MY ETT News » lightweight

Phillips Industries introduces lightweight STA-LOCK gladhand

Mryan — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:12:34 +0000

A new lightweight gladhand released by Phillips Industries offers heavy-duty performance, even on trailers with space constraints, according to the company. The STA-LOCK is durable enough to withstand road vibration and turning, which can cause enough pressure to uncouple the gladhands. The new design features a lightweight aluminum body and a cast iron heavy-duty connector plate.

Phillips' Gladhand Features Light Weight, Heavy-Duty Performance

New STA-LOCK gladhands from Phillips Industries help to ensure a secure trailer connection when space is tight and reduced weight is a goal, their maker said. The new gladhand combines a lightweight aluminum body with a cast iron heavy-duty connector plate. The connector plate includes a spring-loaded, stainless steel ball bearing that the company said provides a positive lock for gladhand mating.

The “locking” dimple on standard gladhands can flatten out over time leading to a lower breakaway threshold. Additionally, road vibration and turning can cause enough pressure to uncouple the gladhands. Cast iron gladhands can be heavy and bulky, and often do not fit on trailers with space constraints, according to Phillips Industries. The company said its new product solves both problems with the right blend of strength and size, offering a single product for any trailer operation.

Visit http://www.phillipsind.com to learn more.

[source - fleetequipmentmag.com]

Alcoa introduces new stronger, lighter weight 24.5-in. LvL ONE wheel

Mryan — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:30:58 +0000

A new wheel from Alcoa Wheel and Transportation promises to help reduce emissions and stress on vehicle components. The LvL ONE wheel is stronger than steel alternatives and weighs 30 pounds less, featuring Alcoa’s standard bright finish. By pulling 35 percent less weight, fleets save fuel, reduce emissions and place less stress on tires, brakes, engines and drive trains.

Lightweight Wheel Helps Boost Fuel Efficiency

Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products recently rolled out the 24.5-in. LvL ONE wheel. The new wheel in the 24.5-in. x 8.25-in. standard wheel category works with load range “H” tires, with a load rating of 7,850 lbs., which is 450 lbs. more than steel alternatives and weighing 30 lbs. less. Fleets can use the fuel savings from pulling 540 fewer pounds — 35% less than standard steel wheels — on an 18-wheel rig, Alcoa noted.

Designed for the working truck, vocational, construction, and over-the-road trailers, the lighter weight of the new wheel represents a savings of millions of pounds when calculating mile after mile and day after day over the life of a truck or trailer, Alcoa said. Along with using less fuel, the lighter vehicle creates lower emissions and translates into less stress on tires, brakes, engines and drive trains, the company noted.

Exclusive dual-side clean buff finish makes the wheel bright. It also eliminates single-side, double-wheel ordering, reducing inventory as the wheel can be mounted on any standard tractor or trailer axle position.

More information can be found at http://www.alcoawheels.com/.

[source - fleetequipmentmag.com.com]

Siding Aluminum: Truck suppliers look for materials savings

Mryan — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:27:45 +0000

Today’s average Class 8 tractor contains 1,000 pounds of aluminum, but a chairman at the Aluminum Association says there is room for that number to grow. Buoyed by the success of using high-strength lightweight aluminum in automotive applications, the commercial vehicle sector is the next step for expanding its use. The future could potentially see aluminum in landing gear, cab roofs and floors, cab doors, rear trailer doors and more, which could save an estimated 3,500 pounds compared to a current truck and trailer. That weight savings could further boost the fuel-efficiency and payload capacity tied to aluminum.

Future Could See Greater Use of Aluminum in Trucks, Trailers

ARLINGTON, Va. — More aluminum on trucks increases fuel efficiency while boosting payload capacity says the chairman of the Aluminum Association’s Auto & Light Truck Group and marketing ground transportation director for Alcoa.

Speaking to the National Academy of Sciences’ Committee on the Assessment of Fuel Economy Technologies for Medium and Heavy Duty Vehicles, Randall Scheps says that using high-strength, low-weight materials such as aluminum in commercial vehicle applications offers many possibilities for creating lighter weight trucks and buses.

