IMPACT 4.00.51.

00-SNAPSHOT 01/09/15

Chassis ID Path
A 773057 59/Description, Design and function//ABS, system description

Model Identity
FH (4) 131992512

Publish date ID/Operation

13/07/13

ABS, system description

ABS
Description
Control unit
Sensors
Solenoid valves
Trailer connection

Related information

ABS (Antilock Braking System)

Overview
A03 Instrument

A12A Control unit, ABS

A161 Control unit, HMIIOM (Human Machine Interface I/O Module)

A164 Control unit, RCIOM (Rear Chassis I/O Module)

A187 Control unit, VMCU (Vehicle Master Control Unit)

B13A/B14A/B15A/B16A Sensor, wheel speed

B237 Sensor, brake pressure

Y11A/Y12A/Y13/Y14 Soleniod, valve unit, ABS

Copyright to this documentation belongs to the Volvo Group. No reproduction, copying, change, amendment or other similar disposal is entitled without prior written consent by
the Volvo Group
The information contained herein is current at the time of its original distribution, but is subject to change. The reader is advised that printed copies are uncontrolled.

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IMPACT 4.00.51.00-SNAPSHOT 01/09/15

Description

Antilock brake system

Variant symbol Variant description

ABS Antilock brake system

UABS Without antilock brake system

ABS is a system that engages when the vehicle is braked hard, i.e. when one of the wheels is about
to lock, and reduces the braking power to prevent the wheel from locking.
ABS regulation
In brake situations when the brake is applied very hard, differences in brake force creates a force of
rotation on the truck. There are two different control systems:
● Individual Regulation (IR), for the rear wheels, uses maximum braking power on each wheel.

● Modified Individual Regulation (MIR), for the front wheels, delays the application of full braking
power for a few seconds.

By using MIR regulation for the front wheels, the force of rotation at ABS regulation is minimised.
A message is sent out on the data bus when ABS is active and it can be used by every other control
unit connected to the network. Examples of functions that use this information:
● The instrument turns on a symbol in the display.

● The control unit, TECU (Transmission Electronic Control Unit) avoids changing gears during
wheel slip.

● The control unit, ACM (Aftertreatment Control Module) deactivates the retarder torque.
Copyright to this documentation belongs to the Volvo Group. No reproduction, copying, change, amendment or other similar disposal is entitled without prior written consent by
the Volvo Group
The information contained herein is current at the time of its original distribution, but is subject to change. The reader is advised that printed copies are uncontrolled.

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IMPACT 4.00.51.00-SNAPSHOT 01/09/15

Control unit
The control unit, ABS receives and interprets the signal from the sensor wheel speed, which monitor
the rotation of each wheel.
The signals are then compared to find differences in speed. Should one of the wheels start to lock on
braking, the control unit senses this via the difference in sensor signal values and activates only the
solenoid valve at that wheel. The brake pressure is monitored frequently by sensor, brake pressure to
ensure that each wheel provides maximum braking effort.
The control unit consists of two separate sections, one of them controls the front wheel brakes and
the other controls the rear wheel brakes. This means that the system can disengage the ABS function
in a faulty circuit without affecting the ABS function in the other circuit. The braking power is not
affected.
The system has four channels, which means that there are four solenoid valve units connected to the
control unit, ABS.
Fault indication
The control unit, ABS constantly checks the condition of the system. If a fault should be detected, two
separate indications alert the driver of the problem:
● A signal is sent from the control unit, ABS to the instrument to activate the ABS warning lamp.

● A message is sent via the data bus to the instrument. The message contains a general
instruction to check the brakes as well as information about the fault by a unique fault code.

When no fault is detected, the warning lamp lights up for a second and then stays off during the
whole trip.

Sensors
Brake systems equipped with ABS are fitted with a tooth wheel in each hub, and a sensor which
monitors the rotation of the toothed wheel.
This type of sensor is called an inductive sensor and is attached to a bracket. A toothed wheel in the
hub makes the sensor generate an alternating current with a frequency proportional to the speed of
the wheel. The signal from each sensor is transmitted to Control unit, ABS, which evaluates the
wheel speed to detect wheel locking.

Solenoid valves
There are four solenoid valve units used by the control unit, ABS to control the braking power. When
the control unit, ABS discovers that a wheel is about to lock, it immediately activates the solenoid
valve installed at that wheel. The solenoid opens to let out the compressed air, thus lowering the
braking power, until the wheel sensor indicates the same speed as the rest of the wheels. When the
wheel speed is the same as for the other wheels, the solenoid valve closes and the wheel is braked,
but if the wheel locks again, the procedure is repeated. This takes place several times per second.

Trailer connection
The trailer's ABS system operates with a completely separate system, which is powered via a
connector on the truck. In case of a faulty ABS on the trailer, the driver is alerted by a separate
warning lamp marked “ABS 1”. The signal comes from the control unit, ABS positioned on the trailer
via the ABS trailer connection to the instrument. A symbol in the instrument indicates if a trailer
without an ABS system is connected, to avoid the danger of a jack-knife situation. The evaluation for
this function is performed in two steps:
1 The control unit, RCIOM determines if a trailer is connected, by measuring the current
Copyright to this documentation belongs to the Volvo Group. No reproduction, copying, change, amendment or other similar disposal is entitled without prior written consent by
the Volvo Group
The information contained herein is current at the time of its original distribution, but is subject to change. The reader is advised that printed copies are uncontrolled.

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IMPACT 4.00.51.00-SNAPSHOT 01/09/15

consumption via the trailer connection. The instrument reads this information from the data
bus.

2 The instrument evaluates the input signal to determine if the trailer has got ABS or not.
■ If the signal goes from high to low within a couple of seconds after the ignition has been
switched on, the control unit understands that a trailer with ABS is connected and the
display symbol will not be activated.

■ If the control unit fails to recognise this pulse, the symbol “Trailer Without ABS” appears in
the instrument cluster.

Related information
For more information on the electrical architecture, refer to:
Wiring diagram
Vehicle Electronics Overview ➠ Vehicle electronics overview, system description
Related functions
Service braking, function description ➠ Service braking, function description Stability control, function
description ➠ Stability control, function description
Related components
Footbrake valve, component description ➠ Footbrake valve, component description Modulators,
component description ➠ Modulators, component description Relay valve, component description ➠
Relay valve, component description Solenoid valve, 1‐‌channel, component description ➠ Solenoid
valve, 1-channel, component description Solenoid valve, 2‐‌channel, component description ➠
Solenoid valve, 2-channel, component description Solenoid valve, 4‐‌channel, component description
➠ Solenoid valve, 4-channel, component description RCIOM, component description ➠ RCIOM,
component description

Copyright to this documentation belongs to the Volvo Group. No reproduction, copying, change, amendment or other similar disposal is entitled without prior written consent by
the Volvo Group
The information contained herein is current at the time of its original distribution, but is subject to change. The reader is advised that printed copies are uncontrolled.

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