ENGINEERS SHOW OFF
Page 102
Page 103
Page 104
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Packed with big-name exhibitors, the IRTE show this year provided much to interest all sections of the industry. Jost (GB) was launching the JSK 37 CW fifth wheel designed for low maintenance and increased cleanliness. The novel feature is a nylon insert in the cast top plate which eliminates the need for messy top plate lubrication. There is a grease nipple for the jaw.
Another nylon insert is found in the wearing ring which reduces king pin wear, noise and jarring. Not intended for multi-coupling, the flush design of the JSK 37 CW avoids reducing the tolerance of the king pin, as can happen with an additional pad. The cost is 11,098. For more information write No 81 on the reader reply card.
OSCIUATING Also new was the 150-tonne heavy-duty, fully oscillating fifth wheel from Fontaine Fifth Wheel Europe. The oscillating mounting allows up to 80 of movement in both fore, aft and lateral planes to relieve twisting stresses.
The unit can be locked to prevent lateral movement when operating in less severe conditions. It will operate on 87.5min kingpin trailers and has a 50mm bolt-in jaw mechanism for a 91-tonne capacity. The cost is 11,650. Write No 80 on the reader reply card.
Two of the new products on the WABCO Automotive stand were the fast-fit Vario Compact ABS system and a trailer spring brake. The Vario Compact is a ready-assembled system for trailers and is said to be simple to fit and check. Several diagnostic options are offered by the makers. The cost is about 1750. Write No 79 on the reader reply card.
The new double-diaphragm 'TSL' type trailer spring brake has a long stroke of 75mm. The power spring itself has been engineered to avoid surface damage and a linked tube breathing system reduces the ingress of road dirt and other contaminants. The TSL spring position is sealed for life and can be released when in park position with the tool provided. The price is 175. Write No 78 on the reader reply card.
Midland-Grau was introducing a longstroke double diaphragm spring brake chamber. The stroke is 75mm in common with most others but the unit itself is shorter and lighter making it more resistant to heavy vibration, says the manufacturer.
No definite price is available but it should be competitive, it says. Write No 77 on the reader reply card.
The company was also displaying its range of adjustable A-frames for drawbar trailers for the first time in the UK. Built in Germany to meet German legislation requirements, the frames cost about 1300. Write No 76 on the reader reply card.
Verwood-based Filtakleen showed off its recently acquired Lubrakleen AX150 vehicle lubrication system. It can be set to work at 20. 45 or 90-minute intervals, depending on vehicle and application and is designed to be refilled just once a year.
The system has different sized meters so that the grease supply can be matched to the requirements of individual components. Being based on a single steel supply line, maintenance and repair work are greatly simplified. It will cater for 10-150 grease points with the standard, self-contained pump and can be fitted as o/e or in the aftermarket.
For retrofitting Lubrakleen is sold as a kit matched to the vehicle and can be fitted in about six hours. The guide price for an 18-point system kit is about 1600 plus fitting. Write No 75 on the reader reply card.
Exhaust specialist Eminox was showing its new CRT filter system, developed in conjunction with Johnson Matthey. It is a continuously regenerating trap designed to be used with low-sulphur diesel fuel. It consists essentially of two working parts, the catalyst and a particulate wall-flow filter.
The catalyst will deal with the pollutant constituents of exhaust gas—CO and total hydrocarbons and will also give some reduction in particulate matter. It will also oxidise NO to NO, which is in turn used to burn the hot carbon trapped in the filter. The products of this are nitrogen and CO, and the filter is cleaned in the process.
The continuous action of the system keeps the back pressure in the exhaust constant and the design is unusualits steel casing is made from a four-part modular system so that any part is interchangeable if accidental damage occurs. The CRT will fit all sizes of engine and comes in 225 or 262mm diameters at a cost of £2,800 or 0,600 depending upon installation. Write No 74 on the reader reply card.
K&N Filters (Europe) was promoting its range of aftermarket air filters which it claims last the life of the vehicle. This consists of filters for most heavy trucks and recent additions include components for Leyland Daf 75 and 85 models.
The maker says its filters allow 40% more air to flow to the engine than paper ones and that this improves performance and can lead to fuel savings of 8%. Layers of oil-impregnated surgical cotton gauze sandwiched between aluminium mesh will stop dust particles down to 0.5 micron across, way below many manufacturer's recommendations, adds 1:8zN.
Maintenance involves vacuuming, washing and re-oiling—very simple. There is no limit on how often this can be done. An average price would be about £75. Write No 73 on the reader reply card.
New for the show and displayed on the Dana stand was the Spicer 7-Spring Dampened Discs designed to be used on hightorque, low-rev engines and intended to reduce driveline vibration by increasing clutch spring travel (±11`). Write No 70 on the reader reply card.
Roadlink International was showing the new range of Bryden brake reline machines. These British-built units are designed to bring consistency to the rivet pressure when relining brakes. They are intended for commercial vehicle motor factors, workshops and operators with uses which include stripping old linings as well as relining. There are several versions in the range, including foot-operated and pneumatic. Prices are £400 to £2,000. Write No 69 on the reader reply card.
Roadlink was also promoting Beral 1560 asbestos-free brake lining material. This German-made product is suitable for both tractor and trailer applications. Advantages are said to be reduced drum wear, excellent durability, rapid bedding-in and good resistance to fade. Write No 68 on the reader reply card.
