CLAVIS Radio Plate Equipment

On many automotive engine dress lines there is a requirement to tension a number of belts on a range of differing engines at a single station.  In these situations it is  not practicable to have a number of cable connected jig plates suspended above the track, due to the confined working area. The Clavis 'Radio plate' tensioning equipment has been designed specifically for such situations, and is now in use in engine plants throughout the world.
In this system the operator places a small self contained battery powered jig plate onto the front of the engine. The belt is excited into vibration by a solenoid driven hammer, and the resulting frequency of vibration is transmitted back to the control cabinet by a UHF radio link. An electric nut-runner tool is placed onto the screw type belt tension adjuster, and adjustment is then performed automatically in a closed loop operation.
Up to  3 sensors may be fitted to a single jig plate, so that sequential tension setting may be performed on Alternator, PAS, and Aircon belts, if all 3 are fitted. Cycle times for 3 belt adjustment are in the order of 22 seconds. A different jig plate is required for different types of engines due to the differing belt layouts. On a typical engine dress line where the belt tensioning on a range of engines is being performed at one station, the jig plates are kept on a tray to one
side of the track, just as any handtool would be treated. As the engine enters the station, the operator picks up the jig plate appropriate to the engine type, places it onto the engine, and then uses the common overhead electric power tool which is connected to the control cabinet. Alternatively the jig plates may be suspended from balancers.