APPLICATION NOTE: Control Products, Inc. supplies parking brake on-detection switches for heavy duty industrial, agricultural, and military mobile machinery

Variohm EuroSensor: Control Products, Inc (CPI), 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, CPI’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 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.

CPI Inc. is an ISO9001 registered manufacturer with more than seventy years’ experience in demanding control tasks in aerospace & military, construction, off-highway, agriculture, mining, subsea, oil & gas, and many other challenging fields. CPI develops, designs, and manufactures its comprehensive product range of linear position sensors, waterproof switches, and thermal switches from its purpose-built facility in East Hanover, New Jersey and has the bold company strapline “Is your equipment tough enough for our sensors”.

Following its recent acquisition by The Variohm Group, CPI is represented throughout Europe by Variohm EuroSensor. For more information on CPI’s extensive product range, visit www.cpi-nj.com/ or contact Variohm EuroSensor at sales@variohm.com or call +44 (0) 1327 351004.

About Variohm EuroSensor

Variohm EuroSensor is a manufacturer, distributor and supply chain partner providing complete sales and application support across a comprehensive range of position, force, pressure, load, and temperature sensor technologies - for demanding measurement applications across industry, construction, agriculture, motorsports, research and more.