Abstract:
This invention provides a tool and a method of using the tool to spread linearly spaced objects apart. The tool is positioned between the spaced objects and then operated by mechanical action to generate compressive forces which act against the spaced objects to cause the linear separation between the objects to increase. The objects to be separated can be horizontally or vertically spaced and each can be movable or one can be stationary and the other can be movable.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention broadly relates to methods of and apparatus for increasing the distance between solid objects. The invention further relates to methods of and apparatus for increasing the linear separation between adjacent solid objects. The invention more particularly relates to a portable mechanical apparatus for increasing the linear separation between adjacent solid objects by generating compressive force sufficient to overcome forces which act to maintain the objects in an initial position. 
     2. Related Art and Problem Solved 
     Persons engaged in building or repairing structures, such as a building or a mechanical system, are often confronted with a condition associated with the linear spacing between adjacent objects in the structure. In one aspect of the condition, the distance between the spaced objects is less than some desired amount, wherein the distance is maintained by the shear mass of the objects or by some exterior force acting on the objects or by some combination thereof. Thus, the problem to be solved caused by the mentioned condition involves increasing the linear distance between the objects by overcoming the forces which maintain the objects in position. The solutions have been to pull the objects apart or to push the objects apart. The solution provided by this invention is a tool which is placed between the objects and which can then be operated to generate sufficient force to push the objects apart. 
     Portable tools for and methods of using the tools to increase the separation between solid objects by gradually pushing them apart are well known in the art. One such tool, especially one employed to raise heavy objects, such as vehicles, over a short distance is commonly referred to as a “jack.” It is well known that a jack can be comprised of a rising piston, platform or shelf which is driven by hydraulic pressure or by a lever and ratchet mechanism. Furthermore, a jack can be comprised of a scissor or jaws device driven by a rotatable threaded shaft or by hydraulic pressure. It is known that a jack is generally limited to moving an object in a vertical direction away from a stationary object, such as ground. 
     A tool useful to gradually spread objects which are horizontally spaced apart and held in such condition by exterior forces, as exemplified by beams and joists in a building or structure, has not been provided by the prior art. In this regard, such beams have been spread by wedging braces of fixed length between the beams by the use of uncontrolled and variable force, such as by hammering. 
     Accordingly, an apparatus and a method of using the apparatus to evenly and gradually apply compressive force in amount sufficient to separate horizontally oriented objects as well as to lift and/or separate vertically oriented objects has not been provided by the prior art. Such an apparatus and method of using the same is provided by this invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention provides an apparatus and a method of using the apparatus to increase the linear separation between opposed objects. In this regard, the apparatus of this invention is sometimes referred to herein as a linear spreader, or, more simply, as a spreader, and the method can be referred to as a method of increasing the linear separation between two objects which occupy adjacent, separate, opposed positions. 
     The objects to be spread can consist of one substantially stationary object and one movable object or the objects can consist of two movable objects. The objects to be spread, preferably lie in parallel relationship, such as, but not limited to, a vertical parallel relationship or a horizontal parallel relationship. Thus, in one aspect, the spreader can be simply viewed as being a lifting apparatus useful to increase the vertical separation of a movable object with respect to a substantially stationary position, such as ground. In another aspect, the invention can be viewed in more complex terms as being an apparatus useful to increase the separation, such as the horizontal separation, between two movable objects, such as adjacent beams, joists or rails in a structure. It is, thus, plain that the mentioned aspects are merely two of a variety of combinations of uses in which the apparatus can be beneficially employed. 
     The function of the spreader, in each of the various aspects of the separation method, is to apply compressive force to the objects to be separated. It is clear, in the case of two movable objects, that the force applied by the spreader causes each object to move in a linear direction opposite to the other. It is also clear, in the case of a stationary object and a movable object, that the force applied by the spreader causes the movable object to move in a linear direction perpendicular to, and away from, the stationary object. Of course, there is always the potential question of whether each object is, in fact, movable, or whether one is movable and the other stationary, or substantially stationary. It is believed, however, that the answer to the question is, at least, a function of the relative mass of each object and/or the relative exterior forces which act to maintain the resting positions of each object and which oppose the compressive forces generated by the spreader. Obviously, the linear motion produced by the spreader of this invention is in the direction of the path of least resistance. The spreader thus acts with greater efficiency to move the object having the lower relative mass and/or which is influenced by the lower relative exterior force. 
