LEDs evolve into SuperNova

Jan. 1, 1999
Grote's latest lamps increase brightness, longevity, and shock resistanceTaking advantage of a new generation of LED (light emitting diode) technology, Grote Industries last month unveiled a new line of SuperNova LEDs that offer increased brightness and efficiency. LEDs have long been noted for their superior life, resistance to shock, faster rise time, and lower current draw.The SuperNova line includes

Grote's latest lamps increase brightness, longevity, and shock resistance

Taking advantage of a new generation of LED (light emitting diode) technology, Grote Industries last month unveiled a new line of SuperNova LEDs that offer increased brightness and efficiency. LEDs have long been noted for their superior life, resistance to shock, faster rise time, and lower current draw.

The SuperNova line includes the Grommet Mount 4-in. Round LED Lamp, the U.S. 15 Series, U.S. 19 Series, and U.S. 60 Series Clearance/Marker LED lamps, the 2-in. and 2.5-in. Clearance Marker LED lamps, the Turtle-Back II Clearance/Marker lamp and the Flush Mount Cab Marker LED lamp.

By using transparent dyes and a design that focuses light over a 40-degree arc, Grote said the SuperNovas increase both the brightness and intensity of light far beyond that of existing LED technology. Grote officials say that LED penetration continues to grow. According to Dominic Grote, marketing services manager, 'Less than 10% of today's incandescent lamp volume has moved to LEDs. Over the next five to eight years, 50% of incandescent lamp volume will move to LEDs.'

As a result of the improved technology and as the market ramps up, the price differential between LEDs and incandescents ' a significant stumbling block for many fleets ' is expected to narrow. In that effort, for example, the number of diodes in a stop/tail/turn lamp has been reduced from 64 to 24.

Grote has paired the new diodes in a patented lens design to help produce a more uniform and blended light pattern that is less reliant on the output of individual diodes. That helps eliminate the number of diodes needed to meet the federal government's photometric lighting requirements. For instance, today's SuperNova clearance lamp uses just two LEDs as opposed to the five needed to produce the same output at the beginning of the decade. The reduction in the number of dyes also helps to minimize the power draw.

The SuperNova line offers sealed housings to keep out moisture and dirt, and an epoxy potting to secure and protect the circuit board. It also helps dampen the effects of road shock and vibration. Internally, the potting design incorporates new edge connector technology that allows for a stronger connection. By snapping together the track connector and the circuit board, the unit helps to eliminate potential failure points in traditional wired or soldered designs. The protective features allow Grote to offer a 10-year warranty on the new line.

On the 2-in. and 2.5-in. lamps, the lenses are spin welded to their housings, making permanent seals to lock out moisture and debris. Lenses and housings are made of durable polycarbonate.

The 4-in. round stop/tail/turn lamp is soldered directly to the top of the terminals that go through the lamp's plastic housing, offering a solid, robust connection. The unit offers Grote's male pin termination. In the event that the harness becomes disconnected from the lamp, short circuits caused by the harness terminals touching the vehicle ground are avoided.

The company said the 15 and 19 Series clearance/marker lamps, as well as the Turtle-Back II, use the same brackets and electrical connections as incandescents and, therefore, can directly replace them.

Chevrolet is now offering its C/K Crew Cab pickup with a shortbox option. Nineteen inches shorter overall than the longbox configuration, the 4-door/shortbox combination is now available for both the 2500 single-rear-wheel and 3500 dual-rear-wheel C/K Series. The 255-hp. Vortec 5700 V8 is the standard engine for the 2500 Series; the 290-hp. Vortec 7400 V8 is standard on the 3500 Series and optional on the 2500 Series.

Maker adds two severe-service tires to lineup

Dunlop Tire Corp. has added two severe-service all-position tires to its line of Medium Truck Radials: the SP 581 and the Super-Single SP 281.

Both tires feature a tread depth of 24/32nds of an inch and have specially formulated tread compounds that resist cutting and chipping. Tread patterns for the two models are designed to eject stones, protecting tire casings and increasing durability; ribs are designed to provide extra sidewall protection.

Made for severe-service applications such as logging and mining and heavy-front-axle trash hauling, the SP 581 offers greater stability via a quad steel belt package and high ply turn-up construction. The latter also helps maintain cooler running temperatures and improves casing life. The SP 581 is available in three sizes: 11R22.5; 11R24.5; and 315/80R22.5.

