The solution of equipment in accordance with the invention comprises a device for alignment of an automobile body, in which there is an alignment table to which the vehicle is attached by means of fastenings. The construction favourably comprises a lifting gear, by whose means the alignment table can be raised to the desired alignment level. The tools to be coupled with the vehicle, such as pulling ropes or chains, can be connected to the alignment table preferably by means of alignment booms or equivalent. The solution of equipment in accordance with the invention comprises a measurement equipment that can be fitted around the vehicle to be aligned. The measurement equipment comprises longitudinal guides on whose support the measurement arch and the connected measurement units can be dis- placed. Perpendicularly to the centre lines X1 of the longitudinal guides there is a transverse guide or guides, which can be displaced along the longitudinal guide, having received their control from the longitudinal guide, in order to measure the constructions at the bottom of the vehicle. Said transverse guides also act as struc- tural components that interconnect the longitudinal guides.

For the time of measurement, the vehicle is placed on an alignment table and attached to the table from the fastenings, preferably skirt fastenings or equivalent.

Onto the alignment table, the measurement equipment is also fitted so that the longitudinal guides of the measurement equipment are placed on support of the transverse beams of the alignment table, which beams are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X-axis) of the alignment table.

The transverse guides or beams that interconnect the longitudinal guides operate as guides for the lower measurement units connected with them. The measurement

arch, and there can also be several arches, comprises a measurement unit, which can be displaced in the guides provided on the vertical beam of the measurement arch into different positions. The measurement head of the measurement unit can be displaced so that it extends to the vehicle to be aligned, placed in the middle of the measurement arch. The measurement unit of the measurement device comprises an oblong arm, which can be displaced to the desired measurement position, and the measurement value can be read from the display of an electric PC apparatus or manually from the reading bars on the guides.

When the measurement equipment is fitted onto the alignment table and when the vehicle has been fixed to the alignment table, the measurement equipment is centred in compliance with some undamaged part of the vehicle along the centre line of the vehicle so that the longitudinal guides are placed at equally long distances from the centre line of the vehicle and are parallel to said line. In the centring, it is possible to use, for example, the screws of fastening of the vehicle axles or bores provided in the frame constructions. After centring, the measurement of the vehicle can be carried out, and between measurements, it is possible to machine and to align the vehicle at the desired point and to carry out after-check measurement by means of a vehicle-specific register of measure data concerning the vehicle body.

The measurement device preferably comprises a PC unit and a so-called converter, by whose means the measurement signal passed from the measurement head is converted further into a measurement reading. The guides include teeth, along which the cogged wheel of the measurement device revolves, in which connection the numbers of revolutions are transferred to the converter, and the measurement data are passed further, for example through the PC, to the display. The measurement may also be based on fully manual reading of the measurement data, for example, from index symbols and reading marks provided at the measurement arms.

A drawback in the prior-art solutions has been changing of the position of the measurement equipment described above and, thus, of the what is called centre-line calibration in connection with steps of vehicle alignment work carried out between

measurement operations. As the measurement device has been fitted to rest with its own weight on support of the alignment table and when machining of a certain point of the vehicle is carried out in between, the centre line of the vehicle is changed and, thus, the measurement data are, after this, no longer fully correct. After the alignment stage, new positioning of the measurement equipment and/or new calibra- tion of the measurement units ought to be carried out.

In the present patent application it is suggested that the measurement equipment be suspended on the vehicle so that it follows the turning of the centre line of the vehicle. Preferably, four fastenings, preferably support arms, are used, two at each side of the vehicle. The support arms are attached, for example, to the transverse beams, preferably transverse guides, which may include prior-art measurement units.

In such a case, the support arms are, however, placed outermost, so that they do not interfere with the measurement process itself.

The attaching of the measurement frame of the measurement equipment to the vehicle takes place so that the support arms are pressed between the transverse beams or guides of the measurement frame and the vehicle attached to the alignment table. Favourably, it is possible to use a magnetic head for the fastening, by means of which head the support arm is attached to the vehicle for the time of the measure- ment process/vehicle alignment.

The invention is characterized in what is stated in the patent claims.

The invention will be described in the following with reference to some preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated in the figures in the accompanying draw- ings, the invention being, yet, not supposed to be confined to said embodiments alone.

Figure 1A is a side view of a vehicle A alignment device.

Figure 1B shows an alignment device as shown in Fig. 1A viewed from above.

Figure 2 shows the measurement device, which consists of a measurement frame, as fitted on the alignment table. Centring of the measurement device in compliance with the centre line of the vehicle is shown, and, as is shown in the figure, the support arms in accordance with the invention have been fitted between the measurement frame and the vehicle.

Figure 3A shows the equipment in accordance with the invention viewed from above, four support arms being fitted to be coupled with the vehicle to be aligned.

