Patent Publication Number: US-2019185087-A1

Title: Detachable Service Jack Adapter for Mounting Vehicular Spindles

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates to specialty tools for use in automotive repair services. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Automotive spindles are used to operably attach a wheel assembly to the rest of the automobile, typically to the axle or suspension of the automobile. Corrosion, wear, and damage to the spindle may render a vehicle inoperable, and thus repair and maintenance of spindles can be a critical factor in the operating lifespan of an automotive vehicle. 
     Because spindles are typically bearing a heavy load of the vehicle in normal operation, repair and maintenance is often performed from underneath the vehicle. This position may be ergonomically undesirable, because it requires the technician to perform the tasks in a suboptimal position that may provide inconvenient access to tools or workbench functions. Alternatively, technicians may employ specialized tools to remove the spindle from the vehicle, but such tools are typically bulk and very expensive, and will often only be compatible with a small range of spindle configurations. 
     It is therefore desirable to provide an inexpensive, efficient tool that is operable to remove a spindle from a vehicle for repair or maintenance. 
     SUMMARY 
     One aspect of this disclosure is directed to a bracket configured to be detachably mounted upon a vehicular jack that is further operable to securely support an automotive spindle for repair or maintenance, including when the spindle is detached from the automobile. The bracket may comprise a mounting surface operable to mount the bracket to the vehicular jack, and an interface surface operable to securely support the spindle using a number of adapter arms operable to receive studs of the spindle. 
     Another aspect of this disclosure is directed to a vehicular jack having an adapter bracket detachably coupled thereto, the adapter bracket being operable to securely support an automotive spindle using the vehicular jack. Secure support of the vehicular spindle may be accomplished using an adapter arm having a stud washer that is operable to interact with a variety of spindles having, a variety of configurations. 
     A further aspect of this disclosure is directed to a bracket configured to be detachably mounted upon a vehicular jack, the bracket further operable to securely support an automotive spindle. Support for the automotive spindle may be accomplished via a pair of adapter arms each having a spindle washer this is adjustable to be compatible with a variety of spindles having a variety of configurations. Detachable mounting to a vehicular jack may be accomplished via a number of mounting bolts inserted through a number of mounting slots in a mounting surface of the bracket, the mounting slots operable to be compatible with a variety of vehicular jacks having a variety of mounting configurations. 
     The above aspects of this disclosure and other aspects will be explained in greater detail below with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of an adapter bracket configured to permit a vehicular jack to support an automotive spindle. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic illustration of a vehicular spindle secured to an adapter bracket. 
         FIG. 3  is an illustration of a vehicular jack mounted with an adapter bracket and operably supporting an automotive spindle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The illustrated embodiments are disclosed with reference to the drawings. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are intended to be merely examples that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. The specific structural and functional details disclosed are not to be interpreted as limiting, but as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to practice the disclosed concepts. 
       FIG. 1  is a depiction of an adapter bracket  100  suitable for mounting onto a vehicular jack that is operable to support a spindle of an automobile. Bracket  100  comprises an L-shape comprised of an interface surface  101  and a mounting surface  103 . Interface surface  101  and mounting surface  103  form a substantially perpendicular angle to form the L-shape of bracket  100 . Throughout this disclosure, “substantially perpendicular” refers to an angle that is 90-degrees within tolerances designated by manufacturing requirements or by factors known to one of ordinary skill in the art. In the depicted embodiment, the substantially perpendicular angle may be 90-degrees within a 10-degree tolerance. This exemplary tolerance is given by way of example and not limitation. Other embodiments may comprise other tolerances without deviating from the teachings disclosed herein. 
     Within interface surface  101  are a number of arm slots  105 , having a linearly-extended shape extending in a direction that is substantially parallel to the mounting surface  103 . Throughout this disclosure, “substantially parallel” refers to an angle that is 0-degrees within tolerances designated by manufacturing requirements or by factors known to one of ordinary skill in the art. In the depicted embodiment, the substantially parallel angle may be 0-degrees within a 10-degree tolerance. This exemplary tolerance is given by way of example and not limitation. Other embodiments may comprise other tolerances without deviating from the teachings disclosed herein. 
     In the depicted embodiment, a pair of arm slots  105  are each formed along the edge of interface surface  101  furthest from mounting surface  103 , but other embodiments may comprise a different number of arm slots  105 , or a different placement of arm slots  105  with respect to bracket  100  without deviating from the teachings disclosed herein. 
