HANGER APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE AND CHANGER COMPRISING THE SAME

• US 20120145846A1
• Filed: 06/28/2011
• Published: 06/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Jeong, In Ho
• Granted Patent: US 8,800,981 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/201
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/026 by using a jig or the like; Positioning of the jig

Abstract

A hanger apparatus for a vehicle and a changer comprising the same are provided herein, which are configured to correspond to a multitude of vehicle components (e.g., bodies or panels) of different shapes and sizes according to vehicle type and are commonly applicable to various types of vehicles by utilizing variable locating units capable of varying locating positions according to vehicle type and automatically varying the variable locating units.

Claims

1. A hanger apparatus for a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a hanger frame;

a plurality of fixed locators mounted on the hanger frame to support a vehicle component which is to be mounted on the hanger frame; and

variable locating units mounted on the hanger frame, the variable locating units configured to vary locating positions for supporting the vehicle component.

2. The hanger apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the variable locating units comprises:

a mounting bracket fixed to the hanger frame;

a variable locator rotatably hinged to the mounting bracket, and having a fixing protrusion formed at a lower side thereof; and

fixing mechanism mounted on the mounting bracket, corresponding to the fixing protrusion of the variable locator, the fixing mechanism supporting the fixing protrusion and preventing the rotation of the variable locator.

3. The hanger apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a fixing pin is inserted into a hole formed in a vehicle component and is mounted on top of the variable locator.

4. The hanger apparatus of claim 2, wherein the fixing mechanism comprises:

a mounting block fixed to an upper side of the mounting bracket;

an upper fixing plate provided above the mounting block;

a connecting rod connected to the upper fixing plate;

a lower fixing plate movably provided below the mounting block on the connecting rod; and

an elastic member provided along the connecting rod and interposed between the mounting block and the lower fixing plate.

5. A hanger apparatus changer comprising:

a hanger apparatus comprising a hanger frame, a plurality of fixed locators mounted on the hanger frame to support a vehicle component which is to be mounted on the hanger frame, and variable locating units mounted on the hanger frame, and for varying the locating position of the fixing locators;

a base frame; and

a plurality of variable units installed on the base frame, respectively corresponding to the variable locating units of the hanger apparatus, the plurality of variable units configured to operate the variable locating units.

6. The hanger apparatus changer of claim 5, wherein the variable locating unit comprises:

a mounting bracket fixed to the hanger frame;

a variable locator rotatably hinged to the mounting bracket, having a fixing protrusion formed at a lower side thereof, and having a fixing pin mounted on top thereof which is to be inserted into a hole formed in a vehicle body or panel; and

fixing mechanism mounted on the mounting bracket, corresponding to the fixing protrusion of the variable locator, for the fixing mechanism supporting the fixing protrusion and preventing the rotation of the variable locator.

7. The hanger apparatus changer of claim 6, wherein the variable unit comprises:

a first fixing bracket mounted on the base frame;

a first operating cylinder having a first operating rod, and mounted on top of the first fixing bracket to downwardly rotate the variable locator by the back-and-forth operation of the first operating rod;

a second fixing bracket mounted on top of the base frame, corresponding to the fixing means;

a second operating cylinder having a second operating rod, and mounted on the second fixing bracket to release the fixing of the variable locator fixed by the fixing means; and

a restoring mechanism installed at a top portion of the base frame to upwardly rotate the variable locator rotated downward by the first operating cylinder and restore the variable locator to the original position.

8. The hanger apparatus changer of claim 7, further comprising a detecting sensor for detecting the fixing and releasing of the fixing mechanism is mounted on an upper portion of the first fixing bracket corresponding to the fixing means.

9. The hanger apparatus changer of claim 7, wherein the restoring means comprises:

a third fixing bracket mounted at an upper side of the base frame, corresponding to the variable locating unit;

a third operating cylinder having a third operating rod, and having one side hinged to one side of the third fixing bracket;

a rotating arm having one side hinged to an upper side of the third fixing bracket via a hinge link and having a rear end hingeably mounted on the end of the third operating rod; and

a contact block mounted on the end of the rotating arm so as to transfer the torque of the rotating arm which is rotated by operating the third operating cylinder, and selectively in contacted with the variable locator.

10. The hanger changer apparatus of claim 9, wherein the contact block is formed in a cylindrical shape.

11. The hanger changer apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a guide plate for guiding the hanger frame is mounted at one end of the base frame.

12. The hanger changer apparatus of claim 6, wherein the fixing means comprises:

a mounting block fixed to an upper side of the mounting bracket;

an upper fixing plate provided above the mounting block;

a connecting rod connected to the upper fixing plate;

a lower fixing plate movably provided below the mounting block on the connecting rods; and

an elastic member provided along the connecting rod and interposed between the mounting block and the lower fixing plate.

13. The hanger changer apparatus of claim 12, wherein the variable unit comprises:

a first fixing bracket mounted on the base frame;

a first operating cylinder having a first operating rod, and mounted on top of the first fixing bracket to downwardly rotate the variable locator by the back-and-forth operation of the first operating rod;

a second fixing bracket mounted on top of the base frame, corresponding to the fixing mechanism;

a second operating cylinder having a second operating rod, and mounted on the second fixing bracket to release the fixing of the variable locator fixed by the fixing mechanism; and

a restoring mechanism installed at a top portion of the base frame to upwardly rotate the variable locator rotated downward by the first operating cylinder and restore the variable locator to the original position.