Safer, cleaner, less damaging Brick Delivery (case study)While many are concerned about the various costs to the community of the necessary transport of goods on local roads, a re-design of vehicles can address most areas of concern.
This improves safety and amenity in traffic simply by making a left turn from the left lane. To create the extremely “road friendly” effect, the Trackaxle tri-axle has a rotating sub frame with an axle concentric with this rotation, combined with two “sub rotating” axles under the front and rear of the sub frame. Each axle of the assembly aligns with the direction of travel. For higher load applications, Trackaxle has a quad-axle system delivering the same effect. This document considers the impacts of such a vehicle on a number of community concerns. Safer while turning.A standard semi trailer needs to pull out to the right to make a left turn, allowing space for cars on the inside of the turning path. This causes accidents when cars inadvertently overtake the turning trailer, hence the “Do not overtake turning vehicle” signs displayed on the rear of trailers. Often, in heavy traffic, the heavy vehicle will be forced to wait in the second lane, obstructing traffic, because cars continue to intrude into the turning space. By contrast, the Trackaxle equipped vehicle needs far less space so can execute a left turn from the left lane. There is no space for cars on the inside of the turning path. Similarly while executing a right turn, the Trackaxle equipped vehicle will not block a lane to its’ left. This frees up traffic movement, saving driver frustration and leading to safer and less stressful driver behavior.  Reduced skid hazard.The tyres are not dragged on a corner so rubber residues presenting a skid hazard are not left on the road. Needs fewer journeys.Operating under higher mass limits, this more productive vehicle combination will need fewer trips than the current less people friendly standard freight vehicles. This reduces the number of freight vehicles on the road and hence the opportunity for road trauma. Stability in a turn.Many of the occasions when trailers overturn occur at relatively low speed in a sharp turn. Trackaxle’s most recent innovation reduces the risk of this happening. As the sub frame at the rear of the trailer articulates in a turn, the mechanism imparts a tilt to the inside of the turn, increasing the resistance to roll over. This is a major safety gain for urban operation. Benefits for the environment- reducing the carbon footprint
Less Noise Pollution.Because a standard trailer needs to drag tyres sideways in a turn, truck engines normally need to work harder while turning. With 40% less power needed to turn, engine noise is 40% less. Less air pollutionThis reduction of power translates directly into a reduction in exhaust emissions. The improved performance through cornering on a single lane will lead to freer traffic flows and less total exhaust emissions from stalled traffic. Less stormwater contamination.The solids from exhaust fumes and the rubber residues left on the road pollute storm water. This contaminates rivers and harbour waters. The rubber residues are a long lasting pollutant. Independent tests have indicated that a Trackaxle equipped trailer will reduce this wear by a factor of up to 10. This would prevent hundreds of tonnes of ground tyre pollutant being washed down our storm water drains and polluting our waterways annually. Less industrial input.In some intensive applications, it is possible to improve tyre wear by a factor of 10, in other cases the factor may be five, still a dramatic improvement. With the energy saving of needing to produce fewer tyres, combined with improved fuel consumption, there could be a dramatic improvement to green house gases emissions per urban transport Km. It should also be noted that when running self tracking trailer systems, the reduction in drive train torque requirement equals fewer drive train component replacements complete with their energy input. Less Pavement Damage
All linearly aligned, multi axle transport systems cause significant damage to pavement. The Trackaxle aligns all axles in the direction of travel, dramatically reducing pavement damage and the commensurate cost to the community. Maintenance of pavement at intersections is a cost usually borne by local government Horizontal tyre force damage is reduced by a factor of 190,000 ( Prem & Ramsay), and damage due to vertical tyre forces by a factor of four, plus the twin steer prime mover also represents a step forward in productivity without paying a price in extra horizontal tyre forces. This is a significant saving to infrastructure, particularly during the development phase of a new subdivision. Less Road furniture DamageThe damages caused by trailers off tracking can be observed in any urban location where semi trailers operate. This is particularly evident in new subdivisions where the roads are narrow and each corner is occupied by a roundabout. Fractured kerbing and flattened signage often occur in the development phase of a subdivision. This is a substantial cost to the developer, which is normally passed on to the contractor. The new Trackaxle equipped brick delivery combination saves, not only on the pavement, but also on the damage to kerbing and Road furniture. Can utilize smaller access paths.The new vehicle combination can negotiate tight corners in a single lane. This means that roadways which would be otherwise unsuitable for a long vehicle can be accessed safely. Factory entrances need not be engineered to accommodate the wide swept path of a standard freight vehicle.
