SPRING SHACKLE MOUNTING APPARATUS Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a spring shackle mounting apparatus which provides easy and fast mounting of the spring shackle used in connection of the spring present in suspension systems of vehicles to the chassis.

Background of the Invention

In motor vehicles, the suspension system provides connection between the vehicle body and the wheels. The suspension system enables to adapt road gaps during driving, and enables to absorb the vibrations originating from the road conditions, and to be transferred to the vehicle chassis and passenger cabin, and to increase the driving safety. The chassis frame in motor vehicles is connected to the wheels via the springs and other connecting members. Springs with different structures and characteristics are used in suspension system. One of the commonly used springs is the leaf spring. The leaf spring is made from flat steel by bending as strips and tying steels in different lengths in sheaves. The leaf springs are in form of an arm supporting the axle as well as it functions as spring. Since the leaf springs reduce driving comfort, they are mostly preferred in heavy commercial vehicles.

Springs on top of each other are used in leaf springs, and the end of the longest spring is bent and a circular spring eye is formed. The spring eye is connected to the vehicle chassis via a shackle. By means of the spring shackle, the flexing and bending of the spring is provided. The spring shackle generally provides the connection of the spring and the spring bracket and the vehicle chassis. The connection of the spring shackle is made with bolt and nut (Figure 1 and Figure 2). A special connection apparatus is not used for the connection of the spring shackle. The operator making the connection generally holds the connecting member (such as nut) with a wrench, and mounts the spring shackle by applying force on the connecting member (such as bolt). Especially in vehicles having very small packing areas, it is very difficult that one operator both holds the connecting member and applies force, and generally two operators work for mounting in vehicles having such narrow connection areas.

There are important technical problems during mounting spring shackle. The operator should hold the connecting member and apply force on the connecting member at the same time, this is very difficult and takes much time. Generally two operators are used to make the spring shackle mounting process faster, and this increases the cost. In present technique, during mounting the spring shackle several apparatuses are used to hold the connecting member and make the mounting easier.

The Unites States patent document US2007095172 (Al), an application in the state of the art, discloses a design of part wrenching member. In this invention, a tool is disclosed which holds two nuts and supports these nuts to be matched with their bolts at connection points. In the said patent document, an apparatus is discloses wherein the connecting members are placed in a slot and which is separated from the connecting members after the mounting is completed. Great Britain Patent Document no GB2413296 (A), an application known in the state of the art, discloses a wrench supporting the nuts during mounting. In the said patent document, a wrench is disclosed which has a nut tightening gap with two different sizes. In the said patent document, an apparatus is discloses wherein the connecting members are placed in a slot and which is separated from the connecting members after the mounting is completed. United States Patent document no US6092444 (A), an application known in the state of the art, discloses an apparatus which can hold two bolts or nuts in a parallel way. The said support apparatus which can hold two bolts from two end points can also be operated by connecting to different had tools. In the said patent document, an apparatus is discloses wherein the connecting members are placed in a slot and which is separated from the connecting members after the mounting is completed.

There are currently several applications for mounting spring shackle. The applications that are currently being used are generally for holding the connecting members. In these applications, it is very difficult for one operator to mount the spring shackle, and the operator should continuously hold the apparatus tightening the connecting member with one hand in order to tighten the connecting member. In the said applications, the operator has to hold one of the connecting pieces continuously, and they try to tighten the connecting piece with the other hand. The mechanic structure used and disclosed in the current applications is more in form of a wrench like structure. They do not have closed body, flexible valves and holders. The Objective of the Invention

The objective of the present invention is to provide a spring shackle mounting apparatus which enables the spring shackle to be mounted easily and fast. Another objective of the present invention is to provide a spring shackle mounting apparatus which enables the spring shackle to be mounted by a single operator even in narrow packing areas.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a spring shackle mounting apparatus which enables the connecting members such as nut to be held easily. Summary of the Invention

The spring shackle mounting apparatus disclosed in first claim and other claims dependent to the first claim developed in order to fulfil the objectives of the present invention comprises a body and slot or fitting surface in which the connecting members will fit inside the body. There is at least one, preferably two, connecting member slot inside the body. The connecting member slot is preferably located in inner part of the body, and the connecting members fit inside this slot. The shackle slot is on the connecting member slot. The shackle fits into the shackle slot. Preferably there are holders at the edges of the body on the front surface of the body. The holders are located from the body surface towards the center of the body. The holders prevent the parts from exiting the body by applying a force on the parts located inside the body. First, the connecting members are located into their slots inside the body, and then the shackle is placed thereon. The holders apply pressure on the connecting members and the shackle and thus prevent them from displacing. The operator mounts the shackle by using the mounting apparatus. Then they remove the mounting apparatus. Detailed Description of the Invention

The spring shackle mounting apparatus developed to fulfill the objective of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying figures, in which: Figure 1 is the mounting view of the previous technique of the spring shackle. Figure 2 is the mounting view of the previous technique of the spring shackle. Figure 3 is the schematic view of the spring shackle mounting apparatus, spring shackle and the connecting member.

Figure 4 is the schematic view of the spring shackle mounting apparatus.

Figure 5 is the cross-sectional view of the spring shackle mounting apparatus. Figure 6 is the mounting view of the spring shackle mounting apparatus and the mounting of the spring shackle.

