AU713365B3 - A bending apparatus - Google Patents

Description

1 This invention relates to a bending apparatus.

This invention has particular but not exclusive application to bending apparatus for bending vehicle axles and for illustrative purposes reference will be made to said' application. However the bending apparatus may be used to other objects including decorative iron work and the like.

The camber angle of many of the motor vehicles manufactured overseas is not appropriate for Australian road conditions. Accordingly, in order to avoid undue tyre wear, motor vehicle owners often elect to alter the camber angle of their motor vehicle.

Present methods of bending vehicle axles do not require the removal of the axle from the motor vehicle. However it is noted that the bending forces applied to the axles also places excessive forces on other parts of the motor vehicle which may eventually lead to the premature failure of same.

The present invention aims to alleviate at least one of the above disadvantages and to provide a bending apparatus which will be reliable and efficient in use. Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter become apparent.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly in a bending apparatus for bending a vehicle axle about a bending axis, said vehicle axle having two opposing stub axle mounting eyes interconnected by an axle beam, said bending apparatus including: support means for supporting the axle beam; a jack for applying a force to the axle so as to bend the axle beam about the bending axis, and restraining means for restraining movement of selected portions of the axle while forces are applied thereto by said jack.

The bending apparatus may be used for the outboard bending and/or inboard bending of the vehicle axle.

The support means may consist of one or more supports upon which the axle beam rests or is otherwise temporarily attached thereto. For example, each support may include a clamp which is capable of clamping about the axle beam.

Each support may be mounted on a base or such like and wherein the location of said support may be longitudinally adjustable relative to said base.

The restraining means may consist of a yoke or such like and wherein the yoke may be separable into two halves such that an axle beam may pass therebetween. The yoke may also be mounted on a base and wherein the location of said yoke may be longitudinally adjustable relative to said base.

In order that this invention may be more easily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein: Figure 1 is a side view of a bending apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention for bending a vehicle axle; Figure 2 is a side view of the other side of the bending apparatus illustrated in figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of the bending apparatus when used to bend a motor vehicle axle; Figure 4 is an end view of the left hand end of the bending apparatus illustrated in figure 1, and Figure 5 is an end view of the right hand end of the bending apparatus illustrated in figure 1.

Figures 1 to 5 illustrate a bending apparatus 10 which includes a base 11 consisting of an beam 12 mounted on a pair of legs 13. The bending apparatus 10 may be used to bend a vehicle axle 100 of the type having a pair of opposing stub axle mounting eyes 101 separated by an intermediate axle beam 102.

The bending apparatus also includes a pair of supports 14 which rest on an upper surface 15 of the beam 12. The supports 14 each include a pair of opposing return flanges 16 which embrace the upper flange 17 of the beam.

The supports also include a support surface 18 on which the axle beam rests and clamping members, not shown, which hold the axle beam on the support surface.

The longitudinal position of the supports 14 on the "I" beam 12 may be selectively varied, as indicated by arrows and wherein locking means, not shown, may be provide for preventing movement of the supports relative to the beam if desired.

The bending apparatus 10 also includes an outboard bending yoke 21 consisting of two opposing yoke arms 22. The upper end portions 23 of the two yoke arms nearly abut and are selectively interconnected by an intermediate connecting member 24 which is connected to the two end portions 23 by pins Each yoke arm also includes a flange 26 which rests upon the upper surface 15 of the beam 12 and a dependent return flange 27 which is adapted to engage the underside of the upper flange 17, as illustrated in figure 4.

The longitudinal position of the outboard bending yoke 21 may be selectively varied, as indicated by arrows 28, and wherein locking means, not shown, may be provide for preventing movement of the yoke 21 relative to the beam if desired.

The effective length of the beam 12 may be selectively increased by the attachment thereto of a beam to the web 31 of the beam using a pair of pins 32, as shown in figure i.

The bending apparatus 10 also includes an inboard bending yoke 33 consisting of two opposing arms 34 connected by an intermediate web Each arm 34 also includes a flange 36 which rests upon the upper surface 15 of the beam 12 and a dependent return flange 37 which is adapted to engage the underside of the upper flange 17, as illustrated in figure The longitudinal position of the inboard bending yoke 33 may be selectively varied, as indicated by arrows 38, and wherein locking means, not shown, may be provide for preventing movement of the yoke 33 relative to the beam if desired.

In use, the bending apparatus 10 may be used to bend a vehicle axle 100 which has been previously removed from a motor vehicle so as to alter the camber angle of the stub axle mounting eyes.

To increase the camber angle, the axle beam 102 may be mounted on the supports 14 such that a portion of the axle beam 39, shown in dotted outline, and which is adjacent a bending axis 40, bears against the underside 41 of the outboard bending yoke 21. A jack 50 in turn may be placed on an upper surface of the beam 30 such that the head 51 of the ram 52 bears against the underside 42 of the stub axle mounting eye 101a.

The magnitude of the force applied to the stub axle mounting eye 101a will be dependent upon the amount by which the axle beam 102 must be bent about the bending axis 40 as indicated generally by arrow 43.

To decrease the camber angle, the axle beam 102 may be mounted on the supports 14 such that the upper surface 44 of a stub axle mounting eye 101b bears against the underside of the inboard bending yoke 33. A jack 60 in turn may be placed on an upper surface 15 of the beam 12 such that the head 61 of the ram 62 bears against the underside 46 of the axle beam 102 below a bending axis 47.

The magnitude of the force applied to the axle beam 102 will be dependent upon the amount by which the axle beam 102 must be bent about the bending axis 47 as indicated generally by arrow 48.

It will of course be realised that the above has been given only by way of illustrative example of the present invention and that all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention described in the appended claim.

Claims (3)

1. A bending apparatus for bending a vehicle axle having two opposing stub axle mounting eyes that are interconnected by an intermediate axle beam which has been removed from a motor vehicle, said bending apparatus including: support means for supporting the axle beam; a first vertical restraining means that is adapted to inhibit vertical movement of one of the stub axle mounting eyes relative to said bending apparatus, and a second vertical restraining means that is adapted to inhibit vertical movement of the axle beam relative to said bending apparatus.

2. A bending apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support means, said first vertical restraining means and said second vertical restraining means are each slideably mounted on a free standing mounting.

3. A bending apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said apparatus also includes a jack. DATED THIS TWENTY-SEVENTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 1999 STARDIVE By PIZZEYS PATENT TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS