Method of assembling a motor vehicle body.

Abstract

Title of the invention: Method for assembling a body of a motor vehicle. The present invention relates to a method for assembling a structure of a motor vehicle comprising at least one frame (6) configured to delimit a recess of a sliding opening of the motor vehicle and at least one rail (12) secured to the frame (6) and configured to ensure at least the guidance of the sliding opening, a positioning plate (26), comprising a positioning opening is positioned against the first face (28) of the frame (6), the rail (12), comprising a fixing means (24), is positioned against a second face (30) of the frame (6), opposite the first face (28), so that the fixing means (24) extends through a passage orifice (22) formed in the frame (6) and the positioning opening. (Figure 2)

Description

Title of the invention: Method of assembling a body of a motor vehicle.

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of motor vehicle structures. The present invention relates more particularly to a method of assembling such structures, making it possible in particular to precisely position elements of the structure relative to each other.

[0002] Certain motor vehicles include a sliding opening, such an opening being able to be arranged on one side only, on each side or at the rear of a vehicle body.

[0003] These openings are configured to slide in a first direction so as to generate an opening of the opening and in a second direction so as to cause a closing of the opening. Typically, the movement of the opening in one direction or the other is enabled by the movement of at least one roller, integral with the opening, in a rail integral with the body of the motor vehicle.

[0004] This rail may be a guide rail, intended to guide the opening along the body of the vehicle in each of the directions of movement, or a carrier rail, intended both to support the weight of the opening and to guide the opening as previously mentioned. The position of the rails relative to the body structure, and in particular the position of the carrier rail(s), is a major concern during the assembly of the vehicle insofar as this position of the rails determines the position of the opening relative to an embrasure delimited by a frame of the body and which the opening has the function of covering in the closed position. However, it is essential that the position of the opening in the closed position conforms to the intended theoretical position, since the opening and / or the embrasure are provided on their periphery with a sealing gasket which must be compressed adequately when the opening is closed so that the sealing function is optimal.

[0005] It is known in particular to mount the rail in a rail housing, itself attached to the body frame, in particular for reasons of sealing and protection of the rail. The manufacturing and assembly clearances then add up and can slightly shift the position of the rail compared to the desired theoretical position. In this context, it is thus conventional, in view of the positioning problem previously mentioned, to have methods of assembling the structure of a motor vehicle in which, once the rail is mounted on the associated body structure element, the position of the rail must be retouched at the end of the assembly line to guarantee the correct position of the rail once equipped with the opening. Such retouching is not not satisfactory in that it significantly increases the operator's load and vehicle assembly time.

[0006] The present invention falls within this context and aims to overcome at least some of the drawbacks of the prior art. The present invention thus relates to a method of assembling a body of a motor vehicle in which the position of the rail is suitably ensured during assembly without requiring intervention at the end of assembly, and the present invention relates to the means specifically developed for implementing such an assembly method.

[0007] Thus, according to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method for assembling a structure of a motor vehicle comprising at least one frame configured to delimit a recess of a sliding opening of the motor vehicle and at least one rail secured to the frame and configured to ensure at least the guidance of the sliding opening, the assembly method implementing at least: - a first step during which a first pin and a second pin are secured to a first face of the frame, - a second step during which the rail, comprising a fixing means, is positioned, directly or indirectly, against a second face of the frame, opposite the first face, so that the fixing means extends through a passage orifice formed in the frame, - a third step during which a positioning plate, comprising a first hole, a second hole and a positioning opening,is positioned against the first face of the frame so that the first pin extends through the first hole and the second pin extends through the second hole, the positioning opening being aligned with the passage hole, - a fourth step during which the fixing means, which extends through the positioning opening following the completion of the second and third steps, is secured to the positioning plate.

[0008] The structure forms a part of the motor vehicle participating in delimiting a passenger compartment of said motor vehicle. It may in particular consist of a body side, when the sliding opening is a sliding side opening. The rail is a structural element, made integral with the structure, more particularly on the body side, participating in allowing the movement of the sliding opening, more particularly of the sliding side opening. It is specified that the rail is configured to ensure at least the guidance of the sliding opening insofar as the rail may also be a load-bearing rail, sized and configured to support the weight of the sliding opening.

