Vehicle Technical Front Face Assembly Tilting Method
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for mounting vehicle underbody elements and technical front faces are limited by the need for the front face to pass between side members, requiring small clearances and indexing, which restricts the assembly of large-dimension components and protruding elements.
Innovation Solution
A method involving pivoting the technical front face about a transverse axis from a transverse to a tilted position, allowing vertical movement and subsequent folding to facilitate assembly without significant modifications to existing tooling, using a movable assembly tool and holding mechanism to automate the process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the technical front face is mounted in the pure vertical direction between side members, then the assembly process is simple, but the method cannot accommodate large-dimension front faces or components with protruding elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a tilting dimension to the assembly process. The technical front face is first positioned horizontally on base elements, then tilted forward during vertical movement, allowing it to pass over protruding elements and through larger clearances than would be possible with purely vertical movement alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The assembly process transitions from a static vertical mounting approach to a dynamic process where the technical front face changes its orientation during assembly. The front face is tilted forward at an angle during the vertical movement phase, then returned to its normal position, enabling accommodation of various component sizes and configurations.
2Device complexity
If the technical front face is mounted in the pure vertical direction, then the assembly tooling is simple, but precise indexing is required due to small clearances between the front face and side members
Solution Approach 1:
By adding the tilting dimension, the patent increases the effective clearance between the technical front face and side members during the assembly process. This allows for less precise indexing requirements while maintaining the simplicity of the assembly tooling.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the technical front face has elements protruding from the inter-spar distance, then the front face cannot pass in the vertical direction, but the invention allows assembly with minimal tooling modifications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables assembly of technical front faces with protruding elements by utilizing the tilting dimension. The front face is tilted forward during vertical movement, allowing it to clear protruding elements that would otherwise block pure vertical passage, while requiring only minimal modifications to existing tooling.
Data Source
Figure 1~4
AI summary
The invention concerns a method for mounting, on a motor vehicle, underbody elements and a technical front surface (22) designed to be mounted at one end (20) of a front structural element (10) of the vehicle comprising side-members (12). The invention is characterized in that: in a first step, the technical front surface (22) is positioned on one of the underbody elements; in a second step, the technical front surface (22) is pivoted about a transverse axis (A) from a position wherein it extends substantially transversely to a position wherein it is tilted forward; in a third step, the underbody elements and the tilted technical front surface (22) are moved vertically downwards up to the vehicle; and in a fourth step, the technical front surface (22) is folded down from its tilted position to its normal position wherein it is opposite the structural element (10) of the vehicle.