Underlining the significance of the event was the presence of a delegation of top management and senior technicians from the company’s parent company in Munich as well a host of customers and transport industry executives from all corners of South Africa. 

Designed for truck-trailer combinations with pneumatic, mechanical or hydraulic trailer suspension, TEBS G2 (Trailer Electronic Braking System, Generation 2) is not just another upgrade of an existing product; it goes much further than that. 

Perhaps the most significant feature of TEBS G2 is that it enhances road safety through what Knorr- Bremse have dubbed a roll stability programme, or RSP. Should a driver find himself in an emergency situation while driving his vehicle, the RSP automatically activates and assists the driver to bring the vehicle back under control. It does this by monitoring lateral acceleration, load and speed and determines when the vehicle is becoming unstable and in danger of overturning. 

When this happens, RSP automatically applies the brakes of selected trailer wheels to reduce vehicle speed and lateral acceleration which, in turn, enhances vehicle stability. When the danger is over, the brakes are automatically released and the system reverts to normal operation. 

This is not marketing hype and it really does work. An accident avoidance test carried out at the Gerotek launch of the system showed that without the TEBS G2 RSP being enabled, the trailer wheels lost contact with the ground. Switching the system on and going through the same procedure saw the wheels remaining firmly on the tarred surface. 

Getting back to TEBS G2, Knorr- Bremse say the system is designed to improve response and release times of trailer brakes. It also provides better brake matching between truck and trailer and offers all the versions of Knorr-Bremse’s RSP stability program as standard. Adding to this, the braking characteristics can be set independently for conventional and EBS trucks. 

A further and quite significant feature is Knorr-Bremse’s claim that TEBS G2 provides optimised brake wear that, in turn, leads to reduced downtime and maintenance costs. TEBS G2 is designed to operate across the full voltage range from 8 V to 32 V and automatically adjusts to the local power supply allowing it to be employed almost anywhere on the planet. 

To this effect, any failure in the constant power supply from the vehicle TEBS G2 will be backed up by the system’s ability to draw power from the trailer’s stop lamp circuit maintaining ABS and load sensing functionality. 

The Trailer Information Module Generation 2 (TIM G2) display enables direct reading of diagnostic and trailer related information without using PC diagnostics. 

A further important feature is a user interface, tailor-made for each client that allows TEBS G2 configuration parameters to be stored and permits fault reporting even when the trailer is uncoupled. Options include trailer data recorder and a real-time clock. 

The data recorder stores information such as distance travelled with load and the number of ABS and roll stability interventions, while a resettable version displays data over a set period. The easy-to-use PC diagnostics programme is a versatile system for setting braking and auxiliary function parameters, mileage monitoring and axle or bogie load read-outs, amongst others. 

At 55km/hour with system switched off. An accident avoidance test carried out at the Gerotek launch of the Knorr-Bremse TEBS G2 RSP braking system showed that, without the system being enabled, the trailer wheels lost contact with the ground.

Switching the system on and going through the same procedure saw the wheels remaining firmly on the tarred surface as can be seen above. A puff of smoke can be seen at the right back wheel as the system intervenes.

Tilt detection 

While we have already discussed road safety, Knorr-Bremse says further that a built-in tilt angle detection system - TEBS G2 - ensures greater stability in tipper trailer operations. 

Through either a direct interface with the tipping control system or an electrical or pneumatic alert, the driver or tipper operator is notified that the pre-programmed lateral tilt angle has been exceeded allowing enough time for remedial action to be taken. 

As TEBS G2 has both pneumatic and electrical auxiliary inputs, alert signals for auxiliary functions operate off either system. Customers have the choice of one pneumatic and three electrical programmable outputs and a maximum of seven electrical inputs. Auxiliary functions include lift axle control which can be combined with an input for traction and manoeuvring assistance or lift axle disabling function; an integrated speed switch; steering axle lock; speed pulse; a brake wear monitor; and auxiliary design language. 

Another great safety feature is that TEBS G2 functions in conjunction with a park shunt valve that will automatically apply the spring brake for the trailer if the system pressure drops below 3 bar. 

Furthermore, the electronic emergency mode regulation control system helps maintain the trailer’s equilibrium when the automatic brake is engaged. The option does exist, however, for an alternative conventional relay emergency valve to be used. 

Aiding the system’s ability to enable a degree of fleet management functionality is the operational data recorder. It stores information as diverse as distance travelled with load and the number of ABS and roll stability interventions, while a resettable version displays data over a set period. The easyto- use PC diagnostics programme is a versatile system for setting braking and auxiliary function parameters, mileage monitoring and axle or bogie load read-outs, among others. 

Innovations come and go but TEBS G2 will certainly make its mark. It recently won the award for best component in Europe’s 2009 Trailer Innovation competition after successfully competing against entries from 45 companies from eight different countries. 

On the local front, the Gerotek training facility has requested that a TEBS G2 facilitated trailer become a permanent fixture at the site for the use of trainee truck drivers.