Patent Publication Number: US-9421655-B2

Title: Plate assembly

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a plate assembly configured to support a cylinder head. 
     BACKGROUND 
     During a manufacturing process of an internal combustion engine, a cylinder head must be assembled. To do so, the cylinder head must be supported while robotic arms (or other instruments) work on that cylinder head. Once assembled, the cylinder head can be coupled to the engine block. 
     SUMMARY 
     Plate assemblies are used to support a cylinder head while work is performed on the cylinder head. However, the shape of the cylinder head may change through the years and the current plate assemblies used to support the cylinder heads may need to be replaced in order to accommodate the particular shape of the new cylinder heads. It is therefore useful to have a plate assembly that has a universal frame that can be used with any cylinder head and an insert specifically made for directly supporting a particular cylinder head. The frame can hold the insert, and only the insert has to be replaced if the shape of the cylinder head changes. Accordingly, manufacturing costs can be minimized because the frame does not have to be replaced if the cylinder head changes. In one embodiment, the plate assembly includes a frame. The frame includes a frame body and a supporting wall extending from the frame body. The frame body defines an inner frame surface. The inner frame surface and the supporting wall jointly define a frame cavity. The plate assembly also includes an insert configured to support the cylinder head. The insert is sized to be received in the frame cavity and includes an insert body. The insert body defines a top insert surface, a bottom insert surface opposite to the top insert surface, and a lateral insert surface interconnecting the top and bottom insert surfaces. The supporting wall supports the insert such that the inner frame surface surrounds the lateral insert surface and the supporting wall contacts the insert bottom surface when the insert is disposed in the frame cavity. The present disclosure also relates to a manufacturing arrangement including a cylinder head and the plate assembly described above. As discussed above, the plate assembly supports the cylinder head. 
     The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic, front perspective view of a manufacturing arrangement including a cylinder head and a plate assembly supporting the cylinder head; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic, bottom perspective view of the manufacturing arrangement shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic, perspective view of the plate assembly shown in  FIG. 1  and a plurality of studs coupled to the plate assembly, wherein the plate assembly includes a frame and an insert disposed in the frame; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic, perspective view of the frame shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic, top view of the frame shown in  FIG. 3 ; and 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic, cross-sectional, perspective view of the frame shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, wherein the like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views,  FIGS. 1-3  schematically illustrate a manufacturing arrangement  100  including a cylinder head  102  and a plate assembly  104  configured to support the cylinder head  102 . The manufacturing arrangement  100  can be used to assemble an internal combustion engine. Specifically, the plate assembly  104  supports the cylinder head  102  while work is performed on that cylinder head  102 . For example, robotic arms may perform work on the cylinder head  102  while the plate assembly  104  holds the cylinder head  102 . The plate assembly  104  is therefore made of one or more materials that are sufficiently strong to support the weight of the cylinder head  102 . However, the configuration of the cylinder head  102  may change through the years as cylinder head designs change and the current plate assemblies used to support the cylinder heads  102  may need to be replaced in order to accommodate the particular configuration of the new cylinder heads  102 . It is therefore useful to have a plate assembly  104  that has a universal frame  106  that can be used with any cylinder head  102  and an insert  108  specifically made for a particular cylinder head  102 . The frame  106  can hold the insert  108 , and only the insert  108  has to be replaced if the configuration of the cylinder head  102  changes. Accordingly, manufacturing costs can be minimized because the frame  106  does not have to be replaced if the cylinder head  102  changes. 
     The frame  106  can directly support the insert  108 , and the insert  108  directly supports the cylinder head  102 . However, the frame  106  and insert  108  together support the cylinder head  102 . Therefore, the frame  106  and insert  108  are wholly or partly made of a material sufficiently strong to support the weight of the cylinder head  102 . As non-limiting examples, the frame  106  and insert  108  may be wholly or partly made of a metal, such as steel. Regardless of the specific material employed, the insert  108  is removably coupled to the frame  106 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 4-6 , the frame  106  defines a frame center C ( FIG. 5 ) and includes a frame body  110  and a supporting wall  112  extending from the frame body  110 . Specifically, the supporting wall  112  extends from the frame body  110  toward the frame center C and can support the insert  108  ( FIG. 1 ). The frame body  110  may be a one-piece structure and defines an inner frame surface  114  disposed around the supporting wall  112 . The supporting wall  112  is coupled along an entirety of the inner frame surface  114 . The inner frame surface  114  and the supporting wall  112  jointly define a frame cavity  116 . The frame cavity  116  is configured, shaped, and sized to receive the insert  108  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     The frame  106  additionally includes a frame opening  118 . In particular, the supporting wall  112  has an inner wall surface  120  that defines the frame opening  118 . At least a portion of the frame opening  118  extends through the frame center C and is in communication with the frame cavity  116 . 
