EP2647590A1

EP2647590A1 - Precision handling equipment for machinery and the automotive sector

Info

Publication number: EP2647590A1
Application number: EP12385202.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Philippe Hofellin; Xabier Arrizabalaga; Egoitz Aranberri
Original assignee: SNA Europe Industries Iberia SA
Current assignee: SNA Europe Industries Iberia SA
Priority date: 2012-04-04
Filing date: 2012-04-04
Publication date: 2013-10-09

Abstract

Precision handling equipment for machinery or the automotive sector to be used as a complement to the movable vertical lifting platform which is used in the holding and repair of machinery and in the automotive sector in respect of the handling of components such as electric batteries, gear casing, gear-boxes, engines or the like, said precision handling equipment (1) consisting of a movable runnered frame (3) with various rolling elements (5) and at least one reference complementary orifice (6), which is of greater width than the cross-section of the corresponding reference vertical rod (2b) which passes through it and which is connected to an anchor-base (2a) secured to the platform (7) accommodating the precision handling equipment (1), there being at least one reference vertical rod (2b), said setup allowing the range of rolling of the movable runnered frame (3) to match the difference in dimension between reference complementary orifice (6) and reference vertical rod (2b); both in the two directions perpendicular to the plane and in any rotation and there being a securing element (2c) which allows the desired specific position to be immobilised.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to precision handling equipment for machinery and the automotive sector, which is specially designed to perform precision movements and rotations on parts of great size or weight.

PRIOR ART

Generally speaking in the automotive sector and in other industrial applications there are large-sized and heavyweight components (gear-boxes, gear casing, electric batteries, heat and/or electric engines, hydraulic and/or air motors etc.,) that require great precision in order to be placed in their working position.
In workshop facilities hoists are customarily used to set the vehicle in an elevated position giving easy access to the lower part thereof and making it easier to handle components in respect of said part. The operator uses a movable vertical lifting platform set underneath the component to be disassembled. After performing the operation, he lowers the movable vertical lifting platform so that said component can be repaired and/or replaced. This system presents a serious difficulty in that in many cases the components being handled are of great weight as is the case with the electric batteries used to drive hybrid vehicles, which can weigh up to 400 kgs. Movable vertical lifting platforms incorporate in the lower part thereof a cradle suitably shaped to seat the component for handling (electric batteries, gear-boxes, clutches, heat and/or electric engines, hydraulic and/or air motors). When the time comes to refit the components great precision is required. Ground markings are currently used to set the lifting platform in the correct position and reference laser pointers to adjust its position more precisely, and yet, due to the substantial weight of the components it is complex to make small adjustments in respect of its exact placing, which constitutes a danger for all elements of the vehicle since if the adjustment is not performed within the required tolerances, the component may sustain damage when it is raised or cause damage to other parts of the vehicle coming into contact therewith.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES

