Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – Structural member making
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-19
2001-06-12
Echols, P. W. (Department: 3726)
Metal working
Method of mechanical manufacture
Structural member making
C029S402120, C029S402130, C029S402140, C029S402160, C029S897200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06243950
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a process for repairing a framework composed of profile sections, particularly vehicle bodies, such as cabs of trucks.
BACKGROUND
When a framework composed of profile sections is damaged by buckling, bending or twisting it generally cannot be repaired by alignment, but only by replacing the deformed profile sections. Such damage often occurs with utility vehicles whose body structures usually consist of a framework made from profile sections. Heretofore, it has been customary to repair such framework by cutting out the damaged profile sections and replacing them individually. Depending on the material and the required strength, joining at the separation regions is effected by bonding, welding, riveting or a combination thereof. This has the disadvantage that each individual profile section has to be positioned and tensioned by means of a repair device before joining can take place. Depending on the number of damaged profile sections, this repair process is time-consuming and expensive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a repair process by which a damaged framework composed of profile sections can be repaired rapidly with a minimum number of repair devices.
According to the invention, this object is satisfied by a process comprising the following steps:
removing a damaged section of said framework by cutting through a plurality of profile members at regions to separate the damaged section from undamaged profile members of the remaining framework;
placing a replacement subassembly in the framework such that free ends of profile members of the replacement subassembly abut against cut ends of the undamaged profile members of the framework at respective joints;
providing a slidable fitting case in one of the profile members at a respective one of said joints, said fitting case being retracted into the said one profile member to enable the ends of the profile members of the replacement assembly to abut against the cut ends of the profile members of the framework when the replacement subassembly is put into place in the framework;
sliding the fitting cases from the retracted positions within the respective profile members such that the fitting cases extend partially in said one profile members and partially into the adjoining profile members at the respective joints; and
permanently joining the fitting cases to the respective profile members of the framework and of the replacement subassembly at said joints.
The process according to the invention provides a number of intrinsic advantages which decisively reduce the repair effort. By positioning the replacement subassembly by means of the fitting cases, there is no need for a repair device used for proper positioning of the repair component in relation to the entire framework. This not only saves the cost of the device itself but it also eliminates the respective set-up times for fixing the replacement profile sections. The process according to the invention provides a further decisive advantage in that it is not individual profile sections which are being replaced but instead the entire damaged section is cut and removed from the framework and replaced by the complete replacement subassembly comprising a plurality of profile members. Such insertion of a replacement subassembly whose ends of its profile members need to be joined to the framework in various directions becomes possible by means of the fitting cases. In this way, a repair shop can keep often-used replacement subassemblies in stock.
It is advantageous if, as is known per se, joining of the replacement subassembly and the framework is effected by bonding or welding. In a further embodiment of the invention, joining can also take place by riveting and it is also possible to use a combination of bonding and riveting.
A further advantageous embodiment of the process according to the invention provides for the outer surface of the fitting cases to be profiled so that hollow channels are formed between the interior surface of the profile members and the fitting case. Adhesive can be introduced into these hollow channels so that on the one hand an exact fit between the fitting case and the profile member is ensured while on the other hand an adequate amount of adhesive is available to establish the bonded connection.
A further embodiment of the invention provides for the fitting cases to comprise means for connecting an activating tool thereto so that said fitting cases can be slidably moved across the abutting ends of the profile members at the joints therebetween after positioning of the replacement subassembly. A screw thread is a preferred suitable means by which the activating tool is connectable to the fitting case. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the activating tool is guided outward from the profile members of the framework so that subsequently the necessary movement of the activating tool and thus the respective longitudinal sliding movement of the fitting case can be initiated. Finally, according to a further embodiment of the invention it is advantageous if an indicator means is provided at the point of exit of the activating tool from the profile members so that longitudinal displacement of the activating tool and thus of the respective fitting case can be accurately determined. This ensures that the fitting case extends approximately equally into the profile members at the abutting ends.
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Scheid Peter
Schouten Marinus
Wachiner Georg Christian
Daimler-Chrysler AG
Echols P. W.
Ladas & Parry
Nguyen Trinh T.
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