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If there are ways to reduce running costs by fitting new running gear they will be adopted by smart operators. When it comes to rolling rubber costs, axles play a huge roll in determining the integrity of the tyre alignment, which impacts on tyre wear and fuel consumption.
New from BPW is a self-steering axle that does away with steering stabilisers powered from an external source, the BPW LL. "The axle beam and axle stub are connected to undulating thrust bearings via steering pivots," explains Andre Cilliers, managing director, BPW SA. "When the semi-trailer follows the tractor unit into a curve, the wheel castor action ensures the wheels turn in accordance with the curve radius. The frictional resistance changes according to the load on the axle. As a result, a steering angle (of 8 to 27°, depending on the axle type) is achieved according to the load, and is entirely controlled by mechanical means."
The link connecting the wheels uses a steering lock to prevent the wheels from steering when the vehicle is reversing, adds Cilliers. "The steering axle means that the unit corners better and follows the same track as the tractor unit almost identically. The lateral tyre forces arising are optimally distributed between all the axles, especially with a 3-axle vehicle. Every axle experiences significantly lower lateral tyre forces; as a result, it has been shown that the life of the tyres on the front axle increases by up to 50%, while that of the rear axle tyres can increase by as much as 70%, with an average fuel saving of 10%. What's more, the steering axle offersgreater manoeuvrability and reduced access space required to load and offload. It also reduces stress on the body, frame and road."
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The BPW LL - the world's lightest steering axle with loads from 6.4 t to 14 t
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