Integrated vehicle-end structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10173739-B2
Application number	US-201615381456-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 16, 2016
Priority date	Aug 28, 2015
Publication date	Jan 8, 2019
Grant date	Jan 8, 2019

Abstract

A method for constructing an integrated end structure for a vehicle includes placing a center module for an integrated end structure for a vehicle in a fixture separate from the vehicle, attaching a side bracket to the center module in the fixture to form an assembly, the side bracket configured for holding a light unit of the vehicle, mounting the assembly onto at least a bracket in the vehicle that provides adjustability of the assembly in at least a z-direction, and, after mounting the assembly, mounting a storage compartment module onto the center module and the side bracket.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
placing a center module for an integrated end structure for a vehicle in a fixture separate from the vehicle;
attaching a side bracket to the center module in the fixture to form an assembly, the side bracket configured for holding a light unit of the vehicle;
mounting the assembly onto at least a bracket in the vehicle that provides adjustability of the assembly in at least a z-direction; and
after mounting the assembly, mounting a storage compartment module onto the center module and the side bracket.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein placing the center module and attaching the side bracket take place offline an assembly line, the method further comprising bringing the assembly to the assembly line, wherein mounting the assembly and mounting the storage compartment module take place on the assembly line.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein mounting the assembly onto the bracket comprises picking up the assembly using at least x-direction datums on the center module.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein placing the center module comprises setting at least an x-direction position for the integrated end structure.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein attaching the side bracket comprises setting at least an x-direction position for the side bracket.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting the side bracket relative to the center module in at least an x-direction to adjust a position of the light unit.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising attaching the light unit to the side bracket before mounting the storage compartment module.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising attaching fascia to the assembly before mounting the storage compartment module.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein mounting the storage compartment module comprises attaching the storage compartment module by a fastener to a flange of the center module that sets at least an x-direction position of the integrated end structure.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting at least a z-direction position of the integrated end structure by changing at least a z-direction position of the bracket.

Assignees

• Tesla Motors Inc
• Tesla Inc

Inventors

• Bellis James
• Vikstrom P Thomas

Classifications

• B60R5/02

  arranged at front of vehicle {(B60R5/003 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B62D25/082

  Engine compartments · CPC title

• B62D65/16

  the sub-units or components being exterior fittings, e.g. bumpers, lights, wipers {, exhausts} · CPC title

• B62D65/024 Primary

  Positioning of sub-units or components with respect to body shell or other sub-units or components · CPC title

• B62D65/028

  by determining relative positions by measurement · CPC title