EP2534032B1 - Device for transporting and/or storing a motor vehicle part - Google Patents

Description

• un support comportant deux rails longitudinaux parallèles ; et
• un système porteur destiné à être suspendu entre les deux rails, le système porteur comprenant un sac creux pour recevoir la pièce et deux crochets latéraux fixés sur le sac, chaque crochet délimitant une cavité longitudinale pour recevoir un rail et une fente pour insérer le rail dans la cavité.

The present invention relates to a device for transporting and / or storing a motor vehicle part of the type comprising:

• a support comprising two parallel longitudinal rails; and
• a carrier system to be suspended between the two rails, the carrier system comprising a hollow bag for receiving the workpiece and two lateral hooks attached to the bag, each hook defining a longitudinal cavity for receiving a rail and a slot for inserting the rail into the cavity.

Such a device is intended to store and transport a motor vehicle part during its manufacture or when assembled on the vehicle, in order to preserve the integrity of the part, especially when it passes from one item to another on a manufacturing line, or when it passes from a production site to an assembly site.

Such devices are known, for example according to the document US 2009/0028467 , in which the attachment of the carrier systems between the two rails is achieved by cooperating the cavities with the rails and sliding the hooks along the rails. The carrier systems are thus suspended one by one in a predetermined order.

However, to unhook one of the carrier systems of the rails, it is necessary to unhook beforehand in the reverse order of the predetermined order all the carrier systems that have been suspended as a result of the carrier system considered.

Such an operation is therefore tedious and can delay production, resulting in a decrease in productivity.

The object of the invention is to propose a device for transporting and / or storing a piece of a motor vehicle which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and which allows safe and easy handling of the carrier systems without affecting the productivity of the manufacture or the assembly of the room.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a device for transporting and / or storing a motor vehicle part of the aforementioned type, characterized in that at least one of the hooks is adapted to pivot around the rail when the rail is received in the cavity between an extraction position in which the rail can be extracted from the cavity through the slot and a locked position in which the hook is retained in engagement with the rail.

• dans la position verrouillée, chaque crochet est propre à coulisser le long du rail ;
• la cavité possède une forme sensiblement semi-cylindrique débouchante vers l'extérieur par la fente ;
• la fente possède une largeur supérieure à la largeur maximale du rail ;
• le rail présente une section transversale sensiblement en forme de D ;
• le crochet est fixé sur le sac par clippage et/ou rivetage ;
• le crochet est réalisé d'une seule pièce, notamment à partir d'une matière plastique ;
• le sac définit un espace de réception de la pièce délimité par deux parois transversales reliées l'une à l'autre par une paroi de fond et par une paroi de couvercle, chaque crochet étant fixé sur une extrémité opposée de la paroi de couvercle ou sur les parois transversales ;
• le sac est réalisé à partir d'une matière souple, notamment une matière textile ou une matière plastique ;
• le rail est fabriqué à partir d'une matière métallique, notamment en acier ;
• dans la position verrouillée, le crochet est incliné vers le bas ;
• le système porteur est mobile par rapport aux rails entre une position engagée dans laquelle le système porteur est suspendu entre les deux rails et une position dégagée dans laquelle le système porteur est placé à l'écart des rails, le système porteur étant apte à être déplacé depuis la position engagée vers la position dégagée dans une direction sensiblement identique à la direction dans laquelle la pièce est extraite hors du sac ; et
• il comprend des éléments de rigidification du sac disposés sur la paroi de couvercle et/ou sur la paroi de fond du sac.

The device according to the invention can comprise one or more of the following characteristics:

• in the locked position, each hook is slidable along the rail;
• the cavity has a substantially semi-cylindrical shape opening outwardly through the slot;
• the slot has a width greater than the maximum width of the rail;
• the rail has a cross section substantially D-shaped;
• the hook is fixed on the bag by clipping and / or riveting;
• the hook is made in one piece, in particular from a plastic material;
• the bag defines a space for receiving the part delimited by two transverse walls connected to each other by a bottom wall and by a cover wall, each hook being fixed on an opposite end of the cover wall or on the transverse walls;
• the bag is made from a flexible material, in particular a textile material or a plastic material;
• the rail is made from a metallic material, in particular steel;
• in the locked position, the hook is inclined downward;
• the carrier system is movable relative to the rails between an engaged position in which the carrier system is suspended between the two rails and an unobstructed position in which the carrier system is placed away from the rails, the carrier system being able to be moved from the engaged position to the disengaged position in a direction substantially the same as the direction in which the workpiece is extracted from the bag; and
• it comprises stiffening elements of the bag disposed on the cover wall and / or on the bottom wall of the bag.

