Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~s~
This invention relates to the attachment, at a precise
position, of a first member to a second member which is not
as precisely positioned as the first member, and provides a
method of and apparatus for locating the position of the
first: member and for reforming the second member by a
variable magnitude depending on the actual position of the
second member relative to a predetermined position. The
invention relates, in particular, to the precise attachment
of an outer body panel member of an automotive vehicle to an
imprecisely located element of an inner body panel structure.
U.S. Patent No. 4,438,971 (W.S. Zaydel, et al) describes a
method of and apparatus for attaching. at a precise location,
a plastic automotive body panel to a relatively imprecisely
located element of an inner body panel structure. According
to the teachings of this patent, plastic-filled metal
attachment blocks or pads are welded at selected locations to
the inner body panel structure. The inner body panel
structure to then positioned within a locating and machining
fixture and each of that plastic-filled attachment blocks is
milled to a precise position, the distance between the inner
body panel structure and the milled face of the plastic-
filled attachment blocks varying with the position of the
inner body panel structure. The plastic outer body panel
somber is then attached to the milled face of the plastic-
filled attachment block, after drilling a hole in theplastic-filled attachment block to receive a threaded
fastener or a
X - 1 -
~a~tenor nttacb~d to th~ ln~lde ot the pla~t~c outor body pan~l ~o ber ~y
thl~ ~ethod and app~ratu~, e~ch ~uch pla-tlc out~r body ~anel _ bar i~
ounted ln a proclsely detor~lned po~ltlon ~nd ln proci~ rt~ca all~ ~nt
~lth ~ch ad~cent pla~tlc panol
The etbod ~nd apparctu~ ot th afor-~ald U 8 ~tont No
4,4~8,~71 doe~ lead to Droclalon ln tha pocltlonln~ ot Dla-tlc o~t r bod~
panel~ to a rolatlvalg laproclc~ly po-ltlonad auto~otl~ lnnor body p~ccl
tructurc, but lt requlro- tho lnltlal aetach ant Or tb~ tlc-flllod
attac~ ont block- to the lnner body panol ~truct~r , a ~actor ~hlch add- to
the natorlal and proco--ln~ coct~ ot producln~ aD ~#to~otiv~ body ln t~i-
~nner, ond thc ~eldln~ operatlon that 1~ no-dod to ~ttccb tba pl~ tlc-
flllad netal attacbaent block~ 1- nolcy and dlrty Additlon~ , th- ub-
oquent 1111D~ o~ tbe pla-tlc-~llled attacb~eDt bloo~ n rat-- eor~p
~hlch 1~ a l~turo or a N tal and tho pla~tlc tlllor at rl-l ~hlcb, ~or th~
Ib dl~po~ltlon o~ ~ucb crap ln an onvlron~e~tally acceptablo Hnnor, ln~olvo-
addltlonal e~pon-e and, ln any care, tho nlllln~ o~ th pla-tlc-rlll-d
attach~ent block- p norato- du-t corro-pondln~, nalDl~, to e~ co-po ltlob
o~ the pla~tlc ~lllor Thl- 1~ alro ob~ootlonabl- on onvlron oDt-l an~
~orkplace h-alth and a~oty ~round-~ unlo~ rtrlct proca~tlon~ ar ~ollo~d
2~ ln pertor~ln~ the alllln~ and drlllln~ o~ the pla-tlc-rlllod attach ont
blocks
lt 1- al~o kno~n ln tho prlor ~rt that a rolatlvoly lnprocl-oly
located auto-otlvo lnn r body panel elo- nt can be bullt u~ to Drovld ~or
the attachnont theroto o~ an outor body pao~ Dt t a nore pr ol--ly
Zb deter-lned locatlon by attachln~ ono or oro n-tal bl~- to tb- urr-c- ot
the lnner body ~nel elo~ent to ~hlch thc outcr body ~ at 1~ to be
attached, tbe nu b~r or uch shl~r to bo attach~d ba--d on tho orl~ln l
posltlon o~ the lnnor body ~nol olo-ent ~o~evor, thlc i- a tl---conr _ ln~
and expen~lve procoduro, and the attachuont or uch hln~ add- to tbo ~elJbt
o~ tho vohlcle, an u~d~lrebl~ roature o~peclallg lnc- It dotract- ~ro
ruel econony
129~I`7~
Accordln~ to tbo pre~ent lnventlon there 1- provld~d a ~tbod ot
and apparatu~ tor rotor ln~ a relatlvely laprecl~ o~itloned el~ent by a
varlabl~ auount to pre-cnt lt~ curtace or one or or- ~loctod portlonc
thereor ~t a precl~ely detornlDed pocltlon ror the attac~eDt o~ anotber
ele~ent thereto, and tbe ~cthod and apparatu~ are p rtlcul~rly ada~ted tor
the retoraln~ ot a portlon ot an ele- nt ot an auto~otlvc lnnor body panel
to recolva a aQtalllc or plactlc outer body paoel to b~ attached th~reto at
a locatlon ~blch 1- oore preclc-ly deter~lned th~n tb orl~l~al locatlon ot
cuch loner body panel el-a nt The ~pparatuc o~ the pt-c~nt lnvontlon
lnclude~ one or aore ~lx~d anvll- ~hlch are oov~d lnto ~ix~d ~o-ltlonr on
one ~ldo ot tbc Dortlon ot tbe inoer bo~y p~D-l elea-at that 1- to be
r~toraed, prot~rably oa tbe outold~ thoreo~ r-latlve to th- lntorlor ot th
vehlclo tbat 1~ belns producod The apparatu~ oloo lncl~dao tloatln~ oug-
1~ port attochaent~ or ur--c- looatlns a-aber~ that ar- loc-~d on tb uu~
~lde ot th~ lnner body p Del loaont a~ th- tl~od an~ and ~hlch ~ov~,
r~latlv~ to the tl~od anvll~, to~ard and a~ay troa th- ad~ac n~ portlon o-
tbe ~ur-ace ot tbo lnnor bod,y ~anel ~loaent that 1~ to b ro~oroed ~ho
floatln~ ~upport attacbnent ~rbor~ oro locotod on ~loatln~ ar-- on the o-
2~ lde ot th~ lnn~r body pan-l a- thc ~ d anvll- and ar~ aatuat d to~rd tb-
