Mounting aid device for relative joint tolerance compensation and mounting method

Abstract

The invention relates to a mounting aid device (1) for relative joint tolerance compensation (200) when mounting a first component (2) on a second component (3) of a vehicle, having a holding device (10) for holding the first component (2), wherein the holding device (10) has a first receiving means (11) for receiving a first component region (2.1) of the first component (2) and a second receiving means (12) for receiving a second component region (2.2) of the first component (2), wherein the second receiving means (12) is arranged on a planar carrier means (20) for arrangement at a distance from the first receiving means (11). The invention also relates to a mounting method.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Assembly aid device for relative joining tolerance compensation and assembly method

[0003] The invention relates to an assembly aid device for a relative joining tolerance compensation when assembling a first component to a second component of a vehicle and to an assembly method for assembling a first component to a second component of a vehicle by means of an assembly aid device.

[0004] To dampen mechanical shocks and compensate for uneven road surfaces, motor vehicles have multiple suspension struts, each of which is mounted on a strut mount of the vehicle's body and secured to the strut mount, particularly via a screw connection. Thus, suspension struts form a component of the vehicle's axle system.

[0005] When installing a strut on a vehicle body, precise alignment of the strut to the strut mount is of utmost importance. Assembly is often performed manually, with additional centering devices ensuring the alignment of the strut to the strut mount. For example, precisely fitting mounting holes, centering pins, or similar devices are used to ensure correct alignment of the strut to the strut mount.

[0006] From document DE 102018211525 B4, it is known to align a spring strut in the X / Y plane on the bodyshell using alignment cones on the spring strut mount and alignment holes in the body. Furthermore, from document DE 10 2020210685 B4, a device is known that can compensate for a certain joining tolerance to allow flexibility within the assembly device when aligning the spring strut to the spring strut mount. It is desirable to simplify the assembly structure.

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to at least partially remedy the above disadvantages known from the prior art. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a simplified assembly aid device with relative joining tolerance compensation for assembling two components. The above object is achieved by an assembly aid device having the features of claim 1 and an assembly method having the features of claim 10. Further features and details of the invention emerge from the respective subclaims, the description and the drawings. Features and details that are described in connection with the assembly aid device according to the invention naturally also apply in connection with the assembly method according to the invention and vice versa, so that with regard to the disclosure of the individual aspects of the invention, reference is or can always be made reciprocal.

[0008] According to a first aspect of the invention, an assembly aid device is provided for compensating relative joining tolerances when assembling a first component to a second component of a vehicle. The assembly aid device has a holding device for holding the first component. The holding device comprises a first receiving means for receiving a first component region of the first component and a second receiving means for receiving a second component region of the first component. The second receiving means is arranged on a plate-like carrier means for being arranged at a distance from the first receiving means. The carrier means further has an opening in which the second receiving means is pivotably arranged.

[0009] The vehicle can preferably be a motor vehicle, e.g. in the form of an electric vehicle, and / or an aircraft with a landing gear. Preferably, the first component is a spring strut and / or the second component is a vehicle frame and / or a self-supporting body. Within the scope of the invention, holding can be understood as, for example, placing the first component on and / or suspending the first component from the holding device. Likewise, the holding device can, for example, have a gripping device for gripping the first component. The assembly aid device can be designed to be moved with the first component underneath the second component in order to assemble the second component from below. Preferably, the first and / or second receiving means is rod-shaped in order to hold the first component.The second receiving means can be inserted into a bore of the first component in order to hold the first component.

[0010] The first receiving means preferably has a form-fitting section, in particular a convex or spherical or dome-shaped section, which can be brought into engagement with a counter-form-fitting section, in particular a concave or inverse-hemispherical section, of the first component region. In this way, the first receiving means positively prevents the first component from sliding sideways off the assembly aid device. Preferably, the first receiving means is pretensioned by a spring, in particular away from the carrier means, in the direction of the first and / or second component. Furthermore, the second receiving means preferably has a form-fitting section, in particular a convex or spherical or dome-shaped section, which can be brought into engagement with a counter-form-fitting section, in particular a concave or inverse-hemispherical section, of the second component region.Alternatively, the second receiving means can be designed for insertion into a passage of the second component region in order to prevent pivoting of the first component around the first receiving means in a form-fitting manner.

