Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The present disclosure generally relates to a compressing tool for an automotive suspension system. More particularly, relates to a tool for compressing a suspension system to allow assembly/disassembly of control links and/or other vehicle components to Body In White (BIW) of a vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[002] Many front and rear suspension systems of vehicles incorporate compression type coil springs. Some front and rear coil springs are mounted between a lower control arm and spring housing or seat in the vehicle frame or body. When coil springs are used in the front or rear suspensions, a plurality of control linkages are typically placed between the wheel axles and a frame. These control linkages support driving and braking torque, the vertical load due to road loads, and cornering (lateral) loads.
[003] To assemble the control linkages on the rear suspension system of the automobile, it is necessary to compress the coil-spring mounted on the control arm. Conventional tools for compressing coil springs are not capable of achieving sufficient compression of the spring while the spring is mounted on the vehicle. Further, present forms of spring compressors utilize elaborate and complex mechanisms which are very difficult for usage.
[004] Therefore, there is a need for a tool for compressing a suspension system to allow assembly/disassembly of control links and/or other vehicle components to BIW of a vehicle, which obviates the aforementioned drawbacks.
OBJECTS
[005] The principal object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a tool for compressing a suspension system to allow assembly/disassembly of control links and/or other vehicle components to BIW of a vehicle.
[006] Another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a portable tool for using in compression of an elastic member, such as a spring coil, and Lower Control Arms (LCA) of a suspension assembly of the vehicle.
[007] Yet another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a tool for compressing a suspension system which includes a main body, a stud, a bottom plate, an equalizer and an equalizer mounting screw.
[008] Still another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a method of assembling a control link to a suspension system of a vehicle.
[009] These and other objects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0010] The embodiments herein are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0011] Figure 1a is a perspective view of a suspension system before compression, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0012] Figure 1b is a perspective view of the suspension system after compression, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0013] Figure 2 depicts a perspective view of a compression tool, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0014] Figure 3 is an exploded view of the compression tool, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0015] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the compression tool assembled to a suspension system of a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein; and
[0016] Figure 5 is a flowchart of a method of assembling a control link to a suspension system of a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0018] The embodiments herein achieve a tool for compressing a suspension system to allow assembly/disassembly of control links and/or other vehicle components to BIW of a vehicle. Further, the embodiments herein achieve a portable tool for use in compression of an elastic member, such as a spring coil, and LCA of a suspension assembly of the vehicle. Furthermore, the embodiments herein achieve the tool for compressing the suspension system which includes a main body, a stud, a bottom plate, an equalizer and an equalizer mounting screw. Additionally, the embodiments herein achieve a method of assembling a control link to a suspension system of a vehicle. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 5, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown embodiments.
[0019] Figure 1a is a perspective view of the suspension system before compression, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. Figure 1b is a perspective view of the suspension system after compression, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. To assemble a control linkage on a rear suspension system of an automobile, it is necessary to compress a coil-spring mounted on the suspension system of a vehicle. A special tool is required to compress the coil spring. Conventional tools are either complex or use complex mechanisms which are very difficult for use. Thus, a simple compression tool is desired which will compress the coil-spring and LCA, thereby facilitating easy assembly of control links with a BIW of the vehicle.
[0020] Figure 2 depicts a perspective view of a compression tool, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. Figure 3 is an exploded view of the compression tool, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the tool (100) includes an elongated main body (102), a pair of arms (104) extending transversely from one end of said body (102), an equalizer (106), an elongated stud (108), and a holding plate/mounting bracket (112).
[0021] The tool (100) includes the body (102) fabricated of a predetermined shape. In an embodiment, the body (102) is made up of a rectangular shape. Further, the body (102) is a hollow member i.e., the body (102) defines a bore B. The body (102) includes a predetermined height.
[0022] Further, the tool (100) includes the pair of arms (104) which are connected to one end of the body (102). The pair of arms (104) extend transverse to the body (102) for a predetermined length. Each arm (104) of the tool (100) defines at least one hole (OH) to receive at least one fastening member to attach said tool (100) to a predetermined part/BIW of the vehicle.
[0023] The tool (100) includes the stud (108) which is disposed inside the bore B of the body (102) at one end (E1) of the stud (108) while the other end (E2) of the stud (108) defines a bolt head (110) as shown in Fig. 3. The stud (108) extends for a predetermined height. The stud (108) is configured to be received inside the main body (102) through the equalizer (106). The bolt head (110) is defined such that the bolt head (110) includes an external diameter which is larger than a diameter of an insertion hole defined in the holding plate (112). The stud (108) is configured to move inside the body (102), thereby compressing an elastic member (200) held in the holding plate (112), when the bolt head (110) is tightened against the body (102).
[0024] The tool (100) further includes the equalizer (106) which is received at the other end of the body (102). The equalizer (106) is fabricated such that the equalizer is received inside the bore B of the body (102). Further, the equalizer (106) is affixed inside the body (102) using an equalizer mounting screw (114). The equalizer mounting screw (114) grips the equalizer (106) from both the sides such that the equalizer (106) is held tight and there is no motion of the equalizer (106) w.r.t main body (102). Furthermore, the equalizer (106) defines an aperture to receive the stud (108) therethrough. The aperture defined in the equalizer (106) includes a diameter larger than a diameter of said stud (108). Further, the aperture defines an internal threaded portion which is configured to engage with an external threading defined on the stud (108).
[0025] The tool (100) includes the holding plate/mounting bracket (112) which is connected to the other end of the stud (108) such that the bolt head (110) of the stud (108) is disposed beyond/under the holding plate (112), thereby gripping the holding plate during the compression of the suspension system (200) of the vehicle as shown in Figure 4. The holding plate (112) includes a top surface which is configured to receive the suspension system and a bottom surface which is adapted to abut against the bolt head (110) of the stud (108). Further, the holding plate (112) includes an insertion hole IH to receive said stud (108) therethrough. In an embodiment, the holding plate (112) is at least a U-shaped member configured to receive said elastic member.
[0026] Figure 5 is a flowchart of a method of assembling a control link to a suspension system of a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. The method (300) includes attaching, a top end of a suspension compression tool (100) to strut mounting holes on BIW of said vehicle (at step 302). Further, the method (300) includes locating, a holding plate (112) of said tool (100) to a bottom portion of a LCA (at step 304). Furthermore, the method (300) includes compressing, said suspension system (200) for a predetermined distance by tightening a stud (108) of said tool (100) (at step 306). Additionally, the method (300) includes mounting, a control link on said BIW of said vehicle (at step 308). Also, the method (300) includes removing, said compression tool (100) after assembling said control link on said BIW (at step 310).
[0027] In an embodiment, the bolt head (110) of the stud (108) is tightened by one of using a ratchet or using a pneumatic nut runner.
[0028] The technical advantages achieved by the embodiments herein includes simple and inexpensive tool for achieving compression of suspension system, efficient tool, simple in construction, less complex and easy to assemble.
[0029] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, 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 can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
, Claims:We claim,
1. A suspension system compression tool (100) for use in compression of an elastic member (200) in a suspension assembly of a vehicle, said tool (100) comprising:
an elongated main body (102), said body (102) defining a central bore (B);
a pair of arms (104) extending transversely from one end of said body (102);
an equalizer (106) installed at other end of said body (102), said equalizer (106) fixedly received inside said bore (B) of said body (102);
an elongated stud (108) received inside said bore (B) through said equalizer (106) at one end (E1) and said stud (108) defining a bolt head (110) at other end (E2);
a holding plate/mounting bracket (112) having a top surface configured to receive said elastic member (200) and defining an insertion hole (IH) to receive said stud (108) therethrough, said bolt head (110) of said stud (108) abuts a bottom surface (BS) of said holding plate (112),
wherein,
said stud (108) is configured to move inside said body (102), thereby compressing said elastic member (200) held in said holding plate (112), when said bolt head (110) is tightened against said body (102).