     The spreader of this invention is especially useful to produce small changes in the linear separation of opposed objects in order to enable the convenient performance of some task or the placement or removal of some part. For example, beams in a structure which are too close together can be spread by the apparatus of this invention to enable the convenient insertion between the beams of a brace which will operate to maintain the beams at some desired separation upon removal of the spreader. 
     The linear spreader of this invention is an elongated tubular structure comprised of a first object contacting end, a second object contacting end, a linear pressure transmission member positioned intermediate the first object contacting end and the second object contacting end and a force generating member operably connected to the linear pressure transmission member and adapted to produce linear and rotational motion relative to the linear pressure transmission member. The linear pressure transmission member is adapted to transmit compressive force to the first object contacting end and the force generating member is adapted to transmit compressive force to the second object contacting end. 
     In one embodiment, the first object contacting end of the spreader of this invention can be a stationary linear member having a distal end and a proximal end wherein the distal end is specifically adapted to contact and apply compressive force to a first object. The second object contacting end can be a traveling housing having a distal end and a proximal end wherein the distal end is specifically adapted to contact and apply compressive force to a second object which is physically separated from the first object. The linear pressure transmission member is attached to the proximal end of the stationary linear member to prevent motion of any kind between the stationary linear member and the linear pressure transmission member. The proximal end of the traveling housing is adapted to permit linear motion relative to the linear pressure transmission member and to permit rotational motion relative to the force generating member. The proximal end of the traveling housing is further adapted, upon contact with the force generating member, to prevent linear motion relative to the force generating member. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the spreader of this invention is an elongated tool comprised of a hollow traveling housing having a first distal end and a first proximal end, a tubular member having a second distal end and a second proximal end, a threaded rod having a free end and a fixed end, and a nut having threads compatible with the threads of the threaded rod. The threaded rod is positioned intermediate the hollow traveling housing and the tubular member. The fixed end of the threaded rod is rigidly connected to the second proximal end of the tubular member to enable the threaded rod to transmit compressive force to the tubular member. The free end of the threaded rod is not connected to, but is merely inserted into the first proximal end of the hollow traveling housing so that the threaded rod can move and/or slide, without obstruction, in the interior of the traveling housing. The nut is threaded on the threaded rod intermediate the hollow traveling housing and the tubular member. The nut is adapted to contact and rotate against the first proximal end of the hollow traveling housing so that the nut can transmit compressive force to the hollow traveling housing. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the spreader of this invention is an elongated tool comprised of a hollow traveling housing having a first distal end and a first proximal end, a linear member comprised of a tubular member and a hollow stationary housing, a threaded rod having a free end and a fixed end, and a nut having threads compatible with the threads of the threaded rod. The tubular member has a second distal end and a second proximal end. The hollow stationary housing has a third distal end and a third proximal end. The tubular member is slidably inserted and adjustably fixed in the interior of the hollow stationary housing to prevent relative linear motion between the tubular member and the hollow stationary housing. In this embodiment the second proximal end of the tubular member is the primary proximal end of the linear member and the third distal end of the hollow stationary housing is the primary distal end of the linear member. 
     The threaded rod is positioned intermediate the hollow traveling housing and the tubular member. The fixed end of the threaded rod is rigidly connected to the second proximal end of the tubular member so that the threaded member can transmit compressive force to the linear member. The free end of the threaded rod is not connected to, but is merely inserted into the first proximal end of the hollow traveling housing so that the threaded rod can move and/or slide, without obstruction, in the interior of the traveling housing. 
