Chart Industries, Inc.

John T Wickmann

Gerald P Horan

Richard C Olak

Stanislaus McNamee

Phillip Carlton

Guy N Chartier

An apparatus that enables simultaneous readings of the camber, caster and steering axis inclination of the steering components of a front wheel suspension of a vehicle; the apparatus comprises a C-shaped upright, the upper and lower extremities of which engage the upper and lower steering pivots of the component. A carriage, slidably mounted on the upright, supports a yoke member which is adapted to bear against the hub assembly of the vehicle wheel. A first gauge is mounted to the yoke member to give a camber reading of the strut while second and third gauges are mounted on the carriage to give a caster reading and a steering axis inclination reading.

Apparatus for measuring camber, caster and steering axis inclination of

A clamping system for use in supporting automotive vehicles in secured relation above a floor surface includes an adjustable height pedestal having a base member with a ram member entered in sliding relation therein. Laterally inclined convergent internal side walls serve as guides to keep in mutually centered relation a pair of vertically extending mating faces of the base member and the ram member. These mating faces have laterally extending tooth members standing proud of their surfaces in mutually interengageable relation to lock the members together against vertical displacement. Clearance within the base member sufficient for the lateral disengagement of the respective tooth members permits vertical adjustment of the ram member relative to the base. Jacking screws extending laterally within the base serve to hold the ram member in tooth engaged relation with the mating face of the base, in a locked, pre-set position of a predetermined height. One or more clamps of the scott clamp type are used for securing the vehicle by its underside. In the case of a single clamp it is secured directly to the ram. Alternatively, a pair of scott clamps can be mounted in offset mutual force-balancing relation on a balance beam. The balance beam in one embodiment is pivotally attached at its center, to the ram. The pivotal attachment connection can be locked by way of a tapered joint. In a further embodiment the beam is rigidly secured to the ram.

Adjustable height clamping stand

A rack for use with automotive bodies, has a substantially rigid frame of welded steel sections to receive an automotive body in secured relation on the rack in supported space relation above a floor surface. The rack has a series of depending flanged shear members extending beneath it, onto which a tiltable thrust plate, that forms a nose portion of an elongated trolley, can be attached. The trolley nose portion is pushed against a flange, to mount it, and bear against the respective rack shear member. The trolley forms part of a loading system, the trolley having a detachable upstanding tower portion from which a racking chain or chains can be secured to the automotive body, the tower including jacking provisions by which deforming tension forces can be applied by way of the chain between the tower and the body. The trolley has a spring-loaded rear wheel suspension, which permits it to accommodate to irregular floor surfaces. The trolley is substantially self stabilizing in jamming relation against the underside of the rack.

Vehicle repair rack system

The present invention relates to a laser gauging apparatus for measuring a vehicle during the construction of and the repair of the vehicle. The apparatus includes a T-shaped rail arrangement. On one of the rails, a laser carriage is mounted which carries a laser along the rail. Laser measuring instruments are mounted on the other rail. The laser gauging apparatus projects a beam having a horizontally extending portion and a vertically extending portion. The horizontally extending portion defines a horizontal datum plane under the vehicle from which measurements can be taken to the vehicle to determine the correct position of datum points on the vehicle. In accordance with the present invention there is also provided a laser target which can be suspended from the datum vehicle point. The target when suspended and when intersecting the laser beam, indicates that the vehicle reference datum point is in proper position.

Laser gauging system and component parts therefor

The present invention relates to an anchoring system and apparatus for positively anchoring a vehicle with respect to a base. The anchoring system includes three or more rigid anchoring apparatus which grasp the pinchwelds of the vehicle to support the vehicle above the base. The apparatus are provided with clamps to secure the support members to the base. The base may be an elevated platform, elevated rails or a concrete floor. The present invention further provides a novel anchoring device insertable into a concrete floor which anchors a rigid anchoring member. The anchoring device cooperates with the clamps and anchoring member to positively anchor the anchoring apparatus to the concrete floor.

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Omemee, Canada

John T Wickmann