A SYSTEM AND METHOD OF INSTALLING AN INSTRUMENT PANEL

• US 20070271758A1
• Filed: 08/03/2005
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Gupta, Ajay, Lohman, Keith
• Granted Patent: US 7,568,279 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/428
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/14 the sub-units or components being passenger compartment fittings, e.g. seats, linings, trim, instrument panels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49895 Associating parts by use of aligning means [e.g., use of a drift pin or a "fixture"]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53039 with control means energized in response to activator stimulated by condition sensor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53052 including position sensor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53913 Aligner or center
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53978 including means to relatively position plural work parts

Abstract

A system and a method of installing an instrument panel in a motor vehicle. The system includes a decking arm assembly having a support structure for supporting the instrument panel, an actuator, a cradle disposed proximate the actuator, and a sensor assembly. The cradle engages a steering shaft assembly of the instrument panel when the actuator is in the advanced position and the sensor assembly does not indicate that the instrument panel is in a desired installation position.

Claims

1. A system for carrying an instrument panel for a motor vehicle, the instrument panel including a steering shaft assembly, the system comprising:

a decking arm assembly comprising;

a support structure for supporting the instrument panel;

an actuator disposed proximate the support structure, the actuator being moveable between an advanced position and a retracted position;

a cradle disposed proximate the actuator for engaging the steering shaft assembly; and

a sensor assembly disposed proximate the support structure for detecting the position of the decking arm assembly relative to the motor vehicle;

wherein the cradle engages the steering shaft assembly when the actuator is in the advanced position and the sensor assembly does not indicate that the instrument panel is in a desired installation position.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the actuator is moved to the retracted position when the sensor assembly contacts the motor vehicle and indicates that the instrument panel is in the desired installation position.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the actuator is a pneumatic cylinder.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor assembly includes an arm that contacts an A-pillar of the motor vehicle when the instrument panel is in the desired installation position.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the arm is disposed near an end of the support structure.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the cradle further comprises first and second raised portions disposed generally parallel to each other, the first and second raised portions cooperating to at least partially define a groove for receiving the steering shaft assembly.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the first and second raised portions are disposed on a face surface disposed at an angle relative to a direction in which the actuator travels between the advanced and retracted positions.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the first raised portion includes a first surface and the second raised portion includes a second surface, the first and second surfaces being oriented along intersecting planes and cooperating to at least partially define the groove.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the support structure is mounted to an overhead support track that permits movement of the decking arm assembly.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the steering shaft assembly includes an intermediate steering shaft having a first end coupled to a steering wheel shaft, the intermediate shaft being engaged by the cradle.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising a carrier for holding the instrument panel, the carrier having a fixture for positioning the steering shaft assembly in a predetermined location such that the steering shaft assembly is aligned with the carrier when the decking arm assembly receives the instrument panel from the carrier.

12. A system for installing an instrument panel having a steering shaft assembly in a motor vehicle, the system comprising:

a carrier for holding the instrument panel, the carrier having a fixture for supporting and positioning the steering shaft assembly in a predetermined location; and

a decking arm assembly for receiving the instrument panel from the carrier and positioning the instrument panel in the motor vehicle, the decking arm assembly including;

a support structure for supporting the instrument panel;

a cradle for engaging an intermediate shaft of the steering shaft assembly; and

an actuator for moving the cradle;

wherein the cradle engages the intermediate shaft when the actuator is in an advanced position.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the decking arm assembly further comprises a sensor assembly for detecting the position of the decking arm assembly relative to the motor vehicle.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the actuator is retracted when the sensor assembly contacts the motor vehicle and indicates that the instrument panel is in a desired installation position.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the fixture includes a pin and an end of the steering shaft assembly engages the pin to position the steering shaft assembly in the predetermined location.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein the cradle further comprises first and second raised portions that cooperate to at least partially define a groove for receiving the steering shaft assembly.

17. A method of installing an instrument panel having a steering shaft assembly in a motor vehicle, the method comprising:

providing the instrument panel;

engaging the instrument panel with a decking arm assembly comprising a moveable cradle and a sensor assembly;

advancing the cradle to engage the steering shaft assembly;

lifting and positioning the instrument panel inside the motor vehicle with the decking arm assembly;

moving the instrument panel forward in the motor vehicle until the sensor assembly indicates the instrument panel is in a desired installation position;

retracting the cradle; and

disengaging the decking arm assembly from the instrument panel.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the sensor assembly contacts an A-pillar of the motor vehicle when the instrument panel is moved forward.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of lifting and positioning the instrument panel further comprises rotating the decking arm assembly and inserting the decking arm assembly and instrument panel through a door opening of the motor vehicle.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of providing the instrument panel further comprises providing the instrument panel with a carrier having a fixture that receives and positions the steering shaft assembly in a predetermined location.