VEHICULAR BODY ASSEMBLY LOCKING APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 20170036720A1
• Filed: 10/25/2016
• Published: 02/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comau LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Comau LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Kilibarda, Velibor, Dugas, Michael R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,442,482 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/022 Transferring or handling sub-units or components, e.g. in work stations or between workstations and transportation systems
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/024 Positioning of sub-units or components with respect to body shell or other sub-units or components
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/026 by using a jig or the like; Positioning of the jig
• 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: F16B 9/056 the intermediate member extending through the flat surface; the rod or tubular part extending through the flat surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49622 Vehicular structural member making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49829 Advancing work to successive stations [i.e., assembly line]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53313 Means to interrelatedly feed plural work parts from plural sources without manual intervention
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5337 including assembly pallet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53435 including assembly pallet

Abstract

A vehicle body positioning and locking devices for use in assembling a vehicle body positioned on a movable vehicle support positioned at a vehicle build station. The locking device includes a remote vehicle locking device for selectively securing and locking a vehicle body to a support pallet. The support pallet is accurately and precisely positioned at a build station through alignment and inserting engagement of locating pads in at least one four-way and at least one two way receiver mounted to a build station foundation. A compliant body clamp design is included to provide a desired clamping force between the pallet and a vehicle body across a range of motion of the body clamp to accommodate vehicle build variances.

Claims

1. A method for locking a vehicle body to a vehicle body support located at a vehicle process station, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning a body clamp relative to a vehicle body support to a first open position;

positioning the vehicle body in engagement with the vehicle body support;

moving the body clamp along a path of travel toward a second closed position;

generating a predetermined clamping force on the vehicle body by the body clamp over a compliance range; and

locking the vehicle body to the vehicle body support when the body clamp reaches the second closed position.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of generating a predetermined clamping force over a compliance range comprises deforming a biasing member connected to the body clamp on abutting engagement of the body clamp with the vehicle body.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of deforming the biasing member further comprises the step of compressing a coil spring connected to the body clamp.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the coil spring is connected to a rod linked to a locking arm in selective communication with a remote actuator, the step of compressing the coil spring further comprises the steps of moving the rod downward thereby moving a hook portion of the body clamp downward in engagement with the vehicle body against a resistance force applied by the coil spring.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of selectively engaging a locking arm in connection with the body clamp with an actuator positioned at a vehicle process station.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of engaging the actuator with the locking arm further comprises rotating a crank arm connected to the actuator to rotate the locking arm connected to the body clamp.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the vehicle body support includes a pillar having a locating pin, the method further comprising:

positioning the body clamp substantially within the locating pin when the body clamp is in the first open position.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the compliance range is between zero (0) and three (3) millimeters (mm).

8. A method for positioning and remotely locking a vehicle body to a movable vehicle body support located at a vehicle process station, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning the vehicle body on a plurality of pallet pillars on a movable pallet;

transferring the pallet to the vehicle process station;

engaging one or more pallet locators with one or more pallet receivers located at the vehicle process station;

aligning a powered actuator positioned remotely at the vehicle process station with a locking arm connected to the vehicle body support;

engaging the remote actuator with the locking arm;

moving the locking arm connected to a body clamp positioned adjacent the vehicle body;

articulating the body clamp through a path of travel; and

engaging the body clamp with a portion of the vehicle body to lockingly secure the vehicle body to the vehicle body support.