[0011] The support means can have a flat extension. Furthermore, the support means can be designed, for example, as a holding arm and / or holding plate, preferably in the form of a holding plate, which extends from the first receiving means, so that the first receiving means can be arranged on the first component region and the second receiving means on the second component region. The support means preferably defines a mounting plane from which the first and second receiving means extend toward the first and / or second component.

[0012] The opening in the support means can, for example, comprise a bore in the support means. In this case, the second receiving means can protrude at least partially completely into the opening and / or protrude through the opening. The pivotable arrangement of the second receiving means in the opening can be understood to mean that the second opening is movable about at least one axis, preferably about at least two or three axes. In this case, a rotary movement can be carried out by the second receiving means in the opening in order to enable joining tolerance compensation. It can be provided that the second receiving means is mounted in the opening by a ball joint and / or an articulated joint.

[0013] The pivotability of the second receiving means can prevent or reduce jamming of the first component between the first and second receiving means. For example, it has been recognized within the scope of the present invention that the pivotability of the second receiving means when the first component rotates about the first receiving means can eliminate static overdetermination in a pitch of the first and second receiving means at the first and second component areas in all process steps. In particular, when the second receiving means is inserted through a bore in the first component in order to support the first component on the assembly aid, a dimension of the first component between the first and second receiving means can change when the first component is aligned with the second component, which can be compensated for by the pivotability.By arranging the second receiving means in the opening, the support means can be brought close to the second component area, allowing the assembly device to be designed compactly. Furthermore, the simple design enables cost-effective production and low-maintenance operation of the assembly aid.

[0014] Furthermore, in an assembly aid device according to the invention, it can advantageously be provided that a fixing device for frictionally fixing the second receiving means to the carrier means is arranged on the carrier means, in particular wherein the second receiving means has a curved friction surface with which the second receiving means rests in the opening on the carrier means, so that the second receiving means is guided by the friction surface on the carrier means when pivoting in the opening. During pivoting, the second receiving means can rub against the carrier means and the fixing device. The curved friction surface can preferably comprise a spherical segment and / or a spherical surface. For example, the second receiving means can comprise a base which is arranged in the opening and has the friction surface. The opening can advantageously further comprise a spherical or conical bearing surface against which the friction surface rests.The fixing device can press and / or pre-tension the friction surface against the bearing surface. It can be provided that the friction surface is designed for linear contact with the carrier means. The fixing device preferably acts in an assembly direction for mounting the first component on the second component and / or on an underside of the carrier means. By fixing the second receiving means on the carrier means, it can be prevented that the second receiving means is displaced relative to the carrier means, in particular in an assembly plane. In particular, a holding force can be applied or applied by the fixing device which counteracts the joining tolerance compensation between the first and second receiving means. The holding force is preferably pre-set to be overcome for the joining tolerance compensation by pivoting the second receiving means. The second receiving means can be fixed in such a way that the fixing, e.g.by overcoming the frictional force on the friction surface, can be at least partially overcome in order to enable the pivoting of the second receiving means in the opening and thereby the relative joining tolerance compensation.

[0015] It is further conceivable in an assembly aid device according to the invention that the fixing device has at least one adjusting means for adjusting a frictional force between the carrier means and the second receiving means. The adjusting means can in particular comprise one or more clamping screws. In this case, a force balance can be adjusted as a function of lever arms between the first and second receiving means based on the frictional force. For example, the fixing device can have a fixing plate. The second receiving means, in particular the base of the second receiving means, can be pivotably clamped between the fixing plate and the carrier means by the adjusting means. The fixing plate preferably has a bearing opening and / or a friction shell in which the second receiving means is pivotably received. The fixing plate can thereby provide additional guidance for the second receiving means.By means of the adjusting means, an advantageous friction force can be set which prevents slipping of the first component on the holding device and at the same time enables the pivoting of the second receiving means for the joining tolerance compensation at the right moment, ie, in particular at the right force.

