Vehicle assembly line and vehicle assembly method

Abstract

A vehicle assembly line and a vehicle assembly method. The vehicle assembly line comprises: a first overturning station (611) where first overturning is performed on a chassis; a production and conveying device (612) located on the ground and used for receiving the overturned chassis and conveying same; a second overturning station (619) located on the production and conveying device (612), along a conveying path of the production and conveying device (612), the second overturning station (619) being located behind the first overturning station (611), and performing second overturning on the chassis at the second overturning station; a rear axle assembly station (616); and a front axle assembly station (617).

Description

Automobile assembly line and automobile assembly method

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 2023108036443, filed on June 30, 2023, entitled “Automobile Assembly Line and Automobile Assembly Method,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Technical field

[0002] The present application relates to the field of automobile production, and in particular to an automobile assembly line and an automobile assembly method. [Background Technology]

[0003] With the development of technology, automobile assembly, especially electric vehicle assembly, has become increasingly intelligent, and can often be completed on a single production line. However, the existing automobile assembly process requires the coordination of ground conveyor lines and overhead conveyor lines to complete the assembly of the car.

[0004] However, the construction period of overhead conveyor lines is long and the investment cost is high.

[0005] [Summary of the invention]

[0006] The present application provides an automobile assembly line and an automobile assembly method, which can solve the problems of long construction period and high investment cost of overhead conveyor lines.

[0007] In order to solve the above technical problems, a technical solution adopted in the present application is: to provide an automobile assembly line, which includes: a first flipping station, where the chassis is flipped for the first time; a production conveying device, located on the ground, receiving the flipped chassis and transporting it; a second flipping station, located on the production conveying device, and behind the first flipping station along the transportation path of the production conveying device, where the chassis is flipped for the second time; a rear axle assembly station, located on the production conveying device, arranged between the first flipping station and the second flipping station, where the rear axle components are assembled on the chassis; a front axle assembly station, located on the production conveying device, arranged between the first flipping station and the second flipping station, where the front axle components are assembled on the chassis.

[0008] By flipping the chassis for the first time before assembling the front axle components and the rear axle components to the chassis, the chassis can be put into an inverted state. When assembling the front axle components and the rear axle components, there is no need to lift the chassis, so the overhead conveyor line can be eliminated, shortening the construction period of the automobile assembly line, reducing costs, and being suitable for the rapid introduction of chassis products.

[0009] In some embodiments, the automobile assembly line further includes a first assembly station located on the production conveyor device, and along the transport path of the production conveyor device, the rear axle assembly station and the front axle assembly station are located between the first assembly station and the second flipping station.

[0010] The first assembly station can be used to configure some other front-end components, further avoiding the use of overhead conveyor lines and ensuring that the chassis assembly can be completed through ground transportation.

[0011] In some embodiments, the automobile assembly line further includes a second assembly station located on the production conveyor device, and along the transport path of the production conveyor device, the rear axle assembly station and the front axle assembly station are located between the second assembly station and the first assembly station.

[0012] After the front axle components and the rear axle components are assembled, other components that are more convenient to assemble by turning the chassis over can be assembled on the chassis, further avoiding the use of overhead conveyor lines and ensuring that the chassis assembly can be completed by ground transportation.

[0013] In some embodiments, the automobile assembly line further includes a third assembly station located on the production conveyor device and behind the second flipping station along the transportation path of the production conveyor device.

[0014] Some parts that are suitable for assembly when the chassis is placed in the forward direction can be assembled after the chassis is turned over a second time, thereby reducing the complexity of assembly.

[0015] In some embodiments, the production conveyor is a loop line.

[0016] This setting method can ensure that the production conveying device is always working, making it easier to manage.

[0017] In some embodiments, the automobile assembly line further includes a chassis storage line, the first flipping station is located on the chassis storage line, and the chassis storage line is connected to the starting point of the production conveying device; wherein, the chassis storage line is used to store and convey the chassis.

[0018] This arrangement can facilitate control of the time and frequency of chassis entering the production conveyor device, thereby preventing chassis from piling up and clogging on the production conveyor device.

[0019] In some embodiments, the chassis is integrated with a battery.

[0020] By integrating the battery into the chassis, the operation process is simplified.

