Vehicle-straightening bench with tower locking mechanism for movable carriages that mount pulling assemblies

Abstract

A vehicle-straightening bench ( 20 ) is utilized to apply pulling forces to a damaged vehicle chassis to restore the damaged chassis to an original configuration. The bench includes a vehicle platform ( 22 ) with a carriage track ( 24 ) having a plurality of carriage assemblies ( 100 ) movably received by the carriage track ( 24 ). Each carriage assembly ( 100 ) supports a pulling assembly ( 200 ) for applying the pulling forces. A trapezoidal carriage body ( 102 ) of the carriage assembly ( 100 ) rolls in the carriage track ( 24 ), and the carriage assembly also includes a tower positioning mechanism ( 104 ) to hold the pulling assemblies ( 200 ) in place while the carriage body ( 102 ) is are rolled on the track ( 24 ). The carriage assembly ( 100 ) also includes a locking mechanism ( 106 ) to lock them in place during a vehicle a pull. A force arm ( 206 ) is extended between the pulling mechanism ( 200 ) and the platform ( 22 ), so that the carriage assembly ( 100 ) is not the only force transmission path between the pulling assembly ( 200 ) and the bench ( 20 ). The automated control system ( 300 ) of the bench ( 20 ) utilizes two hydraulic pumps ( 316,314 ) to power front and back lifts ( 65,64 ), respectively. Only one of the pumps ( 314 ) is used by the pulling assemblies ( 200 ). A PLC ( 308 ) and a remote control ( 310 ) are used to control the bench ( 20 ).

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A vehicle straightening bench for applying force to vehicle chassis and restoring vehicle chassis to desired configurations, the bench comprising: 
 a vehicle platform including a front, a rear, opposed sides corresponding to a length, a top, and a bottom, the vehicle platform being operable to support a vehicle chassis to be straightened;    at least one anchor attachable to the platform and operable to secure the vehicle chassis to the platform;    a carriage track mounted on the platform and extending along the length of the platform;    a carriage assembly movably received by the carriage track; and    a pulling tower pivotally mounted on the carriage assembly.    
     
     
         2 . The bench according to  claim 1  wherein the carriage assembly includes a tower positioning mechanism engaging a tower arm, extending between the pulling tower and the carriage assembly and mounting the pulling tower to the carriage assembly, the positioning mechanism being operable to lock the pulling tower in a transport position in which the tower arm is substantially perpendicular to the bench.  
     
     
         3 . The bench according to  claim 1  wherein the carriage assembly includes a tower positioning mechanism engaging a tower arm extending between the pulling tower and the carriage assembly and mounting the pulling tower to the carriage assembly, the positioning mechanism including a pawl follower slidably mounted on the tower arm and a notch plate mounted on the carriage assembly and defining a notch for receiving the pawl follower, so that the tower positioning mechanism holds the pulling tower in a transport position in which the tower arm is substantially perpendicular to the bench when the pawl follower is received in the notch.  
     
     
         4 . The bench according to  claim 3  wherein the positioning mechanism further includes a pawl biasing member engaging the pawl follower and forcing the pawl follower against the notch plate and biasing the pawl follower into the notch.  
     
     
         5 . The bench according to  claim 4  wherein the carriage assembly includes a carriage body defining a lock pin opening and a locking mechanism comprising a lock pin movably received in the lock pin opening, a lock pin biasing member received in the lock pin opening and engaging the lock pin to bias the lock pin into an extended locking position in which an operator applying force to the pulling tower can overcome the force of the pawl biasing member to pivot the pulling tower relative to the carriage assembly.  
     
     
         6 . The bench according to  claim 5  wherein the lock pin is coaxial with a pivot axis of the pulling tower.  
     
     
         7 . The bench according to  claim 1  wherein the carriage assembly includes a tower positioning mechanism engaging a tower arm extending between the pulling tower and the carriage assembly and mounting the pulling tower to the carriage assembly, the positioning mechanism including a cam detent pivotally mounted on the tower arm and a notch plate mounted on the carriage assembly and defining a notch for receiving the cam detent, so that the tower positioning mechanism locks the pulling tower in a transport position in which the tower arm is substantially perpendicular to the bench when the cam detent is received in the notch.  
     
     
         8 . The bench according to  claim 7  wherein the carriage assembly includes a carriage body defining a lock pin opening and a locking mechanism comprising a lock pin movably received in the lock pin opening, a lock pin biasing member received in the lock pin opening and engaging the lock pin to bias the lock pin into an extended locking position in which an operator applying force to the pulling tower pivot the pulling tower relative to the carriage assembly.  
     
