VEHICULAR BODY ASSEMBLY LOCKING APPARATUS AND METHOD

摘要

A vehicle body positioning and locking devices for use in assembling a vehicle body positioned on a movable vehicle support positioned at a vehicle build station. The locking device includes a remote vehicle locking device for selectively securing and locking a vehicle body to a support pallet. The support pallet is accurately and precisely positioned at a build station through alignment and inserting engagement of locating pads in at least one four-way and at least one two way receiver mounted to a build station foundation. A compliant body clamp design is included to provide a desired clamping force between the pallet and a vehicle body across a range of motion of the body clamp to accommodate vehicle build variances.

主权项

1. A method for locking a vehicle body to a vehicle body support located at a vehicle process station, the method comprising the steps of:
positioning a body clamp relative to a vehicle body support to a first open position; positioning the vehicle body in engagement with the vehicle body support; moving the body clamp along a path of travel toward a second closed position; generating a predetermined clamping force on the vehicle body by the body clamp over a compliance range; and locking the vehicle body to the vehicle body support when the body clamp reaches the second closed position.