METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING A STRUCTURE COMPOSING A VEHICLE'S BODY AND THE LIKE

摘要

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING A STRUCTURE COMPOSING A VEHICLE"S BODY AND THE LIKE A method and apparatus for assembling a structure composing a vehicle's body and the like, such as a roof structure, side structure or end structure of a rolling stock or other vehicles. The method is characterized by supporting a structure with a long box through fastening devices which secure the long box to structure's frameworks properly selected on one side of the structure, by rotating the structure around an axis passing closely through the resultant center of gravity of the structure and the long box, and by bringing the structure to a halt in an arbitrary position to perform various assembly operations. The apparatus comprises a structure retaining system having a long box which supports a structure lengthwise over the length, and cylindrical shafts which are attached at the both ends of the long box and whose center axis passes closely through the resultant center of gravity of said structure and the long box, as well as rotational drive devices each of which consists of a drive mechanism to drive cylindrical rollers which support the cylindrical shafts on the retaining system, and of a pedestal supporting the entire system.