     The nut is threaded on the threaded rod intermediate the hollow traveling housing and the tubular member. The nut is adapted to contact and rotate against the first proximal end of the hollow traveling housing so that the nut can transmit compressive force to the hollow traveling housing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an outside view of an embodiment of the spreader of this invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the longitudinal axis of a preferred embodiment of the spreader of this invention. The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is a variation of the embodiment shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the portion of FIG. 2 which is encircled and designated by the letter “A.” 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of FIG. 2 taken in the direction of cut line B—B. 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view of the interior side of a plate element adapted to enable the spreader of this invention to conveniently engage a plane surface. The plate element is shown to be a part of the embodiment shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 6 is a 3-dimensional view of a variation of the plate element shown in FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is 3-dimensional drawing of a portion of the underside of a vehicle showing the spreader of this invention depicted in FIG. 2 installed between the frame rails of the vehicle. 
     FIG. 8 is a 3-dimensional detail view of the interior portion of a frame rail of the vehicle shown in FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 9 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the vehicle rail shown in FIG.  7  and FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 10 is a 3-dimensional detail view of the exterior portion of the frame rail of the vehicle shown in FIG.  7 . The rail shown in FIG. 10 is opposite the rail shown in FIG.  8 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Structure of the Invention 
     Referring now to the drawings, the spreader of this invention is generally designated by the numeral  1  in FIG.  1  and the numeral  1   a  in FIG.  2 . FIG. 1 is an exterior view of one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a variation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 taken along the longitudinal axis of the spreader of this invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, spreader  1  is comprised of stationary housing  4 , traveling housing  6 , and linear pressure transmission member  8 . It is noted that the words “stationary” and “traveling,” as used in connection with housing elements  4  and  6 , respectively, are employed to denote the linear motion of elements  4  and  6  relative to element  8  during the use of spreader  1  to apply pressure to opposing objects. 
     Stationary housing  4  is a cylindrical tube having a hollow interior  13 , a distal end  10  and an open proximal end  11 . Distal end  10  comprises a concave shaped cut  14  which is adapted to conform to the shape of linear angle member  18  whereby cut  14  receives and contacts the exterior surface of angle member  18 . Angle  18  is rigidly attached to cut  14 , such as by weld bead  22 . Vertex  19  of angle  18  is positioned in cut  14  along the diameter and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of housing  4 . The sides  15  and  17  of angle  18  and the ends of angle  18  preferably extend beyond the exterior surface of housing  4 . 
     It is preferable, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, that the radius of housing  4  is constant from distal end  10  to proximal end  11 ; that cut  14  is V-shaped; and that angle  18  serves to close the distal end  10  of housing  4 . 
     Holes  2  and  2   a  and  3  and  3   a  penetrate the wall of housing  4  near proximal end  11 . Holes  2  and  2   a  are positioned at opposite ends of diameter  2 - 2   a  of housing  4  and holes  3  and  3   a  are positioned at opposite ends of diameter  3 - 3   a  of housing  4 . Diameters  2 - 2   a  and  3 - 3   a  are longitudinally spaced apart and are shown to be, but are not required to be, positioned in the same plane. 
     Traveling housing  6  is a cylindrical tube having a hollow interior  21 , a distal end  12  and an open proximal end  23 . Distal end  12  comprises a concave shaped cut  16  which is adapted to conform to the shape of linear angle member  20  whereby cut  16  receives and contacts the exterior surface of angle member  20 . Angle  20  is rigidly attached to cut  16 , such as by weld bead  24 . Vertex  25  of angle  20  is positioned in cut  16  along the diameter and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of housing  6 . The sides  26  and  28  of angle  20  and the ends of angle  20  preferably extend beyond the exterior surface of housing  6 . 
     It is preferable, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, that cut  16  is V-shaped and that angle  20  serves to close the distal end  12  of housing  6 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the diameter of distal end  12  of housing  6  is greater than the diameter of proximal end  23 . As will be described below, the diameter of proximal end  23  is related to the diameter of element  8  and, for purposes of convenience in use, the diameter of distal end  12  is preferably equal to the diameter of housing  4 . 