The components shown in the figures are each given reference numbers as follows:

1. Spring shackle mounting apparatus

2. Body

3. Connecting member slot

4. Shackle slot

5. Holder

6. Handle

K. Spring shackle

S. Connecting member

B. Spring bracket

A spring shackle mounting apparatus (1), which is used for the connection of the spring to the chassis in motor vehicles, especially heavy commercially vehicles, and which enables the mounting of the spring shackle (K) in a fast and practical way, comprises

at least one body (2),

at least one connecting member slot (3) which is located inside the body (2) and in which the connecting member (S) fits,

- at least one spring shackle slot (4) which is located in the body (2), present on the connecting member slot (3), and which the spring shackle (K) fits in or on.

The spring shackle (K) is easily mounted by a single operator by using the inventive spring shackle mounting apparatus (1). The spring shackle mounting apparatus (1) is preferably almost in sizes of the spring shackle (K) and preferably in similar form with the spring shackle (K). The spring shackle mounting apparatus (1) comprises at least one body (2). There is at least one connecting member slot (3) in the body (2). The connecting member slot (3) enables the connecting member (S) to be fixed, held fixed in the body (2). The connecting member slot (3) is preferably in size and form in which the connecting member (S) can enter or fit. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, nut is used as connecting member (S), and the connecting member slot (3) is in form of a nut, and its depth is as much as the thickness of the nut. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, there are two connecting member slots (3) inside the body (2). The position where the connecting member slots (3) are present and the distance in between them are compatible with the form and structure of the spring shackle (K). In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the body (2) has the same form with the spring shackle (K) and almost the same size. Therefore, the operator mounts easily by directly sensing the spring shackle (K) while using the spring shackle mounting apparatus (1), and also when he applies a rotary force on the connecting members (S), the connection members (S) remain with the connecting member slot (3) without rotating.

In the inventive spring shackle mounting apparatus (1), there is at least one spring shackle slot (4) on the body (2) or inside the body (2). The spring shackle slot (2) has preferably same form as the spring shackle (K). The spring shackle (K) preferably fits onto or into the spring shackle slot (4). The spring shackle slot (4) forms an area or surface in which the spring shackle (K) fits. The spring shackle slot (4) is right on the connecting member slot (3). In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the body (2) and the spring shackle slot (4) have the same form with the spring shackle (K) and almost the same size.

There is preferably at least one holder (5) right on the spring shackle slot (4) on the body (2). The holder (5) extends inside from the edge of the body (2), in other words towards the spring shackle slot (4). The holder (5) is positioned such that it will apply force from the top part of the body (2), in other words from top of the spring shackle slot (4) downwards. The holder (5) has preferably a flexible structure. When a force is applied on the holder (5), the holder (5) moves by flexing upwards or downwards depending on the force direction. The holder (5) is preferably manufactured from a material that can flex in form of a tab, or the holder (5) comprises a spring. Therefore when a force is applied on the holder (5), the holder flexes and the holder (5) returns to its previous position when the force ends.

The inventive spring shackle mounting apparatus (1) preferably comprises at least one handle (6). The handle (6) is on the body (2), and it enables the operator to hold the spring shackle mounting apparatus (1) and to move in a desired direction. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the handle (6) is on the body (2), preferably behind it. The handle (6) is in form and size such that the operator can easily hold the spring shackle mounting apparatus (1). In the inventive spring shackle mounting apparatus (1), the connecting member/members (S) fit into the connecting member slot (3). In the preferred embodiment of the invention, there are two connecting member slots (3), and the connecting member slots (3) are in form of a nut. There is a spring shackle slot (4) present on the connecting member slot (3), and the spring shackle (K) fits therein. The holders (5) provided on the body (2) enable the spring shackle (K) and the connecting members (S) to remain immobile. By means of the handle (6), the operator moves the spring shackle mounting apparatus (1) in a desired direction.

The inventive spring shackle mounting apparatus (1) is used in connection of the spring to the chassis. The operator holds the spring shackle mounting apparatus (1) from the handle (6) and moves it in a desired direction. The operator places the connecting members (S) into the connecting member slots (3) present inside the body (2). He places the spring shackle (K) on the connecting members (S). The spring shackle (K) completely fits into the spring shackle slot (4). The connecting members (S) and the spring shackle (K) fit into the connecting member slot (3) and the spring shackle slot (4) such that they will be on top of each other in the body (2). The holders (5) come on top of the spring shackle (K). The holders (5) apply pressure on the spring shackle (K), and thus the spring shackle (K) remains without falling in the body (2) together with the connecting members (S). The operator positions the spring shackle mounting apparatus (1) such that it will be aligned with the spring bracket (B) and the spring slot, and performs mounting with the connecting pieces (such as bolt). When the operator performs the mounting, the connecting piece, that is the bolt, is fixed to the connecting member (S) by passing through the spring shackle (K) present in the body. Therefore, the mounting of the spring shackle (K) is completed, and the operator pulls and removes the spring shackle mounting apparatus (1). When the operator pulls the spring shackle mounting apparatus (1), the spring shackle (K) and the connecting members (S) go out of the body (2), and thus the spring shackle mounting apparatus becomes ready for use again.