Air cylinder driven mobile assembly support unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11401146-B2
Application number	US-201916714883-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 16, 2019
Priority date	Dec 16, 2019
Publication date	Aug 2, 2022
Grant date	Aug 2, 2022

Abstract

A mobile assembly support unit that includes an assembly line sync mechanism having a line engagement unit coupled to a rotatable sync arm, a propulsion unit having a propulsion wheel and a propulsion motor, a translation arm coupled to the propulsion unit and engageable with the rotatable sync arm, and an air cylinder coupled to the propulsion unit. The air cylinder is actuatable between a retracted position and an extended position such that when the air cylinder is in the retracted position, the translation arm is engaged with the rotatable sync arm and the propulsion unit is in a lifted position and when the air cylinder is in the extended position, the translation arm is disengaged with the rotatable sync arm and the propulsion unit is in a descended position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mobile assembly support unit comprising:
an assembly line sync mechanism comprising a line engagement unit coupled to a rotatable sync arm;
a propulsion unit comprising a propulsion wheel and a propulsion motor;
a translation arm coupled to the propulsion unit and engageable with the rotatable sync arm; and
an air cylinder coupled to the propulsion unit, wherein:
the air cylinder is actuatable between a retracted position and an extended position;
when the air cylinder is in the retracted position, the translation arm is engaged with the rotatable sync arm and the propulsion unit is in a lifted position; and
when the air cylinder is in the extended position, the translation arm is disengaged with the rotatable sync arm and the propulsion unit is in a descended position.

2. The mobile assembly support unit of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable sync arm is rotatable between a line engagement position and a line disengagement position.

3. The mobile assembly support unit of claim 2 , wherein the rotatable sync arm is spring biased into the line disengagement position.

4. The mobile assembly support unit of claim 2 , wherein when the air cylinder is in the retracted position, thereby engaging the translation arm with the rotatable sync arm, the rotatable sync arm is in the line engagement position.

5. The mobile assembly support unit of claim 1 , wherein the line engagement unit comprises a wheel mounted to an end of the rotatable sync arm.

6. The mobile assembly support unit of claim 1 , wherein the propulsion motor is a pneumatic air motor.

7. The mobile assembly support unit of claim 1 , wherein the assembly line sync mechanism further comprises a mounting arm and the rotatable sync arm is rotatably coupled to the mounting arm.

8. The mobile assembly support unit of claim 1 , further comprising a mounting structure, wherein:
the air cylinder is coupled to the mounting structure such that the air cylinder is positioned between the mounting structure and the propulsion unit; and
a mounting arm of the assembly line sync mechanism is coupled to the mounting structure, opposite the air cylinder.

9. The mobile assembly support unit of claim 8 , further comprising a platform coupled to the mounting structure.

10. The mobile assembly support unit of claim 8 , wherein the mounting arm of the assembly line sync mechanism and the mounting structure retain a static position during actuation of the air cylinder.

11. The mobile assembly support unit of claim 1 , wherein:
the propulsion unit further comprises a propulsion unit support bracket;
the propulsion wheel and the propulsion motor are each coupled to the propulsion unit support bracket; and
the air cylinder is coupled to the propulsion unit support bracket.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Britton David A
• Greenlee Ii James C

Classifications

• B62D65/00

  Designing, manufacturing, e.g. assembling, facilitating disassembly, or structurally modifying motor vehicles or trailers, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• E04G3/28

  Mobile scaffolds; Scaffolds with mobile platforms {(movable inspection or maintenance platforms for bridges E01D19/106, lifting devices for movable platforms, e.g. on vehicles B66F11/04)} · CPC title

• B23P21/00

  Machines for assembling a multiplicity of different parts to compose units, with or without preceding or subsequent working of such parts, e.g. with program control · CPC title

• B62D65/022 Primary

  Transferring or handling sub-units or components, e.g. in work stations or between workstations and transportation systems · CPC title

• B66F11/04 Primary

  for movable platforms or cabins, e.g. on vehicles, permitting workmen to place themselves in any desired position for carrying out required operations ({Working platforms on fork-lift trucks B66F9/127; } vehicle aspects of service vehicles B60P3/14; platforms for cleaning windows A47L3/02; devices for rescuing persons from buildings A62B1/02; liftable or lowerable platforms for use on ladders E06C7/16; maintenance travellers for bridges E01D19/10; scaffolds on an extensible sub-structure E04G1/22) · CPC title