     Each of arm slots  105  may be operable to receive an adapter arm  107 . Adapter arm  107  comprises a threaded cylindrical rod having a diameter sized such that the adapter arm  107  may be inserted within an arm slot  105  without engaging the threads of the adapter arm  107 . A stud washer  109  is coupled to adapter arm  107  at the end closest to mounting plate  103  when adapter arm  107  is inserted into arm slot  105 , forming an arm assembly  111 . Stud washer  109  may receive the stud of an automotive spindle. Stud washer  109  may rotate about an axis defined by adapter arm  107 . Arm assembly  111  may be displaced along the length of arm slot  105 , and may also be positioned within arm slot  105  along a direction substantially perpendicular to interface surface  101 . The adaptable position of arm assembly  111  may permit stud washer  109  to receive a stud from a variety of spindles having a variety of configurations. In the depicted embodiment, stud washer  109  may be configured such that it is operable to receive a variety of studs having different diameters and geometric designs, but other embodiments may comprise other configurations without deviating, from the teachings disclosed herein. 
     The depicted embodiment comprises a pair of arm assemblies  111 , each having an adapter arm  107  and a stud washer  109 , but other embodiments may comprise a different number of arm assemblies  111  without deviating from the teachings disclosed herein. 
     Because an arm assembly  111  may be positioned freely within an arm slot  105 , a positioning nut  113  may engage adapter arm  105  between interface surface  101  and stud washer  109 . Positioning nut  113  may be positioned at a particular point along the linear length of adapter arm  105  to define the minimum distance between stud washer  109  and interface surface  101 . The desired minimum distance is determined by the specification of the spindle to be mounted upon the bracket  100 . A positioning washer  115  may be utilized to distribute the load of positioning nut  113 . 
     Positioning nut  113  may be operable to define a minimum distance between stud washer  109  and interface surface  101 . A locking nut  117  may engage adapter arm  105  on the opposite side of interface surface  101  from positioning nut  413  to define a maximum distance between stud washer  109  and interface surface  101 . The desired maximum distance is determined by the specification of the spindle to be mounted upon the bracket  100 . A locking washer  119  may be utilized to distribute the load of locking nut  117 . 
     Positioning nut  113  and locking nut  117  may be utilized in tandem to set of position of arm assembly  111  with respect to interface surface  101  such that stud washer  109  is effectively at a fixed distance from interface surface  101 . The desired fixed distance from interface surface  101  is determined by the specification of the spindle to be mounted upon the bracket  100 . The utilization of the desired fixed distance may be operable to create stable support for the spindle by bracket  100 . The stability of the support may further be optimized by utilizing lug nuts from the spindle (not shown) to couple the spindle to the bracket  100 . In the depicted embodiment, bracket  100  includes a lug washer  121  to distribute the load of a lug nut. The depicted embodiment comprises a pair of arm assemblies  111 , each having an associated positioning nut  113 , positioning washer  115 , locking nut  117 , locking washer  119 , and lug washer  121 , but other embodiments may comprise other configurations having a different number of each of these components without deviating from the teachings disclosed herein. 
     Mounting surface  103  comprises a mounting mechanism operable to couple bracket  100  to the seat of a vehicular jack. The mounting mechanism may comprise a number of first mounting slots  125  having a linearly-extended shape and disposed at a substantially 45-degree angle with respect to the edges of mounting surface  103 . Throughout this disclosure, “substantially 45-degree” refers to an angle that is 45-degrees within tolerances designated by manufacturing requirements or by factors known to one of ordinary skill in the art. In the depicted embodiment, the substantially parallel angle may be 0-degrees within a 10-degree tolerance. This exemplary tolerance is given by way of example and not limitation. Other embodiments may comprise other tolerances without deviating from the teachings disclosed herein. 
     In the depicted embodiment, the first mounting slots  125  are arranged in two substantially parallel pairs, each pair arranged such that its respective members are substantially perpendicular to the first mounting slots of the other pair. Other embodiments may comprise other configurations having a different number or a different arrangement of first mounting slots  125  without deviating from the teachings disclosed herein. Each of first mounting slots  125  may be coupled to a mounting bolt  127 , and the arrangement of first mounting slots  125  may advantageously provide a wide variety of placement of a mounting bolt  127  with respect to mounting surface  103 . The wide variety of placements for a mounting bolt  127  may improve the compatibility of bracket  100  with a variety of vehicular jacks. In the depicted embodiment, mounting bolts  127  may engage a mounting nut  129  disposed on the opposite side of mounting surface  103 . Some embodiments may not comprise mounting nuts  129 , and instead mounting bolts  127  may engage directly with threaded slots or nuts affixed to the seat of the associated vehicular jack. In the depicted embodiment, bracket  100  comprises a set of four mounting bolts  127  and four respective mounting nuts  129 , but other embodiments may different numbers of mounting bolts  127  and respective mounting nuts  129 . 
