VEHICLE ASSEMBLY UNIT

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the mounting of vehicles. More particularly, the invention relates to a vehicle mounting assembly.

[0002] Currently, when assembling a vehicle, during the styling operation the vehicle body is lowered onto the mechanical elements to be fixed to this body. These mechanical elements are themselves held on a mechanical preparation plate and include among other things the fuel circuit with its fuel filler pipe. Such a vehicle mounting assembly is known for example from document EP0693416A1. During this styling operation, this filler pipe is held in position so as to allow the body to be lowered onto the mechanical elements to be fixed without catching this pipe.

[0003] However, the same mechanical preparation platform can be used for the assembly of different vehicle silhouettes. Therefore, depending on the silhouette of the vehicle to be assembled, each filling pipe has its own holding system, which requires operations to adjust the different positions of the pipes.

[0004] These operations, carried out manually, are time-consuming and carry a risk of positioning errors and therefore damage or even breakage of the filling tube during the capping operation.

[0005] The invention aims to solve these problems by proposing a vehicle mounting assembly comprising: a mechanical component preparation plate, this mechanical component preparation plate being intended for the assembly of different types of vehicle, a fuel circuit specific to the type of vehicle to be assembled and equipped with a fuel filling pipe, the fuel circuit being arranged on the mechanical component preparation plate, characterized in that the mechanical organ preparation plate comprises a first means for attaching the filling pipe, the position of which for holding the pipe relative to the plate is identical for any type of vehicle, and in that the fuel circuit comprises a second attachment means which cooperates with the first attachment means to hold the filling pipe and the position of this second attachment means is specific to the fuel circuit of the type of vehicle to be assembled.

[0006] The technical effect is to allow the reliable mounting of several types of vehicles on the same mechanical organ preparation plate, by standardizing the position of holding the fuel pipes on the side of the mechanical organ preparation plate.

[0007] Various additional features may be provided, alone or in combination: According to one embodiment, the first attachment means comprises a male part cooperating with a female part of the second attachment means, or vice versa.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the second attachment means is molded onto the filling pipe.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the second attachment means is arranged on a fuel filter, a fuel vapor recuperator, a tab attached to a fuel vapor recuperator or a fuel circuit pump.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the second attachment means is arranged on a tubing support fixed to the tubing, this support being intended to be connected to a body of the vehicle.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the mechanical organ preparation platform comprises a support rod, the first attachment means being arranged at the end of this support rod.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the support rod is telescopic.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the support rod comprises a part fixed relative to the mechanical organ preparation plate and a movable part retractable into the fixed part, the first attachment means being arranged at the end of this movable part.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the support cane includes a handle for operating the movable part.

[0015] The invention also relates to a method for assembling different types of vehicle comprising a step of capping the body of a type of vehicle on a mounting assembly of the invention, this method comprising a prior step of deployment by an operator of the support rod for the installation of the first attachment means in an identical position for all types of vehicle followed by a step of engagement by this operator of the second means of attachment of the fuel filler pipe in the first attachment means.

[0016] Other features and advantages will appear on reading the following description of a particular, non-limiting embodiment of the invention, given with reference to the figures in which: [ Fig 1 ] This figure represents a styling operation during vehicle assembly according to the invention. [ Fig 2 ]This figure represents a partial view of a mechanical organ preparation plate, with the fuel filler pipe support rod, the mechanical organs not being visible, for greater clarity. [ Fig 3 ] This figure represents an embodiment of a first means of attaching the fuel filler pipe according to the invention. [ Fig 4 ] this figure represents an embodiment of a second attachment means according to the invention of the fuel filler pipe, this second attachment means being able to cooperate with the first attachment means illustrated in the figure 3 . [ Fig 5 ] this figure represents the assembly of the first and second attachment means illustrated in figures 3 et 4 . [ Fig 6 ] This figure represents an embodiment of the arrangement of the second attachment means. [ Fig 7 ] This figure represents another embodiment of the arrangement of the second attachment means.

