Checking load sensing valves at vehicle inspections stations

On a commercial vehicle, braking force is controlled by pressure limiting valves, which are responsible for distributing the braking force to individual axles of the vehicle depending on the load. Due to the importance of this system in vehicle safety, we propose a new universal inspection method that complies with Directives 2009/40/EC and 2010/48/EC and Regulation UN/ECE No 13-H, for vehicles in service based on load simulation techniques. The method can be applied during periodical inspections, and is able to detect any malfunction of the system as a whole, regardless its action mode. The test results obtained with real vehicles validate the method.