Midland-Grau is up on brakes and ride
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• Midland-Grau has developed a range of braking and air suspension products ahead of changes in legislation.
Its new slack adjuster, which will be fitted as standard by major UK and European axle manufacturers: it is designed to meet EC directive 91/422 which means that from 1 October all vehicle requiring type approval, excluding trailers under 3.5 tonnes, must be equipped with automatic wear adjustment. All vehicles must have it by 1 October 1994.
M-G has also devised an integrated axle lift system (ILAS) to suit trailer suspensions. It integrates seven previously separate functions into a single valve. The compact design is ideal for lowloader trailers.
This unit, which is produced at M-G's German factory, uses push-in sealed connectors instead of screwed versions.
The company has also de
signed an electronic braking system with a high-speed datatransfer system which is said to counter electrical problems associated with current ABS systems.
M-G bases this on research by the US Department of Transportation which highlighted electrical wiring as the main cause of ABS faults.
Interfacing with Grau's existing air brake actuation system, the new design dispenses with large quantities of cabling and connectors. Instead, the muliplex EBS data-linking network — a single circuit around the truck/trailer — carries a stream of coded signals from the multiple braking sensors and relays.
Temperature sensors will monitor the condition of the brakes to provide a much finer degree of control over their application and service life. "It will have enormous benefits," says technical director Bill Broome.