Tooling system and method for installing hybrid module with clutch and torque convertor into transmission assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11685455-B2
Application number	US-202117173747-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 11, 2021
Priority date	Feb 11, 2021
Publication date	Jun 27, 2023
Grant date	Jun 27, 2023

Abstract

A tooling system for assembling a hybrid vehicle transmission includes a positioning device, support structure, gripper, clutch actuator, rotational actuator, and controller. The positioning device positions a hybrid module relative to a transmission housing. The gripper grips an input shaft of the hybrid module. The clutch actuator actuates the clutch of the hybrid module. The rotational actuator rotates the gripper about an assembly axis. The controller controls operation of the clutch actuator, positioning device, gripper, and rotational actuator such that an operation is performed that includes the clutch actuator actuating the clutch, the gripper gripping the input shaft of the hybrid module, the rotational actuator rotating the gripper to rotate the input shaft of the hybrid module relative to an input shaft of the transmission module, and the positioning device translating the hybrid module toward the transmission module to seat a housing of the hybrid module on the transmission housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tooling system for assembling a hybrid vehicle transmission assembly that includes a hybrid module and a transmission module, the tooling system comprising:
a positioning device configured to position the hybrid module relative to a transmission housing of the transmission module;
a support structure;
a gripper supported by the support structure and configured to grip an input shaft of the hybrid module;
a clutch actuator configured to actuate a clutch of the hybrid module;
a rotational actuator drivingly coupled to the gripper and configured to rotate the gripper about an assembly axis; and
a controller in communication with the positioning device, the gripper, the clutch actuator, and the rotational actuator, the controller being configured to control operation of the clutch actuator, the positioning device, the gripper, and the rotational actuator such that an operation is performed that includes the clutch actuator actuating the clutch to engage, the gripper gripping the input shaft of the hybrid module, the rotational actuator rotating the gripper to rotate the input shaft of the hybrid module relative to an input shaft of the transmission module, and the positioning device translating the hybrid module toward the transmission module to seat a housing of the hybrid module on the transmission housing.

2. The tooling system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the positioning device to align the hybrid module with the transmission housing along the assembly axis and to control a translational device to translate a housing of the hybrid module toward the transmission module.

3. The tooling system according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of alignment pins coupled to the support structure, each alignment pin configured to engage a mating feature on the hybrid module to align the hybrid module with the gripper.

4. The tooling system according to claim 3 further comprising a plurality of springs configured to bias the alignment pins axially relative to the support structure toward the housing of the hybrid module.

5. The tooling system according to claim 1 , wherein the clutch actuator is coupled to the support structure.

6. The tooling system according to claim 5 , wherein the clutch actuator includes a first linear actuator and a nozzle coupled to the first linear actuator, the nozzle configured to sealingly engage a port in fluid communication with the clutch of the hybrid module, the first linear actuator configured to move the nozzle relative to the support structure.

7. The tooling system according to claim 6 , wherein the nozzle includes a nose piece, a probiscis, and a second linear actuator, the nose piece being disposed about the probiscis, the second linear actuator configured to move the probiscis between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the nose piece, the probiscis configured to sealingly engage the port.

8. The tooling system according to claim 1 , wherein the tooling system includes a rotating base supported by the support structure and rotatable relative thereto about the assembly axis, the gripper being supported by the rotating base for rotation therewith about the assembly axis, the rotational actuator being drivingly coupled to the rotating base to rotate the rotating base.

9. The tooling system according to claim 8 , wherein the rotational actuator includes a linear actuator supported by the support structure, the linear actuator including a rod configured to translate linearly, the rod coupled to the rotating base such that linear translation of the rod rotates the rotating base.

10. The tooling system according to claim 8 , wherein the rotational actuator includes a motor coupled to the support structure, an output of the motor being drivingly coupled to the rotating base to rotate the gripper via the rotating base.

11. The tooling system according to claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the rotational actuator to rotate the gripper via the rotating base while the hybrid module is translated toward the transmission module until an output shaft of the hybrid module engages an input shaft of the transmission module and the housing of the hybrid module is seated on the housing of the transmission module.

12. The tooling system according to claim 1 , further comprising a force sensor configured to detect resistance to axially translation of the hybrid module toward the transmission module, wherein the controller is configured to operate the rotational actuator to rotate the input shaft of the hybrid module in response to the force sensor detecting a force exceeding a threshold force.

13. The tooling system according to claim 1 further comprising a grip sensor supported by the support structure and configured to detect a presence of the input shaft of the hybrid module in the gripper.

14. The tooling system according to claim 1 , wherein the positioning device includes a robotic arm.

15. A tooling system for assembling a hybrid vehicle transmission assembly that includes a hybrid module and a transmission module, the tooling system comprising:
a positioning device configured to position the hybrid module relative to a transmission housing of the transmission module;
a support structure;
a gripper supported by the support structure and configured to grip an input shaft of the hybrid module;
a clutch actuator configured to actuate a clutch of the hybrid module;
a rotational actuator drivingly coupled to the gripper and configured to rotate the gripper about an assembly axis;
a force sensor configured to detect resistance to axially translation of the hybrid module toward the transmission module; and
a controller in communication with the positioning device, the gripper, the clutch actuator, the rotational actuator, and the force sensor, the controller being configured to control operation of the clutch actuator, the positioning device, the gripper, and the rotational actuator such that an operation is performed that includes the clutch actuator actuating the clutch to engage, the gripper gripping the input shaft of the hybrid module, the rotational actuator rotating the gripper to rotate the input shaft of the hybrid module relative to an input shaft of the transmission module, and the positioning device translating the hybrid module toward the transmission module to seat a housing of the hybrid module on the transmission housing,
wherein the controller is configured to operate the rotational actuator to rotate the input shaft of the hybrid module in response to the force sensor detecting a force exceeding a threshold force.

16. The tooling system according to claim 15 , wherein the clutch actuator includes a first linear actuator and a nozzle coupled to the first linear actuator, the nozzle configured to sealingly engage a port in fluid communication with the clutch of the hybrid module, the first linear actuator configured to move the nozzle relative to the support structure.

17. The tooling system according to claim 16 , wherein the nozzle includes a nose piece, a probiscis, and a second linear actuator, the nose piece being disposed about the probiscis, the second linear actuator configured to move the probiscis between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the nose piece, the probiscis configured to sealingly engage the port.

18. The tooling system according to claim 15 , wherein the tooling system includes a rotating base supported by the support structure and rotatable relative thereto about the as

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Westhoff Zachary Alan
• Wilson Brandon Paul

Classifications

• B23P19/12

  Alignment of parts for insertion into bores · CPC title

• Y10T29/53039

  with control means energized in response to activator stimulated by condition sensor · CPC title

• Y10T29/53013

  Computer input · CPC title

• B25J11/005

  Manipulators for mechanical processing tasks · CPC title

• Y10T29/49904

  Assembling a subassembly, then assembling with a second subassembly · CPC title