A vehicle rectifying apparatus

Abstract

The subject of the present invention is a vehicle rectifying apparatus having a first tubular part (2) and a second tubular part arranged to be partially inside each other. The first tubular part (2) has been arranged with a threaded rod (4) to be attached rotatably in place. The second tubular part (3) has a threaded portion (6) having threads to which the threaded rod (4) is connectable, whereby rotating of the threaded rod changes the mutual position of the first (2) and the second (3) tubular part so that a distance which the second tubular part (3) is inserted inside the first tubular part (2) changes. A first end (10) of the threaded rod (4) comprises a grip portion (9) for receiving a tool to rotate the threaded rod, and a second end (11) of the second tubular part (3) facing away from the threaded rod comprises a connector (12) for a vehicle rectifying tool (13).

Description

A VEHICLE RECTIFYINGField of the invention

[0001] This invention is related to a vehicle rectifying apparatus with which a body of a vehicle or covering parts attached to the body, such as sheet metal, can be formed into a desired shape by using force.Description of the background art

[0002] Rectifying apparatuses are known from prior art, wherein the rectifying apparatus is in contact with a part of a vehicle to be rectified via a rectifying tool. The rectifying tool is moved using hydraulic cylinders, or alternatively by means of chains and tensioners that pull them.

[0003] In the case of chains, a significant limitation is that they can only be used to pull, that is that the rectifying tool cannot be moved toward the vehicle to apply a pushing force to the vehicle.

[0004] In the case of a hydraulic cylinder, by contrast, the rectifying tool can be both pulled away from the vehicle and pushed toward the vehicle. However, in this case a requirement is that a double-acting hydraulic cylinder is used. A problem arises due to lack of space, because the use of a double-acting hydraulic cylinder requires a structure that is relatively large. Therefore, handling it and positioning it precisely at the correct location during the rectifying operation is difficult.Summary of the invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to solve the above problem and provide a rectifying apparatus the handling and positioning of which to different applications is easier than before. This aim is achieved by a rectifying apparatus of independent claim 1 .

[0006] By utilizing a threaded rod in the rectifying apparatus, which is attached rotatably in place to a first tubular part, and which connects via threads to a threaded portion of a second tubular part so that a location of the second tubular part and a rectifying tool attached to the rectifying apparatus can be simply changed by rotating the threaded rod, results in an effective and small rectifying apparatus.

[0007] Preferred embodiments of the rectifying apparatus according to the invention are disclosed by attached dependent claims.Brief description of the drawings

[0008] In the following, the invention is explained more closely by way of an example by referring to attached figures, of which:

[0009] figures 1 and 2 illustrate the rectifying apparatus,

[0010] figure 3 illustrates an optional rectifying tool, and

[0011] figures 4 and 5 illustrate the rectifying apparatus that is attached to a pillar of a supporting structure by means of a fastener.Description of at least one embodiment

[0012] Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a rectifying apparatus 1 having a body formed by a first 2 and second 3 tubular part. The first 2 and second 3 tubular part are arranged partially inside one another so that the second tubular part partially protrudes into the first tubular part. In the example of the figures, a first end 7 of the second tubular part 3 protrudes inside the first tubular part 2 via its second end 8. It is assumed in the example that both the first 2 and the second tubular part 3 have an angular cross-section, for example of rectangular shape. However, this is not essential and in other practical implementations the tubular parts may have for example round cross-sections.

[0013] A threaded rod 4 is attached rotatably in place to the first tubular part 2, which threaded rod is most clearly visible in cross-sectional view of figure 1 . In this way the threaded rod 4 can be rotated around its central axis 5 without the threaded rod 4 moving in its axial direction relative to the second tubular part 2.

[0014] A threaded portion 6 is arranged in the second tubular part 3 having threads to which the threaded rod 4 engages. In this way a rotation of the threaded rod 4 moves the first and the second tubular part relative to each other. In practice, the rotation changes the distance that the second tubular part protrudes into the first tubular part.

[0015] A first end 10 of the threaded rod 4 comprises a grip portion 9, to which a tool to rotate the threaded rod 4 can be received. In the figures, it is illustrated by way of an example that the grip portion 9 is arranged outside the first tubular part. In this way the grip part 9 can be formed for example by a nutwhereby a tool with which the threaded rod 4 is rotated can be, for example, a wrench or a cordless drill to which a bushing of correct size has been attached.

