FR2979889A1 - Support element for use on rectangular toboggan shaped frame of rack of case of car, has moving part that is non-deformable, where swiveling of part is realized according to axis, which is parallel to transverse axis of frame - Google Patents

Abstract

The element (100) has a moving part (102) swiveling between configurations in relation to a fixed part (101) that is intended to be integral with a frame. Free end (500) of the moving part is in a position to support a type of case of a car, in one of the configurations, and another free end (600) of the moving part is in another position to support another type of case of the car, in the other configuration. The moving part is non-deformable, where swiveling of the moving part is realized according to an axis (122), which is parallel to transverse axis of the frame.

Description

The present invention relates to a support member of the body of a motor vehicle. The invention also relates to a support structure of the body of a motor vehicle comprising such a support member.

The industrial manufacture of a motor vehicle involves several manufacturing stages, such as sheet metal work, painting and cataphoresis. During these steps, the vehicle body, also called body structure, is placed on a support structure, also called "rack", which supports the vehicle in a stable and substantially elevated position, so that an operator or a machine is able to perform a task more easily on the vehicle. In addition, the support structure is movable to transport the vehicle body from one workstation to another. For this purpose, the support structure comprises a frame generally in the form of a rectangular "sledge", a first and a second longitudinal members are interconnected and extend longitudinally opposite.

In known manner, the frame of the support structure comprises two front support members vis-à-vis which are intended to support a front portion of the vehicle body and two rear support members vis-à-vis which are intended to support a rear portion of the vehicle body. Each support member comprises a support leg which extends generally vertically upwards from the frame, each support leg being adapted to cooperate with an associated portion of the underbody of the vehicle body.

However, such a support structure does not support a type of motor vehicle body, so it is necessary to have a specific type of support structure for each type of vehicle body.

Also known is a type of support structure which comprises two front support members each of which comprises a support leg which is fixed on the frame and several pairs of rear support members, each pair being intended to provide support for a type of cashier structure.

Such a type of support structure makes it possible to support several types of vehicle body, but the number of vehicle body types here is limited to the number of pairs of support members at the rear of the support structure.

In addition, the boxes of different types have substantially identical dimensions, so that the pairs of support members are juxtaposed, which can pose a problem of space and / or interference.

Document FR2920125 discloses an articulated support member that can be configured in different positions. Such an articulated support makes it possible to reach many positions situated substantially in a horizontal plane. On the other hand, such a support member also has disadvantages. It is expensive and complex to implement. In addition, it is not flexible enough in height, that is to say that it does not make it possible to reach support configurations between which there is a significant difference in height between the support points defined by These configurations. The object of the invention is to provide a support member making it possible to remedy the problems mentioned above and to improve the support members known from the prior art. In particular, the invention provides a simple support member, accurate, flexible vis-à-vis the positions it can occupy, limiting congestion and limiting interference while allowing to support different types of boxes of motor vehicles. The invention also relates to a support structure of the body of a motor vehicle comprising such a support member.

According to the invention, a support member is intended to be fixed on a frame of a support structure of a motor vehicle body. The support member comprises a pivotally movable portion, relative to a fixed portion intended to be secured to the frame, between a first configuration in which a first free end of the movable part is located first to support a first type motor vehicle body and a second configuration in which a second free end of the movable part is located in a second place to support a second type of motor vehicle body. The movable portion is dimensionally stable and the pivoting is performed along an axis intended to be parallel or substantially parallel to a transverse axis of the frame. The first place and the second place can be arranged at a distance from each other so that they are arranged at a distance from each other along a longitudinal axis of the frame when the member is fixed on the frame .

The first place and the second place may be arranged at least 10 mm apart, for example about 15 mm apart. The movable part may comprise a first abutment cooperating by bearing with a second abutment fixed on the fixed part when the member is in first configuration and the movable part may comprise a third abutment cooperating by bearing with a fourth abutment fixed on the fixed part when the organ is in second configuration. The movable part may comprise a fifth abutment cooperating by bearing with a sixth abutment fixed on the fixed part when the member is in a third configuration in which a third free end of the movable part is situated in a third place to support a third type of a motor vehicle body, the fifth stop and / or the sixth stop being retractable.

The movable part, respectively the fixed part, may comprise a yoke at its pivotal mechanical connection with the fixed part, respectively with the movable part.

The pivoting can be limited to an angle less than 45 °. According to the invention, a support structure of motor vehicle bodies comprises at least one support member defined above.

