Method for installing a seat belt assembly in a vehicle body

Abstract

Method for installing a seat belt assembly (19) into a vehicle body (50), in which, in a pre-assembly process step (V), functional elements (20, 21, 23, 24) of the seat belt assembly (19) and / or a pillar trim (17) are pre-assembled on a module carrier (9; 14) to form a pre-assembly unit (VM), and in an automated assembly process step (ZSB), the pre-assembly unit (VM) is joined by means of at least one robot (60) to at least one pillar-side connection point (S) of a body pillar (3), in particular a B-pillar, in a joining direction (F1, F2) from the vehicle interior to an inner side of the body pillar (3) facing the vehicle interior, characterized in that the pillar-side connection point (S) is a screw connection in which the pre-assembly unit (VM) is clamped to the body pillar (3) by means of a screw bolt (45).wherein the assembly process step (ZSB) is divided into a feeding sub-step in which the pre-assembly unit (VM) is guided in the joining direction (F1, F2) to the body pillar (3), a pre-positioning sub-step in which the pre-assembly unit (VM) is correctly pre-positioned in a screw position (SP) on the body pillar (3), and an assembly sub-step in which the pre-assembly unit (VM) is screwed to the body pillar (3), wherein the pre-assembly unit (VM) and the body pillar (3) have a positioning aid (P) by means of which the pre-assembly unit (VM) is pre-positioned in the screw position (SP), and in particular, of the two joining partners, i.e., the pre-assembly unit (VM) and the body pillar (3), a first joining partner has a cam pin (55) which interacts with a cam track (49) of the second joining partner,so that pre-positioning is achieved by loosely hooking the pre-assembly unit (VM) into the body pillar (3).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for installing a safety belt assembly in a vehicle body according to claim 1 and a vehicle body according to claim 7.

[0002] The B-pillar of a motor vehicle extends vertically between the roof structure and a side sill. The B-pillar serves two purposes: firstly, it stiffens the side structure of the vehicle body; secondly, it houses components such as a seatbelt anchor point; and thirdly, it defines the front and, where applicable, the rear entry points. To enhance side-impact resistance in a side collision, a reinforcing plate is integrated into the hollow profile of the B-pillar to counteract deformation of the pillar into the passenger compartment.

[0003] A body pillar of this type, in particular a B-pillar, is constructed from an inner sheet metal section located inside the vehicle and an outer sheet metal section located outside the vehicle, thereby forming a hollow beam with a hollow profile extending vertically in the vehicle direction and having a closed cross-section. Functional elements of a seat belt assembly and / or a pillar trim can be mounted to the hollow beam of the body pillar.

[0004] In a conventional assembly sequence, the inner sheet metal panel is welded to the joining flanges of the outer sheet metal panel already installed in the vehicle body using laser and / or spot welding. The assembled vehicle body is then moved to a painting process. After painting, the vehicle body is moved to an assembly line with independent workstations arranged in a single production direction. At each workstation, components of the seat belt assembly, such as the belt reactor, belt guide, belt height adjuster, belt end fittings, and the like, as well as the pillar trim, are installed. The belt components are installed manually. During manual installation, the worker is in an ergonomically unfavorable position inside the vehicle body.Therefore, assembly involves increased workload for the worker and is ergonomically unfavorable. WO 01 / 70 557 A1 discloses a structural element for mounting on a vehicle structure, in which the B-pillar has a load-bearing support element to which trim parts and functional elements of a seat belt assembly can be mounted. EP 1 265 777 B1 discloses a structural element for mounting on a vehicle structure. EP 1 316 484 A1 and EP 0 730 536 B1 disclose further body structures for a vehicle. DE 10 2007 045 143 A1 discloses a machining or manufacturing plant. DE 101 60 885 A1 discloses a method for manufacturing a vehicle body.

[0005] The object of the invention is to provide a method for installing a safety belt assembly in a vehicle body that can be carried out with reduced manufacturing time compared to the prior art.

