RU2809758C2 - Device for surface treatment of vehicles or vehicle components - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: mechanical engineering.

SUBSTANCE: device (1) for surface treatment of a vehicle (V) by complete immersion in treatment baths contained in treatment tanks (2) contains a plurality of trolleys (3) moving along a treatment path (P) by means of a chain drive device (4), wherein said trolleys may be selectively suspended on a hook in connection with said chain drive device (4), supported by opposing support and sliding guides (9) running along said path (P), and comprising a segment (12) connected by cam-slider connection with cam elements (11) located along the specified path (P), determining the complete rotation of the specified trolleys around the axis of transverse rotation near the specified tanks (2) for processing.

EFFECT: energy efficiency and absence of contamination in the bath are achieved.

19 cl, 23 dwg

Description

Field of technology

The present invention relates to a device for the surface treatment of components in accordance with the preamble of claim 1, in particular for the surface treatment of vehicles or vehicle components.

Within the scope of the present invention, the term "vehicle" is closely related to that which relates to the world of the automobile industry, and according to an exemplary and non-exhaustive list, the term "vehicle" means cars, vans, trucks, truck cabs, agricultural machines, such such as tractors, earthmoving machines, etc.

For ease of presentation, the present description is written in a non-limiting manner with specific consideration to passenger cars and problems associated with the surface treatment of the body, chassis or other components of the passenger car structure, which is hereinafter referred to as "vehicle structure".

State of the art

During the production of passenger cars, bodies, chassis and other structural components are subjected to numerous types of processing, such as washing, degreasing, activation treatment, phosphating treatment, passivation treatment, cataphoretic treatment, ultrafiltration treatment and other types of treatment.

The individual treatments that must be carried out on a vehicle structure depend on the production specifications of each vehicle manufacturer.

In any case, although some of these treatments, such as spraying a degreaser, require the use of spray technology, most of these treatments, such as degreasing, phosphating and cataphoresis, must be carried out by completely immersing the vehicle structure in treatment bath.

For this purpose, vehicle manufacturing plants are equipped with production lines containing several treatment tanks, which are arranged in series, and between them are located baths for a specific treatment, inside which is placed the vehicle structure that must be immersed in order to carry out a specific treatment.

Typically, production lines for the manufacture of motor vehicles contain a plant portion consisting of a series of approximately thirteen processing tanks within which the vehicle structure to be processed must be placed.

For this purpose, it is provided that each vehicle whose structural components are to be processed is firmly supported in a fixed position on a transport trolley, which is simply called a designated trolley and is moved along certain paths of movement and is itself loaded into the treatment tanks.

According to the first type of lines for processing components of a vehicle structure, said lines form a chain-driven system in which individual trolleys are hung on a hook whenever necessary and when they contain the vehicle to be processed. Thus, processing lines of this type provide the distinct advantage of having only the trolleys in which the vehicle structure moves, which is driven by a chain drive, and as a result of this, preventing any empty trolleys from being immersed in the processing baths that do not contain design of the vehicle to be processed. It is thanks to this feature that installations of this type are usually called energy-efficient.

In addition to providing chain transport of carts and a series of sequential treatment tanks, each installation must have an upstream station for loading/hooking the carts when the vehicle to be treated is moved in them, as well as a downstream station for unloading the carts from the chain and ensuring the further movement of each trolley with the corresponding car after processing towards the subsequent line.

Moreover, it should be noted that the chains of the above-mentioned energy-saving units have hooks which are integral with the chain and are suitable for loading a particular car at an upstream station and for releasing the car at said downstream station.

Although this type of installation is very common, it has the disadvantage of requiring very large lines to accommodate the size of the individual treatment tanks. Essentially, in order to ensure that the trolley and corresponding transportable motor vehicle are lowered into the treatment tank, it is necessary to carry out the lowering of the entire drive and support chain line and the trolley, and this can only be carried out in front of the treatment tank, where a downward slope at the inlet is ensured and completely opposite outlet slope at outlet. In this regard, it should be taken into account that the angle of inclination used is approximately 28 to 45°, and that the required level reduction is slightly more than one meter. Accordingly, it is only to be noted that the inlet and outlet slopes from very long treatment tanks cause a significant and undesirable increase in the length of the treatment tanks, as well as an undesirable increase in the volume of said treatment tanks.

As an alternative to the above-mentioned processing plants of the energy-efficient type, plants of a non-energy-efficient type have been developed and proposed in the prior art literature, for example the processing plant that is described in document DE 196441048 A1, in which trolleys used to support and move the vehicle structure, to be processed are always in connection with two side guide chains, one on each side of the trolley, which moves synchronously between them. In addition, the above-mentioned trolleys contain a first segment integral with lateral drive and guide chains, and a second rotating segment, which is rotatable with respect to the said first segment about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of movement of the chains, and is located in a plane parallel to the horizontal plane. This second rotating trolley segment contains parts that are in desmodromic connection in guides extending longitudinally along the path of movement of the trolleys during operation, so as to cause a 180° rotation (flip) of this rotating trolley segment with respect to a fixed fragment at the located below the treatment tank and then rotate from 180° (in the same direction or in the opposite direction) so as to drive the second rotating car segment back to its original angular position before that particular car is beyond the outlet edge of the treatment tank below .

