Critical Angle Sensing
Firefighters put their lives on the line doing far more than running into burning buildings. Even getting to the emergency scene can be dangerous. That is why the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) developed standards for new fire apparatus equipment used to transport firefighters. The code, 1901 Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus, outlines the standards required for manufacturing a fire truck to ensure the firefighters’ safety.
One of these requirements involves vehicle stability to ensure that the fire truck does not roll over during operation. NFPA 1901 4.13.1 outlines the ways in which a fire truck can adhere to this standard: by tilting the truck on a tilt table to 26.5 degrees in both directions or to equip the truck with an electronic stability control (ESC) system. According to A.K. Rosenhan, a consulting engineer specializing in fire apparatus construction, testing, evaluation and failure analysis: “ESC systems are expensive, prone to problems and not available on all chassis. Plus, many drivers do not like their controls being overridden.
Though using a tilt table is a quasi-static test, it is much easier and less dangerous to conduct – and certainly much easier on the fire truck than driving around in a circle of a specified radius at a specified speed to see if you roll over.” Ferrara Fire Apparatus, a leading manufacturer of custom emergency response vehicles located in Holden, Louisiana, has been heavily involved in crash testing and safety analysis, and offers both electronic stability control systems and on-site tilt table testing for their vehicles. “Knowing that stability testing was coming with the new 1901 standard, Ferrara Fire Apparatus made the investment in a test facility at our factory, compliant with SAE 2180,” says Chris Ferrara, President of Ferrara Fire Apparatus.
Tilt Table Testing
An important component of the tilt table is to accurately measure the amount of tilt and to record other test parameters, such as body shift, for documentation and ultimate certification. After using a simple pendulum type angle indicator to gauge the tilt of the table, Ferrara chose to use Turck’s single axis inclinometer because of its reliability and ease of use. “Many driver/operators have a strong preference for tilt table testing, wanting to avoid the throttle limitations associated with ESC,” notes Ferrara.
“As gravity is pretty constant, the results of a tilt-table test are consistent, not prone to error or interpretation, and have rather graphic proof that a fire apparatus is compliant with the NFPA standard,” adds Rosenhan. “Turck’s inclinometer does a fine job of providing such data.” “It’s a dramatic thing to see some 65,000 pounds of fire apparatus, worth up to $1 million, hanging up in the air. Obviously there are chains and straps that loosely anchor the apparatus but do provide for enough movement to determine if the vehicle 'flunks' testing,” concludes Rosenhan.
- Automotive
- Press Shop – Tool Identification
- Sheet Metal Thickness Measurement
- Body Shop – Welding Nut Detection
- Paint Shop – Skid Identification
- Area Guarding for Robotic Cells
- Final Assembly – Robot Assembly
- Inspection of Tips on a Welder
- Final Assembly – Diagnosis of Leaks
- Tier 1 – Bumper Identification
- Manual Feeding in Weld Cell
- Powertrain – Contactless Verification
- Body Detection in Automobile Production
- Detecting Black Parts on Black Door Panel
- Item-level Detection with UHF RFID
- Moonroof Clear Glass Detection
- Long-Range Inspection in Automotive Assembly
- Rubber Washer Detection on Engine Block
- Engine Block Part-In-Place Detection
- Electric Vehicle Detection in Charging Station
- Vehicle Detection in a Self-Serve Car Wash
- Success Stories
- RFID Guides AGV in Suspension Production
- IO-Link Wired Silencer Production
- Workpiece Carrier Identification in Rear Vent Production
- Weld Nut Sensing
- RFID Traceability
- RFID in Engine Production
- Bumper Production with Identification
- Solutions for Paint Shops
- Welding and Assembly Sensors
- Angle Sensors for Assembly Systems
- Tool Identification
- RFID Identification of Injector Nozzles
- RFID in the Body Shop
- Pick-to-Light for Bumper Assembly
- IO-Link Eases Differential Gear Production
- RFID and I/O modules for Safe Tool Changes
- Ply Orientation Inspection
- Chemical
- Detection of Pigs
- Remote Signal I/O