[0006] The problem is solved by the features of claim 1 or 7. Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

[0007] According to claim 1, the pre-assembly of the components of the seat belt assembly and the pillar trim is no longer carried out manually at independent workstations of an assembly line, but rather in a largely fully automated assembly process step using at least one robot. In the method according to the invention, the functional elements of the seat belt assembly and / or the pillar trim are first pre-assembled on a module carrier outside the vehicle body, forming a pre-assembly unit. Subsequently, the automated assembly process step takes place, in which the pre-assembly unit is joined by the robot to at least one pillar-side connection point of a body pillar, in particular a B-pillar, of the vehicle body. The joining process takes place in a joining direction from the vehicle interior to an inner side of the body pillar facing the vehicle interior.characterized in that the column-side connection point is a screw connection in which the pre-assembly unit is clamped to the body column by means of a screw bolt, wherein the assembly process step is divided into a feeding sub-step in which the pre-assembly unit is guided in the joining direction to the body column, a pre-positioning sub-step in which the pre-assembly unit is correctly pre-positioned in a screw position on the body column, and in an assembly sub-step in which the pre-assembly unit is screwed to the body column, wherein the pre-assembly unit and the body column have a positioning aid by means of which the pre-assembly unit is pre-positioned in the screw position, and in particular that of the two joining partners, i.e. the pre-assembly unit and the body column, a first joining partner has a cam pin which interacts with a cam track of the second joining partner,so that pre-positioning is achieved by loosely hooking the pre-assembly unit into the body pillar.

[0008] From a manufacturing perspective, it is preferable if the assembly process step is carried out in exactly one workstation. In this workstation, at least one robot can be positioned laterally alongside the vehicle body in the transverse direction. The robot can feed the pre-assembly unit in the joining direction, starting from a rear door section of the body side structure facing the robot, through the vehicle interior of the vehicle body, to the B-pillar of the body side structure facing away from the robot. To reduce production time, it is preferred if a robot is positioned on each side of the vehicle body in the workstation. In this case, the joining of the pre-assembly unit to the two B-pillars can be carried out simultaneously on the left and right sides by the robot in a counter-clockwise direction.

[0009] The assembly process step described above, performed at the workstation, can be integrated into a process chain within the vehicle manufacturing plant, where a painting process step precedes the assembly process step. During the painting process step, the vehicle body can be painted with the module carrier not yet mounted to it. Subsequently, in the assembly process step, the pre-assembly unit is preferably connected to the body pillar using a screw connection to prevent damage to the body pillar's paint layer.

[0010] The body pillar can be constructed from an inner sheet metal section located inside the vehicle and an outer sheet metal section located outside. These form a hollow beam with a closed-section hollow profile running vertically in the vehicle's direction. In one initial design variant, the inner sheet metal section can be used directly as a module carrier. In this case, the inner sheet metal section, which is not yet fitted with functional elements, can be painted separately from the vehicle body in a separate painting process. Following the painting process, a pre-assembly process takes place in which the painted inner sheet metal section is fitted with the functional elements and / or the pillar trim.

[0011] The assembly process step is then carried out, in which the assembled sheet metal inner part is connected to the body column using a robot.

[0012] In a second embodiment, the module carrier can be a component separate from the inner sheet metal part of the body pillar, which is joined to the inner sheet metal part of the body pillar during the assembly process. In this case, the module carrier can, for example, be a flat sheet metal part or be designed in any other desired shape.

[0013] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0014] They show: Fig. 1. A two-track vehicle in a side view with partial elevation; Fig. 2 an enlarged side section view of a B-pillar with a viewing direction starting from the vehicle interior according to a first embodiment; Fig. 3a a hollow beam of the B-pillar with the pre-assembly unit still removed from it; Fig. 3b a pre-assembly unit consisting of a module carrier with a safety belt assembly pre-mounted on it; Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 sectional views through the B-pillar; Fig. Figures 6 to 9 each show an assembly sequence for the installation of the B-pillar; Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 views each of a positioning aid for pre-positioning the module carrier on the inner sheet metal part of the B-pillar; Fig. 12 a workstation in which the assembly process step is automated; and Fig. 13. A robot deployed in isolation at the workstation; Fig. 14 to 16 views of a second embodiment.