DIVERSIFICATION Woodhead RSR was showing off its new livery and its greater diversification resulting from its association with the Partco Group operation. Not only springs and suspension parts now, but one-stop shopping for everything.
New on the stand was an OTC oil filter crusher. It will deal with filters up to 312.5nun and press to 25 tonnes to remove more than 90% of waste oil. The machine is air operated with a requirement of 4 bar from the workshop compressor. The air used is passed back into the atmosphere fully filtered, eliminating airborne sprayshop contamination problems. It costs £2,250 and can be leased or bought under Woodhead's interest free credit scheme. Write No 67 on the reader reply card.
IlVIS was displaying its new Spraysafe spray suppression flap which it claims has the best spray suppression energy absorption figure on the market (87% as tested by TUV compared to competitors' 75%).
The secret is in the construction. Spraysafe has a separate energy absorber attached to the inward face of the flap. This catches water and allows it to drain back down to the road. It is a high-density polyethylene mesh which can be ordered separately by vehicle manufacturers if required.
Other advantages are its self-cleaning ability—the flap flexes separately from the mesh to shake loose grit and mud—lightweight construction (typically weighing about one third that of its competitors) and durability. The flap is designed to operate down to -40°C and still remain flexible. The backing flap also features integral side valances which help to stop the side emission of water and add strength. Seven widths are available with a typical price being £12 to the fleet user. Write No 66 on the reader reply card.
Michael Software Systems announced that it has updated its fleet management package, FleetPOWER, to run on the IBM RS6000 computer under the UNIX operating environment.
The product is still available for the IBM AS400 range of computers and there is no difference in price. The system is intended for fleets of 100-plus vehicles, especially if the fleet is maintained in-house. All operating costs are included on the database and almost everything else for management.
Also showing was the General Transport System (GTS) which is intended for use by primary distribution operators and general hauliers. It is used to take orders from customers, map them to vehicles and drivers and to monitor and produce necessary documentation associated with delivery. GTS is currently only available on for AS400 machines but an update is planned before the end of the year. FleetPOWER costs a minimum of £10,000 (hardware and software) while GTS is about £20,000, Write No 65 on the reader reply card.
Reversing alarms from American specialist Preco were making their European debut at the show. Ranging in output from 87 to 112db, they sell to manufacturers and the aftermarket and are available from assorted outlets nationwide. Fitting is straightforward with the unit normally being wired into the reversing light circuit. A silent-running facility exists for night use and the price range is £15-£100. Write No 63 on the reader reply card.
ACTIVATED
The Proximeter is an infra-red sensor-based reversing warning system that is activated when reverse gear is engaged. Sensors are fitted at the rear of the vehicle and generate a slow, intermittent bleep inside the cab if there is nothing any closer than 2m behind. Bleeps get faster as the vehicle nears an obstruction and become continuous when the object is half a metre from the back.
The sensitivity of the system is such that the maker says it will detect a walking stick and there is also the option of having an external horn synchronised with the bleeper for pedestrian benefit.
Proximeter can be switched off for night use and fitting is a DIY job although a fleet installation service is available. The cost of an HGV system is £210. Write No 62 on the reader reply card.
Delta Design was showing the first UKmanufactured double flash E-approved Xenon beacon.
Power consumption of the Turbo Star is stated as 18W and the ECE65-approval guarantees a minimum light output, the quality of light, correct angle of vision and flash rate plus low temperature operation. The unit is guaranteed for 3,000 hours: the maker says tube life is likely to be about 6,000 hours. Price is £80.48. Write No 61 on the reader reply card.
Trucklite has done much pioneering work into the development of LED lights for commercial vehicles. At the show it announced the imminent arrival of an E-approved version of its yellow Model 35 marker lamp which has been available in the UK for about a year.
The advantages of LED lighting are simply that there are no bulbs to blow or replace. Trucklite's units are supplied with a 10-year warranty. In addition, the company is about to introduce a red rear end outline marker lamp with E-approval (particularly beneficial to operators of high trailers) plus an LED lamp with built in reflector. Prices of LED lamps vary from £15 to .E18. Write No 60 on the reader reply card.
Groeneveld Transport Efficiency has brought out a fully electronic truck immobiliser which can act on any three separate 30A circuits. The system is self-arming, code-hopping and encupted—the code is changed at every arming to guard against scanning.
A dash-mounted LED provides a status indicator while driving and also a flashing deterrent once armed. A key fob disarms the immobiliser by touching it on the dashboard unit—no keys to insert—and a fuel cut-out valve is available as an optional extra and within the unit a memory function prevents unlawful disarming by battery disconnection.
The relays within the steel control unit are failsafe so if a problem develops then the vehicle will remain driveable. Available in both 12 and 24V versions, the system costs about £185 (supplied and fitted) and installation takes about two hours. Write No 59 on the reader reply card.
Romatic has relaunched its Self Arming Air Brake immobilser that will isolate a vehicle's electrics, lock on the hand-brake and drive a fuel shut-off valve if necessary It's triggered when the ignition is switched off: disarming requires a code or the use of a jack plug. The cost is £227 and installation takes about three hours. Write No 58 on the reader reply card.
Also from Romatic was a handbrake off warning device. Available with electric or air operation, it prompts the driver to apply the handbrake with the aid of a cab buzzer. The cost is about £125 for the electrically operated system and the air-powered one sells for twice as much. Write No 57 on the reader reply card.