[0009] The first pin and the second pin secured to the frame during the first step of the assembly process are elements forming a projection from the first face of the frame. The first face of the frame is the face facing the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle.

[0010] During the second step, the rail is arranged, directly or indirectly, against the second face of the frame and it is understood that the second face of the frame, opposite the face of the frame on which the first pin and the second pin are secured, is the face facing the outside of the motor vehicle. It must be considered that the rail is arranged indirectly against the second face of the frame when an intermediate part, for example a rail housing which ensures the protection and sealing of the rail, is interposed between the second face of the frame and the rail. This rail housing is pressed against the second face of the frame and the rail is pressed into the bottom of the rail housing.

[0011] The positioning plate, specifically implemented during the third step, makes it possible to reliably ensure the position of the rail relative to the body, which subsequently makes it possible to dispense with a position adjustment step. This reliable position is ensured by a specific positioning of the positioning plate relative to the frame, via the cooperation of the positioning plate with the first pin and the second pin, the position of which relative to the body is previously certified as conforming to a desired theoretical position.

[0012] During the third step, the positioning plate is placed against the first face of the frame and the operator ensures during this step that the first pin secured to the frame is housed in the first hole of the plate and that simultaneously the second pin secured to the frame is housed in the second hole of the plate. The first hole and the second hole are through holes allowing the pins to pass through the positioning plate.

[0013] It is understood that at the end of the second step and the third step, the frame is arranged between the positioning plate and the rail, with the plate and the rail being pressed against opposite faces of the frame. In addition, at the end of these two steps, the fixing means integral with the frame extends through the passage hole provided in the frame and through the positioning opening of the positioning plate.

[0014] It should be noted that there is no particular chronology between the second step and the third step. In a first alternative, the second step is carried out before the third step, and the positioning plate is positioned against the first face of the frame, ensuring that each of the projecting elements of the first face is inserted into the corresponding slot, namely the fixing means in the positioning opening, the first pin in the first hole and the second pin in the second hole. In a second alternative, with the positioning plate which is pre-positioned against the first face of the frame in a first time, prior to positioning the rail against the second face, and therefore with the third step which is carried out before the second step, the rail fixing means extends simultaneously through the passage hole of the frame and the positioning opening of the positioning plate already in place.

[0015] It should be noted that in the case of the second alternative, with the third step being carried out prior to the second step, an additional step may be implemented between the third step and the second step, during which holding means, for example staples, are arranged on at least one of the pins. These holding means allow the positioning plate to be held integral with the first face of the frame during the positioning of the rail and the passage of the fixing means through the positioning opening.

[0016] According to an optional feature of the invention, the position of the fixing means relative to the passage orifice is adjusted by means of the positioning opening of the positioning plate. The adjustment of the position of the fixing means is ensured by the positioning opening of the positioning plate. Indeed, the shape and the dimension, for example the diameter of the positioning opening, are complementary to the shape and the dimension, here therefore the diameter, of the fixing means. More particularly, the internal diameter of the positioning opening is equal to or slightly greater than the external diameter of the fixing means to simply allow the fixing means to extend through the positioning opening. This complementarity makes it possible to position the fixing means according to the position of the positioning plate.It is understood that the diameter of the positioning opening is smaller than the diameter of the passage hole, since the latter must be large enough to allow the insertion of the fixing means without fumbling on the part of the operator. Furthermore, it is understood that in this context of a fixing means and a positioning opening which have complementary dimensions, it is advantageous for the operator to carry out the steps of the assembly process with the third step occurring after the second step.

[0017] According to an optional characteristic of the invention, during a step prior to the first step, the first pin and the second pin are positioned on the first face of the frame relative to a reference point of a basic structural element of the structure of the motor vehicle.

