Jacobs Vehicle Systems, whose Jake brake has for decades been a byword for secondary engine braking in North America, has announced that its latest innovation, the High Power Density (HPD ) engine brake has gone into production.
The HPD system, whose cylinder deactivation principle has been shown at the major European truck shows since 2016, is integrated at the design stage of an engine in a number of modular versions according to manufacturer requirements. It is claimed to offer a more cost effective alternative to a full driveline retarder, while developing 1.5 to double the retardation of a conventional exhaust brake, particularly at lower engine speeds.
Although the initial application is on the Sinotruk Yellow River, a new long-haul tractor range from the China National Heavy Duty Truck company, with what are described as “1.5 stroke” 11- and 13-litre engines, a number of European engine makers are known to be planning to incorporate the HPD system into their next generation of engines.
