ArvinMeritor Inc. introduced its RideSentry trailer suspension with a new PinLoc slider locking mechanism. The PinLoc mechanism reduces the potential for incidents by using an angled pin design and an air assist with a parking brake interlock to securely engage the slider pins before the trailer is put in transit, the company said.
The new system will be in production in June 2007.
"Our research has shown that many trailers are operated without the slide pins properly engaged, which can lead to an on-road hazard. We recognized the opportunity to help our customers and our industry with a patented PinLoc system that reduces the chances of this happening," said Sergio Carvalho, vice president and general manager of North American Trailer Systems for ArvinMeritor. "This situation can create risk for truck drivers and motorists, while potentially causing fleets and owner-operators economic hardship."
The new suspension is optimized to provide reliable performance for dry and refrigerated van trailers in capacities of 38,000 and 40,000 pounds, the company said. It provides all of the safety and performance enhancements of the RideSentry suspension family.
The addition of the PinLoc slider locking mechanism provides a reliable method to ensure that drivers or lot attendants don’t accidentally leave slider pins disengaged after repositioning the trailer’s slider mechanism, a condition that potentially can result in substantial damage to the slider, trailer and could cause vehicle instability.
PinLoc combines an air assist, parking brake interlock and its groundbreaking angled pins. These features combine to compensate for operator error and ensure pins engage in body rails, the company said. If the trailer is operated without pins engaged and trailer brakes are applied, conventional pins will ratchet down body rails until the slide box impacts with the stop bar. Tests have shown that at speeds above four miles-per-hour conventional pins will not engage, the company said.
PinLoc has been tested up to speeds of 70 mph with the pins engaging in the first body rail hole every time, the company said. Drivers will appreciate PinLoc as it improves slider relocating efficiency and increases safety due to its simple operation.
For more information, visit www.meritorhvs.com.
