Abstract A horizontally disposed frame adapted to support a damaged vehicle and which frame is formed so as to facilitate pulling and pushing operations on the vehicle body and frame. The main portions of the frame are prestressed to provide a compressive stress in the lower fibers thereof and a tensile stress in the upper fibers so that greater upwardly directed forces on the ends of the frame may be resisted than can be resisted by a nonprestressed frame. The vehicle support is formed so as to facilitate applying pulling and pushing forces on the body and frame of the vehicle. The formation of the vehicle support also adapts it to use with various types of attachments employed to anchor the load bearing members which exert the forces on the vehicle.
Apparatus for straightening vehicle bodies and frames comprising: a generally rectangular vehicle support, said support including a first pair of elongated longitudinally extending members prestressed to provide a compressive stress in the lower fibers thereof and a tensile stress in the upper fibers thereof, and means for permanently holding said members in said prestressed condition to enhance the ability of said support to resist upwardly directed forces at its ends, said last mentioned means including a second pair of longitudinally extending members spaced upwardly from the upper sides of said first members, and spacers interposed between said first and second members and fixedly secured thereto to provide longitudinally extending slots between said first and second members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
Apparatus for straightening vehicle bodies and frames comprising: a generally rectangular vehicle support, said support including a first pair of elongated longitudinally extending members prestressed to provide a compressive stress in the lower fibers thereof and a tensile stress in the upper fibers thereof, and means for permanently holding said members in said prestressed condition to enhance the ability of said support to resist upwardly directed forces at its ends, said last mentioned means including a second pair of longitudinally extending members spaced upwardly from the upper sides of said first members, and spacers interposed between said first and second members and fixedly secured thereto to provide longitudinally extending slots between said first and second members.