• un sac creux ; et
• deux crochets latéraux fixés sur le sac, chaque crochet délimitant une cavité longitudinale et une fente,

caractérisé en ce que la cavité possède une forme sensiblement semi-cylindrique débouchante vers l'extérieur par la fente.The invention also relates to a carrier system intended to be suspended between two rails of a device for transporting and / or storing a motor vehicle part as described above, of the type comprising:

• a hollow bag; and
• two lateral hooks fixed on the bag, each hook delimiting a longitudinal cavity and a slot,

characterized in that the cavity has a substantially semi-cylindrical shape opening outwardly through the slot.

• fourniture d'un dispositif tel que défini ci-dessus, le système porteur comportant un crochet retenu en engagement avec le rail ;
• pivotement du crochet pour le déplacer dans sa position d'extraction ; et
• extraction du rail hors de la cavité à travers la fente.

The invention further relates to a method for transporting and / or storing a motor vehicle part comprising the following steps:

• providing a device as defined above, the carrier system comprising a hook retained in engagement with the rail;
• pivoting the hook to move it to its extraction position; and
• extracting the rail from the cavity through the slot.

• la Figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un dispositif selon l'invention ;
• la Figure 2 est une vue en perspective des rails du dispositif de la Figure 1 ;
• la Figure 3 est une vue en perspective d'un crochet du dispositif de la Figure 1 ;
• la Figure 4 est une vue en coupe verticale transversale du crochet de la Figure 3;
• la Figure 5 est une vue en coupe d'un rail de la Figure 2 et du crochet de la Figure 3 illustrant le crochet dans une position d'extraction ;
• la Figure 6 est une vue similaire à celle de la Figure 5 montrant le crochet dans une position verrouillée ; et
• la Figure 7 est une vue analogue à la Figure 3 d'un deuxième mode de réalisation du crochet.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• the Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention;
• the Figure 2 is a perspective view of the rails of the device of the Figure 1 ;
• the Figure 3 is a perspective view of a device hook of the Figure 1 ;
• the Figure 4 is a cross-sectional vertical view of the hook of the Figure 3 ;
• the Figure 5 is a sectional view of a rail of the Figure 2 and the hook of the Figure 3 illustrating the hook in an extraction position;
• the Figure 6 is a view similar to that of the Figure 5 showing the hook in a locked position; and
• the Figure 7 is a view similar to the Figure 3 a second embodiment of the hook.

The Figure 1 illustrates a device 10 for transporting and / or storing a motor vehicle part, in particular a substantially flat piece such as a door panel.

The device 10 comprises a support 12 and a system 14 carrying the part hung on the support 12.

The support 12 comprises a container (not shown) provided with two rails 16 parallel to each other and extending in a substantially longitudinal direction.

With reference to the Figure 2 , the rails 16 are identical and arranged symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal vertical plane.

Each rail 16 has a substantially D-shaped cross-section, the right arm 18 of the D being oriented substantially vertically and the semi-circular arm 20 of the D extending and projecting from the right arm 18 outwardly away from the other rail 16.

The rails 16 have a maximum width lrmax less than 17 mm.

The rails 16 are made from a metal material, especially steel.

The carrier system 14 is intended to be suspended between the two rails 16 and comprises a hollow bag 22 for receiving the piece and two lateral hooks 24 fixed on the bag 22 for hanging the bag 22 on the rails 16.

As shown on the Figure 1 the bag 22 defines a space 26 for receiving the part delimited by two transverse walls 28 connected to one another by a bottom wall 30, a cover wall 32 and two longitudinal walls 34.