[0021] In some embodiments, the battery is integrated onto the chassis at the first assembly station or the second assembly station.

[0022] By integrating the battery on the chassis at the first assembly station or the second assembly station, the station utilization rate is improved.

[0023] In some embodiments, the automobile assembly line also includes: a rear axle assembly line, which is set on the ground and assembles rear axle components; a front axle assembly line, which is set on the ground and assembles front axle components; wherein the production conveying device, and / or between the rear axle assembly line and the rear axle assembly station, and / or between the front axle assembly line and the front axle assembly station, transports components through intelligent carts and / or ground conveyor lines.

[0024] By using intelligent trolleys and / or ground conveyor lines, the conveying process can be simplified.

[0025] In order to solve the above technical problems, another technical solution adopted in the present application is: to provide an automobile assembly method, which includes the following steps: flipping the chassis for the first time; assembling the front axle components; assembling the rear axle components; assembling the integrated front axle components on the chassis; assembling the integrated rear axle components on the chassis; and flipping the chassis assembled with the front axle components and the rear axle components for a second time.

[0026] By flipping the chassis for the first time before assembling the front axle components and the rear axle components to the chassis, the chassis can be put into an inverted state. When assembling the front axle components and the rear axle components, there is no need to lift the chassis, so the overhead conveyor line can be eliminated, shortening the construction period of the automobile assembly line, reducing costs, and being suitable for the rapid introduction of chassis products.

[0027] In some embodiments, after the step of flipping the chassis for the first time, the method further includes: installing a bottom oil pipe, a wiring harness, or a front cabin bracket of the chassis to the chassis.

[0028] The bottom oil pipe, wiring harness and front cabin bracket can be directly installed after the chassis is turned over. It is convenient and quick and does not require overhead conveyor lines.

[0029] In some embodiments, before the step of flipping the chassis equipped with the front axle component and the rear axle component for a second time, the step further includes: installing a bottom guard plate, a front end module or a heat pump module to the chassis equipped with the front axle component and the rear axle component.

[0030] After the chassis is turned over, the bottom guard plate, front-end module and heat pump module can be installed directly, which is convenient and quick and does not require overhead conveyor lines.

[0031] In some embodiments, after the step of flipping the chassis equipped with the front axle component and the rear axle component for a second time, the method further includes: installing a control module and tires on the chassis after the second flip.

[0032] The control module and the tires are difficult to install after the chassis is flipped for the first time, but are easy to install after the chassis is flipped for the second time.

[0033] In some embodiments, after the chassis is turned over for the first time, the chassis is transported using a circulating production conveyor device, which is located on the ground.

[0034] According to this embodiment, the production conveying device can be kept working, which is convenient for management.

[0035] In some embodiments, after the step of flipping the chassis for the first time, the method further includes: transporting the flipped chassis to the production conveying device.

[0036] This implementation can facilitate control of the time and frequency of chassis entering the production conveying device, thereby preventing chassis from piling up and clogging on the production conveying device.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0037] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. Those skilled in the art can also derive other drawings based on these drawings without inventive work, among which:

[0038] FIG1 is a schematic structural diagram of a vehicle according to some embodiments;

[0039] FIG2 is an exploded schematic diagram of a battery according to some embodiments;

[0040] FIG3 is an exploded schematic diagram of a battery according to some embodiments;

[0041] FIG4 is a schematic structural diagram of an automobile assembly line according to some embodiments;

[0042] FIG5 is a flow chart of a method of assembling an automobile according to some embodiments.

[0043] Marking Description:

[0044] Vehicle 1, battery 10, battery cell 20, controller 30, motor 40;

[0045] Box body 11, cover body 111, box shell 112, bottom plate 112a, electrical cavity 11a, converging component 12, support beam 114;

[0046] First flipping station 611, production conveying device 612, rear axle subassembly line 613, front axle subassembly line 614, first assembly station 615, rear axle assembly station 616, front axle assembly station 617, second assembly station 618, second flipping station 619, third assembly station 620, chassis storage line 621. [Specific implementation method]

[0047] To make the purpose, technical solutions, and advantages of this application more clear, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing multiple embodiments of this application. It should be understood that the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of this application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments described in this application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without expending creative work will fall within the scope of protection of this application.