[0016] It is further conceivable in an assembly aid device according to the invention that the fixing device has a spring element for spring-loading the second receiving means against the carrier means, in particular wherein the second receiving means has a receiving cone and the spring element has a curved contact pressure surface which is received in the receiving cone in order to enable automatic resetting of the second receiving means. The spring-loading of the second receiving means can comprise a preload against the carrier means. The spring element can be formed by a fixing plate of the fixing device. Furthermore, the spring element can be fastened to the carrier element on one side and deflected in the region of the second receiving means against the carrier element in order to spring-load the second receiving means against the carrier element. The contact pressure surface can be spherical, in particular spherical segment-like.The combination of the curved contact surface and the receiving cone allows for point and / or line contact between the receiving cone and the contact surface, particularly when pivoting the second receiving means. A central position of the contact surface in the receiving cone can form an equilibrium position, to which the system automatically returns in a normal state, particularly to a vertical position.

[0017] It is further conceivable in an assembly aid device according to the invention that the second receiving means in the opening is surrounded by a ring-like fastening means, wherein the fastening means is made of an elastic material in order to enable the pivoting of the second receiving means. The elastic material can in particular comprise an elastomer and / or a vulcanizate, in particular in the form of a rubber. Thus, the second receiving means can be vulcanized directly into the opening and / or into a bushing for positioning in the opening. For example, the ring-like fastening means can be arranged and / or vulcanized in the bushing. The bushing can, for example, be designed for screwing and / or welding to the carrier means. Due to the elastic material, the second receiving means can easily have a high degree of freedom of movement for pivoting.In particular, the second receiving means can be movable and / or damped in all spatial directions and simultaneously spring-loaded into a vertical position. The material properties of the elastic material can define the resistance of the second receiving means to leaving a vertical position.

[0018] It is further conceivable in an assembly aid device according to the invention for the opening to have a circumferential stop, by means of which the second receiving means can be blocked to limit an angle during pivoting in the opening. For example, the opening can have a circular shape along which the stop runs. The circumferential stop can be designed, for example, as a projection and / or collar, in particular which projects into the opening. Preferably, the stop is part of a bushing for receiving the second receiving means and / or the elastic material. The stop can, for example, prevent the elastic material from being overstretched and / or the fixing device from being damaged due to movement of the second receiving means.

[0019] Within the scope of the invention, it is further conceivable for the first receiving means to have an articulated joint with a longitudinal joint axis, wherein the articulated joint is designed to perform a bending movement from an initial position in at least one direction transverse to the longitudinal joint axis as a result of a transverse force acting transversely to the longitudinal joint axis and a linear movement from the initial position as a result of a normal force acting perpendicular to the joint axis. It can be provided that the articulated joint has a return device for automatically returning the articulated joint to the initial position. The articulated joint is preferably designed in such a way that buckling due to the weight of the first component, preferably a spring strut, does not occur. Within the scope of the invention, a bending movement is understood in particular to mean a movement by which an angle between an articulated joint start and an articulated joint end is changed.In particular, the bending movement can comprise a rotational and / or pivoting movement. In the initial position, the beginning and end of the articulated joint are preferably arranged on the longitudinal axis of the articulated joint at opposite ends of the articulated joint. In a bent position, for example, the end of the articulated joint adjacent to the first component can be arranged away from the longitudinal axis of the joint. The articulated joint thus also allows the first receiving means to be pivotably arranged. As a result, the first and second receiving means can both contribute to compensating joining tolerances in different directions, thus simplifying the assembly of the first component to the second component.

