JP2686951B2 - Suspension positioning device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to suspension positioning for positioning a suspension unit at a predetermined position on a pallet when the suspension unit is mounted on a body while mounted on the pallet. It concerns the device.

(Prior Art) A vehicle assembly line for assembling a suspension unit to a body generally has a structure in which a suspension unit is placed at a predetermined position on a pallet and is placed below the body as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 56-103665. It is configured to be relatively elevated from the above to be assembled to the body.
In order to assemble the suspension unit to the body smoothly in such a vehicle assembly line, it is important that the suspension unit is securely held at a predetermined position on the pallet. A suspension positioning device for positioning the suspension unit at the predetermined position is provided.

The suspension unit consists of a subframe extending in the vehicle width direction, an axle that rotatably supports the wheels, both ends connected to the subframe and the axle, and swingable up and down with respect to the subframe. In the case where the suspension positioning device includes a suspension arm and a suspension strut having a lower end portion connected to the axle, the suspension positioning device may have the following configuration. That is, by adopting a suspension positioning device including positioning means for positioning the sub-frame at a predetermined position on the pallet, biasing means for biasing the axle upward with a spring, and clamping means for clamping the suspension strut, It is possible to position the pallet at a predetermined position.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, when such a suspension positioning device is employed, the following inconvenience occurs. That is, in the suspension positioning device, when the suspension unit is assembled to the body, the suspension struts come into contact with the body due to the rise of the pallet, and the suspension struts resist the urging force of the urging means together with the axle against the pallet. Although displaced downward, the clamp means does not displace with respect to the pallet, so that the clamp means and the suspension strut slide, which may damage the suspension strut or cause a failure of the clamp means.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a sliding function between the clamp means and the suspension strut when the suspension unit is assembled to the body after sufficiently securing the clamp function of the clamp means with respect to the suspension strut. An object of the present invention is to provide a suspension positioning device capable of preventing movement.

(Means for Solving the Problem) In the suspension positioning device according to the present invention, the clamp means is provided with a follow-up mechanism that follows the downward displacement of the suspension strut so that the clamp position of the clamp means with respect to the suspension strut does not change. It is configured so as to achieve the above purpose. That is, a sub-frame extending in the vehicle width direction, an axle that rotatably supports wheels, both ends of the axle are connected to the sub-frame and the axle, and are vertically swingable with respect to the sub-frame. A suspension unit including a suspension arm and a suspension strut having a lower end connected to the axle is relatively raised from below the body while being placed at a predetermined position on the pallet, and the sub-frame and the sub-frame. In a vehicle assembly line configured to assemble suspension struts to the body, a suspension positioning device that is provided on the pallet and positions the suspension unit at the predetermined position, the subframe being a predetermined position of the pallet. Positioning means for positioning in position, The suspension strut comprises an urging means for urging the axle upward and a clamp means for clamping the suspension strut. When the suspension unit is assembled to the body, the suspension strut is attached to the body. The clamp position of the clamp means with respect to the suspension strut does not change in the period from the contact with the suspension strut to the contact with the sub-frame due to the downward displacement together with the axle against the spring biasing force of the biasing means. As described above, a follow-up mechanism that follows the displacement of the suspension strut is provided.

(Operation) As shown in the above configuration, the clamp means for clamping the suspension strut is provided with the follow-up mechanism that follows the downward displacement of the suspension strut, so that when the suspension unit is assembled to the body, the suspension unit contacts the body. The contact makes it possible to prevent the clamp position of the clamp means with respect to the suspension strut from changing even when the axle is displaced downward together with the axle against the spring biasing force of the biasing means.

(Effect of the invention) Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the sliding of the clamp means and the suspension strut when the suspension unit is assembled to the body while sufficiently securing the clamp function of the clamp means to the suspension unit. As a result, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience of damaging the suspension struts and causing the clamp means to malfunction.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 and 2 are a rear side view and a plan view showing an embodiment of a suspension positioning device according to the present invention.

The suspension positioning device 2 is a device provided on the pallet 6 for positioning the rear suspension unit 4 at a predetermined position on the pallet 6 on which the rear suspension unit 4 is placed. The pallet 6 is used to assemble the rear suspension unit 4 to the body in the vehicle assembly line shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Prior to the description of the suspension positioning device 2, the outline of the vehicle assembly line will be described first. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the suspension positioning device 2 is supported by a hanger 10 of an overhead type trolley conveyor 8 disposed along the vehicle assembly line. The completed body 12 is intermittently transported at a predetermined pitch to a position detection station S1 and a mounting station S2 provided on the vehicle assembly line. The position detection station S1 is provided with four visual sensors 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d for detecting the actual position of the body 12 carried therein, and the mounting station S2 is provided with a front suspension unit. A front side lifter 18 for mounting the engine unit 16 combined with the
A rear lifter 20 for mounting the rear suspension unit 4 on the body 12 is provided.

