Patent Publication Number: US-2004045338-A1

Title: Collision repair rack

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     [0001] This application claims priority on previously filed and co-pending U.S. Provisional Application filed Sep. 10, 2002, and having App. No. 60/409,465. 
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0002] Collision repair racks, also known as straightening benches, are widely used in the vehicle repair industry. Such racks are used to straighten vehicle (car, truck, etc.) bodies and frames that are damaged by a collision or the like. Such racks include a platform having a deck for supporting a vehicle such as a car or a truck, one or more jack devices operable to selectively elevate and lower the platform and one or more pulling towers to apply straightening force to the vehicle chassis or body. A pulling tower is a device mounted to the platform that is operable to apply a pulling force to a portion of the vehicle to which a pulling member is attached, to pull the body and/or chassis back more to its original position and/or shape. Generally, such a tower comprises a mounting arm, a tower and a power operated pulling device. The pulling tower device is typically moveable relative to the platform to more accurately align the position and direction of pull applied to the vehicle. By being moveable, more precise and efficient straightening of the vehicle can be achieved. Several modes of moving a pulling tower device to a position and fixing it in a desired position are known in the industry.  
       [0003] One form of pulling tower device is moveable on a track from one position to another position. A second type of device has a pulling tower mounted on an arm that is pivotally mounted to the platform. The pulling tower is moved to its desired position and the arm is then fixed in the desired position with a lock device. While currently available racks are effective in use, the movement of a pulling tower device has been limited due to the use and position of additional pulling tower devices mounted to the platform and their interference with one another or the manner of pivotally mounting the pulling tower device to the platform. Two types of pivoting mounts are known in the art. One is where the arm of each pulling tower device has its own separate pivot. The use of a separate pivot for each arm limits the ability of the arms of each pulling tower device to be moved relative to one another without interference. Another type of rack uses a plurality of pulling tower devices each mounted to a common pivot with the arms being superposed. The problem with the latter approach is the height required to accommodate the arms. It is desired, in many situations, to have a rack with a low profile to facilitate moving the vehicle to a low work height which height is limited by the superposed relationship of the arms of the pulling tower devices.  
       [0004] There is thus a need for an improved rack providing for the use of a plurality of pulling tower devices which have greater freedom of movement relative to the rack and one another. To facilitate operation of the rack and hence its efficiency in use.  
       [0005] The present invention provides a rack that provides improved movement of pulling tower devices while providing a low profile.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0006] The invention involves the provision of a vehicle repair rack. The rack includes a vehicle support platform adapted to support a vehicle thereon for repair. The platform has an outer periphery formed by front, rear and side portions. The platform includes an upper deck adapted to receive and support a vehicle. A plurality of pulling tower devices are provided and are mounted to the platform in a pivotal manner. A pulling tower device includes a pulling tower and an arm. The arm is pivotally mounted to allow movement of the pulling tower to desired locations. A lock mechanism is provided to secure the pulling tower in its selected position. The pivotal mounting of the arms is such as to provide a low profile and the ability to pivotally move at least about 180° without interference between the arms. In one embodiment the pivoting can be achieved by mounting the arms in a pivotal manner on a turntable which in turn is rotatably mounted to the platform. In another embodiment, the arms lie generally in a single plane and are positioned side by side and the arms can be pivotally mounted to another arm providing at least one arm with the ability to pivot about two pivots. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
     [0007]FIG. 1 is a plan view of a collision repair rack.  
     [0008]FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the rack as seen in FIG. 1.  
     [0009]FIG. 3 is an end elevation view as seen from the front end, of the rack of FIG. 1.  
     [0010]FIG. 4 is an exploded side elevation of the rack showing major components thereof.  
     [0011]FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a turn table with portions of pulling tower devices attached thereto.  
     [0012]FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the turn table of FIG. 5.  
     [0013]FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of the rack showing the arrows in various alternate positions with some of the positions being shown in phantom.  
