The Diesel Truck “Big Rig” of the Future

April 30th, 2008 by admin

How will Trucks look in the future look? Lets see some real examples of innovations and prototypes. The most important aspect is the energy source. The energetic crisis and the pollution are the two axles for the engineers of the future.

Westport Innovation, a company specializing in environmental technologies, recently implemented the High Pressure Direct Injection technology for diesel trucks. This technology consists of a liquefied natural gas powered truck to reduce the gas emissions and economizes the fuel. The trucks have 400 hp Cummins ISX engines with Exhaust Gas Recirculation. That results in a quiet, efficient and clean travel.

The company Daimler Chrysler in Germany is also working on the fuel use and no pollution engines. Blue Tec is the name of the new technology according to the Daimler Chrysler web site. This technology combines the engine design with the Selective Catalytic Reduction which is a system to reduce the nitrogen oxides emissions. Blue Tech is a diesel technology specially designed for the truck division of Mercedes Benz.

Some leave the fuel alternatives to others and go for the rest of the engine, especially the Department of Energy. The idea is to separate parts such as the pumps, the alternators, compressors and such from the engine. This way you can transform those parts from gas to full electric. A cooler engine compartment will extend the life of the engine. Also the independent electrical powered parts would work more precisely.

Big manufacturing companies are collaborating with the Department of Energy such as Caterpillar, Kenworth, Emerson and Engineered Machine Products. The prototype is installed on a Kenworth truck and the experts could eliminate more than 65 parts by more precise and reliable components.

Now on to driver control. In the recent Volvo Showcase, the company demonstrated its new ESP system which helps the driver do what he does best, drive. The system perceives the maneuvers of the drivers and corrects the movements of the truck by braking the wheels or brings down the power of the engine.

The ESP system includes three cameras installed on the driver’s cab and in the steering wheels. The cameras are in charge of watching for the drowsiness of the driver and the inconstant maneuvers and it produces a warning to the driver.

The steering systems are also targeted by the innovators. For example, SKF proposed an electromechanical steering system instead of the conventional hydraulic system. This invention consists in a sequence of signals that tell the actuator to steer the wheels. The action is confirmed or adjusted by sensors and informed back to the driver. The advantages of the electromechanical system are to eliminate the hydraulic fluids so there would be no more high pressure leaks and less noise in the driver’s cab.

These continuous changes and improvements in the truck industry still keep function as the number one focus. The replacement of the human driver by a mechanic one is still considerably far away. Fortunately, that’s something for the future.

Find Truck Driving Jobs with Swift at Drive4swift.com. If you speak Spanish, find Trabajos at swiftparausted.com

Tags: Diesel Truck, , , , jobs, truck driving, trucking

Posted in truck | No Comments »

Lift Truck

April 30th, 2008 by admin

A lift truck, more commonly known as forklift, is a power-driven industrial truck that is designed chiefly to lift and transport heavy objects and materials. Ever since it was invented back in the 1920s, the lift truck has become an indispensable and common piece of equipment used to facilitate the transportation of heavy materials in various industrial, warehousing, and manufacturing operations.

The typical lift truck or forklift is usually composed of various mechanisms and equipment, the most common of which are the truck proper, electric motor, counterweight, mast, and the forks. The truck proper is the main machine with wheels and powered with a drive train and transmission. The electric motor allows the lift truck to accomplish its operations. It is usually an LPG, diesel, or gasoline-fueled internal combustion engine.

The counterweight is an indispensable heavy iron mass found in the rear of the lift truck that mainly functions as balance to the load that is lifted. The hydraulically operated vertical assembly, whose purpose is to raise, lower, and tilt the load during forklift operations, is called the mast. The forks are the L-shaped limbs that take on the load. All these components work together with the other equipment that help the typical lift truck to perform the tasks needed.

There are many types of lift trucks available. The standard lift truck or forklift is a wide-aisle truck that is usually utilized for lift heights that are below twenty feet. Meanwhile, a reach truck is a narrow-aisle truck that is intended for use in racked pallet storage. A motorized pallet truck, on the other hand, is a type of truck with two models: a rider that allows for an economical way to transport loads and a walkie that is best used for moving heavy loads across short distances.

Investing in a truck lift or forklift is necessary to facilitate the movement and transportation of heavy materials, cargoes, products, and other objects. Almost every warehouse or factory needs a forklift in its operations. If you need to know more about forklifts, you can consult one of the many lift truck manufacturers to get more details.

Lift Truck provides detailed information on Lift Truck, Lift Truck Attachments, Truck Lift Kits, Tow Truck Wheel Lift and more. Lift Truck is affiliated with Travel Trailer Rental.

Tags: lift truck, , , , Lift Truck Attachments, Tow Truck Wheel Lift, Truck Lift Kits

Posted in truck | No Comments »

Truck Tents

April 30th, 2008 by admin

Truck tents are meant to fit at the back of a regular family truck and are simply a great choice if convenience is all that the user is looking for. Perfect for a road trip or even for an undisturbed weekend in the woods, truck tents have evolved with the rising need of travelers and adventurers who seek a quick bohemian escapade. Truck tents can be customized according to the kind of truck the user owns. Some tents are built in order to fit on top of any truck and therefore come with a hefty price tag attached.

Meant to be extremely durable, truck tents are usually available in nylon and polyurethane and also come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. They are mostly windproof as well as waterproof, but using these tents in a monsoon-like climate wouldn’t be a good bet.

Light in weight, these tents are usually designed to fit two adults. Some even vouch for space that can fit two adults as well as two children. Whatever the case, the most significant drawback (if it can be called a drawback at all) that a truck tent has, would be the space. Even if a particular truck tent is built for four people, it would usually mean four people cramped within their sleeping bags with hardly any space to move. However, the ones designed for two people are a shade better since they generally tend to have some extra room, at least for a duffel bag.

Truck tents mostly have mesh windows for proper ventilation and some even come with great accessories like a changing room, a soft foam mattress (that can be inflated and deflated at will), pillows, mosquito nets and even a ladder. Placed firmly on a roof rack, they keep the vehicle cool since the roof is not exposed to direct sunlight. However, the mounting straps of a truck tent may damage the body of the truck and so utmost care should be taken while it is installed at the back of the vehicle.

In spite of such drawbacks, truck tents are the first choice amongst travelers who cherish their freedom. It is the best possible option if one wants to stop in the middle of a cross country ride and camp anywhere one wants to.

While choosing camp tents, there are a few things that should be remembered carefully. Besides his budget, the potential buyer must consider the size and capacity of his truck. Some truck tents have sewn in floors while others have no floors at all. In case of a sewn in floor, things have to be unloaded from the truck bed before the tent is installed. Tents without floors thus, are easier to install and clean.

The fact however remains that be it a truck tent with a sewn in floor or a tent with no floor, truck tents are a wonderful travel accessory that breeds a race of travelers who don’t mind spending a night in the middle of nowhere, preferring to get lost in the wilderness.

Tents provides detailed information about tents, camping tents, party tents, and more. Tents is affiliated with Inflatable Boats.

Tags: camping tents, , , party tents, tents

Posted in truck | No Comments »

« Previous Entries

Close
E-mail It