Given this state of affairs, the invention with which we are presently concerned proposes a piece of precision handling equipment consisting of a movable runnered frame with various rolling elements and at least one reference complementary orifice, which is of greater width than the cross-section of the corresponding reference vertical rod which passes through it and which is connected to an anchor-base secured to the platform accommodating the precision handling equipment, there being at least one reference vertical rod, said setup allowing the range of rolling of the movable runnered frame to match the difference in dimension between reference complementary orifice and reference vertical rod; both in the two directions perpendicular to the plane, and in any rotation and there being a securing element which allows the desired specific position to be immobilised.
This setup as advocated is a radical break with hitherto known practice, in that by operation of the precision equipment which is based on the difference in dimensions existing between the reference complementary orifice and the cross-section of the reference vertical rod, as well as on the various positions and forms the latter can adopt, all of which allows both linear and angular motions to be imparted to large parts with demanding adjustment tolerances which was unthinkable hitherto with movable lifting platforms.
According to the invention, the reference vertical rod is able to be disassembled relative to the anchor-base so that it can be quickly replaced or the position thereof changed.
According to the invention, the anchor-base has several housing orifices capable of accommodating a reference vertical rod to obtain different precision restriction options.
Another particularity of the invention lies in the fact that the movable runnered frame has several reference complementary orifices; furthermore the movable runnered frame could incorporate displacement or rotation safety buffers, as many as required of which may be inserted into the complementary anchoring orifices, for restricting any movement of the component for handling.
Another particularity of the invention lies in the fact that the upper end of the reference vertical rod incorporates hold down nuts. In this way once the movable runnered frame has reached the desired position, its position may be secured so that the required operation can be performed and it can be prevented from moving during said operation.
According to the invention the anchoring element is a stud which is inserted into an orifice of the platform accommodating the precision handling equipment facilitating the easy assembly and disassembly of the reference unit.
In the invention, the movable runnered frame has different reference complementary orifices of different dimension, setup and/or proximity to obtain different precision restriction options in the displacement or rotation thereof, which can be combined with different positions for the disassembly of the reference vertical rod(s), all of which allows great versatility when it comes to restricting both linear and angular motions, since the movable runnered frame is able to implement 360°angular movements with the use of a single reference rod.
Another particularity of the invention lies in that the equipment connector has connector anchorages capable of fitting in different positions limited by the complementary anchoring orifices, which allow the desired specific position to be immobilised; further provision is made for the equipment connector to incorporate rolling elements to facilitate the movement of the component-accommodating cradle thereby giving greater precision in component adjustment.
Finally, in the invention, the platform accommodating the precision handling equipment is movable in any displacements on the horizontal plane, allowing the precision handling equipment to be used on different work surfaces (lifting platforms, engine mountings etc.,) giving access to the handling of components both from below and from above depending on the need required by the operator.

DRAWINGS AND REFERENCES

To improve understanding of the nature of the invention, an industrial embodiment thereof is provided in the appended drawings serving purely as any illustrative and non-restrictive example.

Figure 1 shows an exploded view of the precision handling equipment (1), wherein the point of insertion of the reference vertical rod (2b) with the reference complementary orifice (6) can be seen together with the securing of the reference unit (2) relative to the platform (7) accommodating the precision handling equipment (1), with an enlarged detail of the assembly of the reference unit (2) and the movable runnered frame (3) secured by means of the hold down nuts (2d). The assembly of the component-accommodating cradle (4) by means of the anchorages (4d) of the equipment connector (4c) can also be seen.
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the precision handling equipment (1) with the reference unit (2) and the movable runnered frame (3) assembled and secured by means of the hold down nuts (2d) and further shows the safety buffer (3a) that is inserted into the complementary anchoring orifices (3b) in an extracted position.
Figure 3 shows a plane view of the precision handling equipment indicating the cross-section A-A.
Figure 4 shows the cross-section A-A enlarged.
Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the movable runnered frame (3) in which the rolling elements (5) can be seen in the lower part thereof and an embodiment with four reference complementary orifices (6).
Figure 6 shows a cross-section view of the reference unit (2) on which the anchor-base (2a) can be seen with the anchoring elements (2e), the securing element (2c) and the final assembly of reference vertical rod (2d) in the housing orifice (2f) with the hold down nut (2d). Also seen are two housing orifices (2f) for different positions of the reference vertical rod (2b).
Figure 7 shows an enlarged detail of the housing orifice (2f) provided in the anchor-base (2a) for a possible insertion of the reference vertical rod (2b).
Figure 8 shows an enlarged detail of the assembly of the reference vertical rod (2b) which is screwed into the housing orifice (2f).
Figure 9 shows a lower plane view of the movable roiling frame (3) in its embodiment with two reference complementary orifices (6)
Figure 10 shows a lower plane view of the movable runnered frame (3) in a reference complementary orifice (6) embodiment with a single machining.
Figure 11 shows a lower plane view of the movable runnered frame (3) in a reference complementary orifice (6) embodiment with orifices of larger diameter.
Figure 12 shows a lower plane view of the movable runnered frame (3) in a reference complementary orifice (6) embodiment with rectangular cross-section.
Figure 13 shows a lower plane view of the movable runnered frame (3) in its embodiment with 4 reference complementary orifices (6) with different diameters in twos.
Figure 14 shows a lower plane view of the movable runnered frame (3) in its embodiment with three reference complementary orifices (6).
Figure 15 shows a plane view of the precision handling equipment (1) in its initial position.
Figure 16 shows a plane view of the precision handling equipment (1) with the movable runnered frame (3) in its horizontal displacement (8).
Figure 17 shows a plane view of the precision handling equipment (1) with the movable runnered frame (3) in its vertical displacement (9).
Figure 18 shows a plane view of the precision handling equipment (1) with the movable runnered frame (3) in its angular displacement (10).