[0015] In the Fig. Figure 1 shows a motor vehicle in which a side wall assembly of a vehicle body 50 is highlighted in a partial elevation in the vehicle's longitudinal direction x in the central vehicle area. The vehicle body 50 has a side sill 1. A B-pillar 3 of the side wall assembly is arranged behind an A-pillar 5 in the vehicle's longitudinal direction x and connects the sill 1 to a roof structure 7 of the vehicle body in the vehicle's vertical direction z. The B-pillar 3 serves both to stiffen the vehicle body 50 and to accommodate attachments, such as a seatbelt retractor or the like. According to the Fig. 12 a front door opening 2 extends between the A-pillar 5 and the B-pillar 3, while a rear door opening 4 extends between the B-pillar 3 and the C-pillar 16.

[0016] In the Fig. 2. A column cladding 17 and a seat belt assembly 19 are mounted on a sheet metal hollow beam 12, shown with dashed lines. The seat belt assembly 19 has in the Fig. 2 a bottom-side belt end fitting 21, a belt deflector 24 ( Fig. 3b) as well as a belt winder 23 and a height-adjustable deflection fitting 23 for a safety belt 25.

[0017] In a first embodiment, an inner sheet metal part 9 of the B-pillar 3 is part of a structure separated from the vehicle body 50 ( Fig. 9) separate pre-assembly unit VM, as described in the Fig. 3b is shown. The inner sheet metal part 9 forms a module carrier in the pre-assembly unit VM, on which the above belt functional elements 20, 21, 23, 24 and a column cover 17 are pre-assembled. The pre-assembly unit VM thus formed is then assembled in an assembly process step ZSB ( Fig. 9) joined to a sheet metal outer part 11 installed in the vehicle body 50. The core of the invention consists in the fact that the assembly process step ZSB takes place in a workstation AS ( Fig. 12) fully automated using robot 60.

[0018] The following is an initial discussion based on the Fig. Sections 2 to 5 describe the structure of B-pillar 3. Accordingly, B-pillar 3 has the following features: Fig. 2 or Fig. 3 the already mentioned hollow beam 12. This is in the Fig. 4 or Fig. 5 is constructed from an inner sheet metal part 9 located inside the vehicle and an outer sheet metal part 11 located outside the vehicle. The hollow beam 12 formed by the inner sheet metal part 9 and the outer sheet metal part 11 defines a hollow profile 13 that extends in the vehicle's vertical direction z and is closed in cross-section. A reinforcing sheet metal part 15 extends within the hollow profile 13 in the vehicle's vertical direction z. According to the Fig. 3a Mounting openings 6, 8 are formed in which the belt retractor 20 and the belt deflector 24 can each be positioned. In addition, the inner sheet metal part 9 has in the Fig. 3a a mounting surface 10 for attaching the height-adjustable belt guide 23.

[0019] As from the Fig. 4 or Fig. As further shown in Figure 5, the outer sheet metal part 11 of the B-pillar 3 is formed with a profile base 27 on the outside of the vehicle in the transverse direction y, which transitions at profile edges 29 into a front profile flank 31 and a rear profile flank 33. Edge flanges 35 project from the two profile flanks 31 and 33 to the front and rear of the vehicle, respectively. The inner sheet metal part 9 has an inner profile base 39 that covers the hollow profile 13 and is extended forward and rearward in the longitudinal direction x of the vehicle by means of screw-on flanges 41. These are located in the Fig. 4 or Fig. 5 are screwed to the outer sheet metal part 11 at screw connection points S. Each of the screw connections S is designed as a double screw connection.

[0020] To create such a screw connection S, the respective screw-on flange 41 of the inner sheet metal part 9 and one of the profile flanks 31, 33 of the outer sheet metal part 11 with their screw holes 43 are aligned one above the other, with the reinforcing sheet metal part 15 in between. This forms a three-layer structure, through whose screw holes 43 a screw bolt 45 is guided. The screw axis of the screw bolt 45 is in the Fig. 4 or Fig. 5 are aligned approximately in the longitudinal direction x of the vehicle. The screw-on flanges 41 of the inner sheet metal part 9 are in the Fig. 4 or Fig. 5, with the reinforcing sheet metal part 15 interposed, is joined to the inside of the two outer sheet metal profile flanks 31, 33. In contrast, the edge flanges 35 of the outer sheet metal part 11 are not connected to the inner sheet metal part 9.

