FR2837277A1 - Shaped profile inspection gauge for car pipe work has dismountable brackets with spring clip retention in notches in base - Google Patents

Abstract

An shaped profile inspection gauge has a tube guide (8) with locating grooves (14, 15) fitted on brackets (4) with hinged or integral Stabilizing wings (6) mounted to a base (1) by tenons (5) in notches (2) under the straight part of the profile (9) and retained by pins or sprung clips .

Description

polymer.

  GABA1 <IT FOR DEMOUNTABLE CONTROL OF THE PROFILE GEOMETRY

FORM

  AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SUCH A TEMPLATE

  The invention relates to a device for controlling the geometric of

  shaped profiles, including curved pipes.

  In many industries, in particular in the automobile and aeronautical industry, many profiles or pipes are hanged or bent and fitted

  accessories for generally transporting fluids or serving as various supports.

  In the automobile industry in particular7 the industrials must be able to continue, for after-sales service in particular, to produce the same piping or profiles during the ten ens following the end of the serial production of the

  machines using these same pipes or profiles.

  The number of pipes on a motor vehicle is very large,

  and is on the order of fifty different pipes for a modern vehicle.

  In addition, any variant on a vehicle generally causes modifications to the geometric shape of the pipes and therefore increases the number of shapes of these pipes. These pipes and profiles - are cut to length - are optionally fitted with various components such as nuts, fixing brackets, skirts, etc. - possibly receive deformations at the extremities, - and wind hangers or folded in the space according to

  precise dimensional characteristics.

  At the end of the realization of these profiles or pipes, it is proceeded to

  a geometric control of these same pipes or profiles.

  A first method, to determine if a bent profile or a bent piping conforms to the required geometric tolerances, is to use a poly-articulated measuring arm specialized in the measurement of bending profile. This method, which gives numerical measurement results, has the disadvantage of being a very long method of control which involves the acquisition of an expensive measuring instrument and the

  training of highly qualified operators.

  A second method, to determine if a bent profile or bent piping conforms to the required geometric tolerances, is to use a test gauge. The template is a mechanical assembly, representing an enlarged and partial borrowing of the profile or the curved piping, fitted with its components and accessories. This borrowing is made by a series of grooves made in this assembly. These grooves have dimensions corresponding to the section of the profile or to the diameter of the tube added to the tolerance of the positioning of said profile or tube. This template is also provided to allow the insertion of the tube or the profile into the

template grooves.

  The template allows a quick comparison of the piping to be checked with the shape and the route defined by the geometric of this template. If the insertion of the tube to be checked into the grooves of the control template occurs naturally and without deformation of the said tube, then the said tube is considered to comply with the geometrical requirements. Typically, this template is made of a series of aluminum blocks or boxes is fixed firmly on a thick and rigid plate, generally made in the same material as the blocks. In these so-called wind blocks, often by machining, grooves over all or part of the length of the path correspond to the image of the path of the theoretical tube to be checked. These grooves generally have width and height dimensions equal to the diameter of the tube plus the value of the

  tolerance of positioning of said tube at the location of this groove.

  Another embodiment of these templates is to weld metal supports together and on a base plate. On these factory or fixed wind supports, possibly by welding, pieces forming parts of grooves in which

the tube to be checked will be inserted.

  To control the positioning of the ends of the tubes, movable rods are attached to blocks, which are themselves fixed to the base plate. These rods are mobile in translation in the direction of the first and / or the rear right part of the tube, and make it possible to verify the positioning of the ends, for example, by introducing the rod into the tube, or by screwing the nut belonging to the tube

on a threaded part of the rod.

  These methods of control are all perfectly known and mastered

by the men of the trade.

  These template control systems have the advantage of allowing

  very fast inspection of shaped pipes or profiles.

  However, it is necessary to store these jigs for 10 sets, and this because of the obligation to be able to manufacture the same pipes, and to control them long after being made in the eerie. In addition, due to the large number of machine models, such as airplanes and automobiles, and the large number of pipe shapes for each model of these same machines, the manufacturers of these pipes have very large storage areas for storing these templates, which makes this storage very expensive. Indeed, these templates are not removable, and cannot be

empires over each other.

