Hydraulic pulley apparatus

Abstract

Hydraulic pulley apparatus including a frame, anchored to a tiedown assembly, supporting a first pulley on a movable axis and a second pulley on a selectably fixed axis. A cable or chain extends over the first and second pulleys and is connected at one end to the frame, with the other end being attached to a workpiece. The pulleys are arranged in such a manner that movement of the first pulley away from the second pulley draws the end of the chain attached to the workpiece toward the second pulley. The movement of the first pulley is accomplished by selectively operable and controllable hydraulic power means. A third pulley may be mounted on the frame at various positions above the first and second pulleys for receiving the end of the chain attached to the workpiece, and maintaining the chain at various attitudes. Locking means hold the chain under tension to permit release of the hydraulic power means for sequential operation thereof.

What I claim is: 
     
       1. A pulley apparatus adapted to rest on a floor comprising: a frame having a base and an upper vertical stanchion;   attachment means located on said base;   a horizontally oriented hydraulic cylinder connected to said base above said attachment means and having a piston rod axially movable therein and extending out of one end of the cylinder for substantially horizontal reciprocation;   a first pulley rotatably mounted on the end of said piston rod for substantially horizontal reciprocation therewith;   a second pulley rotatably mounted on said frame above said hydraulic cylinder, said first pulley adapted to travel in a direction away from said attachment means and said second pulley;   means connected to said frame adjacent said second pulley adapted for anchoring said frame relative to said floor;   flexible chain means removably connected at one end to said attachment means, said flexible chain means further extending around said first pulley in one direction and around said second pulley in the opposite direction, with the other end adapted to be attached to a workpiece; and   selectively operable lock means mounted on said frame adjacent said second pulley for preventing travel of said chain in a direction toward said workpiece whereby, upon extension of the piston rod, the displacement of the first pulley draws the flexible chain means over the two pulleys causing the end of the flexible chain means attached to the workpiece to be displaced toward the second pulley in a direction opposite that of the first pulley.   
     
     
       2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said lock means includes a latch pivotally mounted on said frame and having a pair of prongs extending out of the free end for engagement with said chain and rotation limiting engagement with said second pulley.   
     
     
       3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said latch is axially movable for selective engagement of at least one of said prongs with said chain notwithstanding the registration of said chain. 
     
     
       4. A pulley apparatus adapted to rest on a floor comprising: a frame having a base and an upper vertical stanchion;   attachment means located on said base;   a horizontally oriented hydraulic cylinder connected to said base above said attachment means and having a piston rod axially movable therein and extending out of one end of the cylinder for substantially horizontal reciprocation;   a first pulley rotatably mounted on the end of said piston rod for substantially horizontal reciprocation therewith;   a second pulley rotatably mounted on said frame above said hydraulic cylinder, said first pulley adapted to travel in a direction away from said attachment means and said second pulley;   means connected to said frame adjacent said second pulley adapted for anchoring said frame relative to the floor;   a third pulley rotatably mounted on said frame stanchion;   said frame stanchion including means for adjusting the vertical position of said third pulley;   said third pulley being provided with means adapted for anchoring said frame relative to the floor; and   flexible means removably connected at one end to said attachment means, said flexible means further extending around said first pulley in one direction and around said second pulley in the opposite direction and extending around said third pulley between said second pulley and a workpiece, with the other end adapted to be attached to the workpiece whereby, upon extension of the piston rod, the displacement of the first pulley draws the flexible means over the three pulleys causing the end of the flexible means attached to the workpiece to be displaced toward the second pulley in a direction opposite to that of the first pulley.   
     
     
       5. A pulley apparatus for the application of force to an automobile body member for the bending of the automobile body member, said apparatus being portable and resting on a floor, said apparatus comprising: a frame having a floor-engaging base and first and second upwardly extending stanchions;   attachment means located on said frame;   a hydraulic cylinder secured to said frame, said cylinder being located between said stanchions, a piston rod in said cylinder mounted for reciprocation with respect to said cylinder;   a first pulley pivotally mounted on the end of said piston rod for reciprocation therewith;   a second pulley rotatably mounted between said stanchions on a pivot pin extending between said stanchions;   flexible means having a first end attached to said attachment means, said flexible means extending between said stanchions, around said first pulley and around said second pulley; and   a lock mechanism pivotally mounted on at least one of said stanchions to swing between said stanchions toward said second pulley, said lock mechanism engaging said flexible means extending around said second pulley so that said flexible means can move around said second pulley toward said first pulley and is restrained from opposite motion. .Iadd. 6. An apparatus for applying a pulling force to structures comprising:   a. a base adapted to engage a surface for support thereon;   b. a standard mounted on said base and upstanding therefrom;   c. an extensible member having one end thereof pivotally connected to a fixed point relative to said base;   d. a flexible member adapted to be connected to a structure to receive a pulling force;   e. means actuated by said extensible member and having a portion engaging said flexible member to apply a pulling force thereto in response to extension of said extensible member;   f. means mounted on said standard above said pulling force applying means for guiding said flexible member into engagement therewith;   g. means mounted on said standard and engageable with said flexible member to hold same against retractive movement upon contraction of said extensible member and to permit said flexible member to move in one direction and limit movement in the opposite direction;   h. a fixedly mounted anchor spaced from said base; and   i. means adapted to be connected to said anchor and to said standard at a point alignable with said flexible member guiding means for holding said standard against movement toward the structure to receive the pulling force when said extensible member is extended to effect said pulling   
     
     
        force. .Iaddend..Iadd. 7.  The apparatus for applying a pulling force as set forth in claim 6 wherein: a. said base is an elongate planar member;   b. said standard is formed of a pair of laterally spaced parallel frames;   c. each of said frames has a side member mounted adjacent each end of said base and extending upwardly therefrom said converging at an intersection above the longitudinal center of said base; and   d. each of said frames has a post extending upwardly from the intersection of said base members. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 8. A portable apparatus for applying a pulling force to structures comprising:   a. an elongate planar base member adapted to engage a surface for support thereon;   b. a standard mounted on said base and upstanding therefrom;   c. roller means mounted on said base and normally positioned above same for movably supporting said base and standard when said base and standard are moved to engage said roller means with the support surface;   d. an extensible member having one end thereof pivotally connected to a fixed point relative to said base;   e. a flexible member adapted to be connected to a structure to receive a pulling force;   f. means actuated by said extensible member and having a portion engaging said flexible member to apply a pulling force thereto in response to extension of said extensible member;   g. means mounted on said standard above said pulling force applying means for guiding said flexible member into engagement therewith;   h. means mounted on said standard and engageable with said flexible member to hold same against retractive movement upon contraction of said extensible member and to permit said flexible member to move in one direction and limit movement in the opposite direction;   i. an anchor fixedly mounted in the support surface; and   j. a second flexible member adapted to be connected to said anchor and to said standard at a point alignable with said guiding means for said first named flexible member to hold said standard against movement toward the structure to receive the pulling force when said extensible member is extended to effect said pulling force. .Iaddend.