U.S. patent number 3,698,230 [Application Number 05/157,505] was granted by the patent office on 1972-10-17 for pulling post base.
Invention is credited to Ervin Buske.
United States Patent |
3,698,230 |
Buske |
October 17, 1972 |
PULLING POST BASE
Abstract
For use with a pulling post of the type used for applying
tension via a chain to a damaged automobile, a base having
retractable rollers is formed of two V-shape sections pivoted
together at their apexes. One of the sections has a post socket.
The sections are spring biased to pivot relative to one another and
normally form an angle. When tension is applied via the chain, the
base sections pivot contra to the spring bias and flatten out
against the floor. Thus, all slack is removed from the chain before
strong pulling force is applied.
Inventors: |
Buske; Ervin (Gowrie, IA) |
Family
ID: |
22564025 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/157,505 |
Filed: |
June 28, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
72/386;
72/705 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B21D
1/14 (20130101); Y10S 72/705 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B21D
1/14 (20060101); B21D 1/00 (20060101); B21d
009/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;72/705,386,293 ;52/719
;287/49,51,92 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Lanham; Charles W.
Assistant Examiner: Keenan; Michael J.
Claims
I claim:
1. A base for a pulling post, comprising,
a first pair of arms having a connection at one end and having free
ends extending generally in one direction,
a second pair of arms having a connection at one end and having
free ends extending generally in the opposite direction,
said arms being adapted to rest upon a floor, means for supporting
a pulling post on one of the pairs of arms,
horizontal pivot means connecting the connection between the
respective pairs of arms,
and spring means for biasing said pairs of arms to pivot about said
pivot means whereby, when said arms are disposed on a floor, the
connected ends thereof tend to rise above the floor, and when a
horizontal pull is applied in one direction to the post, said pairs
of arms rotate about said horizontal pivot means contra to the bias
and flatten out against the floor.
2. The combination claimed in claim 1, and retractable casters on
said pairs of arms.
3. The combination claimed in claim 2, the arms in each pair being
in V-configuration and the connections therebetween being at the
apexes of the V's.
4. The combinationed claimed in claim 2, the retractable casters
being disposed between the free ends of the arms.
5. The combination claimed in claim 4, said casters being
retractable from an extended position in which they support the
free ends of the arms on the floor to a retracted position in which
the casters are supported entirely free of the floor.
6. The combination claimed in claim 3, and telescopic extensions
for the free ends of the arms.
7. A base for a pulling post, comprising
a first pair of arms disposed in V-configuration rigidly connected
at the apex of the V,
a second pair of arms disposed in V-configuration rigidly connected
at the apex of the V,
said pairs of arms being adapted to be disposed on a floor with the
free ends of the arms in one pair extending oppositely from the
free ends of the arms of the other pair, and with the apexes of the
V's disposed adjacent one another,
an upwardly open post socket rigidly affixed on one pair of arms
adjacent the apex thereof, a horizontal pivot connecting the pairs
of arms at the apexes thereof,
and spring means engaged between the pairs of arms for biasing the
pairs of arms to pivot in a direction tending to cause the apexes
thereof to rise above the floor.
8. The combination claimed in claim 7, and means for limiting the
spring-biased movement of the arms.
9. The combination claimed in claim 7, and retractable caster means
for supporting the free ends of the arms.
10. The combination claimed in claim 9, said retractable caster
means comprising a plate disposed across the free ends of the arms,
casters on one side of the plate, and pivots connecting the ends of
the plate with the free ends of an arm pair, whereby the casters
can be swung between a downwardly extended position in which they
engage the floor and an upwardly extended position in which they
are entirely free of the floor.
11. The combination claimed in claim 10, and telescopic extensions
for the free ends of the arms.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
Buske VEHICLE BODY AND FRAME STRAIGHTENER, Ser. No. 39,954, filed
May 25, 1970, now abandoned.
FIELD OF INVENTION
Metal Deforming, Vehicle body or frame straightener.
PRIOR ART
Smith U.S. Pat. No. 3,050,099; Chartier U.S. Pat. No.
3,340,720.
OBJECTS
Heretofore, pulling posts having bases with retractable casters
have been devised so that the normally elevated base tends to
flatten down against a floor when tension is applied to a damaged
automobile. However, so far as is known, with all such prior
devices, the arrangement is such that, if tension is suddenly
relieved, the base tends to rise back up on its casters so that it
can roll across the floor, and, since great reactive powers are at
play, the post and its base can cause much damage.