In the vicinity of each of the front-side lifter 18 and the rear-side lifter 20, carry-in conveyors 22 and 24 extending in a direction orthogonal to the carrying direction of the body 12 (the direction indicated by the arrow P in FIGS. 4 and 5). is set up. Then, the engine units 16 and the rear suspension unit 4 unloaded from the unloading sections 26 and 28 are placed on the transport pallets 30 and 6 which are usually called "sleds" by the loading conveyors 22 and 24, respectively. The front lifter 18 and the rear lifter 20
The pallets 30 and 6 are conveyed to predetermined positions on the rear side of the pallets by the appropriate loading devices 32 at the respective positions on the rotary lift table 34 located at the uppermost stage in each of the front lifter 18 and the rear lifter 20. It is placed on top of it. In this case, the engine unit 16 and the rear suspension unit 4 are placed while being positioned by the positioning members (the positioning members on the pallet 6 will be described later in detail) provided on the pallets 30 and 6, respectively. And a pallet 30 mounted on the rotary lift table 34 of the front lifter 18 together with the engine unit 16, and a pallet mounted on the rotary lift table 34 of the rear lifter 20 rotating with the rear suspension unit 4. 6 is positioned by a positioning member (not shown) provided on the rotary lifting table 34, whereby the engine unit 16 and the rear suspension unit 4 are respectively placed on the front side lifter 18 and the rear side lifter 20. Be careful not to cause misalignment That.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the rear suspension unit 4 mounted on the pallet 6.

The rear suspension unit 4 includes a subframe 40 extending in the vehicle width direction, a pair of axles 42 that rotatably support a pair of left and right wheels (not shown), and both ends of the subframe 40 and the axles 42. And a pair of suspension struts 46 whose lower ends are connected to the axles 42. ing.

As shown in FIG. 1, the suspension positioning device 2
Are provided in a pair on the left and right, and positioning means 50 for positioning the sub-frame 40 at a predetermined position on the pallet 6, respectively.
And a biasing means 52 for biasing the axle 42 upward by a spring.
And a clamping means 54 for clamping the suspension strut 46.

The positioning means 50 comprises a positioning block 60 and a positioning pin 62 fixed to a support 58 fixed to the bottom plate 56 of the pallet 6, and the positioning block 60 positions vertically and horizontally by the positioning pin 62. It has become.

The biasing means 52 includes a support bracket 64 fixed to the bottom plate 56.
A pair of front and rear arms 66 that are swingably supported by
A connecting member 68 that connects the respective end portions of the arms 66, a U-shaped member 70 that is provided substantially in the center of the connecting member 68 and supports the downward extension 42a of the axle 42, and both ends of the connecting member 68 are It consists of a tension spring 78 connected to a bracket 72 provided in the middle part and a bolt 76 screwed to an anchor 74 provided on the bottom plate 56, and the tension of the tension spring 78 urges the axle 42 upward. The rear suspension unit 4 is held so that its arm 44 is substantially horizontal.

The clamp means 54 includes a clamp arm 80 capable of clamping the suspension strut 46 and the clamp arm 80.
The clamp arm 80 is provided so that 80 can take a clamped position for engaging and clamping the suspension strut 46 and an unclamped position for releasing the clamped state.
And a rotation shaft member 82 for rotatably supporting the
And a pair of follow-up mechanisms 84, which are provided on both front and rear sides of 82 and slidably support the rotating shaft member 82 in a direction inclined outward by a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical direction. A suspension strut generated when the suspension unit 4 is assembled to the body 12 by the follow-up mechanism 84.
With respect to the downward displacement of 46, the clamp arm 80 is displaced in substantially the same direction and in the same direction as this displacement, so that the clamp position of the clamp arm 80 with respect to the suspension strut 46 is always maintained substantially the same. .

Each of the follow-up mechanisms 84 has a slide base 86 that supports the end of the rotary shaft member 82 and upper and lower end portions fixed to a substantially U-shaped support frame 88 that is fixed to the bottom plate 56, and slides the slide base 86. A guide rod 90 that movably supports this guide rod
A pair of compression springs 92, which are respectively interposed on the upper and lower sides of the slide base 86 and urge the slide base 86 to the vertical center position, and a cylinder portion fixed to the slide base 86 and a piston on the support frame 88. A balance cylinder in which the rod is fixed, and a predetermined resistance is given to the vertical movement of the slide base 86 to buffer it.
It consists of 94.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing in detail the clamp arm 80 of the clamp means 54.

