Supporting frame for motor-vehicle bodyshells

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10875593-B2
Application number	US-201916458815-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 1, 2019
Priority date	Jul 4, 2018
Publication date	Dec 29, 2020
Grant date	Dec 29, 2020

Abstract

Described herein is a supporting frame for motor-vehicle bodyshells of a reconfigurable type. The supporting frame comprises a first pair of supports, a second pair of supports, and at least one third pair of supports for a motor-vehicle bodyshell, wherein the second pair and the third pair are configured for co-operating alternatively with the first pair for supporting a motor-vehicle bodyshell received on the frame.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A supporting frame for motor-vehicle body shells, comprising:
a first pair of supports, the supports of said first pair having a first orientation with respect to said supporting frame and being spaced apart in a transverse direction of said supporting frame;
a second pair of supports and at least one third pair of supports, which are configured for co-operating alternatively with said first pair of supports for receiving a motor-vehicle bodyshell, said second pair of supports and at least one third pair of supports being arranged in positions spaced apart, in a longitudinal direction of said supporting frame, from said first pair of supports,
wherein:
the second pair of supports and the at least one third pair of supports are carried by an auxiliary frame, which is rotatable about a transverse axis between a first operating position and a second operating position;
in the first operating position, the auxiliary frame positions the second pair of supports according to the first orientation with respect to the supporting frame and so that the second pair of supports is longitudinally spaced apart from the first pair of supports by a first longitudinal distance, while the at least one third pair of supports is positioned with a second orientation with respect to the supporting frame;
in the second operating position, the auxiliary frame positions the third pair of supports according to the first orientation with respect to the supporting frame and so that the third pair of supports is longitudinally spaced apart from the first pair of supports by a second longitudinal distance, while the second pair of supports is positioned with a third orientation with respect to the supporting frame;
said auxiliary frame comprises a cross member, which extends in the transverse direction with respect to said supporting frame and is rotatably supported with respect thereto, said cross member bearing at respective opposite ends a first plate and a second plate, each of which carries a support of the second pair of supports and a support of the at least one third pair of supports arranged on opposite sides of the respective plate;
the supporting frame further includes, for each plate of the first and second plates of the auxiliary frame, a first stop element configured for exerting an action of contrast in regard to said plate when the auxiliary frame is in the second operating position, and a second stop element configured for exerting an action of contrast in regard to said plate when the auxiliary frame is in the first operating position; and
each plate of the first and second plates includes a rectilinear main portion and a first bracket and a second bracket, which project in the transverse direction on opposite sides of the main portion, said first bracket being configured to bear upon said first stop element, and said second bracket being configured to bear upon said second stop element.

2. The supporting frame according to claim 1 , wherein said first orientation is an orientation such as to favour reception of the motor-vehicle bodyshell, whereas said second orientation and said third orientation disable a possibility of receiving the motor-vehicle bodyshell by the second pair of supports and the at least one third pair of supports, respectively.

3. The supporting frame according to claim 1 , wherein said first longitudinal distance and said second longitudinal distance are different from one another.

4. The supporting frame according to claim 1 , wherein said first orientation is a vertical orientation pointing upwards, towards a top surface of the supporting frame, which is a surface configured for facing the motor-vehicle bodyshell that in use is received on the supporting frame, and said second orientation is a vertical orientation pointing downwards, towards a bottom surface of the supporting frame, which is a surface that faces away from the motor-vehicle bodyshell that in use is received on the supporting frame.

5. The supporting frame according to claim 1 , wherein the supports of the second pair of supports are positioned on a respective second bracket, whereas the supports of the third pair of supports are positioned on said main portion, wherein a transverse distance between the supports of the second pair of supports is greater than a transverse distance between the supports of the third pair of supports.

6. The supporting frame according to claim 1 , wherein the first longitudinal distance is greater than the second longitudinal distance.

7. The supporting frame according to claim 1 , wherein said second orientation and said third orientation coincide.

8. The supporting frame according to claim 5 , wherein the first longitudinal distance is greater than the second longitudinal distance.

Assignees

• Fca Italy Spa

Inventors

• Cimmino Giuseppe

Classifications

• B62D65/18 Primary

  Transportation, conveyor or haulage systems specially adapted for motor vehicle or trailer assembly lines {(conveyors and haulage in general B65G)} · CPC title

• B65G2201/0294

  Vehicle bodies · CPC title

• B65G17/002

  comprising load carriers resting on the traction element · CPC title

• B62D65/026

  by using a jig or the like; Positioning of the jig · CPC title