Rotatable Vehicle Body Part Rack With Adjustable Supports

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle body part racks are not adaptable to various vehicle body parts and require manual turning, which can lead to damage and increased operational effort, as they are typically designed for specific parts and positions, necessitating multiple racks and time-consuming manual handling.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle body part rack with a base plate and movable supporting rods and heads that rotate the part for efficient support on all surfaces, allowing for adaptable support and reduced manual handling, featuring lateral supports that turn the part and pneumatically controlled rods for secure positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple racks are used to support different vehicle body parts and positions, then the adaptability to various parts is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to various vehicle body partsVSAvoidnumber of racks required
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rack is designed with a base plate that can support multiple different vehicle body parts in various positions simultaneously. The base plate includes multiple supporting elements that can be adjusted to accommodate different part geometries, making a single rack structure serve multiple functions that previously required separate dedicated racks for each part type and position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The rack structure is divided into independent supporting elements (such as adjustable supports, rods, and heads) that can be individually positioned and configured. This segmentation allows each element to be optimized for specific support tasks while collectively providing versatile support for various vehicle body parts, reducing the need for complete separate rack systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If manual turning of the part is required to work on the other side, then the support structure remains simple, but the ease of operation deteriorates and operator fatigue increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of accessing both sides of the partVSAvoidcomplexity of the support structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rack incorporates rotatable supporting elements and adjustable mechanisms that allow the support configuration to dynamically adapt as the vehicle body part is rotated or repositioned. The supporting heads and rods can move and reconfigure automatically or with minimal operator input, maintaining ease of operation while enabling access to both sides of the part without heavy manual handling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the part is manually turned around, then the support device remains simple, but the risk of damaging the part increases due to inadvertent knocking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverisk of damage to the vehicle body partVSAvoidcomplexity of the support and rotation mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rack introduces intermediary guiding elements and controlled rotation mechanisms between the operator and the vehicle body part. These intermediaries guide the part through rotation and repositioning operations, preventing uncontrolled movements and inadvertent knocking against the rack structure or surrounding environment, thereby reducing damage risk while adding controlled complexity to the support system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of manufacture

If multiple racks are purchased for different parts, then the manufacturing precision for each specific part can be optimized, but the cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecost of the rack systemVSAvoidversatility across different vehicle body parts
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The rack design achieves cost reduction by creating a universal base plate structure that can support multiple different vehicle body parts. Through adjustable supporting elements and reconfigurable components, a single rack replaces what would traditionally require multiple specialized racks, significantly reducing the overall system cost while maintaining the ability to support various part types and positions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3632611B1A vehicle body part rack with lateral supports able to rotate the vehicle body part
Publication Date: 2021.12.08 COMPAGNIE PLASTIC OMNIUM SA
  • EP3632611B1 patent drawingFigure 1~6
  • EP3632611B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

- A vehicle body part rack (10), being used for placing a vehicle body part (20) during assembly or post-treatment of said vehicle body part (20), comprising a base plate (12) and a plurality of vehicle body part supports (30) arranged on the base plate (12), each said vehicle body part support (30) comprising a supporting head (32), and a supporting rod (36) connected to the supporting head (32) and the base plate (12), the supporting rod (36) being movable with respect to the base plate (12), characterized in that the rack (10) comprises lateral supports (40) able to hold the vehicle body part (20) and to rotate it.