     FIG. 3 is an expanded view of FIG. 2 within the circled area designated by the letter A. It is seen in FIG. 3 that washer  29  is rigidly attached, as by weld bead  30 , to the bottom surface of proximal end  23  to thereby form a flange at the proximal end  23  of housing  6 . The longitudinal axis of washer  29  coincides with the longitudinal axis of housing  6 . The inside diameter of washer  29  is equal to the inside diameter of housing  6  at proximal end  23  and the outside diameter of washer  29  is at least equal to, and preferably greater than, the diameter of force generating member  31 , a threaded nut, which is described below. Note that the bottom surface  32  of washer  29  is in rotational and bearing contact with the top surface  33  of nut  31 . 
     Linear pressure transmission member  8  is comprised of cylindrical tube  34  having a hollow interior  35  and cylindrical threaded solid member  36 . The proximal end  37  of threaded member  36 , sometimes referred to as the fixed end, is rigidly attached to the proximal end  38  of tube  34 , such as by weld bead  39 . 
     Tube  34  is slidably inserted into the hollow interior  13  of housing  4  and maintained therein by pin  39  which is further described below. It is, accordingly, apparent that the outside diameter of tube  34  is less than the inside diameter of housing  4 . The distal end of threaded member  36 , sometimes referred to as the free end, is slidably inserted into proximal end  23  of housing  6 . Accordingly, the inside diameter of housing  6  at proximal end  23  is greater than the outside diameter of member  36 . It is preferred, for purposes of convenience in use and manufacture of spreader  1 , that the diameter of proximal end  23  of housing  6  is equal to the diameter of tube  34  of member  8 . 
     Holes, such as holes  5  and  5   a , penetrate the wall of tube  34 . Holes  5  and  5   a  are positioned at opposite ends of diameter  5 - 5   a  of tube  34 . As shown in FIG. 2, tube  34  is penetrated by many sets of holes, such as holes  5  and  5   a , which, for the sake of brevity, are not specifically identified. The various sets of holes which penetrate tube  34  are longitudinally spaced apart and are shown to be, but are not required to be, positioned in the same plane. The function of pin  39  is to prevent linear, sliding movement between housing  4  and tubing  34 . Pin  39  is shown to be performing the function by simultaneously penetrating housing  4  along diameter  3 - 3   a  and tube  34  along diameter  5 - 5   a . It is plain that the distance which tube  34  penetrates into hollow interior  13  of housing  4  along the longitudinal axis of housing  4  is controlled by pin  39  which simultaneously passes through holes  2 - 2   a  or  3 - 3   a  in housing  4  and holes, such as  5 - 5   a , in tube  34 . The selection of holes in which to insert pin  39  to prevent linear movement between housing  4  and tube  34  is a matter of choice by the user of spreader  1  principally depending upon the distance between opposing objects to be contacted by angles  18  and  20  as described below. 
     The threads of nut  31  are compatible with the threads on solid member  36 . Nut  31  is operably installed, i.e., threaded, on member  36  before the free end of member  36  is inserted into housing  6 . The depth of penetration of member  36  into housing  6  is thus controlled by the position of nut  31  on threaded member  36  and contact between surfaces  32  and  33  as described above in connection with FIG.  3 . Rotation of nut  31  on threaded member  36  generates (or diminishes) force exerted by surface  33  against surface  32 , to thus cause relative linear motion between housing  6  and threaded member  36  whereby the distance between angle  18  and angle  20  increases or decreases depending upon the direction of rotation of nut  31 . It follows that the distance between any opposing objects in compressive contact with angles  18  and  20  will also vary with rotation of nut  31 . 