[0020] Furthermore, in an assembly aid device according to the invention, it is conceivable that the holding device is arranged on an assembly table, wherein the holding device is movably mounted on the assembly table by a guide bearing for a relative compensating movement between the assembly table and the holding device. The assembly table can be designed in particular as a cross table. In particular, a planar tolerance compensation can be achieved by the assembly table. It can be provided that when the first component is mounted on the second component, the assembly table is positioned depending on the second component. The assembly table can decouple the holding device from the positioning of the assembly table and / or from a position of the second component via the compensating movement. This can increase the flexibility of the device and / or eliminate the need for an articulated joint in the first receiving means.

[0021] Furthermore, in an assembly aid device according to the invention, it is conceivable for the guide bearing to have a first bearing element arranged on the holding device, a second bearing element arranged on the assembly table, and a reset unit for automatically resettling the first and second bearing elements to a central position. It can be provided that the assembly table has a normal position to which the assembly table automatically returns. The reset unit can comprise one or more springs, in particular in the form of disc springs. The first and second bearing elements can, for example, each comprise a piston loaded by a disc spring by the reset unit, which is supported on a centrally arranged ball. The ball can be integrated into a base body between the first and second bearing elements or can be mounted in a base body.Preferably, the first and second bearing elements each have an inner cone, with which the respective bearing element is supported on the central ball. This allows the compensating movement to be achieved in a compact manner.

[0022] According to a further aspect of the invention, an assembly method for assembling a first component to a second component of a vehicle using an assembly aid device according to the invention is provided. The assembly method comprises, in particular in the form of method steps:

[0023] - Arranging the first component on the assembly aid device such that a first component region of the first component is received by a first receiving means and a second component region of the first component is received by a second receiving means of the assembly aid device,

[0024] - fixing the first component to the second component by pivoting the first component at least partially around the first receiving means and pivoting the second receiving means in an opening of the assembly aid,

[0025] - Attaching the first component to the second component, and

[0026] - Remove the assembly aid from the first component.

[0027] Thus, an assembly method according to the invention offers the same advantages as those already described in detail with reference to an assembly aid according to the invention. The positioning of the first component, the fixing of the first component, the fastening of the first component, and / or the removal of the assembly aid can be carried out automatically, in particular by a production robot. During the fixing of the first component, the first component can be positioned, and during the fastening, the first component can be connected to the second component.

[0028] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, which describes embodiments of the invention in detail with reference to the drawings. The features mentioned in the claims and in the description may be essential to the invention individually or in any combination. They show schematically:

[0029] Figure 1 shows an arrangement of a first and second component in an assembly method according to the invention with an assembly aid device according to the invention,

[0030] Figure 2 shows the fixing of the first component to the second component,

[0031] Figures 3 - 5 show different embodiments of a second receiving means of the assembly aid device, and

[0032] Figure 6 shows an arrangement of the first and second components in the assembly method according to the invention with an assembly aid device according to the invention in a further embodiment.

[0033] In the following description of some embodiments of the invention, the same reference numerals are used for the same technical features even in different embodiments.

[0034] Fig. 1 shows an arrangement of a first and second component 2, 3 of a vehicle in an assembly method according to the invention with an assembly aid device 1 according to the invention for relative joining tolerance compensation 200 during assembly of the first component 2 to the second component 3 in a first exemplary embodiment. The first component 2 is a suspension strut for the vehicle, and the second component 3 is a vehicle frame for receiving the first component 2.

[0035] In the assembly method, the first component 2 is first arranged on the assembly aid 1. For this purpose, the assembly aid 1 has a holding device 10 for holding the first component 2. The holding device 10 further comprises a first receiving means 11 for receiving a first component region 2.1 of the first component 2 and a second receiving means 12 for receiving a second component region 2.2 of the first component 2. As a result, when the first component 2 is arranged on the assembly aid 1, the first component region 2.1 is received by the first receiving means 11 and the second component region 2.2 is received by the second receiving means 12 of the assembly aid 1.