     Aside from the frame opening  118 , the frame  106  includes at least one frame dowel  122  extending from the supporting wall  112 . In the depicted embodiment, the frame  106  includes two frame dowels  122 . However, the frame  106  may include more or fewer frame dowels  122 . Irrespective of the quantity, each frame dowel  122  is configured, shaped, and sized to engage the insert  108  ( FIG. 1 ) so as to locate the insert  108  with respect to the frame  106  when the insert  108  is disposed in the frame cavity  116 . The frame dowels  122  may have a substantially cylindrical shape and, when engaged with the insert  108 , can secure the insert  108  in the frame cavity  116 . 
     The frame body  110  may be a one-piece structure and has an outer frame sidewall  124  defining the entire outer perimeter of the frame  106 . The frame  106  also includes at least one grip bushings  126  ( FIG. 4 ) extending into the outer frame sidewall  124 . Each grip bushing  126  is configured to receive an end effector of a robotic arm, thereby allowing the robotic arm to engage the frame  106 . In the depicted embodiment, the frame  106  includes more than one grip bushing  126 . 
     The frame  106  can also be manually grabbed by an operator. To this end, the frame  106  includes at least one handle  128  coupled to the frame body  110 . In the depicted embodiment, the frame  106  includes two handles  128 , and each handle  128  is configured as a bar  130  coupled to the frame body  110 . Although coupled to the frame body  110 , each bar  130  is spaced apart from part of the frame body  110  so as to define a handle opening  132 . During use, the operator may insert at least part of the hand through the handle opening  132  and grab the bar  130  in order to hold the frame  106 . 
     The frame  106  further includes a retention block  134  coupled to the frame body  110 . In the depicted embodiment, the retention block  134  can retain a plurality of studs  136  and is coupled to the frame body  110  and at least part of the handle  128 . Specifically, the retention block  134  is at least partially disposed on the frame body  110 . The studs  136  can be used to secure the cylinder head  102  ( FIG. 1 ) to the insert  108 . The retention block  134  may include a plurality of retaining holes  138  ( FIG. 5 ) each configured to receive at least a portion of one stud  136 . Each stud  136  can be partially inserted into one retaining hole  138  in order to couple the stud  136  to the frame  106 . The studs  136  can be placed in the retaining holes  138  until is time to secure the cylinder head  102  ( FIG. 1 ) to the insert  108  with the studs  136 . In the depicted embodiment, the retention block  134  has four retaining holes  138 ; however, it is contemplated that the retention block  134  may have more or fewer retaining holes  138 . 
     In addition to the retention block  134 , the frame  106  includes bumpers  140  coupled to the frame body  110 . The bumpers  140  are wholly or partly made of an elastic material, such as an elastomer. As a non-limiting example, the bumpers  140  are wholly or partly made of rubber. In the depicted embodiment, the frame  106  includes a first edge surface  142  and a second edge  144  surface opposite the first edge surface  142 . The bumpers  140  extend from the first edge surface  142  and may have a substantially cylindrical shape. Regardless of their shape, each bumper  140  is configured to absorb a force exerted by another plate assembly  104 . During the manufacturing process, several plate assemblies  104  may be arranged linearly. It is useful to avoid direct contact between the frame bodies  110 . To this end, the bumpers  140  can serve as a cushion and prevent direct contact between the frame bodies  110 . 
