Kavlico's P158 (top) and F4000 (bottom) analog refrigerant pressure sensors help modulate the capacity of heating and cooling mechanisms in operator stations.
Climate control
From the more immediate comforts of air suspension, there are the long-term goals of operator safety. As off-highway equipment has become increasingly sophisticated, cab air-conditioning has become more commonplace. But according to Kavlico Corp., air-conditioning's popularity is not simply for instant gratification, but for safety and health concerns and the need for a more favorable environment for the operator to increase productivity.
Kavlico's P158 (top) and F4000 (bottom) analog refrigerant pressure sensors help modulate the capacity of heating and cooling mechanisms in operator stations. |
A climate-controlled cab enclosure forms a safe work environment, protects the operator from excessive noise, and creates a physical barrier between the operator and the outside environment. Air-intake and air-conditioning systems can be configured to provide filtered, conditioned air at a slightly higher pressure than the surrounding outside air, preventing infiltration of dust, pesticides, and other airborne contaminants. (There are a number of legislative initiatives being considered in North America and Europe to legally define an acceptable work environment for off-highway equipment operators.)
Electronic control systems play a key role in the correct operation of cab ventilating and air-conditioning systems. Kavlico offers temperature and pressure sensors that maintain the cab temperature and modulate the capacity of heating and cooling mechanisms. Differential pressure sensors can be employed to maintain the pressure of the cab enclosure slightly above ambient and can be used to monitor the condition of the ventilation air-filtration system. Kavlico's differential pressure sensors work for truck, train, and stationary HVAC systems.
Delphi Automotive Systems is also taking advantage of the growing specialized air-conditioning market, recently earning a contract to assemble heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) modules and heater-only units for two separate lines of Renault farm tractors, ranging from 39 to 186 kW (52 to 250 hp). This is Delphi's first direct HVAC business with Renault, though the company does provide products for a cabin manufacturer that supports assembly of Renault tractors.
The modules will be designed and assembled at Delphi's facility in Molinella, Italy, by the plant's Original Equipment Special Applications unit. "This new business with Renault is an important step in diversifying our customer base here in Molinella and reinforcing our role as a competitor in the specialized construction and agriculture markets," said Roberto Grotti, Chief Engineer in Molinella and Manager of the Special Applications unit. "Renault's presence in farming machinery makes it a company with which we'd love to grow."
 P792/892 differential pressure sensors from Kavlico are for off-highway HVAC applications. |
Start of production is slated for late 2002. The Molinella plant will manufacture 2400 HVAC units annually at full production, with many of the associated components - evaporator, condenser, compressor, and heater - coming from other Delphi facilities in Europe. Additionally, Delphi will supply 3000 heating systems - characterized primarily by the inclusion of a heater core only - on an annual basis at full production.
Such growth reflects the general market for heavy off-road equipment in western Europe, Grotti pointed out. He added that more than 200,000 construction and agricultural vehicles will be produced this year, and as those numbers climb, so too does the potential for companies like Delphi who possess advanced thermal management capability.
"There continue to be great opportunities in off-road vehicles, where air-conditioning is being increasingly viewed as a necessary function," Grotti said, noting that air-conditioning penetration for these vehicles will approach 60% by the end of the year. "There is heightened interest in improving safety and enhancing operating conditions for users of this equipment, and OEMs are responding by equipping their vehicles with conveniences and features found in many passenger cars."