A further factor to be reckoned with is that all slack should be
removed from both a pull chain and a post anchoring chain before
heavy pulling forces are applied, so as to avoid whipping or
snapping of the chains, and also to avoid sudden re-location of the
pulling post when great tension is applied.
The object now is to provide a pulling post and base, wherein the
base is deformed, against the force of a spring, somewhat from its
normal configuration so that the base flattens out against a floor
when pulling tension is applied. Retractable casters for the base
are provided, but these are rendered completely inoperative when
the post is located at a pulling station. Thus, if the pull-chain
breaks, the base can resume its normal configuration, but it cannot
roll about on its casters.
These and other objects will be apparent from the following
specification and drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the pulling post and base, with arms
extended, casters retracted, and with the base flat on a floor as
the result of tension applied to a pull chain;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one end of the base with arms
retracted and casters extended;
FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the base in its FIG. 2 condition;
and,
FIG. 4 is a cross-section along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3.
Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals
denote similar elements, the invention is concerned with the base 2
for a pulling post 4. The pulling post may be of the type described
in abandoned application Ser. No. 39,954 (supra) or, in modified
form as illustrated in FIG. 1, the pulling post comprising a
vertical column 6 along which a sleeve 8 is adjustably retained by
means of a pin 10 selectively engageable in holes 12 on sleeve 8
and holes 14 on post 6. Extending laterally from one side of sleeve
8 is a platform 16 comprised of a pair of plates 18 rigidly affixed
to sleeve 8 and having near its outer end a sheave (not shown)
rotatably mounted by a cross shaft 22. An arm 24 is pivoted as at
26 to the upper end of sleeve 8 and a hydraulic cylinder 28 and
piston 30 connected to platform 16 and the outer end of arm 24 by
means of pins 32 are provided for forcing the outer end of arm 24
upwardly. Tension is applied to a damaged vehicle by means of a
pull chain 34 affixed to the outer end of arm 24 and rolling around
the sheave on shaft 22. An anchor chain 36 connected to platform 16
by means of a cross pin is secured to a floor pot 40. It is
essential that there be no slack in pull chain 34 or anchor chain
36 when pressure fluid is fed to hydraulic cylinder 28 via
hydraulic line 41. Other types of pulling posts can be used, but
essentially they all are likely to be hazardous if a strong force
is applied before chain slack is taken up.
Base 2 consists in two pairs of V-shaped arms 42 and 44
respectively. The members of each pair of arms are rigidly
connected at their apex and the free ends of the arms are provided
with telescopic extensions 46 and 48. Over the apex of one pair of
arms is affixed an upwardly open socket 50 for receiving vertical
column 6. The apexes of the two pairs of arms are connected by
horizontal pivot 52. Extending upwardly from arms 44 are uprights
54. Compression springs 56 surround loose bolts 58 which engage
through uprights 54 and through angles 60 on socket 50. Springs 56
are under compression so as to force uprights 54 away from angles
60 and thereby cock the pairs of arms 52 and 44 at slight angles to
one another. This causes the apexes of the arm pairs to lift
upwardly from the floor, and the heads and nuts on the bolts limit
the extent to which the arms can pivot.
Caster assemblies 62 are provided for the free ends of each pair of
arms. Each assembly consists of a plate 64 on which casters 66 are
mounted. The ends of the plates are pivoted as at 68 to the arms so
that the casters 66 may be disposed either in the downwardly
extended position of FIGS. 2 and 3 or in the upwardly retracted
position of FIG. 1. Retaining rods 70 engaging in sockets 72 on the
plates are engageable with hooks 74 on the arms for holding the
plates 64 in the position to extend casters 66 downwardly.
In operation, when the assembly is to be moved from one location to
another, telescoping arm extensions 46 are retracted and casters 66
are extended in their FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 positions, and the assembly
is rolled on the floor to a working station. There the telescoping
extensions 46 of the arms are pulled out, retaining rods 70 are
unhooked and the plates 64 are pivoted so as to swing casters 66 up
to their FIG. 1 positions. Anchor chain 36 is hooked onto an anchor
pot 40, and the free end of pull chain 34 is connected to the part
of the vehicle to which tension is to be applied. However, at this
point, there is normally slack in one or both the pull chain 34
and/or anchor chain 36. Some pressure fluid is then introduced via
hydraulic line 41 into cylinder 28. As preliminary tension is
applied via the chains, post 6 swings to the right as seen in FIG.
1, thereby compressing springs 56 and thus causing the V-shaped arm
pairs 42 and 44 to flatten out against the floor. Thus, the slack
is taken out of the chains before great pulling forces are
applied.
* * * * *