Implements or apparatus for applying pushing or pulling force – Metallic spring stretcher and/or compressor
Patent
1987-08-18
1989-10-10
Hartman, Judy
Implements or apparatus for applying pushing or pulling force
Metallic spring stretcher and/or compressor
29227, B23P 1904
Patent
active
048726443
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to motor vehicle servicing equipment and more particularly discloses an improved tool for the dismantling of suspension components.
The front end suspension of many late model motor vehicles use what are known in the trade as "MacPherson" strut assemblies. In such vehicles the major spring and shock absorber components for each wheel are incorporated into a single structure with the front axle. In order to service these units it is therefore necessary to first compress the coil suspension spring sufficiently to remove the loading on the other components of the strut so that it can be subsequently dismantled. The force required to do this however is naturally quite substantial and depending upon the size of the vehicle being serviced may be many hundreds of kilograms. Although there are a number of tools presently available for compressing these springs they tend to be awkward and time consuming to use and/or have a relatively short life due to the high stresses imposed on them.
One tool currently used in the trade comprises a yoke which is in two halves and is bolted around the lower portion of the strut assembly. Slots are provided on each side of the yoke to receive threaded bars which extend up on each side of the spring and through hooks adapted to grip each side of the coil so that as the threaded bars are turned down through the slots the yoke abuts against the cowling of the strut and the spring is compressed downwardly to free the end cap for subsequent removal. After the cap is unbolted the bars must however then be turned out of the yoke to decompress the spring and allow the hooks to be removed before the unit can be completely disassembled. After servicing the strut this procedure has to be repeated again to compress the spring before refitting the end cap. This procedure is thus extremely time consuming and moreover the apparatus is awkward to handle as it consists of a number of cumbersome components which must be manually assembled and positioned on the strut before each operation. In addition a serious safety hazard is often posed by such equipment as improper positioning of the various parts by inexperienced personal can result in the hooks slipping when under load so that the compressed spring releases suddenly and without warning.
It is therefore an object of this invention to correct the aforementioned disadvantages and accordingly this invention in one broad form discloses a tool for compressing the coil spring of a motor vehicle suspension system comprising a rack with opposed sets of cleat means mounted thereon which are adapted to grip respective coils of the said suspension spring intermediate the ends thereof and said sets of cleats being selectively movable towards or away from each other along said rack in a manner whereby the coils of said spring may be compressed or extended.
Preferred embodiments of this invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a side view of the inventive spring compressor;
FIG. 2 is a corresponding end view of the spring compressor;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the spring compressor,
FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of a detail of the cleats and arm arrangement.
A spring compressor according to this invention may include a rack 1 fashioned from a section of hollow channel. This rack may be substantially square in cross-section with a groove or slot 2 formed in the upper wall and extending along its length. A threaded bar 3 is rotatably mounted within this rack with one end being supported in a bearing block 4 and the other terminating in a crank handle 5. There are also pairs of transverse upwardly curved arms 6 and 7 disposed on the top of the rack. One pair 6 is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the end of the rack adjacent the crank handle 5. The other pair 7 is mounted on a block 7A which is adapted for a close sliding fit along the inside of the rack 1. This block is also provided with a threaded aperture which receives the threaded bar 3 referred to earlier so that rota
REFERENCES:
patent: 3982730 (1976-09-01), Otsuka
patent: 4237594 (1980-12-01), Young
patent: 4395020 (1983-07-01), Spainhour
Hartman Judy
O'Brien Anthony A.
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