WO2010076440A1

WO2010076440A1 - Structure for supporting a motor vehicle body, comprising an articulated arm

Info

Publication number: WO2010076440A1
Application number: PCT/FR2009/052205
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eric Levouin; Yannick Chailleux
Original assignee: Renault S.A.S.
Priority date: 2008-12-15
Filing date: 2009-11-17
Publication date: 2010-07-08
Also published as: FR2939759A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a structure (10) for supporting a motor vehicle body, comprising a frame (12) that extends longitudinally and transversely on a horizontal plane, and at least one support member (16a) for the vehicle body. Said support member (16a) includes at least one first support arm (28a) that is pivotally mounted on the frame (12) and has at least one first leg (30a), a proximal end of which is pivotally mounted on the frame (12) using a first ball and socket joint (36a) while a distal end thereof is pivotally mounted on a platform (32a) using a second ball and socket joint (36a) such that the platform (32a) can be moved relative to the frame (12) by three degrees of translational freedom and three degrees of rotational freedom.

Description

Structure for the support of the body of a motor vehicle comprising a rubber arm

The invention relates to a structure for supporting the body of a motor vehicle.

The invention relates more particularly to a structure for supporting the body of a motor vehicle, a structure which comprises: a frame which extends longitudinally and transversely in a horizontal plane;

at least one support member of the vehicle body having at least one first support arm which is mounted articulated on the chassis and which extends globally vertically, a platform which is mounted articulated on it it first support arm and which carries at least one vertical support element for supporting the vehicle body,

means for immobilising the support member with respect to the chassis.

The industrial manufacture of a motor vehicle involves several manufacturing stages, such as sheet metal work, painting and cataphoresis.

During these steps, the vehicle body, also called body structure, is placed on a support structure, also called "rack", which supports the vehicle in a stable and substantially elevated position, so that an operator or a machine is able to execute a task on the vehicle. In addition, the support structure is movable to transport the vehicle body from one workstation to another. For this purpose, the support structure comprises a generally rectangular horizontal frame of which a first and a second longitudinal member are interconnected and extend longitudinally opposite. There are two types of structure, the structure of the type

"Sled", whose two spars extend under the veh icule, and the structure of the type "Swing", which is suspended and whose two spars extend above the vehicle.

For example, the structure of the swinging type is intended to support the body of the vehicle during an application of wax, putty or paint.

In known manner, the frame of the swing-type support structure comprises two front support members opposite which are intended to support a front part of the vehicle body and two rear support members facing each other. are intended to support a rear portion of the veh icule crate.

Each support member comprises at least one support arm which extends generally vertically downwardly from the frame, each support arm being adapted to cooperate with an associated portion of the underbody of the vehicle body.

However, such a support structure can only support one type of motor vehicle body, so that it is necessary to provide a specific type of support structure for each type of vehicle body. There is also known a type of support structure which comprises at least one rear support member which is hinged to the frame and which has a first and a second support arm.

The first support arm is rotatably mounted on the frame about a first vertical axis and the second support arm is rotatably mounted at one end of the first arm about a second vertical axis of rotation. . The second articulated arm comprises a support element for the support of the underbody of the vehicle body, for example a support finger, which is movably mounted at a free end of the second articulated arm, so that the support finger is adjustable vertically in height.

This type of structure, with two arms articulated in rotation, offers a large range of arm positions in space, especially in a horizontal plane, whereby the structure is able to support a plurality of types of vehicle body.

However, when the structure supports the vehicle body during a product application operation on the body, such as wax, the joints of the support member, which are arranged close to the area of application of the product on the vehicle body, are exposed to splashing of the product, so that the joints may become clogged and blocked.

The invention aims in particular to solve this problem of fouling by providing a support structure whose design allows to move the joints of the support member of the application area, or work area on the body.

For this purpose, the invention proposes a support structure of the type described above, characterized in that the first articulated arm of the support member comprises at least a first branch comprising:

a proximal end which is hinged to the frame by means of a first articulation of the swivel type, so that said first branch of the first arm is pivotally mounted on the frame around at least a first longitudinal axis and around at least a first transverse axis of pivoting, and a distal end which is mounted articulated on the nacelle by means of a second articulation of the swivel type, so that the first branch of the arm is pivotally mounted on the nacelle about at least a second longitudinal axis and around at least a second transverse axis of pivoting, whereby the nacelle is adapted to be driven in displacement relative to the frame, according to three degrees of freedom in translation and three degrees of freedom in rotation.

