JP2007320489A - Vehicular suspension assembling method and its device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To determine whether or not an assembled coil spring has an instructed specification and prevent an assembling error of the coil spring in assembling a vehicular suspension. <P>SOLUTION: Whether or not the assembled coil spring 3 has the instructed specification is determined, depending on whether or not a measurement value of compression load detected by a load cell is within a preset range of variation when the other end of the coil spring 3 having one end supported by a spring bearing member 2a provided in an outer cylinder of a shock absorber 2 is pressed via a mount member 4 and when the coil spring 3 is compressed until the mount member 4 reaches a predetermined measuring position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for assembling a strut suspension of a vehicle, and belongs to the field of vehicle production technology.

  A strut-type suspension used as a vehicle suspension device is attached to, for example, a spring receiving member provided on an outer cylinder of a shock absorber and a tip of a piston rod of the shock absorber as disclosed in Patent Document 1. A coil spring is mounted between the vehicle body and a mount member mounted on the vehicle body, and the assembly is performed as follows.

  That is, with one end of the coil spring supported by a spring receiving member provided on the outer cylinder of the shock absorber, the other end of the coil spring is pressed through the mount member to compress the coil spring by a predetermined stroke. Thus, the tip of the piston rod of the shock absorber is protruded upward from the mount member. In this state, a mounting member is attached to the tip of the rod by fastening a fastening member such as a nut to the tip of the piston rod.

  In that case, it is necessary to correctly select and assemble the coil spring from a plurality of types having different specifications such as the spring constant and the free length depending on the type of suspension. A method has been adopted in which marks of different colors are attached and selected and assembled according to the marks.

JP 2002-103940 A

  However, even for vehicles of the same vehicle type, for example, two-wheel drive vehicles and four-wheel drive vehicles have different vehicle weights and heights, or different suspension characteristics are required depending on sports type and normal type vehicles or destinations. As the types of suspensions are diversifying, the specifications of coil springs to be attached to them tend to increase. There is a risk of increased sticking.

  In the case of a suspension, after the coil spring is assembled, there is a situation that it is not easy to check whether or not the specification is compatible with the type of suspension.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus capable of automatically checking whether or not a coil spring according to a specification is assembled when assembling a suspension.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is configured as follows.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, the other end of the coil spring whose one end is supported by a spring receiving member provided on the outer cylinder of the shock absorber is pressed via a mount member, and the mount member is A suspension assembly method for a vehicle in which the mounting member is attached to the tip of a piston rod of the shock absorber while the coil spring is compressed until the mounting position is reached. The coil spring is compressed to a preset measurement position. And measuring whether or not the compression load obtained by this measurement is within the variation range of the load at the measurement position set in advance for the coil spring of the specification for which assembly is instructed. When it is within the range, the installed coil spring is of the specified specification. It is determined that, characterized by attaching the mounting member at the mounting position in the leading end of the piston rod.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle suspension assembly method according to the first aspect, a plurality of the measurement positions are set, and the compression load is measured at each measurement position. Judgment is made as to whether or not the compression load is within the range of variation in the load at each measurement position set in advance for the coil spring of the specification for which assembly is instructed. It is characterized in that it is determined that the assembled coil spring is of the instructed specification.

  The invention according to claim 3 compresses the coil spring by pressing the other end of the coil spring supported at one end by a spring receiving member provided on the outer cylinder of the shock absorber via the mount member. Vehicle having compression means and attachment means for attaching the mount member to the tip of the piston rod of the shock absorber while the coil spun ring is compressed by the compression means until the mount member reaches a predetermined attachment position The suspension assembly apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the compression means measures a compression load when the coil spring is compressed to a preset measurement position, and the compression load obtained by the measurement means indicates assembly. Within the variation range of load at the measurement position set in advance for coil springs with specified specifications A determination means for determining whether the coil spring is within the specified range, a determination means for determining that the coil spring is of the specified specification, and a coil spring assembled by the determination means. And control means for operating the attachment means so as to attach the mount member to the tip of the piston rod at the attachment position when it is determined to be of the specified specification.

