Kenworth’s local haul hybrid
Kenworth Truck Co. says it designed its new T370 Class 7 diesel-electric hybrid tractor to improve fuel economy by up to 25 percent in local haul applications, including beverage, general freight and grocery distribution. The tractor will be available in various wheelbases, starting as short as 153 inches.
The T370 tractor is powered by the Paccar PX-6 engine and features an integral transmission-mounted motor/generator, a frame-mounted 340-volt battery pack and a dedicated power management system. Advanced powertrain controls monitor driving conditions and automatically select the ideal power mode, smoothly switching among electric-only, combined diesel and electric, and diesel-only power modes, according to the Kirkland, Wash.-based truck maker.
Electricity generated through regenerative braking is stored and used for acceleration, assisting the diesel engine. The hybrid system is monitored through a dash display, Kenworth says; as the power requirements for different driving conditions change, the screen constantly updates the driver on system status.
Kenworth Truck Co.
www.kenworth.com
Wireless scale for mechanical suspensions
TruckWeight says its Smart Scale wireless onboard scale now is available for trucks, tractors and trailers with mechanical spring suspensions, such as vehicles used in bulk distribution, agriculture, construction, forestry, containerized loads and heavy hauling. Smart Scale for mechanical suspensions includes three components: an axle-mounted load sensor, a low-powered radio transmitter and a small handheld wireless receiver. The load sensor measures subtle changes in the deflection of the axle; it feeds this data to the transmitter, which relays it to the handheld receiver up to 500 feet (155 meters) away. The result is a weight calculation that’s accurate to within 1 percent compared to a certified scale, according to the company, which touts several benefits of the unit:
- Smart Scale uses AA batteries for power and does not require electricity from a truck or tractor. Users can actively manage the weight of an untethered trailer as it is being loaded, while fleet managers can deploy their power units where they need them and eliminate the time and inconvenience of hooking up a tractor in order to use a scale;
- One handheld receiver can monitor both mechanical spring and air-ride sensors on the same vehicle or combination; and
- The wireless feature is useful for drivers who load their own vehicle and want to verify and fine-tune distribution of the payload.
TruckWeight
www.truckweight.com
Shallow-pit scissors lift
With its acquisition of Fleet America Service Technology, Stertil-Koni has added the ECO Lift – a shallow-pit, axle-engaging multi-scissors lift – to its product line. An alternative to piston lifts, the heavy-duty ECO Lift is designed to allow technicians to have easy access to wheel and brake assemblies and comes with a variety of adapters that will accommodate any axle configuration, according to the company; the lift also features a safety locking mechanism to help prevent unprompted lift descent. Its collapsible design makes it small enough to require only a 34-inch-deep pit instead of one that is six to nine feet deep for traditional axle-engaging piston-style lifts, Stertil-Koni says. The ECO Lift’s ultra-shallow pit requirements and bolt-in design allow for easy installation, according to the company. In addition to being compact – 25 inches tall, 40 inches wide and 22 inches front to back, when collapsed – the ECO Lift also is powerful, with 30,000 pounds of lifting capacity per unit, Stertil-Koni says; multiple lift configurations accommodating 60,000 pounds and 90,000 pounds also are available.
Stertil-Koni
www.stertil-koni.com
Battery-powered cooling system
Hammond Air Conditioning has developed Arctic Breeze Truck AC, a battery-powered cooling system designed to be quiet, vibration-free and powered by sustainable energy resources. Arctic Breeze systems, available for both sleepers and daycabs, come in a boxed kit with all necessary components included and can be installed in five to six hours, the company says. Designed to maintain the cab’s overall temperature once the truck has been shut down, Arctic Breeze draws a low 45 amps and provides 6800 BTUs of cooling, according to Hammond; based on a duty cycle of 50 to 60 percent, the system consumes only 350 watts per hour on average. Powered by up to six truck batteries, the system keeps drivers cool for 10 to 12 hours, depending upon a number of factors such as time of day, color of the truck, window tinting and how many accessories are running, the company says.
Systems come with a battery protection switch engineered to automatically shut off the A/C at 12.2 amps, helping to ensure that drivers will have enough power to turn over their trucks’ engines. Made of 1⁄8-inch aluminum, the compressor/condenser box is designed to be mounted directly behind the cab or hung off frame rails with the included universal brackets. A battery box with all necessary universal brackets for external mounting is an optional item. The system evaporator can be mounted on a shelf, directly on the back wall of the cab, or in a storage compartment.