~ur~ace o- the lnnor body panol el~a~nt uDtil they Rka contact tb~r ~ltb to
~lnd~ the locatlon ot tbo lnn~r body ~anol at ~blch tlue tbo~ ar loc~-d
ln a ~laed po~ltlon, ~roterably hydraullc~ , untll tb- N tor~ln~ oycl- le
corplet~d
z5 Th~ ~pparatu- o~ th- ~r-~-nt lDv ntlon al o laclud - a i n abl- r--
tha~ 1~ located on tbe opDo-lto ldb o~ th~ 1QD r bodr D~o-l }~a~t b ~t
re~or~ed Th~ aovable r~ 1~ aovabl- to~ard ~nd _ ~ ~ro- ~ch op~o lt-
~2~8071
side of the inner body panel element and has pad forming blocks
contacting the surface of the inner body panel that are
positioned opposite the fixed anvils. After the floating arms
have been brought into contact with the surface of the inner body
panel element that is to be reformed and have been locked in
position, the moveable ram is actuated to move toward the inner
body panel element and to reform the portions thereof that are
trapped between the fixed anvils and the pad forming blocks of
the movable ram. Thus, the inner body panel element will be
provided with one or more pads, the outside surface of each of
which corresponds in position to the fixed position of the fixed
anvil against which it is formed, regardless of the original
position of the inner body panel element from which it is formed,
the depth of each of such pads varying, therefore, according to
the difference between the fixed position of its outer surface
and the original position of the portion of the outer surface of
the inner body panel element from which it is formed. Each of
such pads is ready for the attachment of an outer body panel
element thereto without any further machining or other processing
being required to establish its fixed location. The only
additional processing normally being required is the lancing,
punching, or piercing of an aperture in such pad to receive a
fastener for the fastening of the outer body panel element
thereto, which lancing, punching, or piercing, if reguired or
desired, most conveniently being done during the forming of the
pad by a tool which reciprocates within the fixed anvils. The
method and apparatus of the present invention can be used to
prepare an automotive inner body panel for the attachment of
sheet metal or plastic outer body panels to the inner body
panels, according to the preference of the vehicle manufactures.
According to one aspect thereof the present invention thus
provides an apparatus for reforming a first member having a
relatively imprecise initial position to permit attachment to a
second member having a predetermined fixed position, said first
member having a first surface and a second surface whlch is
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lZ91~71
opposed to said first surface said apparatus comprising: at least
one anvil; movable means for supporting said at least one anvil
at sa:Ld predetermined fixed position; at least two locating
members disposed on opposite sides of said at least one anvil,
said at least two locating members being connected to said
movable means and movable relative to said at least one anvil;
means for moving said at least two locating members relative to
said at least one anvil into contact with said first surface of
said first member at said initial position and for locking said
at least two locating members in said contact w~th said first
surface of said first member; a ram moveably connected to said
movable means, said ram having at least one form block movable
therewith, said at least one form block facing said second
surface of said first member and generally in alignment with said
at least one anvil; and means for moving said ram to move said at
least one form block toward said at least one anvil to deform a
portion of said first member that is between said at least two
locatlng members to engage said at least one anvil, said at least
two locating members supporting said first member in said initial
position during the deforming of said portion of said first
member. Suitably said apparatus further comprises: piercing
means for making a hole through said first member; and means for
moving said piercing means to make said hole in said portion of
said first member after said portion of said first memher has
been deformed. Preferably said piercing means is carried by said
movable means and is movable therewith, said piercing means being
movable relative to said at least one anvil. Desirably said at
least one anvil has an annular configuration and wherein said
piercing means is located within said at least one anvil and is
movable relative thereto, and wherein said means for moving said
piercing means comprises means for reciprocating said piercing
means within said at l~ast one anvil. Suitably least two
locating members comprises at least an arm having a first end, a
second end, and a pivot axis between said first end and said
second end; and said means for moving said at least two locating
A
lZ~. 7~
members comprises means for pivoting said arms about said pivot
axis.
