Vehicle door lubricant application systems and methods of applying lubricant to vehicle doors
AssigneesToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsMichael J. Faulkner, Jarett M. McGeorge, Aquiles N. Elgueta, Logan H. Coomer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle door lubricant application system includes a pump connected to a fluid line that is connected to a fluid reservoir. The pump is configured to provide a preselected amount of a lubricant to a spray nozzle assembly. The spray nozzle assembly is configured to dispense the lubricant. A sensing device is configured to detect presence of a vehicle door. The sensing device is configured to provide a signal in response to the presence of the vehicle door that is used to activate the pump.
Claims11
A vehicle door lubricant application system comprising:
- a pump connected to a fluid line that is connected to a fluid reservoir of a lubricant tank, the pump configured to provide a preselected amount of a lubricant to a spray nozzle assembly, the spray nozzle assembly configured to dispense the lubricant;
- and
- a sensing device configured to detect presence of a vehicle door as the vehicle door is conveyed automatically using a conveyor to the sensing device, the sensing device configured to provide a signal in response to the presence of the vehicle door on the conveyor that is used to activate the pump;
- wherein the spray nozzle assembly is configured to direct the lubricant from an overhead support structure downward toward a door weather strip or glass run channel of the vehicle door that is below and spaced away from the spray nozzle assembly and overhead support structure.
A method of providing lubricant automatically to a vehicle door, the method comprising:
- conveying the vehicle door toward a sensing device automatically using a conveyor;
- sensing the presence of the vehicle door using a sensing device as the vehicle door is conveyed automatically using the conveyor to the sensing device, the sensing device providing a signal to a timing device upon detecting the presence of the vehicle door;
- and
- upon receipt of the signal, the timing device activating a pump, the pump providing the lubricant to a spray nozzle assembly during activation of the pump, the spray nozzle assembly spraying the lubricant onto the vehicle door;
- wherein the spray nozzle assembly directing the lubricant from an overhead support structure downward toward a door weather strip or glass run channel of the vehicle door that is below and spaced away from the spray nozzle assembly and overhead support structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.