  In addition, the manufacturing methods of these jigs are generally expensive since they are not very industrialized and generally involve machining the blocks in

the mass.

  A particular embodiment method has been described (US patent 6,029, 333) and proposed by the company FERCO. But this method of realization does not guarantee the precision of mounting of the template. Indeed, the method in

  question assumes a perfect and precise folding of the support, which is very difficult to achieve.

  These folds are all different for each angle, and therefore wind very difficult, if not impossible, to perform automatically. These small folding errors, inherent in the folding process, will not interfere with the mounting of the support on the base plate but will generate a deformation of the support, especially in the upper part which is used to control the tube. This deformation will significantly modify the definition of the path of the tube to be checked. In addition, depending on the geometric of the tube, the support can have a generally linear shape which makes it wholly or partly deformable and not very stable on its support, and therefore not very precise; except, possibly, to make a very rigid and definitive fixing of this support on its base plate. In addition, for pipes having very complex shapes commonly encountered in the automotive industry, the method of folding the support is no longer applicable due to the conventional size of the bending tools. Thus, this method does not make it possible to comply with the tolerances in all the configurations of tubes, is not easy to implement and does not provide solutions for easily dismantling and reassembling the template while serving the s acteristics s tolerance of the template The origin of the invention was to note that the templates are expensive to make, difficult to make, difficult to store, and difficult to dismantle and reassemble without degrading the dimensional characteristics of the template, characteristics which define the path to be checked of the tube. These degradations are unacceptable for

a control template.

  The present invention aims to alleviate all of the above-mentioned drawbacks

  templates as described above.

  The template for controlling the shape of the long arch and or profile, such as wire or tube, is characterized in that this template is composed of a base and of brackets such that - the base is made in a plate in which wind made one or more notches on the orthogonal projection of each straight part of the profile between two folds of said profile, - each bracket is made individually by a part of plate cut with tenons which fit exactly into the notches adjusted to these

same tenons.

  - Each bracket is provided with a wing positioned approximately perpendicular to the bracket, making it possible to angularly stabilize the bracket relative to the base and to stiffen this bracket. This wing is approximately, possibly and advantageously, positioned by a notch in the base and a tenon of dimension, possibly smaller than the notch, in the wing. This realization allows a stable, precise and perpendicular positioning of the stem vis-à-vis

from the base.

  - each bracket with its wing is able to be assembled and disassembled quickly from the base and is equipped with a quick fixing method which guarantees perfect

positioning repetitivity.

  - each bracket is equipped with one or more tube guide devices.

  The template is thus composed of the base, and a succession of brackets equipped with grooved guides or pins correspond to the number of straight parts of the tube. This template is also characterized in that the stem and its wind wing

  made from the same cut and folded plate.

  This template is characterized, according to another embodiment, in that the wing is a sheet metal part cut and fixed to the stem by one or more hinges. This embodiment makes it possible, after disassembly, to store the brackets flat and thus allow a minimum bulk, while retaining a perfect

  repositioning during reassembly.

  (:: e gauge is characterized, in a particular embodiment, in that the different wind brackets connected together by hinges, so that all the brackets and wings can be laid flat after dismantling the The gallows and the wings thus wind all attached to each other. This mode of reali sati on allows, for complex templates, a rewinding

  risk of error and without risk of mixing of the gallows.

  This template is characterized in that the fixing of the brackets and the wings

  on the base is made by a quick system such as pin or elastic key.

  The mounting of the brackets on the base is carried out by the installation of the tenons and the brackets in the notches of the base. The fixing of these brackets is advantageously carried out, for example, by an elastic key, in a hole made in the post so that after the positioning of this key, there is no orthogonal play to the base between the gallows and this same base. The notches on the base, corresponding to the tenons of the body of the stem, placed vertically on the path of the tube, will have a width identical to the thickness of the sheet used for the realization of the stem, and lengths identical to the corresponding tenons , so that there is no play, in the plane of the base, between the brackets and the base. On the other hand, and to take account of the imprecision in the folding of the stem and so as not to deform this stem during assembly, the notch corresponding to the wing of the stem will have a width and a greater length. the dimensions of the post. The fixing of this wing on the base will not leave a vertical clearance between the base and this wing and may,

  for example, be made by an elastic key crossing the post.

