Method and device for adjusting gap dimensions and/or an offset between a vehicle hood and the remaining vehicle body

• US 20090326701A1
• Filed: 08/31/2009
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Charalambos Tassakos, Jan-Thomas Metge
• Original Assignee: Charalambos Tassakos, Jan-Thomas Metge
• Inventors: Tassakos, Charalambos, Metge, Jan-Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,746,483 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/108
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/06 the sub-units or components being doors, windows, openable roofs, lids, bonnets, or weather strips or seals therefor assembling sealing arrangements with vehicle parts, e.g. doors, windows B60J10/45
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4978 Assisting assembly or disassembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49902 by manipulating aligning means

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device (1) for adjusting the gap dimensions and/or an offset between a movable hood (2) of a motor vehicle and the remaining body (3) of said motor vehicle. The hood (2) is first fitted and retained in a roughly adjusted assembly position so as to be as flush as possible with the body (3), whereupon the hood (2) is finely adjusted such that predefined values are matched as closely as possible for the gap dimensions and/or the offset. In order to be able to adjust the gap dimensions and/or the offset as simply, quickly and flexibly as possible in a contactless manner, actual values (21 ist) for the gap dimensions and/or the offset between the hood (2) and the remaining body (3) are optically detected for the fine adjustment. Triggering signals (24) for at least one actuating member (12) are determined in accordance with the detected actual values (21 ist) and predefined set point values (21-soll) for the gap dimensions and/or the offset.

Claims

1. A method for key collar simulation in association with mounting and alignment of a moveable flap to a body of a motor vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

a) initially mounting the flap to the body in a roughly adjusted installation position for motion about an axis of rotation;

b) optically detecting, following step a) and prior to painting the motor vehicle as well as prior to final mounting of locks, handles, and fixtures to the flaps and remaining body, actual values for a gap or offset between the flap and remaining portions of the body;

c) generating, in dependence on the actual values detected in step b) and on specified desired values corresponding to a properly aligned position of the flap, drive signals for variation of a position and orientation of the flap relative to the remaining portions of the body using at least one actuating element cooperating with the flap; and

d) regulating the at least one actuating element using the drive signals to pivot the flap about the axis of rotation for approximating the properly aligned position of the flap.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein desired values of the gap dimensions or offset of the flap relative to the remaining body are specified in such a manner that a transition between the flap and the remaining body at a measuring location is zero.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired values of the gap dimensions or offset of the flap are specified relative to the remaining body in such a manner that a negative transition of less than zero is obtained between the flap and the remaining body at a measuring location.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein initial actual values of the gap dimensions or offset between the flap and the remaining body are detected at a first measuring location and approximated to specified desired values, and actual values are subsequently detected at least one further measuring location and approximated to specified desired values.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the flap or the remaining body bordering the flap are plastically deformed if a deviation between the actual values, approximated to the desired values, and the specified desired values exceeds a predetermined limit value at least one measuring location.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising issuing a request to a production line for producing further flaps or to an installation line for installing further flaps on the remaining body of vehicles, wherein production or installation parameters of the production line and the installation line are varied in dependence on the request if a deviation between the actual values, approximated to the desired values, and the specified desired values exceeds a predetermined limit value at least one measuring location.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the actual values for the gap size or the displacement between the flap and the remaining body are recorded in a measuring region proximate a transition between the flap and the remaining body.

8. A computer program which can be run on a computing device or on a microprocessor, wherein the computer program is structured to perform the method of claim 1.

9. The computer program of claim 8, wherein the computer program is stored on a storage element, a flash storage, a random access memory, or a read only memory.

10. A device for key collar simulation in association with mounting and alignment of a moveable flap to a body of a motor vehicle, the device comprising:

means for initially mounting the flap to the body in a roughly adjusted installation position for motion about an axis of rotation;

means for optically detecting, following said initial mounting of the flap to the body in said roughly adjusted installation position, prior to painting the motor vehicle and prior to final mounting of locks, handles, and fixtures to the flaps and remaining body, actual values for a gap or offset between the flap and remaining portions of the body;

means for generating, in dependence on said detected actual values and in dependence on specified desired values which correspond to a properly aligned position of the flap, drive signals for variation of a position and orientation of the flap relative to the remaining portions of the body using at least one actuating element cooperating with the flap; and

means for regulating said at least one actuating element using said drive signals to pivot the flap about the axis of rotation for approximating said properly aligned position of the flap.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said detection means comprise a camera laser unit having at least one illumination means or at least one laser, and with at least one image recording means, a CCD, or a CMOS camera.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein said at least one actuating element comprises an electromotor.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein said at least one actuating element comprises an electric step motor.

14. The device of claim 10, further comprising an industrial robot or other manipulation device to which said detection means are mounted for moving said detection means to predetermined measuring locations to detect the actual values of the gap dimensions or the offset between the flap of the vehicle and the remaining body at these measuring locations.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein the actual values of the gap size or offset between the flap and the remaining body are recorded at least one measuring region proximate a transition between the flap and the remaining body.