     Although nut  31  may be rotated on member  36  by any of various well known manual and mechanical means, it has been found convenient to permanently attach rods  40 ,  41  and  42  to nut  31  to serve as handles to aid in the manual rotation of nut  31 . For purposes of illustration, FIG. 4, taken in the direction of arrows B in FIG. 2, provides a top view of FIG. 2 wherein housing  6  is shown to be rotated  900  on surface  33  and nut  31  is a hexnut having  6  faces whereby rods  40 ,  41  and  42  extend radially outwardly from alternate faces of hexnut  31 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, rods  40 ,  41 , and  42  lie in the same plane and are spaced 120° apart. The angular separation between rods  40 ,  41  and  42  as shown in FIG. 4 has been found to provide a convenient aid to manually rotate nut  31  on threaded member  36  to apply force against objects at distal ends  10  and  12  of spreader  1 . 
     Pressure can be conveniently applied to objects having surfaces which are not planar by utilizing the embodiment shown in FIG.  2 . An important illustration of the use of the embodiment of spreader  1  shown in FIG. 2 is provided below in Example  4  in connection with FIGS. 7,  8 ,  9  and  10 . 
     Referring to FIG. 1, pressure plate  44  is shown installed on angle  20  and pressure plate  46  is shown installed on angle  18 . Plates  44  and  46  are identical in all respects. Accordingly, the following description of plate  46  shall also serve as a description of plate  44 . A plan view of plate  46  is shown in FIG. 5 and a variation of plate  46  is shown in FIG. 6 which is a 3-dimensional drawing. Thus, plate  46  is comprised of base  48 , angle  50 , rectangular side wall strip  52 , rectangular side wall strip  54  and rectangular back wall strip  56 . Angle  50 , side wall  52 , side wall  54  and back wall  56  are rigidly attached to front surface  43  of base  48 . Back surface  45  of base  48  is a flat planar surface. In one preferred embodiment, base  48  is a regular rectangle. Functionally, Back surface  45  is used to contact and transmit force to an object and front surface  43  is used to contact angle  18 . 
     Angle  50  is shaped to conform to the shape of angle  18  whereby the outside surface, i.e. the exposed surface, of angle  50  is enabled to contact the inside surface, i.e. the exposed surface, of angle  18 . For example, if angle  18  is 90°, then angle  50  is preferably also 90°. 
     Angle  50  is preferably situated in the center of front surface  43  with the legs  58  and  60  of angle  50  being placed parallel to a side of base  48 . Back wall  56  is placed perpendicular to front surface  43  and abuts the adjacent ends of legs  58  and  60  of angle  50 . Back wall  56  is sufficiently long to extend beyond the respective lines of intersection of surface  43  and legs  58  and  60 . 
     Side wall  54  abuts back wall  56  and is rigidly attached to surface  43  in a position spaced apart from leg  60 . The plane surface of side wall  54  is positioned parallel to the plane surface of leg  60 . Side wall  54  is preferably longer than angle  50 . Back wall  56 , side wall  54  and leg  60  thus cooperate to form slot  62 . 
     In like manner, side wall  52  abuts back wall  56  and is rigidly attached to surface  43  in a position spaced apart from leg  58 . The plane surface of side wall  52  is positioned parallel to the plane surface of leg  58 . Side wall  52  is preferably longer than angle  50 . Back wall  56 , side wall  52  and leg  58  thus cooperate to form slot  64 . 
     In the variation shown in FIG. 6, pressure plate  46  also includes shoulder wall  66  which is perpendicularly attached to back surface  45  of base  48  along an edge thereof and preferably parallel to the longitudinal axis of angle  50 . 
     As shown in FIG. 1, plates  46  and  44  are mated to spreader  1 . In this regard slots  62  and  64  of pressure plate  46  are adapted to receive legs  15  and  17 , respectively, of angle  18 . Similarly, slots of pressure plate  44  are adapted to receive legs  26  and  28  of angle  20 . 
     Operation of Invention 
     Spreader  1  is useful to apply spreading forces to a pair of immediately adjacent, vertically separated, opposed objects as well as to a pair of immediately adjacent, horizontally separated, opposed objects. Either one or each of the adjacently opposed objects can be movable. The operation of the invention in terms of the relationship of objects to be spread and in terms of the stationary or movable status of the objects is illustrated in the following examples. 