[0048] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meanings as commonly understood by one skilled in the art to which this application belongs. The terms used in this application's specification and claims are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and are not intended to limit this application. The terms "including," "comprising," "having," "having," "containing," and "containing" in the specification and claims of this application and the accompanying drawings are open-ended terms. Thus, "including," "comprising," and "having" refer, for example, to a method or apparatus having one or more steps or elements, but are not limited to having only those one or more elements. The terms "first," "second," and "first" in the specification and claims of this application and the accompanying drawings are used to distinguish between different objects, not to describe a specific order or priority. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed to indicate or imply relative importance or to implicitly specify the number of the technical features indicated. Thus, a feature designated "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. Throughout this application, unless otherwise specified, "plurality" means two or more.

[0049] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "lateral", "length", "width", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" and the like indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as a limitation on the present application.

[0050] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," "connected," and "attached" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they may refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they may refer to direct connections, indirect connections through an intermediate medium, or internal connections between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this application based on specific circumstances.

[0051] References to "embodiments" in this application mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor does it refer to independent or alternative embodiments that are mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It is understood, both explicitly and implicitly, by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described in this application may be combined with other embodiments.

[0052] As mentioned above, it should be emphasized that when the term "include / comprises" is used in this specification, it is used to clearly indicate the presence of the features, integers, steps or components, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups of features, integers, steps, components. As used in this application, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" also include the plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0053] The terms "a" and "an" used in this specification may mean one, but may also have the same meaning as "at least one" or "one or more." The term "about" generally means plus or minus 10%, or more specifically, plus or minus 5%, of the referenced value. The term "or" used in the claims means "and / or" unless it is expressly stated that it refers only to alternatives.

[0054] The term "and / or" in this application simply describes an association between related objects, indicating that three possible relationships exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the character " / " in this application generally indicates that the related objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0055] Batteries mentioned in this field can be categorized as either primary batteries or rechargeable batteries, depending on whether they are rechargeable. Primary batteries are also called "disposable" batteries or primary batteries because once they are depleted, they cannot be recharged and must be discarded. Rechargeable batteries are also called secondary batteries, secondary batteries, or storage batteries. Rechargeable batteries are manufactured using different materials and processes than primary batteries. Their advantage is that they can be reused multiple times after charging, and their output current capacity is higher than that of most primary batteries. Common types of rechargeable batteries include lead-acid batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, sodium-ion batteries, and lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries offer advantages such as light weight, high capacity (1.5 to 2 times that of nickel-metal hydride batteries of the same weight), no memory effect, and a very low self-discharge rate. Consequently, despite their relatively high price, they are widely used. Lithium-ion batteries are also widely used in pure electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles. While the capacity of lithium-ion batteries used for these applications is relatively low, they offer higher output, higher charging current, and a longer service life, albeit at a higher cost.

[0056] The batteries described in the embodiments of this application are either rechargeable batteries or disposable batteries. The embodiments disclosed herein will be described primarily using lithium-ion batteries as an example. It should be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein are applicable to any other appropriate type of rechargeable battery. The batteries described in the embodiments disclosed herein can be used directly or indirectly in appropriate devices to power such devices.

[0057] The battery mentioned in the embodiments disclosed in this application refers to a single physical module that includes one or more battery cells to provide a predetermined voltage and capacity. For example, the battery mentioned in this application may include a battery module or a battery pack, etc. The battery cell is the basic unit in the battery, and can generally be divided into: cylindrical battery cells, square battery cells and soft-pack battery cells according to the packaging method. The following will mainly focus on square battery cells. It should be understood that the embodiments described below are also applicable to cylindrical battery cells or soft-pack battery cells in some aspects.

[0058] In existing automobile assembly lines, especially those that use chassis, the chassis often needs to be hoisted into the air before assembly can proceed. This is especially true for front and rear axle components. When assembling the front and rear axle components onto the chassis, the chassis needs to be hoisted before assembly can proceed. However, hoisting the chassis requires the cooperation of some aerial conveyor lines, such as aerial hoists and related conveyor lines. These devices need to be installed in the air, so they have higher construction requirements when constructing automobile assembly lines, and also increase the investment capital and construction period. Furthermore, when operating these aerial hoists, etc., greater caution is required, as safety issues are prone to occur.