  With the configuration described above, according to the invention of each claim of the present application, the following effects can be obtained.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the suspension is assembled, one end of the coil spring is supported by the spring receiving member provided on the outer cylinder of the shock absorber, and the other end is mounted on the mount member. When the spring is compressed to a preset measurement position, the compression load of the spring is measured.

  In that case, at the measurement position, if the variation range of the compression load of the coil spring of the specification for which assembly is instructed does not overlap with the variation range of the compression load of other coil springs, the measured load is within the variation range. It is determined whether or not the coil spring to be assembled is of the instructed specification depending on whether or not it is within.

  In other words, for multiple types of coil springs with different specifications, if a measurement position where the variation range of the compressive load does not overlap with other coil springs is set in advance based on the load characteristics, assembly of a specific coil spring Is measured at the measurement position set for the coil spring, and by determining whether the load is within the variation range, the specification of the coil spring to be assembled is instructed. It is determined whether or not it has been done.

  And only when the coil spring to be assembled is of the specified specification, the mount member is attached to the tip of the piston rod at the predetermined mounting position. Assembly is prevented.

  Here, the measurement position may be a single position that coincides with the mounting position of the mount member, or may be a midway position until the coil spring is compressed to the mounting position.

  By the way, when the number of types of coil springs that can be selected increases, there appears a measurement position where the variation range of the compressive load does not overlap with all other coil springs. In this case, there is a possibility that the spring cannot be distinguished from other springs at only one measurement position.

  Therefore, in the invention of claim 2, with respect to such a coil spring, a plurality of measurement positions are set, the compression load is measured at each measurement position, and the compression load is within a preset range at all measurement positions. If it is, the coil spring to be assembled is determined to be of the instructed specification.

  In other words, for each spring, if the plurality of measurement positions are set in advance so that there is no other spring that overlaps the spring at all of the plurality of measurement positions within the range of variation in compression load, When the compressive load is within a preset variation range at the measurement position, it is possible to determine that the coil spring to be assembled is instructed.

  According to the suspension assembly apparatus of the third aspect of the invention, the method of the first aspect is implemented by operating the suspension assembly apparatus, and the effects of the method are achieved.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. The suspension assembly apparatus described below constitutes the embodiment of the suspension assembly apparatus according to the present invention, and the operation of this apparatus constitutes the embodiment of the suspension assembly method according to the present invention. .

  First, a schematic configuration of the suspension 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The suspension 1 includes a shock absorber 2, a coil spring 3, and a mount member 4 as main components. The coil spring 3 is placed between a spring receiving member 2a provided on the outer cylinder and a mount member 4 attached to the tip of the piston rod 2b protruding from the outer cylinder of the shock absorber 2 using a nut 5. It is configured to be mounted in a compressed state.

  Next, a suspension assembly apparatus 10 for assembling the suspension will be described with reference to FIG. 2. A pair of suspensions 1 and 1 for shock absorbers 2 and 2 of a pair of suspensions 1 and 1 mounted on the same vehicle are disposed below a main body 11 of the apparatus 10. Is mounted on the left and right sides, and a servo motor 13 is provided at the center of the upper surface of the main body 11, and a screw shaft 14 driven to rotate by the motor 13 is provided in the main body 11. It is drooping from the top.

  An elevating unit 20 supported by a guide member (not shown) so as to be movable up and down is provided in the main body 11, and a female screw member 22 attached to a base plate 21 of the unit 20 is screwed to the screw shaft 14. Accordingly, when the screw shaft 14 is rotationally driven by the servo motor 13, the entire lifting unit 20 is lifted and lowered.

  In addition to the base plate 21 to which the female screw member 22 is attached, the elevating unit 20 has a nut runner support plate 23 disposed below the base plate 21. A pair of nut runners 24 and 24 are installed so that the axes of the shock absorbers 2 and 2 coincide with each other.

