System and method of assembling a vehicle body garnish
AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorJohn E. Werling
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle assembly comprises a structural component that defines a portion of a vehicle body and a garnish member. The structural component is formed of a first metal. The garnish member is formed of the first metal and is fixedly attached via welding or hemming directly to the structural component in a same welding station of a vehicle assembly line as the assembly of the structural component. The garnish member includes a body having an outer surface which defines an exterior surface of the vehicle body.
Claims20
A vehicle assembly comprising:
- a structural component that defines a portion of a vehicle body, the structural component is formed of a first metal and includes an outer panel member secured to an inner panel member;
- and
- a garnish member formed of the first metal and fixedly attached via welding or hemming directly to the outer panel member of the structural component in a same welding station of a vehicle assembly line as the assembly of the structural component, each of the outer panel member and the garnish member having an outer surface which defines an exterior surface of the vehicle body.
A system for assembling a vehicle body comprising:
- a vehicle assembly line having a plurality of stations including a welding station and a paint station located downstream of the welding station, the welding station is adapted to receive and weld an outer panel member to an inner panel member, the outer panel member and inner panel member together define a structural component of a vehicle body, the structural component is formed of a first metal, the same welding station is further adapted to receive a garnish member formed of the first metal and weld the garnish member directly to the outer panel of the structural component, the outer panel member together with the garnish member define an exterior surface of the vehicle body;
- and the painting station is adapted to receive and paint the structural component and the garnish member welded thereto.
A method of assembling a vehicle body comprising:
- providing an outer panel member and an inner panel member in a vehicle assembly line, the outer panel member and the inner panel member together defining a vehicle body structural component formed of a first metal;
- transferring the outer panel member and the inner panel member of the structural component to a welding station of the vehicle assembly line;
- assembling the structural component by welding the outer panel member to the inner panel member in the welding station
- providing a garnish member formed of the first metal, the garnish member defines an exterior surface of the vehicle body, and transferring the garnish member to the welding station;
- setting the garnish member in position relative to the assembled structural component in the welding station;
- and
- welding the garnish member directly to the structural component in the welding station.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.