[0059] To address the long construction period and high investment costs of overhead conveyor lines, which make them unsuitable for the rapid introduction of chassis products, the chassis can be flipped in advance. This allows the bottom of the chassis to face upward, facilitating the assembly of most components mounted on the chassis bottom. For example, the front and rear axle components can be assembled directly without lifting the chassis to expose the bottom. Therefore, flipping the chassis before assembling the front and rear axle components eliminates the overhead conveyor line, shortening the construction period of the automobile assembly line, reducing costs, and making it suitable for the rapid introduction of chassis products.

[0060] Based on the above considerations, in order to solve the problems of the existing overhead conveyor line having a long construction period, high investment cost, and being unsuitable for the rapid introduction of chassis products, an automobile assembly line and an automobile assembly method were designed.

[0061] For example, as shown in FIG1 , this figure is a simplified schematic diagram of a vehicle 1 according to some embodiments. The vehicle 1 may be a fuel vehicle, a gas vehicle, or a new energy vehicle. The new energy vehicle may be a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or an extended-range vehicle, etc. A battery 10 may be provided inside the vehicle 1, for example, at the bottom, front, or rear of the vehicle 1. The battery 10 may be used to power the vehicle 1, for example, the battery 10 may serve as an operating power source for the vehicle 1. The vehicle 1 may also include a controller 30 and a motor 40. The controller 30 is used to control the power provided by the battery 10 to the motor 40, for example, to meet the power requirements for starting, navigating, and driving the vehicle 1. In another embodiment of the present application, the battery 10 may not only serve as an operating power source for the vehicle 1, but may also serve as a driving power source for the vehicle 1, replacing or partially replacing fuel or natural gas to provide driving power for the vehicle 1. The battery 10 referred to hereinafter may also be understood as a battery pack comprising a plurality of battery cells 20.

[0062] Figures 2 and 3 respectively illustrate exploded views of a battery 10 according to some embodiments. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the battery 10 includes a plurality of battery cells 20 and a busbar 12 for electrically connecting the plurality of battery cells 20. To protect the battery cells 20 from external liquids or foreign matter, the battery 10 includes a housing 11 that encloses the plurality of battery cells and other necessary components, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. In some embodiments, the housing 11 may include a cover 111 and a housing 112. The battery 10 may also include a support beam 114 extending between the cover 111 and the housing 112. The support beam 114 may extend from the bottom plate 112a of the housing 112 toward the cover 111 in a direction perpendicular to the bottom plate 112a. The cover 111 and the housing 112 are sealed together to enclose an electrical cavity 11a for accommodating the plurality of battery cells 20. In other embodiments, the cover 111 and the housing 112 may be assembled together in a non-sealed manner.

[0063] As shown in Figure 4, Figure 4 is a structural schematic diagram of an automobile assembly line according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, the automobile assembly line includes a first flipping station 611, a production conveying device 612, a rear axle sub-assembly line 613, a front axle sub-assembly line 614, a rear axle assembly station 616, a front axle assembly station 617 and a second flipping station 619. The chassis is flipped for the first time at the first flipping station 611. The production conveying device 612 is located on the ground, receives the flipped chassis and transports it. The rear axle sub-assembly line 613 is set on the ground to assemble the rear axle components. The front axle sub-assembly line 614 is set on the ground to assemble the front axle components. The rear axle sub-assembly line 613 and the front axle sub-assembly line 614 are both adjacent to or connected to the production conveying device 612. The rear axle subassembly line 613 and the front axle subassembly line 614 can also be independent of the production conveying device 612. After the rear axle components and the front axle components are assembled, they are transported to the production conveying device 612 by mechanical or manual means. The second flipping station 619 is located on the production conveying device 612. Along the transportation path of the production conveying device 612, the second flipping station 619 is located behind the first flipping station 611, where the chassis is flipped a second time. The rear axle assembly station 616 is located on the production conveying device 612, and is arranged between the first flipping station 611 and the second flipping station 619, adjacent to the rear axle subassembly line 613, where the rear axle components are assembled on the chassis. The front axle assembly station 617 is located on the production conveying device 612, and is arranged between the first flipping station 611 and the second flipping station 619, adjacent to the front axle subassembly line 614, where the front axle components are assembled on the chassis.

