JP3022035B2 - Interlock device for wheel alignment measurement - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an interlock device for measuring a wheel alignment which is used to fix a steering wheel when measuring a wheel alignment in a final test line of an automobile manufacturing process.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The measurement of wheel alignment is carried out, for example, as described on pages 227 and 228 of "Automotive Engineering Complete Book 19" published by Sankaido in 1980. It is performed on a simple test line and measures the toe-in angle and camber angle of wheels. Also, after measuring the wheel alignment,
Each angle is adjusted as necessary, and in a running inspection using a free roller in a later process, the degree of bending of the steering wheel in a straight traveling state is checked.

When measuring and adjusting the wheel alignment, the direction of the wheel is not changed.
The steering wheel must be fixed. Therefore, conventionally, a fixing device as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 has been used.

[0006] The fixing device 100 shown in FIG.
A receiving device 103 is supported by the telescopic rod 101 and the spring 102, and a pair of supporting arms 104 is provided on the other side. The receiving device 103 abuts on a corner between the ceiling A and the window glass B. And both support arms 104, 104 are connected to the steering wheel H
Is engaged with the rim R.

[0005] Further, a fixing device 200 shown in FIG.
3, a receiving plate 204 is provided.
It is interposed between the rim R of the steering wheel H and the seat C.

[0006] These fixing devices 100 and 200 are attached as described above after the steering wheel H is straightened with the spokes S as a guide, and the steering wheel H is fixed.

[0007]

However, in the operation of fixing the steering wheel using the above-described fixing device, the operator has to visually fix the steering wheel and then fix it. However, even a fairly skilled person has a problem that a slight bending of the tearing wheel may occur.If there is such a bending, even if the wheel alignment is adjusted accurately, it may not be possible during straight running in a later running inspection. Since the steering wheel is tilted, it has been desired to solve the above-mentioned problem.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an interlock device for measuring a wheel alignment which can accurately fix a steering wheel in a straight-ahead state when measuring a wheel alignment. It is intended to provide.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An interlock device for measuring wheel alignment according to the present invention includes an engaging portion to a steering wheel, an engaging portion to a fixed portion in a vehicle, and a steering angle (bend) of the steering wheel. A fixing device having an angle detector for detection, a controller for comparing a steering angle detected by the angle detector with an appropriate angle, and a display showing a result of comparison by the controller; When the steered angle is an inappropriate angle, the operation of the wheel alignment tester is restricted, and the above configuration is used as means for solving the problem.

[0010]

In the interlock device for measuring wheel alignment according to the present invention, when the steering wheel is fixed by the fixing device, the steering angle (bend) of the steering wheel is detected by the angle detector of the fixing device, and the controller controls the angle. The steering angle is compared with the proper angle, the result of the comparison is shown on a display, and when the steering angle is an inappropriate angle, the operation of the wheel alignment tester is restricted.

Therefore, the steering angle is set to a proper angle (for example, 0
If the fixing device is attached to the steering wheel while checking the display so that the reading is displayed, the steering wheel will be fixed in a straight-ahead state, the operation restriction of the wheel alignment tester will be released, and wheel alignment measurement will be started. It is possible to do.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 1, a steering wheel H
Of the steering wheel H detected by the angle detector 11 of the fixing device 1 and a controller 2 for comparing the proper angle with the fixing device 1, and a display 3 showing the comparison result
In this embodiment, the controller 2, the display 3, and the switch 5 for starting the wheel alignment tester are connected to a sequencer 4 for controlling a wheel alignment tester (not shown). .

The steering wheel H of this embodiment is
It has a T-shaped spoke S. As the controller 2, for example, a personal computer is used, and as the display 3, a display device using a cathode ray tube is used.

The fixing device 1 is, as shown in FIG.
A base 6 is provided which is positioned with its center line aligned with the steering wheel H, and a lower end of a telescopic rod 8 is connected to a front upper end of the base 6 via a horizontal shaft 7. . The telescopic rod 8 has a configuration in which a lower rod 8b having a spring 10 mounted on the outside is inserted into an upper rod 8a having an engagement portion 9 for engaging with a fixed portion in a vehicle at an upper end. The base 8 has an angle detector 11 for detecting a steering angle of the steering wheel H on the front and a pair of left and right upper support arms 12 on the back.
12 and a pair of left and right lower support arms 13, 13.

The angle detector 11 detects the inclination with respect to the horizontal and generates it as a steering angle signal (for example, voltage). The angle detector 11 has a built-in detection mechanism and a circuit, and has a plurality (16 in the drawing). ) Of the light emitting diodes 14a-
The indicator 14 has a pointing unit 14 arranged side by side. The instructing unit 14 uses green light emitting diodes 14f to 14k indicating that the steering angle is within the allowable range for the center six, and red indicating that the steering angle is outside the allowable range. Light emitting diodes 14a to 14e, 141 to 14p
Is used.

When the angle detector 11 is in the horizontal state, as shown in FIG.
h and 14i are turned on, and as the inclination increases, FIG.
As shown in (b), the outer light emitting diodes are sequentially turned on.

