Spring compressor

Abstract

A spring compressor of the type having a base, a post, upper spring mounting members fixedly mounted on the upper portion of the post, lower spring mounting members slidably mounted on the lower portion of the post, and a moving device for moving the lower spring mounting members toward the upper spring mounting members to compress a spring mounted between the spring mounting members. The upper spring mounting members have spring engaging elements, preferably in the form of angle irons, for engaging the top of the spring assembly. The spring engaging elements can include retaining bolts for preventing movement of the spring assembly toward or away from the post. The spring compressor can also have adapters mounted on at least one of the upper and lower spring mounting members to engage portions of the side of a coil of the spring.

1. A spring compressor having: a base; a post; upper spring mounting means fixedly mounted on the upper portion of the post; lower spring mounting means slidably mounted on the lower portion of the post; moving means mounted at one end on the post and at the other end on the lower spring mounting means to move the lower spring mounting means toward the upper spring mounting means to compress a spring in a spring assembly mounted between them; at least the upper spring mounting means having opposed, elongated, spring engaging means for engaging only the top and opposed sides of the spring assembly. 
     
     
       2. A spring compressor as claimed in  claim 1  wherein each spring mounting means has a pair of mounting arms; each upper mounting arm carrying a narrow plate that projects past the inner side of the arm, which side faces the other arm; the plate and inner side of the arm forming a corner that receives the top, side of the spring assembly. 
     
     
       3. A spring compressor as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the plate is formed by one flange of an angle iron member, the other flange of the member attached to the inner side of the arm which side faces the other arm, the flanges forming a corner for receiving the top side of the spring assembly. 
     
     
       4. A spring compressor as claimed in claim  2    29  including retaining means on each plate for use in positioning the spring assembly and for preventing movement of the top of the spring assembly toward or away from the post. 
     
     
       5. A spring compressor as claimed in claim  2    29  including a notch in the inner side of each plate for helping to locate the spring assembly relative to the post through two diametrically opposed bolts extending up from the cover of the spring assembly. 
     
     
       6. A spring compressor as claimed in claim  1    28  including adapter means detachably mounted on the spring engaging means for allowing the spring compressor to engage the sides of a coil of the spring, the adapter means having a coil engaging surface curved to the approximate radius of the coil. 
     
     
       7. A spring compressor as claimed in claim  3    30  including a notch in the inner side of each one flange forming the plate for helping to locate the spring assembly relative to the post through two diametrically opposed bolts extending up from the cover of the spring assembly. 
     
     
       8. A spring compressor having: a base; a post; upper spring mounting means fixedly mounted on the upper portion of the post; lower spring mounting means slidably mounted on the lower portion of the post; moving means mounted at one end on the post and at the other end on the lower spring mounting means to move the lower spring mounting means toward the upper spring mounting means to compress a spring in a spring assembly mounted between them; each spring mounting means having a pair of mounting arms; an angle iron member on each mounting arm, with one flange attached to the inner side of the mounting arm facing the other arm, the other flange extending inwardly toward the other arm, each member forming a corner for receiving a top side of the spring assembly; and retaining means on each other flange for preventing movement of the top of the spring assembly toward or away from the post. 
     
     
       9. A spring assembly as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the retaining means are adjustable relative to one another and to the post. 
     
     
       10. A spring compressor as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the stop  retaining means comprise a pair of bolts and a plurality of spaced apart holes are provided in the one flange, the bolts insertable through selected holes to retain the spring assembly against movement toward or away from the post. 
     
     
       11. A spring compressor having: a base; a post; upper spring mounting means fixedly mounted on the upper portion of the post; lower spring mounting means slidably mounted on the lower portion of the post; moving means mounted at one end on the post and at the other end on the lower spring mounting means to move the lower spring mounting means toward the upper spring mounting means to compress a spring in a spring assembly mounted between them; each spring mounting means having a pair of mounting arms; each upper mounting arm carrying a narrow plate that projects past the inner side of the arm, which side faces the other arm; the plate and inner side of the arm forming a corner that receives the top, side of the spring assembly; retaining means on each plate for use in positioning the spring assembly and for preventing movement of the top of the spring assembly toward or away from the post, the retaining means comprising a pair of bolts and a plurality of spaced apart holes in the portion of the plate that projects past the inside of the arm, the bolts insertable through selected holes to retain the spring assembly against movement toward or away from the post. 
     
     
       12. A spring compressor as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the coil engaging surface engages between ten and thirty percent of the circumference of the coil. 
     
     
       13. A spring compressor as claimed in  claim 12  wherein at least one of the spring mounting means has spring engaging means, the adapter means mounted on the spring engaging means in a position to contact the side of a coil in a coil spring engaged by the engaging means. 
     
     
       14. A spring compressor as claimed in claim  13    6  wherein the coil spring engaging means comprise an abutment plate, the adapter mounted on the abutment plate. 
     
     
       15. A spring compressor as claimed in claim  13    6  wherein the coil spring engaging means comprise a flange of an angle iron member, the adapter mounted on the flange. 
     