Typically, in the non-energy-efficient type of devices discussed above, the second rotating segment of each car rotates 180° at each treatment tank so as to cause an inversion and subsequent rotation of the immersed structure of the vehicle to be treated, which is in the process of moving . As stated, it is apparent that the path of the guides is such as to cause rotation of the same amount when the second rotating segment of the car in front of said car extends completely beyond the outlet edge of the treatment tank, so as to prevent interaction between the structure of the vehicle to be treated and said processing tank.

Although, in comparison with energy-saving installations, the energy-saving type plants discussed above make it possible to reduce the length of the treatment tanks and thus their volume, this depends on the fact that inlet and outlet inclined sections are no longer necessary, it should be noted that even these installations In any case, they are not without their drawbacks.

First of all, the authors note the problem of being able to operate two chains in a synchronized mode, even in the presence of different wear between the cells of the two chains, in order to prevent the risk of jamming during the movement of trolleys.

The next disadvantage of the non-energy-efficient type of installations discussed above would be that during the movement the trolleys are integral with the chains, such that they are immersed in the treatment tanks for the treatment tanks even if they are missing any or an automobile body shell, that is, the structure of the vehicle to be treated is missing, and as a result, energy consumption is increased, and the degree of contamination of the treatment bath is excessively increased due to the immersion of empty trolleys.

Thus, taking into account the above facts, it appears that there is currently a significant need for surface treatment of vehicle components and the like for an apparatus that allows for treatment tanks having the maximum possible longitudinal extent to contain treatment baths allowing the vehicle structures to be treated, and at the same time allowing the vehicles to be moved on trolleys that are moved only when the trolleys actually move the vehicle structure to be treated by immersion in the treatment baths contained in processing tanks.

The essence of the invention

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to develop a device for surface treatment of components as specified above, and which has such structural and functional characteristics as to fulfill the above requirement and at the same time eliminate the disadvantages mentioned in relation to the prior art. technology.

This problem is solved by a device for surface treatment of components in accordance with claim 1 of the present invention.

Brief description of drawings

Additional features and advantages of the component surface treatment apparatus of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of certain corresponding preferred embodiments, which are presented by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying figures, including:

- in fig. 1 is a general perspective view of a device according to the present invention in accordance with a first embodiment;

- in fig. 2 and 3 are two separate perspective views of part of the processing path of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, from two different points of view;

- in fig. 4 is a longitudinal top view of a portion of the processing path of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

- in fig. 5 is a cross-sectional top view of the processing path of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, with the vehicle structure being moved in a higher position relative to the height of the treatment tanks;

- in fig. 5a is a detailed top view of the double beam arm illustrated in FIG. 5;

- in fig. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the processing path of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, with the vehicle structure being moved in an inverted position inside the treatment tank;

- in fig. 6a is a detailed top view of the double beam arm illustrated in FIG. 6;

- in fig. 7 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the processing path of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, with the position occupied by the movable vehicle structure in relation to the treatment tank;

- in fig. 8 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the processing path of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, with the vehicle structure being moved in an inverted position within the treatment tank and indicating the paths followed by the free ends of the two arms of the arm illustrated in FIG. 5a and 6a, after interaction with the cam elements;

- in fig. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of the processing path of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, with the vehicle structure being moved in an inverted position inside the treatment tank;

- in fig. 9a is a detailed top view of the four-beam cross illustrated in FIG. 9;

- in fig. 10 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the processing path of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, with the vehicle structure being moved in an inverted position within the treatment tank, and indicating the paths followed by the free ends of the beams of the cross illustrated in FIG. 9a, after interaction with the cam elements;

- in fig. 11 is a simplified perspective view of a portion of a processing path of an apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

- in fig. 12 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the processing path of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 11, with the position occupied by the vehicle structure being moved in relation to the treatment tank;

- in fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view from above of the processing path of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, with the vehicle structure being moved in a higher position relative to the height of the treatment tanks;

- in fig. 13a is a detailed top view of the double beam arm illustrated in FIG. 13;

- in fig. 14 is a detailed simplified perspective view of the device illustrated in FIG. 11, with horizontal and vertical movement of trolleys on the release path for processing after unloading the structure of the transport vehicle;

- in fig. 15 is a simplified perspective view of a device according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

- in fig. 16 is a separate perspective view of a portion of the processing path of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 15;

- in fig. 17 is a detailed simplified perspective view of the device illustrated in FIG. 15, with horizontal and vertical movement of trolleys on the release path for processing after unloading the structure of the transport vehicle;

- in fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view from above of the processing path of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 15, with the vehicle structure being moved in a higher position relative to the height of the treatment tanks;

- in fig. 18a is a detailed top view of the double beam arm illustrated in FIG. 18;

- in fig. 19 is a partial cross-sectional view of the processing path of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 15, with the vehicle structure being moved in an inverted position inside the treatment tank;

- in fig. 20 is a partial cross-sectional view of the processing path of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 15, with the vehicle structure being moved in a higher position relative to the height of the treatment tanks;

- in fig. 20a is a detailed top view of the four-beam cross illustrated in FIG. 20;