     [0014]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the arms and their pivots of a first alternative embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0015]FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a second alternative embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0016]FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of a wheel support track portion of the rack showing a support panel in an up position and a down position with the down position being shown in phantom. 
    
    
     [0017] Like numbers throughout the various figures designate like or similar parts.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     [0018] The reference numeral  1  designates generally a collision repair rack (or sometimes referred to as a straightening bench). The rack  1  generally includes a platform  3  with an upper deck  5  which will have a vehicle such as a car or truck positioned thereon. The deck  5  has a pair of track members or side supports  7  extending between the front  9  and rear  10  with the tracks  7  having outer edges forming side edges  11 ,  12 . The platform  3  is preferably mounted on one or more jack mechanisms  14 , with two being shown, for selectively moving the platform  3  between an elevated position and a lowered position with the jack mechanisms  14  being preferably adapted for securing the platform in one of various positions at or between the fully elevated and lowered positions. The rack  1  also includes a plurality of pulling tower devices designated generally  16 . The tower devices  16  each include a pulling tower designated generally  18  each connected to a respective arm  19 . The tower devices  16  are pivotally mounted to the platform  3  for movement between and fixing at various positions around a portion of the platform  3 . Locking apparatus designated generally  21  is provided to selectively secure or fix a respective pulling tower device  16  in a selected position.  
     [0019] In the illustrated structure, the jacks  14  include front and rear jacks designated  14 F and  14 R respectively which are similar in construction. The jacks  14  are each shown as including a scissor-jack type mechanism  23  comprised of a pair of spaced apart scissor-jack mechanisms connected together by cross member  22 . The jack mechanisms  23  includes a plurality of bars  24  forming a double X pattern with the bars forming an upwardly opening V and downwardly opening V connected together at center points  25 . The bars  24  are also connected together at the apex  26  of each V forming the double X configuration. The free ends  28  may be provided with rollers  31  for friction reduction. The rollers  31  are engaged in support guides  30  which can be in the form of structural channels with the lower guide  30  opening upwardly and the upper guide  30  opening downwardly for receipt therein of the rollers  31 . Movement of the center points  25  toward one another will extend the jack mechanisms  23  and thereby elevate the platform  3 . Movement of the center points  25  away from one another will retract the jack mechanisms  23  and lower the platform  3 . A power operated drive such as a linear motion drive motor, for example, a hydraulic cylinder  33  can be connected to each of the jacks  14  to effect the extension and retraction thereof. A lock device  35  is provided to selectively secure the jack in its extended or a retracted position to provide a secure means of retaining the jacks and the platforms  3  in a selected position. The lower guides  30  may be suitably secured to an underlying floor. Preferably, the jacks  14  are positioned transverse to the longitudinal axis of the platform  3  however they may be positioned, if desired, longitudinally. Any suitable number of jacks  14  may be used with two being a preferred number with one jack being positioned adjacent the front  9  and one jack being positioned adjacent the rear  10 .  
     [0020] In the illustrated structure, the rack  1  includes a rear support designated generally  37  and a front support designated generally  43 . The support  37  is mounted on the rear jack  14 R and is secured to the upper guide  30  and the platform  3  and is between the platform  3  and rear jack  14 R. The support  37  can be suitably secured to the upper guide  30  as by welding or the like. The support  43  is positioned preferably over and is secured to the front jack  14 F and is also secured to the platform  3 . The support  43  spaces the platform  3  from the jack  14 F. The support  43  provides a gap  48  between the jack  14 F and the platform  3  for clearance for movement of the pulling tower devices  16  as described below.  