     Mounting surface  103  may further comprise a second set of mounting slots  131 . Second mounting slots  131  comprise oblong slots formed in mounting surface  103  that are sufficiently sized to receive a mounting bolt  127 . In the depicted embodiment, bracket  100  comprises four mounting bolts  127  to be inserted into any of the first mounting slots  125  or second mounting slots  131 , but other embodiments may comprise a different number of mounting bolts  127 . Second mounting slots  131  may advantageously improve the compatibility of bracket  100  with a variety of vehicular jacks. Some embodiments may comprise only one of first mounting slots  125  and second mounting slots  131  without deviating from the teachings disclosed herein. 
       FIG. 2  is an illustration of bracket  100  when configured to support a spindle  200 . Spindle  200  comprises a number of functionally identical studs  201 , each of the studs disposed in a regular symmetrical pattern around the face of spindle  200 . The arm assemblies  111  of bracket  100  have been configured such that stud washers  109  have accepted one of studs  201 , and are secured with a lug nut  205 . In the depicted embodiment, a lug washer  121  may be utilized to distribute the load of its respective lug nut  205 . In the depicted embodiment, stud  201   a  and stud  201   b  are functionally identical to the rest of studs  201 , but are given special designation to illustrate that they have been received by one of stud washers  109 . Stud  201   a  and stud  201   b  are further distinguished in practice only by where they are disposed upon spindle  200 . Because spindle  200  exhibits substantial radial symmetry, the particular orientation of the studs  201  may only be relevant when one or more of studs  201  requires repair or maintenance. 
       FIG. 3  is an illustration of a vehicular jack  300  having a seat  301  operable to lift the frame of a vehicle. Seat  301  may comprise an attachment mechanism to which bracket  100  may be detachably coupled using a mounting mechanism (see  FIG. 1 ). In the depicted embodiment, vehicular jack  300  is depicted with a spindle  200  (see  FIG. 2 ) already supported by the bracket  100 , however, embodiments wherein the vehicular jack  300  has been coupled to bracket  100  before supporting a spindle  200  do not deviate from the teachings disclosed herein. 
     In the depicted embodiment, vehicular jack  300  comprises a hydraulic lifting mechanism actuated by a lever  303 , but other embodiments may utilize any other known configuration of a vehicular jack  300  having a seat  301  without deviating from the teachings disclosed herein. The maximum load of the vehicular jack  300  may be specified by the vehicular requiring service without deviating from the teachings disclosed herein. In the depicted embodiment, the maximum load of the vehicular jack  300  and bracket  100  may be 350 pounds, but other embodiments may comprise other configurations without deviating from the teachings disclosed herein. 
     In one embodiment, bracket  100  may be detachably coupled to seat  301  of vehicular jack  300 . Advantageously, detachable coupling of bracket  100  may provide for flexible utility of the vehicular jack  300  in situations wherein a spindle  200  requires service. The vehicular jack  300  may first be used without the bracket  100  to raise the vehicle by the frame near the wheel requiring service. Once the vehicle has been lifted to an appropriate height, a vehicle stand (not shown) may be placed under the frame of the vehicle, and vehicular jack  300  may be removed from under the vehicle. Vehicular jack  300  may then be detachably coupled to bracket  100  such that it is operable to support a spindle  200  in need of repair. The wheel assembly of the associated spindle  200  may be removed to expose the spindle  200 . Spindle  200  may be supported by bracket  100  and vehicular jack  300 , permitting spindle  200  to be decoupled from the vehicle for repairs. Advantageously, the bracket  100  may permit vehicular jack  300  to be operable to perform additional functions that may otherwise require expensive specialized tools. In this embodiment, service of spindle  200  may be advantageously performed at a technician&#39;s work bench, with easy access to tools and better ergonomic conditions for the technician such as lighting and posture. After service is complete, the repaired spindle  200  may be re-coupled to the vehicle, the wheel assembly of the associated spindle  200  may be re-attached, bracket  100  may be detached from seat  301 , and the vehicular jack  300  may be replaced under the frame of the vehicle. Once vehicular jack  300  has been replaced under the frame of the vehicle and supporting the load of the vehicle, the vehicle stand may be removed, and the vehicular jack  300  may be utilized to lower the vehicle to the supporting surface of the jack (e.g., the workshop floor or the ground). 
     While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the disclosed apparatus and method. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as claimed. The features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the disclosed concepts.