[0064] The chassis is preferably a chassis with an integrated battery. The battery is, for example, the battery described in the above embodiment. When the battery is integrated into the chassis, a chassis is formed, or it is called an integrated pure electric intelligent chassis. This battery will serve as a power battery to provide power for other components on the car. The first flipping station 611 is used to flip the chassis for the first time so that its bottom is facing upward. The bottom of the chassis can be understood as the side of the chassis facing the ground when the car is assembled and driving. In some embodiments, a flipping machine can be used to flip the chassis. The production conveying device 612 is a transport line that can transport equipment such as the chassis, driving the chassis and other equipment to move along a preset path, thereby realizing the assembly of the chassis at various locations. In the rear axle assembly line 613, for example, the rear subframe, connecting rod, shock absorber, motor, gearbox, steering components, and brake components are assembled, corresponding to some components of the rear half of the car, collectively referred to as rear axle components. On the front axle assembly line 614, for example, the front subframe, connecting rods, shock absorbers, motor, gearbox, steering components, and brake components are assembled. These components correspond to the front half of the vehicle and are collectively referred to as the front axle components. Assembling the rear axle components and the front axle components first saves time in assembling them onto the chassis. Rear axle assembly station 616 is used to assemble the rear axle components onto the chassis, while front axle assembly station 617 is used to assemble the front axle components onto the chassis. Assembly can be performed manually, mechanically, or robotically. Rear axle assembly station 616 and front axle assembly station 617 can share a fixed location, with the portion of the production conveyor 612 that moves to this location being the rear axle assembly station 616 or the front axle assembly station 617. Alternatively, the rear axle assembly station 616 and the front axle assembly station 617 can be fixed stations, with the production conveyor 612 passing through either the rear axle assembly station 616 or the front axle assembly station 617. There may be one or more rear axle assembly stations 616 and / or front axle assembly stations 617. The transport path of the production conveyor 612 is the transport path of the chassis on the production conveyor 612.

[0065] By flipping the chassis for the first time before assembling the front axle components and the rear axle components to the chassis, the chassis can be put into an inverted state. When assembling the front axle components and the rear axle components, there is no need to lift the chassis, so the overhead conveyor line can be eliminated, shortening the construction period of the automobile assembly line, reducing costs, and being suitable for the rapid introduction of chassis products.

[0066] In some embodiments, the automobile assembly line also includes a first assembly station 615, which is located on the production conveyor 612. Along the transportation path of the production conveyor 612, the rear axle assembly line 613 and the front axle assembly line 614 are located between the first assembly station 615 and the second flipping station 619.

[0067] Components such as the bottom fuel pipe, wiring harness, and front cabin bracket can be assembled at the first assembly station 615. This is the station through which the chassis passes after being transported by the production conveyor 612. Similarly, there can be one or more first assembly stations 615, each performing separate assembly of components such as the bottom fuel pipe, wiring harness, and front cabin bracket.

[0068] Some other pre-assembly components can be configured in the first assembly station 615, further avoiding the use of an overhead conveyor line and ensuring that the chassis assembly can be completed through ground transportation.

[0069] In some embodiments, the automobile assembly line also includes a second assembly station 618, which is located on the production conveyor 612. Along the transportation path of the production conveyor 612, the rear axle assembly line 613 and the front axle assembly line 614 are located between the second assembly station 618 and the first assembly station 615.

[0070] The second assembly station 618 can be used to assemble components such as the bottom guard plate, front-end module, and heat pump module. After being transported by the production conveyor 612, the chassis first passes through the first assembly station 615, then passes through the rear axle assembly station 616 and the front axle assembly station 617, and then passes through the second assembly station 618. Because the components assembled at the second assembly station 618 require the rear axle components and the front axle components to be assembled before they can be assembled. Similarly, there can be one or more second assembly stations 618, which respectively assemble different components such as the bottom guard plate, front-end module, and heat pump module. After passing through the second assembly station 618, it will enter the second flipping station 619 to flip the chassis a second time so that its bottom surface faces the ground.