According to other features of the invention:

the first articulated arm of the support member comprises at least one second branch comprising:

a proximal end which is mounted articulated on the frame by means of a third joint of the swivel type, and

a dstal end which is mounted articulated on the nacelle by means of a fourth articulation of the ball-type, and the second leg is parallel to said first branch of the articulated arm, so that the nacelle is able to be driven moving relative to the frame in three degrees of freedom in translation and a degree of freedom in rotation;

the first articulated arm of the support member comprises at least one third branch parallel to said first branch, comprising:

a proximal end which is mounted articulated on the frame by means of a fifth articulation of the ball-type, and

a distal end which is mounted articulated on the nacelle by means of a sixth articulation of the swivel type, and the third branch is parallel to the first branch and the second branch of the first articulated arm, it's three branches being arranged in a triangle, so that the nacelle is able to be driven in displacement parallel to the horizontal frame, according to three degrees of freedom in translation;

the immobilization means of the support member comprise at least a first stay and a second stay, each of which extends from the gondola to a section of the first branch of the first arm, so that the first branch is immobilized on the nacelle to immobilize the support member relative to the frame; each stay includes a portion adjustable in length, in order to adjust the angular inclination of the first arm relative to the nacelle, to immobilize the support member in a plurality of positions;

the adjustable section of each shroud comprises: a first axial part which is threaded on the left and which cooperates with a first complementary threaded sleeve connected to the first arm;

a second axial portion which is threaded on the right and which cooperates with a second complementary threaded sleeve connected to the nacelle;

the support member comprises a second articulated arm which extends from the nacelle and which carries the support support vertical element of the vehicle body;

- The second articulated arm is movably mounted on the nacelle, so that the support element is vertically movable relative to the frame and the nacelle;

the second arm comprises two bars which are parallel to each other and which are arranged so as to form a deformable parallelogram in a vertical plane, whereby the vertical support element is able to be driven vertically in circular translation with respect to Platform ; the second articulated arm comprises means of immobilization relative to the nacelle. Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from reading the detailed description which it is known for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view illustrating a structure for supporting the body of a motor vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a detailed cross-sectional view illustrating a ball-type joint which connects a branch of the first arm to a nacelle;

- Figure 3 is a partial detail view, illustrating a first arm and a second arm of a rear support member of a rear portion of the base of the vehicle veh icule; FIG. 4 is a top view in section along the line

4-4 of Figure 3, which illustrates two stays for the immobilization of the support member.

The longitudinal, vertical and transverse orientations according to the L, V, T trihedron represented in the figures will be used in a non-imitative manner.

The term horizontal will also be adopted, with reference to the earth's gravity, and the terms upper and lower with reference to the vertical direction of the reference V, L, T. FIG. 1 shows a support structure 10 for supporting the base of the base. the body (not shown) of a motor vehicle.

The support structure 10 has a general design symmetry with respect to a vertical longitudinal plane of symmetry (not shown) passing through the middle of the structure 10.

Elements or components that are identical and symmetrical with respect to the plane of symmetry will be designated by the same reference numerals, indexed a or b, according to whether they are situated on a first side or a second side of the plane of symmetry.

The support structure 10 is here of the type called "swing", which essentially comprises a frame 12, a first front member 14a and a second front member 14b for supporting a front portion of the underbody of the vehicle body and a first rear member 16a and a second rear member 16b for supporting a rear portion of the underbody of the vehicle body. The upper part of the frame 12 comprises a first longitudinal spar 18a and a second spar 18b which are parallel to one another and which form a means for fastening the structure 10, for example on a conveyor chain (not shown), whereby the structure 10 is able to be moved longitudinally from back to front, for example from one workstation to another.

The lower portion of the frame 12 comprises a frame 20 which extends longitudinally and transversely in a horizontal plane and which is connected to the first and the second spar 18a, 18b by means of a plurality of vertical connecting bars 22 .

The first front member 14a and the second front support member 14b are each in the form of an L of which a first arm 24a, 24b, respectively, extends vertically downwards in a fixed manner from the frame 20 of the frame 12, and a second arm 26a, 26b, respectively, extending horizontally from a lower end section of the first and second arms 24a, 24b respectively.

