Holland Neway's RL-300 designed to provide better durability, strength

Holland Neway International has unveiled a new air-ride suspension for both on- and off-road severe service applications. The RL-300 30,000- lb. trailer suspension is designed to provide better durability, strength, roll stability, maintenance efficiency and performance in severe-service applications such as logging, platform, tanker, dump, and other rough working environments.

The RL-300 incorporates Holland Neway's three-bushing design, which is said to provide a fore and aft spring rate almost twice that of one-bushing designs. Holland Neway said the extra bushings help improve tracking and axle alignment, which, in turn, increase trailer tire life. The company's patented double-bushing axle adapter also helps absorb axle torque, which reduces axle stress and, by extension, lowers maintenance costs associated with excessive axle wear.

The RL-300 is available with ride heights that range from 14 to 17 in. and provides 60/40 load distribution to help reduce high-stress points on the trailer frame, preventing premature frame wear and boosting overall trailer durability and life cycle. It comes with a 5-yr./ 500,000-mi. warranty.

Holland Neway is a member of The Holland Group, which specializes in fifth wheels, trailer landing gear, trailer suspensions, kingpins, trailer axles and trailer brakes.

As part of the National Intelligent Vehicle Initiative meeting in Washington, D.C., last July, Freightliner LLC displayed a concept Class 8 tractor that uses fuel cells to power onboard appliances and thus reduce the need for idling.

Fuel cells use hydrogen to produce electricity; water is the only by-product. Freightliner's concept vehicle uses Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells. As hydrogen molecules are split into positively charged protons and negatively charged electrons, only the protons can pass through the membrane, thereby building up electrical voltage within the cell. This can then be used to run appliances and other systems on the vehicle.

A 52-gal. tank on the left side of the truck feeds hydrogen to the fuel cells, with a smaller tank retrieving and holding the water created as a by-product of fuel cell operation. One fuel tank is removed to create space for the hydrogen tanks and fuel cells.

Freightliner's fuel cells operate as an auxiliary power unit (APU) for the truck. The APU produces over 1.4 kW of 120 volts AC or 12 volts DC power, which can run everything from cab heaters and air conditioners to onboard computers, televisions, stereos, refrigerators, microwaves and other electronic devices. The APU is connected to the truck's electrical system through an 1,800-watt inverter, which takes power from the fuel cells, batteries and alternator and provides power to the onboard equipment in its required form (DC or AC).

The goal of Freightliner's fuel cell project is to reduce the need to idle a truck's engine to power onboard devices, as idling wastes fuel and adds diesel emissions to the air. The company says it hopes to have a commercially viable APU fuel cell system available on the market in three to five years.

TecBrake, the engine brake manufacturer, now offers a Housing Assembly Trade-In Program, which allows a user to purchase a new, warranted, complete engine brake housing assembly (including mounting parts) as a replacement for a broken or worn-out unit - at a discounted price and regardless of engine brake manufacturer. Program is offered for various models of Cat, Cummins, Detroit Diesel and Mack engines. Check www.tecbrake.com.

Thermo King engineer Herman Viegas was the recipient of the inaugural Thomas A. Edison Award from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Viegas was selected for his contributions to environmental safety and efficiency in mobile refrigeration systems, including work on 25 refrigeration-related patents.