[0071] After the front axle components and the rear axle components are assembled, other components that are more convenient to assemble by turning the chassis over can be assembled on the chassis, further avoiding the use of overhead conveyor lines and ensuring that the chassis assembly can be completed by ground transportation.

[0072] In some embodiments, the automobile assembly line further includes a third assembly station 620 located on the production conveyor 612 . The third assembly station 620 is located behind the second flipping station 619 along the transportation path of the production conveyor 612 .

[0073] After the chassis passes through the second turning station 619, it enters the third assembly station 620. At this station, components such as the control module and tires can be assembled and tested. After passing through this station, all components required for assembly to the chassis are assembled to the outer walls and tested before being removed from the production conveyor 612. There can be one or more third assembly stations 620, each performing separate tasks such as assembly of the control module and tires and related testing.

[0074] Some parts that are suitable for assembly when the chassis is placed in the forward direction can be assembled after the chassis is turned over a second time, thereby reducing the complexity of assembly.

[0075] In some embodiments, production conveyor 612 is a loop line.

[0076] The circulation route is a path where the production conveying device 612 is connected end to end to form a loop.

[0077] This arrangement allows the production conveying device 612 to operate all the time, making management easier.

[0078] In some embodiments, the automobile assembly line also includes a chassis storage line 621, which serves as a transport line for storing chassis. The first turning station 611 is located on the chassis storage line 621, which is connected to the starting point of the production conveyor 612. After the batteries are integrated into the chassis to form a chassis, they can be placed on the chassis storage line 621. When needed, the chassis is then transported from the chassis storage line 621 to the production conveyor 612.

[0079] This arrangement can facilitate control of the time and frequency of chassis entering the production conveying device 612 , thereby preventing chassis from piling up and clogging on the production conveying device 612 .

[0080] In some embodiments, the chassis has a battery integrated therein.

[0081] A battery is a single physical unit that includes one or more cells to provide a predetermined voltage and capacity. It can include battery modules or battery packs.

[0082] By integrating the battery into the chassis early on, the assembly process is simplified.

[0083] In some embodiments, the assembly of the battery integrated into the chassis may also be arranged at the first assembly station 615 or the second assembly station 618 .

[0084] By integrating the battery on the chassis at the first assembly station or the second assembly station, the station utilization rate is improved and the need to add additional stations for assembling the battery is eliminated.

[0085] In some embodiments, the production conveying device 612, and / or the rear axle subassembly line 613 and the rear axle assembly station 616, and / or the front axle subassembly line 614 and the front axle assembly station 617 are connected by an intelligent trolley and / or a ground conveyor line.

[0086] The smart car is a car that can perform intelligent navigation. After setting a route, it can travel along the route and transport the chassis or other components to the designated location. For example, the smart car can transport the rear axle components from the rear axle subassembly line 613 to the rear axle assembly station 616, transport the front axle components from the front axle subassembly line 614 to the front axle assembly station 617, and transport the chassis from the chassis storage line 621 to the production conveyor device 612. Alternatively, the production conveyor device 612 includes multiple smart cars, and the smart cars realize the transportation of the chassis. The ground conveyor line is a conveyor line laid on the ground, which can be a conveyor belt, a conveyor roller, etc. For example, it can be in the form of a plate chain slide conveyor line, a skateboard conveyor line, or a roller conveyor line or a roller conveyor line. The roller conveyor line is mainly composed of a series of standard roller beds arranged in a row to form a roller conveyor line. The roller conveyor line generally transports a slide, and the slide carries the product to be transported. The roller conveyor line is composed of rollers, which are generally continuous and can directly transport products or pallets.

[0087] By using intelligent trolleys and / or ground conveyor lines, the conveying process can be simplified.

[0088] As shown in FIG5 , FIG5 is a flow chart of an automobile assembly method according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, the automobile assembly method includes: in S11, performing a first flip of the chassis. In S12, assembling the front axle components. In S13, assembling the rear axle components. In S14, assembling the integrated front axle components onto the chassis. In S15, assembling the integrated rear axle components onto the chassis. In S16, flipping the chassis with the assembled front and rear axle components for a second time.