On these figures the following reference numbers are used to denote as follows:

1.- Precision handling equipment
2.- Reference unit
- 2a.- Anchor-base
- 2b.- Reference vertical rod
- 2c.- Securing element
- 2d.- Hold down nut
- 2e.- Anchoring element
- 2f.- Housing orifices
3.- Movable runnered frame
- 3a.- Safety buffer
- 3b.- Complementary anchoring orifices
4.- Component-accommodating cradle
- 4a.- Component for handling
- 4b.- Specific receiver of component
- 4c.- Equipment connector
- 4d.- Connector anchorages
5.- Rolling element
6.- Reference complementary orifice
7.- Platform accommodating precision handling equipment (1)
8.- Horizontal displacement of the movable runnered frame (3)
9.- Vertical displacement of the movable runnered frame (3)
10.- Angular displacement of the movable runnered frame (3)
11.- Vertical displacement of the platform (7) accommodating the precision handling equipment (1)
12.- Possible displacement on the horizontal plane of the platform (7) accommodating precision handling equipment (1).

DISCLOSURE OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In relation to the drawings and above-listed reference numbers, a preferred embodiment of the object of the invention, relating to precision handling equipment (1) for machinery or the automotive sector, is illustrated in the appended plans.
The invention as shown in figure 1 is characterised in that said precision handling equipment (1) consists of a movable runnered frame (3) with various rolling elements (5) and at least one reference complementary orifice (6) which is of greater width than the cross-section of the corresponding reference vertical rod (2b) which passes through it and which is connected to an anchor-base (2a) secured to the platform (7) accommodating the precision handling equipment (1), there being at least one reference vertical rod (2b), this setup allowing the range of rolling of the movable runnered frame (3) to match the difference in dimension between reference complementary orifice (6) and the cross-section of the reference vertical rod (2b) both in the two directions perpendicular to the plane, and in any rotation and there being a securing element (2c) which allows the desired specific position to be set and immobilised. This allows the movable runnered frame (3) to be adjusted according to the very precise adjustment tolerances that are required.
Another particularity of the invention as can be seen in figure 6, is that provision is made for the reference vertical rod (2b) to be able to be disassembled relative to the anchor-base (2a), there being able to be one or two vertical reference rods (2b) in the reference unit (2).
As can be seen in figure 6, provision is made for the anchor-base (2a) to have several housing orifices (2f) capable of accommodating a reference vertical rod (2b) to obtain different precision restriction options. This specific setup of the anchor-base (2a) allows one or two reference vertical rods (2b) to be positioned in a straightforward manner to adapt the precision restriction to each operation.
The invention provides for the movable runnered frame (3) to have several reference complementary orifices (6) so that it can be used with one or more reference vertical rods (2b), and as can be seen further in figure 2 provision is made for the movable runnered frame (3) to incorporate displacement or rotation safety buffers (3a), as many as required of which may be inserted into the complementary anchoring orifices (3b), intended to restrict any displacement of the component for handling (4a).
Another particularity of the invention, as can be seen in figures 1, 2, 4 and 6, lies in the fact that the upper end of the reference vertical rod (2b) incorporates hold down nuts (2d). In this way, once the position required by the movable runnered frame (3) is reached, its position can be secured in order to complete the required operation and prevent it from moving during said operation.
The invention provides for the anchoring element (2e) to be a stud which is inserted into an orifice of the platform (7) accommodating the precision handling equipment (1) facilitating the easy assembly and disassembly of the reference unit (2).
As can be seen in figures 9 to 14, the invention provides for the movable runnered frame (3) to have different reference complementary orifices (6) of different dimension, setup and/or proximity to obtain different precision limitation options in the displacement or rotation thereof, which can be combined with different positions for the disassembly of the reference vertical rods(s) (2b). Said setup combined with the different positions that the reference vertical rod (2b) can adopt allows greater versatility in restricting the displacements to be made by the movable runnered frame (3) as can be seen in figures 15 to 18.
Another particularity of the invention, as can be seen in figure 1, lies in the fact that the equipment connector (4c) has connector anchorages (4d) capable of fitting in different positions restricted by the complementary anchoring orifices (3b), that enable the desired specific position to be immobilised; provision is further made for the equipment connector (4c) to incorporate rolling elements to facilitate the movement of the component-accommodating cradle (4).
Finally, as can be seen in figure 1 provision is made for the platform (7) accommodating the precision handling equipment (1) to be movable in any displacements on the horizontal plane (12), allowing the precision handling equipment (1) to be used on different work surfaces (lifting platforms, engine mountings (etc.).
The essence of this Patent is not affected by variations in materials, shape, size and arrangement of the constituent elements, described non-restrictively, this being sufficient for it to be reproduced by an expert.