  The nut runner support plate 23 is attached to the tip of piston rods 25a, 25a extending below the cylinders 25, 25 installed on the base plate 21. By the operation of these cylinders 25, 25, the lifting unit 20 is moved. The nut runner support plate 23 and the nut runners 24 and 24 supported by the plate 23 are moved up and down relatively with respect to the base plate 21.

  Further, a pair of presser members 26, 26 are disposed below the nut runner support plate 23. These presser members 26, 26 are disposed above via a pair of connecting rods 27, 27 extending in the vertical direction. The base plate 21 is connected to the base plate 21 so as to move up and down integrally with the up and down of the base plate 21, that is, the up and down unit 20 by the operation of the servo motor 13.

  In this case, load cells 28 and 28 are interposed at the lower ends of the connecting rods 27 and 27 and the connecting portions of the pressing members 26 and 26, respectively, and the axial direction acting on the connecting rods 27 and 27 is applied to both connecting rods. Each load can be measured. The load cells 28 and 28 may be installed at, for example, a connecting portion between the connecting rods 27 and 27 and the base plate 21 or an intermediate portion between the connecting rods 27 and 27. In short, a load acting on the connecting rods 27 and 27 is applied to both connecting rods. Any position that can be measured is acceptable.

  A pair of mounting members are held on the lower surfaces of the pressing members 26, 26 so that the axes of the pair of shock absorbers 2, 2 and the pair of nut runners 24, 24 are aligned with each other. Jigs 29 and 29 are attached, and the mount member 4 of the suspension 1 is held on the lower surfaces of the jigs 29 and 29 using magnets 29a and 29a.

  Next, the control system of the suspension assembly apparatus 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the assembly apparatus 10 has a control unit 30, and the control unit 30 is a production unit that comprehensively manages suspension assembly. Production information including at least the specification of the coil spring for the suspension to be assembled next from the management system 31, a signal from the activation switch 32 for starting the assembling apparatus 10, and a pair of load cells 28, 28 incorporated in the assembling apparatus 10. The control unit 30 is connected to a storage device 33 in which the coil spring specification determination data is recorded.

  Then, based on the signal from the start switch 32, the production information from the production management system 31, the specification determination data read from the storage device 33, and the load signal from the load cells 28, 28, the servo motor 13, Control signals are output to the nut runners 24 and 24, the cylinders 25 and 25, and the alarm device 34, respectively.

  Here, the contents of the specification determination data recorded in the storage device 33 will be described with reference to the table shown in FIG. 4. The storage device 33 stores the specifications A, B, C,. The number of compression load measurement positions, the downward stroke from the initial position of the elevating unit 20 for each measurement position, and the range of variation in compression load at the measurement position set in advance based on the load characteristics of the spring, Is recorded.

  In this case, how each measurement position and variation range are set will be described with reference to FIG. 5. For example, it is possible to select three types of coil springs of specifications A, B, and C. At the 1 measurement position, the variation ranges of the springs of the specifications A and C overlap, and at the second measurement position, the variation ranges of the specifications A and B overlap. There are no other springs with overlapping variation ranges at both the second measurement positions.

  Therefore, when the assembly of the coil spring of the specification A is instructed, the compression load is first measured at the first measurement position. If the value is within the variation range of the specification A, the coil spring to be assembled is measured. Is determined to be at least not of specification B. Next, when the compression load is measured at the second measurement position and the value is within the variation range of specification A, the coil spring to be assembled is specification C. However, as a result, it is determined that the coil spring to be assembled is the specification A.

  Note that, in the first and second measurement positions shown in FIG. 5, since the variation ranges of the springs of the specifications B and C overlap, the specifications of the coil spring to be assembled in the measurement at these measurement positions. There is a possibility that it is not possible to determine whether B is B or C. That is, in the setting of the measurement position as described above, for each specification, the variation range of the compression load is one or a plurality of measurement positions, and there is no other specification spring that overlaps with the spring of the specification. The data set in this way is stored in the storage device 33, and the specifications of the coil springs that can be selected (possibly misassembled) by using this data. Even if the number increases, it is possible to determine whether the use is instructed.