The present invention also provides an apparatus for reforming a
relatively imprecisely positioned first member having a first
surface and a second surface which is opposed to said first
surface to permit the attachment, at a more precisely determined
position, of a second member to said first surface of said first
member, said apparatus comprising: a first anvil and a second
anvil, said first anvil and said second anvil being fixed
relative to one another and being spaced apart from one another;
movable means carrying said first anvil and said second anvil for
positioning and first anvil at a first fixed position ad~acent
said first surface of said first member and for positioning said
second anvil at a second fixed position ad~acent said first
surface of said first member; a first locating element, a second
locating element, and a third locating element, one of said first
locating element, said second locating element, and said third
locating element being positloned between said first anvil and
said second anvil, said flrst anvil and sald second anvil being
positioned between the other two of said first locating element
and sald second locating element; means for moving said first
locating element, said second locating element, and said third
locating element relative to said first anvil and said second
anvil to bring at least a portion of each of said first locating
element, said second locating element and said thlrd locatlng
element into contact with said first surface of said first member
and for locking said at least a portion of each of said first
locating element, said second locating element and said third
locating element against said first surface of said first member;
movable ram means having a first form block and a second form
block, one of said first form block and sald second form block
being generally in alignment with one of said flrst anvil and
said second anvil, the other of said first form block and said
second form block being generally in alignment with the other of
said first anvil and said second anvil; and means for moving said
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movable ram means to move one of said first form block and said
second form block toward one of said first anvil and said second
anvil and to move the other of sald first form block and said
second form block toward the other of said first anvil and said
second anvil to thereby contact said second surface of said first
member and to deform the portion of said first member that is
between said one of said first anvil and said second anvil and
said one of said first form block and said second form block and
to deform the portion of said first member that is between said
other of said first anvil and said second anvil and said other of
said first form block and said second form block. Suitably said
movable ram means is carried by said movable means and is movable
therewith, said movable ram means further being movable relative
to said second anvil.
The apparatus further comprises: first movable piercing means;
second movable piercing means; and means for moving said first
movable piercing means and said second movable piercing means to
pierce said portion of said first member that is between said one
of said first anvil and said second anvil and said one of said
first form block and said second form block and to pierce said
portion of said first member that is between said other of said
first anvil and said second anvil and said other of said first
form block and said second form block. Suitably said first
movable piercing means and said second movable piercing means are
carried by said movable means, one of said first movable piercing
means and said second movable piercing means further being
movable relative to one of said first anvil and said second
anvil, the other of said first movable piercing means and said
second movable piercing means further being movable relative to
the other of said first anvil and said second anvil. Desirably
said first anvil is annular, wherein said second anvil is
annular, wherein said one of said first movable piercing means
and said second movable piercing means is located within the
annulus of one of said first anvil and said second anvil and is
movable by reciprocation within said annulus of said one of said
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~`
1 2 ~ ~ 7~
first anvil and said second anvll, and wherein said other of said
first movable piercing means and said second movable piercing
means is movable by reciprocation within the annulus of the other
of sa:Ld first anvil and said second anvil, said means for moving
said first movable piercing means comprising means for
reciprocating said one of said first movable piercing means and
said second movable piercing means within said annulus of said
one of said first anvil and said second anvil and for
reciprocating said other of said first movable piercing means and
said second movable piercing means within said annulus of said
other of said first anvil and said second anvil.
