Workpiece carriers for the production of motor vehicles

Abstract

The invention relates to a workpiece carrier (3) for receiving and transporting modules (4) of a body (16) of a motor vehicle in a production plant (1) for manufacturing the motor vehicles, with a base carrier (5) which has a transport interface (6) for coupling the workpiece carrier (3) with a transport system (2) of the production plant (1), and with a receiving rod (7) for holding the respective module (4), wherein the receiving rod (7) is detachably attached to the base carrier (5) by means of a rod coupling system (8). Modular vehicle production can be improved by configuring the workpiece carrier (3) to simultaneously accommodate at least two different modules (4) of the body (16), such that the at least two different modules (4) can be transported in the production plant (1) using the workpiece carrier (3).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a workpiece carrier for receiving and transporting modules according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] A workpiece carrier of this type is known from EP 4 190 485 A1 and comprises a base carrier with a transport interface for coupling the workpiece carrier to a transport system of a production plant for manufacturing motor vehicles. The workpiece carrier also has a receiving linkage for holding the respective module, the receiving linkage being detachably attached to the base carrier by means of a linkage coupling system. In the known workpiece carrier, parts of the receiving linkage are permanently connected to the base carrier, while other parts of the receiving linkage are mounted on plates that are detachably attached to the base carrier by means of a plate coupling system. The plates can be used as needed to adapt the base carrier or the workpiece carrier to the respective module to be received and transported.

[0003] Other workpiece carriers are known, for example, from EP 1 225 121 A2, from US 2004 / 0 055 129 A1, from EP 3 075 637 A1, from DE 10 2015 103 642 A1 and from KR 102 674 929 B1.

[0004] The present invention deals with the problem of modifying a workpiece carrier of the aforementioned type in such a way as to enable simplified manufacturing for motor vehicles.

[0005] This problem is solved according to the invention by the subject matter of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0006] The invention is based on the general concept of configuring a workpiece carrier to hold modules of a multi-module vehicle body and to transport these modules within a production plant for manufacturing the vehicles. According to the invention, this is achieved by configuring the workpiece carrier to simultaneously hold at least two different body modules, such that the at least two different modules can be transported within the production plant using the workpiece carrier. In other words, the workpiece carrier according to the invention allows or facilitates a modular body construction, in which the individual modules can be mounted on the same workpiece carrier and remain there until their assembly, often referred to as "marriage."This simplifies the modular construction of motor vehicles, making them easier and cheaper to manufacture.

[0007] In the present context, a “configuration” is synonymous with a “design” and / or “setup”, so that the phrase “configured so that” is synonymous with the phrase “designed so that” and / or “set up so that”.

[0008] According to an advantageous embodiment, the receiving linkage can be formed by at least two sub-linkages, each configured to hold one of the modules, so that each module is held on the base carrier by means of a separate sub-linkage. The use of separate sub-linkages allows the workpiece carrier to be easily adapted to different body configurations, thus making the workpiece carrier versatile.

[0009] According to an advantageous embodiment, at least one of the linkage sections can form a primary linkage section, characterized in that it is directly attached to the base support. At least one other linkage section can form a secondary linkage section, characterized in that it is directly attached to one of the primary linkage sections. Consequently, each secondary linkage section is only indirectly attached to the base support via its respective primary linkage section. In this way, it is particularly easy to arrange modules that are adjacent to each other in the vehicle's height direction on the workpiece carrier in the vehicle's height direction. This simplifies, in particular, the subsequent assembly of the modules.

[0010] In another advantageous embodiment, the respective secondary linkage section can be detachably attached to the respective primary linkage section by means of a linkage coupling system, the linkage coupling system preferably being configured as a quick-release coupling system. This allows the respective secondary linkage section to be easily mounted and dismounted from the respective primary linkage section as needed. This simplifies rapid adaptation of the workpiece carrier to the respective application.

[0011] In another advantageous embodiment, the workpiece carrier may have at least one attachment bracket that is fastened to the base carrier and includes at least one of the linkage sections for holding one of the modules. The linkage section can advantageously be detachably attached to the attachment bracket by means of the same linkage coupling system that is also used between another linkage section and the base carrier. This makes it possible, in particular, to selectively attach the respective linkage section to either the base carrier or the attachment bracket. The use of a common linkage coupling system increases the range of possible variations. Furthermore, larger quantities of the individual components of the linkage coupling system can be produced, thereby reducing the overall cost of the system.

[0012] In another advantageous embodiment, the respective mounting bracket can be detachably attached to the base carrier by means of a carrier coupling system, wherein the carrier coupling system is configured in particular as a quick-release coupling system. This allows the respective mounting bracket to be attached to and detached from the base carrier particularly easily and as required, thereby enabling the workpiece carrier to be adapted to the respective body configuration particularly easily and quickly.

[0013] According to another advantageous embodiment, at least one of the mounting brackets may also have a transport interface for coupling the workpiece carrier to the transport system of the production plant. This allows the mounting bracket to be attached, in particular, to the front or rear of the respective base carrier, thus extending the base carrier in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The mounting bracket is supported directly by the transport system and is driven directly by the transport system. This type of mounting bracket is particularly suitable for modules that, in the finished car body, are adjacent in the longitudinal direction to the module attached to the base carrier.

[0014] In another embodiment, at least one of the mounting brackets can be attached to the base carrier by means of spacers. In this case, the mounting bracket is connected to the transport system via the base carrier and is therefore only indirectly driven. Such a mounting bracket is particularly suitable for holding and transporting a module that is positioned in the finished car body in the vehicle's vertical direction relative to the module held and transported by the base carrier. The spacers can be designed, in particular, in the form of columns or posts and make it possible to position the mounting bracket above the base carrier with a predetermined vertical distance relative to the vehicle's vertical direction.

[0015] In another embodiment, the modules can be configured as various large body modules, forming, for example, a front module, a rear module, a main module, or a roof module. This makes it possible to transport the large modules on the same workpiece carrier from the beginning to the end of their production, using the workpiece carrier presented here. This eliminates, in particular, the time-consuming and error-prone process of transferring or moving modules from one workpiece carrier to another.

[0016] In another advantageous embodiment, the linkage coupling system may have several rails and / or slots formed on the base carrier and / or on the respective mounting bracket, and coupling elements on the receiving linkage and / or on at least one of the linkage sections that are complementary to the rails and / or slots, such that the receiving linkage and / or the respective linkage section can be attached in different positions along the base carrier and / or the respective mounting bracket. This makes the workpiece carrier particularly flexible and adaptable to different body variants and configurations.

[0017] Further important features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the drawings and the associated description of the figures based on the drawings.

[0018] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or individually, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Components of a higher-level unit, such as a device, apparatus, or arrangement, mentioned above and those to be mentioned below, which are designated separately, can form separate parts or components of this unit or be integral areas or sections of this unit, even if this is depicted differently in the drawings.

[0019] Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, wherein identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar or functionally identical components.

[0020] They show, schematically, Fig. Figures 1 to 3 each represent a highly simplified, isometric schematic diagram of a workpiece carrier in a manufacturing plant in different embodiments.

[0021] According to the Fig. 1 to 3 comprise a production plant 1, which is located in the Fig. 1 to 3 is indicated by a dashed line, a transport system 2 which is located in the Fig. 1 to 3 are indicated by an arrow, several workpiece carriers 3, of which in the Fig. 1 to 3, each only indicated by one. The respective workpiece carrier 3 serves to receive and transport modules 4 of a body 16 of a motor vehicle (not shown here). The body 16 consists of several modules 4. Thus, the workpiece carrier 3 is configured to receive several modules 4 of the motor vehicle's body 16 (which consists of several modules 4) and to transport the modules 4 in the production plant 1. The production plant 1 is configured in the usual way for manufacturing the motor vehicles. In the Fig. Figures 1 to 3 show a simplified representation to better illustrate the structure of the workpiece carrier 3. The vehicle body 16 defines a longitudinal direction X, a transverse direction Y, and a vertical direction Z, all of which are perpendicular to each other and are located in the Fig. 1 to 3 are represented by a coordinate system.

[0022] According to the Fig. The workpiece carrier 3 comprises a base carrier 5, which is configured here as a plate. The base carrier 5 has a transport interface 6 for coupling the workpiece carrier 3 to the transport system 2. The workpiece carrier 3 is also equipped with a receiving rod 7, which is configured to hold the respective module 4. The receiving rod 7 is detachably attached to the base carrier 5 by means of a rod coupling system 8. The workpiece carrier 3 is configured to simultaneously receive at least two different modules 4 of the body 16. The at least two modules 4 can be transported simultaneously in the production plant 1 using the workpiece carrier 3.