  Next, the suspension assembling operation including the coil spring determination process under the control of the control unit 30 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, as shown in FIG. 2, a pair of suspension shock absorbers 2 and 2 to be assembled next are set up on a frame 12 of the assembling apparatus 10 and coil springs 3 are attached to spring receiving members 2a and 2a provided on the outer cylinder thereof. 3, and the mount members 4, 4 are held by the jigs 29, 29. In this state, the start switch 32 is turned on.

  At this time, the operation shown in the flowchart of the control unit 30 starts. First, in step S1, the production information is read from the production management system 31, and the specifications of the coil springs 3 and 3 of the suspension to be assembled next are acquired. Then, in step S2, determination data for the specifications from the table shown in FIG. 4, that is, the number of measurement positions, the stroke from the initial position of the lifting unit 20 to each measurement position, and the compression at each measurement position. Read the variation range of the load.

  Now, for example, if the specification of the coil springs 3 and 3 instructed to be incorporated next is A, the number of measurement positions is 2, and these measurement positions are strokes SA1 and SA2 from the initial position. It is read that the variation range of the load is WA1L to WA1U at the first measurement position SA1 and WA2L to WA2U at the second measurement position SA2.

  Next, in step S3, a counter value I for counting the number of measurement positions is initialized to 0. In step S4, the counter I reads the number of measurement positions I0 from the table in step S2 (specification A). It is determined whether or not “2”). At first, since I ≠ I0, step S5 is executed, and 1 is added to the counter value I (I = 1), and then the operation of discriminating or assembling the spring specifications after step S6 is executed. To do.

  That is, first, in step S6, the servo motor 13 is rotated by a predetermined amount, and the lifting unit 20 is lowered by the read first stroke SA1. At this time, the base plate 21 and the holding members 26 and 26 in the lifting knit 20 are integrally lowered, and the mount members 4 and 4 held by the jigs 29 and 29 are lowered by the stroke SA1. On the way, the mount members 4 and 4 come into contact with the upper ends of the coil springs 3 and 3, and thereafter the springs 3 and 3 are lowered while being compressed. Therefore, an axial compressive load acts as a reaction force of the coil springs 3 and 3 on the connecting rods 27 and 27 connecting the base plate 21 and the pressing members 26 and 26, and the load is applied by the load cells 28 and 28, respectively. Will be measured.

  Therefore, in step S7, the compression load indicated by the signals from the load cells 28 and 28 is input at the first measurement position where the mount members 4 and 4 are lowered by the stroke SA1, and in step S8, the load is the coil having the specification A. It is determined whether or not the variation range WA1L to WA1U of the compression load at the first measurement position of the springs 3 and 3 is within the range. If YES, the process returns to step S4.

  In the case of the spring of the specification A, the number of measurement positions I0 is “2” and the current counter value I is “1”, so the above steps S5 to S8 are executed again from step S4. Similarly to the first time, the counter value I is set to “2”, and whether or not the compressive load at the second measurement position (stroke SA2 from the initial position) is within the variation range WA2L to WA2U. Determine.

  If the result of this determination is YES, the compression load is within the variation range at the two measurement positions set for the specification A, but all of these measurement positions are of the specification A. It is determined that there is no other specification spring whose range of variation overlaps with the spring, and therefore, it is found that the spring to be incorporated at present is the indicated specification A spring.

  In that case, the process returns from step S8 to step S4 again. However, in the case of spring A, I0 = 2 and the current counter value I is “2”. The motor 13 is actuated to lower the mount members 4 and 4 to the mounting positions on the piston rods 2b and 2b, and the cylinders 25 and 25 are actuated to lower the nut runners 24 and 24 in step S10. , 24 are operated, and the nuts 5 and 5 are tightened to the tip ends of the piston rods 2b and 2b protruding upward from the mount members 4 and 4, respectively. When the last measurement position is the mounting position of the mount members 4 and 4, the step S9 is omitted.

