VEHICLE ASSEMBLY FACILITY

Abstract

A vehicle assembly facility and system that includes a conveyor track having a three-dimensional helical configured to transport components of a vehicle for complete assembly of a vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle assembly apparatus, comprising: a conveyor track configured to transport vehicle shells, the conveyor track having a three-dimensional helical configuration; and vehicle stations for completing assembly of a vehicle arranged along the conveyor track.

2. The vehicle assembly apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conveyor track comprises at least two helical planes.

3. The vehicle assembly apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conveyor track comprises at least three helical planes.

4. The vehicle assembly apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conveyor track comprises at least four helical planes.

5. The vehicle assembly apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conveyor track comprises a modular multi-component system to permit composed of a plurality of individual helical planes that are connected to each other.

6. The vehicle assembly apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conveyor track comprises at least two vehicle lanes arranged laterally beside each other.

7. The vehicle assembly apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conveyor track is configured to permit assembly of the vehicle sequentially from a top of the three-dimensional helical configuration to a bottom of the three-dimensional helical configuration.

8. The vehicle assembly apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a transfer device arranged at an entry level at an uppermost region of the conveyor track, and which is configured to transfer components of the vehicles to the conveyor track.

9. The vehicle assembly apparatus of claim 8, wherein the components comprises bodyworks and/or drive trains.

10. The vehicle assembly apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one lifting device arranged laterally beside the conveyor track, and which is configured for movement between a plurality of helical planes of the conveyor track in order to complete assembly of the vehicle.

11. The vehicle assembly apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one lifting table arranged laterally beside the conveyor track, and which is configured for movement between a plurality of helical planes of the conveyor track to complete assembly of the vehicle.

12. The vehicle assembly apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a travel track arranged at a lowermost output of the conveyor track, and which is configured to permit completely assembled vehicles to move from the vehicle assembly apparatus.

13. The vehicle assembly apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one of an administration space, and/or an IT system, and/or data lines, and/or electrical lines, and/or electrical distributors arranged at a space of a central axis of the conveyor track.

14. The vehicle assembly apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one of an administration space, and/or an IT system, and/or data lines, and/or electrical lines, and/or electrical distributors is arranged in at least one helical plane.

15. A vehicle assembly system, comprising: a vehicle assembly apparatus that includes at least two conveyor tracks coupled to each other and respectively configured to transport vehicle shells, the at least two conveyor tracks having a three-dimensional helical configuration; and vehicle stations for completing assembly of a vehicle arranged along the conveyor track, wherein the at least two conveyor tracks are spatially arranged laterally beside each other.

16. A vehicle assembly system, comprising: a vehicle assembly apparatus that includes at least two conveyor tracks coupled to each other and respectively configured to transport vehicle shells, the at least two conveyor tracks having a three-dimensional helical configuration; and vehicle stations for completing assembly of a vehicle arranged along the conveyor track, wherein the at least two conveyor tracks are spatially arranged one above the other.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0033] Embodiments will be illustrated by way of example in the drawings and explained in the description below.

[0034] FIG. 1 illustrates a three-dimensional schematic illustration of a vehicle assembly, in accordance with embodiments.

DESCRIPTION

[0035] FIG. 1 illustrates a vehicle assembly facility, in accordance with embodiments, having a conveyor track 1 configured to transport part-vehicles or vehicle shell 2, and stations 3 for completing the vehicle shell 2 as a complete vehicle are arranged along the conveyor track 1. In accordance with embodiments, the conveyor track 1 has a three-dimensional helical shape or configuration.

[0036] The conveyor track 1 comprises three and a half helical planes, that is to say, three complete helical planes, and is constructed in such a manner that a vehicle shell 2 may be transported along the conveyor track 1 from top to bottom along the helix in the direction indicated by the arrows. At the uppermost level indicated in the region of the uppermost arrow which marks the input of the conveyor track, the input of the conveyor track 1, a device (not illustrated) may be arranged to transfer already-painted bodyworks 2 and drive trains (not illustrated) of vehicles to the conveyor track 1.

[0037] Whilst the vehicle shells 2 are transported on the conveyor track 1 from top to bottom, they reach the next station from a station 3 in which components are added to the vehicle shell 2. A plurality of stations 3 may be arranged in a helical plane as illustrated in the uppermost plane and stations 3 may be arranged in a plurality or in all of the helical planes of the conveyor track 1. Stations 3 may be located vertically spatially above and spatially below one another in different helical planes.

[0038] At the laterally outer side beside the conveyor track 1, there is arranged a joist or a lifting device, such as, for example, a lifting table 4, whose liftable carrier component, in particular, a table or other platform or directly liftable container, may be lifted to all the helical planes of the conveyor track 1, i.e., to stations 3 for completing assembly of a vehicle by adding various components to the vehicle shell 2.

[0039] As illustrated in FIG. 1, three possible positions of the container or table of a lifting table are provided. The lifting table 4 is, for example, a scissor type lifting table, may lift containers with fitted components directly into the stations 3 in order to provide vehicle components for assembly of the vehicle. It is naturally also possible for a plurality of hoists or lifting devices, in particular, lifting tables 4, to be used, and also for other supply units 8 for the stations 3 which may not be moved between the planes to be provided.

[0040] At the lower output of the conveyor track 1, an end test station 7 for final control of the vehicles produced and subsequently a travel track 5 for driving away the completely assembled vehicles is constructed and, for example, may be formed by a region of the floor of the assembly hall provided therefor and/or directly acts on a rail vehicle or operates a roadworthy transport means.

[0041] About the centre axis of the conveyor track 1, in all the helical planes, an administration space 6, for example, at least one of a screen work place, and/or an office, and/or a server room, may be arranged, respectively.

[0042] The term coupled or connected may be used herein to refer to any type of relationship, direct or indirect, between the components in question, and may apply to electrical, mechanical, fluid, optical, electromagnetic, electromechanical or other connections. In addition, the terms first, second, etc. are used herein only to facilitate discussion, and carry no particular temporal or chronological significance unless otherwise indicated.

[0043] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the preferred embodiments, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of embodiments is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims. Aspects from the various embodiments described, as well as other known equivalents for each such aspects, may be mixed and matched by one of ordinary skill in the art to construct additional embodiments and techniques in accordance with principles of this application.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0044] 1 Conveyor track

[0045] 2 Vehicle shell

[0046] 3 Station

[0047] 4 Lifting table

[0048] 5 Travel track

[0049] 6 Administration space

[0050] 7 End test station

[0051] 8 Supply unit