Smooth cruising with Romatic
Page 20
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• Romatic launched System 2000, a speed limiter and cruise control, at the Scottish IRTE Show in Edinburgh this week (see report page 8).
The device, which is based on a pressure proportional valve that controls the air supply to the cylinder on the accelerator linkage, meets all BSAU217 requirements.
A cab-mounted electronic control box connected to the tachograph, speedo or other sensor, signals to the pressure proportional valve when the vehicle reaches its pre-set speed limit.
This allows air into the cylinder on the throttle linkage, controlling the truck's road speed via the injection pump's fuel supply.
CM tried the System 2000 on an unladen ERF El 2Tx 325/York Thermostar 2+2 reefer combination from Wincanton's Chilled Distribution fleet. The cruise and top speed control system was certainly effective. Travelling at the national limit along the M62/M66 towards Burnley, the system cut in smoothly, holding the vehicle's speed in check, even on long downhill runs.
Unlike some other systems, where throttle pressure resistance falls away as the pre-set limit is reached and picks up as the vehicle slows, the Romatic 2000 maintains existing pedal pressure and feels much firmer.
At £440 retail, the full 2000 system is more expensive than Romatic's existing 80 (lightweight diesel kit) and 90 systems, but fitting time is reduced to three hours.