FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10; rule 13)
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Automobile body shell locking device for transporting the same and method of locking and unlocking thereof
APPLICANTS
TATA MOTORS LIMITED, an Indian company
having its registered office at Bombay House,
24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk,
Mumbai 400 001 Maharashtra, India
INVENTORS
Mohan M Savarkar , Prakash M Vhaval, Nilesh B Dhage
and Ganesh Raut all Indian national
of TATA MOTORS LIMITED an Indian company
having its registered office at Bombay House,
24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk,
Mumbai 400 001 Maharashtra, India
PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the
manner in which it is to be performed.

Field of invention
The present invention is related to automobile body shell and more particularly it relates to locking device of automobile body shell assembly for transporting the same.
Background of the invention:
Generally the automobile body shell is manufactured and transported from one location to another, using a pallet and a vehicle, which is intended, particularly to make it available for final vehicle assembly on the production line, as there are different geographical location for manufacturing of body shell and final vehicle assembly.
The vehicle body shell assembly in automobile industries is transported from one place to other on the traditional pallets. The traditional pallets have nut and bolt type arrangement for clamping the vehicle body shell for transportation. The main disadvantages of this types of clamping arrangement of vehicle body shell is extremely high cycle time of loading and unloading operation which is mainly due to inadequate supports for resting and absence of self locking mechanism for automobile body shell. In addition to this, the stress development and dynamic load on the vehicle body shell or frame is not properly distributed which leads to various quality issues e.g. Floor crack and damages of body shell parts. The purpose of the invented device is to mitigate the preceding disadvantages of the traditional pallets.
Statement of invention
Accordingly the current invention provides a locking device of an automobile body shell assembly for transportation comprising

at least two cross members parallel to each other, corners of the members having a vertical column of a predetermined height;
at least two long members parallel to each other and perpendicular to the cross members arranged to form a frame which is supported by vertical column provided at each corners of said frame;
at least two resting frame members for mounting the body shell assembly;
at least four cup members, each cup member configured to be mounted on top surface of said vertical column at a predetermined height;
at least one locking mechanisms provided on each of said cross members for locking vehicle body shell on said cup members.
The method of locking an automobile body shell on said device comprising the steps of
a. loading said vehicle body shell on the cup members provided on
vertical column of said device;
b. pushing said first locking lever downwards and lifting the second
locking lever upwards;
c engaging said arrestor link between said first locking lever and
second locking lever for arresting the movement thereof and retain locked position intact of said locking levers.
The method of unlocking an automobile body shell comprising the steps of
a. disengaging said arrestor link from the locked position of said first
locking lever and second locking lever thereby releasing the movement of said
levers;
b. pushing the second locking lever downwards and lifting said first
locking lever upwards to unlock said locking mechanism;
c. unloading said vehicle body shell from said cup members of said
vertical column of said device:

Brief description of drawings:
Figure-01 shows the vehicle loaded on the pallet.
Figure-02 shows top view and side view of the present invention.
Figure-03 shows front view of the present invention.
Figure-04 shows isometric view of the present invention.
Figure-05 shows isometric enlarged view of one end of locking mechanism.
Figure-06 shows side veiw of one end of the locking mechanism in locked
position.
grief description of invention
In accordance with the present invention, device for transporting an automobile body shell assembly comprises; front cross member (1). rear cross member (3). long members (2,4) constituting a frame (1,2. 3,4), at least two resting frame members (5,6) for placing the body shell assembly, at least four cup members (7) at each corner of said square frame on the extended portions of the cross members locking mechanism (8) provided on each of said cross members (1,3) for locking vehicle body shell on frame.
Said locking mechanism (8) comprises; locking arms (10AJ0B) on each side of said cross members (1,3), at least one locking bar (II) provided on one end of each of said cross members (1,3) on the extended portion, at least two locking levers; the first locking Iever(12) and second locking lever (13) are provided on each side connected to each other and placed perpendicularly to the frame on the left side corner of the said frame.

Detailed description of invention
Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose oi illustrating a preferred embodiment oi" the invention only, and not for the purpose of limiting the same,
Now referring to figure-01 to 06, in accordance with the present invention,
device for transporting an automobile body shell assembly comprises; front
cross member (1), rear cross member (3), long members (2.4) constituting a
frame (1, 2, 3, 4), at least two resting frame members (5,6) for placing the
body shell assembly, at least four cup members (7). at least one said cup
member (7) is provided on top surface of vertical column (9) at each corner of
said square frame on the extended portions of the cross members, locking
mechanism (8) provided at each of said cross members (1,3) for locking
vehicle body shell with said cup members (7).
The said resting frame members (5, 6) are rigidly connected to said frame
opposite to each other in longitudinal direction.
Said cup members (7) are mounted on said vertical column (9) at top at
appropriate / suitable height.
The said resting frame members (5, 6) bears/shares the dynamic and static load
of the vehicle body shell.
The cushioning means such as foams or rubber pads are provided on the upper surfaces of said resting frame members (5,6) to absorb the shocks and vibration generated during the transportation of the vehicle body shell.
The said cup members (7) are tapered at two sides to facilitate quick loading of the vehicle body shell having four cab lift bracket which are located on the said four cup members (7) provided on said vertical column (9) of the said frame.