The free end of each second arm 26a, 26b front carries a support element, here a finger 27a, 27b respectively, on which the vehicle body is able to be in vertical support downwards. In the same way, the first rear member 16a and the second rear support member 16b are in the form of a deformable L, including a first arm 28a, 28b and a second arm 29a,

29b respectively, are each interconnected by a nacelle 32a, 32b.

In order to facilitate the understanding of the description, only the first rear support member 16a, which is shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, is described in the following description, the description of the second rear member. 16b arising from the description of the first rear support member 1 6a.

Still to facilitate the understanding of the description, the first articulated support member 16a is called "support member 16a" by the above.

The first articulated arm 28a of the support member 16a comprises three branches 30a, each of which extends generally vertically from the frame 20 of the frame 1 2 to the nacelle 32a below.

Each branch 30a has an upper or proximal end, which is mounted articulated on the frame 1 2 by means of an upper articulation 34a of the spherical or spherical type, so that the upper extremity of each branch 30a is pivotally mounted on the frame 1 2 about a longitudinal axis, about a transverse axis and about a vertical axis of pivoting. The term "articulation of the spherical type" here means a mechanical relationship relying on two elements between them and which allows three rotations, ie three degrees of freedom, between the two connected elements, of which a rotation around a long axial axis, a rotation about a transverse axis and a rotation about a vertical axis.

Similarly, each leg 30a has a lower end, or d istale, that i articulated on the nacelle 32a by means of a lower hinge 36a of the ball type, so that the lower end of each branch 30a is pivotally mounted on the nacelle 32a about a longitudinal axis, about a transverse axis and about a vertical pivot axis. As can be seen in Figure 1, the three branches 30a of the first arm 28a are parallel to each other and are arranged in a triangle, here isosceles right triangle.

Thus, the first arm 28a comprises two front branches 30a which are aligned along a longitudinal line forming the hypotenuse of the triangle, and a rear branch 30a which is offset transversely relative to the two branches 30a before.

In addition, the rear branch 30a of the first arm 28a includes an operating handle for driving the first arm 28a in motion by an operator.

Thus, when the first articulated arm 28a is driven in displacement, the nacelle 32a is able to be driven in displacement relative to the frame 12 in three translational movements, thus three degrees of freedom, including a longitudinal translation, a vertical translation and a transversal translation, without rotation of the nacelle 32a, whereby the nacelle 32a is driven in the three dimensions of the space, maintaining a horizontal attitude.

Figure 2 shows in detail the lower hinge 36a of the ball-type of the rear branch 30a of the first arm 28a, which is identical to the three lower hinges 36a and the three upper hinges 34a of the first arm 28a.

The lower hinge 36a comprises a base 38a U, which is fixed on an upper plate 40a of the nacelle 32a and two strands 42a extend vertically upwards.

The two strands 42a are traversed by a longitudinal linkage shaft 44a of which a median section 46a, in the form of a sphere, is interposed between the two strands 42a of the base 38a. In a complementary manner, the lower end of the associated rear branch 30a of the first arm 28a forms a hinge lug 48a which extends vertically downwards.

The tab 48a delimits a cavity 50a in the form of a portion of a sphere which cooperates by glissement, in the manner of a ball joint, with the spherical medial section 46a complementary to the shaft 44a of the so that the rear branch 30a of the first arm 28a is pivotally mounted about an axis A long itud inal relative to the nacelle 32a. In addition, the hinge lug 48a is interposed between the two strands 42a of the base 38a delimiting a long longitudinal clearance between each strand 42a, thus allowing an angular deflection around a transverse axis B, as shown in FIG. In another aspect, the support structure 1 0 comprises first immobilization means 52a of the support member 1 6a with respect to the frame 12, which are illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Mechanically, the immobilization of at least one limb 30a of the first arm 28a with respect to the chassis 1 2 and / or to the platform 32a makes it possible to immobilize the support member 1 6a with respect to the chassis 12.

In the embodiment described above, the immobilization immobilisation means is the rear leg 30a of the first arm 28a on the nacelle 32a by means of two stays 52a.

