UBIS System

Overview of the UBIS System

UBIS is a unique “Driveway Protection System” originally designed for vehicles involved with the filling, transport, and delivery of hazardous goods. The system was re-invented for the warehousing and distribution market to include audible and visual alarms for both the driver and dockworkers / store personal to provide a brake interlock that would prevent a “pull away” from the dock at the DC or store in the event that the rear door/doors or curtains had not been secured, but, with the addition of pneumatic warning devices that would sound (whistles both front and rear of the vehicle) and change colour status ( pneumatically actuated indicators at both the front exterior and rear interior changing from green to red) prior to an attempted “pull away” alerting all staff to prepare for a “jolt” as the prime mover endeavours to move the trailer from the dock in error.

Features

All components used for UBIS produce a pneumatic output either by pilot signal or mechanical actuator, that is, there is no power required for any function or feature of UBIS. A trailer can be disconnected from the prime mover/cabin and UBIS will remain active until such time that a prime mover re-connects to the trailer and releases the park brake or the park brake is released from the cabin of a rigid vehicle.

Once the trailer’s spring brakes have been released UBIS is “dormant”, that is, if a door opens or curtain tension relaxes whilst the rig is mobile, the integrity of the park brake is not compromised, that is, the boosters will remain released until the driver applies the park brake from the hand piece in the prime mover. The air supply to the valves monitoring the status of the doors or curtains must be isolated once the park brake is released; for this reason, it is not possible to have an unwanted application of the park brake caused by a UBIS installation! Once the driver has applied the park brake, restoring the air supply to the monitoring valves, the logic of UBIS will detect an open door or relaxed curtain tension and subsequently create the brake interlock. If the driver does not address the offending door or curtain status, the park brake will not release.

If the driver connects the prime mover to the trailer, releases the park brake and attempts to pull away from the dock ignoring the visual alarm and subsequent audible alarm once the park brake is released, the trailer brakes will remain applied. If the driver alights from the prime mover with the park brake still released in the cabin to tend to the door or curtain that has prompted the brake interlock, the closing of the door or tensioning of the curtain will not cause the trailer brakes to release. It is impossible to have a “roll away” driverless vehicle! Whilst the driver checks the status of the door and/or curtain, the alarms would still be active creating some angst and questions from those dock procedure authorities!

Once UBIS has been satisfied, that is, the doors and curtains closed and secured, the driver can check that the visual alarm on the front of the trailer is now green, return to the cabin of the vehicle, apply the park brake via the hand piece, wait 5 seconds and then release the same. The trailer’s park brake should now release.

Using the same hardware, UBIS can also include the detection of other “critical” functions of the trailer’s operation, creating the same park brake interlock and alarm conditions as described for the rear doors and curtains. For example, if the trailer is refrigerated and is equipped with a three phase power connection to operate the refrigeration unit after the trailer has been loaded and parked ready for despatch, that connection can be mounted into an enclosure where a front door detection mechanism ( supplied with the UBIS kit) can be installed. This device prevents a driver inadvertently towing the trailer away with a power lead connected to a three phase outlet.

UBIS have been identified and three independent Transport Engineering Consultants have certified the system and its compliance to the ADR rules pertaining to the requirements for Trailer Brake Systems. Where UBIS valves and fittings are directly interfaced with the park brake system on a trailer or rigid vehicle, only recognized and certified braking valves and components are employed.
Trailer and rigid vehicle signage for both the driver and dock worker is included with a UBIS kit

Please speak to our technical department for more details technical@tecnair.co.uk