- in fig. 21 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the processing path of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 15, in the version with the four-beam cross illustrated in FIG. 20 and 20a, with the position occupied by the vehicle structure being moved in relation to the treatment tank;

- in fig. 22 is a schematic and simplified longitudinal view of a portion of a device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, which corresponds to a device according to the said third embodiment, and

- in fig. 23 is a schematic and simplified top view of the device illustrated in FIG. 22.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Consider FIG. 1 to 21, wherein 1 generally denotes a device for surface treating components according to the present invention, in particular a device for treating a vehicle structure by completely immersing the structure to be treated in treatment baths contained in treatment tanks.

device 1 for surface treatment of components contains:

- two or more treatment tanks 2, typically thirteen (it should be noted that for ease of presentation, a smaller number of treatment tanks are illustrated in the accompanying figures), which contain treatment baths and are arranged in series one after the other , defining the trajectory P for processing the vehicle structure V;

- a plurality of trolleys 3, each trolley 3 of said plurality of trolleys being configured to be suspended on a hook, support and transport the vehicle V to be processed;

- a first chain drive device 4 for moving said trolleys 3 during forward movement along the specified trajectory P in the longitudinal direction X-X of movement from the upstream station 6 to the downstream station 7 of the inlet and, accordingly, the release of the said trolleys from the specified trajectory P for processing;

- a second drive device for moving said trolleys (3) during the return movement from said downstream station 7 to said upstream station 6.

Therefore, said path P is defined from said upstream inlet station 6 to said downstream outlet station 7 of said trolleys with respect to the direction of movement of said trolleys from said upstream inlet station 6 to said downstream station 7 release.

Said treatment tanks 2 comprise opposite longitudinal sides 2a and opposite transverse sides (or front ends) 2b, respectively, extending in a longitudinal direction with respect to said path P and in a transverse direction with respect to said path P.

It should be noted that the specified processing path P for the vehicle structure is also commonly referred to by the terms "tunnel" or "processing tunnel", even in the absence of container elements suitable to define an effective closed tunnel open only at the front ends.

The following trolleys are 3:

- configured to be selectively suspended from a hook in connection with said first chain drive device 4 at said upstream station 6 for movement along said path P during said forward movement and

- made with the possibility of selective release from communication in connection with the specified first chain drive device 4, according to a method already known and used previously and related to known devices of an energy-saving type.

As will become more apparent from the following description, the selective introduction of the trolleys 3 into connection with the first chain drive device 4 occurs at an upstream station 6. Typically, when necessary, the trolley on which the vehicle structure V to be processed is loaded is moved to the upstream inlet station so as to be connected by the first chain drive device 4, which is usually always in motion according to a closed loop path in which a forward branch and a return branch are defined between the downstream station 7 and the upstream station 7. flow by station 6.

Advantageously, each trolley 3 contains:

- a first segment 3a, which defines a first segment of the trolley, which during movement can be attached as a whole to said first chain drive device 4 and be releasable, and

- a second segment 3b which defines a second trolley segment which, while moving along said path P, extends in the transverse direction Y-Y with respect to the said longitudinal direction X-X of movement and is connected as a single unit during rotation to said first trolley segment 3a by means of a first hinge device 8.

In this illustration, each trolley is selectively and individually connected during movement to said first chain drive device 4 when required, i.e. when the vehicle structure V is loaded onto the trolley, and the processing cycle of the specified vehicle structure is intended to begin.

It should be noted that:

- the aforementioned second segment 3b is a trolley segment 3 configured to be suspended on a hook, support and transport the vehicle V to be processed, and

- said first articulated device 8 allows said second segment 3b to be rotated relative to said first segment 3a about a lateral rotation axis extending in said lateral Y-Y direction.

Advantageously, the device 1 contains opposite supporting and sliding guides 9, extending axially only along the specified path P, close, i.e. at a minimum distance from the upper end of said longitudinal sides 2a of said treatment tanks 2 to support and/or guide the opposite transverse ends 10 of said trolleys 3.

According to the illustrated embodiments, said support and sliding guides 9 are spaced apart from each other so as to be distant from the longitudinal center line with respect to the longitudinal sides 2a of such treatment tanks 2. As a result, each trolley must be stably supported at its opposite transverse ends, in other words, at opposite ends of the trolley in the transverse direction Y-Y, for the entire section in which it passes along the path P.

Advantageously, the second segment 3b of each trolley 3 contains a connecting element 12, which, on part of the specified path P, is connected by means of a cam-slider connection with the cam elements 11, which are located along the specified path P.

In the process of moving the trolley 3 along the path P, the cam-slider connection that exists between the above-mentioned connecting element 12 and the cam elements 11, which are located along the specified path P, is implemented in such a way as to cause a complete rotation of the said trolleys in accordance with one or more of the specified tanks 2 for processing during the movement of said trolleys 3 along the specified trajectory P.

Essentially, when approaching the treatment tank 2, the following occurs:

- a first turn (inversion) by 180 (around the specified transverse axis of rotation of the second segment 3b of the trolley 3, and the inversion is carried out in accordance with the initial section of the specified treatment tank 2, and

- a second turn (inversion) by 180 (around the specified transverse axis of rotation of the second segment 3b of the trolley 3, and this inversion is carried out in accordance with the final section of the specified tank 2 for treatment, which is also defined in this case in relation to the direction of movement of the trolleys 3 along the specified trajectories P.