     
         9 . The bench according to  claim 8  further comprising a dual action lever assembly operable to actuate both the tower positioning mechanism and the locking mechanism.  
     
     
         10 . The bench according to  claim 9  wherein the lever assembly comprises: 
 a dual action release handle assembly, positioned on the pulling tower, including a handle; and  
 a cable fastened to the release handle assembly and extending to the locking mechanism and the positioning mechanism, where the cable is operable to engage the locking mechanism while disengaging the positioning mechanism, and alternatively to disengage the locking mechanism while engaging the positioning mechanism.  
 
     
     
         11 . The bench according to  claim 10  wherein forcing the handle down retracts the lock pin into the lock pin opening and forces the cam detent into the notch of the notch plate.  
     
     
         12 . The bench according to  claim 11  further comprising a cam detent biasing member biasing the cam detent out of the notch.  
     
     
         13 . The bench according to  claim 12  wherein the cam detent biasing member comprises a compression spring positioned between the cam detent and a fastening block.  
     
     
         14 . The bench according to  claim 13  further comprising the cable extending from the release handle to the lock pin, and the cable slidably received through the fastening block and being attached to the cam detent.  
     
     
         15 . The bench according to  claim 1  wherein the carriage assembly includes a carriage body defining a lock pin opening and a locking mechanism comprising a lock pin movably received in the lock pin opening, a lock pin biasing member received in the lock pin opening and engaging the lock pin to bias the lock pin into an extended locking position.  
     
     
         16 . The bench according to  claim 15  wherein the platform comprises a bottom deck having the track mounted thereon and defining a plurality of pin lock apertures operable to receive the lock pin.  
     
     
         17 . The bench according to  claim 15  wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a release handle vertically, movably mounted on the pulling tower and an elongated release cable extending between the release handle and the lock pin whereby downward movement of the release handle overcomes the lock pin biasing member and forces the lock pin to a retracted position inside the lock pin opening of the carriage body.  
     
     
         18 . The bench according to  claim 15  wherein the lock pin biasing member comprises a compression spring.  
     
     
         19 . A pulling assembly for use with a vehicle platform of a vehicle straightening bench, the pulling assembly comprising: 
 an elongated tower arm having a mounting end and a distal end opposite the mounting end;    a pulling tower attached to the distal end of the tower arm; and    a carriage assembly including a tower positioning mechanism, engaging the mounting end of the tower arm, extending between the pulling tower and the carriage assembly and mounting the pulling tower to the carriage assembly, the positioning mechanism including a cam detent pivotally mounted on the tower arm and a notch plate mounted on the carriage assembly and defining a notch for receiving the cam detent, the tower positioning mechanism being operable to hold the pulling tower in a transport position in which the tower arm is substantially perpendicular to the bench when the cam detent is received in the notch.    
     
     
         20 . The bench according to  claim 19  wherein the carriage assembly includes a carriage body defining a lock pin opening and a locking mechanism comprising a lock pin movably received in the lock pin opening, a lock pin biasing member received in the lock pin opening and engaging the lock pin to bias the lock pin into an extended locking position in which an operator applying force to the pulling tower pivot the pulling tower relative to the carriage assembly.  
     
     
         21 . The bench according to  claim 20  further comprising a dual action lever assembly operable to actuate both the tower positioning mechanism and the locking mechanism.  
     
     
         22 . The bench according to  claim 21  wherein the lever assembly comprises: 
 a dual action release handle assembly, positioned on the pulling tower, including a handle; and  
 a cable fastened to the release handle assembly and extending to the locking mechanism and the positioning mechanism, where the cable is operable to engage the locking mechanism while disengaging the positioning mechanism, and alternatively to disengage the locking mechanism while engaging the positioning mechanism.  
 
     
     
         23 . The bench according to  claim 22  wherein forcing the handle down retracts the lock pin into the lock pin opening and forces the cam detent into the notch of the notch plate.  
     
     
         24 . The bench according to  claim 23  further comprising a cam detent biasing member biasing the cam detent out of the notch.  
     
     
         25 . The pulling assembly according to  claim 23  wherein the pulling tower comprises a telescoping pulling tower.  
     
