking force of the first fixing portion  21  is not impaired. Further, it is not always necessary for the attachment pad  25  to have a duplex structure. It may also be formed solely by the outer attachment pad  25   a . In this case, when the clearance between the second puller  3  and the second puller through-hole  28  is made sufficiently small, the sucking force of the first fixing portion  21  is not impaired, making it possible to reliably fix the damaged portion. 
     As shown in FIG. 11, the first ascent/descent device  6  for raising the hollow shaft  22  by using the holding portion  4  as a fulcrum is provided in the upper portion of the hollow shaft  22 , and composed of a first rack gear  61  provided on the hollow shaft  22  and extending in the axial direction thereof, a first pinion gear  62  engaged with the first rack gear  61 , a first engagement pawl  63  engaged with the first pinion gear  61  and limiting the rotating direction thereof, a first ascent/descent device main body  64  containing the first pinion gear  61  and the first engagement pawl  63 , and a first rotating means (not shown) capable of rotating the first pinion gear  61  in an arbitrary direction. 
     While in this embodiment a ratchet lever equipped with a ratchet mechanism is adopted as the first rotating means, it is also possible to adopt an electric motor or the like. A more detailed description of the first ascent/descent device  64  constructed as described above will be given below along with the description of the holding portion  4 . 
     The second puller  3  includes a second fixing portion  31  for further locally fixing (holding) the damaged portion to be pulled up by the first puller  2 , a slide rod  32  having the second fixing portion  31  at its lower end and slidably held to the interior of the hollow shaft  22  and that of the second puller through-hole  28 , and a second ascent/descent device  7  for raising the slide rod  32  using the holding portion  4  or the hollow shaft  22  of the first puller  2  as a fulcrum. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, the second fixing portion  31  includes a positively charged metal holder main body  33 , and an electrode position metal chip  34  (weld member) embedded in the forward end portion of the holder main body  33 . That is, the second fixing portion  31  adopts an electrode position holder for holding the damaged portion by welding. 
     Then, the electrode position chip  34  is welded to the damaged portion negatively charged beforehand, and by the second fixing portion  31 , the damaged portion to be pulled up by the first puller  2  can beheld further locally. The area of the damaged portion fixed by the second fixing portion  31  is sufficiently smaller than the area of the damaged portion fixed by the first fixing portion  21  of the first puller  2 . 
     The slide rod  32  having the second fixing portion  31  at its lower end is made of metal, and its entire length is sufficiently larger than that of the hollow shaft  22 . Thus, in the state in which it is inserted into the hollow shaft  22 , its lower and upper end portions externally protrude from the hollow shaft  22 , respectively. Then, the second ascent/descent device  7  is provided in the upper portion of the slide rod  32  protruding from the hollow shaft  22  (See FIG.  1 ). That is, the second ascent/descent device  7  is provided so as to be placed on the upper end of the hollow shaft  22 . 
     As shown in FIG. 10, the second ascent/descent device  7  for pulling up the second puller  3  includes an adjust rod  71  extending axially upward from the upper end of the slide rod  32 , an adjust collar  72  fitted onto the adjust rod  71 , a second rack gear  73  provided on the slide rod  32  and extending in the axial direction thereof, a second pinion gear  74  engaged with the second rack gear  73 , a second engagement pawl  75  engaged with the second pinion gear  74  and limiting the rotating direction thereof, a second ascent/descent device main body  76  containing the second pinion gear  74  and the second engagement pawl  75 , and a second rotating means (not shown) for rotating the second pinion gear  74  in an arbitrary direction. 
     While in this embodiment a ratchet lever equipped with a ratchet mechanism is adopted as the second rotating means, it is also possible to adopt an electric motor or the like. A detailed description of the operating method for the second ascent/descent device  7  constructed as described above will be given below along with the description of the holding portion  4 . 
     The puller main body  1  integrally provided with the first puller  2  and the second puller  3  is installed over the damaged portion by the holding portion  4  holding the puller main body  1  perpendicularly with respect to the damaged portion. The holding portion  4  is supported by the support device  5  capable of freely moving the holding portion  4  in plane matrix directions with respect to the damaged portion. 