  In a particular embodiment, and so as not to risk carrying out a bad assembly and I or to reverse the brackets, the length of each notch, and therefore, of each stud, or else the distance between the studs. a meme

  bracket, and the notches, will be possibly different for each bracket.

  - 6 In another particular mode, the wings will advantageously all have the same width with a dimension parallel to the folding and the same folding angle and this, so as to:

  - allow easy stacking, promoting easy storage.

  - and allow systematic folding without intermediate adjustment of the stop and

  the stroke of the folder; this folding becoming fast, easy and inexpensive.

  This jig is also characterized, in a particular embodiment in that the realization of the base, of the brackets with its wings, of the possible reinforcements and possibly of certain tube guides is produced by individual cutting of the deployed form of each of these components in a single plate. The base is obtained from a metal plate in which wind cut or machined the notches. This plate can advantageously be cut from a thin sheet, and folded on the four sides to obtain a rigid and nevertheless light base. However, for large sizes, reinforcements can be added. These reinforcements will advantageously be cut from the same plate as the base, and will be folded once or twice at 90 over the entire length before fixing to the base. This fixing will be carried out by mechanical emblem ass that such as rivets age. The holes necessary for this fixing will be

  made during the cutting or machining of the metal plate and the reinforcement.

  Even more advantageously, these brackets are cut from the same plate, or a similar plate, as the base and the reinforcements. This cutting, in the same plate, advantageously makes it possible to produce the whole of a template from a single plate with the same cutting machine. This machine will advantageously be chosen so as to allow a programmable cutting from

  digital data supplied, for example, by a CAD system.

  This template, in a particular embodiment, is characterized in that the guiding of the profile to be checked is carried out by one or more components capable of being easily mounted and dismounted from the stem and perfectly repositionable on this same stem. These components can advantageously be grooved guides. These groove guides, in which the tubes to be inspected can be produced from a block of material or from a plate, in which a slot of the thickness of the bracket plate is made, and a groove on the opposite face . This behind groove generally has the depth and the width equal to the diameter of the tube to which was added the value of the tolerance of the course of the tube in this given zone. The - 7 fixing and positioning of this groove guide on the body of the wind stem made by putting the upper edge of the stem body in abutment at the bottom of the groove. These groove guides are also optionally fixed and positioned at the brackets by one or more pins passing through the groove guide and the bracket. An advantageous embodiment of this groove guide consists in making. in a long profile, the two grooves and over the entire length of the profile, then cut the guides to

  desired lengths to be mounted on the brackets.

  Thus this invention allows: - to easily and economically produce a very precise control gauge, - to dismantle and reassemble the cranes very quickly without tools, - to guarantee a precise and repeatable reassembly of these same cranes on the base, - to guarantee quick and repeatable mounting of the groove guides (8) on the brackets, avoiding a check of the template after each mounting, - storage in a minimal space,

  - an economical and fast mode of realization.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from

  the detailed description which follows with reference to the accompanying drawings which represent it,

  As nonlimiting examples, preferential embodiments.

  Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of a template. This figure represents a bracket 4 mounted on the base 1. This behind is only partially represented. In this representation, the bracket 4 is produced by folding to obtain the wing 6. On this bracket is represented the groove guide 8. In the groove 15 of this guide 8, is represented the right part of a tube 9 to be checked. The groove guide 8 is positioned by the groove 14 on the bracket 4, and is fixed on this same bracket by the intermediary of two quick fixing systems 17. The notches 2 and 3 and the tenons and 7 are represented together. The base represented was obtained by cutting a thin plate and by double folding 18 on the four sides, two of which are represented by

partial cut.

  Figure 2 shows the sectional plane according to the embodiment using the same thin metal plate 11 to obtain, the deployed shape of the base 1, brackets 4 and a reinforcement 12. In the Base 1, wind cut the notches 2 and 3 for later positioning the brackets 4. The brackets are cut

  with the pins S and 7 and the holes 13 allowing the attachment to the base.

