Vehicular body assembly locking apparatus and method
AssigneeComau S.p.A.
InventorsVelibor Kilibarda, Michael R. Dugas
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims11
A method for locking a vehicle body to a vehicle body support located at a vehicle process station, the method comprising steps of:
- positioning a body clamp relative to the 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 clamping force compliance range, wherein generating the predetermined clamping force comprises deforming a biasing member connected to the body clamp on abutting engagement of the body clamp with the vehicle body;
- and
- locking the vehicle body to the vehicle body support when the body clamp reaches the second closed position.
A method for locking a vehicle body to a vehicle body support located at a vehicle process station, the method comprising steps of:
- positioning a body clamp relative to the vehicle body support to a first open position;
- positioning the vehicle body in engagement with the vehicle body support;
- selectively engaging a locking arm in connection with the body clamp with an actuator positioned at a vehicle process station, wherein selectively engaging the locking arm further comprises rotating a crank arm connected to the actuator to rotate the locking arm connected to the body clamp;
- 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 clamping force compliance range;
- and
- locking the vehicle body to the vehicle body support when the body clamp reaches the second closed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.