[0018] The positioning of the first pin and the second pin is ensured, that is to say that the position of these pins relative to the body is certified as conforming to a desired theoretical position, by a precise measurement, for example a laser measurement, relative to the basic structural element. This basic structural element forms an element of the body structure of the vehicle whose position is defined precisely with little variations from one structure to another. Such referencing is particularly useful when the rail is positioned within a rail box, interposed between the body structure and the rail and which adds positioning tolerances during assembly of the rail in relation to the body structure.

[0019] According to an optional characteristic of the invention, the positioning of the first pin and the second is carried out with respect to the same basic structural element of the structure of the motor vehicle. By referring to the same basic structural element, the dispersion between the first pin and the second pin is limited.

[0020] According to an optional characteristic of the invention, the first pin and the second pin are positioned on the first face of the frame independently of the position of the passage orifice relative to the basic structural element.

[0021] According to an optional characteristic of the invention, the basic structural element is distinct from the frame.

[0022] According to an optional characteristic of the invention, the rail is a carrier rail configured to support the weight of the sliding opening.

[0023] According to a second aspect, the present invention also relates to a positioning plate for implementing the assembly method.

[0024] According to an optional feature of the invention, the positioning opening has a shape and a dimension complementary to the shape and dimension of the fixing means. More particularly, the positioning opening has a circular shape and the fixing means has a corresponding circular section shape, and the internal diameter of the positioning opening is substantially equal to the external diameter of the fixing means.

[0025] According to a characteristic of the invention, the first hole and the second hole are arranged on either side of the positioning opening.

[0026] According to a characteristic of the invention, the positioning plate comprises a tab configured to hold electrical power supply cables.

[0027] According to a characteristic of the invention, the first hole has a shape complementary to the shape of the first pin.

[0028] According to a characteristic of the invention, the second hole has an oblong shape. This oblong shape makes it possible to avoid forming a hyperstatic system.

[0029] Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the description which follows on the one hand, and examples of embodiment given for informational and non-limiting purposes with reference to the appended schematic drawings on the other hand, in which:

[0030] [Fig.l] schematically represents a general view of a structure forming part of a body of a motor vehicle participating in delimiting the passenger compartment of said motor vehicle;

[0031] [Fig.2] schematically represents a sectional view of the structure, visible on [Fig.l], highlighting the attachment of a rail for a sliding side opening to a frame of the structure;

[0032] [Fig.3] schematically represents a first step of an assembly process of the structure during which pawns are secured to the frame;

[0033] [Fig.4] schematically represents a second step of the assembly process of the structure in which the rail is arranged against the frame so that a means for fixing the rail extends through a passage hole made in the frame;

[0034] [Fig.5] schematically represents a detailed view of a plate of positioning in accordance with one aspect of the present invention;

[0035] [Fig.6] schematically represents a third step of the assembly process of the structure during which the positioning plate is positioned against a first face of the frame, this third step being carried out here while the second step illustrated in [Fig.4] has been previously carried out;

[0036] [Fig.7] schematically represents a fourth step of the assembly process of the structure during which the rail and the positioning plate are secured to the frame.

[0037] The features, variants and different embodiments of the invention may be combined with each other, in various combinations, provided that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, variants of the invention may be imagined comprising only a selection of features described below in isolation from the other features described, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the state of the art.

[0038] In the figures, the elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

[0039] In the detailed description which follows, the terms “longitudinal”, “transverse” and “vertical” refer to the orientation of a motor vehicle. A longitudinal direction corresponds to a direction of advance of a vehicle comprising the structure assembled according to one aspect of the invention, this longitudinal direction being parallel to a longitudinal axis L of a reference frame L, V, T illustrated in the figures. A transverse direction corresponds to a direction perpendicular, in a plane parallel to the road on which the vehicle is traveling, to the direction of advance of the vehicle comprising said structure, this transverse direction being parallel to a transverse axis T of the reference frame L, V, T and this transverse axis T being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L. Finally, a vertical direction corresponds to a direction parallel to a vertical axis V of the reference frame L, V, T, this vertical axis V being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L and to the transverse axis T.

