| A Kemkraft Inclinometer / Pneumatic Steering
Wheel Gauge (SWG) is used to monitor the angle of a steering wheel during
a vehicle alignment. The SWG connects to the KEI-850 Dual Port Digital
Readout Box. The KEI-850 Readout Box displays the SWG angle on a
backlit Liquid Crystal Digital Display.
The 850 Box interfaces to, and transmits the steering wheel angle
to, the alignment machine via an RS-232 line. The 850 Box also interfaces
to the Alignment Machines’ PLC to control the SWGs’ pneumatic cylinder.
During Production, the SWG is attached onto a steering wheel. The
steering wheel is held, at zero degrees, during most of the alignment cycle
with an air cylinder that extends to the windshield or seat.
When the vehicle alignment is close to being finished, the air cylinder
is retracted to allow the steering wheel to “float”. Allowing the
steering wheel to “float” prevents the hysterisis, in the vehicles steering
system, to not bind on one side or the other.
Ford Motor Co. presented Kemkraft a quality award, for this process,
because it proved to be a warranty claim cost savings. |
