FIELD OF INVENTION:-
The present invention is related to the mechanisms on utility vehicle assembly line in an automobile industry. More particularly, the present invention is related to single point chassis lifting tackle on the vehicle assembly line.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:-
Conventionally the sling set lifting tackle are used to lift the chassis from trolley and to place on conveyor during the assembly of the vehicle as shown in Figure 1. The drawback of this conventional way of chassis lifting is that it requires two operators to position slings to chassis, and further there is a chance of slippage of hook from brackets. It is an unbalanced way of lifting the chassis and more bending movements and NVAs (non value added activities) are involved therein. Hook insertion, wrong sling position and sling set damage are the problems arising out of this conventional way. So, there is a chance of chassis falling and may cause to lead major accidents.
Another way of chassis lifting is to implementnylon sling set but the problems faced due to nylon slings are wear and tear of nylon slings, improper placing of hooks, slippage of slings and falling of chassis which may lead to the accident and adversely effect on the human operator.
Therefore to address these drawbacks of the conventional system, the present invention is proposed.
OBJECTIVES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION:-
The main object of the present invention is to provide a novel and innovative single point chassis lifting tackle.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a single point chassis lifting tackle which is safe, efficient and economic during the operation.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a single point chassis lifting tackle with a safety lock.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a single point chassis lifting tackle that addresses the drawbacks of the conventional solutions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES:-
Figure 1 shows the conventional way of chassis lifting by using sling set followed as the industry practice (prior art).
Figure 2 shows the exploded view of single point chassis lifting tackle in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 3 shows the single point chassis lifting tackle lifting the chassis on the assembly line in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION:-
ln order to address the drawbacks of the prior arts and to provide a safe and efficient solution of lifting the chassis, a single point lifting tackle with safety lock as shown in Figure 2 is provided. The safety lock of the tackle stops the tackle not to come out from chassis while lifting the chassis from the trolley. Thus, it eliminates the chances of accidents that are predominant in the conventional ways.
The concept of a single point chassis lifting tackle is based on the principle of Center of gravity. The chassis is provided with the unique profiled slots and these unique slots are defined with respect to the size of the chassis. These unique profiled slots ensures the concentration of entire weight of the chassis. These unique profiled slots are defined by finding the center of gravity of different variants of the chassis by adjusting the position of hook in the device grooves with identifying marks thereon for different variants of the chassis.

The chassis lifting tackle (10) comprises of upper plate (11), lower plate (12), vertical plate (13), a reinforcement structure (14), chassis balancing gauge/scale (15) and a safety lock (16). The upper plate (11) is connected to the lower plate (12) through the vertical plate (13) by welding. Thus, the assembly of these three plates form a C shaped structure.The C shaped structure formed by assembly of plates accommodates the cross member (22) of the chassis (21) during the lifting operation.
A reinforcement structure (14) is provided to impart the necessary reinforcement to the C shaped structure. The said reinforcement structure is in between upper plate and the vertical plate at an angle ranging from 35 to 50 degree. A chassis balancing scale (15) having plurality of inverted U shaped notches (17) is fixed to the upper plate (11) by suitable means and most preferably by welding. The inverted U shaped notches (17) are defined by studying the various lengths of the chassis. Thus this chassis lifting tackle (10) is used to lift the chassis of varied lengths required for the different variants of the vehicle by maintaining the center of gravity of the chassis. This helps to eliminate the swinging and imbalance of the chassis and thereby any accidents on the shop floor caused by the swinging and imbalance of the chassis. The chassis balancing gauge/scale is fitted from the left side of the upper plate so as to smoothly adjust the center of gravity of the chassis as the chassis locking is at the right side of the tackle assembly. Further, most of the operators are right handed and therefore they are holding the object (chassis cross bar) by the left hand and does the operation (i.e. selecting the U notch for adjusting the CG) is done by the right hand. Each notch on the chassis balancing gauge/scale is marked (as shown in Fig. 2) for different chassis. For example, the notch represented by 'B' mark is to be used for Bolero vehicle chassis, the notch represented by 'C mark is to be used for Camper regular model vehicles, the notch represented by 'G' is to be used for Camper Gold model vehicle chassis.
The safety lock unit (16) comprises of a locking pin (18), and pin groove (19) on both the plates, upper and lower and a chain (20) for holding the pin (18) with the tackle assembly (10) during its operation. This safety lock unit (16) locks the

