Assembly suspension means, production line, and vehicle production facility

Abstract

An assembly suspension 4 for a production line 1 includes a suspension track 3 for conveying vehicles 2 or vehicle bodies 7, with a carriage 8 by which assembly suspension 4 moves along track 3 while

Description

The present invention relates to an assembly suspension means for a production line comprising a suspension track for conveying vehicles or vehicle bodies accommodated in assembly suspension means according to the preamble of Claim 1. The invention also relates to a production line equipped with multiple assembly suspension means of said type, as well as a vehicle production facility comprising at least one production line of said kind. An assembly suspension means of this type is known from CN 104 590 428 A and comprises a carriage, via which the assembly suspension means is displaceable along the suspension track while suspended beneath the suspension track; a lift frame, which is attached beneath the carriage in a vertically adjustable manner by means of multiple lift devices which connect the lift frame to the carriage; a rotary unit, which is attached beneath the lift frame and is displaceable about a rotational axis extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the suspension means, and multiple retaining elements which are attached to the rotary unit in order to retain a vehicle or vehicle body on the rotary unit. In such an assembly suspension means of said type, the vehicle or vehicle body accommodated in the assembly suspension means is movable along the suspension track by means of the carriage along with the entire assembly suspension means by means of the lift frame in the vertical direction of the suspension means relative to the assembly suspension means, and thus the suspension track, and is rotatable by means of the rotary unit about the rotational axis relative to the assembly suspension means, and thus the suspension track. The respective lift device is formed by a strap in the assembly suspension means known from the aforementioned CN 104 590 428 A, whereby two straps are each associated with a common strap drive. Also provided is a scissor lift for stabilizing the unit consisting of the rotary unit and the lift frame, which scissor lift connects the lift frame to the rotary unit in a vertically adjustable manner. In the known assembly suspension means, the vertically adjustable connection between the rotary unit and the lift frame is thereby comparatively complex in addition to being comparatively prone to a pendulum effect, which affects the position of the vehicle or vehicle body in the longitudinal direction of the suspension means and in the transverse direction of the suspension means. A similar assembly suspension means is known from CN 110 435 788 A in which, in contrast to the assembly suspension means of said type, the rotary unit is attached to the lift frame in a vertically adjustable manner using a scissor lift designed as a lift device. The scissor lift comprises a corresponding scissor lift drive for this purpose. The construction of this assembly suspension means is also comparatively complex, and it generates a comparatively large pendulum effect. Known from JP 2009 083 953 A is an assembly apparatus for a production line comprising a guide track, the guide track comprising two guide rails extending vertically over one another, on which the assembly apparatus is laterally attached in a suspended manner. The associated carriage is in this case attached to the two guide rails via two horizontal supports and comprises two vertical supports which connect the two horizontal supports together. Arranged in each of these vertical supports is a spindle unit, via which a lift frame comprising a rotary unit that is laterally attached to the carriage is attached to the carriage in a vertically adjustable manner. In a production line with two parallel guide rails lying one over the other, a very small pendulum effect is achieved, but at a huge effort. Further arrangements comprising lift frames, in particular for vehicle production lines, are known from DE 199 29 443 A1, CN 106 428 300 A, and from DE 10 2017 102 930 A1. The present invention seeks to provide an improved or at least different embodiment for an assembly suspension means of the type described hereinabove, or for a production line equipped therewith, or for a vehicle production facility equipped therewith, which is characterized in particular by a minimal pendulum effect and a reasonable amount of effort. This may be achieved according to an aspect of the invention by the subject matter of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims. The invention is based on the general idea of designing each lift device as a spindle unit, the respective spindle unit comprising a spindle drive and at least one spindle rod, which is connected to the spindle drive in a driving manner. Such a spindle unit is significantly more rigid and stable than, e.g., a strap, which can significantly reduce the pendulum effect of the assembly suspension means during operation. At the same time, the cost of designing a lift device as a spindle unit is not or only marginally greater than the cost of designing the lift device as a strap in connection with the associated strap drive. According to one advantageous embodiment, the lift frame can be held on the carriage solely via the spindle units. In other words, this embodiment omits, e.g., a lift shear, which is necessary when using a lift device designed as a strap. In this respect, the construction effort is significantly reduced. According to one advantageous embodiment, the respective spindle unit can have the spindle drive secured to the carriage, while the respective spindle rod is secured to the lift frame. When raising the lift frame, the respective spindle rod is then raised as well, so that no interference contour is created in the area of the respective spindle drive beneath the lift frame. In another advantageous embodiment, the respective spindle unit can also comprise at least one guide rod, which extends parallel to the spindle rod, is secured to the lift frame, and is guided on the carriage and / or on the spindle drive. Using such a guide rod, the stability of the respective spindle unit is significantly improved, which also reduces the pendulum effect. In another embodiment, the respective spindle unit can comprise two parallel running spindle rods, both of which are drive-connected to the same spindle drive. This measure also leads to increased stability of the respective spindle unit, which reduces the pendulum effect. The drive connection of the common spindle drive with the two spindle rods can be performed via a transmission, for example. According to another embodiment, the lift frame can be rectangularly configured. Advantageously, exactly four spindle units can be provided, which are then each associated with a corner area of the rectangular lift frame. Doing so results in a stable support of the lift frame on the carriage, which reduces the pendulum effect. According to another advantageous embodiment, the carriage and lift frame can protrude forward and backward via the rotary unit in the suspension longitudinal direction. Furthermore, the spindle units can connect the carriage to the lift frame in the longitudinal direction of the suspension means in front of and behind the rotary unit. As a result, comparatively large lever arms are provided for the transmission of force between the lift frame and the carriage, which improves the stability of the assembly suspension means and reduces the pendulum effect in the longitudinal direction of the suspension means. This configuration can be conveniently achieved in the rectangular lift frame. According to another embodiment, the carriage can comprise an electromotive cart drive for propelling the suspended carriage along the suspension track. The assembly suspension means is thereby autonomous with regard to its drive along the suspension track. A production line according to an aspect of the invention for motor vehicles comprises multiple assembly suspension means of the type described hereinabove, as well as a suspension track on which the assembly suspension means are displaceable while suspended. Given the structure of the assembly suspension means according to aspects of the invention, the pendulum effect of said means is reduced, thus enabling greater positional accuracy of the assembly suspension means along the production line. A vehicle production facility according to an aspect of the invention comprises at least one production facility building in which at least one production line of the type described hereinabove is arranged. Further important features and advantages of the invention arise from the dependent claims, from the drawing, and from the accompanying figure description with reference to the drawing. It is understood that the features specified hereinabove and those yet to be explained hereinafter are usable not only in the respectively specified combination, but also in other combinations, or on their own, without departing the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. The components described hereinabove and referred to hereinafter of a higher-level unit, e.g., a device, an apparatus, or an assembly, which are designated separately, can constitute separate components of this unit, or integral regions or sections of this unit, even if shown differently in the drawing. Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are set forth in the drawing and will be explained in further detail in the description hereinafter, whereby identical reference characters refer to identical, similar, or functionally identical components. The only drawing, Fig. 1, shows an isometric view of a manufacturing line in the area of an assembly suspension means. According to Fig. 1, a production line 1 for motor vehicles 2 comprises a suspension track 3 and multiple assembly suspension means 4, of which only one can be seen in Fig. 1. The production line 1 is typically located in a production facility building 5 of a vehicle production facility 6 (not otherwise illustrated). The suspension track 3 is used to convey the vehicles 2 or vehicle bodies 7, which are accommodated in the assembly suspension means 4 for this purpose. Each assembly suspension means 4 is provided for transporting a vehicle 2 or a vehicle body 7. Such a suspension track 3, in which the assembly suspension means 4 are electrically driven for their displacement along the suspension track 3, is also referred to as an electrical suspension track (abbreviated as EHB). The respective assembly suspension means 4 comprises a carriage 8, via which the assembly suspension means 4 can be moved along the suspension track 3 suspended beneath the suspension track 3. The suspension track 3 is in this case formed by a single-lane rail or monorail and can be supported via multiple supports (not shown) on a substrate or floor of the production facility building 5. The assembly suspension means 4 also comprises a lift frame 9, which is attached to the lower side of the carriage 8 in a vertically adjustable manner using multiple lift devices 10. This vertical adjustability is indicated in Fig. 1 by a double arrow and is designated as 11. Each lift device 10 connects the lift frame 9 to the carriage 8. The assembly suspension means 4 defines a longitudinal direction X of the suspension means, a transverse direction Y of the suspension means, and a vertical direction Z of the suspension means. The longitudinal direction X of the suspension means extends parallel to the suspension track 3, at least in straight sections of the suspension track 3. The vertical direction Z of the suspension means extends parallel to the direction of gravity. The longitudinal direction X of the suspension means extends perpendicular to the vertical direction Z of the suspension means. The transverse direction Y of the suspension means extends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X of the suspension means and perpendicular to the vertical direction Z of the suspension means. The assembly suspension means 4 is also equipped with a rotary unit 12, which is displaceably attached to the lower of the lift frame 9 about a rotational axis 13 extending parallel to the longitudinal direction X of the suspension means. The rotational axis 13 extends substantially parallel to a vehicle longitudinal axis in the area of a centre of gravity of the vehicle 2 or vehicle body 7. The assembly suspension means 4 also comprises multiple retaining elements 14, which are attached to the rotary unit 12 and which are used to retain the vehicle 2 or vehicle body 7 on the rotary unit 12. In the view of Fig. 1, two such retaining elements 14 can be seen, which are located on the left side of the vehicle facing the viewer. It is clear that two such retaining elements 14 can also be arranged on the rearward right side of the vehicle on the rotary unit 12. Regarding the assembly suspension means 4, the vehicle 2 accommodated in the assembly suspension means 4, or rather the vehicle body 7 accommodated in the assembly suspension means 4, is displaceable by means of the carriage 8 along with the entire assembly suspension means 4 along the suspension track 3 by means of the lift frame 9 in the vertical direction Z of the suspension means relative to the assembly suspension means 4, and thus relative to the suspension track 3, and by means of the rotary unit 12 about the rotational axis 13 relative to the assembly suspension means 4, and thus relative to the suspension track 3. The respective lift device 10 is in each case formed by a spindle unit 15, which comprises a spindle drive 16 and at least one spindle rod 17, which is connected to the spindle drive 16 in a driving manner. In the example shown, exactly four lift devices 10, and thus also exactly four spindle units 15 are provided. Also in the example, the lift frame 9 is only held on the carriage 8 via the four spindle units 15. Regarding the respective spindle unit 15, in the embodiment shown herein the spindle drive 16 is secured to the carriage 8, while the respective spindle rod 17 is secured to the lift frame 9. In principle, however, an inverted configuration is also conceivable, in which the spindle drive 16 is secured to the lift frame 9, while the respective spindle rod 17 is secured to the carriage 8. In principle, the respective spindle unit 15 can also comprise at least one guide rod 18, which extends parallel to the spindle rod 17, is secured to the lift frame 9, and is guided on the carriage 8 and / or on the spindle drive 16. Additionally or alternatively, an embodiment is also possible in which the respective spindle unit 15 comprises two parallel spindle rods 17, both of which are connected to the spindle drive 16 in a driving manner. Both variants are shown in Fig. 1 herein, so the guide rod 18 can in principle also be the second or further spindle rod 17. It is understood that an embodiment comprising two spindle rods 17 and at least one additional guide rod 18 is also conceivable. The spindle drive 16 can, e.g., be drive-connected to both spindle rods 17 via a transmission 19. In the example in Fig. 1, the lift frame 9 is substantially rectangularly configured, whereby the longitudinal direction of the rectangular lift frame 9 extends parallel to the longitudinal direction X of the suspension means. If exactly four spindle units 15 are provided, then they are each associated with a corner area of the rectangular lift frame 9. This results in maximum lever arms and an ideal stiffening of the assembly suspension means 4. In the example in Fig. 1, the carriage 8 and the lift frame 9 each extend forward and rearward beyond the rotary unit 12 in the longitudinal direction X of the suspension means. Doing so results in large lever arms within the assembly suspension means 4 being provided with respect to the longitudinal direction X of the suspension means, which provide stabilization of the assembly suspension means 4. The carriage 8 can comprise an electromotive cart drive 20, which is used to drive the carriage 8 suspended on the suspension track 3 along the suspension track 3. In the example shown, the rotary drive 12 comprises two rotary brackets 21, which are configured as semi-circles and arranged parallel to one another and on which the retaining elements 14 are arranged. The rotary brackets 21 are in this case at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction X of the suspension means. The rotary unit 12 can conveniently have an electric rotary drive 22 with which the rotary brackets 21 can be rotated relative to the lift frame 9 about the rotational axis 13.

