JP2008528382A - Method and related means for mounting a roof for an automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for positioning an automobile roof (3) on a body side panel (6). The device applies pressure to the roof (3) in order to press the roof (3) against the body side panel (6) and a reference support (2) extending over the entire length of the roof (3). Means. The present invention comprises a number of pressing means (4) connected to the reference support (2) and independent of each other, and different pressures can be applied to different points of the roof (3) by this pressing means (4). It is characterized by being.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for mounting an automobile roof.

  The invention also relates to the means associated with this method, and more particularly to an apparatus for mounting an automotive roof in contact with a body side panel.

  When joining the roof to the body side panel of an automobile, when the roof is laser brazed, for example, there is almost no gap, so that one is fully joined and one is perfect for the customer's appearance Need to be joined together.

  One known method for doing this uses a pressing means that extends continuously over the entire length of the roof before it is welded to the body side panel. Using this pressing means, the roof is pressed and welded to the body side panel while holding the roof.

  This method has the drawback that it cannot remove all the irregularities that occur. These irregularities, or undulations, are not always the same along the roof or along the body side panels, and are not always the same for any part between the front and rear of the car.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a roof mounting method and means related to roof mounting.

  The present invention also contemplates an inexpensive method that is the eternal and greatest concern of automobile manufacturers.

In order to achieve these various objects, the present invention provides a method for mounting an automobile roof, which includes at least the following steps.
That is,
In a first step, positioning the roof with respect to at least one body side panel and bringing the presser means independently connected to at least one reference support into contact with the roof (in contact with the abutment) ,
In a second step, applying a load to the at least one presser means to generate a lateral and / or vertical pressure load on the roof by the presser means;
In a third step, when each presser means is placed in a predetermined position or when a predetermined load is applied to each presser means, each presser means is fixed to the reference support; and
-Joining the roof to the body side panels in the fourth step.

According to various features of the invention,
-In the first step, the roof is lowered until it comes into contact with at least one body side panel;
In the first step, placing the roof in a theoretical geometric position;
In a second step, applying a load to the at least one presser means to locate the presser means;
In a second step, applying a load to the at least one presser means to determine the load of the presser means;
In a second step, a first load is applied to the at least one first presser means to identify the load of the first presser means and a second load is applied to the at least one second presser means almost simultaneously; And specifying the position of the second presser means,
Applying a load to determine the position of the presser means located at each end of the roof and applying a load to determine the position of the other presser means;

  The present invention is also intended to protect a device for mounting an automotive roof in contact with a body side panel, the device applying a reference support extending along the roof and applying pressure to the roof. A device of the type comprising means for pressing the roof against the body side panel, the device connecting a number of presser means to the reference support independently of each other and applying different pressures at different points of the roof It is characterized by having a possible configuration.

According to various features of the invention,
Positioning the presser means relative to the outwardly facing surface of the reference support;
-Providing engaging means to fix the presser means to the reference support;
-The engaging means is a manual type, in particular a screw type,
The engagement means is of the automatic type, and the engagement means comprises a check mechanism connected to a water pressurization or air pressurization system;
The presser means preferably consists of a heat-absorbing material;
A limit stop is provided at the end of the at least one presser means so as to extend in a generally transverse direction with respect to the presser means, the first surface of the limit stop being in constant contact with the roof, The second surface of the stop contacts the body side panel by lowering the roof by the vertical distance between the first surface and the second surface.

  Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the accompanying drawings.

  The following description adopts the longitudinal direction (L), the vertical direction (V), and the lateral direction (T) that are conventionally used for cars, as indicated by reference numerals in FIG. This does not imply any limitation.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the reference support 2 is disposed along most of the length of the roof 3. Various presser means 4 are arranged with respect to this reference support, but the presser means 4 are independent of each other and move vertically and / or laterally along the outward face 20 of the reference support 2. Is possible.

  In the present invention, it is necessary to apply at least a vertical load to the roof 3 by these presser means 4 to form a surface that continuously contacts the body side panel. For this purpose, the presser means 4 may be positioned on the outward face 20 of the reference support 2 and the face 20 may be inclined with respect to the transverse plane and the vertical plane.

  When the presser means 4 is pressed against the roof 3 by a load acting on the upper side of one presser means 4, the presser means 4 can move in the lateral and vertical directions toward the body side panel 6. Of course, the outward surface 20 of the reference support 2 may be vertical, and the presser means 4 may be moved only vertically. As shown in the drawing, the outward surface of the presser means may be inclined to provide a space through which the welding robot passes.

  The engaging means 8 is provided to fix the presser means 4 to the reference support. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the anchoring means 8 can be manual when the method and associated means are used in an automobile in a short-term manufacturing process. In this case, after applying a predetermined load to the roof 3 by each presser means 4, the operator secures the presser means 4 to the roof reference 3 by screwing the engaging means 8.

  For example, in the other embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the engaging means 8 may be automatic, and the engaging means 8 includes, for example, a check mechanism connected to the water pressurization or air pressurization system 10. May be included. In this type of mechanism, it is preferable to use means such as a check claw in mass production applications.

  By using a number of presser means 4 independent from each other, the roof 3 can be placed in contact with the body side panel 6 and optimally arranged. In the first modification, a slight pressure can be applied to the roof 3 by specifying the position of the presser means 4. In the second modification, a slight pressure can be applied to the roof 3 by specifying the load of the presser means 4.

  Preferably, by employing a large number of presser means 4, different positions and pressures can be specified in different regions of the roof 3 for the same roof 3. As an example, the position of each corner of the roof 3 with respect to the body side panel 6 can be specified. This is because these four contact points are most exposed to the user's eyes. On the other hand, the pressure is specified for the other portions of the roof 3.

