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[RAILER STABILITY

9th May 2002, Page 58
9th May 2002
Page 58
Page 58, 9th May 2002 — [RAILER STABILITY
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Trailer EBS, ABS and traction control are integral components of a trailer stability system; the sensors are linked via the CAN-bus electrical system.

The Knorr-Bremse system is called ESP (electronic stability program). It was acquired from Bosch, which unveiled the first such system at the 1998 Hanover Show. Wabco calls its version Electronic Stability Control (ESC) but they both work on the same principle.

At first this technology attracted particular interest from Hazchem specialists and other hauliers where a trailer roll-over could have catastrophic consequences. But nowadays it's winning wider and wider acceptance, Not only have prices fallen, but operators appreciate the hazards associated with increased congestion and feel that their drivers deserve all the help they can get in keeping the rig under control at all times.

ESP compensates for under or over-steer at low speeds and is claimed to virtually eliminate the risk of overturning or jack-knifing. It works via a steering-angle sensor which detects the direction the driver wants to go and compares it with the amount of lean and lateral forces. If the vehicle deviates from what the ESP system thinks should be happening, a correction is applied by braking individual wheels.

A yaw-angle sensor detects understeer and the ESP corrects this by braking the nearside drive-axle wheels. Oversteer is corrected by braking the offside front wheel and all the trailer axles. Lateral acceleration sensors prevent rollover by activating the brakes to slow the vehicle down until the situation is stable again.

Knorr-Bremse has developed a cheaper version of ESP for trailers as an option on its TEBS4 system; a lateral acceleration sensor is added to the TEBS control unit, mounted on the rear bogie.

Obviously cost will be the big factor if ESP is to be widely adopted. Knorr-Bremse says the system takes a day to retrofit, and says prices will be "under 11,000". That's a small proportion of a specialist trailer's cost— and the higher the specification of the trailer, the smaller the cost of ESP seems in comparison.

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