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Sicherheit: German for safety. Bremsen: German for brakes. Most people think of brakes as a way to control the vehicle, along with the accelerator and the steering wheel. But the [...]

The search for the perfect brake continues. Even before they had to stop using asbestos, brake manufacturers were working on developing better friction materials. Using phenolic resins, non-asbestos organics, various [...]

The first braking system most likely consisted of a piece of leather nailed to a wooden lever. Pulling on the lever would create contact between the chunk of leather and [...]

Full electronic braking systems (EBS) were once perceived to be a pipe dream but appear to becoming a reality within the trucking industry. Existing federal regulations require such systems to be baked up by a pneumatic system, which makes the installation of an EBS more expensive. However, leading brake system suppliers and automotive original equipment manufacturers are working to make the new technology both cost-effective and practical for truck fleet operators.

The anti-lock brake system (ABS) is a major breakthrough in vehicular braking systems with its electronic and computerized system controls. With the ABS, drivers have better steering controls to avoid an accident or minimize the damage of one. Modifications of the ABS system are expected in the future., FEATURE Every decade or so, a major technological breakthrough in vehicular braking systems has moved the state of the art forward. The earliest horseless carriages had primitive lever-mounted blocks that [...]

Honda Motor Company Ltd. has developed an innovative antilock braking system (ABS) for its new 50-cc. Dio ST scooter. Called the Motor Actuated Combined brake system with ABS (MA-CABS), the system includes front and rear wheel sensors, an electronic control unit (ECU), an actuator unit and two cable dampers. MA-CABS' ECU monitors the motorcycle's speed and compensates the braking force of both the front and rear brakes to prevent locking.

Researchers make an amazing discovery: One-wheel braking is the key to computer-controlled vehicle dynamics. Does winter driving give you cold sweats? Do you blanch at the thought of fishtailing on [...]

Electronic detection and control will become a standard norm by 2000 AD with 30% of the cars already fitted with the ABS. The Economist's Intelligence Unit predicts a 22% per year compound growth for this technology. The thrust is towards providing anti-collision radars, anti-collision systems and better anti-lock braking making use of infra-red technology, accelerometer triggered air-bags and advanced micro-controller chips.

Virtually instantaneous response tops the list of benefits claimed for electro-pneumatic braking. Doubters remain, but BN's tests with a TSM system produced positive results. Will electronically controlled freight train braking […]

Results of a survey of engineers concerning their views on automobibile powertrain options, choice of a good gas mileage, type of vehicle they plan to purchase, budget considerations and the safety features they demand, are presented. Most of the respondents prioritize safety features such as antilock brakes and airbags. Sixty one percent are willing to buy American cars such as GM, Ford and Chrysler and prefer automatic and manual transmission powertrain options., Antilock brakes and airbags top the features engineers are looking for in dealer showrooms. Safety is a major consideration for engineers when they shop for a new car or truck, [...]

New technology Brakes! Exciting developments may impact the way brakes are serviced, thereby affecting dealer profitability When the subject of new brake technology is mentioned, most people think about all [...]

Auxiliary Brakes Offer Safety and Savings Heavy construction trucks need immense stopping power - whether descending steep grades, slowing for exit ramps or simply maneuvering through city traffic. A truck's [...]

A Second Chance for Anti-Lock Brakes Next to exhaust-emission standards and weight regulations, anti-lock brakes may be the hottest topic in the trucking industry today. It's probably just a matter [...]

Engine brake manufacturer Jacobs Vehicle Systems, a company known for its Jake Brake add-on engine brake product, has formed partnerships with other firms for the development of integrated engine brakes. Company engineers have collaborated with companies such as Mac Trucks, Cummins to create innovations for engines such as the E-Tech and the Cummins Signature 600. These include lost motion braking, exhaust gas recirculation, exhaust pressure regulation and valve actuation., Jacobs Vehicle Systems eyes total integration with engine builders for valve control; actuating engine valves 'for any purpose' We've all heard it. A Class 8 truck is rolling down a [...]

The electronic braking system (EBS) may already find its way to the truck operations in the US after the government regulation on its performance is settled. EBS's break signal is sent through electronic impulses instead of air, but in case of malfunction, shifts to the pneumatic braking system. Current government directive is to include the pneumatic system as a back-up but the performance of an independent EBS is still being examined as the back-up system only adds to the system's complexity, cost and weight.

Electronic brake technology is ready now, but brake makers say they won't peddle it without consumer acceptance It matters little to Jordan Harris, as he zips through 15 miles of [...]

Steer-axle brakes have gained acceptance in the trucking industry, thanks in part to the advent of antilock braking systems (ABS), which assure that drivers will retain steering control in lockup situations. Federal law has mandated the installation of steer-axle, or front, brakes on heavy trucks since 1988, and ABS will be required starting in Mar 1997. Several improved or new steer-axle brakes are reaching the market in 1997.