[0040] [Fig.l] illustrates a general view of a structure 2 of a motor vehicle. More specifically, [Fig.l] represents a part of a body of said vehicle forming a body side of the motor vehicle. The body is an element of the motor vehicle participating in delimiting, with the rolling floor on which it is assembled, a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. This structure 2 is formed, in the embodiment shown, of a plurality of sheets secured to each other to form a rigid assembly, moreover intended to support equipment of the motor vehicle.

[0041] In the embodiment shown, this structure 2 comprises in particular a front wing 4, a frame 6 and a rear part 8. The frame 6 extends vertically, that is to say parallel to the axis V, from the floor of the motor vehicle to the roof of said motor vehicle, not shown here, and this frame 6 extends longitudinally between the front wing 4 and the rear part 8. It is understood that in the embodiment shown, the frame 6 forms an element of the structure 2 extending over the entire vertical dimension of said structure 2. The front wing 4, the frame 6 and the rear part 8 are secured to each other and aligned along an alignment direction parallel to the axis L.

[0042] This frame 6 can be formed from a single piece to form a single-piece assembly. Alternatively, the frame 6 can be formed from a set of pieces secured to each other.

[0043] The frame 6 delimits an embrasure 10 of the motor vehicle, which forms a space through which a user is able to enter and exit the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle entirely, and / or to load and unload objects in a storage area at the rear of the passenger compartment of the vehicle. This embrasure is intended to be covered, when the vehicle is closed, by a sliding opening, here a sliding side opening, not visible in the figures, mounted to slide on rails among which at least one rail is secured to the frame 6.

[0044] In the illustrated example, the structure of the vehicle comprises a carrier rail arranged on the frame 6 in an upper receiving zone 60, above the opening 10, and it comprises an additional rail arranged on the frame 6 in a lower receiving zone 62, under the opening 10, these two receiving zones being represented in dotted lines in [Fig.l]. Furthermore, in order to ensure precise guidance of the sliding side opening, the vehicle may comprise a central guide rail, made integral with the rear part, in a guide zone 64.

[0045] The carrier rail 12, visible in [Fig. 2], is secured directly or indirectly to the frame 6. In connection with figures 2 to 6, we will now describe a method of assembling the specific rail of the invention. It should be noted that in the illustrated example, this assembly method is associated with the assembly of a carrier rail 12 in the upper receiving zone 60 of the frame, since the need for precise positioning of the rail is particularly important for a carrier rail, but this method could be applied to the assembly of other rails associated with a sliding opening.

[0046] [Fig. 2] is a sectional view of a part of the frame 6 comprising said upper receiving zone 60. More particularly here, this part of the frame 6 is formed by a rail housing which is also intended to be attached, in particular by welding onto other pieces of sheet metal to form the frame 6 together. This sectional view makes it possible to illustrate the positioning of the rail 12 relative to the frame 6.

[0047] The rail 12 comprises a gutter 16 in which at least one roller secured to the sliding side opening is intended to circulate. More particularly, said rail 12 is a carrier rail intended on the one hand to allow the sliding side opening to pass between an open position and a closed position and on the other hand to support the weight of the sliding side opening.

[0048] For this purpose, a first roller of the sliding side opening circulates in the gutter 16 so as to guide the sliding side opening along a first direction allowing the sliding side opening to move from its closed position to its open position and along a second direction allowing the sliding side opening to move from the open position to the closed position. In addition, a second roller of the sliding side opening bears against the rail 12 so that the rail 12 supports the weight of the sliding side opening by means of the second roller.

[0049] To house the rail 12, the frame 6, and more particularly here the rail housing participating in forming the frame, is configured to form a housing 14 open towards the outside, that is to say towards the outside of the motor vehicle when the latter is assembled. More specifically, the housing 14 is delimited by a wall of the frame forming a bottom wall 18 and by two walls forming two transverse walls 20 extending from the bottom wall 18 towards the outside of the motor vehicle. It is notable in [Fig. 2] that the bottom wall 18 has a curve and that the rail matches this shape of the bottom wall 18, but the bottom wall could be flat without departing from the context of the invention. The housing 14 extends, in the embodiment shown, along the entire longitudinal dimension of the frame 6.

