Vehicular assembly support positioning method
First Claim
1. A method for accurately and precisely positioning a vehicle support device at a vehicle build station, the method comprising the steps of:
- removably securing a partially completed vehicle body to a movable vehicle support pallet (10);
moving the support pallet along a production line to a build station;
moving the support pallet in a Z-dimensional direction relative to a vehicle foundation (20);
engaging a plurality of locator pads with a respective at least one four-way receiver and at least one two-way receiver to temporarily fixedly secure the position of the pallet in the X and Y dimensional directions relative to the vehicle foundation; and
engaging the plurality of locator pads with a respective vertical support to temporarily fixedly secure the position of the pallet in the Z-dimensional direction.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for positioning a vehicle assembly support device in a vehicle assembly station positioned along an assembly line. The method includes use of a plurality of locator pads selectively engaged with respective receiver sockets to position a vehicle support pallet in the X and Y coordinate directions. Vertical supports are used to position the vehicle support pallet in the Z coordinate direction. In one example, at least one receiver is a four-way positional receiver and at least one receiver is a two-way positional receiver. In another example, each receiver socket includes rollers which engage the respective locator pad to bias the vehicle support pallet towards the desired X and Y coordinate position.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method for accurately and precisely positioning a vehicle support device at a vehicle build station, the method comprising the steps of:
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removably securing a partially completed vehicle body to a movable vehicle support pallet (10); moving the support pallet along a production line to a build station; moving the support pallet in a Z-dimensional direction relative to a vehicle foundation (20); engaging a plurality of locator pads with a respective at least one four-way receiver and at least one two-way receiver to temporarily fixedly secure the position of the pallet in the X and Y dimensional directions relative to the vehicle foundation; and engaging the plurality of locator pads with a respective vertical support to temporarily fixedly secure the position of the pallet in the Z-dimensional direction. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method for accurately and precisely positioning a vehicle support device at a vehicle build station, the method comprising the steps of:
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removably securing a partially completed vehicle body to a movable vehicle support pallet (10); moving the support pallet along a production line to a build station; moving the support pallet in a Z-dimensional direction relative to a vehicle foundation (20); engaging a plurality of locator pads with a respective at least one four-way receiver and at least one two-way receiver to position the pallet in the X and Y dimensional directions further comprising; positioning each of the locator pads in a respective socket base defining a socket; and rollingly engaging the locator pad between two opposing rollers diametrically positioned about the socket; and engaging the plurality of locator pads with a respective vertical support to position the pallet in the Z-dimensional direction. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for accurately and precisely positioning a vehicle support device at a vehicle build station, the method comprising the steps of:
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moving a vehicle support structure along a production line to a build station; moving the vehicle support structure in a vertical Z-dimensional direction relative to a foundation structure; engaging at least two locator pads with a respective receiver having a socket base defining a socket; rollingly engaging each locator pad between two opposing rollers diametrically positioned about the socket and connected to the socket base; positioning each of the locator pads in a respective socket to temporarily fixedly secure the position of the vehicle support structure in a predetermined horizontal X and Y dimensional location; and engaging each of the locator pads with a respective vertical support to temporarily fixedly secure the position of the vehicle support structure in a predetermined vertical Z-dimensional location. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification