The present invention relates to an adjusting device that includes a threaded rod, a nut that coacts with the threaded rod and that can be rotated relative to said rod and includes an opening whereby the nut can be fitted to the rod from a radial direction relative thereto, means for latching the nut or the rod against movement in the direction of the longitudi¬ nal axis of said rod, and a lock ring that surrounds the rod and is operable for coaction with the nut in a manner to maintain the threads of said nut and said rod in mutual meshing engagement.

Vehicle chassis and/or vehicle body alignment benches, for instance, use different types of fastener devices for fastening new or repaired parts of a vehicle in position during their assembly. With respect to the end result, it is imperative that the new part can be held in precisely the correct position in relation to the remainder of the vehicle when mounting said part, said part normally being welded in position.

Thus, it must be possible to adjust the fastener devices to exact correct positions and to lock said devices in these positions. This must be done very quickly and very easily from the aspect of efficiency and cost.

In this regard, an advantage is gained when the fastener device adjustment means enables the fastener devices to be brought roughly to their correct position very quickly and thereafter finely adjusted to an exact, correct position and then held in this position.

Corresponding requirements are also found in other contexts, e.g. in presses, jacks and the like, with which it is desired to first quickly move a working appliance with a small amount of force and thereafter continue to move the appliance while increasing the initially small force to a larger force.

It is known to use adjusting devices that include a threaded rod, or spindle, and a nut that coacts with the rod thread. The rod carries at one end a working appliance that can be moved relative to the rod, by rotating the nut.

One drawback with earlier known adjustment devices of this kind is that they do not enable quick adjustments to be made, owing to the fact that adjustments require the nut to be screwed along the rod through distances that correspond to the lengths of desired displacements of the appliance. Furthermore, the rod cannot be locked in a given position without the aid of a separate lock nut. An adjustment thus takes a relatively long time to achieve and requires several adjustment stages.

EP-A1-0 615 073 describes a fastener device with which an open nut is tightened firmly against an object, wherein a washer or plate that includes a conical hole is clamped between the object and the nut. The nut is provided with a conical flange that is pressed into the conical hole in the plate or washer when tightening the nut, so as to hold the nut firmly on an associated bolt.

The main object of the present invention is to provide an adjusting device that includes a threaded rod and a nut that coacts with the thread on said rod, therewith enabling the rod to be roughly positioned without obstruction by the nut, and thereafter finely adjusted and locked in a desired position with the aid of the same nut.

This object is achieved with an adjusting device of the kind described in the first paragraph which is characterized in that the lock ring includes a nut-coacting flange that functions to hold the nut in engagement with the rod.

This device thus enables the rod to be brought initially to approximately the desired correct position very quickly without being obstructed by the nut, whereafter the nut can be fitted

to the rod and used to finely adjust the position of the rod or to effect the final stage of rod movement with the applica¬ tion of a greater force.

The flange on the lock ring may be adapted to engage in a recess in the surface of the lock ring that faces towards the nut. Alternatively, the flange may be constructed to grip over the upper end-part of the nut.

According to one preferred embodiment, the rod is mounted for movement in the direction of its longitudinal axis in a sleeve, and the nut is latched against axial movement relative to the sleeve. In this case, the nut will conveniently include a flange that coacts with an outer circumferential groove in the sleeve such as to prevent the nut from moving axially in relation to said sleeve. Alternatively, the sleeve may include a circumferentially extending flange that coacts with an inner abutment surface on the nut for the same purpose.

Other features of the invention will be evident from the following Claims.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to an exemplifying embodiment thereof and also with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which

Fig. 1 is a partially sectioned view of an inventive adjusting device;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 1, taken on the line A-A; and

Figs. 3-5 illustrate various parts of the device shown in Fig. 1.

The reference numeral 1 in Fig. 1 identifies a working appliance, for instance a fastener device operable for fixating

vehicle parts in conjunction with their assembly on a vehicle. It is desirable to be able to move the appliance 1 quickly to approximately its desired position and then finely adjust the appliance to precisely its desired position and to secure said appliance in this position.

To this end, the appliance 1 is mounted on the upper end of a threaded rod 2 that is inserted into a sleeve 4 fixed to a foot 3. The rod 2 is able to move freely up and down in the sleeve 4 and in the case of this embodiment, see also Fig. 3, includes at the bottom thereof a guide 5 that coacts with the sleeve and accompanies the rod as it moves, and an upper guide 6 having a flange or lip 7 (Fig. 3A) that rests against the upper end of the sleeve 4. The rod 2 can be moved freely through the guide 6. Alternatively, the rod can be guided in the sleeve 4 without the assistance of surrounding guides.

