Vehicular assembly support positioning method
AssigneeComau S.p.A.
InventorsVelibor Kilibarda, Michael R. Dugas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for positioning a vehicle assembly support device in a vehicle assembly station positioned along an assembly line. The method includes use of a plurality of locator pads selectively engaged with respective receiver sockets to position a vehicle support pallet in the X and Y coordinate directions. Vertical supports are used to position the vehicle support pallet in the Z coordinate direction. In one example, at least one receiver is a four-way positional receiver and at least one receiver is a two-way positional receiver. In another example, each receiver socket includes rollers which engage the respective locator pad to bias the vehicle support pallet towards the desired X and Y coordinate position.
Claims12
A method for accurately and precisely positioning a vehicle support device at a vehicle build station, the method comprising the steps of:
- removably securing a partially completed vehicle body to a movable vehicle support pallet (10);
- moving the support pallet along a production line to a build station;
- moving the support pallet in a Z-dimensional direction relative to a vehicle foundation (20);
- engaging a plurality of locator pads with a respective at least one four-way receiver and at least one two-way receiver to temporarily fixedly secure the position of the pallet in the X and Y dimensional directions relative to the vehicle foundation;
- and
- engaging the plurality of locator pads with a respective vertical support to temporarily fixedly secure the position of the pallet in the Z-dimensional direction.
A method for accurately and precisely positioning a vehicle support device at a vehicle build station, the method comprising the steps of:
- removably securing a partially completed vehicle body to a movable vehicle support pallet (10);
- moving the support pallet along a production line to a build station;
- moving the support pallet in a Z-dimensional direction relative to a vehicle foundation (20);
- engaging a plurality of locator pads with a respective at least one four-way receiver and at least one two-way receiver to position the pallet in the X and Y dimensional directions further comprising:
- positioning each of the locator pads in a respective socket base defining a socket;
- and
- rollingly engaging the locator pad between two opposing rollers diametrically positioned about the socket;
- and
- engaging the plurality of locator pads with a respective vertical support to position the pallet in the Z-dimensional direction.
A method for accurately and precisely positioning a vehicle support device at a vehicle build station, the method comprising the steps of:
- moving a vehicle support structure along a production line to a build station;
- moving the vehicle support structure in a vertical Z-dimensional direction relative to a foundation structure;
- engaging at least two locator pads with a respective receiver having a socket base defining a socket;
- rollingly engaging each locator pad between two opposing rollers diametrically positioned about the socket and connected to the socket base;
- positioning each of the locator pads in a respective socket to temporarily fixedly secure the position of the vehicle support structure in a predetermined horizontal X and Y dimensional location;
- and
- engaging each of the locator pads with a respective vertical support to temporarily fixedly secure the position of the vehicle support structure in a predetermined vertical Z-dimensional location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.