DESC:

FIELD
The present disclosure relates to the field of automobiles. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to automotive suspension struts.
BACKGROUND
The background information herein below relates to the present disclosure but is not necessarily prior art.
Automotive suspension strut assembly needs equipment and machines to dismantle the coil spring from the strut. The current method of spring replacement using machines and equipment induces fatigue. The assembly and dismantling needs adequate caution to ensure safety and demands skill for accurately performing this task.
During mass production at manufacturing locations, the assembly and dismantling of a coil spring from a strut is performed through a set of complex machines and/or equipment.
At other non-factory locations such as in prototype shops, service centres, and the like, assembly and dismantling of a coil spring from a strut is carried out using a jaw-type wrench by compressing a jaw, which needs a number of safety precautions.
During the product development phase, to evaluate or set the suspension ride or to achieve the desired level of vehicle stance, many times, multiple iterations of spring stiffness or free length changes are carried out. To compare or feel the desired changes made at the component level, it is essential to verify the same at a vehicle level. For such trials, multiple sets of coil springs with a variety of design changes need to be assembled on a strut assembly. Therefore, the task of assembly and dismantling of a suspension strut is critical and demands accuracy.
There is, therefore, felt a need of a fixture to facilitate assembly and dismantling of an automotive suspension strut which ameliorates the shortcomings as described hereinabove.
OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure are described herein below:
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a fixture to facilitate assembly and dismantling of an automotive suspension strut.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a fixture to facilitate assembly and dismantling of an automotive suspension strut, which is easy to operate.
Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a fixture to facilitate assembly and dismantling of an automotive suspension strut, which is safe to operate.
Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a fixture to facilitate assembly and dismantling of an automotive suspension strut, which ensures accuracy of assembly.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure envisages a fixture for facilitating assembly and dismantling of an automotive suspension strut having a coil spring. The fixture comprises a top plate, a first base plate, a second base plate, a hydraulic jack, a plurality of pillars, and height adjusting means. The first base plate is spaced apart from the top plate. The first base plate is configured to facilitate mounting of the strut thereon. The second base plate is spaced apart from the first base plate such that the first base plate is positioned in between the top plate and the second base plate. The hydraulic jack is mounted on the second base plate, and is attached to the first base plate. The hydraulic jack is configured to facilitate compression and decompression of the coil spring. The plurality of pillars extends from an operative top surface of the second base plate. The pillars are configured to pass through the first base plate and the top plate. The height adjusting means is provided on each of the pillars. The height adjusting means is configured to adjust the distance between the top plate and the first base plate with respect to the height of the strut to facilitate assembly and dismantling of the strut.
In an embodiment, each height adjusting means includes a threaded portion configured on each of the pillar, and a locking nut configured to engage with the threaded portion.
In another embodiment, the threaded portion is configured on an operative top section of the pillar.
In yet another embodiment, the locking nut is configured to be flush with an operative top surface of the top plate.
In still another embodiment, the first base plate and the top plate are interchangeable to accommodate the strut therein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
The fixture of the present disclosure will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates the fixture of the present disclosure, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
100 fixture
110 hydraulic jack
120 second base plate
130 pillars
140 threaded portion
145 locking nuts
150 first base plate
160 top plate
200 strut
210 coil spring
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Embodiments, of the present disclosure, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Embodiments are provided so as to thoroughly and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to the person skilled in the art. Numerous details are set forth, relating to specific components, to provide a complete understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the details provided in the embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, well-known processes, well-known apparatus structures, and well-known techniques are not described in detail.
The terminology used, in the present disclosure, is only for the purpose of explaining a particular embodiment and such terminology shall not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure, the forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are open ended transitional phrases and therefore specify the presence of stated features, elements, modules, units and/or components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
When an element is referred to as being “mounted on,” or “engaged to,” another element, it may be directly on, or engaged to the other element.
Terms such as “inner,” “below,” and the like, may be used in the present disclosure to describe relationships between different elements as depicted from the figures.
A preferred embodiment a fixture (100), of the present disclosure, to facilitate assembly and dismantling of an automotive suspension strut (200) will now be described in detail with reference to Figure 1. The preferred embodiment does not limit the scope and ambit of the disclosure.
The suspension strut (200) is provided with a coil spring (210).