[0050] Furthermore, the frame 6 comprises a passage orifice 22. This passage orifice 22 is made in the bottom wall 18 of the frame 6 and is intended to be crossed by a fixing means 24 of the rail 12 to allow the rail 12 to be secured to the structure 2, and more specifically to the frame 6. As illustrated in [Fig. 2], the rail 12 is thus secured by the installation of a securing element 56, which will be described later. in detail below with reference to [Fig.7], which fixes the position of the fixing means 24, and therefore of the rail 12, relative to the bottom wall 18.

[0051] In addition, the structure 2 also comprises a positioning plate 26 configured to cooperate with the fixing means, here on the other side of the bottom wall 18. More particularly, the positioning plate is pressed against a first face 28 of the frame 6, namely here a first face of the bottom wall 18 of the housing 14 receiving the rail 12. This first face 28 is turned towards the inside of the vehicle, opposite the opening of the housing 14 through which the carrier rail 12 is inserted.

[0052] The carrier rail 12 is positioned against a second face 30 of the frame 6, namely here a second face of the bottom wall 18 of the housing 14 receiving the rail 12. The second face 30 is opposite the first face 28. It is notable that the carrier rail 12 and the positioning plate 26 are arranged against opposing faces of the same wall of the frame, here the bottom wall 18. In the present document, mention may be made indifferently of a first or second face of the frame or of a first or second face of a wall of the frame.

[0053] The positioning plate 26 makes it possible, as will be described in more detail in the description which follows, to precisely position the rail 12 relative to the frame 6, and more broadly relative to the other elements forming the structure 2, in particular pins specifically made integral with the frame and the first face 28 of this frame 6.

[0054] [Fig. 3] illustrates a first step of a method of assembling the structure 2 of a motor vehicle, and more specifically of a method of assembling the rail 12 to the frame 6.

[0055] During this first step of the assembly process, a first pin 32 and a second pin 34 are secured to the first face 28 of the frame 6. More specifically, the first pin 32 and the second pin 34 are secured to the first face 28 of the frame 6 by being arranged in the vicinity of the passage orifice 22, here on either side of this passage orifice 22. More particularly, in the embodiment shown, the first pin 32, the second pin 34 and the passage orifice 22 are aligned with each other so that the same straight line intersects the axis of elongation of the first pin 32, the axis of elongation of the second pin 34 and the center of the passage orifice 22. Furthermore, here, the pins are equidistant from the passage orifice.It is noteworthy that this specific positioning of the pins is not limiting of the invention, since, as will be described below, the pins serve as a reference point, in the vicinity of the passage orifice, to position the positioning plate 26 so that the positioning opening of this . the latter comes to overlap the passage hole to allow the position of the fixing means passing through the passage hole to be adjusted.

[0056] The pins 32, 34 are specifically produced in the assembly method of the invention to serve as a reference for mounting the positioning plate on the frame. These pins have no other functions. The positioning of the first pin 32 and the second pin 34 on the first face 28 is carried out during a step prior to the first step. During this step prior to the first step, the first pin 32 and the second pin 34 are positioned on the first face 28 of the frame 6 relative to a reference point 36 of a basic structural element, visible in [Fig. 1].

[0057] The basic structural element here is the front wing 4 on the body side and the reference point 36 is a hole made in the foot pillar of this front wing 4. The reference point here serves as the origin point of a laser measurement so that the first pin 32 and the second pin 34 are positioned precisely relative to a structural element on which the frame 6 is attached. As mentioned, this frame 6 can be formed of several sheet metal elements and in particular of a rail housing in which the carrier rail 12 is housed. In this way, the embrasure 10 formed by the frame is positioned relative to the front wing 4, and the pins 32, 34 making it possible to fix the position of the rail 12 by means of the positioning plate are also positioned relative to the front wing.This improves the position adjustment of the rail relative to the embrasure by avoiding the addition of manufacturing and assembly tolerances of the intermediate structural parts, for example the rail box. Of course, the choice of the basic structural element can be different as long as this choice allows the first pin 32 and the second pin 34 to be positioned precisely.