The accompanying drawings show, by way of example, several embodiments of a support member according to the invention. Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view, which illustrates a structure for the support of the body of a motor vehicle, comprising two fixed support members and two support members according to the invention. Figures 2 and 3 are detailed perspective views, illustrating a first embodiment of a support member according to the invention in two different configurations. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a support structure 10 for supporting the underbody of the body (not shown) of a motor vehicle. The support structure 10 comprises a frame 12 which is generally slug-shaped and which comprises a longitudinal first and substantially parallel first longitudinal member 14a and 14b, so that the frame 12 is able to be moved longitudinally by means of a longitudinal member. backwards, for example from one workstation to another. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the support structure 10 comprises, for example, a longitudinal and vertical plane of symmetry P1, so that the support structure 10 here comprises a first side whose elements are referenced by the letter " a "and a second side symmetrical to the first side 15 whose elements are referenced by the letter" b ". The structure comprises a longitudinal axis 111, a transverse axis 112 and a vertical axis 113. The two side members 14a, 14b are interconnected by means of at least one rear crossmember 24 and at least one front cross member 25 which extend 20 each transversely. The support structure 10 comprises a first fixed support member 26a which is here a first fixed rear leg 26a extending vertically upwards from a rear section of the first spar 14a. By symmetry along the plane P1, the support structure 10 comprises a second fixed support member 26b which is here a second fixed rear foot 26b extending vertically upwards from a rear section of the second spar 14b, facing -vis the first foot 26a. The first fixed rear foot 26a and the second fixed rear leg 26b each have a free end 28a, 28b respectively, which is intended to cooperate with a rear portion complementary to the underbody of the body of the motor vehicle.

In addition, the support structure 10 comprises a first member 100a and a second member 100b for supporting the body of the motor vehicle, which are arranged facing each other on either side of the plane P1 of symmetry, on a section before the first spar 14a and on a front section of the second spar 14b respectively. The aforementioned rear feet and the support members cooperate to support a first type or a second type of motor vehicle body, according to the configuration of the support members. More particularly, two very different types of boxes: a special vehicle body and a commercial vehicle body. Indeed, the support member is intended to be fixed on the frame 12 of the support structure 10 of a motor vehicle body and the support member comprises a movable portion 102 pivotally relative to a fixed part 101 intended to be secured to the frame, between a first configuration in which a first free end 500 of the movable part is located first to support a first type of motor vehicle body and a second configuration in which a second free end 600 of the movable part 102 is located in a second place to support a second type of motor vehicle body. The moving part is dimensionally stable and the pivoting is carried out along an axis 122 intended to be parallel or substantially parallel to a transverse axis 112 of the frame. The first ends 500 are therefore intended to come into contact with a first type of supported body structure and the second ends 600 are intended to come into contact with a second type of supported body structure. Subsequently, there is described an embodiment of the support member which is referenced without the letters "a" or "b" for convenience. It is clear that, preferably, a support structure according to the invention comprises at least one support member according to the invention and preferably at least one pair of support members according to the invention.

Preferably, the first place and the second place are arranged at a distance from each other so that they are arranged at a distance from one another along a longitudinal axis 111 of the frame when the member is fixed on the chassis. The first place and the second place are arranged at least 10 mm apart, for example about 15 mm apart. Thus, the sum of the distances j1 separating the vertical passing through the axis 122 and the axis 138 of the first end 500 and j2 separating the vertical passing through the axis 122 and the axis 139 of the second end 600 is at least 10 mm, for example 15 mm.

Preferably, the movable portion 102 comprises a first stop 134 cooperating by bearing with a second stop 135 fixed on the fixed part 101 when the member is in first configuration and a third stop 136 cooperating by bearing with a fourth stop 137 fixed on the fixed part 101 when the body is in second configuration. The second and fourth stops are for example fixed via the spar 14 to the fixed part 101. In the first configuration of the support member shown in FIG. 2, the weight Fl of a first type of box at the level shown in FIG. of the first end 500 creates a torque C1 around the axis 122, this couple having a tendency to bear the first stop 134 on the second stop 135. In the second configuration of the support member shown in FIG. the weight F2 of a second type of box at the second end 600 creates a torque C2 about the axis 122, this couple having a tendency to bear the third stop 136 on the fourth stop 137. The first and second configurations thus correspond to two stable positions of the support member. In the embodiment shown, the fixed part 101 comprises a yoke 132 at its mechanical pivot connection with the movable part. This yoke has a bore 133 of axis 122 and receiving a shaft in connection with the movable portion 102. A second embodiment (not shown) differs from the first embodiment in that it is the movable part which may comprise a clevis at its pivotal mechanical connection with the fixed part.