A new and promising trucking technology is the development of the electronic braking systems (EBS) which is designed to improve the braking performance of air-braked heavy vehicles. Freightliner Corp. has debuted an EBS prototype called the Safety Truck. EBS allows instantaneous braking because it uses electronic signals thus making truck driving safer. EBS, however, is expected to be more expensive than anti-lock braking systems., The nation's first test drive of truck electronic braking reveals enhanced performance for increased driver safety This year promises to be a watershed for the introduction of new trucking technology. [...]

Truck manufacturers are working closely with the trucking industry to improve the performance and reduce the maintenance requirements of conventional truck brakes. They hope to develop brake systems with a shorter stopping distance by changing the dimensions of existing brakes and using more wearable lining volume to lower average brake operating temperatures for extended lining life. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is also coordinating with truck manufacturers in this field of research.

A study conducted using a Valentine Research G-Analyst revealed that automobiles with active anti-lock brake systems (ABS) decelerate better in snow than those with inactive ABS. The study, which was peformed using summer, all-season and winter tires, shows that ABS permits the driver to maintain directional control of the vehicle during braking. It was also found that the local surface texture of snow has a strong influence on the traction of automobile tires, thereby affecting the decceleration rate.

Rick DeMeis HANOVER, GERMANY--Continental Teves' 30-Meter Car Project is not a supersized SUV but a design effort to develop a car that can stop from 100 km/hr (62 mph) within […]

MITCHEL FIELD -- Lockheed Martin's Long Island division has landed a $34 million contract to design and engineer a train control system for Illinois' Department of Transportation, the first of [...]

It used to be that many of the auto industry 'what-ifs' and pie-in-the-sky future technologies were so far down the road that many of us couldn't comprehend their existence. Options [...]

HIGH TECH HITS THE BRAKES Hitting the brakes will take on a whole new meaning in the near future. That's the word from engineers, who say the trucking industry will [...]

Why invest in servos for tensioning applications when hysteresis clutches and brakes can keep it simple, asks ZF Industrial. Comments by Simon Smith of Aerotech. When asked to provide tension [...]

Strides In Electronics Promise Efficiency Gains CONSTRUCTION TRUCKS Advanced electronics that will custom-build a truck for its job will change the way construction contractors specify, buy and operate their vehicles. [...]

CLUTCHES AND BRAKES A cursory look at the clutch and brake industry would seem to reveal a mature field with little design activity. But this impression would be misleading. Although [...]

A Radar Safety Brake System has been developed by inventor George Rashid, Jr. for trucks. Prototype is now in use, with final products to be marketed in automobile and truck aftermarkets by end of 1982. Preston Trucking Co. of Maryland now has two units, which operate by way of microwave signal transmitted in same lane as truck. Reflected signal of anything ahead relayed to small computer which computes closing distance and flashes warning signals if necessary. The device for automobiles will be priced at $395, for trucks $795.

Innovations being developed in the auto industry in hopes of re-attracting buyers include design by computer, electronic control and instrumentation, reduced-weight bumpers and power train, improved transmission systems, new types of batteries, and silicone brake fluids.

Now: skid-control brakes --steerable stopping in rain or snow The lipstick-red Corvette bounces tautly out onto the blacktop. My driver, Corvette development engineer Dave Wickman, slaps the shifter quickly through [...]

When there is nothing but basic braking functions to consider, hydraulic actuation is still the most reliable and economical solution. Even when ABS is added, the cost still favors a [...]

Manufacturers of antilock brake systems (ABS) have formed the ABS Education Alliance to educate the public on how to maximize the safety benefits offered by ABS technology. The alliance will offer an education program for drivers to help them avoid crashes through antilocks by teaching them to unlearn past braking habits., The public will have to be taught the safety features of ABS Educating the public on how to use antilock brake systems (ABS) will be one of the first tasks [...]

Studies show that anti-lock brake systems (ABS) have failed to live up to their potential because of drivers' failure to take full advantage of the system's capabilities. Lucas Industries Inc. (Lucas) has developed a new ABS which is designed to address this problem. Lucas' ABS incorporates a Hall effect sensor which fully activates the brakes when high-speed pedal depressions are detected. Tests confirm that the Lucas ABS allows the average driver to stop the vehicle in less distance than the non-equipped automobiles.

AP Lockheed's Advanced Engineering Team has developed a new type of drum brake system that is 95% as efficient as a disk brake system. The system, called the Stepped-bore Wheel Cylinder Brake, is compatible with antilock braking systems and boasts of reduced speed and temperature sensitivity. It is also less expensive to install than a rear disc system and exhibits a more even lining wear, thereby resulting in longer service life.