     As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the holding portion  4  includes a metal holding portion main body  41  formed substantially as a rectangular parallelepiped, a puller support hole  42  provided so as to form a communication between the upper and lower sides of the holding portion main body  41 , and support device engagement portions  43  respectively provided on a pair of side wall surfaces of the holding portion main body  41 , the puller main body  1  being held by the puller support hole  42 . The support device engagement portions  43  are supported by the support device  5  described below, and a detailed description thereof will be given below along with the description of the support device  5 . 
     The inner diameter of the puller support hole  42  is gradually diminished as it extends inwardly from the upper end surface  44 . At a predetermined depth, the inner diameter starts to be gradually increased toward the lower end surface  45 . That is, the puller support hole  42  is formed as a hand-drum-shaped hole. The portion S where the inner diameter of the puller support hole  42  is minimum (hereinafter referred to as the fulcrum S) is formed into a configuration substantially the same as the outer configuration of the hollow shaft  22 , and the puller main body  1  is held by the holding portion  4  at the fulcrum S. That is, the puller main body  1  is supported at one point in the puller support hole  42 . In FIG. 6, the imaginary line indicates the puller main body  1 . 
     Thus, the puller main body  1  is held by the holding portion  4  at one point in the axial direction thereof, and one end of the puller main body can be moved in all directions by using that point as a fulcrum. That is, even if the damaged portion is an inclined surface, it is always held by the holding portion  4  in a position in which it is perpendicular to the inclined surface. However, the limit of its movement is determined by the inclination angles of the portions of the puller support hole  42  extending respectively from the end surfaces  44  and  45  to the fulcrum S. 
     Then, the vertical movement of the puller main body  1  with respect to the holding portion  4  is effected by the ascent/descent devices  6  and  7 . Above the holding portion  4 , there is provided a semispherical base plate  46 . This base plate is provided so that the vector (magnitude, direction of application) of the pulling-up force of each of the ascent/descent devices  6  and  7  may always coincide with the axis of the puller main body  1  since, as described above, the puller main body  1  can be at an arbitrary angle with respect to the holding portion  4 . 
     Before describing the operation method for the respective ascent/descent devices  6  and  7  and the operation of the respective pullers  2  and  3 , this base plate  46  will be described. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the base plate  46  is formed into a semispherical configuration with a convex upper side and a flat lower side. Further, an elongated hole  49  is provided so as to extend from the upper side to the lower side thereof. Then, the puller main body  1  is passed through this elongated hole  49 . The radius of curvature of the convex surface of the base plate  46  is equal to the radius as measured from the fulcrum S to the surface of the base plate  46 . 
     The inclination direction of the puller main body  1  appears to be restricted to one direction by this elongated hole  23 . However, the base plate  46  is completely independent of the holding portion  4 , so that the puller main body  1  can be inclined substantially in all directions when the base plate  46  is rotated within the range of 0 to 90 degrees with respect to the holding portion  4 . 
     In the following, the operation of the first puller  2  and that of the second puller  3  will be described along with the respective operation of the ascent/descent devices  6  and  7  with reference to FIGS. 10 through 12. In the description of the pullers  2  and  3 , it is to be assumed that the respective fixing portions  21  and  31  of the first puller  2  and the second puller  3  are fixed to the damaged portion beforehand. 
     First, with reference to FIG. 10, the operation of pulling up only the second puller  3  (slide rod  32  side) will be described. 
     To pull up only the second puller  3 , the second engagement pawl  75  provided in the second ascent/descent device  76  is engaged with the second pinion gear  74 . Then, when the second pinion gear  74  is rotated in the direction of the arrow A of FIG. 10, the slide rod  32  ascends through the second rack gear  73  as a result of the rotation of the second pinion gear  74 . When only the second puller  3  is pulled up, the adjust collar  72  may be fixed to any position with respect to the adjust rod  71 . 
     Here, the fulcrum of the second ascent/descent device main body  76  is on the base plate  46 . That is, the relative movement (downward movement) of the second ascent/descent device main body  76  with respect to the slide rod  32  is restricted by the first ascent/descent device main body  64 , the base plate  46 , and the holding portion  4 . Thus, the second puller  3  (slide rod  32 ) ascends with respect to the second ascent/descent device main body  76 . Further, since the second engagement pawl  75  is engaged with the second pinion gear  74 , the second pinion gear  74  makes no reverse rotation, and the second puller  3  is held at a position corresponding to the rotation angle of the second pinion gear  74 . 