[0089] As can be seen from the figure, steps S11, S12, and S13 are independent of each other and do not interfere with each other, nor is there a problem with the order of the steps. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the order of steps S14 and S15 can be swapped without affecting the implementation of the present application. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the step of manufacturing the chassis may be included before S11.

[0090] By flipping the chassis for the first time before assembling the front axle components and the rear axle components to the chassis, the chassis can be put into an inverted state. When assembling the front axle components and the rear axle components, there is no need to lift the chassis, so the overhead conveyor line can be eliminated, shortening the construction period of the automobile assembly line, reducing costs, and being suitable for the rapid introduction of chassis products.

[0091] In some embodiments, after the step of turning the chassis over for the first time in step S11, the process further includes installing the bottom oil pipe, wiring harness, and front cabin bracket on the chassis. This step is preferably performed before S14 and S15.

[0092] The bottom oil pipe, wiring harness and front cabin bracket can be directly installed after the chassis is turned over. It is convenient and quick and does not require overhead conveyor lines.

[0093] In some embodiments, before step S16: performing a second flip of the chassis with the front and rear axle components assembled thereon, the further step includes installing a bottom guard plate, a front end module, and a heat pump module on the chassis with the front and rear axle components assembled thereon. This step is preferably performed after S14 and S15, as the bottom guard plate, front end module, and heat pump module can be installed after the front and rear axle components are assembled.

[0094] After the chassis is turned over, the bottom guard plate, front-end module and heat pump module can be installed directly, which is convenient and quick and does not require overhead conveyor lines.

[0095] In some embodiments, after the step S16 of flipping the chassis equipped with the front axle components and the rear axle components for the second time, the method further includes: installing a control module and tires on the chassis after the second flip.

[0096] The control module and the tires are difficult to install after the chassis is flipped for the first time, but are easy to install after the chassis is flipped for the second time.

[0097] In some embodiments, after the chassis is turned over for the first time, a circulating production conveying device is used to transport the chassis, and the production conveying device is located on the ground. The production conveying device is, for example, the production conveying device in the above embodiment.

[0098] According to this embodiment, the production conveying device can be kept working, which is convenient for management.

[0099] In some embodiments, after the step of flipping the chassis for the first time, the method further includes: transporting the flipped chassis to a production conveying device.

[0100] This implementation can facilitate control of the time and frequency of chassis entering the production conveying device, thereby preventing chassis from piling up and clogging on the production conveying device.

[0101] In some specific application scenarios, in order to address the problems of long construction period and high investment cost of overhead conveyor lines, the automobile assembly line of the present application includes a first flipping station, a production conveying device, a first assembly station, a rear axle subassembly line, a front axle subassembly line, a rear axle assembly station, a front axle assembly station, a second assembly station, a second flipping station and a third assembly station. The chassis is flipped for the first time at the first flipping station. The production conveying device is located on the ground, receives the flipped chassis and transports it. The first assembly station is located on the production conveying device, and along the transportation path of the production conveying device, the rear axle subassembly line and the front axle subassembly line are located between the first assembly station and the second flipping station. The rear axle subassembly line is set on the ground to assemble the rear axle components. The front axle subassembly line is set on the ground to assemble the front axle components. The rear axle subassembly line and the front axle subassembly line are both adjacent to or connected to the production conveying device. The rear axle subassembly line and the front axle subassembly line can be independent of the production conveying device. After the rear axle components and the front axle components are assembled, they are transported to the production conveying device by mechanical or manual means. The second assembly station is located on the production conveying device. Along the transportation path of the production conveying device, the rear axle subassembly line and the front axle subassembly line are located between the second assembly station and the first assembly station. The rear axle assembly station is located on the production conveying device, arranged between the first flipping station and the second flipping station, adjacent to the rear axle subassembly line, where the rear axle components are assembled on the chassis. The front axle assembly station is located on the production conveying device, arranged between the first flipping station and the second flipping station, adjacent to the front axle subassembly line, where the front axle components are assembled on the chassis. The second flipping station is located on the production conveying device, along the transportation path of the production conveying device, the second flipping station is located behind the first flipping station, where the chassis is flipped a second time. The third assembly station is located on the production conveying device, along the transportation path of the production conveying device, the third assembly station is located behind the second flipping station.

