Quick-disconnect work support assembly
AssigneesFori Automation, Inc., Chrysler Group LLC
InventorsPaul George Doan, Brad Holoday, Michael D. Kelly, Gordon W. Smith, James J. Phlypo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plate pin assembly for use with a fixture that holds multiple plate pin assemblies for use in chassis-body marriage during the manufacturing of automobiles. The plate pin assembly has a lower end that fits into a bushing hole on the fixture to attach the plate pin assembly to the fixture, an upper end that supports or otherwise interacts with the vehicle chassis or body, and a quick-disconnect mechanism to enable fast changeover of the plate pin assemblies on the fixture when switching from one vehicle application to another.
Claims24
A work support assembly for use with a work holding fixture, comprising:
- a base adapted to be mounted against the work holding fixture;
- a work support member carried by the base;
- a quick-disconnect mechanism carried by the base and adapted to couple the work support assembly to the work holding fixture;
- and
- an actuator carried by the base for actuating the quick-disconnect mechanism to disconnect the work support assembly from the work holding fixture.
A work support assembly for use with a work holding fixture, comprising:
- a base adapted to be mounted against the work holding fixture, wherein the base includes a passage extending therethrough;
- a quick-disconnect mechanism carried by the base and adapted to couple the work support assembly to the work holding fixture, wherein the quick-disconnect mechanism includes:
- a housing extending through the base passage and being adapted to extend at least partially into a bushing hole of the work holding fixture;
- at least one movable element at least partially carried by the housing;
- a plunger extending through the housing for cooperating with the at least one movable element;
- and
- a resilient member carried between the housing and the plunger;
- a pedestal mounted to the base;
- a substantially hollow work support member mounted to and extending in a longitudinal direction away from the pedestal, and including sidewalls having at least one slot extending longitudinally therethrough;
- and
- an actuator pivotably mounted to the pedestal and extending through the at least one slot of the work support member for engaging the plunger and actuating the quick-disconnect mechanism to release the work support assembly from the work holding fixture;
- wherein the resilient member biases the plunger against the actuator and the at least one movable element.
A work holder assembly, comprising:
- a work holding fixture including a plurality of bushing holes;
- and
- a plurality of work support assemblies coupled to the plurality of bushing holes of the work holding fixture, wherein at least two of the plurality of work support assemblies include quick-disconnect mechanisms and locating features that are spaced apart different distances for inhibiting incorrect assembly of the work support assemblies to the work holding fixture.
An interchangeable plate pin assembly, comprising:
- a base;
- a handle carried by the base and including a work support member and a trigger for actuation during installation or removal of the plate pin assembly;
- and
- an attachment mechanism operably coupled to the handle, wherein actuation of the trigger disengages the attachment mechanism so that the assembly can be inserted into or removed from a bushing hole.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.