[0016] However, in some embodiments it is conceivable that, contrary to the figures, a grip portion has been made to the first end 10 of the threaded rod 4, the grip portion formed for example by a hole meant for a hexagonal wrench. In this case the first end 10 does not need to protrude from the first tubular part 2, because the hexagonal wrench may be sufficiently long so that is reaches and can be inserted into the hole although the first end of the threaded rod does not protrude from the first tubular part.

[0017] A second end 11 of the second tubular part 3 facing away from the threaded rod 4 comprises a connector 12 for receiving and attaching a vehicle rectifying tool 13 to a rectifying apparatus 1. It is assumed in the examples of figure 1 and 2 that the rectifying tool 13 is a rectifying tool having hooks, which are suited for gripping a part of the vehicle that is to be rectified in order to pull it towards the rectifying apparatus 1 when the threaded rod 4 is rotated. In the figures it is assumed, as a way of an example, that the connector 12 is a screw connector, in practice a bushing with internal thread, to which the projection with external thread in the rectifying tool 13 can be attached by rotating. However, in other embodiments the connector may be different.

[0018] To attach the threaded rod 4 rotatably to the first tubular part 2, at least one bearing 14 has been arranged to the rectifying apparatus 1. In the example of the figures, the rectifying apparatus has two bearings 14 arranged on opposite sides of an end flange 16 of a first end 15 of the first tubular part 2. The bearings implemented in this way may be for example ball bearings, which can bear axial forces in one direction.

[0019] Protruding fastening projections 17 have been arranged in the first tubular part 2 of the rectifying apparatus 1 in a radial direction, i.e. perpendicularly from a central axis 5 of the threaded rod 4, between the first end 15 and the second end 8. The fastening projections have been shaped to be of equal size and similar to each other, and they have been arranged at multiple different distances from the first end 15 of the first tubular part 2. The rectifying apparatus 1 can be attached easily and reliably to a supporting pillar by means of the fastening projections 17 during a rectifying work.

[0020] Figure 3 shows an optional rectifying tool 23, which in this case is a pushing tool, which can be attached to the connector 12 of the rectifying apparatus 1 of the figures 1 and 2 via an external thread 25. In this way the rectifying tool 23 can replace the rectifying tool 13 shown in the figures 1 and 2.

[0021] The rectifying tool 23 has a supporting surface 24 via which a pushing force can be applied to the vehicle during the rectifying work by rotating the threaded rod 4 to a direction in which the length of a telescoping section of the first 2 and second 3 tubular part is reduced, that is, in practice, the second tubular part 3 moves to right relative to the first tubular part 2 in the figure 1 .

[0022] Figures 4 and 5 show the rectifying apparatus 1 of the figures 1 and 2 from different directions, wherein the rectifying tool has been attached to a pillar 32 of a supporting structure using a fastener 31 . The rectifying tool 13 has been omitted from figure 5 for clarity.

[0023] The pillar 32 of the supporting structure is shown in the example of the figures as a vertical pillar. However, in some implementations, the supporting pillar may be installed in slant, that is, in direction that differs from the vertical.

[0024] In practice, the pillar 32 of the supporting structure is usually attached to a carrier, which is located underneath the vehicle so that the vehicle’s own weight contributes to holding the supporting pillar in place during the rectifying work.

[0025] It can be seen from the figures 4 and 5 that the fastener 31 has a connection part 33 for attaching the fastener to the pillar 32 of the supporting structure. In the figures, it has been assumed in a way of an example, that the connection part 33 is formed by a clamping band, which can be clamped around the pillar 32 at a desired location of the pillar. This kind of a clamping band can be implemented for example by means of plates arranged on the opposite sides of the pillar and bolts between the plates, whereby the fastener 31 can be for example welded or attached by a pivot joint to the other plate.