  Figure 3 is a perspective view which shows the brackets 4 made according to the embodiment by folding. These gallows are represented, dismantled from the base and stacked so as to take the minimum of volume. The four gallows

  have wings 6 of the same width and with the same folding angle.

  Figure 4 is a perspective view of a mounted template, with a representation of the piping 16 to control. This figure represents a piping and therefore, a particularly simple template. This view represents a base 1 made from a folded sheet, and three jib cranes made by folding and equipped with a guide

  tube 8 and a rod 10 at one end.

  Figure 5 is a sectional and partial view of a template. This view represents a method of fixing without play between the base l, partially represented, and the bracket 4, the post 5 of which is inserted into the notch of the base 2. The support is provided by an elastic key 12 which crosses the post by the hole 13. In addition, this figure represents the positioning of the guide 8, through the groove 14 on the bracket 4. This guide is fixed on the bracket by the pin 17. The base 1 is represented in a mode made from a sheet folded in 18. In addition, a stiffening reinforcement 12, cut out

  in the same sheet as the base 1, is represented.

  Figure 6 is a perspective view of a bracket in a particular embodiment. This bracket is made from cut plates and

  assembled by two hinges 13, so as to produce a foldable wing 6.

  Figure 7 is a partial perspective view of a particular embodiment of a template. This template is made up of a base l and a set of jib trots 4 assembled by hinges and equipped with two wings 6

  assembled to the gallows by hinges.

Claims (5)

  1 / - Template for checking the shape of the long hanger profile and / or shape such as wire or tube, characterized in that this template is composed of a base (1) and of brackets (4) such that: - the base is made in a plate in which wind made one or more notches (2) on the orthogonal projection of each straight part of the profile (9) between two folds, - each bracket is made individually, for each right part of the profile, by a part of cut plate with studs (5) which fit exactly   in the notches (2) adjusted these same tenons.   - each bracket is provided with a wing (6) positioned approximately perpendicularly to the bracket (4), making it possible to angularly stabilize the bracket relative to the base and to stiffen this bracket, this wing being possibly and roughly positioned on the base (1) by notches ((3) and studs (7).   - each bracket, with its wing, is capable of being quickly assembled and disassembled from the base and is provided with a quick fixing method (12) which guarantees a   perfect repetitivity of positioning.   - each bracket is equipped with one or more tube guide device (8).   - 2f - Template according to claim 1 characterized in that the bracket (4) and its wing (6) wind made from the same plate cut and folded. 3 / - Template according to claim 1 characterized in that the wing (6) is a sheet metal part cut and fixed to the bracket by one or more hinges (13).   41- Template according to claims 1, 2, and 3 characterized in   so that the difl] erent gallows are connected to each other by hinges, in such a way that all the gallows and wings can be laid flat after   disassembly of the base and that the brackets and the wings are all attached to each other.   51- Template according to the preceding claims such as the   fixing of the brackets (4) and wings (6) on the base is carried out by a rapid system such as an elastic pin or key (123, guaranteeing a rigid fixing and without play of the brackets on the base (1).   6 / - Gab arit according to the resold catio n 1 character in that the base, the brackets with its wings, the possible reinforcements and possibly certain wind tube guides produced by individual cutting of the deployed form of each of these   components in the same plate (11).   7 / - Template according to the preceding claims characterized   in that the guiding of the profile (9) to be controlled is carried out by one or more components (8) able to be assembled and disassembled easily from the bracket (4) and perfectly   repositionable on the same stem.   8 / - Template according to claim 7 characterized in that the guide (8) tube is made from a profile in which wind made two grooves (14) and (15), the first to position the guide without play on the gallows, the second for put the tube to check.   9 / - Template according to claim 1 such that the stiffness of the   base is obtained by making folds (18) on the sides of this base.   / - Template according to claim 1 such that the axial positioning of the end of the profile to be checked (16) is achieved by a rod (10), possibly sliding in the axis of the profile, positioned on the rear stem or on an additional stem.