Patent Publication Number: US-2019168833-A1

Title: Vehicle panel mounting device and method of using the same

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Movable body panels of a vehicle (e.g., doors, hoods, trunk lids, and tailgates) are typically mounted to a vehicle body with one or more hinges. The hinges are generally attached to the vehicle panel and the vehicle body using fasteners, which may include bolts or welds. In a vehicle assembly process the vehicle panel can be installed by automated means, such as a robot, or installed manually by manufacturing associates. When installed by automated means, robots and jigs can be designed and optimized to place and hold the vehicle panel and hinges in a desired position with respect to the vehicle body while simultaneously fastening the mounting bolts to secure the vehicle panel to the vehicle body. However, when installed manually the manufacturing associate is often tasked with both ensuring proper positioning of the component and tightening the fasteners. This process can be difficult for the manufacturing associate when manipulating a large vehicle panel or fastening bolts in locations that are difficult to reach. 
     Current practice in the automotive manufacturing industry when manually installing a movable vehicle panel onto a vehicle body is to use a model-specific mounting jig to assist the manufacturing associate in holding the vehicle panel in its intended position while the manufacturing associate tightens the fasteners and/or completes the welds. However, these mounting jigs are often expensive, complex, have limited usage, and can remain deficient in overall functionality. The jigs are generally designed for application to vehicle models contained in a single model line and having a similar vehicle body and vehicle panel, necessitating multiple jigs for manufacturing plants having multiple model lines. Despite the complex nature of these jigs, they may still lack adequate retention force for holding the vehicle panel in the proper position against the vehicle body while the manufacturing associate is installing fasteners. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     According to one aspect, a vehicle panel mounting jig includes a first block assembly, a first arm extending from the first block assembly, a second block assembly, a second arm extending from the second block assembly, and a tension device. The first block assembly includes an outside first block end and an inside first block end, wherein a longitudinal axis of the mounting jig is defined as extending between the outside first block end and the inside first block end of the first block assembly. The second block assembly includes an outside second block end and an inside second block end. The first arm extends substantially perpendicularly from the outside first block end of the first block assembly, and the second arm extends substantially perpendicularly from the outside second block end of the second block assembly. The inside second block end of the second block assembly defines an opening wherein the inside first block end of the first block assembly is configured for placement within the opening and to slide along the longitudinal axis relative to the second block assembly. The tension device couples the first block assembly and the second block assembly. 
     According to another aspect, a mounting jig for temporarily retaining a vehicle panel onto a vehicle body includes a base block assembly, an extension assembly, and an extension spring. The base block assembly includes a first arm configured to insert into an aperture defined by a first edge surface within the vehicle body. The extension assembly includes an end that defines an opening configured to receive an end of and slide longitudinally relative to the base block assembly, a handle, and also a second arm configured to insert into an aperture defined by a second edge surface within the vehicle panel. The extension spring is located within an internal cavity of the mounting jig and is coupled to the base block assembly at a first mounting jig end, and the extension assembly at a second mounting jig end. 
     According to a further aspect, a method for securing a vehicle panel to a vehicle body includes placing the vehicle panel in a mounting position on the vehicle body and temporarily securing the vehicle panel to the vehicle body. Temporarily securing the vehicle panel to the vehicle body includes aligning a first arm located on a first mounting jig end of a mounting jig with a first aperture defined by a first edge surface within the vehicle body and inserting the first arm into the first aperture, and aligning a second arm located on a second mounting jig end of the mounting jig with a second aperture in the vehicle panel and inserting the second arm into the second aperture. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       To easily identify the discussion of any particular element or act, the most significant digit or digits in a reference number refer to the figure number in which that element is first introduced. 
         FIG. 1  is a rear view of a vehicle panel attached to a vehicle body in an open configuration. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the vehicle panel shown in  FIG. 1  in a mounting position on the vehicle body. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a mounting jig temporarily holding the vehicle panel shown in  FIG. 1  on the vehicle body. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a door hinge in a position for fastening to a vehicle body. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the mounting jig shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view of Section A-A of the mounting jig shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the mounting jig shown in  FIG. 5  in a fully compressed state. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the mounting jig shown in  FIG. 5  in a partially extended state. 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the mounting jig shown in  FIG. 5  in a fully extended state. 