[0017] There figure 1 illustrates an assembly operation called capping during which a vehicle body 1, conventionally referred to in automobile manufacturing as a body-in-white, is lowered (see arrow F1) onto a mechanical component preparation plate 2. This mechanical component preparation plate 2, also referred to by the acronym POM, supports mechanical components such as running gear 3, a fuel circuit 4 and its tank, the exhaust line 5, etc.

[0018] During this styling operation, the mechanical parts are held in position on the mechanical parts preparation plate 2 to fit into their location and then be able to be screwed in automatically. All the mechanical parts are previously placed on the mechanical parts preparation plate 2. Several types of vehicles can be mounted on this same mechanical parts preparation plate 2.

[0019] The fuel circuit 4 is equipped with a fuel filler pipe 6. This fuel filler pipe 6 is held in position at the end of a support rod 7. The fuel circuit 4 being specific to the type of vehicle to be assembled, depending on the type of vehicle to be assembled, the position of the pipe 6 relative to the mechanical component preparation plate 2 differs. This support rod 7 can advantageously be telescopic in order to be in the collected position outside the capping operation and in the deployed position for the capping operation. figures 1 et 2 show the cane 7 in the deployed position. The support cane 7 comprises a fixed part 7a relative to the organ preparation plate 2 and a movable part 7b, retractable by translation of this movable part in the fixed part 7a (see arrow F2). In order to be able to manually retract or deploy the support cane 7, handles 7c, 7c' are provided. These handles will be used by an operator.

[0020] In accordance with the invention, and as more precisely shown in figure 2 , it is provided that the plate 2 for preparing mechanical parts comprises a first means 8 for hooking the filling pipe 6. This first means 8 for hooking the filling pipe 6. The position of this first hooking means 8 relative to the plate 2 for preparing mechanical parts, for holding the filling pipe 6 in position during the styling operation is always identical, regardless of the type of vehicle to be assembled.

[0021] As illustrated by the figure 4 , the fuel circuit 4 comprises a second attachment means 9 which cooperates with the first attachment means 8 to hold the fuel filler pipe 6. Since the position of the first attachment means 8 during the styling operation is independent of the type of vehicle, the position of the second attachment means 9 is adapted to the specificity of the fuel circuit 4 of the type of vehicle to be assembled.

[0022] There figure 3 illustrates an embodiment of the first attachment means 8 and the figure 4 an embodiment of the second attachment means 9, these two attachment means being arranged to cooperate so as to hold the filling tube 6 in place during the capping operation, as illustrated in figure 5 .

[0023] In this mode the embodiment illustrated in the figure 3 , the first attachment means 8 comprises a guide cone 10 forming the end of a cylindrical pin 11. This pin 11 is arranged on a support 12 wider than the pin 11 so as to form a shoulder 13 which will serve as a stop for the second attachment means 9. The support 12 is fixed at the end of the support rod 7, on the movable part 7b of this rod.

[0024] In this embodiment illustrated in the figure 4 , the second attachment means 9 comprises a hole 14 intended to receive the pin 11 of the first attachment means 8. This hole comprises an entry cone 15 which will serve to guide the introduction of the cone 10 of the first attachment means 8 and an edge 16 intended to come into abutment on the shoulder 13 of the first attachment means 8. The diameter of the hole may for example be of the order of 10 mm.

[0025] In this embodiment, the second attachment means 9 is arranged on the filling tube 6, by overmolding, near the filling mouth 17.

[0026] The first 8 and the second 9 attachment means form the assembly for holding the filling tube 6 to the plate 2 for preparing the mechanical components. In this embodiment, the first 8 attachment means constitutes the male part and the second 8 attachment means constitutes the female part of this assembly for holding the filling tube 6. The reverse may however be provided.

[0027] Referring to the figure 1 , the assembly of the first and second attachment means makes it possible to block the filling tube 6 relative to the plate 2 for preparing mechanical organs in translation along the three orthogonal axes X, Y and Z, for the capping operation. In addition, once the capping operation is complete, when the preparation plate 2 is withdrawn by descending along the Z axis, the first attachment means 8 is detached from the second attachment means 9 without intervention, the pin 11 coming out of the hole 14.

