Automatic LPG tank insertion apparatus for automobiles

• US 7,376,473 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2005
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Inventors: Jeon, Sun-Kyu
• Primary Examiner(s): CABRERA, ZOILA E
• Application Number:
  US11/299,365
• Publication Number:
  US 20070094755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 700/62, 700/64, 414/591, 414/739, 212/175
• US Class Current: 700/62
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 17/0283 Three-dimensional joints
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/041 Cylindrical coordinate type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03006 Gas tanks B60K15/07 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03184 Exchangeable tanks, i.e. the empty tank is replaced by refilled tank
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/14 the sub-units or components being passenger compartment fittings, e.g. seats, linings, trim, instrument panels

Abstract

An automatic LPG tank insertion apparatus for automobiles has a rotary column provided with a lift body, which has a support arm. A rotating plate is rotatably mounted to the support arm such that yaw, pitch, and roll of the rotating plate can be controlled separately. Clamping devices are mounted on the rotating plate to selectively clamp an LPG tank. A trunk opening area measuring device includes a base unit, a guide shaft, a ruler shaft, and an encoder. Trunk opening sizes and LPG tank dimensions for various vehicle models are stored in a control computer. When vehicle model is input to the control computer, yaw, pitch, and roll of the rotating plate are adjusted so that the LPG tank can be inserted into a vehicle trunk.

Claims

1. An automatic LPG tank insertion apparatus for an automobile, comprising:

a rotary column provided with a lift body;

a support arm mounted to the lift body;

a rotating plate rotatably mounted to an end of the support arm;

means for selectively clamping the rotating plate to an LPG tank;

means for adjusting yaw, pitch, and roll of the rotating plate;

a trunk opening area measuring device;

an automobile model detecting sensor; and

a control computer, in which trunk opening areas of various automobile models measured by the trunk opening area measuring device, and sizes of LPG tanks of various automobile models are input, so that the control computer identifies a model of an automobile and adjusts the means for adjusting yaw, pitch, and roll of the rotating plate such that the LPG tank is oriented in a position allowing the LPG tank to be inserted into a trunk of the automobile without interference.

2. The automatic LPG tank insertion apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for selectively clamping the rotating plate to the LPG comprises:

a pair of clamping devices mounted to a rear surface of the rotating plate; and

a pneumatic pressure supply device that supplies pneumatic pressure to clamping cylinders provided in the clamping devices.

3. The automatic LPG tank insertion apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for adjusting the yaw, pitch, and roll of the rotating plate comprises:

a yaw adjusting motor mounted to a downwardly bent end of the support arm in a downward direction;

a pitch adjusting motor mounted to a yawing member, fastened to a rotating shaft of the yaw adjusting motor, in a lateral direction of the trunk; and

a roll adjusting motor mounted to a rotating shaft of the pitch adjusting motor in a forward-backward direction of the trunk with a rotating shaft fastened to a front surface of the rotating plate.

4. The automatic LPG tank insertion apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the control computer compares a size of the LPG tank to an area of the opening of the trunk and determines rotating angles of the means for adjusting the yaw, pitch, and roll of the rotating plate, such that a projected area of the rotated LPG tank is smaller than an area of an opening of the trunk.

5. The automatic LPG tank insertion apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a column rotating motor and a lift motor respectively provided in the rotary column and the lift body and controlled by the control computer such that the support arm is moved along a preset insertion path or returning path.

6. The automatic LPG tank insertion apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the yawing member has a rectangular frame shape that is open at a lower end thereof, the pitch adjusting motor is provided through a sidewall of the yawing member, and the roll adjusting motor is disposed between sidewalls of the yawing member.

7. The automatic LPG tank insertion apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the trunk opening area measuring device comprises:

a base unit;

a guide shaft provided at a medial position on each of two sidewalls of the base unit;

two guide plates provided on each guide shaft at a predetermined distance from one another;

a ruler shaft provided through the guide plates of each of the guide shafts and comprising;

a support provided on an end of the ruler shaft so that the support is brought into contact with an edge of an opening of the trunk; and

a plurality of gear notches on an outer surface of the ruler shaft; and

an encoder provided in one of the guide plates of each guide shaft, so that, while the ruler shaft is advanced from an initial position, at which the support contacts a stopper provided on an end of each guide shaft, the encoder counts the number of rotations of an inside gear, which engages with the gear notches, and sends the number of rotations of the inside gear to the control computer.