The transverse walls 28 have a substantially rectangular shape and are arranged substantially parallel to a transverse vertical plane.

The bottom walls 30 and cover 32 have a substantially rectangular shape and are arranged substantially parallel to a horizontal plane.

The longitudinal walls 34 have a substantially rectangular shape and are arranged substantially parallel to a longitudinal vertical plane.

The receiving space 26 is accessible, for example by opening one of the longitudinal walls 34, so as to allow insertion / removal of the piece in / out of the bag 22 in a substantially transverse direction. But, depending on the type of hook 24 chosen and its associated method of attachment, the receiving space 26 can also be accessible by opening the lid wall 32, the insertion / removal of the parts then being made in a substantially vertical direction .

The bag 22 is made from a flexible material, in particular a textile material or from a plastic material such as a tarpaulin.

In the example shown on the Figure 1 , the device 10 comprises stiffening elements of the bag 22, for example in the form of two plates 36 fixed in the vicinity of the opposite ends 38 of the cover wall 32 and a panel (not shown) attached to the bottom wall 30 .

The stiffening elements of the bag 22 not only stiffen the bag 22 when the piece is inserted into the receiving space 26, limiting any risk of tearing of the bag 22, but they also allow to give the bag 22 a better stability when transport and / or storage of the part.

The hooks 24 are identical and can each be attached to an opposite end 38 of the cover wall 32, according to the embodiment shown in FIG. Figure 1 , or on the transverse walls 28 when the carrier system is equipped with hooks corresponding to that shown in FIG. Figure 7 .

With reference to the Figure 3 each hook 24 comprises a central portion 40 for attachment to the bag 22 extended on either side in one direction by a counterweight portion 42 and in the opposite direction by a suspension portion 44.

The attachment portion 40 has a substantially rectangular flange 46 and a hinge 48 attached to a lower surface 50 of the flange 46.

The hinge 48 is intended to be clipped on one end 38 of the cover wall 32 to fix the hook 24 on the bag 22.

Orifices 52 are formed through the flange 46 and the hinge 48 to provide additional attachment of the hook 24 on the bag 22, in particular by riveting.

The counterweight portion 42 has a tongue 54 which extends substantially perpendicularly from the flange 46.

The tongue 54 is advantageously intended to be inserted between the cover wall 32 and the corresponding stiffening plate 36 ( Figure 1 ) so as to distribute the weight of the bag 22 along the cover wall 32, and not only at the opposite ends 38.

Of course, this method of fixing the hook 24 to the bag 22 is in no way limiting. By way of example, the hook 24 may be in the embodiment shown in FIG. Figure 7 . In this embodiment, the attachment portion 40 has two arms 64, 66 disposed at each lateral end of the flange 46 and extending substantially in a transverse vertical plane.

Orifices 68 allow the tabs 64, 66 to be fastened to the transverse walls 28, in particular by riveting, thus leaving the cover wall 32 free.

According to this embodiment, the cover wall 32 can then be mobile for top loading of the bag 22.

The suspension portion 44 delimits a longitudinal cavity 56 for receiving a rail 16 and a slot 58 for inserting the rail 16 into the cavity 56.

The cavity 56 extends along the flange 46 and has a substantially semi-cylindrical shape emerging outwards through the slot 58.

The semi-cylindrical shape of the cavity 56 is substantially complementary to that of the semicircular branch 20 of the rail 16.

The cavity 56 thus has an internal radius slightly greater than the maximum width lrmax of the rail 16.

As illustrated on the Figure 4 , the slot 58 is oriented downwards and slightly inclined relative to the vertical with an angle α less than 30 °, preferably less than 20 °.

The slot 58 has a width If greater than the maximum width lrmax of the rail 16.

The hook 24 comprises reinforcing elements 60 ( Figure 3 ), for example in the form of ribs 60A disposed on the portions 40 and 44 of the hook 24 and in the form of crosspieces 60B made on the surface of the portion 42 of the hook 24.

The hook 24 is made in one piece, in particular from a plastic material.