For this purpose, said cam elements 11 are present on opposite transverse sides 2b of the treatment tanks 2, and for this purpose, the trolley 3 and the corresponding connected and movable vehicle structure V must be in an inverted position in order to be completely immersed in the treatment bath contained in said tank 2 for processing.

As such, the inversion of the car that enters and exits the treatment tanks 2 allows the longitudinal length of the treatment tanks 2 to be maintained since it is not necessary to provide inlet and outlet slopes on the opposite transverse sides 2b of the treatment tanks that define the opposite inlet ends with respect to to the direction of movement of trolleys 3 along trajectory P.

Preferably, said cam elements 11, which are located along said path P, have such shapes as to create a desmodromic connection with said connecting element 12 of the second segment 3b of the trolley 3.

Preferably, said cam path 11 has a C-shape in cross section.

Preferably, said cam elements 11, which are located along the path P, comprise one or more rail guides 11 that extend along the entire length of the path P.

It should be noted that, as described above, it turns out to be advantageous that said opposing support and sliding guides 9 extending along said path P are located at a minimum distance, preferably slightly higher, from the upper end of the longitudinal sides 2a of the treatment tanks 2, in order to ensure complete immersion in the treatment bath contained in the treatment tank 2 of the vehicle structure V, which is moved by the trolley 3, after the specified first revolution by 180 (about the specified axis of transverse rotation of the second segment 3b of the trolleys 3. Essentially, this prevents the need to ensure the presence an additional supporting and driving device for reducing the height of the vehicle V carried by the trolley 3 at the treatment tank 2, which is required, for example, according to the prior art document WO2009/9083081.

According to an embodiment (see, for example, Figs. 2, 5, 5a, 6, 6a, 8, 12, 13, 13a, 14, 16, 17, 18 and 18a), the above-mentioned connecting element 12 of the second segment 3b of the trolley 3 contains a lever containing two opposing beams passing one after the other. The middle segment of said lever 12 is connected integrally during rotation to the second segment 3b of the corresponding trolley 3, such that the rotation of said lever 12 about an axis of rotation which extends in the transverse Y-Y direction causes equal rotation of the said second segment 3b of the trolley. The free ends I and II of the above-mentioned opposite beams of the said lever 12 are elements that define sliders suitable for connecting said cam elements 11, which are located along the said path P, for guiding with their help, so as to rotate the said lever about the above-mentioned axis rotation, which runs in the specified transverse Y-Y direction.

In fig. 8, curves I and II contain a representation of the points reached by the ends I and II, respectively, in the process of moving along the path P in accordance with the treatment tank 2 and, according to the description, define a complete revolution of the second segment 3a of the trolley 3 around the transverse axis of rotation Y-Y.

According to an embodiment (see, for example, Figs. 9, 9a, 10, 20, 20a, 21), the above-mentioned connecting element 12 of the second segment 3b of the trolley 3 contains a four-beam cross, the central segment of which is connected integrally during rotation to the second segment 3b of the corresponding trolley 3, such that rotation about the axis of rotation, which extends in the transverse Y-Y direction, causes the said second trolley segment 3b to rotate equally. The free ends I, II, III and IV of said four beams of said cross 12 are elements which define sliders suitable for connecting said cam elements 11 which are arranged along said path P to be guided by them, thus said arm is driven to rotate about said axis of rotation extending in said transverse Y-Y direction. In fig. 10, curves I, II, III and IV contain a representation of the points that the ends I, II, III and IV pass, respectively, in the process of moving along the path P in accordance with the treatment tank 2 and, according to the description, define a complete revolution of the second segment 3a trolleys 3 around the transverse axis of rotation Y-Y.

Preferably, the free ends I and II or I, II, III and IV of said beams of the lever 12 or cross 12 are provided with rotating means to cause rotation without sliding of said free ends with said cam elements 11.

It should be noted that the presence of the connecting element 12 of the second segment 3b of the trolley 3 in a shape resembling a lever or a cross, as described above, depends on the specific requirements that must be fulfilled, both of these embodiments can be implemented in three different embodiments, which are described below.

According to a first embodiment (see FIGS. 1-7 and 9), the above-mentioned first chain drive device 4 extends:

• along the specified trajectory P,

• at a higher level than the maximum height reached by said sides 2a, 2b of said treatment tanks 2 and

• in a transverse position with respect to the longitudinal center line of said treatment tanks 2, preferably in a transverse position or most oriented with respect to a vertical line passing through the longitudinal sides 2a of said treatment tanks 2.

According to this first embodiment, the first segment 3a of said trolley 3 comprises a beam which extends downwardly from the first chain drive device 4 to said second segment 3b of said trolley 3, preferably up to one of the two opposite transverse ends of said first segment 3a.

