Brevet FR3141735A1 — publié le 20240510

A fixing system (100) comprising a bracket (101) and a fixing (103) configured to grasp onto a stud; wherein the bracket (101) comprises an aperture (104) by which the fixing (103) is captured, wherein the fixing (103), while captured, is freely operable and translatable in position relative to the bracket (101). Figure 1 FIXING SYSTEM The invention relates to a fixing system suitable for automated attachment of parts to a vehicle frame by an automated construction device. Introduction In a production line, for example a vehicle production line, it is desirable to automate as many steps of the constructions process as possible. This removes the possibility of human error, natural variation, inconsistencies, as well as to mitigate the risk of strike action, absence, or illness of employees. The automation of certain tasks, to be completed by an automated construction device, such as a robot, are problematic. Programming such devices is unforgiving and the degree of precision afforded by these devices, which is normally an advantage, can become a disadvantage and hinder the quick construction of a product. Certain parts which must be fixed to a frame may not require absolute precision in positioning on the frame, or the frame may move as it progresses through the production line resulting in problems in placement. Finally, mere orientation of a part for fixing to a frame by an automated construction device can be problematic. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fixing system with improved compatibility with an automated construction device. Summary of the Invention According to a first example of the disclosure there is provided a fixing system, suitable for automated attachment of parts to a vehicle frame by an automated construction device. The fixing system comprises; a bracket configured to grasp onto at least one part, the bracket comprising a location marker enabling orientation of the bracket by an automated construction device; and a fixing configured to grasp onto a stud. The bracket comprises an aperture by which the fixing is captured, wherein the fixing, while captured, is freely operable and translatable in position relative to the bracket. In this way the fixing system provides a single entity which an automated construction device can handle and, via the location marker, orientate so it may place the fixing system onto a vehicle frame. Capturing the fixing in the bracket ensures all the parts remain associated with each other and mitigates the risk of dissociation of the parts and subsequent loss of the fixing which would result in costly downtime of an automated manufacturing system. The bracket provides a platform from which at least one part, such as a pipe (e.g. coolant pipe) can be attached and held in place (i.e. grasped). Allowing the fixing to be freely operable and translatable means the fixing can be operated to provide a secure fit to the vehicle frame without adversely or unintendedly altering the position or orientation of the bracket. It will be apparent that operation of the fixing must alter the position and orientation of the bracket in order to secure the bracket to the vehicle frame, but a distinction must be made that this is intended movement of the bracket. This is in opposition to unintended movement of the bracket, such as full rotation or spinning which can result in, for example, entanglement or buckling of one or more pipes attached to the bracket. Translation in this context means that there is a large degree of slack or travel available to the fixing when captured by the aperture. While a stud on a vehicle frame may be in a known, constant, and predictable location in comparison from one vehicle frame to another, there may be natural variations in the elasticity or weight of pipes, or the stud centre may vary due to the manufacturing tolerance selected. By providing translation the fixing may move in a controlled way relative to the bracket, while remaining captured, but still allow a secure fastening between the part and the vehicle frame to be achieved. It should be noted that “stud” in the context of this application means a point of fixture or some apparatus arranged to receive, and be grasped by, a fixing resulting in an at least temporary bond between the two. An example of a stud is a threaded rod welded or otherwise fixed to a vehicle frame, such as M6 threaded bar. Suitably, the aperture comprises one or more resilient arms which urge the fixing to a predetermined position relative to the bracket. The resilient arms are arranged to have push, or otherwise act upon, the captured fixing. This is to provide a buffer to the movement of the fixing within the aperture. This ensures that the fixing, while capable of free movement within the aperture, moves slowly and predictably and is generally urged towards the centre of the aperture. This facilitates location and placement of the fixing upon a stud. Preferably, the fixing system comprises a guide to assist location of the fixing onto a stud. Using a guide to allow the fixing to orientate itself relative to the stud as the automated construction machine urges the fixing towards the stud ensures an accurate location of the fixing upon the stud even if large manufacturing tolerances are used in construction, indeed, the guide may permit the relaxation of manufacturing tolerance. The guide may have a substantially conical form. The shape of a cone lends itself as a guide as the tapered surface provides an initially large aperture, which is forgiving in providing a large area in which it would be acceptable to receive a stud. As the fixing is urged towards the vehicle frame the stud may contact the internal tapered surface of the cone and arrest movement of the fixing relative to the bracket, thereby preventing overshoot of the fixing relative to the stud. The stud may then follow the tapered surface until it is located correctly for the fixing to achieve a successful grasp of the stud. Optionally, wherein the fixing comprises a position lock, such that when the fixing grasps a stud, the relative position of the bracket and the fixing is locked by the position lock. The position lock may comprise one or more ribs arranged on one or both of the bracket and/or fixing. In this way unintentional repositioning of the bracket, relative to the fixing, is prevented. This may, for example, avoid unintentional detachment of the fixing from the stud if rotation of the fixing relative to the bracket were not hindered by the lock. The lock may be one way, such that the fixing system must be