Claims

Precision handling equipment for machinery or the automotive sector to be used as a complement to the movable vertical lifting platform which is used in the holding and repair of machinery and in the automotive sector in respect of the handling of components such as electric batteries, gear casing, gear-boxes, engines or the like characterised in that said precision handling equipment (1) consists of a movable runnered frame (3) with various rolling elements (5) and at least one reference complementary orifice (6), which is of greater width than the cross-section of the corresponding reference vertical rod (2b) which passes through it and which is connected to an anchor-base (2a) secured to the platform (7) accommodating the precision handling equipment (1), there being at least one reference vertical rod (2b), said setup allowing the range of rolling of the movable runnered frame (3) to match the difference in dimension between reference complementary orifice (6) and reference vertical rod (2b); both in the two directions perpendicular to the plane and in any rotation and there being a securing element (2c) which allows the desired specific position to be immobilised.
Precision handling equipment for machinery or the automotive sector as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that reference vertical rod (2b) is able to be disassembled relative to the anchor-base (2a).
Precision handling equipment for machinery or the automotive sector as claimed in the previous claims, characterised in that said anchor-base (2a) has several housing orifices (2f) capable of accommodating a reference vertical rod (2b) to obtain different precision restriction options.
Precision handling equipment for machinery or the automotive sector as claimed in the previous claims, characterised in that the movable runnered frame (3) has several reference complementary orifices (6).
Precision handling equipment for machinery or the automotive sector as claimed in the previous claims, characterised in that the movable runnered frame (3) incorporates displacement or rotation safety buffers (3a), as many as required of which may be inserted into the complementary anchoring orifices (3b).
Precision handling equipment for machinery or the automotive sector as claimed in the previous claims, characterised in that the upper end of the reference vertical rod (2b) incorporates hold down nuts (2d).
Precision handling equipment for machinery or the automotive sector as claimed in the previous claims, characterised in that the anchoring element (2e) is a stud which is inserted into an orifice of the platform (7) accommodating the precision handling equipment (1).
Precision handling equipment for machinery or the automotive sector as claimed in the previous claims, characterised in that the precision handling equipment (1) has two reference vertical rods (2b).
Precision handling equipment for machinery or the automotive sector as claimed in the previous claims, characterised in that the movable runnered frame (3) has different reference complementary orifices (6) of different dimension, setup and/or proximity to obtain different precision restriction options in the displacement or rotation thereof, which can be combined with different positions for the disassembly of the reference vertical rod(s) (2b).
Precision handling equipment for machinery or the automotive sector as claimed in the previous claims, characterised in that the equipment connector (4c) has connector anchorages (4d) which allow the desired specific position to be immobilised, provision being further made for the equipment connector (4c) to incorporate rolling elements.
Precision handling equipment for machinery or the automotive sector as claimed in the previous claims, characterised in that said platform (7) accommodating the precision handling equipment (1) is movable in any displacements in the horizontal plane (12).