     The frame  106  includes a sensing system  146  for determining whether the insert  108  is disposed in the frame cavity  116  and the cylinder head  102  is disposed on the insert  108 . In other words, the sensing system  146  can detect the presence of the cylinder head  102  on the plate assembly  104  when the insert  108  is disposed in the frame cavity  116  and the insert  108  is supporting the cylinder head  102 . The sensing system  146  includes a fluid source coupling  148  configured to be coupled to a fluid source, a fluid passageway  150  in fluid communication with the fluid source coupling  148 , and a sensing hole  152  in fluid communication with the fluid passageway  150 . At least part of the fluid source coupling  148  extends from a bottom frame surface  154  of the frame body  110 . The frame body  110  also includes a top frame surface  156  opposite the bottom frame surface  154 . The frame  106  may include two fluid source couplings  148  and each is configured to be coupled to a fluid source, such as an air source. See also  FIG. 2 . Because the fluid source coupling  148  is in fluid communication with the fluid passageway  150 , a fluid from the fluid source can flow from the fluid source coupling  148  to the fluid passageway  150 . The fluid passageway  150  can extend through the frame body  110  and the supporting wall  112  and is in fluid communication with the sensing hole  152 . The sensing hole  152  is open at a top wall surface  158  of the supporting wall  112 . The supporting wall  112  also includes a bottom wall surface  160  opposite the top wall surface  158 . Although  FIG. 5  show the sensing holes  152  at a corner section of the supporting wall  112 , the sensing holes  152  may be positioned along other sections of the supporting wall  112  as shown in  FIG. 6 . For instance, in  FIG. 6 , the sensing holes  152  are located between the corner sections of the supporting walls  112 . The sensing holes  152 , the fluid passageway  150 , and the fluid source couplings  148  are in communication with a pressure sensor that detects the pressure in the fluid passageway  150 . As such, when the insert  108  is disposed in the frame cavity  116  and the cylinder head  102  is disposed on the insert  108 , the insert  108  at least partially blocks the sensing holes  152  due to the weight of the cylinder head  102  on the insert  108 , thereby changing the pressure of the fluid (e.g., air) in the fluid passageway  150 . The pressure sensor coupled to the fluid source coupling  148  can detect this change in pressure and, consequently, alert the user that the insert  108  is disposed in the frame cavity  116  and the cylinder head  102  is disposed on the insert  108 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , the frame  106  further includes locating holes  162  extending into the bottom frame surface  154 . The locating holes  162  can be used to secure the frame  106  to another clamp or any other suitable tool. Aside from the locating holes  162 , the frame  106  has guide bushings  164  extending into the bottom frame surface  154 . The guide bushing  164  can be coupled to a fixture in order to secure the frame  106  at a fixed position. 
     As discussed above, the insert  108  is configured, shaped, and sized to be disposed in the frame cavity  116  ( FIG. 4 ). The insert  108  includes an insert body  166  and can support the cylinder head  102 . The insert body  166  may be a one-piece structure and defines a top insert surface  168 , a bottom insert surface  170  opposite to the top insert surface  168 , and a lateral insert surface  172  interconnecting the top and bottom insert surfaces  168 ,  170 . The supporting wall  112  of the frame  106  supports the insert  108  such that the inner frame surface  114  surrounds the lateral insert surface  172  and the supporting wall  112  contacts the bottom insert surface  170  when the insert  108  is disposed in the frame cavity  116 . The insert  108  further includes at least one rest pad  176  coupled to the insert body  166 . In the depicted embodiment, the insert  108  includes four rest pads  176  disposed on the top insert surface  168 . It is nonetheless contemplated that the insert  108  may include more or fewer rest pads  176 . Regardless of the quantity, each rest pad  176  has an engaging hole  178  configured to receive at least a portion of one stud  136 . Consequently, the studs  136  can be inserted in the engaging holes  178  of the rest pads  176  in order to couple the studs  136  to the insert  108 . In  FIG. 3 , the studs  136  are shown coupled to the rest pads  176  without the cylinder head  102  for illustration purposes only. The studs  136  should be disposed through the cylinder head  102  and into the engaging holes  178  of the rest pads  176  in order to couple the cylinder head  102  to the insert  108  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The cylinder head  102  rests on the rest pads  176  when the insert  108  supports the cylinder head  102 , while the studs  136  are attached to the rest pad  176  in order to secure the cylinder head  102  to the insert  108  when the insert  108  is supporting the cylinder head  102 . 
     The insert  108  further includes at least one locating dowel  180  coupled to the insert body  166 . In the depicted embodiment, the insert  108  includes two locating dowels  180  disposed on the top insert surface  168 . It is envisioned, however, that the insert  108  may include more or fewer locating dowels  180 . The locating dowels  180  are configured to engage the cylinder head  102  so as to locate the cylinder head  108  with respect to the insert  108  when the insert  108  supports the cylinder head  102 . 
     The insert  108  may define an insert opening  182  extending through the insert body  166 . In particular, the insert opening  182  extends through the top and bottom insert surfaces  168 ,  170 . When the insert  108  is supported by the supporting wall  112  of frame  106 , the insert opening  182  is substantially aligned with the frame opening  118  so as to allow access to the bottom section of the cylinder head  102 . 
     While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention within the scope of the appended claims.