Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Marc D Iman

Mark E Brown

Cindy Tran

James Ritchie

Bryan Hatfield

Ishikawa Takeshi

Ohno Takahiro

Ogawa Takashi

Takeshi Ishikawa

Takashi Ogawa

Takahiro Ohno

Douglas P Decker

Shawn Sullivan

A temporary checking device is provided that works in conjunction with elements of a vehicle hinge that remain in the vehicle's final configuration. The hinge includes a hinge pin rotatably connecting a door hinge bracket to a pillar hinge bracket. The checking device includes a spring portion that is disposed between the door hinge bracket and the pillar hinge bracket. The spring portion is compressed during movement of the door hinge bracket relative to the pillar hinge bracket from either of two rest positions. The spring portion urges the vehicle door affixed thereto back into one of the rest positions, thus allowing manufacturing operations such as painting, etc., to be performed on the vehicle.

Integrated hinge and temporary door checker

An integrated hinge system that provides for temporary checking of a vehicle door is provided, the system including a hinge pin, a door hinge bracket, a pillar hinge bracket, and a latching device. The latching device is releasably affixed to the door hinge bracket and rotates with the door hinge bracket relative to the hinge pin and the pillar bracket. One of the hinge pin and the pillar bracket define engagement points that the latching device engages to releasably retain the door hinge bracket in any one of at least two angular orientations relative to the pillar hinge bracket.

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.

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Hilliard, OH, United States of America

Marc D Iman