Trackaxle: Turning corners in 2009Trackaxle, it is now a public company! Beginning in March 2008, the company has quietly transformed to a public company with an expanded shareholder base. This has already increased the working capital base of the company. As at February 2009, Trackaxle is still in the process of raising funds with an information memorandum as the basic instrument. The company is now moving from a research and development focus into commercial production. It is our aim to raise the level of capital to take the company forward through this transition. We expect product development and commercial production will take the company into profit both in the domestic and overseas markets. There are a number of components of the growth plan which require funding. The first is to build a professional marketing capability, both for the domestic and overseas markets. Second, the company intends to build capacity to service this market through manufacturing. Third, the company has an extremely promising new vehicle project, the Bitrax vehicle. Completion of the demonstration vehicle will open up worldwide market potential for this unique patented product. The funding requirements are relatively modest, considering the global market possibilities and the potential impact of the company’s products. Trackaxle equipped specialty trailers are beginning to carve out a reputation for the Trackaxle equipment in the transport industry. New markets are beginning to emerge in growth industries such as a wind turbine distribution. Trackaxle is becoming increasingly confident of being able to swim against the tide of negativity in the economy. The level of enquiry for the company's product is growing, and those products already out in the field are beginning to establish a reputation for extremely cost-effective delivery of long loads. The second phase of this process is for the company to become publicly listed. In the turmoil of 2008-2009, the directors have decided to maintain a watching brief for a time before selecting a final listing strategy. Meanwhile, the company pursues a commercial development strategy. Read all about our exiting new product applications, the BI-TRAX and Long Load Jinkers on the Reports and Documents page. Trackaxle VideosWatch the Trackaxle in action! There are now many videos of the Trackaxle trailer in action. Click here to go to the Videos page.
Trackaxle Wins Again!Trackaxle has won yet another award! Trackaxle took home the Innovation/Technology award from the annual Australian Freight Industry (AFI) Awards night held on the 10th of September 2005. Trackaxle even received a mention from the Hon. John Brumby, Victorian Minister for Industry, Innovation and Regional Development, as a leader of innovation in Australian Transport, at the opening of this years Freight Week. Click to see photographs of the Trophies and the happy winners Peter Gaylard and Kerry Atley.
Trackaxle on The New InventorsTrackaxle this August featured on the highly successful ABC program 'The New Inventors'. The Trackaxle took home the Episode Winner Trophy as well as winning the People's Choice Award! To visit the New Inventors website and watch the Trackaxle Video, please click here. Or you can read the news article about the Trackaxle from the ABC website by clicking here. Trackaxle Hypothetical Budget CalculatorYou can now figure out just how much you will save with a Trackaxle trailer. To use the calculator you must have Microsoft Excel installed on your computer. Click here with your left mouse button to open the budget calculator. If asked to either Save or Open the program, select Open or Run. Command Steer, the Trackaxle AdvantageRecently
Trackaxle was featured in ATN Magazine to promote the latest feature
of Trackaxle Trailers. Command Steer allows the driver
total control of the rear end while reversing, allowing the driver to
deliver long loads where standard trailers cannot go. To view the exert from ATN Magazine, simply click here. Please
Note: This document is in pdf format which requires Adobe
Acrobat Reader to be installed on your computer. On road trial Trackaxle trailer.The trial has had three phases:
Some features of the trial performance. Response from the motoring public. There has been no adverse reaction to the trailer’s performance. Some drivers have shown surprise at having access to a lane they would normally have expected to have been cut off by a semi trailer. For the whole of the trial period, VicRoads received not one complaint. Accidents: nil Incidents: Some instability was noticed when brakes were locked suddenly on a curve in wet conditions. The hydraulic system was found to contain some air. This led to fitting a pressure gauge to the hydraulics and a sub frame lock to engage under heavy braking. Drivers Typical comments: “I can see it (the Trackaxle) being very useful for shorter trailers wanting to get access to supermarkets and other tight places.” “A driver needs to be trained in how to handle the trailer as it behaves differently, especially coming out of a turn.” “Once you get used to it, it’s much easier to drive through traffic.” The operator: appreciates the ability to deliver greater volumes and greater length units on single loads. There is also a cost reduction in the reduced tyre wear and reduced stress on components. The Customers: appreciate the greater volumes delivered and the greatly reduced damage to pavement, particularly in gravel topped receiving yards. The official consultants report was presented to VicRoads by Roaduser Systems principal Dr Peter Sweatman. The report highlighted Trackaxle’s contribution to more efficient traffic flows and the potential gains in road transport productivity. The issue of stability while braking in a turn was addressed by the report and the solutions evaluated in the Mangalore trial. Trackaxle came through the trial with an emphatic “thumbs up”. The trial and report demonstrated that Trackaxle is extremely important to the future of road transport. |