- Easy Connection of Field Devices
- Signal Processing with System I/O in the Control Cabinet
- Remote Tank Level Monitoring with DX70
- Signal Separation with Interface Technology in the Control Cabinet
- Identification of Hose Connections
- Efficient Monitoring of Cabinets in the Field
- Monitoring of Quarter Turn Actuators
- Planning and Assembly of System Solutions
- Success Stories
- I/O System Excom Creates Space in the I&C Rooms
- Zone 2 and 22 RFID
- Efficient Testing Control
- Intrinsically Safe Field Communication
- Process Control System Partnership
- Hazardous Area Remote I/O
- Dual Valve Position Feedback
- Flexibility with Fieldbus
- Asset Management with Remote I/O
- Correct Positioning with RFID in Carbid Production
- Energy
- Food and Beverage
- Dough Height Inspection for Accurate Measurement
- Leading Edge Detection of Plastic Container
- Dough Thickness Control in Rolling Machines
- Identification of Food Containers
- Date/Lot Code Verification
- Container Check
- Detection of Valve Position
- Barcode Reading on Depalletizer Station
- Reliable Cap Orientation Verification in Aseptic Areas
- Clear and Tipped Bottle Detection on Depalletizer
- Detection of Pipe Elbows
- Clear Plastic Bottle Detection
- Identification of Chocolate Moulds
- Frozen Food Packaging Label Inspection
- In-Line Bottle Accumulation on Single Filer
- Detecting Refrigerated Breakfast Rolls on a Multi-Lane Conveyor
- Success Stories
- Track and Trace in Meat Production with RFID
- Contact-free Encoder in Potato Production
- UHF RFID in Food Distribution Center
- RFID for Chocolate production
- Distributed I/O for Food Equipment
- Remote I/O for Distilleries
- RFID and Autoclaves
- IP67 Power Supplies for Conveyors
- Transparency in Chocolate Manufacturing
- Identification in Food Product Storage
- Mobile Equipment
- Distribution Lines for Field Sprayers
- Loading Dock Occupancy Monitoring
- Measuring the Ground Clearance on a Field Sprayer
- Monitoring Railcars Wheels Wirelessly
- Reach Stacker Status With Bright Lighting Indicators
- Angle Measurement on a Field Sprayer
- Determining the Boom Angle Position
- Material Flow Monitoring on a Combine Harvester
- Vehicle at Loading Dock
- Equipment Compartment Illumination on Fire Engines
- Wireless Forklift Signaling
- Two-Axis Tilt Measurement on a Combine Harvester
- STS Collision Avoidance
- Collision Protection on Reach Stackers
- Success Stories
- Position Measurement with RFID and Encoder
- Speed Control via Radar Sensor QT50
- RFID Guides AGV in Suspension Production
- Block I/O Modules on Super Yacht
- Wear-free Encoder on Hopper Dredger
- I/O for Dust Suppression
- Cabinet Cooling
- Quick Disconnect Connectivity
- Automation Solutions for Extreme Cold
- Remote I/O for Cranes
- Rugged Heavy Metal Lifting
- Rollercoaster Positioning
- Mobile Machinery Solutions
- Exact Height Positioning
- Critical Angle Sensing
- Angle Sensor Detects Platform Lift
- Predictive Maintenance of Machine Parts at Port-Based Coal Conveying Facility
- Oil and Gas
- Packaging
- Identification of Printing Color Cartridges
- Reliable Operation of Machines
- Monitoring of Caps in Filling Lines
- Monitoring Changeover Processes
- Identification of Test Bottles
- Level Monitoring of Ground Coffee
- Box Insert Detection
- Level Detection in Vessels
- Carton Dimensioning
- Detection of Transport Containers
- Clear Container Detection
- Correct Label Verification
- Detecting Different Size Packages on a Conveyor
- High-Speed 2D Barcode Inspection
- Multicolored Reflective Package Detection
- Plastic Roll Diameter Measurement
- Tube Positioning Using a Registration Mark
- Vertical Form Fill Seal Machine Solutions
- Success Stories
- Pharma
- Monitoring of Quarter Turn Actuators
- Detection of Pipe Elbows
- High-Speed Tablet Counting With Fiber Amplifier
- Remote Signal I/O
- Planning and Construction of Super Skids
- Easy Connection of Field Devices
- I.V. Bag Liquid Detection
- Identification of Portable Tanks
- Identification of Cryovessels
- Identification of Mobile Containers
- Liquid Level Monitoring In A Large Tank
- Identification of Mobile Containers with Handheld Devices
- Identification of Hose Connections for Precursors
- Identification of Hose Connections in Sterile Areas
- Identification of Hose Connections in Ex Zone 1
- Identification of Big Bags and Bioreactors
- Identification of Single-Use Applications
- Success Stories
- Semiconductor