In one embodiment of the present invention said first locating
element comprises a first arm having a first end, a second end, a
pivot axis between said first end of said first arm and said
second end of said first arm, said at least a portion of said
first locating element being disposed ad~acent one of said first
end of said first arm and said second end of said first arm;
wherein sald second locating element comprlses a second arm
havlng a first end, a second end, a pivot axis between said first
end of said second arm and said second end of said second arm,
said at least a portion of said second locating element being
disposed ad;acent one of said first end of said second arm and
said end of said second arm; and wherein said third locating
element comprises a third arm having a first end, a second end
and a pivot axis between said first end of said third arm and
said second end of said third arm, said at least a portion of
said third locating element being disposed ad~acent one of said
first end of said third arm and said second end of said third
arm. Suitably said pivot axis of said first arm, said pivot axis
of said second arm, and said pivot axis of said third arm are
coaxial. Desirably said pivot axis of said first arm is located
closer to said one of said first end of said first arm and said
second end of said first arm than to the other of said first end
of said first arm and said second end of said first arm, wherein
said pivot axis of said second arm is located closer to said one
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~ 71
of said first end of said second arm and second end of said
second arm than to said other of said first end of said second
arm and said second end of said second arm, and wherein said
pivot axis of said third arm is located closer to said one of
said first end of said third arm and said second end of said
third arm than to the other of said first end of said third arm
and said second end of said third arm. Preferably said means for
moving said first locating element, said second locating element
and said third locating element relative to said first anvil and
said second anvil comprises means which acts on said first arm
ad~acent said other of said first end of said first arm on said
other of said second end of said first arm, and said second arm
ad~acent said other of said first end of said second arm and said
second end of said second arm, and on said third arm adjacent
said other of said first end of said third arm and said second
end of said third arm.
The present invention again provides an apparatus for reforming a
first member having a relatively imprecise initial position to
permit attachment to a second member having a predetermined fixed
position, said first member having a first surface and a second
surface which is opposed to said first surface, said apparatus
comprising: ar. anvil; movable means carrying said anvil for
positioning said anvil at said predetermined fixed position;
locating means for locating said first member at said initial
position, said locating means having at least first and second
portions, said anvil being disposed between said first and second
portions of said locating means, said locating means being
carried by said movable means and being movable relative to said
anvil; means for moving said locating means relative to said
anvil to bring said first and second portions into contact wlth
said first surface of said first member at said initial position
and for locking said first and second portions of said locating
means in said contact with said first surface of said first
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129~
member; a movable form block being located ad;acent said second
surface of said first member and generally in alignment with said
anvil; and means for moving said movable form block toward said
anvil to deform a Portion of said first member between said first
and second portions of said locating means to engage said anvil,
the remaining portion of said first member being supported by
said first and second portions of said locating means in said
initial position during the deforming of said portion of said
first member.
The present invention further provides the method of reforming a
relatively imprecisely positioned member having a first support
surface and a second surface which is opposed to said first
support surface to permit the attachment, at a more precisely
determined position, of a second member to said first support
surface of said imprecisely positioned member, said method
comprising the steps of: positioning an anvil on a net locating
apparatus at a predetermined fixed position; providing locating
means on opposite sides of said anvil such as to straddle said
anvil; advancing said locating means towards said preclsely
positioned member until said locating means comes into contact
with said imprecisely positioned member; continue advancing said
locating means towards said first support surface of said
imprecisely positioned member, said net locating apparatus
permitting said locating means to float with respect to said
imprecisely positioned member during the continuing advancement
of said locat~ng means such that said locating means finds the
location of said first support surface of said imprecisely
positioned member; locking said locating means in position
against said first support surface of said imprecisely positioned
member; end imposing a load, through a pad forming block,
ad;acent said second surface of said imprecisely positioned
member generally in alignment with said predetermined fixed
positioned anvil to deform the portion of said imprecisely
positioned member against said anvil while said portlon is
supported by said locating means, whereby said portion of said
f
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~29~3~`71
imprecisely positioned member is precisely positioned with
respect to said predetermined fixed positioned anvil. Suitably
the step of piercing said precisely positioned portion of said
imprecisely positioned member while said deformed portion of said
imprecisely positioned member is between said anvil and said pad
forming block. Desirably said anvil is in the configuration of
an annulus and wherein said step of piercing is performed by
advancing a tool through said annulus of said anvil.