Hammond Air Conditioning
www.hammondac.com
Full-synthetic engine oil
Warren Oil Co. says its Lubriguard Full Synthetic 5W40 CJ-4/SM Heavy Duty Engine Oil was designed to provide outstanding performance in all climate conditions and in all diesel engine applications, including today’s emissions-controlled engines with exhaust gas recirculation and diesel particulate filters, as well as earlier conventional engines. According to the company, the oil is formulated with premium-quality synthetic base oils and additives to maximize engine performance and improve engine life through increased wear protection, deposit and oil consumption control, soot-related viscosity-increase control, thermal breakdown protection and cold temperature pumpability performance. Additionally, the 5W40 viscosity helps allow for increased fuel economy when compared to traditional 15W40 engine oils.
Warren Oil
www.warrenoil.com
Anti-idling valve
Parker says it offers an on/off valve with terminations designed to plug into trucks’ auxiliary equipment to regulate heating and cooling systems. The two-way normally closed or normally open valve is available with an orifice diameter of 1/2-inch or larger and a process connection of 1/2-inch NPT. The valve operates with a Cv factor of 4.0 or better and features bubble-tight internal and external leakage; constructed of brass, it is assembled with FKM and fluorocarbon seal material. Electrical specifications include a continuous-duty Class H molded coil enclosure with an open-frame yoke and electrical leads. The valve’s electrical capabilities allow for 12 volts of direct current and 11 to 16 watts of power consumption, depending on the valve type, according to Parker; electrical connectors are available upon request. The valve is designed to withstand a maximum pressure differential of 25 PSI or more and a maximum ambient temperature of 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Upon request, the valve also offers connectors on leads, barb fittings in ports and a mounting bracket.
Parker
www.parker.com/fcd
Waterproof document holder
Phillips Industries says its waterproof document holder helps keep important vehicle papers stored on the outside of a trailer dry, even in extreme weather. Stainless-steel hardware also helps keep documents rust-free, and the twist-on see-through cover lens can be turned easily with a gloved hand, according to the company; the holder can be mounted to replace current document holders without additional hardware.
Phillips Industries
www.phillipsind.com
16,000-pound-capacity forklift
Sellick Equipment has expanded its S Series product line by adding a 16,000-pound-capacity model forklift. By steering both axles, the S160-4 – which has full-time four-wheel drive and four equal-sized wheels – has a tight turning radius of 150 inches, according to the company. The S160-4 is powered by the Dieselmax 444 Turbocharged Tier III diesel engine, producing 114 hp, and is coupled to a fully automatic power-shift transmission. Axles feature enclosed wet disc brakes to facilitate extended life, and limited slip differentials for added traction and maneuverability. The operator platform of the S160-4 is mounted to the frame on isolators that help reduce noise and vibration for the operator. Standard features include frame leveling, tilt-steering column with full instrumentation, light package and backup alarm; options include full cab, air conditioning, side shift and fork positioning carriages, and a variety of lift heights and fork lengths.
Sellick Equipment
www.sellickequipment.com
Hanger system
Transportation Innovation Products says its Step-Back hanger system for van trailers is designed to provide drivers with the correct angle and leverage to safely mount and dismount the trailer with the company’s Step-A-Side Ladder, no matter what the terrain. The product – constructed of cold rolled steel, welded robotically and powder-coated – can be mounted on the van’s or reefer’s buck plate and in use in about 10 minutes, with installation requiring only a few hand tools. Grade 5 mounting bolts and lock nuts and a mounting template are provided to simplify installation.
Transportation Innovation Products
www.transportationinnovation.com
Heat-absorbing sponge
HTP America says its Super Heat Sponge, when applied to a weld area, absorbs heat and provides a strong protective barrier, effectively stopping any damage – including broken glass, discoloration and distortion on lightweight metal – that often can result from excessive heat. The sponge also is made to help protect against damage resulting from weld spatter. HTP America says the sponge is easy to use; once it’s spread around the work area, welding, brazing or soldering can start. Super Heat Sponge – which also works for lead applications near gaskets or windows – is reusable and can be used any number of times, according to the company; simply wipe it off and put it back in the can. HTP America says the sponge – which can be used vertically, horizontally or overhead – is user-friendly, environmentally safe and 100 percent biodegradable; it also is nontoxic, is safe for all skin contact and produces no odor.
