Description Aug. 17, 1948. w. H. FERGUSON ETAL 9 3 SPREADING TOOL FOR RESHAPING DEFORMED AUTOMOBILE BODIES Fil ed March 2, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l H zmlfiow: l Vz/llamHFkrgu/som Ifarry 611 6219166021, MMCHZZQS A g. 7, w. H. FERGUSON ET AL 2,447,491 SPREADING TOOL FOR RESHAPING DEFORMED AUTOMOBILE BODIES Filed March 2, 1945 f 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m 1 Wu lngleni/urs; 2/ 21am .Frgws Harry (I Rr guson I I 3 51%,, M W W ys Patented Aug. 17, 1948 SPREADING TOOL FOR RESHAPING DE FOItMED AUTOMOBILE BODIES William H. Ferguson, Malden, and Harry G. Ferguson, Melrose. Mass., assignors to H. K. Porter, Inc., Everett, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application March 2, 1945, Serial No. 580,572 3 Claims. 1 This invention relates to spreading tools particularly intended for use in connection with the repair of automobile bodies and fenders which have been deformed by collision or otherwise in order to bend displaced parts back to or toward their original position. We provide a wieldy but powerful device capable of use in tight places, as by insertion within the interior of the body construction to apply within the same theforce of a powerful force-exerting mechanism of the type of a jack. It is convenient to use a jack which may be applied to other uses and in a sense the construction herein shown may be considered as an attachment for use with a jack or a mechanism to be powered by a jack, parts being provided for detachable coupling to the relatively stationary and movable parts of the jack, conveniently by means of screw-threaded connections as in the case of the devices shown in the patent to McBride 1,353,600 wherein, as in the present disclosure, a jack of the hydraulic type is illustrated. Our invention will be well understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the device in closed position mounted on a jack only parts of which are shown; Fig. 2 is a view from the left-hand side of Fig. Fig. 3 is a similar view from the right-hand side, the jack being omitted; Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 1 showing the parts in another similar position; Fig. 5 is an inner view of the distal portion of the right-hand arm; and Fig. 6 is a section on the line 8-45 of Fig. 1. Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, we have there indicated the cylinder 0 of a hydraulic jack from which projects the plunger or piston rod P, to which parts are detachably screwthreaded respectively the base members l9 and E2 on which the parts of the spreader proper are organized. In the example of the invention shown the spreading action is efiected by an axial extension of the plunger or piston rod P under hydraulic pressure. We here show the member Ill as provided on opposite sides with ears I 4, two to the left (see Fig. 2) and three to the right (see Fig. 3), the former being located opposite to the spaces between the latter. These ears receive pins IS on which are pivotally mounted the right and left hand spreader arms iBR and ISL, respectively, which are preferably formed of a plurality of fiat elements as hereinafter more fully described. The contour of these arms as seen from the front is well shown in Figs. 1 and 4, and we will describe them with reference to the former figure. Each comprises a proximal portion 20 extending from the pivot 55 substantially parallel to the axial line of the jack, and they then curve inwardly to provide distal portions 2|, closely arranged (herein overlapping and nested as to be described) and located substantially in the axial line of the jack plunger P. The left-hand arm carries a pivot bolt 22 for pivotally supporting thereon a work-engaging plate or pad. 2 suitably contoured in the manner of a dolly block, the plate having ears 2% on the back thereof to receive the pivot. The bolt 22 is readily removable and provides for the use of interchangeable dolly blocks of differing form. The right-hand arm terminates short of the ears Z6 and is here shown as welded to the back of an abutment plate 28. We here show a rubber covering 30 in the form of a jacket or sleeve 39 extending over the outer face and the margins of the plate 28 and secured by a transverse web 32 at the top and lateral flanges 34 along the sides which overlie the inner face of the plate 28. This covering aids in positioning the arm and prevents it from slipping when in use. The distal portions 2| of the arms are close together as described in the closed position of theparts illustrated in Fig. 1, forming a long narrow stem which may be easily inserted between parts which it is desired to press apart to position the work- engaging elements 24 and 28 between them, as, for example, between'a relatively stationary interior frame element and a panel which has been crushed down toward To cause separating movement of the arms and of the work-engaging plates at the distal ends thereof, at least one (and herein where both arms are movably mounted on the base member it both of them) are actuated from the piston rod or plunger P of the jack. Herein a link 3611.- is pivoted at one end between ears M of the base member l2 by pivot pin I5 and at the other to the left-hand arm IBL at the proximal portion 28 thereof, which lies distant from the axial line of the jack, and this link in the closed position of the parts extends at a substantial angle to the axial line, about 20 in the example illustrated, so that when the plunger P starts to move upwardly, viewing Fig. 1, a substantial component of force is exerted on the arm. A similar link 36R. extends substantially symmetrically to the right-hand arm I8R. If we consider the right-hand arm as stationary (as it may be in practice) the two links 36L and 36R, may be considered as a toggle joint, the right-hand pivot 38R. constituting the abutment. The arrangement involving two links as shown minimizes lateral strain on the plunger as the transverse components are balanced. 