Fontaine drives safety with fifth wheel sensors
Fifth wheel specialist Fontaine has highlighted the safety advantages of its Green Eye indicator technology, and its new-generation 3-sensor system.
The Green Eye system features a high-quality extended handle, sensor and single LED light. A safety clip sensor ensures that the safety clip has been attached – a critical check for any driver. The sensor displays a green LED light, clearly visible from beside the trailer.
If the green LED light is not on, this indicates that the driver check has not been performed, and the safety clip has not been attached. The LED light is a second failsafe and can be routinely checked by the driver and security before the vehicle departs.
Meanwhile, the 3-sensor system provides alerts to the driver from inside the cab, as well as during the coupling procedure.
The system is constantly monitored, and uses warning lights and a buzzer to alert the driver to any miscoupling or tampering. It includes an extended handle bracket and features of the Green Eye safety indicator system.
Last year, Fontaine launched a new 170SF Heavy Duty 2’’ Sliding Fifth Wheel into the commercial market, designed for 80-tonne applications, which is said to allow for a heavier payload without the need to specify costly super-heavy duty sliders. This fifth wheel can be used in conjunction with the Green Eye sensor kit.
The mounting option utilises the Fontaine 170CL Heavy Duty 2’’ Cast Fifth Wheel, with heights from 148mm – 257mm (plus 40mm height for the slider), and standard DIN 6 mounting brackets.
The slider is certified to ECE R 55-01 (the international regulation for fifth wheels), tested to 25T imposed load (U) and 170kN D-value, and is suitable for most 60T-100T gross combination weight 2’’ kingpin applications (D-value calculation permitting). The mechanism release is available in manual or air-operated configurations.
Also available is the patented TechLock system, specifically designed to reduce miscoupling. Its jaw height sensor will not allow the fifth wheel to close if the kingpin enters at the incorrect height or position.
A profiled protective forging safeguards the TechLock mechanism from damage due to high-coupling errors, while the 360° kingpin surface contact is said to extend the life of the kingpin and fifth wheel mechanism.