The present invention also provides the method of reformlng first
and second spaced apart portions of a relatively imprecisely
positioned member having a first support surface and a second
surface which is opposed to said first support surface to permit
the attachment, at a more precisely determined position, of at
least one second member to said first support surface of said
imprecisely positioned member, said method comprising the steps
of: positioning a first anvil on a net locating apparatus at a
first predetermined fixed posltion, posltlonlng a second an~il on
a net locating apparatus at a second predetermined fixed position
ad~acent said first anvil; providing first locating means between
said first anvil and said second anvil; providing second and
third locating means on opposing sides of said first locating
means such that said first anvil is disposed between said first
and second locating means and said second anvil is disposed
between said first locating means and said third locating means;
advancing said first locating means, said second locating means,
and said third locating means simultaneously towards said
imprecisely positioned member until said first locating means,
said second locating means, and said third locating means come
into contact with said imprecisely positioned member; continue
advancing said first, second and third locating means towards
said first support surface of said imprecisely positioned member,
said net locating apparatus permitting said first, second and
third locating means to float wlth respect to said imprecisely
positioned member during the continuing advancement of said
first, second and third locating means such that said first,
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lZ9~17~
second and third locating means finds the location of said first
support surfacé of said imprecisely positioned member; locking
said first locating means, said second locating means and said
third locating means in position against said first support
surface of said imprecisely positioned member; imposing a first
load, through a first pad forming block, against said second
surface of said imprecisely positioned member generally in
alignment with said first anvil to deform said first portion of
said imprecisely positioned member against said first anvil while
said first portion of said imprecisely positioned member is
supported by said firs-t locating means and one of said second
locating means and said third locating means whereby said first
portion of said imprecisely positioned member is precisely
positioned with respect to said first predetermined fixed
position of said first anvil; and simultaneous with said step of
imposing said first load imposing a second load, through a second
pad forming block, against said second surface of said
imprecisely positioned member generally in alignment with said
second anvll to deform said second portion of said imprecisely
positioned member agalnst sald second anvil whlle sald second
portlon of said imprecisely positioned member is supported by
sald flrst locating means and the other of sald second locating
means and said third locating means such that said second portion
of said imprecisely positioned member is precisely positioned
with respect to said second predetermined fixed position of said
second anvil. Suitably said method further comprises the steps
of: piercing said first portion of said imprecisely positioned
member while said first portion of said imprecisely, positioned
member is between said first anvil and said first pad forming
block; and simultaneous with said step of piercing said first
portion piercing said second portion of sald impreclsely
positioned member while said second portlon of said lmprecisely
positioned member is between said second anvll and sald second
pad forming block. Desirably sald flrst anvll ls in the
configuration of an annulus, whereln sald second anvll is in
configuration of an annulus, wherein sald step of plercing said
~ 5g ~
~2~71
first portion of said imprecisely positioned member is performed
by advancing a first tool through said annulus of said first
anvil and wherein said step of piercing said second portion of
said Lmprecisely positioned member is performed by advancing a
second tool through said annulus of said second anvil.
The present invention also provides the method of reforming a
member that has first and second surfaces, said method comprising
the steps of: placing an anvil on a net locating apparatus at a
first predetermined fixed position; moving a floating support
attachment, that is ad~acent said anvil, into contact with said
first surface of said imprecisely positioned member; immobilizing
the position of said anvil after said placing step; locking said
floating support attachment with respect to said anvil; moving a
pad forming block against said second surface to deform a portion
of said imprecisely positioned member against said anv~l while
said portion is supported by said floating support attachment;
and piercing the deformed portion of said imprecisely positioned
member by advancing a tool in a direction toward said first
surface while sald deformed portion is lmmobilized between said
pad forming block.
Thus the present invention provides a method of and apparatus for
reforming a relatively imprecisely located element to present a
surface thereof at a precise location for the attachment of
another element thereto.
The present invention also provides a method of and apparatus for
reforming an element of an automotive inner body panel to present
a portion of the surface of such element at a predetermined
position for the attachment of an outer body panel thereto.
The present invention further provides a method of an apparatus
for reforming a relatively imprecisely located element to present
a surface thereof at a precise location for the attachment of
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another element thereto and for forming a hole in such surface to
facilitate the attachment of the other element thereto.
More particularly, the present invention provides a method of and
apparatus for reforming an element of an automotive inner body
panel to present a portion of the surface of such element at a
predetermined position for the attachment of another element
thereto and for forming a hole in such surface to facilitate the
attachment of the element thereto.
The present invention will be further illustrated by way of the
accompanying drawings in which:
Figure l is an elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the
apparatus according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus that is shown in Figure
l;
Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing various of the
elements of the apparatus that is shown in Figures 1 and 2;
- 5i -
~2g~7~
Figure 4 is a fragmentary schematic view showing a step in
the method of the present invention using the apparatus of
Figures 1 through 3:
Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing a subsequent
step in the method of the present invention;
Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a portion
of an automotive inner body element that has been processed
by the apparatus according to Figures 1 through 3 and by the
method according to Figures 4 and 5; and
Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan view of an alternative
embodiment of the apparatus according to the present
invention.
According to the present invention there is provided a net
locating device in the fore of a pad forming devicè that is
generally indicated by reference numeral 10 with reference to
the Figures. The pad forming device 10 is movable, in
unison, into and away from working engagement with a portion
or an automotive inner body panel, indicated by reference
character IP, at a work station where the central X, Y, and Z
axes of such inner body panel, which is usually in the form
of a skeleton of the vehicle that is to be formed therefrom,
are precisely positioned relative to one or more of the pad
forming devices 10, in a suitable fixture, not shown, which
is known in the art.
The structure or the pad forming device 10 is carried by a
mounting plate 12 which is an element of such pad forming
device and which, as shown in Figure 3, is irregularly-shaped
and is provided with a first aperture 12a and a second
aperture 12b therein, for reasons which will be explained
more fully herein. The pad forming device 10 is adapted to
form a multiplicity, shown as two, of closely-spaced raised
X
~2~
attachment pads in the inner body panel lP, such raised pads
being generally identified by reference character P in figure
6. The pad forming device 10 also includes firs and second
spaced apart side plates 14 and 16, respectively, which are
attached to the mounting plate 12 in any suitable manner, for
example, by threaded fasteners, not shown, and which extend
generally normally from the mounting plate 12, and generally
parallel to one another, toward the inner body panel lP that
is being processed.