  As a result, the coil springs 3 and 3 having the instructed specification A are assembled, and the assembly of the suspension is completed. Thereafter, in step S11, the nut runners 24 and 24 are stopped, and then the cylinders 25 and 25 The nut runners 24 and 24 are raised, and the servo motor 13 is rotated in the reverse direction to return the elevating unit 20 to the initial position, and the assembly apparatus 10 is returned to the assembly preparation system for the next pair of suspensions.

  Note that the above description has been made for the coil spring of the specification A with the number of measurement positions “2”. However, if the number of measurement positions is “3”, the above steps S4 to S8 are repeated three times. If “1”, the process is completed once.

  In any case, when the load indicated by the signal of at least one of the load cells 28 is not within the variation range and the determination result of step S8 is NO, the coil spring to be incorporated is instructed. In this case, step S12 is immediately executed and an alarm is issued. As a result, the operator is informed that the specifications of the coil spring are different, and by performing a predetermined repair operation, erroneous assembly of the spring is avoided.

  In the above embodiment, the pair of suspensions 1 and 1 are measured and assembled at the same time by the assembling apparatus 10, but the present invention is naturally applicable to an assembling apparatus for assembling a single suspension 1. It is.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when the vehicle suspension is assembled, erroneous assembly of the coil spring is prevented in advance while the suspension is assembled, which is effectively utilized at the vehicle assembly site. Is.

It is the schematic of the suspension used as the object of this invention. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a suspension assembly apparatus according to an embodiment. This is a control system of the same device. It is explanatory drawing of the specification determination data table of a coil spring. It is explanatory drawing of specification determination data. It is a flowchart which shows the assembly operation | movement of a suspension including specification determination operation | movement.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Suspension 2 Shock absorber 2a Spring receiving member 2b Piston rod 3 Coil spring 4 Mount member 5 Nut 10 Assembly apparatus 24 Nut runner (mounting means)
28 Load cell (load measuring means)
30 Control unit (determination means, control means)

Claims (11)

A drilling device for forming a hole in a workpiece,
A punch member that punches holes in the workpiece;
A punching apparatus comprising: a heating unit that is separate from the punch member and that heats a hole forming portion of the workpiece. In the drilling device according to claim 1,
The said heating means has a contact member contact | abutted with the hole formation part of a workpiece | work, and heats the hole formation part of a workpiece | work via the said contact member, The punching apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. In the drilling device according to claim 2,
The contact member is an electrode,
The said heating means has an electricity supply means which heats the hole formation part of this workpiece | work by supplying with electricity between an electrode and a workpiece | work. In the punching device according to any one of claims 2 and 3,
The punch member has a cylindrical shape,
The said contact member is rod shape, The applicable contact member is arrange | positioned in the said punch member, The punching device characterized by the above-mentioned. In the punching device according to any one of claims 2 and 3,
The contact member has a cylindrical shape,
The punching device according to claim 1, wherein the punch member has a rod shape, and the punch member is disposed in the contact member. In the drilling device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A punching device, which is incorporated in a press device for press-forming a workpiece. In the drilling device according to claim 6,
The heating means starts heating the hole forming part of the workpiece during press molding,
The punching device is configured to punch a hole in the portion before opening the mold after press molding. In the drilling method for forming a hole in the workpiece when the workpiece heated in advance is press-molded by a press device,
A hole forming method comprising: heating a hole forming portion of a work radiated through a die of the pressing device by a heating means, and punching a hole in the heated hole forming portion by a punch member. In the drilling method according to claim 8,
The heating means includes an electrode in contact with the hole forming portion of the work, and an energizing means for heating the hole forming portion of the work by energizing between the electrode and the work, and the heating means and the A punching method, wherein a punch member is incorporated in the press device. In the drilling method according to any one of claims 8 and 9,
The heating means starts heating the hole forming part of the workpiece during press molding,
The punching method is characterized in that the punch member is configured to punch a hole in the portion before mold opening after press molding. In the drilling method according to any one of claims 8 to 10,
A drilling method, wherein the workpiece is high-tensile steel having a tensile strength of about 600 MPa or more.

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