Method of repairing vehicle body and repair indexing device

• US 20020058079A1
• Filed: 10/19/2001
• Published: 05/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dukeplanning & Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dukeplanning & Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Uegaki, Tateo
• Granted Patent: US 6,595,076 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 425/12
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 1/06 Removing local distortions
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/02 for measuring length, width or thickness G01B5/004, G01B5/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/18 for measuring depth

Abstract

The present invention concerns a method of repairing a vehicle body and a repair indexing device for estimating the damage of a vehicle body panel and providing a guide for the repair of the vehicle body. A method of repairing the damage of a vehicle body according to the present invention comprises the steps of: measuring quantitatively the depth of a recessed part caused by the damage; and selecting a method from a plurality of previously estimated processes on the basis of the measured result. The process is a work selected from a putty filling work and a sheet metal work. Further, a repair indexing device for a vehicle body according to the present invention comprises: a plate shaped body; and a gauge body provided at the central part of the plate shaped body so as to be capable of sliding in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the plate shaped body; a measuring means provided on the plate shaped body to measure the degree of damage of the vehicle body as the amount of sliding of the gauge body; a method display means for displaying a plurality of processes; and a method selecting means for selecting a method of processes for repairing the damage from the plurality of processes so as to meet the amount of sliding obtained by the measuring means. According to the present invention, the damage of the vehicle body can be quantitatively understood and a proper method of repairing the vehicle can be recognized.

Claims

1. A method of repairing the damage of a vehicle body, comprising the steps of:

measuring quantitatively the depth of a recessed part caused by the damage; and

selecting a process from a plurality of previously estimated processes on the basis of the measured result,

wherein said process is a work selected from a putty filling work and a sheet metal work.

2. A repair indexing device for a vehicle body, comprising:

a plate shaped body;

a gauge body provided at the central part of said plate shaped body so as to be capable of sliding in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of said plate shaped body;

a measuring means provided on said plate shaped body to measure the degree of damage of the vehicle body as the amount of sliding of said gauge body;

a method display means for displaying a plurality of processes; and

a method selecting means for selecting a process for repairing-the damage from said plurality of processes so as to meet the amount of sliding obtained by said measuring means.

3. A repair indexing device for a vehicle body according to claim 2, wherein said plate shaped body comprises:

a preliminary measuring means for measuring the normal surface configuration of a vehicle body panel to be repaired; and

a correcting means for correcting the reference value of said gauge body on the basis of the measured value obtained by said preliminary measuring means.

4. A repair indexing device for a vehicle body according to claim 2, further comprising:

a deforming means for bending said plate shaped body in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the thickness of said plate shaped body, wherein said deforming means deforms said plate shaped body so as to correspond to the normal curved surface of the vehicle body panel to be repaired, and said measuring means sets said plate shaped body thus deformed to the reference value of said gauge body.

5. A repair indexing device for a vehicle body according to claim 4, wherein said deforming means has a long plate, peninsular parts respectively extend from the both ends of the long plate in the directions perpendicular to that of the long plate, the tip ends of the peninsular parts are connected together by means of a substantially expansible high strength body, and the high strength body is expanded and contracted so that the long plate can be bent perpendicularly and in the direction of its thickness.

6. A repair indexing device for a vehicle body according to claim 2, wherein said plate shaped body is provided with a base formed so as to freely slide in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of said plate shaped body, and said base has auxiliary gauge bodies at both the ends thereof so as to freely slide in the directions perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of said base.

7. A repair indexing device according to claim 6, wherein when the normal curved surface of the vehicle body panel is a protruding or convexed surface, said auxiliary gauge bodies are slid to the vehicle body panel side from said base to correct the reference point of said gauge body.

8. A repair indexing device for a vehicle body according to claim 6, wherein when the normal curved surface of the vehicle body panel is a recessed surface, said plate shaped body is slid to the vehicle body panel side from said base to correct the reference point of said gauge body.