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.
Claims9
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.
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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.