[0023] According to the Fig. In examples 1 to 3, the receiving linkage 7 has at least two sub-linkages 9 or is formed by at least two sub-linkages 9. Each sub-linkage 9 is configured to hold one of the modules 4, so that each individual module 4 is held on the base support 5 by means of a separate sub-linkage 9. In the examples of Fig. Figures 1 to 3 each show three modules 4, each of which is held directly or indirectly to the base support 5 by a separate partial linkage 9. Accordingly, three partial linkages 9 are also present here. Fig. The 3 partial linkages 9 are represented by double arrows. In the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. As an example, the partial linkages 9 each have two longitudinal beams 10 and two vertical beams 11 on each longitudinal beam 10. It is clear that the partial linkages 9 can also have any other suitable structure that is adapted to the respective module 4 to be held.

[0024] In the embodiments shown here, the respective workpiece carrier 3 is configured to receive and transport exactly three modules 4. Accordingly, exactly three partial linkages 9 are provided, each carrying exactly one of the modules 4. At least one of these partial linkages 9 can be, according to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 form a primary partial linkage 9.1, which is attached directly to the base support 5. In the example of the Fig. In 1, all three partial linkages 9 are configured as primary partial linkage 9.1, so that in the finished state of the workpiece carrier 3, all three partial linkages 9 are directly attached to the base carrier 5. In the example of the Fig. 2 is one of the sub-linkages 9 configured as a secondary sub-linkage 9.2, which is not directly attached to the base carrier 5, but directly to one of the primary sub-linkages 9.1 and thus indirectly to the base carrier 5.

[0025] In the examples of Fig. 1 to 3 form the three partial linkages 9: an upper partial linkage 9, a left partial linkage 9, and a right partial linkage 9. In the example of the Fig. 2 The upper linkage 9 is designed as secondary linkage 9.2, while the left linkage 9 and the right linkage 9 are designed as primary linkage 9.1. The secondary linkage 9.2 is attached to the left primary linkage 9.1, according to Fig. 2 a linkage coupling system 12 is used, which is in Fig. 2 is indicated by double arrows. Using the linkage coupling system 12, the respective secondary linkage section 9.2 is detachably attached to the respective primary linkage section 9.1. The linkage coupling system 12 can be conveniently configured as a quick-coupling system, so that the secondary linkage section 9.2 can be quickly attached to and detached from the respective primary linkage section 9.1 as required.

[0026] At the in Fig. In the embodiment shown in section 3, the workpiece carrier 3 has at least one mounting bracket 13 which is suitably attached to the base carrier 5. In the example of the Fig. Figure 3 shows two such mounting brackets 13, which can also be referred to below as the first mounting bracket 13.1 and the second mounting bracket 13.2. The first mounting bracket 13.1 is located in Fig. 3 to the left of the base support 5 and can also be referred to below as left extension support 13.1. The second extension support 13.2 is located in Fig. 3 above the base support 5 and can hereinafter also be referred to as the upper mounting support 13.2. The two mounting supports 13 each have one of the partial linkages 9 and thus each serve to hold one of the modules 4. In other words, each mounting support 13 is assigned one of the modules 4. Furthermore, one of the modules 4 is also assigned to the base support 5. It may be advantageous to provide that the respective partial linkage 9 of the mounting supports 13 is also detachably attached to the mounting support 13 by means of the linkage coupling system 8. The respective linkage coupling system 8 is in Fig. 3 each indicated by a line.

[0027] The respective mounting bracket 13 can be conveniently and detachably attached to the base carrier 5 by means of a bracket coupling system 14. The bracket coupling system 14 can conveniently be configured as a quick-coupling system, so that the mounting brackets 13 can be easily mounted and dismounted from the base carrier 5 as needed.

[0028] In the example of the Fig. 3 The left or first mounting bracket 13.1 also has a transport interface 6, by means of which the left or first mounting bracket 13.1 can be coupled to the transport system 2 of the production plant 1. In the assembled state, the first mounting bracket 13.1 forms an extension of the base bracket 5 in the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle.

