MAKE THE TRUCKS STOP, TOO

Abstract

THIS PAPER DISCUSSES THE BRAKE PERFORMANCE OF AIR-BRAKED TRUCKS AND COMBINATION VEHICLE RELATIVE TO DECELERATION AND STABILITY. THE AVAILABLE MEANS FOR IMPROVING THE PERFORMANCE ARE COVERED, INCLUDING RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON MAXIMUM COST EFFECTIVENESS. METHODS DISCUSSED ARE THE USE OF LOAD-SENSITIVE PROPORTIONING VALVES AND SKID CONTROL, WITH THE STUDY OF TRACTOR INSTALLATIONS AS A PRELUDE TO MORE WIDESPREAD USAGE OF EITHER DEVICE. RELATED AREAS OF INTEREST ARE ALSO CONSIDERED, SUCH AS THE VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS THAT MAY BE REQUIRED TO PERMIT THE USE OF THESE BRAKE CONTROLS, THE BENEFITS OF TRACTOR INSTALLATIONS ON INTERCHANGE VEHICLES, AND THE RELATIVE MERITS OF LOAD-SENSITIVE PROPORTIONING VALVES AND SKID CONTROL WHEN SO APPLIED. /SAE/