     It is also possible to previously provide the second pinion gear  74  or the slide rod  32  with a scale for ascertaining the amount by which the second puller  3  is pulled up. In this case, when the operator operates the second ascent/descent device  7  while watching the scale, it is possible to accurately ascertain the ascent/descent amount of the second puller  3  with respect to the damaged portion. Thus, it is possible to pull out the damaged portion solely by a predetermined amount. 
     Next, the operation of pulling up only the first puller  2  (hollow shaft  22  side) will be described with reference to FIG.  11 . 
     To pull up only the first puller  2 , the adjust collar  72  provided above the slide rod  32  is fixed to a position close to the upper side of the adjust rod  71 . Subsequently, the engagement between the second pinion gear  74  and the second engagement pawl  75  provided in the second ascent/descent device main body  76  is canceled, and the first engagement pawl provided in the first ascent/descent device main body  64  is engaged with the first pinion gear  62 . Then, when the first pinion gear  62  is rotated in the direction of the arrow B of FIG. 11, the hollow shaft  22  ascends through the first rack gear  61  as a result of the rotation of the first pinion gear  62 . 
     Here, the second ascent/descent device main body  76  is pushed upwardly by the upper end surface of the hollow shaft  22 . However, since the engagement between the second pinion gear  74  and the second engagement pawl  75  has already been canceled, the second pinion gear  74  can freely move on the second rack gear  73 . Thus, the slide rod  32  does not ascend with the ascent of the first puller  2 . Further, in the first puller  2 , the first engagement pawl  63  is engaged with the first pinion gear  62 , so that the first pinion gear  62  makes no reverse rotation, and the first puller  2  (the hollow shaft  22 ) is held at a position corresponding to the rotation angle of the first pinion gear  62 . 
     Here, when the fixing position of the adjust collar  72  with respect to the adjust rod  71  is varied, it is possible to previously set the amount by which the first puller  2  is pulled up with respect to the damaged portion. In this case, it is more preferable to previously provide a scale on the adjust rod  71 . In FIG. 11, the adjust collar  71  is fixed to a position where the movement amount of the first puller  2  with respect to the second puller  3  is maximum. 
     Further, when a scale is previously provided on the hollow shaft  22  or the first pinion gear  62  as in the above case, and the operator operates the first ascent/descent device  6  while watching the scale, it is possible to accurately ascertain the amount by which the first puller  2  is pulled up with respect to the damaged portion. Thus, it is possible to pull out the damaged portion solely by a predetermined amount. 
     Next, the operation of simultaneously pulling up the first puller  2  (the hollow shaft  22 ) and the second puller  3  (the slide rod  32 ) will be described with reference to FIG.  12 . 
     To simultaneously pull up the first puller  2  and the second puller  3 , the engagement between the second pinion gear  74  and the second engagement pawl  75  provided in the second ascent/descent device main body  76  is first canceled, and the first engagement pawl  63  provided in the first ascent/descent device main body  64  is engaged with the first pinion gear  62 . Subsequently, the adjust collar  72  provided above the second puller  3  is fixed in a state in which it is in contact with the second ascent/descent device  76 . Then, when in this state the first pinion gear  62  is rotated in the direction of the arrow B of FIG. 12, the second puller  3  ascends with the ascent of the first puller  2 . 
     More specifically, as a result of the ascent of the first puller  2 , the upper end surface of the first puller  2  (the hollow shaft  22 ) pushes down the second ascent/descent device main body  76 , and the second ascent/descent device main body  76  ascends with the first puller  2 . At this time, the positioning of the second ascent/descent device  76  with respect to the slide rod  32  is effected by the adjust collar  72 , so that the slide rod  32  ascends with the second ascent/descent device main body  76  through the adjust color  72 . Further, since the first engagement pawl  63  is engaged with the first pinion gear  62 , the first pinion gear  62  makes no reverse rotation, and the first puller  2  and the second puller  3  are held at a position corresponding to the rotation angle of the first pinion gear  62 . 