[0028] The second attachment means 9 may not be located on the pipe 6. Alternatively, depending on the specificity of the fuel circuit to be mounted on the vehicle, this second attachment means 9 may be placed on a fuel filter or a fuel vapor recovery unit 18 or even on a fuel pump 19 of the fuel circuit 4.

[0029] As further shown by the figure 6 the second attachment means 9 can be arranged on a tubing support 20. This support 20, fixed to the tubing, serves to securely connect the tubing 6 to the body of the vehicle (not shown).

[0030] There figure 7 presents another embodiment in which the second attachment means 9 is arranged on a tab 21, fixed to the fuel vapor recuperator 18.

[0031] The assembly process, valid for all types of vehicles, is as follows: In preparation for the capping operation, an operator deploys the support rod 7 and places the first attachment means 8 in position, this position being identical for any type of vehicle to be assembled. Then, this operator places the filling pipe 6 in position by engaging the second attachment means 9 in the first attachment means 8. The filling pipe 6 is then in position to allow the capping operation of the body 1 of the vehicle on its mechanical parts.

[0032] Then the vehicle body 1 descends onto the mechanical parts, this is the styling operation.

[0033] Once the vehicle body 1 is in place on its mechanical parts, the vehicle body 1 is automatically screwed to its mechanical parts.

[0034] Then the preparation plate is removed by descending along the Z axis, which allows the second attachment means 9 to disengage from the first attachment means 8.

[0035] An operator then intervenes to retract the support rod 7.

[0036] The invention makes it possible to standardize the maintenance of fuel filler pipes in order to avoid unnecessary operations on the mechanical parts preparation plate and a risk of error. This results in a unification of positions and shapes for maintaining the different pipes on the same mechanical parts preparation plate.

Claims

1. Vehicle mounting kit including: - a plate (2) for preparing mechanical parts (3, 4, 5), this plate (2) for preparing mechanical parts (3, 4, 5) being intended for the assembly of different types of vehicle, - a fuel circuit (4) specific to the type of vehicle to be assembled and equipped with a fuel filling pipe (6), - the fuel circuit (4) being arranged on the plate (2) for preparing mechanical parts, characterized in that the plate (2) for preparing mechanical parts comprises a first means (8) for attaching the filling pipe (6) whose position for holding the pipe (6) relative to the plate (2) is identical for any type of vehicle, and in that the fuel circuit (4) comprises a second attachment means (9) which cooperates with the first attachment means (8) to hold the filling pipe (6) and whose position of this second attachment means (9) is specific to the fuel circuit (4) of the type of vehicle to be assembled.

2. Assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the first attachment means (8) comprises a male part cooperating with a female part of the second attachment means (9), or vice versa.

3. Assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the second attachment means (9) is molded onto the filling pipe (6).

4. Assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the second attachment means (9) is arranged on a fuel filter, a fuel vapor recuperator (18), a tab (21) fixed to a fuel vapor recuperator (18) or a pump (19) of the fuel circuit (4).

5. Assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the second attachment means (9) is arranged on a tubing support (20) fixed to the tubing (6), this support being intended to be connected to a body of the vehicle.

6. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plate (2) for preparing mechanical parts comprises a support rod (7), the first attachment means (8) being arranged at the end of this support rod (7).

7. Assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that the support rod (7) is telescopic.

8. Assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that the support rod (7) comprises a part (7a) fixed relative to the plate (2) for preparing mechanical parts and a movable part (7b) retractable into the fixed part (7a), the first attachment means (8) being arranged at the end of this movable part (7b).

9. Assembly according to claim 7 or claim 8, characterized in that the support rod (7) comprises a handle for handling the movable part (7b).

10. Method for assembling different types of vehicle comprising a step of capping the body (1) of a type of vehicle on a mounting assembly according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a prior step of deployment by an operator of the support rod (7) for the installation of the first attachment means (8) in an identical position for all types of vehicle followed by a step of engagement by this operator of the second attachment means (9) of the fuel filler pipe (6) in the first attachment means (8).