[0058] The positioning and the securing of the first pin 32 and the second pin 34 are carried out by an automaton capable of collecting data relating to the spatialization of the structure 2 and of adjusting the position of the first pin 32 and the second pin 34 according to said data. The automaton is a bulky piece of equipment making it impossible to position and secure the first pin 32 and the second pin 34 on the second face 30 of the frame 6. Indeed, the transverse walls 20 which delimit a small passage section do not allow the automaton to reach the second face 30 of the frame 6. It is in this context that the pins are arranged on the first face 28 of the frame, opposite the face on which the rail is arranged, and that the positioning plate 26 is made necessary to act as an intermediary between the pins forming reference frames and the rail to be fixed.

[0059] As mentioned previously, the first pin 32 and the second pin 34 are positioned and secured to the first face 28 of the frame 6 so as to be distributed in the vicinity of the passage orifice 22, but it should nevertheless be noted that the first pin 32 and the second pin 34 are positioned on the frame 6 independently of the position of the passage orifice 22. In other words, the position of the passage orifice does not serve as a reference for positioning the pins 32, 34.

[0060] [Fig. 4] represents a second step of the assembly method of the structure 2. During this second step of the assembly method, the rail 12 is housed in the housing 14 so that the fixing means 24 extends through the passage orifice 22. This positioning of the rail 12 can be carried out by an operator, who places the rail 12 on a transverse wall 20 which thus generates a support zone for the support of the rail 12. It is understood that at the end of this second step the fixing means 24 projects from the first face 28, as can be seen in [Fig. 4]. This figure also makes it visible that the dimension of the passage orifice 22, here the internal diameter of this orifice, is greater than the corresponding dimension of the fixing means, here the external diameter of the threaded rod forming the fixing means 24.This feature facilitates the positioning of the rail inside the housing 14, since the threaded rod is easily inserted into the passage hole 22.

[0061] Figures 5 and 6 respectively represent a detailed view of the positioning plate 26 and a third step of the method of assembling the structure 2. The positioning plate 26 comprises a first hole 38, a second hole 40 and a positioning opening 42. It is particularly noteworthy in [Fig. 5] that in the embodiment shown, the positioning plate 26 comprises a main body 44 comprising a first zone 46 on which the first hole 38 is made, a second zone 48 on which the positioning opening 42 is made and a third zone 50 on which the second hole 40 is made.

[0062] Like the first pin 32, the second pin 34 and the passage orifice 22, the first hole 38, the second hole 40 and the positioning opening 42 are aligned on the same straight line. In other words, the slots formed in the positioning plate 26 are arranged relative to each other so that they can cooperate with the projecting elements of the first face 28 of the frame so that the positioning plate can be pressed against this first face 28.

[0063] During the third step of the assembly method, the positioning plate 26 is positioned against the first face 28 of the frame 6 so that the first pin 32 extends through the first hole 38 and the second pin 34 extends through the second hole 40. For this purpose, the first pin 32 and the second pin 34 are secured to the first face 28 with a spacing, that is to say a distance separating the first pin 32 from the second pin 34, substantially equal to the spacing between the first hole 38 and the second hole 40. This spacing is measured between the elongation axes specific to each of the pins, and this distance is measured between the respective centers of the two holes. Thus, the positioning plate 26 is capable of being mounted on the frame 6 by housing the pins 32, 34 in the associated holes 38, 40 of the positioning plate 26.

[0064] Once the second step and the third step have been carried out, the fixing means 24 extends through the positioning opening 42. For this purpose, the positioning opening 42 has a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the fixing means 24. More precisely, the positioning opening 42 has a diameter equal to the diameter of the fixing means 24 plus at most 0.5 mm, preferably at most 0.2 mm.