According to the second embodiment (see FIGS. 11-14), said first chain drive device 4 passes:

• along the specified trajectory P,

• at a higher level than the maximum height reached by said sides 2a, 2b of said treatment tanks 2 and

• in a position substantially aligned with the longitudinal center line of said treatment tanks 2 or with the greatest offset such a distance as not to extend beyond a vertical line passing through the longitudinal sides 2a of said treatment tanks 2.

According to this third embodiment, said first segment 3a of said trolley 3 comprises a beam which extends laterally and downwardly from said first chain drive device 4 to said second segment 3b of said trolley 3.

According to a third embodiment (see FIGS. 15-21), said first chain drive device 4 extends:

• along the specified trajectory P,

• at a height practically corresponding to the height of the indicated opposite supporting and sliding guides (9) and

• in a transverse position which, with respect to the longitudinal center line of said treatment tanks 2, is more outer or more oriented with respect to a vertical line passing through the longitudinal sides 2a of said treatment tanks 2.

According to this second embodiment, said first segment 3a of each trolley 3 comprises a beam that extends from said first chain drive device 4 to said second segment 3b of said trolley 3.

Preferably, said first chain drive device 4 comprises a single chain configured to selectively connect segments of said first trolleys 3 to move them along said first leg of said path.

According to the presented embodiments, the above-mentioned second drive device for moving the trolleys 3 during reverse movement from the downstream station 7 to the upstream station 6 comprises a return branch of the said first chain drive device 4, which extends from the downstream station 7 to the upstream station 6.

Alternatively, according to an embodiment which is not illustrated in the figures, it is possible to provide the presence of a separate second drive device for moving the trolleys 3 during the return movement from said downstream station 7 to said upstream station 6, for example providing the presence of a friction conveyor or other transport device. This alternative embodiment is suitable for use if the return branch of said first chain drive device 4 is to be optimized in such a way as to limit the overall dimensions of the device, since it is clear that for such a purpose it is not always possible to achieve this by also instructing the chain drive device 4 the task of returning trolleys 3 from the downstream station 7 to the upstream station 6.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in device 1, said first segment 3a of trolleys 3 comprises:

- a beam along which are located:

• a second hinge device 13 for providing rotation around the vertical Z-Z axis of a segment of said beam that is located downstream of said second hinge device 13 with respect to the segment of said beam closest to said first chain drive device 4, and/or

• a third hinge device 14 for providing rotation with respect to the horizontal axis of a segment of said beam that is located downstream of said third hinge device 14 relative to the segment of said upstream beam closest to said first chain drive device 4,

and mechanical devices (for example, linear actuators or cylindrical piston systems and the like) that cause said segments of said beam of each car to rotate about said vertical Z-Z axis and/or said horizontal axis near or at the outlet of said station, located downstream stream and adjacent to or at the inlet of said upstream station, so as to allow said trolleys 3 to move along said return path in a rotating smaller configuration.

Thus, in the device according to the present invention, a single chain conveying system is provided, which can be lateral (right or left) or central to the treatment tanks, in a low, middle or high position with respect to the upper end of the treatment tanks, to move trolleys having an axis of rotation that is transverse to the direction of movement along the processing path, and preferably, an axis of rotation that is longitudinal to the direction of movement of said trolley to provide entry into and exit from the processing path when turning, respectively, from vertical to horizontal and from horizontal to vertical of the second segment of trolleys in relation to the first segment.

Near the upstream station 6 of the processing path P, each trolley, thanks to the drive (mechanical, electric or pneumatic) of the above-mentioned mechanical device, moves in such a way that its own axis of rotation is transferred from a vertical low position (to which it moves during the reverse movement , as shown, for example, in Fig. 1, 13, 14, 15 and 17) into a horizontal position, which is transverse to the direction of movement in which the trolley is ready for loading the vehicle structure V on it before moving along the specified path P supported by opposing support and sliding guides 9. When this configuration is achieved, the trolley is inserted into a line along said path P for processing after the frame structure of the vehicle V to be processed is loaded onto it.

In the loading area of the vehicle structures V onto the trolley 3, each vehicle structure V can advantageously be attached directly to the corresponding trolley 3. For this purpose, the vehicle structure V is positioned in a known manner with corresponding holes suitable for connection by means of eccentrics with which the trolleys 3 are equipped. The insertion of said eccentrics into the aforementioned holes allows each vehicle structure (V) to be rigidly attached to the corresponding trolley 3.

Alternatively, the structure of the vehicle V to be processed can already be attached to the guides, which in turn are suspended on a hook and attached to the corresponding trolley 3.

Likewise, upon exiting the processing path P, each trolley will leave a corresponding movable vehicle structure P in the unloading zone, which is determined by the downstream station 7, for subsequent rotation in the specified lower vertical position, as mentioned above.

In accordance with all the embodiments described above, the rail guides 11 extend along the entire length of said path P, even above the tanks 2.

On the other hand, according to an alternative form of construction, which applies to all three embodiments described above, it is possible that the rail guides 11 are interrupted in certain longitudinal sections of said path P above the tanks 2, as described below in relation to FIGS. 22 and 23.

It should be noted that in FIG. 22 and 23 present an alternative to the third embodiment, which is illustrated in FIGS. 11-14, but the same considerations also apply to the other two embodiments that are described above, provided that the feature of guide rails 11 is present, which should be interrupted in certain longitudinal sections of the path P, and other elements described below are present.

