GB2237644A

GB2237644A - A vehicle repair measuring system

Info

Publication number: GB2237644A
Application number: GB8921000A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Patrick Kearon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-09-15
Filing date: 1989-09-15
Publication date: 1991-05-08
Also published as: GB8921000D0

Abstract

The measuring system comprises several towers (1) each of which has a base (2), a lower member (8) connected to the base and an upper measuring member (28) slidably mounted on the lower member. A scale (10) is provided to determine the height of the upper member from the base and a collar (16) rotatably mounted on each tower provides a measurement means which enables the centre line of the tower to be determined so that with the help of a portable measuring device such as a tape measure 24 the distance between centre lines of pairs of towers can be determined. <IMAGE>

Description

A VEHICLE REPAIR SYSTEM The present invention relates to a vehicle repair system of the kind in which chains or other flexible ties are attached to parts of the vehicle chassis and hydraulic rams act on the chassis chains to pull chassis parts back into shape. In particular the invention relates to a measuring system for such a repair system.

In our copending British Patent Application No. 8823831.6 we have described a novel repair system which has the advantage that it enables good access to the underside of the vehicle under repair. A necessity for such a repair system and the known systems is accurate measurement in the horizontal and vertical direction from datum lines to predetermined positions on the vehicle. One such known system comprises a mobile trolley with longitudinal and lateral slides, the lateral slides carrying vertically extending probes which locate in the predetermined vehicle positions. Such a system provides accurate measurements between probes but badly restricts under vehicle access. The known measuring systems are complicated to set up and is expensive. Diagonal measurements in the horizontal plane have to be calculated.

A measuring system for a vehicle repair system according to the present invention comprises a plurality of measuring towers, each tower comprising a flat base, a lower member extending from the base, an upper measuring member slidably mounted to the lower member, a scale between the lower and upper members for determining the height of the upper member from the base and wherein each tower has a measurement means extending horizontally when in use a predetermined distance from the tower.

In order to measure vertical distances to the predetermined vehicle positions from a flat surface on which the tower bases stand at least a pair of the towers are located beneath the vehicle under repair. The upper portion of each tower is arranged to be raised preferably by means of a spring between each upper and lower member of the tower and the vertical distance from the surface is read off on the scale. In order to determine the horizontal dimensions between the predetermined vehicle positions a tape measure or suitable extending measuring device is hooked at one end to the tower measurement means on one tower of the pair and read off against an adjacent tower measurement means on the other tower.

Preferably the measurement means comprises a collar mounted rotatably on each tower, the collar having an upstanding tape measure locating means. The tape measure is hooked into the locating means on one tower and under tension the measure rotates the collar to align the locating means with the locating means on the other tower of the pair.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a partly cut away elevation of a measuring tower in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 shows a vehicle under repair with four measuring towers in position under the vehicle and a distance between a pair of the towers being measured, and Figure 3 is a diagram of the measuring system of the invention showing heights, lateral and longitudinal measurements of a vehicle.

Figure 1 shows a measuring tower generally at 1. Welded to a flat circular base 2 is a tubular member 4 inside which is a threaded post 6 on which stands a lower member 8, supported by a nut 9 on the threaded post.

The nut 9 enables the height of the lower member 8 to be accurately adjusted relative the base 2 by measuring from a scale 10 to the bottom of the base 2. When calibrated, the members 4 and 8 are locked together by means of screw 12.

Seating on an upper edge 14 of member 4 is a rotatable collar 16 having an upturned lip 18 in which is a slot 20 for receiving the hooked end 22 of a metal tape measure 24. The slot is at a predetermined distance A normally 50mm from the centre line 26 of the tower 1.

Telescopically mounted on the upper end of the lower member 8 is an upper member or cap 28. The cap is kept in the shown upper position by a spring 30 which seats in a socket 31 in a seating plate 32 and acts on the underside 34 of the cap.

Fixed to the top of the cap 28 by a bolt 36 is post 38 on top of which is a pointed member 40. The post 38 can be unscrewed and replaced by a longer post as shown in Figure 2, the pointed member 40 is suitably formed to fit into one of the predetermined locations 42 on the vehicle to be measured.

The cap 28 can be locked onto the lower member 8 by a screw 44.

Figure 2 shows a vehicle 50 under repair mounted above a repair frame 56 on stands 52. Four measuring towers 1, 1', 1" and 1'" are stood on the frame 56 and a measurement is taken between two towers 1 and 1' by operative 58 hooking tape 24 onto lip 18 of collar 16 and measuring to lip 18' on collar 16' of tower 1'. Since the lips are each 50mm from the centre lines 26 and 26' coinciding with locations 42 and 42' on the vehicle 50 it is simple to add 100mm to the measured distance between the lips to get an accurate measurement B between the vehicle locations. Diagonal distances C or longitudinal distances D can also be easily and quickly measured without the operative being obstructed. Positioning or removal of the towers is easily achieved by pulling down caps 28 against spring 30 to lower the pointed members 40.

Figure 3 shows a diagram of vehicle 50 under repair with vertical and horizontal dimensions. The horizontal dimensions are shown below the surface 3 on which ten towers 1-14X stand. Each transverse pair of stands have posts 38 respectively 224mm, 175mm, 125m, 75mm and 150mm long for towers 1,1'; 1 iii; 1 iiii, 1v; 1vi, 1vii; 1viii,1ix.

Measurements taken on scales 10 are respectively 28mm, 36mm, 50mm, 30mm and 35mm. The heights X of the towers are the same in each case and are invariable once calibrated.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A measuring system for a vehicle repair system comprising a plurality of measuring towers, each tower comprising a flat base, a lower member extending from the base, an upper measuring member slidably mounted to the lower member, a scale for determining the height of the upper member from the base and wherein each tower has a measurement means extending horizontally when in use a predetermined distance from the tower, wherein the measurement means comprises a collar mounted rotatably on each tower.

2. A measuring system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the collar has an upstanding tape measure locating means.

3. A measuring system as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the lower member is mounted to the base so as to be vertically adjustable relative the base.

4. A measuring system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the upper member is provided with a resilient means acting between the upper member and lower member to urge the upper member upwardly away from the lower member.

5. A measuring system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the upper member has detachably mounted on an upper surface thereof a post having an upper part suitably formed to fit into one of the predetermined locations on a vehicle to be measured.

6. A measuring system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the collar is mounted so as to be rotatable about the lower member.

7. A measuring system as claimed in claims 1 to 6 wherein the upper measurement member is lockable to the lower member.

8. A measuring system as claimed in claims 1 to 7 wherein the lower member is lockable to the base.

9. A measuring system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the base extends upperwardly to surround at least a part of the lower member.

10. A measuring system substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.