APPARATUS FOR FILLING VEHICLES ON ASSEMBLY LINES IN THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY

Abstract

A device for filling vehicles on assembly lines with a plurality of different operating media, which are fed from filling stations via connecting lines and special adapters into the circuits and tanks of the vehicles.

The device structurally integrates the terminals of all tanks and circuits of a vehicle which are to be filled with an operating medium in a common assembly, configured as a filling unit installed in the vehicle. The filling unit can be brought into operative connection with a filling tool for all of the terminals of all filling stations of different operating media. The terminals for the same operating medium at the filling unit of the vehicle and the filling tool to be brought into operative connection are configured with congruent contours.

Claims

1. A device for filling vehicles on assembly lines in the automobile industry where vehicles are filled with a plurality of different operating media, which are fed from filling stations via connecting lines and special adapters into the circuits and tanks of the vehicles, characterized in that the terminals of all tanks and circuits of a vehicle to be filled with an operating medium are structurally integrated in a common assembly, which is configured as a filling unit and installed in the vehicle and can be brought into operative connection with a filling tool, at which the terminals of all filling stations for different operating media are structurally integrated, wherein the terminals for the same operating medium at the filling unit of the vehicle and the filling tool to be brought into operative connection are configured with congruent contours.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the filling unit of the vehicle features on its top side in assembly position openings configured as interfaces for the adaptation of the filling tool.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the filling unit is provided with a hinged cover with sealing elements.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the filling tool can be attributed to a filling tool tray, which is designed for receiving different filling tools for different types of vehicles or filling units.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the filling tool is arranged at a manually or semi-automatically or fully automatically operated handling device, by means of which the filling tool can be moved and attached to the filling unit.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the handling device is designed as a robot and equipped with a tool carrier, which receives the filling tool and is connected to all media lines containing the operating media to be filled in the vehicle.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the filling tool features on its top side in assembly position a standard interface for the tool carrier and on its bottom side, respectively, a vehicle interface.

8. A system for filling a plurality of fluid tanks and fluid circuits of an automobile on an assembly line with a plurality of different operating media fed from a plurality of filling stations via a plurality of connecting lines, the system comprising: a filling unit installed in the vehicle comprising a structurally integrated common assembly including a plurality of first fluid adapters, each of the plurality of first fluid adapters fluidly connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of fluid tanks and fluid circuits of the automobile; a filling tool comprising a structurally integrated common assembly including a plurality of second fluid adapters, each of the plurality of second fluid adapters fluidly connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of connecting lines; wherein each of the plurality of first fluid adapters is operable to sealingly fluidly connect with a corresponding one of the second fluid adapters; and wherein the filling unit further comprises a cover for closing the filling unit, the cover comprising a plurality of fluid seals corresponding to the plurality of first fluid adapters, wherein each fluid seal closes a corresponding one of the plurality of fluid tanks and fluid circuits of the automobile when the cover is in place.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0018] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0019] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be explained with reference to the drawing. In particular:

[0020] FIG. 1 shows the basic structure of a filling unit according to the invention;

[0021] FIG. 2 shows the position of a filling unit installed in a vehicle;

[0022] FIG. 3 shows a handling device (robot) with filling tool; and

[0023] FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the filling tool guided by the robot according to FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0025] The filling unit (1) shown in FIG. 1 is designed for the filling of vehicles (2) on assembly lines in the automobile industry where vehicles (2) are filled with a plurality of different operating media. These operating media (e.g. brake fluid, coolant, refrigerant, windscreen cleaner etc.) are supplied from filling stations, which are not specified here, via separate connecting lines (3) and special adapters into the circuits and tanks of the vehicles (2) to be filled. Here, the terminals of all tanks and circuits of the vehicle (2) to be filled with an operating medium are structurally integrated in a filling unit (1) installed in the vehicle (2). This filling unit (1) is preferably provided with a hinged cover (4) with sealing elements (5) so that an operationally reliable seal is ensured in case of non-filling.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows an example of a possible arrangement of a filling unit (1) in a vehicle (2) with an alternative vehicle concept. The exact arrangement of the filling unit (1) is determined primarily by the available free space. Consequently, not only arrangements in the engine compartment are possible, but also in other areas of the vehicle. In principle, the chosen arrangement is such that good accessibility for a worker orin the preferred application with fully automated fillingfor a semi-automatically or fully automatically operated handling device/robot (6) is achieved.

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a variant in this regard, in which a filling tool (7) is attached to a semi-automatic or fully automatic handling device/robot (6). At this filling tool (7), the terminals of all the filling stations of different operating media are structurally integrated.

[0028] During the filling process, the filling tool (7) shown in detail in FIG. 4 is brought into operative connection with the filling unit (1) installed in the vehicle (2). For this purpose, the top side of the vehicle's filling unit (1) in assembly position features openings configured as interfaces for the adaptation of the filling tool (7). The terminals for the same operating medium at the filling unit (1) and the filling tool (7) are configured with congruent contours so that a functionally reliable sealing is ensured during filling. Thus, the filling tool (7) arranged on the semi-automatically or fully automatically operated handling device/robot (6) can be automatically moved to the filling unit (1) and be attached to it.

[0029] The handling device/robot (6), which is preferably semi-automatically or fully automatically operated but can be manually operated too, preferably comprises a tool carrier (8) that receives the filling tool (7) and is connected to the media lines of all operating media to be filled into the vehicle. The tool carrier (8) is preferably designed as a semi-automatically or fully automatically operated handling device (e.g. robot or robotic hand) so that an automated operation is also possible here. It is envisaged that the filling tool (7) is attributed to a filling tool tray, which is designed to receive different filling tools (7) for different vehicles (2) or filling units (1). The filling tools (7) each feature on their top side in assembly position a standard interface for the tool carrier (8) and on their bottom side, respectively, a vehicle interface.

[0030] If the device according to the invention is used on an assembly line for the production of motor vehicles (e.g. cars with an electric motor drive), the functional sequence is as follows:

[0031] A plurality of vehicles (2), each with a filling unit (1) installed in the vehicle (2), is successively moved on an assembly line. Next to the moving assembly line, a fully automatic handling device and a filling tool tray are arranged, which can be either stationary or movable in sections parallel to the assembly line.

[0032] The handling device, designed as a robot (6) and equipped with the tool carrier (8), moves to the filling tool tray, where different filling tools (7) are stored. Next, the tool carrier (8) picks a selected filling tool (7), which is required for filling the vehicle (2) currently conveyed on the assembly line. Then, the robot (6) moves with the coupled tool carrier (8) and the actual selected filling tool (7) to the assembly line towards the vehicle (2) to be filled. Thereafter, the robot (6) attaches the filling tool (7) through the tool carrier (8) to the filling unit (1) installed in the vehicle (2). Finally, filling with all necessary operating media is performed.

[0033] The foregoing description of the embodiment has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.