Thus, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 will now be particularly discussed. 22 and 23, according to which:

- one or more of said guide rails 11 are interrupted at the longitudinal inlet section T _i and at the longitudinal outlet section T _o of each treatment tank 2, starting from said transverse sides 2b, and at the same time

- at the specified longitudinal inlet section T _i and at the specified longitudinal outlet section T _{o of} each tank 2, the specified cam elements 11 contain intermittent limiting elements 20, designed to interact with the specified part 12 of the specified second segment 3b of the specified trolleys 3, and determine the specified complete a revolution around the specified transverse axis of rotation passing in the specified transverse direction YY of the specified trolleys at each tank 2 for processing in the process of moving forward the specified trolleys 3 along the specified trajectory P.

Preferably, the above-mentioned intermittent limiting elements 20 comprise rotating rollers 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d supported in a fixed position along said path P so that they can be rotated about a corresponding axis of rotation extending in said lateral direction Y-Y.

Preferably, for each treatment tank 2, said device 1 comprises:

- said longitudinal inlet section T _i has a first limiting element 20a located at a lower height than the height of the guide rail 11, and a second limiting element 20b located at a lower height than the height of said first limiting element 20a and in the longitudinal direction closer to the middle segment treatment tank 2 than said first limiting member 20a;

- at the specified longitudinal outlet section T _o the third limiting element 20c, located at a lower height than the height of the specified rail guide 11, and the fourth limiting element 20d, located at a height between the height of the specified third limiting element 20c and the height of the specified rail guides 11 and in longitudinally more distant from the middle segment of the treatment tank 2 than said third limiting element 20c.

Said first limiting element 20a and said second limiting element 20b define a 180 rotation about said transverse axis of rotation extending in said transverse direction YY of said trolleys 3 at said longitudinal inlet section T _i , while said third limiting element 20c and said the fourth limiting element 20d defines a second and subsequent 180° rotation around said transverse rotation axis extending in said transverse direction YY of said trolleys 3 at said longitudinal outlet section T _o .

Preferably, said connecting element 12 of the second segment 3b of said trolleys 3 should comprise:

- a middle segment 21 suitable for desmodromic connection with the rail guides 11, and

- lever beams 22, preferably four-beam cross lever beams, suitable for interaction with the specified intermittent limiting elements 20 during the forward movement of each trolley 3 along the specified path P, which determines the inversion of the specified trolley at each longitudinal inlet section T _i and at each longitudinal outlet section T _o of each tank for treatment 3.

Preferably, said middle segment 21 of said connecting element 12 should comprise two rotating rollers 22a, 22b, which are supported by said connecting element 12, so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation extending in said transverse Y-Y direction, said two rotating rollers 22a, 22b are suitable for connecting said guide rails 11 at two points which are spaced between them.

As can be understood from what has been described above, the device according to the present invention for the surface treatment of components, in particular for the treatment of a vehicle structure by means of complete immersion in treatment baths contained in treatment tanks, makes it possible to fulfill the above requirements and at the same time At the same time, it is time to overcome the disadvantages indicated in the introductory part of the description of the present invention, where the prior art is presented.

Essentially, by means of the device according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce to a minimum the length in the longitudinal direction of the treatment tanks that contain baths for treating vehicle structures, and at the same time, to move the trolleys transporting the vehicles only when on these trolleys actually move vehicle structures that need to be processed.

Another advantage of the device according to the present invention is the stable support in the transverse direction that is provided to the trolleys by the opposing support and sliding guides throughout the entire processing path, this stable support allowing the trolleys and bodies attached to the him, at the treatment tanks.

A further advantage of the device according to the present invention is its unusual simplicity of design, which is suitable for ensuring reliable operation over time, ease of maintenance and low manufacturing cost.

It will be apparent that one skilled in the art will be able to make a number of changes and variations to the apparatus of the present invention as described above in order to meet possible and specific needs, but all of these will be within the scope of the patent protection of the present invention, which is defined by the following claims. .

Claims (61)