2. The tool (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said each arm (104) of said tool (100) defines at least one hole (OH) to receive at least one fastening member to attach said tool (100) to a predetermined part/Body In White (BIW) of said vehicle.

3. The tool (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said equalizer (106) is affixed inside said body (102) using an equalizer mounting screw (114).

4. The tool (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bolt head (110) includes a diameter larger than a diameter of said insertion hole (IH) defined in said holding plate (112).

5. The tool (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said equalizer defines an aperture to receive said stud therethrough, said aperture defined in said equalizer (106) includes a diameter larger than a diameter of said stud (108).

6. The tool (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein said aperture defines an internal threaded portion which is configured to engage with an external threading defined on said stud (108).

7. The tool (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said holding plate (112) is at least a U-shaped member configured to receive said elastic member (200).

8. A method (300) of assembling a control link to a suspension system (200) of a vehicle, said method (300) comprising steps of:
attaching, a top end of a suspension compression tool (100) to strut mounting holes on Body In White (BIW) of said vehicle;
locating, a holding plate (112) of said tool (100) to a bottom portion of a Lower Control Arm (LCA);
compressing, said suspension system (200) for a predetermined distance by tightening a stud (108) of said tool (100);
mounting, a control link on said Body In White (BIW) of said vehicle; and
removing, said compression tool (100) after assembling said control link on said Body In White (BIW).
9. The method (300) as claimed in claim 8, wherein said stud (108) is tightened by one of using a ratchet or using a pneumatic nut runner.