     
       16. Spring mounting means for use in mounting the top plate of a spring assembly on a spring compressor, which compressor has a vertical post; the mounting means having; a sleeve for use in mounting the mounting means on the post; a cylindrical support bar on the sleeve extending transverse to the axis of the sleeve; a pair of spring assembly support arms slidably and rotatably mounted on the support bar, one support arm on each side of the sleeve; adjustable stop means on the mounting means for limiting rotation of the support arms to have them about horizontal when mounting the spring assembly on the compressor; and elongated, spring assembly engaging means on each support arm facing the other support arm, the spring assembly engaging means engaging the top plate only of the spring assembly and having an elongated abutment engaging a side of the top of the top plate when mounting the spring assembly on the compressor, the abutments forming part of opposed, elongated, corners which corners hold the top plate of the spring assembly, by its top and opposed sides, in place between the corners. 
     
     
       17. Spring mounting means as claimed in  claim 16  including spring adapter means detachably mounted on the spring assembly engaging means for allowing the spring mounting means to engage the sides of a coil of the spring in the spring assembly, the adapter means having a coil engaging surface curved to the approximate radius of the coil. 
     
     
       18. Spring mounting means as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the engaging means comprises a narrow plate that projects past the inner side of each arm toward the other arm, the plate and inner side of the arm forming a corner that receives the top and side of the spring assembly. 
     
     
       19. Spring mounting means as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the abutment of the top spring engaging means comprises a flange of an angle iron section, the flange of each section extending toward the other mounting arm in position to engage the top plate, the other flange of each section attached to the inner side of a mounting arm in position to engage the side of the top plate, the sections forming the corners that hold the top plate by its top and sides. 
     
     
       20. Spring mounting means as claimed in  claim 19  including a notch in the inner side of each other flange for helping to locate the spring assembly relative to the post through two diametrically opposed bolts extending from the top of the spring assembly. 
     
     
       21. Spring mounting means as claimed in  claim 19  including spring adapter means detachably mounted on the other flange of the spring assembly engaging means for allowing the spring compressor to engage the sides of a coil of the spring in the spring assembly, the adapter means having a coil engaging surface curved to the approximate radius of the coil. 
     
     
       22. Spring mounting means as claimed in  claim 19  including retaining means on each other flange for preventing movement of the top of the spring assembly toward or away from the post. 
     
     
       23. Spring mounting means as claimed in  claim 22  wherein the retaining means comprises a pair of bolts and a plurality of spaced apart holes in the other flange, the bolts insertable through selected holes to retain the spring assembly against movement toward or away from the post. 
     
     
       24. Spring mounting means as claimed in  claim 18  including retaining means on each plate for use in positioning the spring assembly and for preventing movement of the top of the spring assembly toward and away from the post. 
     
     
       25. Spring mounting means as claimed in  claim 24  wherein the retaining means comprises a pair of bolts and a plurality of spaced apart holes in the portion of the plate that projects past the inside of the arm, the bolts insertable through selected holes to retain the spring assembly against movement toward or away from the post. 
     
     
       26. Spring mounting means as claimed in  claim 18  including a notch in the inner side of each plate for helping to locate the spring assembly relative to the post through two diametrically opposed bolts extending up from the top of the spring assembly. 
     
     
       27. Spring mounting means as claimed in  claim 18  including spring adapter means detachably mounted on the plate of the spring engaging means for allowing the spring compressor to engage the sides of a coil of the spring in the spring assembly, the adapter means having a coil engaging surface curved to the approximate radius of the coil. 
     
     
       28. A spring compressor having: a base; a post; upper spring mounting means fixedly mounted on the upper portion of the post; lower spring mounting means slidably mounted on the lower portion of the post; moving means mounted at one end on the post and at the other end on the lower spring mounting means to move the lower spring mounting means toward the upper spring mounting means to compress a spring in a spring assembly mounted between them, the spring assembly having a top plate; at least the upper spring mounting means having top spring engaging means to engage only the top plate of the spring assembly, the top spring engaging means comprising two opposed, elongated, abutments, the abutments engaging opposed sides of the top of the top plate; the abutments forming part of opposed, elongated, corners to hold the top plate of the spring assembly, by its top and sides, in place between the corners. 
     
     
       29. A spring compressor as claimed in  claim 28  wherein each spring mounting means has a pair of mounting arms; the abutments of the top spring engaging means each comprising a flat plate, one plate mounted on the top of each arm and extending past the inner side of the arm, which side faces the other arm; the plates and the inner sides of the associated arms forming the corners that hold the top plate. 
     
     
       30. A spring compressor as claimed in  claim 28  wherein each spring mounting means has a pair of mounting arms; the abutments of the top spring engaging means each comprising a flange of an angle iron section, the flange of each section extending toward the other mounting arm; the other flange of each section attached to the inner side of a mounting arm; the sections forming the corners that hold the top plate.