Hauliers' umbilical' hose
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• An unusual way of enclosing the brake and electric cables in a single hose running from a tractive unit to a trailer is being made available to hauliers.
The system has been designed by haulier Christian Salvesen with Hydraulic Hose Assemblies of Peterborough. So far, the hoses have been fitted to more than 300 Christian Salvesen Mercedes trucks.
Christian Salvesen is the patent-holder and has now decided to market the "umbilical kit" through HHA. The Edinburgh-based operator will receive a percentage for each one sold.
The device, a wire-coated thermoplastic hose, contains the electrical and brake connections and replaces conventional coiled cables. It is fixed to a chassis channel member on the tractor and moves on a swivel unit mounted below the fifth wheel.
It extends the life of suzie hoses by up to six times, says HHA's Neil Marshall, because they are not subjected to the same stretching when the truck turns a corner.
It makes trailer coupling much easier and keeps the rear of the cab free for cleaning and general maintenance.
The product costs about 2170 to fit per vehicle. It has been fitted by Mercedes-Benz to all Christian Salvesen trucks at its import centre in Barnsley since 1988 when Salvesen's and HHA's engineers devised the product.
HHA decided not to patent the product itself. "We're a fairly small company, and we thought it would be easier letting Christian Salvesen do the work," says Marshall.
Both Leyland Daf and ERF are looking closely at the invention, he says.
One Leyland Daf customer is keen to have it fitted to 100 trucks on order.