In the illustrated embodiment, the inner surface of the sleeve 4 is provided with axially extending ridges 8 that coact with corresponding grooves 9 in the guide 5, see also Fig. 2, such as to prevent relative rotation between rod and sleeve. When the rod 2 is not provided with a guide 5, the groove is provided in the rod. In certain applications these rotation preventing means can be dispensed with, for instance in applications in which the appliance 1 is prevented from rotation by virtue of its coaction with an external component or workpiece.

Fig. 4 illustrates from above a nut 10 that is used with the device shown in Fig. 1. As evident from Fig. 4, the nut is open so as to enable it to be brought into meshing engagement with the rod 2 from a radial direction in relation thereto. The nut may be mounted on the rod after the rod has first been roughly positioned, for instance. When fitted, the threads 11 of the nut 10 will coact with the threads 12 on the rod 2. Fig. 5 is an axial sectional view of the nut 10 taken on the line B-B in Fig. 4.

The nut 10 of the illustrated embodiment includes a flange or lip 13 that engages an outwardly open groove 17 in the sleeve 4. This prevents the nut 10 moving relative to the sleeve 4 in the axial direction of the sleeve. A corresponding function can be obtained with an outer flange on the sleeve 4 that coacts with an inner abutment surface on the nut 10.

The nut 10 may also include a hole 14 into which a tool can be inserted for rotation of the nut. Alternatively, the nut may be provided with typical spanner engaging surfaces.

The reference numeral 15 identifies a lock ring, see also Fig. 3B, that surrounds the rod 2 and is moveable in the longitudi¬ nal direction thereof. The lock ring of the illustrated embodiment includes a downwardly projecting flange 16 which, when the nut 10 is fitted to the rod, can be brought into engagement with a groove or recess 18 in that surface of the lock ring which faces the nut. The lock ring 15 functions to prevent removal of the nut from the rod, therewith ensuring that engagement between the respective threads 11 and 12 of the nut 10 and the rod 2 will be maintained.

A similar function can be achieved by giving the flange 16 on the lock ring a slightly larger diameter than the nut 10, so as to enable said flange to grip over the upper end-part of the nut.

The aforedescribed device functions in the following way.

When the working appliance 1 is to be adjusted to a specific position, the rod 2 is withdrawn manually from the sleeve 4 (the nut not yet being fitted on the rod) until the appliance 1 is located roughly in the position desired. The nut 10 is then fitted to the rod 2, from a radial direction, so that the threads 11 and 12 of the nut 10 and the rod 2 mesh. In this state, the lock ring 15 is moved, or moves under the force of gravity for instance, into contact with the nut 10 until the

flange 16 on the lock ring engages the nut and therewith prevents its removal from the rod. Rotation of the nut 10 will result in movement of the rod 2 in the direction of its longitudinal axis, therewith enabling the position of the appliance 1 to be finely adjusted with great precision and, if required, while exerting a heavy force.

Engagement of the nut 10 with the sleeve 4 prevents the rod 2 from being withdrawn further from the sleeve or pressed back into said sleeve subsequent to making an adjustment. The nut 10 thus functions both as a fine adjustment means and a means for locking the rod 2 and its working appliance 1.

Upon completion of the work for which the appliance 1 is intended, the lock ring 15 is raised and the nut 10 removed, therewith enabling the rod 2 to be pushed down into the sleeve 4.

In order to enable the device to be used upside down, the lock ring 15 may conveniently be provided with threads or a bayonet fitting for locking the ring securely to the nut 10. It is also conceivable to use a magnetic lock ring that will be attracted magnetically to the nut.

As will be understood, the aforedescribed device is useful for other applications, e.g. pressing applications, wherein the appliance 1 may be a press die that can be moved quickly into abutment with a desired object and thereafter pressed heavily against said object. The nut 10 is used to generate this latter heavy pressure. A corresponding function can also be applied in the case of a lifting jack, for instance.

If found suitable for some type of application, it is also conceivable to use a fixed nut and a rotatable rod, which will then be provided with appropriate means for enabling the rod to rotate. The rod may also be non-displaceably mounted in a base and the nut provided with a desired working appliance, the

position of which can then be adjusted by rotating the rod or alternatively the nut.

It will be understood that the inventive device can be modified in several respects within the scope of the following Claims and therewith adapted for use in different applications. For instance, the illustrated sleeve may be replaced with other rod guide means.