1 counterpart members of sheet metal of suitable thickness and of adequate depth (transverse dimension, viewing Fig. 1) to give rigidity. The left-hand arm l8L may consist of three of the elements thus referred to assembled between and at either side of the left-hand ears, M as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, while the right-hand arm ISR. consists of two elements assembled between the ears l4 at the other side as shown in Fig. 3. The two last referredto will be out'of line with and between those first referred to and their distal portions 2| can enter between the distal portions 2! of others or mesh therewith when the tool is closed as shown in Fig. 1. The lefthand toggle link 36L, as seen in Fig. 2, may comprise two flat elements with the ends received between the three flat elements which go to make up the arm IBL forming therewith a stack of five parts at the location of the pivot 38L, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, while three fiat elements go to make up the right-hand link 35R and alternate with the two elements which form the right-hand arm l8R forming therewith a stack of five parts at the location of the pivot 38R as seen in Fig. 3. The proximal ends of the five link-forming elements, as seen in Fig. 6, form a stack of five received between the supporting ears 1% on the base member I2. The flat arm-forming elements are spaced and supported at their proximal ends by the pivot ears IE5, at their distal ends by the plates 24 and 28 and between these points by the elements of the links 36L and 36B which -enter between them. Figs. 2 and 3 indicate (not to accurate scale) that the individual thickness of the two elements which go to make up the righthand arm ltR and the left-hand toggle linke 36L may be greater than that of the three which make up the left-hand arm I811 and the righthand link 36R. The proportions may desirably be so chosen that each arm and link is of substantially the samestrength with respect to a load transverse thereto, viewing Figs. 2 and 3. To this end account should be taken of the principle that the strength of a beam under transverse load varies as the square of its width. The construction just described is simple 'to make and assemble and is light and strong. In the spreading action the force of the jack is applied in the central plane, viewing Figs. 2 and 3, without any twisting component. The arms may be made of adequate depth of desired strength and rgidity, yet because of the meshing arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1 a narrow head or point is provided for the tool as a whole which permits its easy insertion in close places. In referring to the parts in the annexed claims they will be spoken of as if in the position of Fig. 1, the collapsed or retracted position of the tool as contrasted with the expanded position of Fig. 4. It will be apparent that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and the present embodiment should therefore be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, as is in fact clear in several matters from the desorption itself. Reference is to be had to the appended claims to indicate those principles of the invention exemplified by the particular embodiment described and which it is desired to secure by Letters Patent. We claim: 1. A spreader tool comprising first and second base members providing means whereby the parts hereinafter recited are respectively operatively associated with the movable and stationary memhers of a. jack, the second member having workengaging arms arising from opposite sides thereof, one at least of which is pivotally mounted, and one at least having a proximal approximately straight portion and then being inturned toward the other and having a distal, outwardly extending portion, the arms each comprising a stack of spaced flat elements, those of one arm being opposits the spaces between those of the other, and links pivoted to the first member and to the spaced elements of the arms respectively comprising flat elements staggered in the two links and with their ends received in the spaces between the elements of the arms. I 2. A spreader tool comprising first and second base members providing means whereby the parts hereinafter recited are respectively operatively associated with the movable and stationary members of a jack, the second member having workengaging arms arising from opposite sides thereor, one at least of which is pivotally mounted, and one at least having a proximal approximately straight portion and then being inturned toward the other and having a distal, outwardly extending portion, the arms each comprising a stack of spaced flat elements, those of one arm being opposite the spaces between those of the other, and a link pivoted to the first member and extending at a substantial angle to the axial line of the jack and pivoted at its other end to the'pivotally mounted arm in the zone of the proximal portions of the arms. 3. A spreader tool comprising first and second base members providing means whereby the parts hereinafter recited are respectively operatively associated with the movable and stationary members of a jack, the second member having pivot bearings at each of opposite sides thereof, arms arising from said opposite sides of said member respectively, each arm comprising a stack of spaced, fiat elements pivoted at the bearings on the corresponding side, the elements forming one arm being stagggered relatively to the ele-- ments forming the other arm, the arms being inturned at a location between their ends to provide proximal spaced portions and distal portions where the elements of one stack may pass into the spaces between the elements of the other stack, and links pivoted to the first member and having ends received between and pivoted to the arm-forming elements at points in the spaced portions thereof. WILLIAM H. FERGUSON. HARRY C. FERGUSON. REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: UNITED STATES PATENTS