IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,234,398
Granted Patent B2
US 10,234,398 · App. 15/813,694 · Granted Mar 19, 2019

Deformation verification system and method of vehicle body

Inventor: Kyoung Hye Kim (Suwon-si, KR)
Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Motors Corporation
G01N21/8806B05C9/14B05D1/24B62D65/18F26B15/14G01B11/16C25D17/02C25D21/04G05B19/41805
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,234,398
App. No.
15/813,694
Granted
Mar 19, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A deformation verification system of a vehicle body includes a dip tank in which fluid is contained. The dip tank has a transparent window from the outside to see the inside. A moving device is configured to lower the vehicle body into the fluid, to move the vehicle body in the fluid and to raise the vehicle body. A camera is installed to detect the form of the vehicle body through the transparent window.

Claims (34)

1. A system comprising:

a dip tank in which fluid is contained, the dip tank having a transparent window from the outside to see the inside;

a moving device configured to lower a vehicle body into the fluid, to move the vehicle body in the fluid and to raise the vehicle body; and

a camera installed to detect a form of the vehicle body through the transparent window, wherein the camera is configured to sense a first form of the vehicle body before the vehicle body is immersed in the fluid in the dip tank, to detect an intermediate form of the vehicle body in a state when the vehicle body is moving in the fluid of the dip tank, and to detect a second form of the vehicle body after the vehicle body is removed from the fluid in the dip tank.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a processor configured to calculate a variation in the form of the vehicle body according to the first form, the intermediate form and the second form.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to generate a retest signal depending on the variation in the form of the vehicle body.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the processor is configured to generate the retest signal when the variation in the form of the vehicle body is determined to be greater than a predetermined value.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to receive predetermined process conditions and to move the vehicle body to a predetermined speed along a predetermined route according to the process conditions.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the moving device comprises:

a mounting portion on which the vehicle body is mounted;

a horizontal transfer portion for moving the mounting portion in a horizontal direction;

an up and down transfer portion for moving the mounting portion in the up and down direction; and

a rotation portion for rotating the mounting portion about a rotation center.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein:

the horizontal transfer portion comprises a horizontally moving member that moves along a rail;

the up and down transfer portion comprises a up and down moving member that moves up and down in the horizontal moving member; and

the rotation portion is disposed on an end portion of the up and down transfer portion in order to rotate the mounting portion.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid is water, electrodeposition paint, or preprocessing liquid.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a circulation device installed to control the flow of the fluid in a fluid space of the dip tank.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the moving device comprises a conveyor and a lighting device installed inside or outside of the dip tank to illuminate an area where the camera is to photograph.

11. A method of processing a vehicle body, the method comprising:

putting a vehicle body into a fluid contained in a dip tank that includes a transparent window visible from the outside to the inside;

moving the vehicle body within the fluid in the dip tank; and

detecting a form of the vehicle body moving in the dip tank through the transparent window, wherein the detecting comprises:

sensing a first form of the vehicle body before the vehicle body is immersed in the fluid in the dip tank;

detecting an intermediate form of the vehicle body in a state when the vehicle body is moving in the fluid of the dip tank; and

detecting a second form of the vehicle body after the vehicle body is removed from the fluid in the dip tank.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising exhausting the vehicle body in the fluid to outside the dip tank.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising calculating a variation of the vehicle body according to the first form, the intermediate form and the second form.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising generating a reset signal depending on the variation of the form of the vehicle body.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the reset signal is generated when it is determined that the variation is above a predetermined value.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising receiving predetermined process conditions, the vehicle body being moved at a set speed according to a set route depending on the process conditions.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein, in the moving step, the vehicle body is moved horizontally, moved up and down, and rotated.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein, the fluid is circulated in the dip tank in a predetermined direction and a predetermined speed.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 15, 2017
From: KIM, KYOUNG HYE
To: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 044136/0275 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2017-0087967 · Jul 11, 2017 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190017939A1 · Jan 17, 2019