The clamp arm 80 has an arm body whose lower end is rotatably supported by a rotary shaft member 82 via a bracket 96a and a pair of sleeves 96b arranged at a predetermined front and rear distance.
96 and a pair of front and rear clamps rotatably supported at the front ends of a pair of front and rear extension portions 96c provided at the front end of the arm body 96 at a distance slightly larger than the diameter of the suspension strut 46. Claw 98 and these clamp claws 98
Is composed of a pair of cylinders 100 for urging the suspension struts 46 in the direction of engaging the suspension struts 46, and a pair of tension springs 102 for urging the clamp claws 98 in the direction of releasing the engagement. By rotating each clamp claw 98 in the engaging direction against the elastic force of the tension spring 102 by the cylinder 100, the V-shaped block 96d provided at the tip of the arm main body 96 and the both clamp claws 98 described above.
The suspension strut 46 is clamped with a predetermined clamping force by and. A pair of grooved guide members 96e are provided on both front and rear sides of the arm body 96 to allow the clamp claw 98 to rotate and to restrict the vertical movement of the clamp claw 98. A spring plunger (not shown) is provided at the tip of each of the clamp pawls 98, so that the clamp pawls 98 can be smoothly engaged with the suspension struts 46.

As shown in FIG. 1, in addition to the pair of suspension positioning means 2 described above, the pallet 6 also includes a sub-frame 4
A pair of bolt tightening means 104 for bolting the body to the body 12 at both ends thereof is provided. Each of these bolt tightening means 104 includes a pair of front and rear tightening rods 106 extending in the vertical direction, a support bracket 108 for supporting the tightening rods 106 so as to be rotatable and vertically movable, and each tightening rod 106. A compression spring 110 is provided at the upper end and biases the tightening rod 106 upward. A nut accommodating portion 106a for accommodating a nut to be screwed with a bolt 12c penetrating the subframe 4 and protruding downward when the subframe 4 contacts the body 12 is formed at the upper end of the tightening rod 106. At the lower end of the tightening rod 106, an engaging portion that engages with a nut runner (not shown)
106b is formed.

 Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the vehicle assembly line, when the pallet 6 is conveyed and placed on the rear lifter 20 at a predetermined position, the rear lifter 20 then rises and is placed on the pallet 6. Rear suspension unit 4 is the body
The rear suspension unit 4 is assembled from the above-mentioned transportation to completion of assembly as shown in FIG.
Pallet 6 by a pair of suspension positioning devices 2
Is held at a predetermined position.

That is, in the rear suspension unit 4, the sub-frame 40 is preliminarily positioned vertically and horizontally by the positioning means 50 before the transportation, and the axle 42 is biased upward by the biasing means 52 so that the suspension arm 44 is moved. The suspension struts 46 are brought into a substantially horizontal state, and the suspension struts 46 are clamped by the clamp means 54 into a substantially vertical state. At this time, the clamping means 54
The clamp arm 80 is held at the position shown by the solid line in the figure, corresponding to the position of the suspension strut 46, and accordingly, the rotary shaft member 82 is held at a relatively high position. Therefore, in the follow-up mechanism 84, the slide base 86
Rises by a predetermined amount against the spring force of the upper spring of the pair of compression springs 92, and the balance cylinder 94 stably holds the slide base 86 at the above position.

In this way, the rear suspension unit 4 positioned at the predetermined position of the pallet 6 has the lifter 20 (the fifth
(See the figure), it abuts on the body 12, but at that time,
First, the upper end of the suspension strut 46 comes into contact with the upper end surface of the suspension tower 12a of the body 12, and after further rising by a predetermined amount, the upper end of the sub-frame 40 comes into contact with the lower panel 12b of the body 12. Relative displacement in the vertical direction between the suspension strut 46 abutting and the subframe 40 abutting is absorbed by swinging the suspension arm 44 downward. This suspension arm
The downward swing of 44 is made against the elastic force of a tension spring 78 connected to an arm 66 supporting an axle 42 which is displaced downward together with the suspension arm 44, and this spring force is generated by the suspension strut 46. Since it is sufficiently smaller than the spring 46a provided in the above, the suspension strut 46 is not compressed, and the relative displacement is absorbed only by the swing of the suspension arm 44.