Claims

1. An assembly suspension means for a production line, comprising a suspension track for conveying vehicles or vehicle bodies accommodated in assembly suspension means,- having a carriage, via which the assembly suspension means is displaceable along the suspension track while suspended beneath the suspension track,- having a lift frame which is attached beneath the carriage in a vertically adjustable manner by means of multiple lift devices, which connect the lift frame to the carriage,- having a rotary unit which is displaceably attached beneath the lift frame about a rotational axis extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the suspension means,- having multiple retaining elements attached to the rotary unit in order to retain a vehicle or a vehicle body on the rotary unit,wherein- the respective lift device is formed by a spindle unit, which comprises a spindle drive and at least one spindle rod, which is connected to the spindle drive in a driving manner.

2. The assembly suspension means according to Claim 1, wherein- the lift frame is retained on the carriage only via the spindle units.

3. The assembly suspension means according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein- in the case of the respective spindle unit, the spindle drive is secured to the carriage, while the respective spindle rod is secured to the lift frame.

4. The assembly suspension means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein- the respective spindle unit also comprises at least one guide rod, which extends parallel to the spindle rod, is secured to the lift frame, and is guided on the carriage and / or on the spindle drive.

5. The assembly suspension means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein- the respective spindle unit comprises two parallel spindle rods, both of which are connected to the spindle drive in a driving manner.

6. The assembly suspension means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein- the lift frame is rectangularly configured,- exactly four spindle units are provided, each being associated with a comer area of the rectangular lift frame.

7. The assembly suspension means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein- the carriage and the lift frame protrude forward and backward via the rotary unit in the longitudinal direction of the suspension means,- the spindle units connect the carriage to the lift frame in the longitudinal direction of the suspension means in front of and behind the rotary unit.

8. The assembly suspension means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein- the carriage comprises an electric motorized cart drive for driving the carriage suspended on the suspension track along the suspension track.

9. A production line for motor vehicles:- having multiple assembly suspension means according to any one of the preceding claims,- having a suspension track on which the assembly suspension means are displaceable while suspended.

10. A vehicle production facility having at least one production facility building in which at least one production line according to Claim 9 is arranged.