Each stay 52a extends from a section of the rear branch 30a of the first arm 28a, which is arranged above the associated lower hinge 36a, to the upper plate 40a of the nacelle 32a. According to Figure 4, which illustrates the two stays 52a seen from above, the two stays 52a are arranged at right angles, for better immobilization of the rear leg 30a of the first arm 28a on the nacelle 32a. Each stay 52a comprises an upper sleeve 56a, which is pivotally mounted on the rear leg 30a about a horizontal axis, and a lower sleeve 58a, which is pivotally mounted on the upper plate 40a of the nacelle 32a about a horizontal axis. .

The first sleeve 56a delimits a tapped threaded hole on the left and the second sleeve 58a defines a tapped threaded hole on the right.

Complementarily, as can be seen in FIG. 4, each stay 52a comprises a threaded rod 60a, forming a length-adjustable section, of which a first portion 62a threaded on the left cooperates with the threaded hole of the first sleeve 56a and a second threaded portion 64a. right cooperates with the threaded hole of the second sleeve 58a. In addition, the threaded rod 60a has a wheel 66a i, when pivoted in one direction, to lengthen the associated stay 52a and that, when pivoted in an opposite direction, allows shrink the stay 52a associated, so as to vary the inclination of the nacelle 32a relative to the branches 30a of the first arm 28a, whereby the nacelle 32a is adapted to be immobilized in a plurality of positions.

Advantageously, each stay 52a comprises a counter nut 61a against the loosening of the stay 52a, which is mounted on the first portion 62a associated threaded of each stay 52a. The second articulated arm 29a of the support member 16a in

L extends transversely inwardly of the chassis 1 2, from the nacelle 32a, to a support element 70a for vertical support of the vehicle body.

According to FIG. 3, the nacelle 32a comprises a transverse lower vertical plate 68a which extends downwards from the upper plate 40a of the nacelle 32a.

The second arm 29a has an upper bar 72a and a lower bar 74a of equal length which are mounted parallel to each other and that they are arranged to form a deformable parallelogram in a transverse vertical plane.

For this purpose, each bar 72a, 74a comprises a rear section 76a, which is pivotally mounted about a longitudinal axis on the lower plate 68a of the nacelle 32a, and a front section

78a, which is pivotally mounted about a longitudinal axis on the support member 70a.

Thus, the support element 70a is vertically movable relative to the chassis 1 2, by circular translation around a long axis itud inal relative to the nacelle 32a, the support element 70a thus maintaining a base horizontal.

In addition, the second arm 29a comprises second immobilization means 80a with respect to the nacelle 32a, which are here of the type of indexing by cooperation of forms. For this purpose, the bottom plate 68a of the nacelle 32a delimits a series of first indexing holes 82a of longitudinal axis which are arranged in an arc around the long axis of pivoting itud inal of the rear section 76a of the upper bar 72a of the second arm 29a. In a complementary manner, the rear section 76a of the upper bar 72a of the second arm 29a comprises an immobilization plate 86a which delimits a second indexing hole 84a of long axis itud inal.

The second indexing hole 84a is adapted to be located next to each of the first indexing holes 82a, according to the angular position occupied by the second arm 29a.

The second immobilizing means 80a comprise an indexing pin (not shown), which cooperates with the second indexing hole 82a of the second arm 29a and with one of the first indexing holes 82a associated with the platform 32a. whereby the second articulated arm 29a is adapted to be immobilized in as many angular positions as there are first indexing holes

82a. Finally, the support member 70a for the support of the veh icule box bears a pressing key 88a of the veh icule box, which is here a finger 88a extending vertically upwards.

Non-lamentatively, the support key 88a may for example be a frustoconical key decreasing upwards for centering a portion of the veh icule box, or a flat key, or a vee.

According to an alternative embodiment not shown, each hinge 36a of the ball type is constituted by a universal joint.

Note that the design of the first arm 28a, which has several branches 30a of the same length, blocks the rotation about the vertical axis of each hinge 36a of the ball type. Consequently, the joints of the ball-type type can be replaced by joints of the finger-ball type, each of which allows two rotations, ie two degrees of freedom, between the two elements connected by such a joint, of which a rotation around a longitudinal axis and a rotation about a transverse axis.

Non-lamentatively, the first front member 14a and the second front support member 14b are motorized, so that they are each able to be driven in motion automatically. Similarly, the second articulated arm 29a of the support member 1 6a can be mounted vertically sliding on the nacelle 32a.