A third embodiment (not shown) differs from the previous embodiments in that the movable part comprises a fifth stop cooperating by bearing with a sixth stop fixed on the fixed part when the member is in a third configuration in which a third free end of the movable part is located in a third place to support a third type of body of a motor vehicle, the fifth stop and / or the sixth stop being retractable. In the various embodiments, the pivoting can be limited to an angle of less than 45 °. This pivoting is achieved by the action of an element, such as an actuator or an operator, on a lever 140 fixed on the movable part. This action creates a pivoting torque around the axis 122 to position the moving part in a first configuration or in a second configuration, or possibly in a third position.

Several variants of support ends 500, 600 can be used to come into contact with motor vehicle bodies. A first variant of the support end may comprise a cylindrical centering device, this cylindrical centering device consisting for example of a cylindrical portion of revolution surmounted by a conical portion. A second variant of the support end may comprise a centered centerer, this debonded centering device consisting for example of a cylindrical portion of revolution provided with flats and surmounted by a conical portion. A third variant of the support end may comprise a bearing surface having an at least substantially spherical surface. Preferably, in the different embodiments, the mobile part is dimensionally stable, that is to say that its geometry is not configurable. In particular, its length can not be modified for example by means of a screw-nut system. In particular, it is not possible to bend it because there is no articulation provided for this purpose. Also preferably, in the various embodiments, the fixed and mobile parts are in direct mechanical connection, the fixed part being intended to be fixed directly on the frame so that it is integral with the latter. More preferably, there is only one degree of freedom of positioning of the moving part relative to the fixed part, therefore a single degree of free positioning of the free end coming into contact with the body relative to the frame. Thus, the structure of the body can be very simple and therefore reliable and inexpensive, while allowing flexibility, that is to say the support of a variety of vehicle bodies. In the various embodiments, the support member preferably comprises covers for protecting the surfaces of the abutments against pollution such as the deposition of paint thereon. In the different embodiments, the support member preferably comprises indexing means for indexing in position the mobile part relative to the fixed part in the first and second configurations, or even in the third configuration.

The invention also relates to the support structure 12 of motor vehicle bodies, this structure comprising at least one support member as mentioned above.

Throughout the text, the term "at least substantially" used with different adjectives means "adjective" or "substantially adjective". For example, "at least substantially orthogonal" means "orthogonal" or "substantially orthogonal".

Claims (7)

REVENDICATIONS1. Support member (100) for attachment to a CLAIMS1. Support member (100) for attachment to a frame (12) of a vehicle body support structure (10), the support member comprising a pivotable movable portion (102), to a fixed part (101) intended to be secured to the frame (12), between a first configuration in which a first free end (500) of the movable part is at a first place to support a first type of motor vehicle body and a second configuration in which a second free end of the movable portion (102) is at a second location for supporting a second type of motor vehicle body, the movable part being dimensionally stable and the pivoting being made along an axis (122) intended to be parallel or substantially parallel to a transverse axis (112) of the chassis. 2. support member according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and second places are arranged at a distance from each other so that they are arranged at a distance from one another in a longitudinal axis (111) of the frame when the member is fixed on the frame. 3. support member according to claim 2, characterized in that the first place and the second place are arranged at least 10 mm from each other, for example about 15 mm from each other. 4. support member according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the movable portion comprises a first stop (134) cooperating by bearing with a second stop (135) fixed on the fixed part when the member is in first configuration and the movable part comprises a third stop (136) cooperating by support with a fourth stop (137) fixed on the fixed part when the member is in second configuration. 5. support member according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movable portion comprises a fifth stop cooperating by bearing with a sixth stop fixed on the fixed part when the member is in a third configuration in which a third end free of the mobile part is located in a third place to support a third type of body of a motor vehicle, the fifth stop and / or the sixth stop being retractable. Support member according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movable part, respectively the fixed part, comprises a yoke (132) at its mechanical pivot connection with the fixed part, respectively with the movable part. Support member according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivoting is limited to an angle of less than 45 °. Structure (12) for supporting motor vehicle bodies, characterized in that it comprises at least one support member (100) according to one of the preceding claims. 10 6. 15 7. 208.