The CLIPLOCK Coupling has been out in the field for over a year now, and the fleets that have put this innovative product to use are all reporting positive results.
Developed by GP Truck Products, CLIPLOCK gives operators peace of mind that their truck and trailer couplings are properly and safely connected.
CLIPLOCK has been specifically designed to ensure a positive and secure connection of trailer airline couplings while simultaneously preventing unintentional decoupling.
GP Truck Products was formed in 2011 as a division of General Pneumatics. CLIPLOCK is just one of many products released to market by GP Truck Products to support the truck and trailer industry.
To demonstrate its functionality and long-term reliability, CLIPLOCK recently commissioned accelerated independent laboratory testing of the product.
It was put through a 24-hour vibration test, conducted by Compliance Engineering.
The CLIPLOCK was recently put through 24-hour vibration testing. Image: GP Truck Products“We wanted proof that the structural integrity of our product is 100 per cent, so the end user has peace of mind and knows that it won’t fail out in the field. Now we have the results of that testing,” explained Managing Director of GP Truck Products, Joe Borg.
The results of this vibration testing confirmed that the CLIPLOCK was verified in accordance with the manufacturer’s reliability expectations and conformance to ISO 16750-3:2012.
During testing, the CLIPLOCK was connected to a ball valve and SAE J1402-A rubber air brake hose to simulate what would happen in a worst-case scenario, with acceleration applied on three different axes – vertical polarisation, transverse polarisation and longitudinal polarisation.
“The CLIPLOCK has a locking clip as an added layer of protection to stop any unintentional or accidental decoupling. We decided we wanted to test the product without the locking clip to prove just how well made these couplings are,” said Joe.
“This also gave us the opportunity to see how the CLIPLOCK performed under vibration and with the weight of the hose and valve attached to the coupling.”
CLIPLOCK’s unique bright yellow cable acts as a visual lock indicator. Image: GP Truck ProductsThe CLIPLOCK was visually inspected to detect any structural defects or faults both before and after each stage of testing – with the product passing with flying colours. It was found to have no observable structural degradation, surface deterioration, or deformity under the applied test conditions.
“From a safety point of view, these tests help put us above our competitors, because CLIPLOCK users can be certain that the product performs exactly as it should, adding an additional layer of safety,” Joe added.
GP Truck Products manufactures a range of products for the trucking industry including air brake fittings and truck and trailer components that range from suzi coils to trailer couplings, air brake filtration systems and other associated products.
The CLIPLOCK is available with an optional second stage locking system, exclusive to GP Truck Products. It features a two-stage locking mechanism, with a patent pending stainless steel locking clip and locking groove, as well as a unique bright yellow cable.
Connected to the locking clip. The bright yellow cable acts as a highly visible indicator, allowing operators to quickly identify whether the coupling is fully engaged. This visual alert helps prevent incomplete connections between truck and trailer airline couplings.
For additional visual confirmation, if the yellow cable and locking are dangling freely, it indicates the coupling may not be securely connected. If the locking clip cannot be inserted into the locking groove of the coupling, it confirms that the male and female couplings have not been fully connected. If the female coupling is not fully engaged with the male coupling, the coupling collar will partially cover the CLIPLOCK locking clip groove, preventing access to the locking clip.
“Ultimately, the CLIPLOCK helps put the minds of operators at ease,” added Joe.
CLIPLOCK locking clips can also be purchased separately and retrofitted to couplings with certain CLIPLOCK grooves.
For more information, visit gptruckproducts.com.au or call 03 9580 1811.
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