1. A device (1) for the surface treatment of components, in particular for the treatment of a vehicle structure by complete immersion in treatment baths contained in treatment tanks, said device comprising: - two or more treatment tanks (2) for containing treatment baths arranged sequentially one after the other along a path (P) for treating the vehicle structure (V), said treatment tanks (2) comprising opposite longitudinal sides (2a) and opposite transverse sides (2b), respectively, extending in the longitudinal direction with respect to the specified path (P) and in the transverse direction with respect to the specified path (P); - a plurality of trolleys (3), and each trolley (3) of said plurality of trolleys is configured to be suspended on a hook, support and transport the vehicle (V) to be processed; - a first chain drive device (4) for moving said trolleys (3) during forward movement along said path (P) in the longitudinal direction (X-X) of movement from the upstream station (6) to the downstream station (7) inlet and, accordingly, release of the specified trolleys from the specified trajectory (P) for processing; - a second drive device for moving said trolleys (3) during the return movement from said downstream station (7) to said upstream station (6), in this case, the specified trolleys (3): - configured to be selectively suspended from a hook in connection with said first chain drive device (4) at said upstream station (6) to move along said path (P) during said forward movement and - configured to be selectively released from the connection in connection with said first chain drive device (4), Moreover, the device differs in that: - the specified trolleys (3) contain: • a first segment (3a) interacting as a unit during movement with said first chain drive device (4) and being releasable, and • the second segment (3b), which, during the movement of the trolley along the specified path (P), runs in the transverse direction (Y-Y) in relation to the specified longitudinal direction (X-X) of movement and is connected as a single unit during rotation with the specified first segment (3a) said trolleys (3) by means of a first hinge device (8), allowing said second segment (3b) to rotate relative to said first segment (3a) about a transverse rotation axis extending in said transverse direction (Y-Y), said second segment ( 3b) of said trolleys (3) is a segment designed to be suspended on a hook, support and transport the vehicle (V) to be processed, - it contains opposing support and sliding guides (9) extending axially along said path (P) near the upper end of said longitudinal sides (2a) of said treatment tanks (2) to support and/or guide the opposing transverse ends (10) the indicated trolleys (3), and - the specified second segment (3b) of the specified trolleys (3) contains a connecting element (12), which, when located on the specified path (P), is connected by means of a cam-slider connection with the cam elements (11) located along the specified path (P), so that make approximately a complete revolution about said transverse axis of rotation extending in said transverse direction (Y-Y) of said trolleys in accordance with one or more of said tanks (2) for processing while moving said trolleys (3) along said path (P), turning over of said second segment (3b) of the trolley (3), causing complete immersion into the treatment bath of the underlying treatment tank (2) of the vehicle structure (V) suspended on a hook, supported and moved by said second segment (3b) of the said trolley. 2. Device (1) according to claim 1, in which: - said first chain drive device (4) passes: • along the specified path (P), • at a higher level than the maximum height reached by said sides (2a, 2b) of said treatment tanks (2), and • in a transverse position with respect to the longitudinal center line of said tanks (2) for treatment; - in each trolley (3), said first segment (3a) of said trolley (3) contains a beam that extends from said first chain drive device (4) downwards to said second segment (3b) of said trolley (3). 3. Apparatus (1) according to claim 2, wherein said first chain drive device (4) is located in relation to the longitudinal center line of said treatment tanks (2) in a more outward position or in a most orientation with respect to the vertical line, passing through the longitudinal sides (2a) of said treatment tanks (2). 4. Device (1) according to claim 1, in which: - said first chain drive device (4) passes: • along the specified path (P), • at a height practically corresponding to the height of said opposite supporting and sliding guides (9), and • in a transverse position which, with respect to the longitudinal center line of said treatment tanks (2), is more outer or more oriented with respect to a vertical line passing through the longitudinal sides (2a) of said treatment tanks (2), And - in each trolley (3), said first segment (3a) of said trolley (3) contains a beam that extends downward from said first chain drive device (4) to said second segment (3b) of said trolley (3). 5. Device (1) according to claim 1, in which: - said first chain drive device (4) passes: • along the specified path (P), • at a higher level than the maximum height reached by said sides (2a, 2b) of said treatment tanks (2), and • in a position substantially oriented with respect to the longitudinal center line of said treatment tanks (2) or with the greatest offset such a distance as not to extend beyond a vertical line passing through the longitudinal sides (2a) of said treatment tanks (2), and - in each trolley (3), said first segment (3a) of said trolley (3) contains a beam that extends downward from said first chain drive device (4) to said second segment (3b) of said trolley (3). 6. Device (1) according to any one of paragraphs. 1-5, in which said first chain drive device (4) comprises a single chain configured to selectively connect segments of said first trolleys (3) to move them along said first branch of said trajectory. 7. Device (1) according to any one of paragraphs. 1-6, wherein said second drive device for moving said trolleys (3) during the reverse movement from said downstream station (7) to said upstream station (6) comprises a return branch of said first chain drive device ( 4), which runs from said downstream station (7) to said upstream station (6). 8. Device (1) according to any one of paragraphs. 1-6, wherein said second drive means for moving said trolleys (3) during reverse movement from said downstream station (7) to said upstream station (6) comprises a friction conveyor. 9. Device (1) according to any one of paragraphs. 