The locking mechanism (8) comprises; locking arms (10AJ0B) on each side of said cross members (1,3), at least one slot (16) provided on each of extended portions of each of said cross members (1,3) for disposing said locking arms (10AJ0B). at least one locking bar (11) provided on one end of each of said cross members (l,3),on the extended portion, at least two locking levers; the first locking lever (12) and second locking lever (13) are provided on one end of each of said cross members (1,3) on the extended portion to lock and unlock the locking mechanism of each of the front cross member (1) and the rear cross member (2).
At least one longitudinal bar (14) is provided at front cross member (1) and rear cross member (3) for connecting the said locking arms (10A) and (1 OB) to each other by means of an intermediate link (15).
The said locking arms (10A, 10B) are disposed in said slots (16) provided on the extended portions on both ends of said front cross member (1) and rear cross member (2). The said locking arms (10A, 10B) are hingedly connected to said cross members (1, 3) after disposing in said slot (16).
The lower end of said locking arms (10A, 10t}) are connected to said intermediate link (operating lever) (15) which inturn is connected to the said first and second locking levers (12,13) respectively.
The arrestor link (17) is provided on same side of two vertical column (9) for arresting the movement of said first and second locking levers (12, 13) respectively when in locked position.
For locking of the said locking arms (1OA, 10B), after the body shells assembly is loaded on said cup members (7) of the frame, the said first locking lever (12) is pushed downward and second locking lever (13) is pulled upward and said

arrestor link (17) is engaged or disposed between the first locking lever (12) and second locking lever (13) by sliding said arrestor link (17) towards said first locking Iever(12) and second locking lever (13) such that said arrestor link (17) arrest the movement of said locking levers (12, 13) which enables to retain the locked position of locking levers (12. 13) intact in locked position.
For unlocking of said locking arms (10A. 10B), first the arrestor link (17) is disengaged from the locked position of said locking levers (12. 13) by sliding said arrestor link (17) away from the said locking levers (12, 13), said locking lever (13) is pushed downward and said locking lever (12) is pulled upward which enables the locking mechanism to be unlocked.
The force applied for the locking on the said locking lever (12) and second locking lever (13) manually, is translated in the horizontal movement of the said locking arms (10A) and (10B) which actuates in opposite direction and get engaged in the cab lift bracket and enable the locking and retaining of the body shell assembly. For unlocking the force is applied in reversed direction.
The second locking lever (13) has angular profile at the front end which is engaged at locking bar (11) to retain the clamping in locked condition .The similar operation is carried out at other end for locking and unlocking of the mechanism. The clamping in locked position, restricts the movement of body shell during the transportation and ensures minimal efforts for locking, perfect engagement and retain the locking. When the body shell assembly is at destination, the locking mechanism is unlocked by applying the said locking levers in reverse direction.
This present invention is directed to the provision of improved device which is light in weight, strong, durable, and relatively inexpensive.

In addition, the locking mechanism (8) of invented device facilitates quick and precise locking, and has reduced cycle time of the operation. Further, and most importantly, the device allows independent suspension type performance at the resting points of the body shell assembly on the device with respect to the floor of the vehicle carrying the body shell assembly and device. Thus dynamic vibrations generated by vehicle moving on roads including un-surfaced roads are prevented from adversely affecting the quality of body shell assembly being transported.
The foregoing description is a specific embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated that this embodiment is described for purpose of illustration only, and that numerous alterations and modifications may be practiced by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that all such modifications and alterations be included insofar as they come within the scope of the invention as claimed or the equivalents thereof.

We Claim
1. Automobile body shell locking device for transportation comprising
at least two cross members parallel to each other, corners of the members having a vertical column of a predetermined height;
at least two long members parallel to each other and perpendicular to the cross members arranged to form a frame which is supported by vertical column provided at each corners of said frame;
at least two resting frame members for mounting the body shell assembly:
at least four cup members, each cup member configured to be mounted on top surface of said vertical column at a predetermined height;
at least one locking mechanisms provided on each of said cross members for locking vehicle body shell on said cup members.
2. The locking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locking
mechanism comprising
at least one locking arm disposed through a slot provided on extended portions and hingedly connected thereto on each end of said cross members;
at least one locking bar provided on one extended portion of each of said cross members;
first locking lever and the second locking lever provided on one end of each said cross members on the extended portion configured to lock and unlock said locking mechanisms of respective cross members;
at least one longitudinal bar provided at front cross member and rear cross member for connecting the said locking arms to each other with the help of an intermediate link.
3. The locking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said resting frame
members are rigidly connected to said frame opposite to each other in
longitudinal direction and are provided with resilient means like foams or

rubber pads on the upper surface of said resting frame members to absorb the shocks and vibration generated during the transportation of said automobile body shell.
4. The locking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cup members are tapered at two sides for quick loading of cab lift bracket of vehicle body shell..
5. The locking device as claimed in claim 2 wherein lower end of said locking arm is connected to said intermediate link configured for connecting said locking arms with said locking levers.
6. The locking device as claimed in claim 1 and 2 wherein said vertical column having at least one arrestor link provided near each cross member for arresting the movement of said locking levers in locked position.
7. The locking device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said second locking lever having angular profile at the front end for engaging with said locking bar to retain clamping in locked condition.
8. A method of locking an automobile body shell on said device as claimed in preceeding claims comprising the steps of
a. loading said vehicle body shell on the cup members provided on
vertical column of said device;
b- pushing said first locking lever downwards and lifting the second
locking lever upwards;
c- engaging said arrestor link between said first locking lever and
second locking lever for arresting the movement thereof and retain locked
position intact of said locking levers.

9. A method of unlocking an automobile body shell as claimed in claim 8,
comprising the steps of
a. disengaging said arrestor link from the locked position of said first
locking lever and second locking lever thereby releasing the movement of said
levers;
b. pushing the second locking lever downwards and lifting said first
locking lever upwards to unlock said locking mechanism;
c. unloading said vehicle body shell from said cup members of said
vertical column of said device;
10. Automobile body shell locking device for transportation and a method of locking and unlocking thereof substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.