The hook 24 is thus adapted to cooperate with the rail 16 so that, when the rail 16 is received in the cavity 56, the hook 24 is able to slide along the rail 16 and to pivot about the rail 16 between an extraction position ( Figure 5 ) and a locked position ( Figure 6 ).

In the extraction position shown on the Figure 5 the hook 24 is inclined upwards with respect to the horizontal by an angle substantially equal to α so that the slot 58 is oriented substantially downward, one of the edges 62A of the cavity 56 delimiting the slot 58 being in contact with the semicircular branch 20 of the rail 16 while the opposite edge 62B is disposed away from the rail 16.

In this extraction position, the rail 16 is housed inside the cavity 56, its semicircular branch 20 being at least partially in contact with the inner surface of the cavity 56. It can be extracted from the cavity 56 through the slot 58, in particular by moving the hook 24 vertically relative to the rail 16.

In the locked position illustrated on the Figure 6 the hook 24 is inclined downwards with respect to the horizontal by an angle substantially equal to β which depends on the weight of the part, the two edges 62A, 62B of the cavity 56 being in contact with the semicircular branch 20 of the rail 16.

In this locked position, the rail 16 is housed inside the cavity 56 and is retained in engagement with the hook 24. The rail 16 can not be removed from the cavity 56, especially when the hook 24 is biased vertically.

The carrier system 14 is movable relative to the rails 16 between an engaged position in which the carrier system 14 is suspended between the two rails 16 and an unobstructed position in which the carrier system 14 is placed away from the rails 16. The displacement of the carrier system 14 from the engaged position to the disengaged position is effected in a substantially transverse direction, i.e. in a direction substantially identical to the direction in which the workpiece is extracted out of the bag 22 in the case of the embodiment shown at Figure 1 .

The operation of the device 10 is explained below.

According to the embodiment shown in Figure 1 , the hooks 24 are fixed beforehand on the bag 22 by inserting the counterweight portions 42 between the cover wall 32 and the stiffening plates 36, by clipping the hinges 48 and riveting the fastening portions 40 with the aid of the orifices 52 on the opposite ends 38 of the cover wall 32.

According to the variant made with hooks corresponding to that shown in Figure 7 the hooks 24 can be fixed by riveting each arm 64, 66 with the orifices 68 on a transverse wall 28. Each hook 24 is then fixed to the two transverse walls 28.

Thus, when a user wishes to transport a part of a motor vehicle, for example a door panel, from one site to another, for example from a production site to an assembly site, or for storage purposes, the piece, it opens one of the longitudinal walls 34 or the cover wall 32 of the bag 22, according to the embodiment of the hooks 24, and places the door panel in the receiving space 26 in a substantially transverse direction.

It then moves the carrier system 14 from the disengaged position away from the rails 16 to the engaged position on the rails 16 in a substantially transverse direction.

It then inclines the hooks 24 upwards by an angle α relative to the horizontal and inserts the rails 16 in the cavities 56 by the slots 58, keeping the inclination of the hook 24.

The hooks are thus in their extraction position ( Figure 5 ).

The user then releases the carrier system 14.

The hooks 24, under the weight of the door panel, are rotated and pivot downwardly around the rails 16 to their locked position ( Figure 6 ).

The carrier system 14 is thus suspended between the rails 16.

If the user wishes to transport and / or store several door panels at the same time, it suffices to slide the hooks 24 along the rails 16 so as to clear space and repeat the operations described above as many times as possible. There are door panels to hang.

The hooks 24 retain their locked position so that the risk that they escape the rails 16 is limited or even eliminated.

When the user wishes to use one of the suspended door panels, it is sufficient for him to rotate the hooks 24 of the corresponding carrier system 14 around the rails 16 from their locked position to their extraction position, and then to extract the rails 16 cavities 56 by the slots 58.

The carrier system 14 is thus released from the rails 16 and it is then sufficient for the user to move the carrier system 14 in a substantially transverse direction, to open one of the longitudinal walls 34 or the cover wall 32 of the bag 22 and to extracting the door panel from the receiving space 26 in a substantially transverse or vertical direction.

