Kenworth Truck Company is now offering the new Hendrickson HLUS-2 ParaLift Ultra steerable lift axles for vocational applications.

Single HLUS-2 ParaLift Ultra steerable lift axles are now available on Kenworth’s C500, T600, T800 and W900 models. Two and three HLUS-2 ParaLift Ultra lift axles are also available on the T800 and W900 models. The lift axles have a maximum capacity of 13,200 pounds.

The new ParaLift Ultra has a two-piece knuckle design versus the one-piece knuckle design of the previous ParaLift Ultra model. Kenworth has also made aluminum hubs and the Dana-Spicer Low Maintenance System (LMS) hub package standard on steerable pushers rated through 13,200 pounds.

PACCAR chooses Tundra series of refrigerators for its truck line

Paccar has selected Tundra refrigerators from Taylor Made Environmental, Inc., to be installed as original equipment in sleeper compartments on new Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks.

The Tundra refrigerators will also be sold in the aftermarket through the Paccar Parts program.

Paccar has placed an initial order for a quantity of 1.8- and 2.2-cubic foot Tundra models built to the company’s specifications. The Tundra units have a steel exterior with a durable, protective coating, and the interior is high-impact polystyrene, designed for low maintenance and easy cleaning.

Built-in protections include a high-temperature cutout at 125F, and a low-voltage cutout to safeguard the vehicle’s batteries.

The Tundra products are built with Danfoss compressors running on R134A refrigerant. The Tundra design uses a condensing system that circulates air across the condenser for a more efficient heat transfer.

New Eaton technology could provide fuel savings up to 35%

Eaton Corporation says it has developed a practical method to recover the energy that is normally lost during vehicle braking, and convert it into hydraulic power that can be used for vehicle acceleration.

Eaton unveiled the technology, which industry experts estimate could result in vehicle fuel savings of 25 to 35 percent in some key applications, in Detroit at the recent 2002 North American International Auto Show.

The technology is called Hydraulic Launch Assist (HLA), and has been developed by Eaton in a collaborative program with Ford Motor Company. Eaton says the HLA product could be readied for commercial introduction by mid-decade, and that the total potential for this technology could approach $500 million industry-wide by the end of the decade.

HLA works by recovering a portion of the energy normally wasted as heat by the vehicle’s brakes. This converted energy is held in fluid form in an on-board reservoir, or accumulator, until the driver next accelerates the vehicle. Fuel savings occur when the stored energy is then used in conjunction with the engine-based power in the initial, high-fuel-consumption acceleration of the vehicle. Eaton officials said acceleration is “brisk”, due to the high power density of hydraulics, and energy transfer is virtually transparent to the driver.

“HLA has the potential to significantly impact two critical areas of long term concern to ongoing vehicle development: fuel economy and exhaust emissions. For those reasons, we have already invested millions of dollars in HLA-related work, and recently signed both a technology license agreement and a cooperative research and development agreement with the EPA for the development of future generation systems. We are highly optimistic about the future of this technology,” Alexander M. Cutler, Eaton chairman and CEO said.

HLA is part of a larger hydraulic hybrid development effort for automotive powertrains first announced in October, 2001. Eaton’s role in the collaboration is to provide HLA system architecture, hardware design and electronic controls expertise.

Peterbilt offers lightweight vocational suspension

The new HAULMAAX suspension, available for Peterbilt’s heavy duty vocational trucks and tractors can decrease vehicle weight by hundreds of pounds, according to Peterbilt.

HAULMAAX is manufactured by Hendrickson International and includes a “spring geometry” design that couples natural rubber with a high-density thermoset material for strength while enhancing ride and handling characteristics for vocational applications, such as dump, mixer, refuse, logging, crane and boom, platform lift, and fire and rescue.

The new suspension offers up to seventeen inches of loaded, diagonal wheel articulation to help maintain traction with all-drive wheels. It also features the variable rate spring system that adjusts to the vehicle’s load to provide excellent ride quality and stability. This can improve driver comfort while protecting the cab, chassis and body from vibrations, helping extend equipment life and reduce maintenance costs.

“Maintenance requirements are further reduced by eliminating center bushings and providing easy access to all components. The spring system provides long service life, and the rugged bar pin axle connection extends bushing life and provides alignment capability for better tire wear. Additionally, the Hendrickson ULTRA ROD torque rods – standard on the HAULMAAX suspension – extend bushing life and provide additional weight savings,” says Sean Coleman, marketing manager for Hendrickson Truck Suspension Systems.

HAULMAAX is available in 40,000- and 46,000 pound ratings for Peterbilt Models 379, 378, 385, 357, 362 and 320. It is also available for the Peterbilt Model 330 in a Class 8 configuration. Optional shock absorbers are available with the HAULMAAX to further improve ride and handling in most applications.