By swinging the suspension arm 44 downward, the suspension strut 46 is also displaced downward relative to the pallet 6. This downward displacement describes a locus that descends slightly inward in the vehicle width direction corresponding to the swing locus of the suspension arm 44. Therefore, if the clamp position of the clamp arm 80 of the clamp means 54 with respect to the suspension strut 46 is temporarily fixed, the clamp arm 80 and the suspension strut 46 are slanted downward due to the displacement of the suspension strut 46.
And slid slidably with respect to the axial direction of the suspension strut 46, which damages the suspension strut 46 and causes the clamp claw 98 (see FIG. 3) of the clamp arm 80 to move to the suspension strut.
The clamp arm 80 may be disengaged or the clamp arm 80 may be acted upon by an unreasonable force, but in the present embodiment, the following problem is caused by the follow-up mechanism 84 provided in the clamp means 54. Is eliminated.

That is, when the suspension strut 46 is displaced obliquely downward, a load that acts obliquely downward is applied to the rotating shaft member 82 via the clamp arm 80 that clamps the suspension strut 46 with a predetermined clamping force, and this load slides. The base 86 is displaced downward in the axial direction while sliding on the guide rod 90. Since the axial direction of the guide rod 90 is set in accordance with the displacement direction of the suspension strut 46, the downward displacement of the slide base 86 is made extremely smooth, which allows the clamp arm 80 to be clamped to the suspension strut 46. It is possible to maintain the clamp position substantially constant without the risk of excessive force being applied. The balance cylinder 94 fixed to the slide base 86 is provided as a buffer for preventing a sudden slide of the slide base 86, but the suspension strut 46 when the pallet 6 is raised.
It is configured to be able to sufficiently follow the downward displacement speed of.

Suspension struts 46 and subframe above
The abutment of each upper end portion of the 40 with the body 12 causes the bolt 46b provided on the upper end portion of the suspension strut 46 to penetrate into the mounting hole formed on the upper end surface of the suspension tower 12a, and at the upper end portion of the subframe 40 The bolts 12c provided on the lower panel 12b are aligned in the formed mounting holes so that they are aligned with each other. Then, when the pallet 6 moves up to the position where the contact is made, the pallet 6 stops moving up, and then a nut runner (not shown) moves up from below the pallet 6 through the opening of the bottom plate 56 to tighten the bolt. After engaging with the engaging portion 106b at the lower end of the tightening rod 106 of the means 104 and then rotating by a predetermined amount, the nut accommodated in the nut accommodating portion 106a at the upper end of the tightening rod 106 is bolted to the bolt 12
Tighten to c. When the sub-frame 40 is bolted to the body 12 in this way, the pallet 6 descends as the rear lifter 20 descends, and at the time of this descending, the clamping means is clamped.
The suspension strut 46 clamped by 54 is released. The unclamping of the clamp means 54 is synchronized with the completion of the bolt tightening operation and the cylinder 100 shown in FIG.
Retract the clamp claw 98 suspension strut
The engagement with respect to 46 is released, and then the clamp arm 80 and the suspension strut 46 are displaced relative to each other as the pallet 6 descends. Abutting against each other, and at this time, the extension 9 of the arm body 96
This is done by rotating the suspension arm 80 to the unclamp position by the upward load received by the 6c.

In this embodiment, the rear suspension unit 4
The suspension positioning device 2 for positioning the front suspension unit on the pallet 6 has been described. Of course, such a suspension positioning device may be used for positioning the front suspension unit on the pallet.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view from the rear showing an embodiment of the suspension positioning device according to the present invention.
2 is a plan view showing only the right side of the pair of suspension positioning devices shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a clamp arm of a clamping means of the device. 4 and 5 are a side view and a plan view showing an outline of a vehicle assembly line in which the apparatus is used, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a rear suspension unit positioned by the apparatus. 2 …… Suspension positioning device 4 …… Rear suspension unit 6 …… Pallet, 12 …… Body 40 …… Subframe, 42 …… Axle 44 …… Suspension arm 46 …… Suspension strut 50 …… Positioning means, 52 …… Biasing means 54 …… Clamping means, 84 …… Following mechanism

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A subframe extending in the vehicle width direction, an axle for rotatably supporting a wheel, both ends connected to the subframe and the axle, and swingable up and down with respect to the subframe. A suspension unit including a suspension arm and a suspension strut whose lower end is connected to the axle is relatively raised from below the body while being placed at a predetermined position on the pallet, In a vehicle assembly line configured to assemble a frame and the suspension strut to the body, there is provided a suspension positioning device which is provided on the pallet and positions the suspension unit at the predetermined position. Positioning means for positioning the pallet at a predetermined position A biasing means for biasing the axle upward by a spring, and a clamp means for clamping the suspension strut, wherein the suspension strut is attached to the body when the suspension unit is assembled to the body. The clamp position of the clamp means with respect to the suspension strut changes between the contact with the body and the displacement with the axle downwardly against the spring biasing force of the biasing means until the sub-frame contacts. The suspension positioning device is provided with a follow-up mechanism that follows the displacement of the suspension strut so as not to do so.