[0026] Inside an ellipse 34 shown with dashed lines in figure 5, there is an enlarged illustration of the fastener 31 from top view. In a supporting surface of the fastener there are one or more holes 35, which have been dimensioned to receive one of the fastening projections 17. This enables that, depending on a distance of a part of the vehicle that is to be rectified from the supporting pillar 32, one of the fastening projections 17 of the rectifying apparatus 1 may be inserted into a suitable hole 35 of the fastener 31 so that the rectifying tool 13 or23 of the rectifying apparatus can be positioned at exactly correct point of the vehicle. If necessary, height adjustment can be implemented by moving the connection part 33 upwards or downwards along the pillar 32. Horizontal distance adjustment can be, in turn, implemented by turning the rectifying apparatus 1 upside down when compared to the position shown in figure 4, so that one of the other fastening projections 17 is inserted in the selected hole 35. Thus, positioning the rectifying tool exactly at the correct point is very simple.

[0027] In the figures it is shown as a way of an example, that the fastening projections 17 are pins with a smooth surface. However, in some practical implementations the fastening projections may, in contrast to the figures, comprise an external thread. In this way the selected fastening projection can be locked in place to the fastener 31 by means of a nut, which is rotatable on the thread, after the projection has been inserted through the hole 35 to protrude on the opposite side of the fastener.

[0028] When the rectifying tool 13 or 23 has been positioned at the correct point of the vehicle, the threaded rod 4 can be rotated in the desired direction via the grip part 9. In this way, a pushing force or a pulling force applied to the vehicle is achieved with the selected rectifying tool 13 or 23, whereby the supporting pillar 32 ensures that the rectifying tool 1 stays firmly in the correct place during the rectifying work.

[0029] It should be understood that the above description, and figures relating thereto, are only meant to illustrate the present invention. It will be obvious for a skilled person that the invention can be adapted and modified also in other ways without departing from the scope of the protection of the invention.

Claims

Claims:1 . A vehicle rectifying apparatus comprising: a first tubular part (2), a second tubular part (3) arranged to protrude partially in to the first tubular part (2), a threaded rod (4) which is stationary rotatably attached to the first tubular part (2), a threaded portion (6) arranged in the second tubular part (3), to the threads of which the threaded rod (4) engages, whereby rotating of the threaded rod changes the mutual position of the first (2) and the second (3) tubular part so that a distance which the second tubular part (3) protrudes into the first tubular part (2) changes, a first end (10) of the threaded rod (4) comprises a grip portion (9) for receiving a tool rotating the threaded rod, and a second end (11 ) of the second tubular part (3) facing away from the threaded rod comprises a connector (12) for receiving and attaching a vehicle rectifying tool (13, 23) to a rectifying apparatus (1 ) characterized in that, the first tubular part (2) comprises protruding fastening projections (17) between its first end (15) and second end (8), and the protruding fastening projections (17) are dimensioned to be of equal size and arranged at multiple different distances from the first end (15) of the first tubular part (2).

2. A rectifying apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that, the rectifying apparatus (1 ) comprises a fastener (31 ) for attaching the rectifying apparatus to a pillar (32) of a supporting structure, which holds the rectifying apparatus (1 ) in place relative to the vehicle during a rectifying work, and the fastener (31 ) has a connection part (33) for connecting the fastener to the pillar and a supporting surface having one or more holes (35), which have been dimensioned to receive one of the fastening projections (17).

3. The rectifying apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the connection part (33) is formed by a clamping band, which can be clamped around the pillar (32) at a desired point of the pillar.

4. The rectifying apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the rectifying apparatus (1 ) comprises multiple optional rectifying tools (13, 23) having a counterpart of the connector (12) for connecting them to the connector (12) of the rectifying tool (1 ).

5. The rectifying apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that, at least one of the optional rectifying tools (13) is a pulling tool having a hook for pulling a part of the vehicle, and at least one of the optional rectifying tools (23) is a pushing tool having a supporting surface (24) for applying a pushing force to the vehicle to be rectified.

6. The rectifying apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one bearing (14) is arranged to the first end (15) of the first tubular part (2) to attach the threaded rod (4) rotatably to the first tubular part (2).

7. The rectifying apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the grip portion (9) of the first end (10) of the threaded rod (4) is arranged outside the first tubular part (2).

8. The rectifying apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the grip portion (9) is formed by a nut.

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