  Preferably, the presser means 4 is constituted by a heat absorbing material. By performing laser welding using these types of materials, the presser means can absorb the generated heat when the roof 3 is welded to the body side panel 6. Therefore, the roof 3 does not receive heat during welding, and as a result, the roof 3 is not deformed.

  In the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a limit stop 12 is provided at the end of at least one presser means 4 so as to extend in a generally transverse direction with respect to the presser means 4.

  In this limit stop, a vertical distance Z is provided between the roof 3 and the body side panel 6, which makes the first surface 14 of the limit stop 12 in steady contact with the roof 3, while This is because the second surface 16 of the limit stop 12 comes into contact with the body side panel 6 when 3 is lowered by an amount corresponding to the vertical interval Z. Of course, the vertical distance Z can be corrected by changing the dimension of the limit stop 12, particularly the distance between the two planes including the first and second support surfaces 16 described above.

  The limit stop 12 is positioned against one of the presser means 4 so that the weld bead is not disturbed by the shape of this limit stop. In an example not shown, the limit stop is positioned in contact with each presser means 4 positioned at the end of the series of presser means 4, and a semicircle is formed so as not to obstruct the passing zone of the weld bead by the limit stop.

  The method for attaching the roof 3 includes at least the following steps. First, the roof 3 is positioned with respect to the body side panel 6. Of course, the roof 3 can be lowered and brought into contact with the body side panel 6 without departing from the present invention, and the roof 3 is lowered to a theoretical geometric position where it touches the body side panel 6. It is also possible to make it. In order to avoid initial contact with the body side panel 6, it is also possible to descend to a height just above this theoretical position.

  If the undulations are formed along the roof 3 and the body side panel 6, as a result, point contact occurs between both parts. In order to weld the roof 3 to the body side panel 6, the presser means 4 is arranged on the roof 3 since such contact is preferably essentially continuous.

  The presser means 4 is connected to a reference support 2 that extends over most of the roof 3. A load is applied on the at least one presser means 4, thereby causing the presser means 4 to generate a transverse and / or vertical pressure on the roof 3 and press the roof 3 against the body side panel 6. This pressure is carefully controlled to bring the roof into contact with the body side panels so that the user can fully recognize without deforming the roof.

  When each presser means 4 is arranged at a predetermined position or when a predetermined load is applied to each presser means, each presser means is connected to the reference support. Next, the roof 3 is blaze welded to the body side panel 6. Thereafter, the presser means 4 is lifted with the reference support and released.

  The present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described and illustrated, which are presented by way of example only.

It is a front view which shows the attachment means of the 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a side view of the attachment means shown by FIG. It is a front view which shows the attachment means of the 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a side view of the attachment means shown by FIG.

Explanation of symbols

2 Reference support 3 Roof 4, 41, 42 Presser means 6 Body side panel 8 Engaging means 10 Water pressurization or air pressurization system 12 Limit stop 14 First surface of limit stop 16 Second surface of limit stop 20 Reference support The outward surface of body 2

Claims (14)

A method of attaching an automobile roof (3), the method comprising at least the following steps:
In a first step, positioning said roof (3) with respect to at least one body side panel (6), and pressing means (4) independently connected to at least one reference support (2) Abutting against the roof (3),
In a second step, applying a load to the at least one presser means (4) to generate a lateral and / or vertical pressure load on the roof (3) by the presser means (4); ,
-In the third step, when each presser means (4) is placed at a predetermined position or when a predetermined load is applied to each presser means (4), Fixing to a support, and
In a fourth step, joining the roof (3) to the body side panel (6);
The attachment method characterized by including.   The mounting method according to claim 1, characterized in that, in the first step, the roof (3) is lowered until it comes into contact with at least one body side panel (6).   The mounting method according to claim 1, characterized in that, in the first step, the roof (3) is arranged in a theoretical geometric position.   4. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the second step, a load is applied to at least one presser means (4) to specify the position of the presser means (4). 5. Mounting method.   4. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the second step, a load is applied to at least one presser means (4) to specify a load of the presser means (4). 5. Mounting method.   In the second step, a first load is applied to at least one first presser means (4) to identify the load of the first presser means (4), and the second load is applied almost simultaneously to at least one second presser means (4). The mounting method according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the position of the second presser means (42) is specified by applying to the presser means (42).   Apply a load to identify the position of the presser means (4) located at each end of the roof (3) and apply a load to identify the position of the other presser means (4) The attachment method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: A reference support (2) extending along an automobile roof (3), and means for applying pressure to the roof (3) to press the roof (3) against the body side panel (6) A device for positioning (3) relative to the body side panel (6),
The device comprises a number of presser means (4) that are connected to the reference support (2) and are independent of each other, and are capable of applying different pressures to different points of the roof (3). apparatus.   7. A device according to claim 6, characterized in that the presser means (4) are positioned with respect to the outward face (20) of the reference support (2).   10. Device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that engaging means (8) are provided to fix the presser means (4) to the reference support.   11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the fastening means (8) are of the manual type, in particular of the screw type.   11. The engagement means (8) is of automatic type, the engagement means (8) comprising a check mechanism connected to a water pressurization or air pressurization system (10). The device described in 1.   13. A device according to any one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the presser means (4) are preferably made of a heat absorbing material.   A limit stop (12) is provided at the end of at least one presser means (4) so as to extend in a generally transverse direction with respect to the presser means (4), and the first surface (14) of the limit stop (12). ) Is in constant contact with the roof (3), while the second surface (16) of the limit stop (12) causes the roof (3) to have a vertical spacing between the first surface and the second surface. 14. Device according to any one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that it is brought into contact with the body side panel (6) by being lowered by Z.

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