[0036] As shown in Fig. 2, the assembly method further includes fixing the first component 2 to the second component 3 by pivoting the first component 2 at least partially around the first receiving means 11 and the second receiving means 12 in an opening 21 of the assembly aid 1 until the position shown in Fig. 1 is reached. The first component 2 can advantageously have a mounting cone 4, as shown in Fig. 1, or a screw connection, as shown in Fig. 2. The first and second receiving means 11, 12 are arranged spaced apart from one another on a plate-like support means 20. After fixing, the first component 2 is fastened to the second component 3, e.g., by screwing, and the assembly aid 1 is then removed from the first component 2.

[0037] To prevent jamming of the first component 2 with the holding device 10 when fixing the first component 2 to the second component 3, the carrier means 20 has an opening 21 in which the second receiving means 12 is pivotably arranged. The pivotability of the second receiving means 12 thus allows a relative movement of the second receiving means 12 to the first component 2, the second component 3, and the first receiving means 11 in order to at least partially provide the joining tolerance compensation 200. Different configurations of the second receiving means 12 of the assembly aid device 1 are shown in Figs. 3 to 5.

[0038] As shown in Fig. 3, a fixing device 22 for frictionally fixing the second receiving means 12 to the carrier means 20 can be arranged on the carrier means 20, said fixing device having at least one adjusting means 23 for adjusting a friction force between the carrier means 20 and the second receiving means 12. The second receiving means 12 has a curved friction surface 13 with which the second receiving means 12 rests in the opening 21 on the carrier means 20, so that the second receiving means 12 is guided by the friction surface 13 on the carrier means 20 when pivoting in the opening 21. The adjusting means 23 is designed as a clamping screw in order to pretension a fixing plate 27 of the fixing device 22 against the carrier means 20 and thereby clamp the second receiving means 12 between the carrier means 20 and the fixing plate 27. As shown in Fig.4, the fixing device 22 can further comprise a spring element 24 for spring-loading the second receiving means 12 against the support means 20. The second receiving means 12 can have a receiving cone 14, and the spring element 24 can have a curved contact surface 25. The fixing plate 27 forms the spring element 24. The contact surface 25 is further received in the receiving cone 14 to enable automatic resetting of the second receiving means 12, in particular into a vertical position.

[0039] As shown in Fig. 5, the second receiving means 12 can further be surrounded by a ring-like fastening means 26 in the opening 21. The fastening means 26 is preferably made of an elastic material to enable the pivoting of the second receiving means 12. Furthermore, the opening 21 has a stop 21.1 surrounding the opening 21, by which the second receiving means 12 can be blocked to limit an angle when pivoting the second receiving means 12 in the opening 21. The stop 21.1 can prevent overstretching of the fastening means 26.

[0040] As shown in Fig. 1, the holding device 10 is further arranged on an assembly table 30. The holding device 10 is preferably movably mounted on the assembly table 30 by a guide bearing 31 for relative compensating movement, particularly in a horizontal plane, between the assembly table 30 and the holding device 10. The guide bearing 31 comprises a first bearing element 32, which is arranged on the holding device 10, and a second bearing element 33, which is arranged on the assembly table 30. Furthermore, the guide bearing 31 has a reset unit for automatically returning the first and second bearing elements 32, 33 to a central position. This simplifies assembly and supports the joining tolerance compensation 200.

[0041] In addition or alternatively to the guide bearing 31, the first receiving means 11, as shown in Fig. 6, can have an articulated joint 11.1 with a longitudinal joint axis. The articulated joint 11.1 is designed to perform a bending movement from an initial position in at least one direction transverse to the longitudinal joint axis as a result of a transverse force acting transversely to the longitudinal joint axis and a linear movement from the initial position as a result of a normal force acting perpendicular to the joint axis.