[0029] The upper or second mounting bracket 13.2 is attached to the base carrier 5 by means of spacer elements 15. These spacer elements 15 are designed as columns or posts. The spacer elements 15 allow the upper or second mounting bracket 13.2 to be positioned above the base carrier 5 with respect to the vehicle height direction Z. The spacer elements 15 incorporate the mounting bracket-side components of the carrier coupling system 14, which interact with base carrier-side components of the carrier coupling system 14 to detachably attach the mounting part 13 to the base carrier 5.

[0030] The modules 4 are conveniently configured as large modules for the body 16 and, in the examples shown here, form a front module 4.1, a roof module 4.2, and a main module 4.3, which in this case comprises a vehicle cabin and a vehicle rear. The individual modules 4 are largely completed on the workpiece carrier 5 until they can be assembled. In the assembled state of the body 16, the front module 4.1 connects to the main module 4.2 from the front, and the roof module 4.2 connects to the main module 4.3 from above.

[0031] The linkage coupling system 8 can be attached to the base carrier 5 and also to the respective mounting carrier 13 in several ways. Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 indicated rails 17 and a multitude of slots 18, of which in the Fig. 1 and Fig.2 only three are symbolized by circles as examples. The linkage coupling system 8 also has coupling elements 19 on the receiving linkage 7 or in the respective sub-linkage 9, which are designed to be complementary to the rails 17 and / or the slots 18. Consequently, the receiving linkage 7 or the respective sub-linkage 9 can be attached in different positions along the base support 5 or along the respective attachment support 13.

Claims

[1] Workpiece carrier (3) for receiving and transporting modules (4) of a body (16) of a motor vehicle in a production plant (1) for manufacturing the motor vehicles, - with a base carrier (5) which has a transport interface (6) for coupling the workpiece carrier (3) with a transport system (2) of the production plant (1), - with a mounting rod (7) for holding the respective module (4), - wherein the receiving rod (7) is detachably attached to the base support (5) by means of a rod coupling system (8), - wherein the workpiece carrier (3) is configured to simultaneously receive at least two different modules (4) of the body (16) such that the at least two different modules (4) can be transported in the production plant (1) by means of the workpiece carrier (3), - wherein the receiving linkage (7) is formed by at least two partial linkages (9) which are each configured to hold one of the modules (4), such that each module (4) is held on the base support (5) by means of a separate partial linkage (9), - wherein at least one of the partial linkages (9) forms a primary partial linkage (9.1) which is directly attached to the base support (5), characterized by , - that at least one other of the linkages (9) forms a secondary linkage (9.2) which is directly attached to one of the primary linkages (9.1) and indirectly attached to the base support (5) via the primary linkage. [2] Workpiece carrier (3) according to claim 1, characterized by , - that the respective secondary linkage section (9.2) is detachably attached to the respective primary linkage section (9.1) by means of a linkage coupling system (12), - that the linkage coupling system (12) is configured as a quick coupling system. [3] Workpiece carrier (3) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , - that the workpiece carrier (3) has at least one attachment carrier (13) which is attached to the base carrier (5) and has at least one of the partial linkages (9) for holding one of the modules (4), - that the partial linkage (9) is detachably attached to the mounting bracket (13) by means of the linkage coupling system (8). [4] Workpiece carrier (3) according to claim 3, characterized by , - that the respective mounting bracket (13) is detachably attached to the base bracket (5) by means of a bracket coupling system (14), - that the carrier coupling system (14) is configured as a quick coupling system. [5] Workpiece carrier (3) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by , - that at least one of the mounting carriers (13) also has a transport interface (6) for coupling the workpiece carrier (3) with the transport system (2) of the production plant (1). [6] Workpiece carrier (3) according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized by , - that at least one of the mounting brackets (13) is detachably attached to the base bracket (5) by means of spacer elements (15). [7] Workpiece carrier (3) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , - that the modules (4) are configured as different large modules of the body (16) and each form a front module (4.1) or a rear module or a main module (4.3) or a roof module (4.2). [8] Workpiece carrier (3) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , - that the linkage coupling system (8) has several rails (17) and / or slots (18) formed on the base carrier (5) and / or on the respective attachment carrier (13) and coupling elements (19) on the receiving linkage (7) and / or on at least one of the partial linkages (9) that are complementary to the rails (17) and / or slots (18), such that the receiving linkage (7) and / or the respective partial linkage (9) can be fastened in different positions along the base carrier (5) and / or the respective attachment carrier (13).

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