[0021] For the screw connection S, a weld nut 47 is welded to the inside of the respective screw-on flange 41 of the inner sheet metal part 9, to which the screw bolt 45 is screwed. Accordingly, in the Fig. 4 or Fig. 5 the outer sheet metal profile flank 31, the inner sheet metal screw-on flange 41 and the reinforcing sheet metal part 15 are clamped together in a three-layer structure between the weld nut 47 and the bolt head of the screw bolt 45.

[0022] In the Fig. 5 The vehicle-internal profile base 39 of the inner sheet metal part 9 is offset by a transverse offset Δy from the two edge flanges 35 of the outer sheet metal part 11 towards the vehicle interior. In this way, an enlarged installation space is provided within the hollow profile 13 to position a belt retractor 20, as shown in the Fig. 8 is shown.

[0023] The following will be based on the Fig. 6 to 9 a process chain for assembling the in the Fig. The body structure shown in section 2 illustrates this: Accordingly, in the Fig. 9. First, the vehicle body 50 with the pre-assembly unit VM not yet mounted is provided. The vehicle body 50 is painted in a first painting process step L1. Separately, a second painting process step L2 takes place, in which the inner sheet metal part 9 is painted as a separate, still unpopulated component. After the second painting process step L2, in the Fig. 9 a pre-assembly process step V is carried out. In pre-assembly process step V, the functional elements 20, 21, 23, 24 of the seat belt assembly 19 together with the pillar trim 17 are pre-assembled on the painted sheet metal inner part 9, forming the assembly shown in the Fig. 3b shown pre-assembly unit VM. After pre-assembly, the inner sheet metal part 9 is joined to the vehicle body 50 in assembly process step ZSB. The joining process is not carried out by welding, but by means of the joint shown in the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 indicated screw connections S (that is, double screw connections), so that damage to the already painted sheet metal surfaces is avoided.

[0024] In the Fig. 10 and Fig. The inner sheet metal part 9, used as a module carrier, and the outer sheet metal part 11 each have a positioning aid P. The positioning aid P is used to pre-position the inner sheet metal part 9 correctly in a screw position SP ( Fig. 11), in which the inner sheet metal part 9 can be screwed to the outer sheet metal part 11, forming the aforementioned screw connections S. The positioning aid P is in the Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 is constructed from a cam pin, i.e. a positioning bolt 55, carried by the outer sheet metal part 11, which interacts with a positioning cam 49 of the inner sheet metal part 9, so that in the screw position SP ( Fig. 11) the pre-assembly unit (VM) is loosely suspended in the sheet metal outer part 11 of the body pillar 3.

[0025] In the Fig. 11 or Fig. In section 12, a positioning bolt 55 is formed on the profile flank 33 of the sheet metal outer part 11. The positioning bolt 55 projects from a base surface of the profile flank 33 in the longitudinal direction x of the vehicle and has an expanded bolt head 57. This is spaced from an inner surface of the sheet metal outer part profile flank 33 by a clear annular gap r. The positioning bolt 55 interacts with a positioning cam 49, which is formed in the screw-on flange 41. The positioning cam 49 has in the Fig. 12 an insertion section 52 open in the joining direction, which, contrary to the joining direction, transitions at a curve into a vertical cam track 53 that projects upwards from the insertion section 52 by a height offset Δz. During pre-positioning, the inner sheet metal part 9 is first inserted with its insertion section 52 into the annular gap r between the bolt head 57 and the inner surface of the outer sheet metal part profile flank 33. Subsequently, the inner sheet metal part 9 is moved downwards under the influence of gravity ( Fig. 11), until an upper edge 59 of the cam track 53 rests on the positioning bolt 55. The annular gap r is dimensioned larger than the sheet thickness of the inner part screw-on flange 41.

