june2021 - 50

GUE ST EDITORIA L
» Telematics solutions are data-driven
monitoring systems that work in real time.
Photo courtesy of TSE Brakes
A new type of sensor system looks to alleviate
these concerns by monitoring the braking
system to ensure that brakes are functioning
properly. TSE Sense, one such system, uses
proprietary software that analyzes brake data
for real-time response to provide fleets with
predictive or preventive diagnostics.
The collected data from each brake actuator
sensor sends regular updates to the telematics
user interface and can provide real-time status
for key parameters.
Brake monitoring systems can indicate
brakes, dragging
out-of-stroke
brakes,
Benefits of remote brake
system monitoring
How smart-brake monitoring
enables predictive maintenance
practices to help ensure the
safety and profitability of fleets.
With margins that are often thin and a need
to boost profitability, fleet executives are looking
for solutions to reduce maintenance costs
while keeping vehicles safe and properly maintained.
They see increasing uptime, saving
money, and ensuring safety as three of their
most important goals.
Today, technology is enabling fleets to
move beyond relying only
on scheduled preventive
maintenance and their
drivers communicating
maintenance issues
to
keep costs down. One
Image courtesy of TSE Brakes
of the most powerful technologies
aiding maintenance, both in the shop
and on the road, is telematics.
Telematics has been embraced as an asset by
many fleets looking for ways to increase efficiency,
enhance performance, and maximize
safety. Telematics solutions are data-driven
monitoring systems that work in real time and
use algorithms and machine learning to predict
an outcome - a form of artificial intelligence (AI).
Armed with such AI capability, fleets gain a
predictive maintenance tool that helps them
determine future component or vehicle system
failures. When maintenance can be performed
as needed or ahead of schedule, fleets can avoid
unplanned downtime.
Sensors are being used to monitor more
components on today's tractors and trailers.
This allows fleets and drivers to have access
to more data and become aware of the need
to repair or replace a component immediately.
Telematics and the
By Darin Cate
VICE PRESIDENT OF ENGINEERING, TSE BRAKES
With over 13 years in the commercial vehicle market, Darin
Cate has been vice president of engineering for two years
at TSE Brakes. Cate's team at TSE concentrates on product
launches in addition to testing and researching potential
brake products that will provide performance and
fuel efficiency to trucks and trailers. Prior to joining TSE
Brakes, Cate had over 10 years of engineering experience
at Performance Friction Corporation (PFC) in Clover, South
Carolina. He earned his master's degree in mechanical
engineering at Colorado State University, and his Bachelor
of Science degree in engineering at the University of
Tennessee at Martin. Cate authored an SAE paper in 2008.
braking system
As the industry moves forward toward greater
use of predictive maintenance, many fleets are
looking to their telematics provider for a dashboard
of critical operating components. A key
benefit to using this technology is that remote
sensing in real time can monitor the status of
vehicle braking systems, one of the most critical
items on both the truck and the trailer.
Because the proper function of braking
systems can be affected by inadequate maintenance
and inspection procedures,
fleets
often face unscheduled repairs and downtime,
increased fuel costs, higher operating
costs, and even accidents. Brakes functioning
at suboptimal levels will not do the job they
are designed to do and will not be as effective
when needed, especially in a panic stop.
50 Fleet Maintenance | June 2021
non-functioning brakes, emergency spring
failure, cross-axle brake imbalance, and brake
performance variations among wheel ends.
Because they track these braking events in
real time, fleets can predictively maintain
brake systems.
The TSE system is comprised of smart brake
actuators and a data integration box (DIB),
which allow the system to continuously monitor
brake stroke at each wheel end and emergency
spring condition. Brake performance
data is logged in the DIB, where it is collected
and sent to the user interface.
By understanding the historical data relative
to the brake chamber and its interaction
with the brake adjuster, braking system
monitors can provide feedback in advance of
a potential out-of-service violation. In addition,
they can alert fleets and drivers to when
service should be performed on a truck or
trailer based on the application and its scheduled
time for maintenance.
Benefits of brake monitoring
Monitoring a vehicle's braking system can
show patterns of performance that may indicate
brake safety issues. In addition, brake
system monitoring can:
ÜIncrease fuel efficiency and reduce operating
costs by alerting fleets to brake drag, which
increases wheel-end rolling resistance.
Correcting this reduces rolling resistance,
resulting in better fuel efficiency.
ÜReduce unscheduled repairs and downtime
by monitoring whether the pushrod stroke
of each brake chamber is functioning properly.
If the stroke length is increasing or is
out of adjustment, repairs can be performed,
which may also prevent downtime due to
" brakes out of service " situations based on
DOT inspection parameters.
ÜProvide notice of an " out of stroke " condition
for the brake, a key item in DOT inspections.
ÜReduce accidents by enabling users to identify
and repair a brake issue before it impacts
the brake system's function.
With the increased use of telematics on
commercial vehicles, braking system monitors
that provide real time and historical data
can be leveraged to develop predictive maintenance
schedules for trucks and trailers.
june2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of june2021