     EXAMPLE 1 
     The embodiment of the spreader of this invention depicted in FIG. 1 is particularly useful to perpendicularly lift and/or lower a movable object having a plane surface with respect to an immovable object such as stationary ground. 
     Spreader  1  is prepared for use by rotating nut  31  until bottom surface  68  of nut  31  contacts, or at least closely approaches, weld bead  39  at the junction of cylindrical tube  34  and cylindrical threaded solid member  36 . Plates  44  and  46  are then mated to angles  18  and  20  as previously described. Thereafter spreader  1  is placed between the objects to be spread apart and back surface  45  of pressure plate  46  is placed on a stable, preferably immovable, plane surface, such as the ground, situated vertically below an object to be moved (lifted, or lowered) relative to the ground. At that point pin  39  is removed from spreader  1  and member  8  is manually vertically moved until back surface  70  of plate  44  contacts the object to be moved. Thereafter, member  8  is slowly lowered into housing  4  until one of holes  2 - 2   a  or  3 - 3   a  is in registry with one of (various) holes  5 - 5   a  in tube  34 . Pin  39  is then inserted through housing  4  and tube  34  by way of the registered holes to thereby immobilize member  8  with respect to housing  4 . It will be understood that lowering member  8  for the purposes of inserting pin  39  will result in surface  70  breaking contact with the object to be, for example, lifted. 
     Then, while manually supporting spreader  1  in vertical position between the ground and the object to be lifted, housing  6  is manually raised until surface  70  contacts the object to be lifted. At that point nut  31  is spun, i.e. rapidly turned, on threaded member  36  until surface  33  contacts surface  32 . Upon contact, rotation of nut  31  is continued with the aid of handles  40 ,  41  and  42  to apply forces to the object to be lifted and the immovable ground to thereby lift the object. 
     Comment 
     In Example 1, spreader  1 , as shown in FIG. 1, is employed to vertically lift an object with respect to ground. 
     EXAMPLE 2 
     The embodiment of spreader  1 , as shown in FIG. 1, can also be used, as illustrated in this Example 2, to spread horizontally spaced objects each of which is movable. The spreading of such objects can be more conveniently achieved by use of the version of plates  44  and  45  as shown in FIG.  6 . 
     A pair of immediately adjacent, horizontally separated, opposed beams, such as spaced joists in the roof system of a building (for convenience referred to as joist A and joist B), can be forced apart to a desired separation. In this regard, shoulder wall  66  of plate  46  is placed in contact with the top horizontal surface of joist A so that back surface  45  contacts the vertical surface of joist A which faces the vertical surface of adjacent joist B. Angle  18  is mated to plate  46  and plate  44  is mated to angle  20 , as previously described. Then, while manually horizontally supporting spreader  1  between joist A and joist B, tube  34  is immovably fixed in housing  4 , also as previously described. Housing  6  is then manually linearly moved relative to member  36  until surface  70  contacts the vertical surface of joist B which faces the vertical surface of adjacent joist A and shoulder wall  66  of plate  44  contacts the top horizontal surface of joist B. Nut  31  is then spun as previously described until surface  33  contacts surface  32 . Thereafter, nut  31  is rotated with the assistance of handles  40 ,  41  and  42  until joists A and B are forced to a desired separation. At this point, a permanent brace or bridging can be placed between joist A and joist B to maintain the desired separation and spreader  1  can be removed by counter rotation of nut  31 . 
     EXAMPLE 3 
     A variation of the embodiment of the spreader of this invention shown in FIG. 2 was constructed. The variation constructed did not have stationary housing  4  and did not have holes  2 ,  2   a ,  3 ,  3   a ,  5  and  5   a . In this variation, the spreader did have linear pressure transmission member  8  wherein angle  18  was attached to distal end  72  of cylindrical tube  34  in the manner previously described for attachment of angle  18  to distal end  10  of housing  4 . 