[0026] The assembly process step ZSB described above is fully automated in the Fig. The work at workstation AS, as indicated in the diagram, is carried out using robots 60. Workstation AS is part of the process chain for vehicle manufacturing. The robots 60 are located in the Fig. 12 are positioned on both sides of the vehicle body 50. One of the robots 60 is in the Fig. Figure 13 shows the robot 60 in isolation. Accordingly, the multi-axis robot 60 has a robot base that is linearly adjustable on floor rails 61 of the workstation AS. The robot 60 is equipped at its free end with a gripper 62, which allows the pre-assembly unit VM to be automatically attached to the B-pillar 3 in the assembly process step ZSB. In addition, the robot 60 has a screw unit 63 for screwing the height-adjustable belt guide 23, a screw unit 65 for screwing an end fitting tensioner, and a hydraulic cylinder 58.

[0027] During the assembly process step, the respective robot 60 guides the pre-assembly unit VM in an assembly direction F1, F2, starting from the rear door section 4 of the respective robot-facing body side structure, through the vehicle interior of the vehicle body 50 to the B-pillar 3 of the body side structure facing away from the robot. There, the pre-assembly unit VM is attached to the B-pillar 3 in its screw position SP using screw units 63, 64, 65. The feeding / assembly of the pre-assembly units VM to the two B-pillars 3 can be carried out simultaneously on the left and right in opposite directions by robot 60.

[0028] The following will be based on the Fig. Sections 14 to 16 describe a second embodiment in which the same reference numerals are used for functionally identical components as in the preceding first embodiment, and reference is made to the preliminary description. In contrast to the first embodiment, in the Fig. 14 to 16 the module carrier is not formed directly by the inner sheet metal part 9, but by a separate component, which is exemplified as a flat sheet metal part 14.

[0029] Both the inner sheet metal part 9 and the outer sheet metal part 11 have joining flanges 35, 41 which are welded together to form a flange connection 36. In contrast, the module carrier 14 is screwed to the inner sheet metal part 9 via a screw connection S. To implement the screw connection S, the following are located in the Fig. 15 The module carrier 14 and the inner sheet metal part 9 with their screw holes 43 are arranged one above the other in the transverse direction y of the vehicle. Through the screw holes 43 in the Fig. Each of the 15 sections has a screw bolt 45, the screw axis of which is aligned in the transverse direction y of the vehicle. The screw bolt 45 is screwed to a weld nut 47 attached to the inner sheet metal part 9, such that the module carrier 14 and the inner sheet metal part 9 are clamped between a bolt head of the screw bolt 45 and the weld nut 47.

[0030] In the Fig. Figure 16 shows the process chain for assembling the body structure according to the second embodiment: Accordingly, in the Fig. 16. First, the vehicle body 50 with the module carrier 14 not yet equipped is provided. The vehicle body 50 is painted in a painting process step L. Separately, a pre-assembly process step V takes place. In pre-assembly process step V, the module carrier 14 is equipped with the functional elements 20, 21, 23, 24 of the seat belt assembly 19, including the pillar trim 17, forming the pre-assembly unit VM. In assembly process step ZSB, the pre-assembly unit VM is joined to the inner sheet metal part 9 of the B-pillar 3 and screwed there, as shown in the Fig. 15 is shown.

[0031] As in the first embodiment ( Fig. 10 and Fig.11) In the second embodiment, a positioning aid P can also be provided, by means of which the module carrier 14 is first pre-positioned correctly and loosely on the inner sheet metal part 9 in the screw position SP. In the screw position SP, the module carrier 14 can then be screwed in place using the screw units 63 to 65 of the robot 60. Reference symbol list 1 sill 3 B-pillar 5 A-pillar 6 Mounting opening for belt guide 7 Roof structure 8 Mounting opening for belt retractor 9 inner sheet metal part 10 Mounting surface 11 Sheet metal outer part 12 hollow beams 13 Hollow profile 14 module carriers 15 Reinforcing sheet metal part 16 C-pillar 17 pillar trim 19 Seat belt arrangement 20 belt retractor 21 End fitting 23 height-adjustable deflection fittings 24 belt guides 25 Seatbelt 27 profile floor 29 profile edges 31 front profile flank 33 rear profile flank 35 edge flanges 36 Flange connection 39 Profile base of the inner sheet metal part 41 Screw-on flange / Joining flange 43 screw holes 45 screw bolts 47 weld nut 49 Positioning backdrop 50 vehicle body 52 Insertion area 53 Scenery Railway 55 positioning bolts 57 bolt head 58 hydraulic cylinders 59 Top edge 60 robots 61 floor rails 62 gripping devices 63, 64, 65 screw units r annular gap P Positioning aid S screw connection C clip connection L, L1, L2 Painting process steps ZSB assembly process step V Pre-assembly process step FR direction of travel VM pre-assembly unit F1, F2 joint directions

