Working pit with articulated tool arm assembly

摘要

A working pit with an articulated tool arm assembly is provided for an automobile assembly line. A tool carried by the arm assembly is used to perform assembly operations in an automobile moving either longitudinally or transversely along the line. The articulated arm is mounted on a trolley which is movable longitudinally of the working pit along tracks adjacent a side wall of the pit. The tool arm can pivot horizontally toward and away from the pit wall and can pivot vertically to enable a tool holder at the end of the arm to move from a position at or below floor level to a position in the path of an automobile body moving along the assembly line above the pit. The tool holder enables the tool to rotate through a path of 360 DEG and to tilt. The articulated arm is especially designed for use with a nut runner to tighten nuts and bolts underneath the automobile body, but can also be used with other tools. A nut retaining wrench or work holder can be carried by the tool holder and mounted for movement toward and away from the nut runner.