Figure 3B illustrates turning of the measurement device along with the vehicle, in which connection the position of the measurement device in relation to the centre line of the vehicle is maintained.

Figure 3C illustrates a reason for changing of the centre line of the vehicle. The skirt beam of the vehicle may bend during the alignment work, as is shown in the figure.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line I-I in Fig. 3A.

Figure 5A illustrates the solution of equipment shown in Fig. 4 as viewed in the direction of the arrow k1.

Figure 5B illustrates a measurement unit provided on the horizontal guide 16a1. The illustration is a sectional view taken along the line 11-11 in Fig. 2.

Figure 6A shows a second preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the support arm has been attached to a transverse beam by screw means.

Figure 6B is an axonometric view of the solution shown in Fig. 6A.

Figure 6C illustrates the construction as viewed in the direction of the arrow k2 in Fig. 6A.

Figure 6D is a sectional view taken along the line 111-111 in Fig. 6C.

Figure 7 illustrates a support arm in accordance with the invention and a second mode of its fastening to a transverse beam of the measurement device.

As is shown in Fig. 1A, the vehicle alignment device comprises an alignment table 10 shown in the figure, which table can be raised and lowered by means of an articulated lifting gear 11 in relation to the base frame 12. The alignment device comprises transverse beams llbl, llb2, llb3 and llb4 provided in its alignment table 11, to which beams the fastenings lla1, lla2... have been fitted, and, by means of the fastenings, the vehicle to be aligned can be attached to the alignment table.

Fig. 1B shows the solution of equipment of Fig. 1A as viewed from above. The alignment table comprises longitudinal beams l lal, l la2 and transverse beams llbl, llb2, l lb3 and llb4 connected with them. The transverse beams are connected with fastenings llc1, llc2, 11c3 and llc4, from which the vehicle can be attached to the alignment table 11 for the time of alignment of the vehicle. The aligning can be carried out by means of pulling ropes or chains or similar tools, not shown in the figure, in which connection the alignment force can be applied, for example, by means of the pulling rope or chain, for example, by means of an alignment boom connected with the alignment table, to the area to be aligned on the vehicle.

Fig. 2 shows the measurement device 15 as fitted on support of the alignment table 10. The measurement device 15 comprises longitudinal guides 15a1, 15a2, preferably beam constructions. Perpendicularly to the centre lines X1 of the longitudinal guides, there are transverse guides 16a1, 16a2..., preferably likewise beams, on which the measurement units 17au, 17a2... can be fitted.

In connection with the longitudinal guides 15a1 and 15a2, a measurement arch 15b (one or several) can be fitted, which comprises vertical beams 15b1, 15b2, preferably vertical guides, on which the measurement unit 17a1,17a2... is fitted to move. The measurement unit 17a1, 17a2... of the measurement device 15 further comprises a

measurement arm 17b connected with said unit, and a measurement head 17b'on said arm. The measurement arch 15b comprises a connecting beam 15b3 that connects the vertical beams 15h1 and 15b2 from the top. After the measurement equipment 15 has been centred in compliance with the centre line (O-line) of the vehicle A, the vehicle can be measured from the desired points by means of the measurement units 17a1,17a2... placed in connection with the measurement arch 15b mounted on the longitudinal guides 15a1,15a2... and, similarly, by means of the displaceable measurement units 17a1,17a2... provided on the transverse guides.

As is shown in Fig. 2, in accordance with the invention, the device 20 for fastening of the measurement equipment 15, preferably a support arm, is fitted between the vehicle A to be aligned and the measurement equipment 15. Preferably, there are two fastening devices 20, preferably support arm constructions, at each side of the vehicle A. Favourably, the supporting of the measurement device on the vehicle A is carried out by means of said support arms 20 so that two support arms 20 are supported on one transverse beam or guide 16a1, 16a2. At each side of the vehicle, one support arm 20 is supported on the vehicle from the transverse beam 16api, 16a2... Preferably, the supporting is carried out so that the support arm is tensioned between the transverse beam 16a1,16a2... of the measurement device 15 and the vehicle A to be aligned, which vehicle has been attached to the alignment table 10 from the fastenings llal, lla2...

Fig. 3A illustrates the equipment in accordance with the invention viewed from above. The transverse guides 16a1, 16a2, which comprise displaceable measurement units 17a1,17a2... fitted on them, have been fitted between the longitudinal guides 15a1 and 15a2. The transverse guides 16a1 and 16a2 are guided in the longitudinal guides 15a1, 15a2. The measurement arch 15b is also guided in the longitudinal guides 15a1 and 15a2. Also, the measurement units 17a1, 17a2... are guided in the transverse guides 16a1, 16a2. As is shown in the figure, four fastening devices 20 have been fitted to support the measurement frame of the measurement equipment 15 on the vehicle A. Favourably, between the measurement equipment 15 and the

vehicle, there is a fastening device which comprises a support arm that can be tensioned between the vehicle A and the measurement equipment 15.