“Success experienced in the automotive industry in achieving improved fuel economy through lightweighting can be applied to the commercial vehicle sector,” said Scheps.

Aluminum is already used for many items on commercial trucks, including in many cabs, forged aluminum wheels, fuel tanks, tank bodies, and trailers. In fact, Scheps said,

The average Class 8 tractor today contains 1,000 pounds of aluminum — but there’s room for more.

Potential future applications for aluminum could include in landing gear, cab roofs and floors, cab doors, frame rails, rear trailer doors and more.

These emerging technologies, Scheps said, could save 3,500 pounds versus today’s truck and trailer.

[source - todaystrucking.com]

Volvo studies light-weight trucks

Mryan — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:39:26 +0000

Encouraged by its aircraft engine component, Volvo is researching the application of lightweight technology for trucks, which, within a decade, could make them at least 20 percent lighter. Currently, the company’s Swedish officials are creating the super light vehicle using a computer program that simulates numerous alterations where weight can be removed without altering durability. A lighter vehicle could be powered by a smaller engine, potentially one powered by renewable energy or a hybrid system, which would further reduce its fuel use and emissions. The challenge, according to Volvo, will be using lighter, more durable materials while keeping the costs down.

Volvo research could lead to trucks at least 20 percent lighter within a decade, resulting in less fuel use and lower emissions.

Swedish Volvo officials are working on what they call light-weight technology, which could be used on future U.S. trucks, said Jim McNamara, a Volvo Trucks North America spokesman.

Carl Fredrik Hartung, Volvo Technology project manager, said technology has mainly been used in Volvo Aero’s aircraft engine component, but company engineers see potential truck use.

“We are creating the super-light vehicle in a computer program that simulates how hundreds of thousands of small construction alterations can reduce the vehicle’s total weight without affecting other key characteristics in the vehicle, such as crashworthiness or the ability to bear loads,” Hartung said.

A lighter vehicle can be powered by a smaller engine. If that engine is powered by renewable fuel or hybrid systems in which the diesel engine is jointly powered with an electric motor, then fuel consumption and emissions can be further reduced.

An engineering challenge is that the lighter materials must be durable and more expensive materials may have to be used, while still keeping the cost down.

“First we look at the sheet metal thickness, so we try to reduce the metal thickness as much as possible,” Hartung said. “When we cannot reduce that anymore, we try to look at alternative materials, such as aluminum or carbon fiber.”

[source - etrucker.com]

Lighter lift axle system

Mryan — Thu, 21 May 2009 20:40:56 +0000

Hendrickson’s newest Paralift axle system shed about 90 pounds, yet retains the versatility of the older model. The Paralift PST features some changes including: enhanced driveline clearance, extended wheel cut and redesigned axle seats. The new lighter lift axle system is available for a wide variety of Class 8 truck chassis.

Hendrickson says it trimmed 90 pounds from its Paralift lift axle system with the launch of the Paralift PST. Fitting Paralift with a new axle, Hendrickson says the 20,000-pound steerable lift axle system comes with a Westport axle and D22 spindle, and is available for a wide variety of Class 8 truck chassis. To enhance driveline clearance and extend wheel cut to 25 degrees, the company says it redesigned the axle seats and moved the stabilizers inside the tie rod and connected them to the axle brackets. Hendrickson says PST also retains features of previous Paralift models, including adjustability of frame width and ride height, allowing fleets, aftermarket installers and body builders to apply one unit to meet a wide variety of truck configurations.

Paralift’s parallelogram design helps facilitate proper wheel tracking and helps keep lift plates parallel for longer air spring life, while the trailing arm beams feature a single-paddle z-beam configuration. Paralift PST delivers 12 inches of total travel with nine inches of lift in ride heights from 9½ to 13½ inches in a 28-inch package space. Zero-torsion trailing-arm bushings help eliminate bushing windup and allow for the dual lift-spring configuration.

[source - etrucker.com]