[0065] The arrangement of the positioning plate 26 against the first face 28 as just mentioned makes it possible to correct, or adjust according to the order of performance of the second and third steps, the positioning of the rail 12 relative to the structure 2. More particularly, in a first alternative, the second step is performed before the third step, and the positioning plate 26 is positioned against the first face of the frame while the rail 12 is already positioned against the second face 30 of the frame 6, with the fixing means 24 which projects from the first face 28 of the frame. In the context of this first alternative, the positioning plate makes it possible to correct the positioning of the rail since the positioning opening 42 fits around the fixing means 24 which at this moment extends through the passage orifice with a certain clearance due to the dimensions mentioned above.It is notable that the axial dimension, projecting from the first face 28 of the frame, of the fixing means 24 is greater than that of the pins 32, 34: the positioning means already engages with the fixing means and then engages in the pins, so that the movement of the positioning means towards the first face tends to correct the position of the fixing means within the passage orifice. Here, this position correction is such that the fixing means 24 of the rail 12 is aligned with the pins 32, 34.

[0066] In a second alternative, the third step is carried out before the second step, so that the positioning plate 26 is positioned against the first face of the frame before the rail 12 is positioned against the second face 30 of the frame 6. Thus, the fixing means 24 must simultaneously pass through the passage orifice 22 of the frame and the positioning opening 42. The play for inserting the fixing means 24 is reduced to its strict minimum so that the position of the rail is adjusted directly.

[0067] Generally speaking, it is understood that by placing the positioning plate 26 against the first face 28 relative to the first pin 32 and the second pin 34, the position of the fixing means 24, and by extension the position of the rail 12, is corrected. to take a reliable position relative to the pins 32, 34, and therefore relative to the reference point of the basic structure of the vehicle, here the front wing 4. Thus the position of the sliding side opening defined by the position of the rail 12 relative to the frame 6 is corrected when the rail 12 is installed without requiring an additional retouching step.

[0068] [Fig. 5] also makes it notable that the two holes 38, 40 may have a different shape. The first hole 38 here has a shape complementary to the first pin 32, that is to say with an internal diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the first pin 32, by at most 0.5 mm, preferably at most 0.2 mm. The second hole 40 has an oblong shape. It should be noted that the oblong shape of the second hole 40 makes it possible to limit the formation of a hyperstatic system and makes it possible to correct a small dispersion generated by the automaton when securing the first pin 32 and the second pin 34 to the first face 28 of the frame 6. This oblong shape of the second hole 40 makes it possible, however, when the fixing means 24 does not yet extend through the positioning opening 42, to prevent the rotation of the positioning plate 26.

[0069] In the embodiment shown in [Fig. 5], the positioning plate comprises a tab 52 extending from the second zone 48 of the main body 44 to an end portion 54. When securing the positioning plate 26 to the frame 6, which will be described in more detail in connection with [Fig. 7], only the end portion 54 bears against the first face 28 of the frame 6 so that a space is formed between the tab 52 and the frame 6. This space can advantageously be used to allow electrical power supply cables to be held against the frame 6, by way of illustrative and non-limiting example. For example, the cable can be fixed to the tab 52 by means of a fixing clip.

[0070] [Fig. 7] illustrates a fourth step of the method of assembling the structure 2. During this fourth step, the fixing means 24, which extends through the positioning opening 42 following the completion of the second and third steps, is secured to the positioning plate 26. This securing is carried out, in the embodiment shown, by a securing element 56 formed here by a nut. It is understood that the fixing means 24 has a thread whose characteristics are complementary to those of a tapping made in the securing element 56.

[0071] The tightening of the securing element 56 around the fixing means and against the first face 28 of the frame 6 leads on the one hand to pressing the positioning plate 26 against the first face 28 of the frame 6 and on the other hand to pressing a part of the rail 12 against the second face 30 of the frame 6.

[0072] More specifically, this securing leads to the second zone 48 of the main body 44 of the positioning plate 26 bearing against the first face 28. The first zone 46 and the third zone 50 are at a short distance from the first face 28. Indeed, during the securing of the first pin 32 and the second pin 34 to the first face 28, a deposit of material is made at the junction of said pins 32, 34 with the frame 6. Also, the second zone 48 is inscribed in a plane which is offset relative to a plane in which the first zone 46 and the third zone 50 are inscribed. This offset makes it possible to constrain the positioning plate 26 against the first face 28 without the surplus material at the base of the pins 32, 34 preventing this pressing.