A generally L-shaped mounting plate 18 extends across the
space between the first side plate 14 and the second plate 16
and the mounting plate 18 is secured to each of the first
side plate 14 and the second side plate 16 in a suitable
manner, for example, by cap screws including cap screws 20
and 22, as is shown in Figure 2. For a two raised attachment
pad forming device 10 of the type shown in the drawing and as
heretofore described, first and second fixed anvils 24 and
26, of a known position, are attached to an intermediate
horizontal surface 18a and a vertical surface 18b of the
mounting plate 18 and are secured to the mounting plate 18 in
a suitable manner, for example, by cap screws 28. The fixed
anvils 24 and 26 have work contacting surfaces 24a and 26a,
respectively, which, by the mechanism and the associated
motion controls that are used to move the pad forming device
10 into working engagement with the inner body panel lP,
- which mechanism and controls, that is commonly referred to as
a net locating device, precisely positions the X, Y, and Z
axes of the work contacting surfaces 24a and 26a relative to
the X, Y, and Z axes of the inner body panel. This precise
location is preferably always at least some minimum fixed
predetermined distance, for example, in this embodiment, at
least approximately 1 mm away from the adjacent portions of
the outer surface of the inner body panel lP in its outermost
or maximum position. Thus, because there is typically a
X - 7 -
: L29~ ~1
variance of approximately 4 to 5 mm in the final position of
the outer surface of an inner body panel element, each of the
work contacting surfaces 24a and 26a of the fixed anvils 24
and :26 will be spaced from 1 mm to approximately 5 mm from
the adjacent portions of the
- 7a -
X
~29~
outer sur~ace of the lnner body panel ~h~rn~ ter such ~ork contactlng
ur~ace~ 24a and Zffn have been brou~ht into ~orkln~ en~a~e~ent ~ith the
inner body panel ~e~e~
The portlon~ o~ the ourrace o~ the lnner body psnel 1~ that are
ad~acent the work contactln~ surraces z4a and 28a are physlcally 3upported
on both sldes o~ each o~ the ~lrst and second ~ixed envi 19 '~4 and 2~ durln~
the re~orelng o~ the inner body panel lP to produce the ralsed ~ttachaent
pads ~ re~ardle~s o~ the orl~lnal ~p~clny o~ the outor ~ur~ace o~ the lnner
body panel IP ~roa the ~ork contactlnK ~ur~aces by three ~loatln~ support
lU attschuents 30, 32, and 34 whlch are attached at one end o~ each o~ three
~paced-apart ~loatln~ arus 3ff, ~8 and 40 whlch are locked ln a ~lxed porl-
tlon prlor to re~or-ln~ The ~loatln~ arns 3H, 38 and 40 are plvotable
nbout a co~on axls thst extends through holeA 3~a, 38n and 4Ua ln the
~loatlng srns, re-pectlvely, such co~aon axl~ beln~ the central axls o~ a
~lxed plvot sha~t 42 that extends throuyh the holes 3~a, 38a, and 40a, ~hlch
are allgned ~lth one another and throu~h holes 18c and 18d ln L-~hap~d
~ountlng plate extenslon~ 18e and 18~, re~pectlvely, that extend ~or~ardly
~ro~ the L-shaped aountlng plate 18 the ~ountlng plnte extenslon 18e beln~
po~ltloned bet~een the tloatlns ar~ 38 and 40 and the aountlng plate exten-
~o slon 18~ belnK posltloned bet~een the ~loatlng ar~s 3~ and 38
The ~loatiny ar-s 3~, 38, and 40 are provlded wlth hole~ 33b, 38b,
and 40b respectlvely, whlch are spaced ~ron the hole~ 38a, S8s, and 40a,
respectlvely, and the rockln~ or osclllatlon o~ the ~loatln~ ar~s 3B, 98,
and 4U about the centr61 ~xi8 e~tendln~ throu~h the hole~ 38a, 38a, ond 40a
z~ is cau~ed by plvotally attQchlnK the ~loatln~ arra 3~, 38, and 4U to ~ yoke
portlon 44a o~ a reclprocable draw yoke 44 by ean~ o~ a rloatln~ ~lvot
sha~t 4ff that e~tends throu~h the holes 38b, ~8b, ~nd 40b o~ the ~loatln~
ar~ 3~, 38, and 4U and tbrough the yoke portior, 44a o~ the reclprocable