     In this variation, member  8  had a total length of 27¾ inches, cylinder  34  was a steel tube having a total length of 20 inches and threaded member  36  was a threaded steel rod 7¾ inches long having an outside diameter of 1⅛ inches. Furthermore, the diameter of member  34  was not uniform. Accordingly, the distal end  72  of cylinder  34 , attached to angle  18  was 16½ inches long, had an outside diameter of 1⅝ inches and a wall thickness of {fraction (1/16)} of an inch. The proximal end of cylinder  34 , rigidly attached to the fixed end of threaded member  36 , was 3½ inches long, had an outside diameter of 1{fraction (9/16)} inches and a wall thickness of {fraction (1/16)} of an inch. 
     Angle  18  was a {fraction (3/16)} inch 90° structural steel member having two 1¼ inch legs and a length of 2⅛ inches. 
     Traveling housing  6  was a steel tube having a wall thickness of {fraction (1/16)} of an inch and a length of 9 inches. The distal end had an outside diameter of 1⅝ inches and the proximal end had an outside diameter of 1{fraction (9/16)} inches. Angle  20  was a {fraction (3/16)} inch 90° structural steel member having two 1¼ inch legs and a length of 2⅛ inches. The terminal end of proximal end  23  was flared to form a 2{fraction (5/16)} inch outside diameter flange for contacting nut  31 . 
     Nut  31  was a 1⅛ inch inside diameter hexnut having an outside diameter of 2⅛ inches and threads compatible with the threads of member  36 . Each alternate face of hexnut  31  had rigidly attached thereto and extending radially outwardly therefrom a 5½ inch long, ½ inch diameter steel rod. 
     EXAMPLE 4 
     The spreader described in Example 3 was used to aid in the removal of transmission cases from several DODGE pick-up trucks of model years 1993 and later. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 7,  8 ,  9  and  10 , and particularly to FIG. 7, a portion of the bottom side of a typical DODGE pick-up truck of the indicated model years is shown. In a schematic representation, brace  105  is shown to be situated between frame rail  100 , consisting of segments  101  and  103 , and frame rail  102 , consisting of segments  104  and  106 . As shown in FIGS. 7,  8 ,  9  and  10 , brace  105  is specifically shown to be wedged between shim  110  of segment  103  and shim  112  of segment  106  and attached thereto by bolts, which are not shown. 
     Transmission case  108  is shown to be positioned between segment  103  and segment  106  and above brace  105 . To remove transmission case  108  it is required to first remove brace  105 . 
     To remove brace  105 , bolts, not shown, fastening brace  105  to shims  110  and  112  are first removed from bolt holes  114 ,  116 ,  118  and  120  of shim  112  and frame rail segment  106  and bolt holes  122 ,  124 ,  126  and  128  of shim  110  and frame rail segment  103 . 
     The spreader of Example  3  was positioned between frame rail segments  104  and  101  wherein lower flange  130  of segment  104  was positioned within the interior of angle  18  against vertex  19 , and lower flange  132  of segment  101  was positioned within the interior of angle  20  against vertex  25 . Thus, angle  18 , as previously described, was positioned against flange  130  then, while manually horizontally supporting spreader between segment  104  and segment  101 , traveling housing  6  was slid over threaded member  36  until flange  132  was within angle  20  and contacted vertex  25 , then nut  31  was spun on threaded member  36  until surface  33  of nut  31  contacted surface  32  of washer, i.e., flange,  29 . 
     Thereafter, nut  31  was rotated with the assistance of handles  40 ,  41  and  42  to generate a spreading force necessary to cause frame rails  100  and  102  to spread by an amount sufficient to enable brace  105  to release from the wedging action of shims  110  and  112 . 
     At this point, brace  105  was removed to enable transmission case  108  to be lowered from the bottom of the truck by well known and conventional steps. Replacement of transmission case  108  and brace  105  was accomplished by reversal of the steps described above.