The SP 281 is a Super-Single wide base tire that is geared to heavy-front axle and severe-service applications such as cement mixers and dump trucks. According to Dunlop, large, progressively increasing tread blocks increase the tire's rubber-to-void ratio for greater tread life and improved traction. This is said to allow the tire to perform better the further it goes into its tread life. Sizes for the SP 281 are 385/65R22.5; 425/65R22.5; and 445/65R22.5.

Designed for pre-1991 models of the Cummins Engine Co.'s L10 diesel, the TriTech and TriTech Plus Cylinder Kits give fleets a choice between increased durability or lower cost.

The TriTech Plus rebuilding kit uses an anodized bowl, dual Ni inserts, a contoured pin bore, and other piston technology found in the Cummins N14 engines to provide a 50% increase in life expectancy for the 10-liter cylinder kits, according to the company.

The less expensive TriTech kit maintains the standard piston bowl design, but incorporates other technology upgrades from the Plus kit including 'I' oil control rings for improved oil control and a 15-deg. keystone angle on compression rings for better durability and reduced blowby.

The TriTech Plus cylinder kit is covered by a 3-yr./300,000-mi. warranty. The TriTech kit comes with a 1-yr./ 100,000-mi. warranty.

Since air disc brakes were introduced in Europe in 1992, AlliedSignal Truck Brake Systems' European joint venture partner, Knorr-Bremse, has manufactured one million air disc brakes for truck, bus, coach, tractor, and trailer applications.

These European-made brakes are already in use on buses in the U.S., and are starting to find application here on heavy-duty trucks.

At the recent SAE International Truck & Bus Exposition in Indianapolis, AlliedSignal TBS announced that the current model of the Bendix air disc brake, which was on display, is now finding application on heavy-duty trucks sold in North America, and that the next-generation model, due sometime in 2001-2002, will be manufactured in the U.S.

According to TBS engineers, the air disc brake enhances vehicle safety since it outperforms S-cam drum brakes in extended downhill driving situations; eliminates brake fade because the rotor expands toward the pad as heat builds up; maintains constant brake-pedal pressure; provides greater stability during stops; and reduces stopping distance for a 97,000-lb. tractor-trailer traveling at 55 mph by nearly 50 ft.

Quiet Transit (QT2) brake linings from Carlisle Motion Control Industries are designed to reduce the noise caused by squealing brakes and cracking problems.

Developed specifically for transit buses, the new linings feature Flex-Fit, an elastomeric backing stock that stretches to accommodate the distortion found in many transit brake shoes.

By eliminating stress points and allowing the friction material to stay in even contact with brake shoes, Flex-Fit addresses the primary cause of squealing brakes and cracked linings. In addition, it helps to dampen the vibrations that also contribute to brake noise.

Carlisle Motion Control Industries manufactures a number of brake-related products, including linings for Class 6-8 vehicles, spring brakes, service brakes, park brakes, and Altec remanufactured brake shoes.

Accuride Corp.'s Heavy Load Car Hauler Steel Wheel can be combined with a 305/70R 19.5-in. tire on tractor steer axle positions. By providing a low-profile design, increased load rating, and weight savings, the new wheel makes it possible for car haulers to carry more cars or light trucks.

This tire and wheel assembly gives two additional inches of clearance, which means that cars and trucks on the top deck can be positioned at a sharper angle, creating more vehicle space. With a maximum load rating of 7,250 lb., the wheel can be placed far forward on the vehicle over the steer axle, eliminating the need to distribute weight between steer and drive axles.

The low-profile design also means that vehicle height doesn't have to play a role in placement on the transport. Vehicles can be loaded in 'delivery' order rather than size order,

The new whee, which is recommended for steer axle use with 305/70R 19.5-in. tires on 13.2K and 14K axles, has 10 bolt holes and a hub-piloted design. An acrylic E-coat is standard on the 19.5x8.25 wheel, although other finishes are available as options. According to Accuride, the 19.5-in. size decreases gross vehicle weight by as much as 600 lb.

An environmentally friendly alternative for disposing waste oil found in used filters has been introduced by Wix Filtration Products Div. SafeOil neutralizes the used oil in the filters, turning it into an environmentally safe biodegradable residue.

A patented blend of freeze-dried microbes, SafeOil is nontoxic to people, animals, and the environment.

Users need only drop the SafeOil gel capsules into the drained oil filter and return the filter to its original box. The neutralization process begins as soon as the microbes come into contact with the oil.

According to William Lasky, president of Dana Corp.'s Filtration Div., SafeOil 'makes it easy for anyone to dispose of used oil filters responsibly.'

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