[0102] By flipping the chassis for the first time before assembling the front axle components and the rear axle components to the chassis, the chassis can be put into an inverted state. When assembling the front axle components and the rear axle components, there is no need to lift the chassis, so the overhead conveyor line can be eliminated, shortening the construction period of the automobile assembly line, reducing costs, and being suitable for the rapid introduction of chassis products.

[0103] The above description is only an implementation method of the present application and does not limit the patent scope of the present application. Any equivalent structure or equivalent process transformation made using the contents of the description and drawings of this application, or directly or indirectly applied in other related technical fields, are also included in the patent protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. An automobile assembly line, characterized in that: The automobile assembly line comprises: The first turning station, where the chassis is turned over for the first time; A production conveying device, located on the ground, receives the flipped chassis and transports it; A second flipping station is located on the production conveying device and along the transportation path of the production conveying device. The second flipping station is located behind the first flipping station, where the chassis is flipped for the second time; A rear axle assembly station, located on the production conveyor device, disposed between the first flipping station and the second flipping station, where the rear axle components are assembled on the chassis; The front axle assembly station is located on the production conveying device and is arranged between the first flipping station and the second flipping station, where the front axle components are assembled on the chassis.

2. The automobile assembly line according to claim 1, characterized in that: The automobile assembly line also includes a first assembly station located on the production conveying device. Along the transportation path of the production conveying device, the rear axle assembly station and the front axle assembly station are located between the first assembly station and the second flipping station.

3. The automobile assembly line according to claim 2, characterized in that: The automobile assembly line also includes a second assembly station located on the production conveyor device. Along the transportation path of the production conveyor device, the rear axle assembly station and the front axle assembly station are located between the second assembly station and the first assembly station.

4. The automobile assembly line according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The automobile assembly line also includes a third assembly station located on the production conveying device and behind the second flipping station along the transportation path of the production conveying device.

5. The automobile assembly line according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The production and conveying device is a circulation line.

6. The automobile assembly line according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The automobile assembly line also includes a chassis storage line, the first flipping station is located on the chassis storage line, and the chassis storage line is connected to the starting point of the production conveying device; wherein, the chassis storage line is used to store and convey the chassis.

7. The automobile assembly line according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The chassis is integrated with a battery.

8. The automobile assembly line according to claim 3, characterized in that: The battery is integrated into the chassis at the first assembly station or the second assembly station.

9. The automobile assembly line according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The automobile assembly line also includes: The rear axle sub-assembly line is set up on the ground to assemble the rear axle components; The front axle subassembly line is set up on the ground to assemble the front axle components; Among them, the production conveying device, and / or, between the rear axle subassembly line and the rear axle assembly station, and / or, between the front axle subassembly line and the front axle assembly station, transports parts through intelligent vehicles and / or ground conveyor lines.

10. A method for assembling an automobile, characterized in that: The automobile assembly method comprises the following steps: Flip the chassis for the first time; Assemble the front axle components; Assemble the rear axle components; Assembling the integrated front axle components on the chassis; Assembling the integrated rear axle components on the chassis; The chassis assembled with the front axle component and the rear axle component is turned over for a second time.

11. The automobile assembly method according to claim 10, characterized in that: After the step of turning over the chassis for the first time, the method further comprises: Install the bottom fuel line, wiring harness, or front compartment bracket to the chassis.

12. The automobile assembly method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that: Before the step of flipping the chassis equipped with the front axle component and the rear axle component for the second time, the method further includes: An underbody guard, a front end module or a heat pump module is mounted to a chassis equipped with the front axle component and the rear axle component.

13. The automobile assembly method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that: After the step of flipping the chassis equipped with the front axle component and the rear axle component for the second time, the method further includes: Install the control module and tires onto the chassis after the second flip.

14. The automobile assembly method according to any one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that: After the chassis has been turned over for the first time, the chassis is transported using a circulating production conveyor device, which is located on the ground.

15. The automobile assembly method according to claim 14, characterized in that: After the first step of turning the chassis over, it also includes: The turned-over chassis is transported to the production conveying device.

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