Heavy-duty modular vehicles (transport modules)

What makes it unique?

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• The widest heavy duty range
• Seamless interoperability
• Motorized axles - on and off
• Full range of accessories
• High-level manufacturing
• The best corrosion protection on the market

Your choice between three different modes:

TM: Trailer Mode

The trailer mode is the most common way to work with modular platform trailers in on-road and off-road applications. One or more trucks pull or push the trailer by means of a drawbar system or a gooseneck.

In drawbar mode, the trailer can be assembled in a 2-file configuration, or even side-by-side in a in a 3-file (1+1/2) or 4-file (1+1) configuration. The trailer mode allows travel speeds of up to 80 km/h. Therefore, it is the most suitable solution for long transport distances.

AP: Assist-Propelled Mode

The assist-propelled mode system is a highly efficient drive system that is used both on-road and off-road. For on-road transport, the wheel motors provide a high driving force on demand and can thus replace additional tractors. Thus, if necessary, tractive force peaks can be bridged when starting off or when driving uphill.

From a certain speed the drive axles switch to a freewheel mode and can be pulled at up to 80 km/h. If the speed drops, the axles switch on again automatically if desired. Furthermore, this drive concept can be used completely without a tractor and a vehicle can thus be moved in self-propelled mode. The necessary energy is also supplied by a Power Pack Unit.

SP: Self-Propelled Mode

Application for in-plant and off-road transports; mechanically or electronically steered modular vehicle combinations. The drive axles are then supplied by Power Pack Units and generate driving forces that can move loads of several thousands of tons. The entire control of the vehicle is done by a single remote control. All vehicle combinations from 2-file, 3-file and 4-file up to open compound vehicle groups are possible with this drive concept.

Mechanical 

steering system

Every modular bogie has at least one integrated hydraulic steering system. The customer can choose between standard- or counter-steering. The steering is controlled either by a gooseneck or by a drawbar.

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The freely accessible steering rods provide for easy and safe adaptation of steering angles. Remote steering by wireless or remote control is part of the basic configuration.

Compared to knuckle steered axles, the driving height on pendle-axles has no impact on the axle track.

Available for TM: Trailer Mode, AP: Assist-Propelled Mode, SP: Self-Propelled Mode

Electronic steering system

The ModulMAX modules can also be provided with an electronically controlled steering system with a steering angle up to +/- 140°. The steering motors are operated by proportional solenoid valves and directly managed from the central system.

The corresponding position of the suspension units is continuously verified by an encoder with respect to the steering joystick position. It is possible to select several steering modes.

In this way, it is very simple to work in tight areas.

Available for SP: Self-Propelled Mode

Accessories

The article presents an algorithm that permits to calculate the wheel loads during straight-line travel for a tractor-trailer combination containing two articulated component vehicles. The algorithm can be used to predict the loads on axles, wheels or articulation pivot, to estimate the maximal attainable performances in longitudinal dynamics (acceleration, braking, climbing, downhill), to establish the best ratios between the axles' tractive or braking forces or to find the influence of each constructive or operating parameters that affect the loads. Considering an example road train, some results are presented showing the use possibilities of the described method. MAIN SECTION PRELIMINARY ASSUMPTIONS It is assumed a straight and even smooth road, i.e. the slope remains constant at an angle α and no bumps produce normal-load variations at the wheels. The road train is considered as a combination of two rigid bodies-a tractor vehicle articulated with a (semi)trailer. In this situation the influences of the suspension or wheel deflections are cancelled out. A mobile coordinate system (linked to the vehicle) is adopted according to ISO convention (with respect to the vehicle, the x axis is oriented forward, on the longitudinal plane of symmetry, y-lateral, out the left side of the vehicle, z-upward, normal to the ground). A schematic drawing of a tractor-semitrailer combination presents in figure 1. Considering low and moderate speeds, the aerodynamic forces are neglected to simplify the formulae of calculus. Also neglects the rolling resistance moments. In this situation remain only the gravitational forces (G t and G s applied in the centres of gravity of the tractor and semitrailer) and the wheel loads (Z-normal ground reactions, perpendicular to the road plane; X-longitudinal ground reactions, in the road plane) acting on the middle of each wheel contact patch. If tandem axles are used, the loads Z and X consider for all these axles (normally two or three). The applying point of these forces determines with respect to the suspension design, writing a supplementary equilibrium equation for the tandem moments. In the example of figure 1, the loads of trailer axles can be considered equal. Results that the forces Z 3 and X 3 , as

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