CASE STUDY

Vehicle Air Brake Leak Testing System

A Portable, Vehicle-Powered Approach to Production Air Brake Testing

XscapeEz transformed a large PLC-controlled air brake testing process into a compact, vehicle-powered solution designed for manufacturing environments.

CASE STUDY

Vehicle Air Brake Leak Testing System

A Portable, Vehicle-Powered Approach to Production Air Brake Testing

XscapeEz transformed a large PLC-controlled air brake testing process into a compact, vehicle-powered solution designed for manufacturing environments.

THE CHALLENGE

Replacing a Large, Stationary Test Process

The original air brake testing system relied on a large PLC cabinet and long pneumatic hoses connected to the vehicle’s wet tank, primary air system and secondary air system.

The setup created trip hazards, lacked vehicle network integration and did not automatically transfer test results to the plant quality system.

THE XSCAPEEZ SOLUTION

From Initial Concept to an Integrated Testing System

The customer provided an initial concept and test requirements. XscapeEz developed a prototype, participated in a design review, then redesigned and developed the completed integrated system.

  • Pressure sensing
  • Pneumatic manifold & solenoids
  • Vehicle interface electronics
  • Sensor & valve-control electronics
  • Vehicle network communications

How the System Works

Compact testing at the vehicle with an integrated, guided process.

Vehicle-Powered Operation

Uses the vehicle diagnostic connector for power, VIN retrieval and brake-related status information.

Guided Operator Workflow

An integrated display guides connections and provides test status throughout the process.

Automated Pneumatic Control

Automatically fills through the wet tank connection and controls filling and venting for leak and separation testing.

Vehicle-Specific Test Criteria

Each tester stores its own test criteria and results, with support for different vehicle or chassis models.

Compact & Portable

A rugged, vehicle-mounted or self-supported unit that keeps hoses in the immediate vehicle area, reducing clutter and trip hazards.

WIRELESS QUALITY REPORTING

Connecting the Test Process to Plant Systems

A single-board-computer monitoring station provides visibility into active testers and their current states.
Completed test results are transmitted wirelessly using IEEE 802.15.4 and formatted for transfer to the plant system over Ethernet.

Engineering Highlights

One Integrated Solution

  • Pneumatic Control- Pressure sensing, manifolds, solenoids and controlled fill/venting.
  • Vehicle Communications – Access to VIN and brake-related data through the vehicle network.
  • Embedded Electronics – Custom sensing, interface and valve-control electronics.
  • Operator Interface – On-screen guidance and real-time test status.
  • Wireless Communications – IEEE 802.15.4 between testers and the monitoring station.
  • Plant Integration – Test results collected and formatted for the plant quality system.

Have a Project or Technical Challenge?

Let’s talk about your requirements and how XscapeEz can help design and development the right solution.