     It is also possible to previously provide the first pinion gear  62  or the hollow shaft  22  with a scale for ascertaining the amount by which the first puller  2  is pulled up. In this case, when the operator operates the first ascent/descent device  6  while watching the scale, it is possible to accurately ascertain the pulling-up amount of the first puller  2  with respect to the damaged portion. Thus, it is possible to pull out the damaged portion solely by a predetermined amount. 
     In this way, in this embodiment, the first puller  2  and the second puller  3  can move up and down independently of each other. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, which shows the principle of this embodiment, it is possible while pulling up damaged portion D in its entirety by the first puller  2  to further locally pull up the damaged portion D by the second puller  3 . 
     When each component is previously provided with a scale, the operator operates each ascent/descent device while watching the scale, thereby making it possible to accurately effect pulling-up by a predetermined amount. It is also possible for the pulling-up amount of the first puller  2  and the second puller  3  to be forcibly restricted to a predetermined value. In this case, the normal panel surface position with respect to the damaged portion D of a predetermined range is set to zero point, and pulling-up can only be effected up to this zero point. For example, when, as shown in FIG. 23, there is provided on the lower end surface of the holding portion  4  a lock member T which allows length adjustment toward the main body portion  21 , the first puller  2  is at the maximum pull-up position when the upper end surface of the main body portion  21  abuts the lock member T. The operator performs zero point correction by adjusting the length of the lock member T such that the lock member T abuts the upper end surface of the main body portion  21 , with the lower end surface of the main body portion  21  of the first puller  2  being set onto the normal panel surface. 
     The maximum pull-up position for the second puller  3  is set to be of the same height as the lower end surface of the main body portion  21  of the first puller  2 . That is, a protrusion M is formed on the outer surface of the slide rod  32  of the second puller  3 , and the formation position for the protrusion M is set such that when the protrusion M abuts the upper end portion of the inner surface of the main body portion  21 , the lower end of the second fixing portion  31  is of the same height as the lower end surface of the main body portion  21 . 
     By thus forcibly restricting the maximum pulling-up amount of the damaged portion D, even a person who is not skilled can perform pulling-up repair operation at a plurality of positions within a predetermined range easily and reliably in a short time while sliding the holding portion  4  on a rail to a desired position (pull-up position). 
     Next, the support device  5 , which can move the holding portion  4  holding the puller main body  1  freely in plane matrix directions with respect to the damaged portion, will be described. 
     The support device  5  is composed of a support frame  51  which supports the holding portion  4  so as to be capable of freely moving in planar directions with respect to the damaged portion, and a plurality of support legs  100  provided around the support frame  51 . 
     The support frame  51  includes a pair of longitudinal rails  53  having a C-shaped sectional configuration and arranged parallel to each other, a pair of lateral rails  54  bridging the space between the longitudinal rails  53  and arranged parallel to each other, and connecting rails  55  connecting the end portion of the pair of longitudinal rails  53  to each other. While the connecting rails  55  may simply consist of bar-like members, this embodiment adopts rails having a C-shaped sectional configuration like the longitudinal rails  53 , whereby the weight of the support device  5  is reduced and the number of parts is reduced, thereby achieving a reduction in production cost. 
     Further, as shown in FIGS. 16 through 18, the end portions of the lateral rails  54  are secured to bearing plates  57  each having a bearing hole  56  at its center, and, through lateral rail holding brackets  59  equipped with a rotation shaft  58  passed through the bearing holes  56 , they are slidably held by the longitudinal rails  53 . Thus, as shown in FIG. 15, the lateral rails  54  can slide laterally (in the direction of the arrow X) with respect to the longitudinal rails  53 . Further, as shown in FIG. 19, they can rotate in the direction of the arrow R around the rotation shaft  58  provided in the lateral rail holding brackets  59 . 
     Then, the holding portion  4  holding the puller main body  1  to the lateral rail  54  is arranged on the lateral rails  54  so as to be slidable in the direction of the arrow Y of FIG.  15 . Like the longitudinal rails  53 , the lateral rails  54  have a C-shaped sectional configuration, and the grooves are opposed to each other Then, these grooves opposed to each other are engaged with the support device engagement portions  43  of the holding portion  4 , and the holding portion  4  is held by the support device  5  (See FIG.  6 ). 