cross member (22) of the chassis (21) with the tackle assembly (10) prior to the lifting of the chassis (21).
The chassis lifting tackle assembly (10) is made from mild steel of the desired strength and stiffness. However, it can be made in any metal and FRP (Fiber reinforced plastic) material meeting the desired strength and stiffness to lift the chassis of a vehicle. The complete chassis lifting tackle assembly is attached to the hoist hook (25) and the hoist is operated by the operator at the station through electric motor.
Working of the chassis lifting tackle assembly:
- Chassis comes from the chassis loading area at the chassis lifting station.
- Thereafter operator at the station operates the hoist and brings the tackle assembly down to the chassis location.
- Then operator holds the tackle assembly by hand and adjust to the chassis cross member/bar (22) in the C shaped of the lifting tackle.
- Depending on the model / variant of the chassis, the operator as the station selects the proper inverted U shaped notch and engages the hook of the hoist in the desired notch.
- Then the operator at the station inserts the locking pin in the locking grooves on upper and lower plate and ensures the positive locking of the cross member/bar of the chassis in the tackle assembly.
- Then, the operator operates the hoist (as shown in Fig. 3) and the chassis is lifted through the lifting tackle to take it to the next station for subsequent operation.
THE ADVANTAGES OF THIS UNIQUE SINGLE POINT CHASSIS LIFTING TACKLE ARE AS UNDER:-
- Only one operator is required to easily operate the chassis lifting mechanism and thus it eliminates the additional man-power requirement.
- It reduces the work content per vehicle.

- It eliminates the rework due to cause of improper slings alignment as frequently observed in the conventional ways.
- The cost of spares for slings is totally eliminated which is approximately Rs. 28000 per year which in other words is the saving achieved by this new tackle.
- The cost of one additional operator is eliminated as the additional operator is totally eliminated.
- It helps to quickly deliver the chassis to the next stage during the assembly operation on the line.
- Unsafe condition is totally eliminated which is generally observed in conventional ways due to slings cutoff and due to improper alignment.
- Operator's confusion while hooking the slings for 15 different models is completely eliminated and eliminated operator fatigue hence operator morale improved.
- NVAs (non value added activities) are totally eliminated.
- Operator is working in safe environment hence his moral is boosted.

We claim:
1. A single point chassis lifting tackle (10) comprising of upper plate (11), lower plate (12), vertical plate (13), a reinforcement structure (14), chassis , balancing gauge/scale (15) and a safety lock (16) wherein the upper plate (11) is connected to the lower plate (12) through the vertical plate (13) by welding, thus, the assembly of these three plates form a C shaped structure; the said C shaped structure formed by assembly of plates accommodates the cross member (22) of the chassis (21) during the lifting operation.
2. A single point chassis lifting tackle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said reinforcement structure is in between upper plate and the vertical plate at an angle ranging from 35 to 50 degrees.
3. A single point chassis lifting tackle as claimed in claim 1, wherein chassis balancing scale (15) having plurality of inverted U shaped notches (17) is fixed to the upper plate (11) by suitable means and most preferably by welding; the said inverted U shaped notches (17) are defined as per the different variants of the chassis.
4. A single point chassis lifting tackle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the safety lock unit (16) comprises of a locking pin (18), and pin groove (19) on both the plates, upper and lower and a chain (20) for holding the pin (18) with the tackle assembly (10) during its operation; the said safety lock unit (16) locks the cross member (22) of the chassis (21) with the tackle assembly (10) prior to the lifting of the chassis (21).
5. A single point chassis lifting tackle as claimed in claim 1, wherein truj said chassis lifting tackle works in the following sequence,
- Chassis comes from the chassis loading area at the chassis lifting station;

- Thereafter operator at the station operates the hoist and brings the tackle assembly down to the chassis location;
- Then operator holds the tackle assembly by hand and adjust to the chassis cross member/bar (22) in the C shaped of the lifting tackle;
- Depending on the model / variant of the chassis, the operator as the station selects the proper inverted U shaped notch and engages the hook of the hoist in the desired notch;
- Then the operator at the station inserts the locking pin in the locking grooves on upper and lower plate and ensures the positive locking of the cross member/bar of the chassis in the tackle assembly;
- Then, the operator operates the hoist (as shown in Fig. 3) and the chassis is lifted through the lifting tackle to take it to the next station for subsequent operation.