     
         26 . A vehicle straightening bench comprising for applying force to vehicle chassis and restore vehicle chassis to desired configurations, the bench comprising: 
 a vehicle platform including a front, a rear, opposed sides corresponding to a length, a top and a bottom, the vehicle platform being operable to support a vehicle chassis to be straightened, and the vehicle platform defining a plurality of anchoring apertures;    at least one anchor attachable to the platform and operable to secure the vehicle chassis to the platform;    a carriage track mounted on the platform and extending along the length of the platform;    a carriage assembly movably received by the carriage track, including a carriage body defining a lock pin opening;    an elongated tower arm having a mounting end attached to the carriage assembly and a distal end opposite the mounting end;    a pulling tower attached to the distal end of the tower arm;    a tower positioning mechanism connected to the tower arm and the carriage assembly, including a cam detent pivotally mounted to the tower arm and a notch plate mounted to the carriage assembly and defining a notch for receiving the cam detent, so that the tower positioning mechanism is operable to fix the pulling tower in a transport position relative to the bench; and    a locking mechanism including a lock pin movably received in the lock pin opening, a lock pin biasing member received in the lock pin opening and engaging the lock pin to bias the lock pin into an extended locking position in which an operator applying force to the pulling tower can pivot the pulling tower relative to the carriage assembly.    
     
     
         27 . The bench according to  claim 26  wherein the carriage assembly includes a carriage body defining a lock pin opening and a locking mechanism comprising a lock pin movably received in the lock pin opening, a lock pin biasing member received in the lock pin opening and engaging the lock pin to bias the lock pin into an extended locking position in which an operator applying force to the pulling tower pivot the pulling tower relative to the carriage assembly.  
     
     
         28 . The bench according to  claim 27  further comprising a dual action lever assembly operable to actuate both the tower positioning mechanism and the locking mechanism.  
     
     
         29 . The bench according to  claim 28  wherein the lever assembly comprises: 
 a dual action release handle assembly, positioned on the pulling tower, including a handle; and  
 a cable fastened to the release handle assembly and extending to the locking mechanism and the positioning mechanism, where the cable is operable to engage the locking mechanism while disengaging the positioning mechanism, and alternatively to disengage the locking mechanism while engaging the positioning mechanism.  
 
     
     
         30 . The bench according to  claim 29  wherein forcing the handle down retracts the lock pin into the lock pin opening and forces the cam detent into the notch of the notch plate.  
     
     
         31 . The bench according to  claim 30  further comprising a cam detent biasing member biasing the cam detent out of the notch.  
     
     
         32 . The bench according to  claim 31  wherein the cam detent biasing member comprises a compression spring positioned between the cam detent and a fastening block.  
     
     
         33 . The bench according to  claim 32  wherein the cable extends from the release handle to the lock pin, and the cable is slidably received through the fastening block attached to the cam detent.  
     
     
         34 . A dual-action lever assembly for a pulling tower of a vehicle straightening bench with a positioning mechanism for retaining the pulling tower in a selected position around the perimeter of the straightening bench and a locking mechanism for retaining the pulling tower in a fixed, transport position in which the pulling tower is substantially perpendicular to the straightening, the lever assembly comprising: 
 a dual action release handle assembly, positioned on the pulling tower, including a handle; and    a cable fastened to the release handle assembly and extending to the locking mechanism and the positioning mechanism, where the cable is operable to engage the locking mechanism while disengaging the positioning mechanism, and alternatively to disengage the locking mechanism while engaging the positioning mechanism.    
     
     
         35 . The lever according to  claim 34  further comprising two handle biasing members operable to bias the handle in an upright position with positioning mechanism activated and locking mechanism deactivated.  
     
     
         36 . The lever according to  claim 35  wherein the positioning mechanism includes a lock pin received in a lock pin opening defined in a track around the perimeter of the bench and the locking mechanism includes a cam detent for engaging and disengaging from a notch in a notch plate.  
     
     
         37 . The lever according to  claim 34 , wherein the cable is connected to the positioning mechanism by a cable-rod assembly, including: 
 a rod connected to the locking mechanism; and    a fastening block including an aperture for receiving the rod and a fastener for attaching the cable to the fastening block, operable to maintain the rod in fixed relation to the cable.    
     
     
         38 . The lever according to  claim 34 , wherein the release handle assembly includes a cam, a cable, and a fastener plate comprising: 
 a plate with apertures for receiving threaded fasteners; and    a plurality of threaded fasteners for attaching the plate to the cam with the cable positioned between the cam and the cable fastener plate.    
     
     
         39 . The lever according to  claim 38  wherein forcing the handle down retracts the lock pin into the lock pin opening and forces the cam detent into the notch of the notch plate.