DEVELOPMENT OF A WHEEL STOP MECHANISM FOR A WHEEL ALIGNMENT MACHINE

摘要

This paper is based on a senior design project. It is an example of a complete work from conception and design to implementation in the industry. This project also shows how the industry benefits from supporting curriculum based projects. In design process of any device, there exists a magnitude of considerations and a challenge for the engineering professional to recognize all the issues in an appropriate proportion. One of the most important considerations is safety. In this project, a safety mechanism on a wheel alignment machine was designed, fabricated, tested, and implemented in industry. The wheel stop mechanism is either installed on the drive side of the wheel alignment machine or on both sides of the vehicle based on the customer safety standards. In case of an accident, while the measuring heads reading the alignment of the tires, the wheel stop mechanism prevents harm to the operator, alignment machine, and the plant assembly surrounding. If the automobile transmission were somehow knocked out of neutral and put into drive position while the measuring process would be taking place, the wheel stop prevents it from moving forward. This project resulted in introduction of a new wheel stop mechanism for a wheel alignment machine in the automotive industry. The unique frame of the machine is much more compact than the standard one. It does not stand in a deep pit of the assembly plant floor. This wheel alignment machine is located right on the top of the floor. There is no additional adjustment tooling that would come up from the bottom of the vehicle. The design of the wheel stop mechanism has been drawn in Mechanical Desktop V4 - 3D CAD system. Important calculations and tests were also made to assure the durability of components. They are designed to withstand the impact and to check if the mechanism would meet the requirements and specifications. As it was mentioned earlier, this device was implemented in industry and it was fully functional in an improved setting.