Device for assembling, tuning, and testing motor vehicles

• US 7,478,470 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2003
• Issued: 01/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Durr AG
• Original Assignee: Durr AG
• Inventors: Thomer, Klaus Werner, Mogck, Gerhard, De Moliere, Frédéric, Tentrup, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Cadugan; Erica E
• Application Number:
  US10/538,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20060150394A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,876 Days
• Field of Search: 295/641, 295/64, 295/647, 29/33.K, 29/33.P, 297/83, 297/91, 298/22, 295/60, 294/29, 294/30, 294/31, 198/465.1, 198/860.2, 198/861.1, 198/861.2, 198/465.4, 198/687.1, 198/678.1, 198/681, 198/950
• US Class Current: 29/564.1
• 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: Y10T 29/49829 Advancing work to successive stations [i.e., assembly line]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/50 Convertible metal working machine
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5124 with means to feed work intermittently from one tool station to another
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5137 including assembling or disassembling station
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5191 Assembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/534 Multiple station assembly or disassembly apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53539 including work conveyor

Abstract

A device for assembling, tuning and testing motor vehicles may be installed anywhere in a flat hall without modifying the ceiling or floor and is transportable. The device may be assembled from individual, transportable, modular, interconnectable components that can be installed on a flat surface without using pits or creating floor load. The device encompasses the conveying mechanisms and assembly units for the motor vehicles to be assembled.

Claims

1. A device for assembling motor vehicles comprising:

(a) a plurality of conveying mechanisms, said plurality of conveying mechanisms comprising a conveying mechanism for overhead conveyance of a motor vehicle following assembly out of an assembly hall; and

(b) a plurality of assembly units for the motor vehicle;

wherein the conveying mechanisms and the assembly units comprise individual, transportable, modular, interconnectable components installable on a flat surface without using a pit.

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a vehicle test rig comprising a plurality of motor-driven elements;

the motor vehicle having vehicle wheels set in rotation or braked by said motor-driven elements acting laterally upon the wheels.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the motor vehicle has tires and the motor-driven elements act on the tires.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the motor vehicle has wheel rims and the motor-driven elements act on the wheel rims.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein the motor vehicle has wheel hubs and the motor-driven elements act on the wheel hubs.

6. The device according to claim 1, further comprising means for automatically performing selected function tests.