Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Bryan Hatfield

Marc D Iman

Douglas P Decker

Victor Greenhut

Brandon E Hunter

An adjustable locator includes an adjuster plate that communicates with an upper section of a damper to affect a relative orientation between the damper and a knuckle during assembly. A guide body is disposed at an opposite side of the adjuster plate from the damper, and a shim is configured for insertion between the adjuster plate and the guide body. Insertion of the shim causes the adjuster plate to change the relative orientation between the damper and the knuckle. A biasing device is configured to bias the guide body toward the damper and thereby fix the shim between the guide body and the adjuster plate, such that applying a force to the guide body that is greater than the biasing force of the spring in a direction opposite to the biasing force of the spring enables the shim to be removed from between the guide body and the adjuster plate.

Methods and apparatus for assembling vehicular components

A manual steering column stamping fixture includes a body member and a linear bearing assembly. The linear bearing assembly is secured to the body member, and includes a marking punch that is driven into engagement with a steering column so as to place an alignment mark on the steering column. Once a center or neutral position of the steering column is located using a checking fixture, the stamping fixture is mounted over the checking fixture using cooperating slots provided by the body member and arms provided by the checking fixture, and such that the marking punch is disposed within the checking fixture and adjacent the steering column. Thereafter, the marking punch is manually moved away from the steering column and against spring bias such that, upon subsequent release of the bearing assembly, the marking punch is driven into the steering column to mark the steering column.

Steering column manual stamping fixture

A fixture and method for checking whether a steering column alignment mark is properly placed. The fixture includes a wheel member that is affixed to a spline adaptor and that includes a plurality of surface alignment indicators. The fixture is rotatably linked to the steering column, and then the steering column, by manipulation of the fixture, is rotated the maximum amount in one direction. An offset reference indicator is selected from the face of the fixture by its alignment with a fixed point at the point of maximum rotation, and then the steering column is rotated the maximum amount in the opposite direction. An offset reference indicator is selected from the face of the fixture by its alignment with a fixed point at the point of maximum rotation. The numerals associated with the two selected offset reference indicators are compared and based upon this comparison, it is determined whether the alignment mark is properly positioned on the steering column.

Master steering check fixture

A fixture and method for checking whether a steering column alignment mark is properly placed. The fixture includes a wheel member that is affixed to a spline adaptor and that carries a range marker. The range marker has a length that corresponds with an acceptable deviation. The fixture is rotatably linked to the steering column, and then the steering column, by manipulation of the vesture, is rotated the maximum amount in one direction, and then the position of the range marker is compared to a fixed reference. Based upon this comparison, it is determined whether the alignment mark is properly positioned on the steering column.

Growing community of inventors

Gahanna, OH, United States of America

Bryan Hatfield