     [0021] As seen in FIGS. 1, 10 the platform  3  includes the tracks  7 . Each of the tracks  7  has a side edge defining either the side edge  11  or the side edge  12 . A portion of each of the tracks  7  forms a door or floor member  49  hingedly mounted as by hinges  50  to the remainder of a respective track  7  preferably at the bottom edge or surface of the track  7  and member  49  allowing the member  49  to be hinged downwardly to provide a notch  51  in the platform  3 . The notches  51  extend inwardly and open outwardly to provide closer access to the vehicle for a worker. A lock  52 , which is shown as a pin  54  fitting through a retainer  53  releasably secures the members  49  in their up position. Removal of a lock pin  54  allows a respective member  49  to be pivoted downwardly and out of the way and providing the notch  51 . When a member  49  is in its up position, an arm  19  may pass or be positioned thereunder. Because the member  49  is hinged on the bottom and locked on the outer edge  11  or  12 , the member  49  will help resist the bending moment when the pulling tower device  16  is applying force to a vehicle.  
     [0022] The deck  5 , as best seen in FIGS. 1, 10 includes a plurality of through openings  57 . The openings  57  are preferably elongate and can be in the form of rectangles extending lengthwise in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the platform  3 . The openings  57  are useable for securing anchors  58  (FIGS. 2, 10) to the platform  3  which in turn are used to secure a vehicle (not shown) against movement while positioned on the platform. The openings  57  can also be used as a portion of a lock mechanism  21  for securing the pulling tower devices  16  in a desired position as described in detail below.  
     [0023] A plurality of pulling tower devices  16  are provided. At least two pulling tower devices  16  and preferably three are provided at an end of the straightening bench  1 .  
     [0024] The pulling tower devices  16  include an arm  19  and a tower  18  secured together as by welding at  59 . A reinforcing gusset  61  between a tower  18  and respective arm  19  may be provided to reinforce their securement together. Towers  18  are well known in the art and are generally upstanding and usually comprise a hydraulic cylinder inside the tower operably connected to a tension member  62  such as a chain which is attachable to the vehicle. Upon applying tension to the chain  62 , a pulling force is applied to the vehicle as desired as is well known in the art. The elevation of the portion of the pulling member  62  extending to the vehicle is adjustable as with a moveable retainer  65 . Such pulling towers  18  are available from Chief Automotive Systems of Grand Island, Nebr. The arms  19  each lie in a generally horizontal plane and preferably are positioned substantially in a common plane. They are positioned in the gap  48 . Each of the arms  19  is pivotally mounted for movement of the respective pulling tower  18  to a position on either side of the platform  3  and an end for example the front end  9  of the platform  3 . As shown, pulling tower devices  16  are shown located adjacent only the front end  9  but it is to be understood that a similar arrangement of pulling tower devices  16  may be provided at the rear end  10  of the rack  1 .  
     [0025] In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 and as better seen in FIG. 7, the arms  19  are each pivotally mounted on a separate pivot  66  which are in turn secured to a turntable or link  68 . The turntable  68  is positioned between the jack mechanism  14 F and the platform  3  and is rotatable in a plane generally parallel to the platform  3  and deck  5 . The plane of rotation is preferably generally horizontal. The turntable  68  is rotatably mounted on an axle  70  extending between and secured to an upper plate  71  and lower plate  72 . Such an arrangement provides each pulling tower device  16  the ability to pivot about two separate pivots, its own pivot  66  and the axle  70 . The axes of the pivots  66  and axle  70  are generally parallel and as shown are generally vertical. The pivots  66  are spaced apart in a pattern and are radially positioned outwardly of the axle  70  in a circular or curved pattern. The are two side pivots  66 S and a front pivot  66 F. The turntable  68  is rotatable to permit moving the pivots  66  to different angular positions relative to the longitudinal axis of the platform  3 . The turntable  68  may be rotated in either a clockwise or counterclockwise rotation to move the pivots  66  and hence the pivotally mounted arms  19 . Preferably the side arms  19 S and the front arm  19 F can independently pivot on their respective pivot  66  and move in combination with rotation of the turntable  68  in a manner to provide at least 180° and preferably at least about 200° of movement ability for each arm about the rack  1 . This permits any of the towers to be positioned along either side of the platform  3  or the front end of the platform  3 .  
