Page 11 - Industrial Technology EXTRA 5th July 2021

boom needs to reach its target location quickly
yet safely. While modern ramped controls
are an improvement over the abrupt starts
and stops of yesteryear, un-
commanded movement resulting
from these ramps limits boom
extension speed and placement
accuracy. In some cases,
ramped controls can also
present safety hazards.
Eaton’s system solution
for aerial fire apparatus is
able to increase safety and
truck capabilities while
reducing overall design
complexity. The centrepiece of
the system is Eaton’s CMA advanced
mobile valve, a CAN-enabled electrohydraulic valve features, and works in tandem with Eaton
with on-board electronics and integrated software counterbalance valves to reduce CBV-related judder.
algorithms that, beyond the elimination of boom Aside from safety, Eaton’s system solution helps
bounce to maintain aerial stability, provides a to enhance capability, particularly regarding rapid
number of additional advantages. For instance, the point-to-point movement. The faster it is possible to
system delivers tighter response for increased position a boom, the quicker firefighters can get to
operator control, helps firefighters to deploy the work, whether accessing a building, rescuing
aerial boom faster and with greater placement individuals from height or dousing flames. In
accuracy, and simplifies aerial apparatus comparison with ramped controls, BSC enables
customisation. operators to deploy and stop the boom more
quickly, safely and precisely.
Safety, capability and simplicity Another benefit relates to system simplification.
Boom stability control (BSC) technology, an Growing demand upon aerial fire truck
integrated control ap¬plication on the CMA valve, manufacturers to provide customers with ever-
reduces boom oscillation by up to 75% and settling increasing levels of customisation means there is a
time by up to 90%. BSC can be active even when real need for simplified interconnected systems.
the operator is not commanding the boom, keeping With software driven-configuration and electronic
the aerial apparatus stable and in position at all tuning, Eaton’s CMA valve streamlines set up and
times. optimisation. Notably, CAN communication
This technology provides su¬perior control to simplifies controller requirements and integration
augment operator skills, reduce the impact of with other CAN-based systems.
external disturbances and provide peace-of-mind to OEMs can therefore adopt common hard¬ware
those on the ladder or platform. In short, BSC across aerial fire truck models as the software
main¬tains apparatus safety and manual override facilitates customisation and advanced controls

July 2021 • INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY EXTRA • p11