         FIG. 10  is a method of temporarily securing a vehicle panel onto a vehicle body according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Description 
     With reference now to the figures wherein the illustrations are for purposes of illustrating one or more exemplary embodiments and not for purposes of limiting the same, there is shown a vehicle panel mounting jig and method of using the mounting jig. 
     DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a rear view of an exemplary vehicle  100 . In the exemplary embodiment, the vehicle  100  includes a movable vehicle panel  102  and a vehicle body  104 .  FIG. 1  shows the vehicle panel  102  in an open configuration with respect to the vehicle body  104 . The vehicle panel  102  provided is a tailgate, however the vehicle panel  102  in other embodiments may comprise a door, hood, trunk lid, or other vehicle component that attaches to the vehicle body  104  in a swinging configuration. The vehicle  100  includes a first door hinge  106  and a second door hinge  110  that each hingedly couple the vehicle panel  102  and the vehicle body  104 . The first door hinge  106  will be described further, however it is understood that this description also applies to the second door hinge  110  as well any additional door hinges that may be present in further embodiments. The first door hinge  106  fastens to the vehicle panel  102  at one end using one or more bolts, and also fastens to the vehicle body  104  at a second end using one or more bolts. Alternatively, the first door hinge  106  may be welded, riveted, or fastened to the vehicle panel  102  and vehicle body  104  using other known fastening devices. The first door hinge  106 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , may be configured such that the vehicle panel  102  is able to move in a rotating motion relative to the vehicle body  104 , with the first door hinge  106  located at or near a center of a rotational axis. The rotating motion allows the vehicle panel  102  to move between a closed configuration and the open configuration shown in  FIG. 1 , and provide a person with access to an interior volume  108  of the vehicle body  104 . Two or more door hinges  106 ,  110  may be used in a typical configuration to attach a vehicle panel  102  to a vehicle body  104 . 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the exemplary vehicle  100 .  FIG. 2  shows the vehicle panel  102  in a mounting position  202  with respect to the vehicle body  104 . The mounting position  202  may be a closed configuration of the vehicle panel  102  at a location on the vehicle body  104  where the vehicle  100 &#39;s manufacturer intends the vehicle panel  102  be installed. In other embodiments, the mounting position  202  may be a partially open configuration wherein the vehicle panel  102  is ajar relative to the vehicle body  104 . The mounting position  202  provides a manufacturing associate with clear access to through holes within the first door hinge  106  where bolts may be inserted to fasten the vehicle panel  102  to mounting holes within the vehicle body  104 . As provided in  FIG. 2 , the mounting holes may be located on a substantially horizontal surface at an outer upper rear area  204  of the vehicle body  104 . In a typical assembly operation, the first door hinge  106  may be fastened to the vehicle panel  102  prior to the assembly configuration depicted in  FIG. 2 , as the location where the first door hinge  106  fastens to the vehicle panel  102  may not be clearly accessible to the manufacturing associate with the vehicle panel  102  in the mounting position  202 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a vehicle panel mounting jig  318 . In the exemplary embodiment, the mounting jig  318  is temporarily securing the vehicle panel  102  in the mounting position  202  with respect to the vehicle body  104 . A first mounting jig end  302  of the mounting jig  318  may engage a first edge surface  316  defining a first aperture  304  located within an interior surface  310  of a roof panel  312  of the vehicle body  104 , and a second mounting jig end  306  of the mounting jig  318  may engage a second edge surface  320  defining a second aperture  308  located within a corresponding adjacent surface  314  of the vehicle panel  102 . The first edge surface  316  will be described further, however it is understood that this description also applies to the second edge surface  320 . The vehicle panel  102  may initially be manually held in the mounting position  202  by a first hand of the manufacturing associate while the mounting jig  318  is installed by a second hand to temporarily hold the vehicle panel  102  on the vehicle body  104  in the mounting position  202 , allowing the manufacturing associate to release the vehicle panel  102  with the first hand and perform other tasks such as fastening the door hinge  106  to the vehicle body  104 . 