The upper support arms 12, 12 are shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, at the base end rotatably connected to the base 6,
Sector gears 15 and 15 that engage with each other are provided, and are urged in directions approaching each other by respective springs 16 and 16 so that they rotate at the same time. Engagement portions 17 for the wheel H are provided. On the other hand, the lower support arm 1
The reference numerals 3 and 13 are fixed to the base 6 so as to protrude left and right, and engaging portions 18 and 18 for engaging with the steering wheel H are provided at the respective tips.

In the fixing device 1 having the above-described structure, the engaging portion 9 of the telescopic rod 8 is brought into contact with a corner portion between the ceiling A and the window glass B, which are fixed portions in the vehicle, and the rim R of the steering wheel H At the corners between the upper support arms 12 and 12 at the corners of the upper and lower ends of the spokes S.
7 and 17 are brought into contact with each other, and the engaging portions 18 and 18 of the lower support arms 13 and 13 are brought into contact with the inner lower portion of the rim R, whereby the telescopic rod 8 is attached in a stretched state by the repulsive force of the spring 10. The steering wheel H
Is fixed. At this time, the fixing device 1 includes the angle detector 11
Is parallel to the horizontal center line of the spoke S.

In the controller 2, a tolerance angle (for example, 0.5 degrees on each side) is set as an appropriate angle in consideration of the bending quality of the steering wheel H. The controller 2 compares the steering angle detected by the angle detector 11 with an appropriate angle, and when the steering angle is an inappropriate angle, outputs a command signal for restricting the operation of the wheel alignment tester to the sequencer 4. Send to

Further, the display 3 of this embodiment displays a signal indicating that the steering angle is defective or a correction direction and a correction angle when the steering angle is an inappropriate angle. The indicator 3 can also display a signal indicating that the steering angle is good when the steering angle is an appropriate angle.

As shown in FIG. 5, the operation of the interlock device for wheel alignment measurement having the above-described configuration is such that when the vehicle enters the wheel alignment tester (21), the steering wheel H moves straight. , That is, the horizontal portion of the spoke S forming the T-shape is horizontal, and the indicator 1 of the angle detector 11 is
When the fixing device 1 is attached to the steering wheel H in the manner described above while confirming that the steering angle is equal to 4, the angle detector 11 detects the steering angle of the steering wheel H, and the controller 2 compares the steering angle with the appropriate angle ( 22).

When the steering angle is an appropriate angle (O
In K), when the switch 5 for starting the wheel alignment tester is operated (23), the tester is activated to perform measurement (24). Thereafter, wheel alignment adjustment (25) is performed as necessary.

When the steering angle is an inappropriate angle (N
In G), a command signal for operation restriction is sent from the controller 2 to the sequencer 4, and the display 3 indicates that the steering angle is poor (26).
When the switch 5 for starting the wheel alignment tester is operated (23), the tester does not operate (27). In such a case, the fixing device 1 is reattached to the steering wheel H.

That is, in practice, if the fixing device 1 is mounted on the steering wheel H while checking the display 3 so that the steering angle becomes an appropriate angle, the steering wheel H is fixed in a straight traveling state. Thus, it is possible to start the wheel alignment measurement without restricting the operation of the wheel alignment tester.

[0026]

As described above, according to the interlock device for wheel alignment measurement of the present invention,
At the time of wheel alignment measurement, the work of fixing the steering wheel in a straight running state can be performed accurately and easily without being affected by the skill of the operator, and the wheel alignment measurement is performed in a good fixed state. be able to.

Further, since the wheel alignment measurement is performed in a state where the steering wheel is accurately fixed, the steering wheel does not bend at all even if the wheel alignment is adjusted as necessary. It is possible to omit a traveling inspection step for checking the degree of bending of the steering wheel in a straight traveling state.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an interlock device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are a side view and a side view of a fixing device in an attached state. FIGS.

FIG. 3 is a partial rear view of the fixing device illustrating an engagement portion with a steering wheel.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal state illustrating an indicator of an angle detector;
It is a front explanatory view of (b) and an inclined state.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of an operation of the interlock device.

FIG. 6 is a front view (a) and a side view (b) illustrating a conventional fixing device.

FIG. 7 is a front view (a) and a side view (b) illustrating another example of a conventional fixing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fixing device 2 Controller 3 Indicator 9 Engagement part (to a steering wheel) 11 Angle detector 17 Engagement part (to a fixed part in a car) 18 Engagement part (to a fixed part in a car) H Steering wheel

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G01M 17/00-17/007 G01B 21/00-21/26 B62D 1/04 F16B 1/02

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A fixing device comprising an engaging portion to a steering wheel, an engaging portion to a fixed portion in a vehicle, and an angle detector for detecting a steering angle of the steering wheel, and a steering angle detected by the angle detector. And a controller that compares the proper angle with the controller, and a display that shows a result of the comparison by the controller, wherein the operation of the wheel alignment tester is restricted when the steering angle detected by the angle detector is an inappropriate angle. Characteristic interlock device for wheel alignment measurement.