This also makes it possible to rearrange the order of storage of the various carrier systems 14 carried by the rails 16, without having to remove a large number of carrier systems 14.

The invention therefore proposes a simple and economical device to manufacture which allows a safe and easy handling of the carrier systems.

Indeed, the device according to the invention not only allows to hang the carrier systems of the parts on the rails of the container in a very simple way, without having to do it in a predetermined order, but it also allows to unhook them all as simple and random.

Moreover, according to the embodiment shown in Figure 1 , the device according to the invention allows to move the carrier system relative to the rails in a direction substantially identical to the direction in which the piece is inserted / extracted in / out of the bag.

The handling times of the parts are thus reduced, resulting in the same way lower production costs of the motor vehicles concerned.

In addition, during transport and / or storage, the parts are protected by the carrier systems bags that can not, because of the locked position of the hooks, detach from the rails.

In addition, the manufacture of plastic hooks and bags made of textile or plastic material makes it possible to obtain support systems that are light and simple to manufacture.

Moreover, the design of the hooks and their attachment to the bags makes it possible to adapt the invention to any type of bag present on the market.

Claims (14)

1. A device (10) for transporting and/or storing a motor vehicle part, including:

   - a mounting (12) comprising two parallel longitudinal rails (16); and

   - a support system (14) intended to be suspended between both rails (16), the support system (14) including a hollow bag (22) for receiving the part and two side hooks (24) that are attached onto the bag (22), each hook (24) defining a longitudinal cavity (56), for receiving a rail (16), and a slit (58) for inserting the rail (16) into the cavity (56),

   characterized in that at least one of the hooks (24) is capable of pivoting around the rail (16) when the rail (16) is received in the cavity (56) between a removing position, in which the rail (16) can be removed from the cavity (56) through the slit (58), and a locked position, in which the hook (24) is locked onto the rail (16).
2. The device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that in the locked position, each hook (24) can slide along the rail (16).
3. The device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cavity (56) has a substantially semi-cylindrical shape emerging toward the outside through the slit (58).
4. The device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the slit (58) has a width (lf) larger than the maximum width (lrmax) of the rail (16).
5. The device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the rail (16) has a substantially D-shaped transverse section.
6. The device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the hook (24) is attached on the bag (22) by clipping and/or riveting.
7. The device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the hook (24) is made in a single piece, in particular from a plastic material.
8. The device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the bag (22) defines a space (26) for receiving the part defined by two transverse walls (28) connected to one another by a bottom wall (30) and a cover wall (32), each hook (24) being fastened on an opposite end (38) of the cover wall (32) or on the transverse walls (28).
9. The device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the bag (22) is made from a flexible material, in particular a textile or a plastic.
10. The device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the rail (16) is made from a metal material, in particular steel.
11. The device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that in the locked position, the hook (24) is tilted downward.
12. The device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the support system (14) can move relative to the rails (16) between an engaged position, in which the support system (14) is suspended between the two rails (16), and a freed position, in which the support system (14) is placed spaced away from the rails (16), the support system (14) being able to be moved from the engaged position toward the freed position in a direction substantially identical to the direction in which the piece is removed outside the bag (22).
13. A support system (14) designed to be suspended between two rails (16) of a device (10) for transporting and/or storing a motor vehicle part according to any one of claims 1 to 12, of the type including:

    - a hollow bag (22); and

    - two side hooks (24) attached on the bag (22), each hook (24) defining a longitudinal cavity (56) and a slit (58), at least one of the hooks (24) is capable of pivoting around the rail (16) when the rail (16) is received in the cavity (56) between a removing position, in which the rail (16) can be removed from the cavity (56) through the slit (58), and a locked position, in which the hook (24) is locked onto the rail (16),

    characterized in that the cavity (56) has a substantially semi-cylindrical shape emerging toward the outside through a slit (58).
14. A method for transporting and/or storing a motor vehicle part including the following steps:

    - providing a device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, the support system (4) comprising a hook (24) kept engaged with the rail (16);

    - pivoting the hook (24) to move it into its removing position; and

    - removing the rail (16) outside the cavity (56) through the slit (58).

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