     The first edge surface  316  has a thickness that may correspond to a thickness of material from which each of the vehicle panel  102  and the vehicle body  104  are formed. Alternatively, the first edge surface  316  may correspond to a thickness greater than the thickness of material, for example if the first aperture  304  is defined in an area of multiple layers of stacked or folded material. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the first door hinge  106 .  FIG. 4  shows the first door hinge  106  in an exemplary environment at an outer upper rear area  204  of the vehicle body  104  wherein one end of the first door hinge  106  is positioned for mounting to an exterior surface  402  of the roof panel  312  of the vehicle body  104 . As depicted in  FIG. 4 , the first door hinge  106  may be pre-fastened to the vehicle panel  102  at a second end (not shown). The vehicle panel  102  is in the mounting position  202  to allow clear access to a through hole  404  at the end of the first door hinge  106  that fastens to the vehicle body  104 . A bolt (not shown) may be inserted through the through hole  404  and into a corresponding mounting hole (not shown) defined in the vehicle body  104  to fasten the first door hinge  106  and vehicle panel  102  to the vehicle body  104 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the mounting jig  318 . The mounting jig  318  includes a first block assembly  502  and a second block assembly  504 . Each block assembly  502 ,  504  has a hollow internal cavity and may have a square cross-section (e.g., a section of square tubing), or alternatively may have a circular cross-section (e.g., a section of round tubing). Each block assembly  502 ,  504  may be comprised of metal or plastic, such that it has sufficient rigidity to apply clamping force necessary to hold the vehicle panel  102  to the vehicle body  104 . 
     The first block assembly  502  includes a first arm  506  that perpendicularly extends from a first mounting jig end  302  of the mounting jig  318 . The second block assembly  504  includes a second arm  508  that perpendicularly extends from a second mounting jig end  306  of the mounting jig  318 . Each arm  506 ,  508  is substantially cylindrical in shape and may be hollow (e.g., a section of round pipe) or solid (e.g., a section of round bar stock). The first arm  506  may include a first notch  510  that is alignable with the first edge surface  316 , and the second arm  508  may include a second notch  524  that is alignable with the second edge surface  320 . The first notch  510  and second notch  524  are located on an inside radius  512  of the each respective arm  506 ,  508  with respect to the mounting jig  318 . For example, if the first arm  506  includes the first notch  510  and the second arm  508  includes the second notch  524 , the first notch  510  and the second notch  524  will face one another. The depth of each notch  510 ,  524  may be between ⅛ and ½ the diameter of each respective arm  506 ,  508 ; the height of each notch  510 ,  524  is greater than the thickness of the edge surface  316 ,  320  to which it is intended to engage. 
     The first block assembly  502  includes an outside first block end  526  that corresponds to the first mounting jig end  302 , and an inside first block end  528 . A longitudinal axis L extends between the outside first block end  526  and the inside first block end  528 . The second block assembly  504  includes an outside second block end  530  that corresponds to the second mounting jig end  306 , and an inside second block end  532 . The inside second block end  532  of the second block assembly  504  defines an opening  514  wherein the inside first block end  528  is configured for placement therein. The second block assembly  504  is also configured such that it may freely slide in a longitudinal direction along the longitudinal axis L relative to the first block assembly  502 . 
     The mounting jig  318  may also include a handle  518  to facilitate ease of use. The handle  518  may be located on either the first mounting jig end  302  or the second mounting jig end  306 , and on either a transverse face  516  or a longitudinal face  522 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 5 , the handle  518  is located on a transverse face  516  of the second block assembly  504 . The handle  518  is configured such that it may be grasped by the manufacturing associate to apply a tension force to the mounting jig  318  to extend it in order to align, for example, the second arm  508  with the second aperture  308  in the vehicle panel  102 . 
     The mounting jig  318  may also include a retention bolt  520  to retain one end of an internal tension device, as described later, at the first mounting jig end  302 , and a second end of the internal tension device at the second mounting jig end  306 . 
       FIG. 6  is a sectional view of Section A-A in  FIG. 8 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the mounting jig  318  may include an internal tension device  602  that couples the first mounting jig end  302  of the mounting jig  318  at the first block assembly  502  to the second mounting jig end  306  of the mounting jig  318  at the second block assembly  504 . The tension device  602  may comprise an extension spring, as shown, or alternatively may comprise an elastic band, hydraulic cylinder, pneumatic cylinder, or other object that can apply a tension force to compress the mounting jig  318 . The tension device  602  may be coupled to the first mounting jig end  302  and the second mounting jig end  306  of the mounting jig  318  using the retention bolt  520  and further secured using the nut  534 . The tension device  602  may be fully contained within an internal cavity  606  of the mounting jig  318 , and may be removed and replaced with a different tension device having the same or a different tension force in order to achieve a desired compression force for the mounting jig  318  as needed for a specific application. 