drnw yoke 44 Ac 1~ clear ~ro~ ure~ 1 and ~ o~ the drawln~s, the plvot
~o a~l~ o~ each ~loatln~ sr- 3~, 38, and 4U throu~h the ~lxed plvot hatt 42 i~
~;29~t7~
~uch clo~er to the end ot each such nr~ thnt c~rrle~ the ~loating ~upport
attachuents 9~ , and 94, respectlvely, than lt i8 to the e~d that carrles
the plvot a~l~ through the rloatln~ pivot shart 4ff. 'rhlY relatlonshlp pro-
.^ ~ c ~ o C~
vlde~ leverage ~hlch reduce~ the loadln~s on the ~ elln~w3-~ dra~ yoke 44 and
S ~ lt helps ln the posltlonln~ o~ the rloatlng support attachnents 3u, 32, and
~ CC ~ O C ~
34 agalnst the lnner body panel 1~. ~rhe ~lul;uP~e } draw yoke 44 reclDroca-
tes ln ~ulde notches 17C and 12d o~ the ~ountln~ plate lZ, and the reclpro-
catlon 18 actuated by an hydr~ullc ~ork ~upport devlce ~8 Or a kno~n type,
l.e., Hytec Hydroullc ~ork Yupport No. lOU231, a type o~ devlce ~hlch ~111
lU lock the work contactln8 ~uri'aces o~ the ~loatln~ support attachnents 3U,
32, snd 34 agalnst the outer surrace o~ the lnner body panel lP once the
tloatln~ arn~ 3~, 98, and 4U have been ~lped ~ar enou~h to~ard the outer
~urtace ot the lnner body p~nel IP to ~lnd" the location o~ the lnner body
panel 1~, that 18, to brln~ the ~ork contactln~ surraces o~ the ~loatln~
~up~ort attachaentJ lnto contact ~lth the lnner body panol lP as Jho~n in
the pre~erred eabodiaent. Uther kno~n devlce~ such as the type ~hlch open
coepletely to recelve the lnner body panel lP and sub-equently are allo~ed
to ~loat lnto contact ~lth the lnner body panel to "~lnd~ the locatlon o~
the lnner body panel W are also lntended to be u~ed ln the ~1~n~TttoD pad
zU roraln~ devlce.
Unce the ~loatlng support attacheent~ 3U, 92, and havo "round"
the outer ~ur~ace o~ the lnner body panel lP and have been locked ln po~l-
tlon thereagaln~t, as heretotore de~crlbed, the portloD~ o~ the lnner body
panel lP between the rloatln~ support attach~ent~ 90, 9Z, and ~4 are
deror~ed outwardly untll they aake contact ~lth the ~ork contactln~ ~urracos
24a nnd ZBa ot the ~lr~t and second ~l~ed anvlls 24 and 25, re~pectlvely.
Thls de~orælng 18 ~cco~pll~hed under a load that 1~ l~poaed by spaced apart
~lrst and second pad ror~ln~ blocks 5~ and 5~ that are attached ln a pacod-
apart relatlonshlp to a ~enorally L-shaped hydraullcally actuated raa b4.
so The pad roreln~ block~ 50 and ~2 are attached to the hydraullc r~a 64 by cap
scre~ 55. The hydraullc rs~ 64 18 reclprocated bet~een the broken llne
12~8(~71
posltlon sho~n ln ~lgure 1 ~nd the solld line posltlon sho~n ln ~ucb ~lguro
by an hydraullc cyllnder 56 that 18 rounted to the back o~ the aountln~
plate 12 and i8 connected to the ra- 54 throu~h the aperture 12b The
reclprocatlon ot the hydraullc ran 54 18 ~ulded by rlrst, ~econd, and third
ways 57 that tor- the lnslde ~urrace o~ the ~lrst and ~econd ~lde plates 14
end lff, and by are ounted ln place by ~lr~t and ~econd spacer bars 14a,
14b, l~a, and l~b that ~re attached to the ln~lde ~ur~ace ot the ilrst and
second slde plates 14 and lff
A~ter the ralsed attachaent pad~ ~ have been ror~ed by the
lU de~ornlng o~ the inner body panel lP bet~een the tlr-t ~nd second ~ad
~or~ing blocks W nnd ~2 snd the tlrst and ~econd fl~ed anvlls ~4 and 2ff, A~
hereto~ore descrlbed, and be~ore the extension o~ the hydraullc raa ~4 to
retract the pad torvln~ blocks ~o and ~a ~ron the lnner body panel lP and
the unlocklng ot the hydr~ullc ~ork Jupport ~ulde 48 to retract the ~loatln~
arns ~ff, 38, and 4v ro- the lnner body panel lP, to thereby perult the
retractlon ot the pad ror-ln~ devlce lo ~ro~ the lnner body panel lP, lt 18
rrequently deslrable to ror- an aperturs ln each Or the ralsed attach ent
pnds ~ by lsncln~ an openln~, punchlng a slu~ thero~rou, or by tbe plercin~