Fig. 3B is an illustration of principle of the operation of the support in accordance with the invention. The measurement equipment 15 has been set to rest freely on support of the alignment table 10 or of connected constructions. The measurement equipment 15 is supported and fixed by means of fastening devices 20 on the vehicle A to be aligned. Further, the vehicle A has been attached to the alignment table 10, and, when the vehicle A is being aligned, the measurement frame 15a1,15a2,15b of the measurement equipment 15 follows the change in the direction of the centre line (X-line) of the vehicle taking place on aligning of the vehicle. Thus, the position of the measurement equipment in relation to the vehicle to be aligned is always retained.

Fig. 3C illustrates a reason why, in a deformation work, the centre line of a vehicle can be shifted. As is shown in Fig. 3C, the beam bends during alignment work as it has been fastened from its skirt to the fastening on the alignment table. The solution of the present invention provides an improvement for the problem arising from what was explained above.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I in Fig. 3A at a longitudinal guide and a transverse guide. As is shown in Fig. 4, the transverse guide 16a1 comprises bearing means 16b which always keep the longitudinal axis y of the transverse guide 16a1 perpendicular to the longitudinal axes X1 of the longitudinal guides 15a1, 15a2. As is shown in Fig. 4, the data on the position of the measure- ment arch 15b are read by using the detector 30 shown in the figure, which detector comprises a stepping motor 31 and a connected cogged wheel 32, which is in engagement with the teeth 33 provided along the length of the longitudinal guide.

When the measurement arch 15b has been positioned and calibrated initially in a certain position, the stepping motor 31 indicates the distance of shifting apart from the calibration point through a converter to the PC and further to the display. The

measurement arch 15b has been mounted by means of a wheel U1 in a guide groove U2 in the guide 15a1.

Fig. 5A illustrates the equipment as viewed in the direction of the arrow K1 in Fig.

4, i. e. from above. The transverse guide 16a1, 16a2... comprises a plate part 16d placed as perpendicular to its bridge beam 16c, which plate part 16d includes a number of bearings 16b, which have been fitted in said plate part 16d to travel along with the plate part in the longitudinal guide groove U3 in the longitudinal guide 15ai.

Fig. 5B is a sectional view taken along the line 11-11 in Fig. 2. In said solution, the lower measurement unit 17a2 comprises a slide frame 170, which has been mounted by means of rollers d1 and d2 in the guide grooves U4 and U5 in the transverse guide 16a1. The stepping motor 31 provided on the slide frame 170 is fitted to be in engagement, from its cogged wheels 32, with the longitudinal toothing 33 on the transverse guide 16a1. The stepping motor 31 indicates the distance that has been moved from the zero position. Similarly, the vertical position of the measurement head 300 is detected in relation to its height position by using, e. g., an electrical measurement detector.

Fig. 6A illustrates a preferred coupling solution in accordance with the invention.

The fastening device 20 comprises a support arm 203, which is placed between the vehicle A to be aligned and a transverse beam, such as the guide 16a1. The support arm has been tightened between the vehicle A and the transverse beam 16a1, and, thus, the construction unit 20 is thereby pre-stressed.

Fig. 6B is an axonometric view of a part 20 for fastening of the measurement frame in accordance with the invention. As is shown in the figure, the fastening device 20 comprises a frame 200 and therein a fork part 200b, which is fitted around the trans- verse beam 16a, and can be attached to the transverse beam by means of screws R1 and R2, which screws have been passed through the wall g of the fork. The frame 200 is of rectangular section, and a slide frame 201 has been fitted to move in its

cavity space O. The slide frame comprises a ring 202 at its end, through which ring the support arm 203 is passed. The slide frame 201 can be positioned/locked by means of screws R4 on the frame 200. The support arm 203 can be positioned in relation to the ring 202 by means of screws R3. At the end of the support arm 203, a backup part 205 has been mounted as pivotal by means of an articulated joint 204, which backup part can be made of plastic, or it may also be a magnetic part, in which case it can be coupled with the vehicle A to be aligned while fixed by means of the magnet.

Fig. 6C illustrates a construction as shown in Fig. 6A, viewed in the direction of the arrow k2.

Fig. 6D is a sectional view taken along the line 111-111 in Fig. 6C.

Fig. 7 illustrates a second solution of fastening of the fastening device 20. The arm 203 of the fastening device is rotated with its threading e4 in the threading e2 in the bushing at the end of the slide part 201, whereby the arm 203 and the frame 200 and the slide part 201 are tensioned, while the pins 206 and 207 prevent turning of the construction. The pins 206 and 207 are placed on the frame 200. The pins 206 and 207 are placed around the guide 16api.