     It is also possible to provide the longitudinal rails  53  and the lateral rails  54  with scales for ascertaining the position (coordinates) of the puller main body  1  with respect to the damaged portion. In this case, by watching the scales, the operator can correctly ascertain the position (coordinates) of the puller main body  1  with respect to the damaged portion. 
     As shown in FIG. 16, the support legs  100  supporting the support frame  51  are provided in the support legs  100  through the intermediation of a support leg rail  101  provided along the outer periphery of the longitudinal rails  53  and that of the connecting rails  55  and support leg holding brackets  102  slidably held in the support leg rail  101 . 
     Like the longitudinal rails  53  and the lateral rails  54 , the support leg rail  101  is a rail having a C-shaped sectional configuration and is arranged back to back with respect to the longitudinal rails  53  and the connecting rails  55 . That is, a slide groove  103  for the support legs is formed newly in the outer periphery of the support frame  51  (See FIG.  13 ). 
     As shown in FIG. 15, the support frame  51  as a whole has eight support leg holding brackets  102  slidably provided in the support leg rail  101 , of which two support leg holding brackets are provided on each side of the support leg rail  101 . Then, for the eight support leg holding brackets  102 , there are provided four support legs  100  in total. That is, when using the support device  5 , the four support legs  100  are attached to appropriate ones of the support leg holding brackets  102  according to the configuration of the panel surface of the vehicle having a damaged portion. It is also possible to previously provide support legs  100  in all the support leg holding brackets  102 . 
     As shown in FIG. 20, each support leg  100  fixed onto the panel surface of the vehicle through the support leg holding bracket  102  includes a leg portion  105  held by the support leg holding bracket  102  through the intermediation of a ball joint  104 , a support leg fixing portion  106  provided at the lower end of the leg portion  105 , and an adjuster  107  provided on the leg portion  105 , the leg portion  105  being fixed to the panel surface of the vehicle by the support leg fixing portion  106 . As in the above-described case, a suction device connected to a negative pressure source is used for the support leg fixing portion  106 , making it possible to firmly fix the leg portion  105  to the panel surface. 
     Since the leg portion  105  is held by the support leg holding bracket  102  through the intermediation of the ball joint  104 , the support leg  100  is always held at right angle with respect to the panel surface. The ball joint  104  includes a ball main body  108  equipped with a hole through which the support leg  100  is passed, a spacer  109  for joining the ball main body  108  to the support leg holding bracket  102 , and a cover member  110  for securing the spacer  109  to the support leg bracket  102 , the ball main body  108  sliding with respect to the support Leg holding bracket  102 , whereby the angle of the leg portion  105  is varied. 
     The adjuster  107  includes an adjuster main body  111  provided above the support leg holding bracket  102 , and an adjuster spring  112  provided below the support leg holding bracket  102 . Then, the adjuster main body  111  is vertically moved with respect to the leg portion  105 , thereby making it possible to adjust the effective length of the leg portion  105 . Due to the adjuster spring  112  provided below the support leg holding bracket  102 , the adjuster main body  111  and the support leg holding bracket  102  are always kept in contact with each other, whereby the height of the support frame  51  can be easily adjusted. 
     A scale  113  is provided on the leg portion  105 . It is also possible to previously set the effective length of the leg portion  105  by this scale  113  before setting the support device  5  on the panel surface. In this case, the positioning of the support frame  51  with respect to the panel surface is facilitated. 
     Thus, in this embodiment, there is provided the support device  5 , which supports the puller main body  1  at any angle and any position in the vicinity of the damaged portion, so that the puller main body  1  can be installed at optimum position and angle with respect to the damaged portion in the panel surface. 
     When a scale is provided on each component, it is possible to correctly ascertain the pulling-up amount of each puller with respect to the damaged portion and the position (coordinates) of the puller main body with respect to the damaged portion. Thus, by performing operation based on the information obtained by the scales, the operator can approximate the damaged portion to the normal configuration accurately and efficiently. 
     The present invention is not restricted to the above-described embodiments. Various modifications are possible for a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.