Perfected device to transport vehicles in assembly lines

• US 20030085192A1
• Filed: 11/07/2001
• Published: 05/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Transportes Continuos Interiores SA
• Original Assignee: Transportes Continuos Interiores SA
• Inventors: Lopez Alba, Adelardo
• Granted Patent: US 6,712,230 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 212/334
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/18 Transportation, conveyor or haulage systems specially adapted for motor vehicle or trailer assembly lines conveyors and haulage in general B65G
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 13/06 for minimising or preventing longitudinal or transverse swinging of loads
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 7/0616 Suspended platforms, i.e. the load platform hangs from the base
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 7/0666 Multiple scissor linkages vertically arranged
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/14 Organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/1616 fractions, e.g. lubricants, solvents, naphta, bitumen, tars, terpentine
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/2641 oxygen bonds only
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/265 oxygen and/or sulfur bonds

Abstract

A device for transporting vehicles during manufacturing is disclosed that allows for upward and downward movement of the vehicle but avoids adverse longitudinal or transverse swinging. The inventive device includes a moving carriage mounted on a fixed rail, an upper frame, a lower frame moveably connected with an elevation mechanism and at least one first pair of articulated arms for stabilizing the vertical movement of the vehicle. An additional pair of articulated arms may be provided which extend and retract in a plane that is perpendicular to the first pair of articulated arms. Additional stabilizing roller elements connected to a fixed rail are provided on a lateral arm of the upper frame to prevent swinging of the upper and the lower frames of the transporting device.

Claims

1. - Perfected device to transport vehicles in assembly lines;

comprising an elevated rail (1) in which a moving carriage (2) is mounted, an upper frame (3) suspending the carriage (2), a lower frame (4) provided with arms (5) to grip the vehicle, an elevation mechanism (6) to enable the height of the lower frame (4) to be varied with respect to the upper frame (3) and means to prevent the lower frame (4) from swinging with respect to the upper frame (3);

wherein said device further comprises;

a single fixed rail (17) having upper and lower sides, placed parallel to said elevated rail (1) and to one of the sides of said upper frame (3);

a lateral arm (18) joined to said upper frame (3) and provided with means of support on said fixed rail (17), and

four articulated arms (7, 8, 9 and 10), the ends of which are fixed respectively to said upper frame (3) and to said lower frame (4) by means of horizontal rotation axles (11 and 12).

2. - Device, according to claim 1, wherein the support means for said lateral arm (18) on said fixed rail (17) comprises roller elements (19) which act on the upper and lower sides of said fixed rail (17), preventing said upper frame (3) from balancing sideways with respect to said elevated rail (1).

3. - Device, according to claim 1, wherein each of said articulated arms (7, 8, 9 and 10) includes of an upper bar (13) and a lower bar (14) joined by the opposite ends with a horizontal rotation axle (15), and wherein said articulated arms (7, 8, 9 and 10) become generally V-shaped when retracted.

4. - Device, according to claim 1, wherein said articulated arms (7 and 8) have at least two vertical, parallel plans near to each other, with said articulated arm (7) fixed to one of the sides of said upper frame (3) and to said lower frame (4) and the other said arm (8) being fixed to the opposite side of said upper frame (3) and said lower frame (4).

5. - Device, according to claim 1, wherein said articulated arms (9 and 10) are placed in two vertical, parallel planes, coinciding with two of the opposite sides of said frames (3 and 4) and perpendicular to the planes defined by said articulated arms (7 and 8).

6. - Device, according to the claim 1, wherein said articulated arms (9 and 10) are joined by horizontal crossbeams (16), thereby ensuring that said articulated arms (9 and 10) remain parallel.

7. - An assembly line transport device for transporting vehicles that provides upward and downward elevational movement without longitudinal or transverse movement comprising:

An elevated rail on which a moving carriage is mounted, an upper frame suspended from said moving carriage, a lower frame for connecting to a vehicle, said upper frame and said lower frame being connected with at least one first pair of articulated arms, each of said articulated arms comprising two members that are connected at one end of each member with a hinged joint and each of said articulated arms being connected on one end to said upper frame and connected on the other end to said lower frame, and an elevation mechanism for raising and lowering said lower frame relative to said upper frame.

8. - An assembly line transport device as claimed in claim 7 wherein at least one additional pair of articulated arms are connected to said upper frame and said lower frame, said additional pair of articulated arms extending and retracting in a plane that is in perpendicular orientation to said at least one first pair of articulated arms.

9. - An assembly line transport device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said elevation mechanism comprises a rotating drum member having a flexible cable member thereon that is attached to said lower frame.

10. - An assembly line transport device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said upper frame includes a lateral arm that is moveably connected to a fixed rail that is oriented in the position of movement of the vehicle, said movable connection comprises rollers above and below said fixed rail, and wherein sad moveable connection prevents swinging of said upper frame or said lower frame.