HTP America
www.usaweld.com
Leak detection kit
Tracer Products says its TP-8697HD leak detection kit helps make it easier for heavy-duty technicians to find air conditioning and fluid leaks. The kit features the Optimax 3000 super-high-intensity leak detection flashlight that’s 15 times brighter than standard LED lamps, according to the company; its power is comparable to super-high intensity 150W lamps, and it has an inspection range of up to 20 feet. Powered by a rechargeable NiMH battery, the unit has a 50,000-hour service life, Tracer says. Also included in the kit are an EZ-Ject A/C dye injector with hose and couplers, two EZ-Ject universal A/C dye cartridges with cosolvent-free Fluoro-Lite dye – each 1/2-ounce cartridge can service up to 14 vehicles, according to Tracer – an 8-ounce bottle of Dye-Lite All-In-One concentrated oil dye that services up to 16 vehicles, an 8-ounce bottle of Dye-Lite coolant dye that services up to eight vehicles, and fluorescence-enhancing glasses. Everything is stored in a plastic carrying case.
Tracer Products
www.tracerline.com
Alignment system
Hunter says its WinAlign HD alignment system combines its proprietary HD alignment software, a computer and digital signal sensors to provide fast, accurate alignment service for heavy-duty truck, trailer and bus applications. The WinAlign HD software, which provides step-by-step procedures to allow technicians to perform alignments more quickly, supports more than 60 heavy-duty truck/trailer, bus and dolly axle configurations, according to the company; WinAlign HD also includes a database of specifications as supplied by major heavy-duty vehicle manufacturers.
Hunter says WinAlign HD automatically calculates and displays all alignment measurements in a color-coded format to show the technician which angles are out of specification; any needed adjustments can be made by using the bar graph targets to guide the technician to a proper alignment. DSP506T heavy-duty wheel sensors are designed to provide instantaneous data transfer between the sensors and the alignment system; each sensor contains a high-speed microprocessor, which processes data at each wheel before sending the information to the console.
The optional cordless models use XF-Radio technology to provide high-speed communication without cables connecting the sensors to the console. The cordless sensor batteries power a full day of continuous operation and are designed to be “hot-swapable,” ensuring compensation measurements are not lost during battery replacement. DSP506T cordless sensors can be recharged between jobs by Hunter’s proprietary docking stations attached to the alignment cabinet.
Depending on shop capabilities or the particular vehicle being serviced, the WinAlign HD system is designed to be set up to perform alignments on either a flat floor or on a rack.
Hunter
www.hunter.com
Fastener, installation tooling
Huck says its BobTail lockbolt fastener provides vibration resistance and features a swaged-on installation and pintailess design. The company also says its ergonomic, lightweight Swageforward tooling – designed to be used with the BobTail – installs the fastener in two seconds; all that is required is a visual inspection to ensure proper installation.
Huck
www.huck.com
CDL test review training program
In order to obtain a commercial driver’s license, drivers must pass a “knowledge test,” as well as a “skills” or “road” test, depending on the state’s CDL requirements. To help potential new drivers pass the knowledge portion of the CDL exam, J.J. Keller & Associates has introduced its CDL Knowledge Test Review training program. At the core of the program is a 54-minute closed-captioned DVD that features 100 multiple-choice practice-test squestions with correct answers covering general knowledge, combination vehicles and air brakes; each question is supported by illustrative video, text and graphics. Along with the DVD, the program includes a study guide that can be used by both the trainer and the student; it includes background information on testing, along with study tips and an answer key for the questions on the DVD. Additional study guides are available separately.
A practice test CD-ROM also is included and provides three CDL knowledge tests covering general knowledge, combination vehicles and air brakes; four endorsement practice tests for hazardous materials, tank vehicles, double and triple trailers and passengers; and a DVD test blank to be used in conjunction with the video. The program also can be used as refresher training whenever a CDL holder must retake the test, in the event that a driver has moved from another state and needs to update his or her license, or if a driver’s CDL or an endorsement has expired.
J.J. Keller & Associates
www.jjkeller.com