The fixture (100) comprises a top plate (160), a first base plate (150), a second base plate (120), a hydraulic jack (110), a plurality of pillars (130), and height adjusting means. The first base plate (150) is spaced apart from the top plate (160). The first base plate (150) is configured to facilitate mounting of the strut (200) thereon. The second base plate (120) is spaced apart from the first base plate (150) such that the first base plate (150) is positioned in between the top plate (160) and the second base plate (120). The hydraulic jack (110) is mounted on the second base plate (120), and is attached to the first base plate (150). The hydraulic jack (110) is configured to facilitate compression and decompression of the coil spring (210). The plurality of pillars (130) extends from an operative top surface of the second base plate (120). The pillars (130) are configured to pass through the first base plate (150) and the top plate (160), such that the pillars (130) extend to a predefined distance beyond the top plate (160). The height adjusting means is provided on each of the pillars (130). The height adjusting means is configured to adjust the distance between the top plate (160) and the first base plate (150) with respect to the height of the strut (200) to facilitate assembly and dismantling of the strut (200).
In an embodiment, the fixture (100) comprises four pillars (130).
Each height adjusting means comprises a threaded portion (140) configured on each of the pillar (130), and a locking nut (145) configured to engage with the threaded portion (140). In an embodiment, the threaded portion (140) is configured on an operative top section of the pillar (130). More specifically, the threaded portion (140) is configured to extend beyond the top plate (160), as a result of which, different struts (200) having varying heights can be accommodated in the space provided in between the top plate (160) and the first base plate (150). In another embodiment, the locking nut (145) is configured to be flush with an operative top surface of the top plate (160).
In an operative configuration, before assembling the strut (200) onto the chassis of an automobile, the strut (200) is first accommodated in between the top plate (160) and the first base plate (150). The locking nuts (145) are twisted and tightened along the threaded portions (140) to temporarily secure the position of the strut (200) in the fixture (100). Thereafter, the hydraulic jack (110) compresses the coil spring (210) of the strut (200) till a predefined height is obtained. Simultaneously, the locking nut (145) keeps on tightening around the threaded portion (140).
In an embodiment, the first base plate (150) and the top plate (160) are interchangeable to accommodate the strut (200) therein. In another embodiment, the fixture (100) can accommodate struts (200) having different bottom and top mountings by replacing or changing the first base plate (150) and the top plate (160). In yet another embodiment, the fixture (100) further includes a provision to accommodate LH/RH struts for different pitch circle diameters (PCDs) or different configurations of mountings.
In one embodiment, the fixture (100) may include a provision such as a nut runner or a ratchet for the hydraulic jack (110)
The fixture (100), of the present disclosure, facilitates safe strut assembly and dismantling by an ordinarily skilled operator. The fixture (100) ensures repeatability and accuracy while carrying out multiple iterations of assembling and dismantling of the coil spring (210) in a strut assembly during activities like suspension tuning, ride setting, stance adjustment and the like.
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Individual components of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, are interchangeable. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.
TECHNICAL ADVANCES AND ECONOMICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, an apparatus to facilitate assembly and dismantling of an automotive suspension strut which:
• is portable;
• is easy to operate;
• is safe to operate; and
• ensures accuracy of assembly.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveals the general nature of the embodiments herein that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein may be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element or group of elements, but not the exclusion of any other element or group of elements.
The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.
Any discussion of materials, apparatus, articles or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the disclosure. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form a part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments may be made and that many changes may be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.
,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:
1. A fixture (100) for facilitating assembly and dismantling of an automotive suspension strut (200) having a coil spring (210), said fixture (100) comprising:
• a top plate (160);
• a first base plate (150) spaced apart from said top plate (160), said first base plate (150) configured to facilitate mounting of said strut (200) thereon;
• a second base plate (120) spaced apart from said first base plate (150) such that said first base plate (150) is positioned in between said top plate (160) and said second base plate (120);
• a hydraulic jack (110) mounted on said second base plate (120) and attached to said first base plate (150), said hydraulic jack (110) configured to facilitate compression and decompression of the coil spring (210);
• a plurality of pillars (130) extending from an operative top surface of said second base plate (120), said pillars (130) configured to pass through said top plate (160) and said first base plate (150); and
• height adjusting means provided on each of said pillars (130), said height adjusting means configured to adjust the distance between said top plate (160) and said first base plate (150) with respect to the height of said strut (200) to facilitate assembly and dismantling of said strut (200).
2. The fixture (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each height adjusting means includes a threaded portion (140) configured on each of said pillar (130), and a locking nut (145) configured to engage with said threaded portion (140).
3. The fixture (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the threaded portion (140) is configured on an operative top section of the pillar (130).
4. The fixture (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the locking nut (145) is configured to be flush with an operative top surface of the top plate (160).
5. The fixture (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first base plate (150) and said top plate (160) are interchangeable to accommodate said strut (200) therein.
Dated this 2nd Day of August, 2019

_______________________________
MOHAN DEWAN, IN/PA - 25
of R.K.DEWAN & CO.
Authorized Agent of Applicant

TO,
THE CONTROLLER OF PATENTS
THE PATENT OFFICE, AT MUMBAI