Claims

REVEN DICATIONS

1. Structure (1 0) for supporting the body of a motor vehicle, a structure which comprises: a frame (1 2) which extends longitudinally and transversely in a horizontal plane;

at least one support member (16a) of the veh icule body comprising at least a first support arm (28a) which is articulated on the chassis (12) and which extends generally vertically,

a nacelle (32a) which is articulated on the first support arm (28a) and which carries at least one vertical support element (70a) for supporting the vehicle body,

- Isation means (52a) of the support member (1 6a) relative to the frame (1 2), characterized in that the first articulated arm (28a) of the support member (16a) comprises at least one first branch (30a) comprising:

a proximal end which is articulated on the frame (1 2) by means of a first hinge (36a) of the swivel type, so that the first first branch (30a) of the first arm (28a) is pivotally mounted on the frame (1 2) around at least a first longitudinal axis and around at least a first transverse axis of pivoting, and - a distal end which is articulated on the platform (32a) by means of a second articulation (36a) of the ball type, so that the first branch (30a) of the arm (28a) is pivotally mounted on the nacelle (32a) around at least a second longitudinal axis and around at least a second transverse axis of pivoting, whereby the nacelle (32a) is adapted to be driven in displacement relative to the frame (12), in three degrees of freedom in translation and three degrees of rotational freedom.

2. Structure (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first articulated arm (30a) of the support member (1 6a) comprises at least a second branch (30a) comprising: - a proximal extremity which is hingedly mounted on the frame (12) by means of a third articulation (36a) of the swivel type, and

a distal end which is articulated on the platform (32a) by means of a fourth hinge (36a) of the swivel type, and in that the second branch (30a) is parallel to said first branch (30a); arm (28a) hinged, so that the nacelle (32a) is adapted to be driven in displacement relative to the frame (1 2) in three degrees of freedom in translation and a degree of rotational freedom.

3. Structure (1 0) according to revendications ications 1 and 2, characterized in that the first articulated arm (28a) of the support member (1 6a) comprises at least a third branch (30a) parallel to the ite first limb (30a), comprising: - a proximal end which is hinged to the frame (1 2) by means of a fifth articulation (36a) of the spherical type, and

a distal end which is articulated on the platform (32a) by means of a sixth hinge (36a) of the ball-type, and in that the third branch (30a) is parallel to the first branch (30a); ) and the second limb (30a) of the first articulated arm (28a), the three branches (30a) being arranged in a triangle, so that the platform (32a) is able to be driven in displacement parallel to the frame (12). ) horizontal, according to three degrees of freedom in translation.

4. Structure (10) according to revendication ication 1, characterized in that the immobilization means isation (52a) of the support member (1 6a) comprise at least a first guy (52a) and a second guy (52a) each extending from the nacelle (32a) to a section of the first branch (30a) of the first boom (28a). ), so that the first leg (30a) is immobilized on the nacelle (32a) to immobilize the support member (16a) relative to the frame (1 2).

5. Structure (10) according to revendication 4, characterized in that each stay (52a) comprises an adjustable portion (60a) in length, in order to adjust the angular inclination of the first arm (28a) relative to the nacelle (32a) to immobilize the support member (16a) in a plurality of positions.

6. Structure (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the adjustable section (60a) of each stay (52a) comprises:

a first axial portion (62a) which is threaded on the left and which cooperates with a first complementary threaded sleeve (56a) connected to the first arm (28a), a second axial part (64a) which is threaded on the right and which cooperates with a second complementary threaded sleeve (58a) relié on the nacelle (32a).

7. Structure (1 0) according to any one of the preceding ications, characterized in that the support member (1 6a) comprises a second articulated arm (29a) i extends from said pod (32a) and that it carries said vertical support member (70a) for supporting the vehicle body.

8. Structure (10) according to revendication 7, characterized in that the second articulated arm (29a) is movably mounted on the nacelle (32a), so that the support element (70a) is vertically movable relative to the frame (12) and to the basket (32a).

9. Structure (1 0) according to any one of revendications ications 7 and 8, characterized in that the second arm (29a) comprises two bars (72a, 74a) that i are parallel to each other and that i are arranged so to form a deformable parallelogram in a vertical plane, whereby the vertical support member (70a) is adapted to be vertically driven in circular translation relative to the nacelle (32a).

1 0. Structure (1 0) according to any one of revendications ications 7 to 9, characterized in that the second articulated arm (29a) comprises immobilization means (80a) relative to the nacelle (32a).