Perfected device to transport vehicles in assembly lines

• US 6,712,230 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2001
• Issued: 03/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Transportes Continuos Interiores SA
• Original Assignee: Transportes Continuos Interiores SA
• Inventors: Lopez Alba, Adelardo
• Primary Examiner(s): Brahan, Thomas J.
• Application Number:
  US09/986,097
• Publication Number:
  US 20030085192A1
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 212/319, 212/273, 212/333, 212/334, 414/626, 414/917
• US Class Current: 212/273
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/18 Transportation, conveyor or haulage systems specially adapted for motor vehicle or trailer assembly lines conveyors and haulage in general B65G
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 13/06 for minimising or preventing longitudinal or transverse swinging of loads
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 7/0616 Suspended platforms, i.e. the load platform hangs from the base
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 7/0666 Multiple scissor linkages vertically arranged
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/14 Organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/1616 fractions, e.g. lubricants, solvents, naphta, bitumen, tars, terpentine
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/2641 oxygen bonds only
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/265 oxygen and/or sulfur bonds

Abstract

A device for transporting vehicles during manufacturing is disclosed that allows for upward and downward movement of the vehicle but avoids adverse longitudinal or transverse swinging. The inventive device includes a moving carriage mounted on a fixed rail, an upper frame, a lower frame moveably connected with an elevation mechanism and at least one first pair of articulated arms for stabilizing the vertical movement of the vehicle. An additional pair of articulated arms may be provided which extend and retract in a plane that is perpendicular to the first pair of articulated arms. Additional stabilizing roller elements connected to a fixed rail are provided on a lateral arm of the upper frame to prevent swinging of the upper and the lower frames of the transporting device.

Claims

1. A device for transporting vehicles, comprising an elevated rail on which a moving carriage is mounted;

an upper frame supporting said carriage;

a lower frame provided with means for gripping a vehicle;

an elevation mechanism for lifting said lower frame with respect to said upper frame;

means for preventing said lower frame from swinging with respect to said upper frame, said preventing means including four articulated arms articulately connected with said upper frame and said lower frame by horizontal rotation axles, said articulated arms including two first articulated arms extending in vertical parallel planes near one another and having one of said first articulated arms fixed to one side of said upper frame and to one side of said lower frame and the other of said first articulated arms having one end fixed to an opposite side of said upper frame and to an opposite side of said lower frame, said articulated arms having two second articulated arms which extend in vertical parallel planes coinciding with opposite sides of said frames and extending perpendicular to said planes in which said first articulated arms extend, said elevation mechanism including four cables suspending said lower frame on said upper frame separately and independently from said articulated arms.

2. A device as defined in claim 1;

and further comprising a single fixed rail having upper and lower sides, placed parallel to said elevated rail and to one side of said upper frame;

a lateral arm joined to said upper frame and provided with means for supporting on said fixed rail.

3. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said articulated arms includes an upper bar and a lower bar connected with one another by a horizontal rotation axle, said articulated arms being formed so that they become V-shaped when retracted.

4. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein at least said articulated arms of said second pair of arms are joined by horizontal cross-beams so as to ensure that said articulated arms of said at least second pair of arms remain parallel.

5. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said four cables include two cables extending substantially in one plane and two cables extending substantially in another plane which is spaced from said one plane.