Patents Assigned to Chief Automotive Systems
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Publication number: 20030196474Abstract: A vehicle-straightening bench (20) is utilized to apply pulling forces to a damaged vehicle chassis to restore the damaged chassis to an original configuration. The bench includes a vehicle platform (22) with a carriage track (24) having a plurality of carriage assemblies (100) movably received by the carriage track (24). Each carriage assembly (100) supports a pulling assembly (200) for applying the pulling forces. A trapezoidal carriage body (102) of the carriage assembly (100) rolls in the carriage track (24), and the carriage assembly also includes a tower positioning mechanism (104) to hold the pulling assemblies (200) in place while the carriage body (102) is are rolled on the track (24). The carriage assembly (100) also includes a locking mechanism (106) to lock them in place during a vehicle a pull.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2003Publication date: October 23, 2003Applicants: Chief Automotive systems, Inc., Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.Inventors: Daniel R. McClellan, Richard H. Nagorski, Jeffrey L. Dobbins, Jeffrey A. Hess, Charles A. Schulte, Nathan Adams, Robert W. Thomas, Marco Tulio Nossa Reyes
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Patent number: 6367305Abstract: A system (20) for anchoring a vehicle frame (22) to a platform (24) utilizes a variety of securement components (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48) to secure the vehicle frame (22) from movement at desired locations while the vehicle frame (22) is being aligned with pulling forces applied by pulling towers (26). The securement components (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48) are held on cross beams (28, 30) which mount to anchoring stands (32), and the anchoring stands (32) are attached to the platform (24). The securement components include a rail vise (34), a C-channel clamp (36), a leaf spring shackle (38), L-clamps (40, 41), a slide plate (42), a hole adapter (44), a tie-down ratchet assembly (46), and a turnbuckle assist (48). The rail vise has two guide channels (78, 80) which slidably receive guide pins (114) therein. The guide pins (114) extend from a front movable clamp leg (74).Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2001Date of Patent: April 9, 2002Assignee: Chief Automotive SystemsInventors: Jeff Dobbins, Roger Harmon, Melvin Soyk
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Patent number: 6272898Abstract: A system (20) for anchoring a vehicle frame (22) to a platform (24) utilizes a variety of securement components (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48) to secure the vehicle frame (22) from movement at desired locations while the vehicle frame (22) is being aligned with pulling forces applied by pulling towers (26). The securement components (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48) are held on cross beams (28, 30) which mount to anchoring stands (32), and the anchoring stands (32) are attached to the platform (24). The securement components include a rail vise (34), a C-channel clamp (36), a leaf spring shackle (38), L-clamps (40, 41), a slide plate (42), a hole adapter (44), a tie-down ratchet assembly (46), and a turnbuckle assist (48). The rail vise has two guide channels (78, 80) which slidably receive guide pins (114) therein. The guide pins (114) extend from a front movable clamp leg (74).Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 1999Date of Patent: August 14, 2001Assignee: Chief Automotive SystemsInventor: Melvin Soyk
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Patent number: 6269676Abstract: An automobile lift and straightening platform is useful for performing repairs on motor vehicles received thereon, and includes a base, a bench which includes treadways for permitting the vehicle to roll thereon and receiving anchors for coupling the vehicle body to the bench, a lifting unit for raising and lowering the bench relative to the base, and a locking unit for locking the bench in an elevated position relative to the base and thereby inhibiting undesired lowering of the vehicle. An unlocking member is provided which may be actuated by the foot of the worker. A hand held control is connected to a power unit for operating an extensible ram of the lifting unit to raise and lower the bench, thus permitting one worker to lower the bench when simultaneously actuating the control and the unlocking member.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2000Date of Patent: August 7, 2001Assignee: Chief Automotive SystemsInventor: Melvin A. Soyk
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Patent number: 4922623Abstract: An improved measuring system for use in combination with vehicle repair equipment includes a pair of transverse bars mounted at a fixed position in space relative to the vehicle with a longitudinally extending and laterally movable bar assembly attached by sliding brackets to the transverse bars. Additional longitudinal bars are attached to the opposite ends of the transverse bars. Supplemental measuring equipment is attachable to all of the bars in order to effect point to point measurements on a vehicle in order that the point to point measurements may be compared with known standards.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1987Date of Patent: May 8, 1990Assignee: Chief Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Roger B. Aldrich, John R. Dahlstrom
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Patent number: 4731936Abstract: An improved measuring system for use in combination with vehicle repair equipment includes a pair of transverse bars mounted at a fixed position in space relative to the vehicle with a longitudinally extending and laterally movable bar assembly attached by sliding brackets to the transverse bars. Additional longitudinal bars are attached to the opposite ends of the transverse bars. Supplemental measuring equipment is attachable to all of the bars in order to effect point to point measurements on a vehicle in order that the point to point measurements may be compared with known standards.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 1985Date of Patent: March 22, 1988Assignee: Chief Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Roger B. Aldrich, John R. Dahlstrom
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Patent number: 4689888Abstract: An improved measuring bar device includes first and second parallel bars retained in a center housing by an array of biased and canted rollers that engage cam surfaces defined by the bars to provide for equal and opposite movement of the bars while maintaining the bars in parallel array.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 1986Date of Patent: September 1, 1987Assignee: Chief Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Roger B. Aldrich, Gary R. White
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Patent number: D457161Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2000Date of Patent: May 14, 2002Assignee: Chief Automotive SystemsInventors: David Scott Groothuis, Michael Thomas Hanchett