Flexible body framing system
First Claim
1. A framing system for welding an automotive vehicle body comprising,first and second generally upright stands disposed in laterally spaced apart relation,a support for a vehicle body between said stands,a first fixture on said first stand,a second fixture on said second stand,welding tools on said fixtures for performing welds on a vehicle body on said support,a guide mounting each stand for linear movement along a path toward and away from an operative position adjacent to said support,power mechanism for moving said stands along said paths,air of first devices for locating and locking said first fixture to said first stand,a pair of second devices for locating and locking said second fixture to said second stand,said pair of first devices being arranged in laterally spaced relation,said second pair of devices being arranged in laterally spaced relation,each device comprising male and female members,said members of each device being mounted, respectively, on one of the stands and on the associated fixture, andmeans for relatively moving said members into locating and locking engagement with one another,said moving means comprising a wedge engaging one of said members, anda power unit for driving said wedge into engagement with said one of said members causing said one of said members to be driven into firm locating and locking engagement with the other of said members.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A framing system having upright stands on opposite sides of a vehicle body support. Welding fixtures are mounted on the stands having welding tools for performing welding operations on a vehicle body. The stands are supported for linear movement toward and away from an operative position adjacent the vehicle body support. Loaders are provided for transferring fixtures to and from the stands.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A framing system for welding an automotive vehicle body comprising,
first and second generally upright stands disposed in laterally spaced apart relation, a support for a vehicle body between said stands, a first fixture on said first stand, a second fixture on said second stand, welding tools on said fixtures for performing welds on a vehicle body on said support, a guide mounting each stand for linear movement along a path toward and away from an operative position adjacent to said support, power mechanism for moving said stands along said paths, air of first devices for locating and locking said first fixture to said first stand, a pair of second devices for locating and locking said second fixture to said second stand, said pair of first devices being arranged in laterally spaced relation, said second pair of devices being arranged in laterally spaced relation, each device comprising male and female members, said members of each device being mounted, respectively, on one of the stands and on the associated fixture, and means for relatively moving said members into locating and locking engagement with one another, said moving means comprising a wedge engaging one of said members, and a power unit for driving said wedge into engagement with said one of said members causing said one of said members to be driven into firm locating and locking engagement with the other of said members.
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2. A framing system for welding an automotive vehicle body comprising,
first and second generally upright stands disposed in laterally spaced apart relation, a support for a vehicle body between said stands, a first fixture on said first stand, a second fixture on said second stand, welding tools on said fixtures for performing welds on a vehicle body on said support, a guide mounting each stand for linear movement along a path toward and away from an operative position adjacent to said support, and power mechanism for moving said stands along said paths, said power mechanism comprising a drive unit for each of said stands, a rotary output shaft extending from each drive unit, a crank arm extending from said output shaft, and a link having a first end pivoted to said crank arm and a second end pivoted to one of said stands.
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3. A framing system for welding an automotive vehicle body comprising,
first and second generally upright stands disposed in laterally spaced apart relation, a support for a vehicle body between said stands, a first fixture on said first stand, a second fixture on said second stand, welding tools on said fixtures for performing welds on a vehicle body on said support, a guide mounting each stand for linear movement along a path toward and away from an operative position adjacent to said support, power mechanism for moving said stands along said paths, a first device for locating and locking said first fixture to said first stand and a second device for locating and locking said second fixture to said second stand, each locating and locking device comprising male and female members, and means for relatively moving said members into locating and locking engagement with one another, said moving means comprising a wedge engaging one of said members, and a power unit for driving said wedge into engagement with said one of said members causing said one of said members to be driven into firm locating and locking engagement with the other of said members.
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10. A framing system for welding an automotive vehicle body comprising,
first and second generally upright stands disposed in laterally spaced apart relation, a support for a vehicle body between said stands, a first fixture on said first stand, a second fixture on said second stand, welding tools on said fixtures for performing welds on a vehicle body on said support, a guide mounting each stand for linear movement along a path toward and away from an operative position adjacent to said support, power mechanism for moving said stands along said paths, first and second horizontal guide rails on said respective first and second stands for slidably receiving said respective fixtures, a first loader for transferring the first fixture to and from said first stand, a second loader for transferring the second fixture to and from said second stand, first and second horizontal guide rails on said respective first and second loaders for slidably receiving said respective fixtures, a third horizontal guide rail mounted on said first loader in laterally spaced parallel relation to the first guide rail thereon, a fourth horizontal guide rail mounted on said second loader in laterally spaced parallel relation to the second guide rail thereon, and turntables mounting said respective loaders for rotation about vertical axes from a first transfer position in which said first and second guide rails of said first and second loaders are aligned in juxtaposed end-to-end relation with said first and second guide rails of said respective first and second stands to a second transfer position 180° - from the first transfer position in which said third and fourth guide rails of said first and second loaders are aligned in juxtaposed end-to-end relation with said first and second guide rails of said respective first and second stands.
- View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
Specification