[0042] The above explanation of the embodiments describes the present invention exclusively by way of examples. Of course, individual features of the embodiments can be freely combined with one another, provided they are technically feasible, within the scope of protection defined by the patent claims, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0043] Assembly aid first component first component area second component area second component assembly cone

[0044] Holding device first receiving means articulated joint second receiving means friction surface receiving cone

[0045] Support means Opening Stop Fixing device Adjustment means Spring element Contact surface Fastening means Fixing plate

[0046] Assembly table guide bearing first bearing element second bearing element

[0047] Joining tolerance compensation

Claims

Patent claims 1. Assembly aid device (1) for relative joining tolerance compensation (200) when assembling a first component (2) to a second component (3) of a vehicle, comprising a holding device (10) for holding the first component (2), wherein the holding device (10) has a first receiving means (11) for receiving a first component region (2.1) of the first component (2) and a second receiving means (12) for receiving a second component region (2.2) of the first component (2), wherein the second receiving means (12) is arranged on a plate-like carrier means (20) for spaced-apart arrangement from the first receiving means (11), characterized in that the carrier means (20) has an opening (21) in which the second receiving means (12) is pivotably arranged.

2. Assembly aid device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a fixing device (22) for frictionally fixing the second receiving means (12) to the carrier means (20) is arranged on the carrier means (20), wherein the second receiving means (12) has a curved friction surface (13) with which the second receiving means (12) rests in the opening (21) on the carrier means (20), so that the second receiving means (12) is guided by the friction surface (13) on the carrier means (20) when pivoting in the opening (21).

3. Assembly aid device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fixing device (22) has at least one adjusting means (23) for adjusting a frictional force between the carrier means (20) and the second receiving means (12).

4. Assembly aid device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the fixing device (22) has a spring element (24) for springing the second receiving means (12) against the carrier means (20), wherein the second receiving means (12) has a receiving cone (14) and the spring element (24) has a curved contact surface (25) which is received in the receiving cone (14) in order to enable automatic resetting of the second receiving means (12).

5. Assembly aid device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second receiving means (12) in the opening (21) is surrounded by a ring-like fastening means (26), wherein the fastening means (26) is formed from an elastic material in order to enable the pivoting of the second receiving means (12).

6. Assembly aid device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opening (21) has a circumferential stop (21.1) by which the second receiving means (12) can be blocked to limit an angle when pivoting in the opening (21).

7. Assembly aid device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first receiving means (11) has an articulated joint (11.1) with a longitudinal joint axis, wherein the articulated joint (11.1) is designed to carry out a bending movement from an initial position in at least one direction transverse to the longitudinal joint axis as a result of a transverse force acting transversely to the longitudinal joint axis and to carry out a linear movement from the initial position as a result of a normal force acting perpendicular to the joint axis.

8. Assembly aid device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding device (10) is arranged on an assembly table (30), wherein the holding device (10) is movably mounted on the assembly table (30) by a guide bearing (31) for a relative compensating movement between the assembly table (30) and the holding device (10).

9. Assembly aid device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the guide bearing (31) comprises a first bearing element (32) which is arranged on the holding device (10), a second bearing element (33) which is arranged on the assembly table (30) is arranged, and has a reset unit for automatically returning the first and second bearing elements (32, 33) to a central position.

10. Assembly method for assembling a first component (2) to a second component (3) of a vehicle by means of an assembly aid device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising: Arranging the first component (2) on the assembly aid device (1) such that a first component area (2.1) of the first component (2) is received by a first receiving means (11) and a second component area (2.2) of the first component (2) is received by a second receiving means (12) of the assembly aid device (1), Fixing the first component (2) to the second component (3) by pivoting the first component (2) at least partially around the first receiving means (11) and pivoting the second receiving means (12) in an opening (21) of the assembly aid device (1), Fastening the first component (2) to the second component (3), removing the assembly aid (1) from the first component (2).

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