     [0026] A lock mechanism is provided for each of the arms  19  to releasably retain them in a desired position. In the illustrated structure, the lock mechanism includes a lock pin  74  (FIG. 3). A lock pin  74  can be inserted through a desired opening  57  in the platform  3  and then through one of a plurality of through holes  76  in an arm  19 . By providing the plurality of through holes  76  spaced along the length of the respective arm  19  and by providing a plurality of openings  57  the arms  19  can be releasably retained in virtually any angular position desired within its limits of movements. Preferably, the pivots  66  are oriented 90° from one another about the axis of the axle  70 . The turntable  68  is carried between two bearings  78 ,  79  that fit over bearing retainers  80  each secured to a respective plate  71 ,  72  (FIG. 4). The bearings  78 ,  79  are received in an outer bearing race  83 ,  84  which are each secured to a respective platform  3  or structural support  34  the outer races  83 ,  84  and bearings  78 ,  77  prevent lateral movement of the turntable  68  while reducing friction during rotation of the turntable  68 . A single lock may be used for each arm since an arm  19 , the upper and lower plate  71 ,  72  and the deck  5  form a three bar (or link) linkage in the form of triangle which is a rigid structure when secured at the intersections of each of the links.  
     [0027]FIG. 8 shows an alternative embodiment of the pivoting mounting of the arms  19 . In this structure, upper and lower plates  87 ,  88  are provided. However, the center arm  19  is mounted on its pivot  66 A which also acts as the axle for the turntable  90 . The other pivots  66 A are similar to the pivots  66 . Locking of the arms  19  of the embodiment seen in FIG. 8 is similar to that of the embodiment seen in FIGS.  1 - 7 . The second embodiment is a simplified version of the first embodiment reducing the number of parts while still providing the same degree of flexibility of movement and arm retention without interference between the arms  19  during movement. Further, the center arm  19  can be used to rotate the table  90  as can either of the side arms  19 . As seen, the pivot  66 A for the center or front arm  19 F is positioned forwardly of the pivots  66 A for the two side arms  19 S. Pivoting of the center arm  19 F will eventually bring it into engagement with either of the side arm pivots  66 A permitting the arm  19 F to rotate the table  90 . The other arrow  19  may also be used to rotate the table  90 . It is to be noted that the center pivot  66 A may be in line between the two side pivots and still achieve functionality and the center pivot  66 A may be rearwardly of the two side pivots  66 A which will permit use of either the side arms to effect pivoting of the table  90 . The table  90  may be constructed similar to the table  68  and utilize bearings  78 ,  79  and the inner and outer bearing races  80 ,  83 . The side arms  19 S each have two separate pivots, their respective pivot  66 A and the pivot  66 A of the center arm  19 F on the bearing arrangement using the bearings  78 ,  79 .  
     [0028]FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the two side arms  19  are shown pivotally mounted to the center arm  19  at separate pivots  92 ,  93 . The pivotal connection between the side arms and the center arm  19  may also be at a common pivot between the two side arms and the center arm. The center arm  19  is pivoted to the turntable  95  at a pivot  96 . The arms  19  lie substantially in the same plane in order to maintain a low profile platform  3 . The arms  19 , to increase their freedom of movement will have a bend  98  therein allowing the arms to be positioned generally parallel to one another with the side portions of the arms potentially engaging one another. The table  95  may be constructed similar to the tables  68 ,  90  and utilize bearings  78 ,  79  and the inner and outer bearing races  80 ,  83 . The side arms  19 S each have two separate pivots, the respective pivot  92  or  93  and the pivot  96  or the bearing arrangement using the bearings  78 ,  79 .  
     [0029] Thus, there has been shown and described several embodiments of a collision repair rack. As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present constructions will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.