       FIG. 7  is an exemplary embodiment of the mounting jig  318  in a fully compressed state. A compressed arm distance  1  indicates a distance between the inside radius  512  of each of the first arm  506  and the second arm  508  with the mounting jig in the fully compressed state. The mounting jig  318  may include a protuberance  706  extending from a surface of the first block assembly  502 , along with a slot aperture  708  defined within the second block assembly  504  and located at a position corresponding to the position of the protuberance  706 . The protuberance  706  is located within the slot aperture  708  in order to limit the extent of relative movement between the first block assembly  502  and the second block assembly  504  along the longitudinal axis L. The protuberance  706  may comprise a bolt head or other removable object to allow for removal and separation of the first block assembly  502  and the second block assembly  504  as needed, such as for service or repair. When the mounting jig  318  is in the fully compressed state, the protuberance  706  is located at a surface defining a second slot end  704 . 
       FIG. 8  is a side view of the mounting jig  318  in a partially extended state. The internal tension device  602  is visible through the slot aperture  708  within the second block assembly  504 . As previously indicated, the ends of the tension device  602  are retained at each of the first mounting jig end  302  and the second mounting jig end  306  by a bolt  520 . A section line A-A is provided to define the sectional view provided in  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 9  is an exemplary embodiment of the mounting jig  318  in a fully extended state. When the mounting jig  318  is in the fully extended state, the protuberance  706  is located at a surface defining a first slot end  904 . The protuberance  706  limits the extent of extension and compression of the mounting jig  318  by providing a physical stop against each of the first slot end  904  and the second slot end  704 . An extended arm distance  1 ′ indicates a distance between the inside radius  512  of each of the first arm  506  and the second arm  508  with the mounting jig  318  in the fully extended state. The extended arm distance  1 ′ is greater than the compressed arm distance  1  by a working distance  1 ″ that may be equal to the length of the slot aperture  708  less the width of the protuberance  706 . In addition to limiting longitudinal movement, the visible location of the protuberance  706  within the slot aperture  708  provides the manufacturing associate with a visible indication of the current elongation position of the mounting jig  318 . 
       FIG. 10  is a method of installing a vehicle panel onto a vehicle body. In an exemplary embodiment, method  1000  includes placing  1002  a vehicle panel in a mounting position on a vehicle body, for example, vehicle panel  102  in mounting position  202  with respect to vehicle body  104  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). Method  1000  also includes removably coupling vehicle panel  102  to vehicle body  104  using a mounting jig, for example, mounting jig  318  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ). In the exemplary embodiment, removably coupling vehicle panel  102  to vehicle body  104  includes aligning  1004  a first arm  506  located on a first mounting jig end  302  of mounting jig  318  with a first aperture  304  defined by a first edge surface  316  within vehicle body  104  and inserting first arm  506  into first aperture  304 ; aligning  1006  a first notch  510  on first arm  506  with a layer of material comprising first edge surface  316 ; pulling  1008  a handle  518  on a second mounting jig end  306  of mounting jig  318  to extend mounting jig  318 ; aligning  1010  a second arm  508  located on second mounting jig end  306  of mounting jig  318  with a second aperture  308  defined by a second edge surface  320  within vehicle panel  102  and inserting second arm  508  into second aperture  308 ; aligning  1012  a second notch  524  on second arm  508  with a layer of material comprising second edge surface  320 ; and releasing  1014  handle  518  to allow mounting jig  318  to compress and retain vehicle panel  102  in mounting position  202  with respect to vehicle body  104 . Method  1000  also includes fastening vehicle panel  102  to vehicle body  104  using a door hinge, for example, first door hinge  106  (as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4 ). In the exemplary embodiment, fastening  1016  vehicle panel  102  to vehicle body  104  includes installing a fastener through a through hole  404  defined within first door hinge  106  and into vehicle body  104 . Method  1000  further includes removing mounting jig  318  from vehicle panel  102  and vehicle body  104 . In the exemplary embodiment, removing mounting jig  318  includes pulling  1018  handle  518  to extend mounting jig  318  and pivoting mounting jig  318  to remove second arm  508  from second aperture  308 ; releasing  1020  handle  518  to allow mounting jig  318  to return to a fully compressed state; and removing  1022  first arm  506  from first aperture  304 . 
     The foregoing detailed description of exemplary embodiments is included for illustrative purposes only. It should be understood that other embodiments could be used, or modifications and additions could be made to the described embodiments. Therefore, the disclosure is not limited to the embodiments shown, but rather should be construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the recitations of the appended claims.