thereot, to provlde attacb ent apertures, ~uch ac punched-out hole~ H, ln
the ralsed attach-ent pads P ~or the subsequent attachnent o~ an outer body
panel to such ralsed attach-ent pads ~ l~he lanclns, punchln~, or plercin~
o~ the ralsed nttach~ent pads ~ nay be done aost convenlently by the pad
~or~ln~ devlce 10, be~ore lt 19 withdrewn ~ro- the lnner body panel lP
Thu~, the pad ~oroln~ devlce 10 i9 provided wlth lancln~, plercln~, or
~5 punchln~ tools 58 and ffO, the punchln~ tool~ bein~ a~tl~ed, re-pectlvely, to
retalners ff2 and ff4 thst, ln turn, are a~ ed to a reciprocable bydraullc
punchln~ ra- ffff wlth back-up plntes ff8 and 70, respectlvely, beln~ nounted
between the retalners ff2 and ff4 and the hydraullc punchln~ raa ffff The
hydraulic punchln~ r~ ffff 18 provlded wlth outwardly proJectln~ ~lan~e~ ffffa
3U and ffffb and the reclprocatlon or the punchln~ r~e ffff 18 ~ulded by ~ulde8 14c
and lffC ln the rlrst slde plate 14 and the ~econd ~lde plate lff The
reclprocation Or the punching ra- ffff 1~ hydraullcally actuated by an
--10--
~25~
bydraulic cyllnder 7~ that 1~ att~ched to ehe back of tho ~ountln~ plate 12,
the connectlon between the hydrnullc cyllnder 7~ and the punchln~ ran ~ff
extendln~ throuyh the flrst aperture 12a ln the eountln~ plate 12
~l~ure 7 lllustrate~ the toollng porelon o~ a pnd ~or~lng devlce,
~enerally ldentlfled by reference nu-eral llo, whlch 18 userul ~hen lt 18
only necessary to ~or- a sln~le raised attach ent pad ~ ln a ~lven nrea of
an lnner body panel I~, ~8 opposed to the pad ~orelng devlce lU of ~l~ure~ 1
- throu~h ~ hlch i8 useful ~hen lt 1~ nece~ary to tora at lea~t t~o
closely-spaced ral~ed attach ent pad~ ~ ln such lnner body panel I~ ln any
case, the pad for~ln~ devlce carrle~ a flxed anvll 124 and an annulQr
locatlng nenber 130 ~hlch 1~ reclprocable ~lth re~pect to the ~l~ed anvll
124 The annular locatln~ ~eaber 130 floats a~alnst the lnner body panel I~
to flnd ~aee, ~hereafter ~h~_1b~ the ~lxed anvll ~4 1~ brought to a ~l~ed
po~ltlon adJacent such lnner body panel by a locatln~ devlce, not sho~n
rhe floatln~ ~ove~ent of the annular locatln~ ue~ber 1~ a~l9ted by a coll
sprln~ 14~ A ter the annular locatln~ ~e~ber 190 ha~ "~ound~ or ade con-
tsct wlth the adJacent surface o~ the lnner body panel IY, lt 1~ hydraull-
cally locked ln place, as lllustrated by reference character 148, and the
~or~ block 152 on the other slde of the inner body panel lP, ln ~eneral
z~ allgn~ent wlth the flxed anvll 124, 1~ drlven hydraullcally by a cyllnder
154, sho~n sche-atlcally, to~ard the flxed anvll lZ4 to de~or~ the portion
ot the lnner body panel I~ that 18 posltloned bet~een the flxed anvll lZ4
and the foru block lS2 to for~ a ralsed attachaent pad ~ thereln The lnnor
body panel I~ 18 supported on each side of the portlon tbat 1~ beln~
de~or~ed by the hydraullcally flxed annular locatln~ ~eaber 13~ to locallzo
the defor~ation of the lnner body panel I~ that occurs ~hen the torn block
152 1~ ur~ed therea~alnst
A~ln, as ln the ca~e ot the pad tornln~ devlce 10 ot the enbodl-
aent o~ ~lguros 1 throu~h ~, the pad for~ln~ devlce 110 o( the o-bodl-ent ot
1;~98~ ~1
Figure 7 may be provided with a punching tool 160 to punch or
pierce a hole in the raised attachment pad P, after the
raised attachment pad P has been formed in the inner body
panel lP by the deforming thereof as heretofore explained.
When the pad forming device is provided with such a punching
tool 160, the fixed anvil 124 is constructed in an annular
configuration and the punching tool 160 is reciprocably
positioned within the annulus of the fixed anvil 124, the
reciprocation of the punching tool 160 within the annulus of
the fixed anvil 124 being hydraulically actuated by an
hydraulic cylinder 172, shown schematically.
- 12 -
