# US 9,038,807 B2 · Motor vehicle assembly line

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- Number: US 9,038,807 B2
- Document ID: US9038807B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/667,240
- Filed: 2012-11-02
- Published: 2013-05-09
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2011-11-03
- Assignees: Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A.
- Applicants: Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A.
- Inventors: Denny Monti; Giulio Talarico; Marco Cavaglia′; Elio Tordella; Salvatore Fazio
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038807B2

## CPC

- B62D 65/18: Transportation, conveyor or haulage systems specially adapted for motor vehicle or trailer assembly lines {(conveyors and haulage in general B65G)}
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)

## Abstract

An assembly line, wherein at least one operating branch of fixed length accommodates a number of platforms aligned with one another and with a given travelling direction; each platform being designed to receive a respective vehicle body, feed it in the travelling direction, and subject it to a succession of n assembly operations along the operating branch; each platform being designed for connection to at least one longitudinal extension to assume a total length, which depends on the length of the body carried, and ranges between a minimum length equal to the length of the platform with no extension, and a maximum length; and the length of the operating branch being equal to n times the maximum length.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A motor vehicle assembly line designed to assume different configurations to assemble different motor vehicle bodies;
the assembly line comprising at least one operating branch of a fixed length, regardless of the chosen configuration; the operating branch comprising a number of platforms aligned with one another along a given travelling direction; and each platform being designed to receive a respective body, feed it in said travelling direction, and subject it to a succession of n assembly operations along said operating branch;
each platform being designed to be coupled to at least one longitudinal extension to assume a total length of a platform, which depends on the length of the body to be carried, wherein the total length of the platform is configurable to be a minimum length equal to the length of the platform without said extension coupled to the platform, and a maximum length of the platform equal to the length of the platform with said extension coupled to the platform;
the fixed length of the operating branch being equal to n times said maximum length of the platform;
wherein the at least one longitudinal extension is designed to be removably mounted to the respective platform; and
wherein each platform comprises a substantially rectangular first frame defined on top by a walk-on surface and fitted at its longitudinal ends with first connecting means; and each extension comprises a second frame of the same width as the first frame and fitted at one longitudinal end with second connecting means, the second connecting means cooperating with the first connecting means to connect the extension rigidly to the first frame.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An assembly line as claimed in claim 1, wherein the platforms have all the same total length.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

An assembly line as claimed in claim 1, wherein the platforms are arranged to contact end to end along the operating branch , so as to form a continuous conveying surface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

An assembly line as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating branch comprises a friction push device for moving the platforms along the operating branch and in the travelling direction at a given constant speed.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

An assembly line as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating branch comprises a conveyor comprising rail means arranged to extend in the travelling direction and slidably coupled to the platforms to guide the platforms along the operating branch.