What is Anti-Lock Braking?
Anti-lock braking systems have been keeping us safer in our cars since the early 1980s, though their design and production predate this quite significantly. Their primary function is to prevent a vehicle’s wheels from ‘locking up’ when brakes are applied and therefore skidding on a surface, causing a driver to lose control.
Obviously, this is a dangerous thing to happen when a vehicle is travelling at speed. It can cause a vehicle to aquaplane, crash and cause damage, injury or worse. Anti-lock braking systems (ABS) help to prevent this when an emergency stop is required.
At Hitaltech, we supply a range of components to interconnect components in Anti-lock braking systems in many different types of vehicles. Our specialist components are designed to perform consistently and reliably under brake vibration in vehicles.
Read on to find out more about ABS and how Hitaltech provides added value to your business, streamlining your working processes and getting you the right components for the job.
How do they work?
Perhaps you’re old enough to remember having to ‘pump the brakes’ on your car in order to stop skidding?
Well, anti-lock braking systems do this for you by rapidly increasing and decreasing brake pressure to stop the wheels from locking. This action ensures that they maintain traction on the road surface.
The system comprises four main components:
- Speed sensors – They detect when a wheel is going to lock when brakes are applied at speed.
- Valves – They can release the pressure in each brake, making sure it’s not too high and liable to lose braking performance.
- Pump – The pump adds pressure back to the brake after the valve needs to release it.
- Controller – This is a processor in the car that monitors the speed sensors and controls the valves, making sure everything is working correctly.
Working across a range of vehicles
Although we’re perhaps most familiar with ABS in our cars, it also plays an important role in the safety features of many other commercial vehicles, and not just on our roads.
Vehicles
When carrying out an emergency stop, especially on wet or icy surfaces, ABS helps to keep the vehicle under control and significantly reduces the risk of a crash or traffic accident. Anti-lock braking allows a driver to continue to steer the vehicle whilst braking, whereas regular breaks will not.
Trailers
Many commercial, heavy-duty trailers are required to feature an anti-lock braking system along with the cabin that pulls them. The two systems are interconnected to ensure that, like the truck wheels, the trailer wheels don’t skid. This slows the whole vehicle down and keeps it under control.
Aircraft
Anti-lock braking is used on aircraft to enable them to brake comfortably and safely at a consistent rate of deceleration. Without regulation via ABS, aircraft wheels could lock, damaging tyres and potentially causing aquaplaning as the aircraft attempts to land.
How do Hitaltech interconnect systems help?
At Hitaltech, we offer a range of flexible interconnect systems and screwless terminal blocks that are perfectly suited to work with anti-lock braking systems. Our products are designed to withstand the most demanding conditions, even in more complex and intricate environments.
Flat Flexible Cable (FFC)
We stock flat flexible cables (FFCs) that can be used for board-to-board interconnect when electrical connections require high flexibility and/or printed circuit boards (PCBs) to be connected. These are ideal for anti-lock braking as they can withstand the high levels of vibration that occur when a vehicle is braking at high speeds.
Screwless Terminal Blocks
We supply a wide range of PCB mount terminal blocks that can be utilised effectively in anti-lock braking systems. The big advantage of our spring clamp PCB mount terminal blocks and connectors is the ease of wire insertion. Installation is easy and quick because no specialist tools are required.
Get in touch for more
Hitaltech offers more than just reliable, specialist products. We bring added value to help you improve and refine your processes, reduce assembly times, develop better products, and maximise your profitability. If you want to learn more about our flexible interconnect systems for the automotive industry, get in touch today. Our friendly, knowledgeable team is on hand to answer any questions you have and make sure your business gets what it needs to continue thriving.
