METHOD OF MOUNTING AXLE MODULE

• US 20090115156A1
• Filed: 07/26/2005
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: HINO Motors Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HINO Motors Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Okazaki, Hirohumi, Sasaki, Hitoshi, Banba, Yoshio, Tsujihama, Shingo
• Application Number:
  US11/572,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20090115156A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/124.175
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/06 Screw or nut setting or loosening machines
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/069 Multi-spindle machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 11/04 arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/121 Mounting of leaf springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 9/003 the axle being rigidly connected to a trailing guiding device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An axle module is obtained by coupling an axle member and a pair of leaf springs in the same vertical relationship as in the actual state of use. At such time, when the axle member is disposed on a work stand, pins passing through holes provided in the right and left leaf springs for mounting to a vehicle body are inserted prior to tightening U-bolts used to mount the leaf springs. In addition, by applying a small force, the axle member can be moved in-plane within a predetermined range relative to the leaf springs. Furthermore, the tightening of nuts is carried out by moving tightening tools disposed on a carriage to a position underneath the tips of the U-bolts subject to tightening and then raising and rotating sockets installed in the tightening tools.

Claims

1. A method of assembling an axle module by coupling an axle member and a pair of leaf springs, comprising:

a first step of disposing the axle member and the pair of leaf springs on a work stand in the same vertical relationship as in the actual state of use,

a second step of placing U-bolts over the pair of leaf springs from above and slipping the tips of the U-bolts all the way through to the rear side of the axle member, and

a third step of tightening nuts onto the tips of the U-bolts from below the axle member.

2. The method of assembling an axle module according to claim 1, wherein the pair of leaf springs is provided with a plurality of mounting holes used for mounting to a vehicle body frame and at least one pin passing through at least a pair of corresponding mounting holes in the pair of leaf springs is inserted in order to maintain the positional relationship of the pair of leaf springs prior to the third step.

3. The method of assembling an axle module according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of pins are inserted such that they pass through the corresponding mounting holes in the leaf springs.

4. The method of assembling an axle module according to claim 3, wherein a work stand having a construction supporting the pins or leaf springs such that the plurality of pins remain parallel during the tightening of the U-bolts is used as the work stand.

5. The method of assembling an axle module according to claim 1, wherein a period of time is provided which allows the axle member to move in the horizontal direction on the work stand while maintaining its position in the vertical direction.

6. The method of assembling an axle module according to claim 5, wherein the period of time, during which movement in the horizontal direction is possible, is a period of time that includes a period of time for carrying out the first step.

7. The method of assembling an axle module according to claim 5, wherein the period of time, during which movement in the horizontal direction is possible, is a period of time including a period of time for carrying out the second step.

8. The method of assembling an axle module according to claim 5, wherein the period of time, during which movement in the horizontal direction is possible, is a period of time including a period of time for carrying out the third step.

9. The method of assembling an axle module according to claim 1, wherein in the third step, tightening tools disposed on a carriage are moved to a position underneath the tips of the U-bolts, after which sockets installed in the tightening tools are raised and rotated to tighten the nuts using a preset torque.

10. The method of assembling an axle module according to claim 9, wherein a pair of U-bolts are provided for each leaf spring and the tightening of the plurality of nuts respectively pre-tightened on their tips is carried out in a concurrent manner.

11. An unfinished axle module product comprising an axle member, a pair of leaf springs arranged perpendicular to the axial direction of the axle member, and a plurality of U-bolts fastening the pair of leaf springs to the axle member,

wherein pins passing through the corresponding holes among the mounting holes provided in the pair of leaf springs for mounting to a vehicle body are inserted prior to mounting the axle module to a vehicle body.

12. An axle module assembly device comprising a work stand, an axle member table provided on the work stand, and leaf spring supports provided on the work stand and supporting a pair of leaf springs above the axle member disposed on the axle member table such that their longitudinal direction is perpendicular to the axial direction of the axle member,

wherein the axle member table includes means enabling movement in the horizontal direction relative to the work stand.

13. The axle module assembly device according to claim 12, wherein

the movable means includes two plates horizontally arranged and multiple ball bearings sandwiched between the two plates.

14. The axle module assembly device according to claim 12, comprising means for temporarily inhibiting the operation of the movable means and putting the axle member table in the standard position (X=0, Y=0).

15. An axle module assembly device comprising a carriage, a plurality of tightening tools disposed on the carriage with the respective sockets facing upwards and concurrently rotatably driven by power actuation, and movable means installed between the tightening tools and the carriage and used for adjusting the misalignment of the tips of the tightening tools.

16. The axle module assembly device according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of tightening tools are mounted as a single unit.

17. The axle module assembly device according to claim 16, wherein the unit comprises adjustment means for setting the relative position of the plurality of tightening tools in accordance with a plurality of specifications.

18. The axle module assembly device according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of tightening tools are mounted as a single unit, and

the axle module assembly device includes, as the movable means, means for enabling the unit to move in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction.

19. The axle module assembly device according to claim 18, wherein

the movement enabling means includes bearing floating means enabling the unit to move in the horizontal direction.

20. The module assembly device according to claim 19, wherein

the movement enabling means include hoisting means enabling the bearing floating means to move in the vertical direction relative to the carriage.

21. The module assembly device according to claim 19, comprising a support structure supporting the unit at two points in a pivotable manner relative to the bearing-floating means.