Control Products supplies parking brake for heavy duty industrial, agricultural, and military mobile machinery

Control Products, the leading USA expert manufacturer of waterproof switches, thermal switches, and linear position sensors for harsh duty applications, offers many high-performance product lines developed specifically for and with OEMs in military, construction, off-highway, agriculture, mining, subsea, oil & gas, and other challenging markets. One application area that illustrates CPI´s capability for specialist product development and supply is that of parking brake on-detection switches used in construction equipment and agricultural machinery as well as heavy-duty military logistics vehicles. Following its recent acquisition by The Variohm Group, CPI is represented throughout Europe by Variohm EuroSensor.

Parking brake on-detection tasks can be reliably and cost-effectively fulfilled with CPI´s durable E1 series IP68 rated waterproof limit switches. With the actuator switch overmoulded with a choice of Santoprene (industrial grade) or Neoprene (military grade) boot materials, their complete resistance to water and salt spray, dirt, dust, and oils is ensured. Alternatively, for use in more demanding environments with endurance rated in millions of switching cycles, Control Products´s J-series ball switches feature a patented, 100% waterproof sealing mechanism and optional extended temperature range capability.

Specifically, the E1120 series waterproof limit switch (opening picture) has a low simulated roller angle mount design with a narrow profile angle mount bracket for compact installation within the brake handle housing. With its all-stainless-steel construction the momentary action switch can be supplied to meet operational standards for military use or heavy-duty industrial applications where endurance is estimated to 100,00 cycles for lower current rating variants. Load ratings from 2A to 15A across 12 to 28 VDC are available as well as AC voltage rated switching versions. Like all CPI products the E1120 can be customised for mounting and switch actuator configuration to meet the application requirements. Electrical connection is via flying leads or optional Packard Weatherpak connector. The E-series waterproof switches have a high reputation in many other applications where safety is critical. These include but are not restricted to alarm back up, interlock switches, hopper door switches and valve position sensing.

J4 series ball switches from CPI can fulfil parking brake on-detection and other applications where a lever actuator is utilised with completely submersible performance as well as optional features which include long life endurance ratings as high as five million cycles and temperature ratings from -55 to 205 ⁰C. For maximum operational reliability, the J4´s patented ball carrier design prevents contaminate materials from jamming the ball mechanism. Originally designed for demanding military vehicle applications and well suited to real heavy-duty industrial and commercial machinery use, these switches offer 28 VDC, 5A electrical ratings and optional SPST, normally open or normally closed contact configuration. Along with demanding end of travel and safety lock applications across industrial and military systems and equipment, CPI´s J4 ball switches are also used in critical vehicle applications as the main sensor for neutral safety systems in industrial vehicles where the primary purpose of the switch is to detect that the vehicle is in a neutral gear before starting.