Claims

[1] Method for installing a seat belt assembly (19) into a vehicle body (50), in which, in a pre-assembly process step (V), functional elements (20, 21, 23, 24) of the seat belt assembly (19) and / or a pillar trim (17) are pre-assembled on a module carrier (9; 14) to form a pre-assembly unit (VM), and in an automated assembly process step (ZSB), the pre-assembly unit (VM) is joined by means of at least one robot (60) to at least one pillar-side connection point (S) of a body pillar (3), in particular a B-pillar, in a joining direction (F1, F2) from the vehicle interior to an inner side of the body pillar (3) facing the vehicle interior, characterized by, that the column-side connection point (S) is a screw connection in which the pre-assembly unit (VM) is clamped to the body column (3) by means of a screw bolt (45), wherein the assembly process step (ZSB) is divided into a feeding sub-step in which the pre-assembly unit (VM) is guided in the joining direction (F1, F2) to the body column (3), a pre-positioning sub-step in which the pre-assembly unit (VM) is pre-positioned in a screw position (SP) on the body column (3), and in an assembly sub-step in which the pre-assembly unit (VM) is screwed to the body column (3), wherein the pre-assembly unit (VM) and the body column (3) have a positioning aid (P) by means of which the pre-assembly unit (VM) is pre-positioned in the screw position (SP), and that in particular of the two joining partners, i.e. the pre-assembly unit (VM) and the body column (3),a first joining partner has a cam pin (55) which interacts with a cam track (49) of the second joining partner, so that pre-positioning is achieved by loosely hooking the pre-assembly unit (VM) into the body pillar (3). [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by, that the vehicle body (50) has a body side structure on both sides in the transverse direction (y) with a front door opening (2) and a rear door opening (4) formed between an A-pillar (5), a B-pillar (3) and a C-pillar (16), and / or that the assembly process step (ZSB) takes place in a workstation (AS) in which at least one robot (60) is positioned laterally next to the vehicle body (50) in the transverse direction (y), and that the robot (60) feeds the pre-assembly unit (VM) in an assembly direction (F1, F2) starting from the rear door section (4) of the robot-facing body side structure through the vehicle interior of the vehicle body (50) to the B-pillar (3) of the robot-away body side structure, and that in particular a robot (60) is positioned on each side of the vehicle body (50),and that, in particular, the joining / feeding of the pre-assembly unit (VM) to the two B-pillars (3) is carried out simultaneously on the left and right in counter-clockwise motion by robot (60). [3] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that, in terms of process engineering, a painting process step (L) takes place before the assembly process step (ZSB), in which the vehicle body (50) is painted with the pre-assembly unit (VM) not yet installed. [4] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the body pillar (3) is constructed from an inner sheet metal part (9) inside the vehicle and from an outer sheet metal part (11) outside the vehicle, which form a hollow beam (12) with a hollow profile (13) extending in the vertical direction (z) of the vehicle and closed in cross-section, and that in particular the inner sheet metal part (9) is the module carrier of the pre-assembly unit (VM). [5] Method according to claim 4, characterized by, that the inner sheet metal part (9) is painted separately from the vehicle body (50) in a painting process step (L2), and that after the painting process step (L2) the pre-assembly process step (V) takes place, in which the inner sheet metal part (9) is fitted with the functional elements (20, 21, 23, 24) and / or the pillar trim (17), and that the assembly process step (ZSB) then takes place. [6] Method according to claim 4, characterized by , that the module carrier (14) is a component separate from the sheet metal inner part (9), which is joined to the sheet metal inner part (9) in the assembly process step (ZSB). [7] Vehicle body assembled according to a method according to any of the preceding claims.

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