[0073] It is also noteworthy in [Fig.7] that holding means 58 are arranged to engage the pins 32, 34. These holding means 58 make it possible to keep the positioning plate 26 secured to said pins 32, 34.

[0074] These holding means 58 simply have the effect of preventing the positioning plate from disengaging from the pins during the assembly process, before the fourth step is completed. They are not necessary if the operator or the assembly tools ensure that the plate is correctly in position during the fourth step. These holding means 58 have the advantage of not imposing a chronology between the second step of the assembly process and the third step of the assembly process. In the alternative where the third step of the assembly process is carried out before the second step of the assembly process, the rail is positioned against the second face 30 of the frame while the positioning plate 26 is already in position against the first face 28 of the frame 6.Given that the positioning opening 42 has dimensions equivalent to those of the fixing means 24, smaller than those of the passage orifice 22, it is appropriate to prevent the positioning plate from being able to disengage from the pins 32, 34 if the fixing means 24 secured to the rail 12 strikes against the second zone 48 of the positioning plate after having passed through the passage orifice 22. In this context, as soon as the positioning plate is positioned against the first face 28 of the frame 6, the holding means 58 are then arranged on the first pin 32 and on the second pin 34 so as to hold the positioning plate 26 against the first face 28 of the frame 6. The second step of the assembly method can then be carried out without risking dislodging the first pin 32 and the second pin 34 from their respective hole 38, 40 of the positioning plate. 26. .

[0075] The present invention achieves the aim it set itself by proposing a method of assembling a structure of a vehicle making it possible to position the rail relative to a base element of the structure. This assembly method thus makes it possible to avoid implementing an additional step of retouching the position of the rail by means of a positioning plate correcting the position of the rail when it is installed.

[0076] The present invention cannot, however, be limited to the means and configurations described and illustrated here and it also extends to any equivalent means and configuration as well as to any technically effective combination of such means.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for assembling a structure (2) of a motor vehicle comprising at least one frame (6) configured to delimit a recess (10) of a sliding opening of the motor vehicle and at least one rail (12) secured to the frame (6) and configured to ensure at least the guidance of the sliding opening, the assembly method implementing at least: - a first step during which a first pin (32) and a second pin (34) are secured to a first face (28) of the frame (6), - a second step during which the rail (12), comprising a fixing means (24), is positioned, directly or indirectly, against a second face (30) of the frame (6), opposite the first face (28), so that the fixing means (24) extends through a passage orifice (22) formed in the frame (6), - a third step during which a positioning plate (26), comprising a first hole (38),a second hole (40) and a positioning opening (42), is positioned against the first face (28) of the frame (6) so that the first pin (32) extends through the first hole (38) and the second pin (34) extends through the second hole (40), the positioning opening (42) being aligned with the passage orifice (22), - a fourth step during which the fixing means (24), which extends through the positioning opening (42) following the completion of the second and third steps, is secured to the positioning plate (26).,

2. An assembly method according to claim 1, wherein the position of the fixing means (24) relative to the passage hole (22) is adjusted by means of the positioning opening (42) of the positioning plate (26).

3. Assembly method according to any one of claims 1 and 2, in which during a step prior to the first step, the first pin (32) and the second pin (34) are positioned on the first face (28) of the frame (6) relative to a reference point of a basic structural element (36) of the structure (2) of the motor vehicle.

4. Assembly method according to claim 3, in which the first pin (32) and the second pin (34) are positioned on the first face (28) of the frame (6) independently of the position of the passage orifice (22) relative to the basic structural element (36).

5. Positioning plate (26) for implementing the assembly method according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. Positioning plate (26) according to claim 5, in which the positioning opening (42) has a diameter complementary to the diameter of the fixing means (24).

7. A positioning plate (26) according to any one of claims 5 and 6, wherein the first hole (38) and the second hole (40) are arranged on either side of the positioning opening (42).

8. A positioning plate (26) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, comprising a tab (52) configured to hold electrical power supply cables.

9. Positioning plate (26) according to any one of claims 5 to 8, in which the first hole (38) has a shape complementary to the shape of the first pin (32).

10. A positioning plate according to any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein the second hole (40) has an oblong shape.

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