US 6,085,568 AGranted

Adjustable force deflection device for vehicle work benches

OwnerHerbert Meyerinventor

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Abstract

The invention is an adjustable force deflection device which can be used to guide, deflect, and apply force used in the restoration of deformed vehicle bodies on work benches or straighteners. The device consists of at least two fixable, pivoted joints, each comprising a pair of coupling discs that can be independently rotated about a common central axis to a desired angle relative to each other and then fixed in place. One of the coupling discs in each of the at least two pivotable joints is connected to either a separate force application device or to a tool attached to the portion of the vehicle body to be restored. The second of the coupling discs in each pair is connected to at least one rigid, elongated element of various possible sizes and shapes, or to a plurality of such rigid, elongated elements and interconnecting pivotable joints connected in alternating series. The pivotable joints and interconnecting rigid elements can be arranged in combinations of angles between each other so as to direct the restoring force around an intervening obstacle, to precisely direct the force to be applied to the vehicle body, or to transform an applied pulling force into a pushing force and vice versa.

Claims13

Dependent claims

An adjustable force deflection device for use with a motor vehicle body straightener of the type that includes a frame and a mechanism attached to the frame for exerting a pushing or a pulling force on a tool attached to the vehicle body, connecting the force exerting mechanism to the attached tool and for enabling the force exerting mechanism to exert a pushing or a pulling force on the attached tool, said adjustable force deflection device characterized by:

at least two fixable pivoted joints (1), each comprising a pair of coupling discs (2) disposed in compressive coaxial engagement with each other along a central axis for indepenent rotation about said axis, said discs being compressibly fixable to each other against relative rotation thereon, a first one of said coupling discs (2) in each of said at least two pivoted joints (1) being connected to a respective one of said force exerting mechanism and said pulling tool;
and,
at least one rigid, elongated element (6, 7, 10) having opposite ends respectively connected to a second one of said pair of coupling discs (2) in each of said at least two pivoted joints (1), whereby,
a force exerted by said force exerting mechanism is transmitted through said at least two pivoted joints (1) and said at least one rigid, elongated element (6, 7, 10) to said pulling tool attached to said vehicle.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.