1-8, in which the specified first segment (3a), interacting as a whole during movement with the specified first chain drive device (4), contains: - a beam along which are located: • a second hinge device (13) that provides rotation around the vertical axis (Z-Z) of a segment of said beam located downstream of said second hinge device (13) with respect to the segment of said beam closest to said first chain drive device (4); wherein the second hinge device (13) is designed to provide rotation around the vertical axis (Z-Z) of a segment of the specified beam located downstream of the specified second hinge device (13) in relation to the segment of the specified beam closest to the specified first chain drive device (4) ; • a third hinge device (14) that provides rotation with respect to the horizontal axis of a segment of said beam located downstream of said third hinge device (14) with respect to the segment of said upstream beam closest to said first chain drive device ( 4), so as to allow the second segment of each trolley (3) to rotate from a horizontal transverse position, in which it moves along a specified path (P), to a lower vertical position; - a mechanical device for determining the rotation of said segments of said beam of each car about said vertical axis (Z-Z) and/or said horizontal axis (X-X) near or at the outlet of said downstream station and near or at the inlet of said upstream station , so as to ensure the movement of said trolleys (3) along said return path in a rotating smaller configuration. 10. Device (1) according to any one of paragraphs. 1-9, in which: - the specified connecting element (12) of the specified second segment (3b) of the specified trolleys (3) contains a lever containing two opposite beams passing in series one after another, and the middle segment of the specified lever is connected as a single unit in the process of rotation with the specified second segment (3b ) of said trolleys (3), such that rotation of said lever about an axis of rotation extending in said transverse direction (Y-Y) causes uniform rotation of said second segment (3b) of said trolleys, or - said connecting element (12) of said second segment (3b) of said trolleys (3) contains a four-beam cross, and the central segment of said cross is connected as a single unit during rotation to said second segment (3b) of said trolleys (3), thus, that the rotation of said cross around an axis of rotation passing in said transverse direction (Y-Y) causes equal rotation of said second segment (3b) of said trolleys (3), wherein the ends of said beams of said lever or said cross are connected to said cam elements (11) located along said path (P) to be directed so as to rotate said lever and/or said beams around said axis of rotation extending in said transverse direction (Y-Y). 11. Device (1) according to any one of paragraphs. 1-10, in which said cam elements (11) located along said path (P) are configured to create a desmodromic connection with said connecting element (12) of said second segment (3b) of said trolleys (3). 12. Device (1) according to any one of paragraphs. 1-11, in which said cam elements (11) located along said path (P) comprise one or more preferably rail guides (11) of C-shaped cross-section running along said path (P). 13. Device (1) according to claim 12, in which one or more of said guide rails (11) extend over the entire length of said path (P). 14. Device (1) according to claim 12, in which: - one or more of said guide rails (11) are interrupted at one longitudinal inlet ( _Ti ) and one longitudinal outlet ( _To ) of each tank (2) for processing from said transverse sides (2b), and - at the specified longitudinal inlet (T _i ) and outlet (T _o ) of each tank (2) for processing, the specified cam elements (11) contain intermittent limiting elements (20) configured to interact with the specified connection segment (12) of the specified second segment (3b) of said trolleys (3) and determining said complete revolution about said transverse axis of rotation extending in said transverse direction (YY) of said trolleys (3) at each tank (2) for processing while moving forward said trolleys (3) along specified trajectory (P). 15. Device (1) according to claim 14, wherein said intermittent limiting elements comprise rotating rollers (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) mounted on a support in a fixed position along said path (P), so as to rotate about a corresponding axis of rotation running in the specified transverse Y-Y direction. 16. Device (1) according to claim 14 or 15, which for each treatment tank (2) contains: - said longitudinal inlet section (T _i ) has a first limiting element (20a) located lower than said rail guides (11), and a second limiting element (20b) located lower than said first limiting element (20a) and in the longitudinal a direction closer to the middle segment of the treatment tank (2) than said first limiting element (20a); - said longitudinal outlet section (T _o ) has a third limiting element (20c) located lower than said rail guides (11), and a fourth limiting element (20d) located between the level of said third limiting element (20c) and the level of said rails guides (11) and in the longitudinal direction further from the middle segment of the treatment tank (2) than said third limiting element (20c), wherein said first limiting element (20a) and said second limiting element (20b) define a 180° rotation about said transverse axis of rotation extending in said transverse direction (YY) of said trolleys (3), in accordance with said longitudinal inlet section (T _i ), while said third limiting element (20c) and said fourth limiting element (20d) define a second and subsequent 180° rotation about said transverse axis of rotation extending in said transverse direction (YY) of said trolleys (3) in in accordance with the specified longitudinal outlet section (T _o ). 17. Device (1) according to claim 16, in which the specified segment of the connecting element (12) of the specified second segment (3b) of the specified trolley (3) contains: - a middle segment (21) capable of forming a connection in a desmodromic manner with said guide elements (11), and - lever beams (22), preferably lever beams of a four-beam cross, configured to interact with the specified intermittent limiting elements (20) during the movement of each trolley (3) along the specified path, in order to determine the revolutions of the specified trolley at each longitudinal inlet section (T _i ) and each longitudinal outlet section (T _o ) of each tank (3). 18. Device (1) according to claim 17, wherein said middle segment (21) of said connecting element segment (12) comprises two rotating rollers (22a, 22b) which support said connecting element segment (12), such that they are rotatable about an axis of rotation extending in said transverse Y-Y direction, said two rotating rollers (22a, 22b) being suitable for connecting said guide rails (11) at two points that are spaced between them. 19. Device (1) according to any one of paragraphs. 1-18, in which said cam elements (11) are located on opposite transverse sides (2b) of said treatment tanks, and it is provided that the trolley and the corresponding structure of the hooked and transportable vehicle (V) are to be in an inverted position to be completely immersed in the treatment bath contained in said treatment tank (2) to effect a first inversion of said second segment (3b) of said trolleys (3) when said trolleys are at the initial section of said treatment tank (2), which is determined in relation to the direction of movement of the trolleys (3) along the specified path (P), and the second reversal of the specified trolleys (3) in accordance with the final section of the specified tank (2) for treatment.