Airbrake Fittings DOT Approved Brass Fittings for your Truck/Hydraulics
Created at :
Oct 4, 2020
Choosing Air Brake Tube Fittings for Heavy-Duty Trucks and Trailers
Reference: http://blog.parker.com/choosing-air-brake-tube-fittings-for-heavy-duty-trucks-and-trailers
Heavy-duty vehicles, such as trucks and trailers, use air brake systems to assure safe and effective stopping. Air brake tube fittings are a virtually invisible component on these vehicles, but they are instrumental to the reliable operation of the air brake system. A typical truck requires between 60-100 air brake tube fittings, and these components can have a significant effect on brake system performance, cost and assembly line productivity. In this blog, we will explore the major types of DOT air brake fittings used by truck and trailer OEMs and how they compare on price, performance, ease of assembly and customization as well as new technology trends.
Background
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) standards have been in place for over 50 years and they specify how air brake hose and tubing, assemblies and end fittings used on trucks and trailers are expected to perform. The official requirements for DOT-certified air brake fittings are published in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Section 571.106.
These regulations were developed to reduce injuries and fatalities that could occur as a result of brake system failure. DOT-certification is required for the air brake hoses and tubing used to control the air brakes, and for the end fittings directly connected to those hoses and tubing. There are certain applications for fittings and tubing outside of the air brake system on heavy trucks, including air horns, air-ride seats, axles and others. Fittings and tubing used for these applications do not need to be DOT–rated. However, most OEMs choose to avoid the mistake of applying a simple industrial fitting into an area of use requiring DOT conformance. They will standardize on DOT conforming parts, adsorbing the higher cost to ensure safety.