destroyed to re-open the lock, alternatively, the lock may be placed in an unlocked position by the application of a deliberate force by an end user. The lock may take the form of interfering features arranged on one or both of the bracket and fixing, such as ribs. Suitably, the bracket comprises one or more resilient feet arranged to, in use, contact the frame and apply a tension to the fixing system. In application of the fixing system, the resilient feet of the bracket touch down onto the substrate (e.g. vehicle frame) first as the fixing system is urged towards the substrate by the automated construction device. After touch down, and as the fixing system is further urged towards the substrate, the feet deform, resiliently buckle, or splay out and apply a force on the bracket, and thereby the fixing captured by the bracket. This tension allows the automated construction device to apply the required actions to operate the fixing system and ensure the fixing grasps a stud. Brief Description of the Drawings Example embodiment(s) of the invention are now described, by way of example only, hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: shows a complete fixing system in perspective view; Figure s 2 A, 2B, 2C, and 2 D show the capture of a fixing within a bracket of a fixing system; Figure s 3 A, 3B, 3C, and 3D show the operation of a fixing within a bracket of a fixing system; shows a side view of a bracket of a fixing system; shows a front view of a bracket of a fixing system; shows a top view of a bracket of a fixing system; shows a side view of a bracket of a fixing system; shows a rear view of a bracket of a fixing system; shows a bottom view of a bracket of a fixing system; shows a rear perspective view of a bracket of a fixing system; shows a front perspective view of a bracket of a fixing system; shows a wire frame view of a front perspective of a fixing system; shows a wire frame view of a rear perspective of a fixing system; shows a wire frame view of a rear perspective of a bracket of a fixing system; shows a wire frame view of a rear perspective of a fixing of a fixing system; and shows a wire frame view of a side perspective of a fixing for a fixing system. Detailed Description Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words ‘right’, ‘left’, ‘lower’, ‘upper’, ‘front’, ‘rear’, ‘upward’, ‘down’ and ‘downward’ designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made and are with respect to the described component when assembled and mounted. The words ‘inner’, ‘inwardly' and ‘outer’, ‘outwardly’ refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, a designated centreline or a geometric centre of an element being described (e.g. central axis), the particular meaning being readily apparent from the context of the description. Further, as used herein, the terms ‘connected', ‘attached’, ‘coupled’, ‘mounted’ are intended to include direct connections between two members without any other members interposed therebetween, as well as, indirect connections between members in which one or more other members are interposed therebetween. The terminology includes the words specifically mentioned above, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import. Further, unless otherwise specified, the use of ordinal adjectives, such as, ‘first’, ‘second’, ‘third’ etc. merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking or in any other manner. Like reference numerals are used to depict like features throughout. Also, the terms ‘rivet’ and ‘pin’ are used interchangeably and are intended to include permanently attached pins or rivets (e.g. glued, soldered or welded etc.), but also pins and rivets removably coupled, such as, rivets that are attached and fixingly retained through a suitable aperture (friction-lock rivet or movable pins). With referent to the figures, a fixing system (100) made of two parts is disclosed, the bracket (101)/plate which retains the tubes and the nut (“fixing”) which is to be fixed to the stud. The bracket (101)/plate has legs (“arms”) for holding and self-centering the nut during delivery (the nut being positioned in the nominal position) and making it possible for the nut to move and adjust itself to the position of the stud during assembly (providing a large tolerance for big gap adjustment, up to 10 mm). The bracket (101)/plate and the nut also have a position lock (105), in the form of ribs, to secure the nut from unlocking. The nut has a conical inlet for helping assembly with the stud when the nut and the stud are not aligned. Figures 1, 12, and 13 show a fixing (103) captured within a bracket (101). The bracket (101) is formed of a substantially planar plate, approximating a square, although it will be apparent that the bracket (101) may take any form. The bracket (101) comprises an aperture (104) in which is captured a fixing (103). The bracket (101) comprises two clasps for grasping and holding a part in place, such as a coolant pipe. It will be apparent that the bracket (101) may have any number of clasps or other means to grasp one or more parts (in the case of a single part the bracket (101) may be provided with multiple clasps to grasp the same part). Likewise the part that is grasped need not be a pipe but can be any other part which requires fixation to a substrate, such as a vehicle frame. A fixing (103) is captured within the aperture (104) by one or more legs (discussed below). Figures 2A-2C, 3A-3D, show a process of how a fixing (103) is captured and operated within a bracket (101). The fixing (103) is inserted into the aperture (104) of the bracket (101) and retained in place by one or more resilient arms (201) which act upon the column of the fixing (103). There are four resilient arms (201) shown in the bracket (101) of figure 2C, but it will be apparent that any number of resilient arms (201) may be used provided sufficient resilient arms (201) are provided to urge the fixing (103) towards a geometric centre of the aperture (104) (i.e. a point which is at the maximum distance from the wall(s) defining the aperture (104)). The resilient arms (201) are shown integrally formed with the bracket (101), but may be of separate construction and fitted after formation of the bracket (101). The resilient arms (201) are formed of a resilient material which is capable of returning to a predetermined state, such as a plastic. Preferably the resilient arms (201) are made of the same material as the bracket (101) which may be a polyamide or polyoxymethylene, for example. Each arm is attached to the bracket (101) in a corner of the aperture (104), although it will be apparent that each arm may be located at any point on an interior of the aperture (104). Figure 3C shows how the fixing (103), once captured within the aperture (104) is free to roam within the bounds of the aperture (104), with the resilient arms (201) applying a gentle force against the column of the fixing (103) to urge the fixing (103) towards a predetermined location, such as a geometric centre of the aperture (104). In this way, with the fixing (103) free to roam and the resilient arms (201) guiding the fixing (103) towards a centre, the fixing system (100) is able to accept a large placement tolerance of the fixing system (100) upon a stud, of the order of 10mm. Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 14 show a bracket (101) absent the fixing (103). The bracket (101) further comprises a location marker (102), taking the form of a ribbed cylinder which projects from a main face of the bracket (101). While the location marker (102) is shown in a corner of the bracket (101), the location marker (102) may be placed in any suitable location on the bracket (101), provided the location marker (102) can fulfil its function of allowing an automated construction device to orientate the bracket (101) in space. A position lock (105), in the form of multiple ribs, is provided on the bracket (101) and/or the fixing (103). The ribs radiate from a centre of the aperture (104) and/or from a central axis of an opening of the fixing (103) that is configured to receive a stud. It will be apparent that any structure other than ribs may be used provided the structure performs the function of arresting movement of the fixing (103) relative to the bracket (101) when the fixing system (100) is in place on a stud. The bracket (101) is further provided with a pair of resilient feet (106) which are arranged on opposite sides of the bracket (101). Any number of resilient feet (106) may be used including one foot or a plurality. The resilient feet (106) may take the form of fins projecting at an angle relative to a main face of the bracket (101). The resilient feet (106) project, in use, towards the substrate, such that as the bracket (101) is urged towards the substrate the resilient feet (106) are the first part of the fixing system (100) to contact the substrate. The bracket (101) may be formed of multiple parts, such as a substantially C shaped section and a closing part (figure 2D, 203). The closing part may snap fit with the C shaped part to form a complete bracket (101). The closing part may be omitted, but by including the closing part an aperture (104) which is bounded on all sides may be formed providing increased structural strength compared to the C shaped part alone, resistant to torsional forces which the ends of the C shaped part may be susceptible. Alternatively, the bracket (101) may be formed of a single part with a complete circumference bounding the aperture (104) without the need for additional closing parts. Figures 15 and 16 show the fixing (103) absent the bracket (101). The fixing (103) is substantially I shaped in cross section having an upper plate and a lower plate attached by a hub-ward column. The column comprises a through-aperture inside which are grasping means to adhere the fixing (103) to a stud, such as ribs or thread, although any suitable grasping means may be used provided a secure fitting is provided between the fixing (103) and the stud. The fixing (103) is also provided with a drive means for an automated construction device to affect the attachment of the fixing (103) to the stud. This need not be rotational, the fixing (103) may be “push fit” or otherwise onto the stud. The example drive means shown is in the form of a hexagonal nut. The fixing (103) shown is of a single part, however the fixing (103) need not be formed in this way, the fixing (103) may be, for example of multiple parts and fasted together about the bracket (101) (e.g. by snapping two parts of the fixing (103) together through the bracket aperture (104)). Such a variable fixing (103) may be particularly suitable for use with a single part bracket (101) as discussed above. The fixing (103) comprises a guide (202) to allow the fixing to orientate itself relative to the stud as the automated construction machine urges the fixing towards the stud ensures an accurate location of the fixing upon the stud even if large manufacturing tolerances are used in construction. The guide (202) is shown as an inverted hollow cone or collar, presenting a wide aperture in which a stud may easily be located. It will be apparent that any tapering structure may be substituted for the cone provided that structed fulfils the function of easily locating a stud and then guiding the stud into the fixing (103). It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the above embodiment(s) have been described by way of example only and not in any limitative sense, and that various alterations and modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Various modifications to the detailed designs as described above are possible. A fixing system (100) comprising: a bracket (101); a fixing (103) configured to grasp onto a stud; wherein the bracket (101) comprises an aperture (104) by which the fixing (103) is captured, wherein the fixing (103), while captured, is freely operable and translatable in position relative to the bracket (101). A fixing system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixing system (100) is suitable for automated attachment of parts to a vehicle frame by an automated construction device, and/or wherein the bracket (101) configured to grasp onto at least one part, the bracket comprising a location marker (102) enabling orientation of the bracket (101) by an automated construction device. A fixing system (100) in any previous claim, wherein the aperture (104) comprises one or more resilient arms (201) which urge the fixing (103) to a predetermined position relative to the bracket (101). A fixing system (100) as claimed in any previous claim, wherein the fixing system (100) comprises a guide (202) to assist location of the fixing (103) onto a stud. A fixing system (100) as claimed in any previous claim, wherein the fixing (103) and/or bracket (101) comprises a position lock (105), such that when the fixing (103) grasps a stud, the relative position of the bracket (101) and the fixing (103) is locked by the position lock (105). A fixing system (100) as claimed in any previous claim wherein the bracket (101) comprises one or more resilient feet (106) arranged to, in use, contact the frame and apply a tension to the fixing system (100).