Method for alignment of a vehicle and levelling bench arrangement

Abstract

A method for alignment of a vehicle and a levelling bench arrangement in relation to one another is disclosed, wherein the levelling bench arrangement comprises a levelling bench ( 1 ), a support structure ( 3 ), a plurality of beams ( 5 ), and a plurality of fixture devices ( 7 ). According to the method the support structure is arranged on the levelling bench, at least some of the beams are locked to the support structure, at least some of the fixture devices are releasably mounted at the beams, a vehicle, which is to be repaired or inspected, is arranged above the levelling bench, the mounted fixture devices are aligned with respect to the vehicle by means of continuously moving the beams and the support structure in a horizontal plane so that the fixture devices will define certain specific reference points of the vehicle and the beams are releasably fastened to the levelling bench.

1 . A method for alignment of a vehicle and a levelling bench arrangement in relation to one another, wherein the levelling bench arrangement comprises a levelling bench, a support structure, a plurality of beams, and a plurality of fixture devices, wherein said method is characterized by the steps of:
 arranging said support structure on said levelling bench,   locking said beams to said support structure at least in a horizontal plane,   releasably mounting said fixture devices at said beams,   arranging a vehicle, which is to be repaired or inspected, in a first position above said levelling bench,   aligning said fixture devices with respect to said vehicle by means of continuously moving said beams and said support structure as a single unit in the horizontal plane so that the fixture devices will define certain specific reference points of the vehicle, and   releasably fastening at least some of said beams or said support structure to said levelling bench, thereby locking said beams and said support structure to said levelling bench in an aligned position.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein,
 said vehicle, which is to be repaired or inspected, is arranged in a second position above said levelling bench before said fixture devices are mounted at said beams, where said second position is higher than said first position, and   said vehicle is arranged in said first position by means of lowering said vehicle.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein after at least one of said plurality of beams beams or said support structure have/has been fastened to said levelling bench, at least one additional beam of said plurality of beams is locked to said support structure at least in the horizontal plane. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , where said levelling bench arrangement comprises further fixture devices, wherein said further fixture devices are mounted at said further beams. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said support structure is elongated and is locked to said levelling bench in a direction essentially parallel (y) with a longitudinal direction (y) of said vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said beams are locked to said elongated support structure perpendicular (x) to the extension (y) thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said beams are locked to said support structure at selected positions of a finite number of selectable positions along the extension of said support structure. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said fixture devices are mounted at said beams at selected positions of a finite number of selectable positions along the extension of said beams. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , where each of said fixture devices comprises a column releasably mountable at said beams and a head releasably mountable at said column, wherein the step of mounting said fixture devices at said beams comprises the steps of mounting said column at said beams and mounting said heads at said columns. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said heads are mounted at said columns at a selected vertical position of a finite number of selectable vertical positions in order to obtain mounted fixture devices of a selected height of a finite number of selectable heights. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of said fixture devices comprises a column releasably mountable at said beams, an adapter releasably mountable at said column, and a head releasably mountable at said adapter, wherein the step of mounting said fixture devices at said beams comprises the steps of mounting said columns at said beams, mounting said adapters at said columns, and mounting said heads at said adapters. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said adapters are mounted at said columns at a selected vertical position of a finite number of selectable vertical positions in order to obtain mounted fixture devices of a selected height of a finite number of selectable heights. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said heads are mounted at said adapters in selected orientations of a finite number of selectable orientations. 
     
     
         14 . A levelling bench arrangement comprising a levelling bench, a support structure, a plurality of beams, and a plurality of fixture devices releasably mountable at said beams, characterized in that,
 said beams are lockable to said support structure at least in a horizontal plane,   said beams and said support structure are as a single unit continuously movable in horizontal plane on said levelling bench, thereby making alignment of said fixture devices with respect to a vehicle, which is to be repaired or inspected and which is therefore arranged above said levelling bench, possible, wherein said fixture devices define certain specific reference points of the vehicle in the aligned position, and   at least some of said beams or said support structure is releasably fastenable to said levelling bench, thereby making locking of said beams and said support structure to said levelling bench in an aligned position with respect to said vehicle possible.   
     
     
         15 . The levelling bench arrangement of  claim 14 , wherein said support structure is elongated and, when being locked to said levelling bench, oriented in a direction (y) essentially parallel with a longitudinal direction (y) of said vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . The levelling bench arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein said beams are lockable to said elongated support structure perpendicular (x) to the extension (y) thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The levelling bench arrangement of  claim 14 , wherein said beams are lockable to said support structure at a finite number of selectable positions along the extension of said support structure. 
     
     
         18 . The levelling bench arrangement of  claim 14 , wherein said fixture devices are releasably mountable at said beams at selected positions of a finite number of selectable positions along the extension of said beams. 
     
     
         19 . The levelling bench arrangement of  claim 14 , wherein each of said fixture devices comprises a column releasably mountable at said beams and a head releasably mountable at said column. 
     
     
         20 . The levelling bench arrangement of any of  claim 14 , wherein each of said fixture devices comprises a column releasably mountable at said beams, an adapter releasably mountable at said column, and a head releasably mountable at said adapter. 
     
     
         21 . The levelling bench arrangement of  claim 20 , wherein said adapters are releasably mountable at said columns at a finite number of selectable vertical positions in order to obtain mounted fixture devices of a finite number of selectable heights. 
     
     
         22 . The levelling bench arrangement of  claim 20 , wherein said heads are releasably mountable at said adapters in a finite number of selectable orientations. 
     
     
         23 . A method for alignment of a vehicle and a levelling bench arrangement in relation to one another, wherein said levelling bench arrangement comprises a levelling bench, a support structure, preferably a support structure in one piece, and a plurality of fixture devices, wherein said method is characterized by steps of:
 arranging said support structure on said levelling bench,   releasably mounting said fixture devices at said support structure,   arranging a vehicle, which is to be repaired or inspected, in a first position above said levelling bench,   aligning said fixture devices, with respect to said vehicle by the means of continuously moving said support structure in a horizontal plane so that the fixture devices will define certain specific reference points of the vehicle, and   releasably fastening said support structure to said levelling bench, thereby locking said support structure to said levelling bench in an aligned position.   
     
     
         24 . A levelling bench arrangement comprising a levelling bench, a support structure, preferably a support structure in one piece, and a plurality of fixture devices, characterized in that
 said plurality of fixture devices are releasably mountable at said support structure,   said support structure is continuously movable in a horizontal plane on said levelling bench, thereby making alignment of said fixture devices with respect to a vehicle, which is to be repaired or inspected and which is therefore arranged above said levelling bench, possible, wherein the fixture devices define certain specific reference points of the vehicle in an aligned position, and   said support structure is releasably fastenable to said levelling bench, thereby making locking of said support structure to said levelling bench possible in an aligned position with respect to said vehicle.