Vehicle side glass setting apparatus

• US 8,096,044 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2009
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Roach, Jerald P., Geill, Jeffery L., Hirschmann, David F., Kleinhoffer, Richard, Bou-Waked, Claude, Holland, Richard Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, John C
• Application Number:
  US12/402,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20090229116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 297/09, 297/14, 297/12, 297/20, 294/070.5, 294/070.4, 901/7, 901/9
• US Class Current: 29/709
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/06 the sub-units or components being doors, windows, openable roofs, lids, bonnets, or weather strips or seals therefor assembling sealing arrangements with vehicle parts, e.g. doors, windows B60J10/45
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53039 with control means energized in response to activator stimulated by condition sensor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53061 Responsive to work or work-related machine element

Abstract

An apparatus for setting side glass in a convertible vehicle body, prior to assembly of a convertible top on the vehicle body, includes a fixture adapted to engage multiple convertible top locating points on the vehicle'"'"'s header and rear deck-lid shelf. Sensors mounted on the fixture detect the position of the raised side glass relative to the locating points and provide relative position information to an assembly operator, for example, through use of LED arrays, whereby the assembly operator can quickly set the side glass to a target position with which to achieve a desired side glass engagement with the convertible top, upon subsequent assembly of the convertible top to the vehicle body.

Claims

1. An apparatus for setting a side glass in a convertible vehicle body prior to assembly of a convertible top on the vehicle body, the vehicle body including a plurality of locating points for positioning and securing the convertible top on the vehicle body, the apparatus comprising:

a fixture adapted to engage the locating points and the side glass so as to mimic engagement of the convertible top with the vehicle body when the side glass is disposed in a baseline raised position relative to the vehicle body;

a plurality of sensors mounted on the fixture for detecting cross-car and up-down position of the side glass relative to the locating points;

a processor in electronic communication with the sensors for receiving the detected cross-car and up-down position of the side glass, the processor operative to generate position data of the side glass relative to a predetermined side glass target position; and

a display panel in electronic communication with the processor for receipt of the position data, the display panel operative to display a position of the side glass relative to a predetermined side glass target position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display panel is disposed in proximity with the side glass.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the display panel includes an array of light-emitting diodes to visually characterize the relative position of the side glass from the target position.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fixture includes a locating pin adapted to engage a respective one of the locating points.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fixture includes a rest pad adapted to engage a respective one of the locating points.