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| Volvo launches new wheeled excavator  Intended for use in congested recycling yards where maneuverability is important, the 16.8 t – 18.5 t EW160B wheeled excavator from Volvo Construction Equipment offers a tight turning circle and small swing radius – and yet has a high level of stability and an elevated cab that offers a commanding view of the work area. There has been a growth in recent years of preliminary sorting yards, where waste material is segregated. These yards are often in urban or even inner-city locations and are small and densely filled – and quite often indoors. Therefore a need has developed for a machine that can offer high performance, be stable and yet small enough to maneuver easily in confined spaces. Working on level concrete floors, a suitably adapted wheeled excavator is just such a machine.The maximum working range on ground level is about 8.2m and maximum height is 9.0m with two-piece boom and material handling arm. The machine is equally available with mono boom. With its short swing radius of 2150mm the machine can fit in tight work spaces. The undercarriage features bigger axles, stronger platform and bigger outriggers. This additional engineering provides greatly enhanced stability and an increase in lifting performance, giving a maximum lifting capacity of 2.9t at full reach with material handling arm. To prevent dust clogging the coolers, separate, well placed and easy to clean coolers help ensure maximum uptime and long life for the machine and its components. The other big advantage of wheeled excavators over crawlers is their speed: the EW160B can travel at a top speed of 35 km per hour. Picking waste from the top of steep stockpiles is difficult with standard height cabs; as is placing sorted material into high-sided containers. Consequently, the EW160B features a cab that can be hydraulically elevated – raising the operator's line-of-sight by a maximum of 5,600 mm. The advantage of this system over the more usual higher waste handling cabs is that the operator can set the optimum height for any task, and in its lowest setting, entry to the cab is both easy and safe. Other than the control to operate the elevation of the cab, the operator's work environment remains largely the same as on the standard EW160B. Fitted with a Volvo D6D engine that has been developed especially for wheeled excavator use, its maximum power output is 148 hp and maximum torque of 595 Nm – the latter at only 1,500 rpm, providing good fuel economy, low noise levels and a long service life. The turbocharged, four-stroke diesel engine features water cooling, direct injection and charged air cooling. An automatic idling system is also incorporated that reduces engine speed when the levers and pedals are dormant. This reduces fuel consumption and lowers noise levels. The centrally positioned fuel pumps deliver high injection pressures while an engine management system ensures fuel economy. Volvo's advanced Contronics electrical system allows the operator to receive data on machine functions such as fuel consumption, oil levels, fluid levels and temperatures. This data is also recorded for later diagnostic download. The advantages of this system are twofold: not only does it highlight existing problems early on but it also forecasts potential failures before they occur; allowing preventive maintenance to be conducted, minimizing downtime. The load sensing hydraulic system that is fitted to the machine not only helps provide for smooth handling but also allows simultaneous commands to be performed by directing flow only to those areas where power is needed. The demands of differing attachments can also be accommodated via an adjustable hydraulic flow facility, which the operator can determine from inside the cab. The EW160B has either four outriggers or two outriggers and a dozer blade. The outrigger spread is almost four meters wide for good stability; they are independently controlled and fold in tight to the body of the machine when not needed. Where it is not practical to use outriggers, optional drum brakes can be deployed to ensure controlled material handling or sorting. The frame is an all-welded torsion steel box and there is a choice of single or twin wheels with different dimensions available. Solid tires for heavy ground conditions such as scrap yards are also available as an option. The front axle is configured with an automatic or operator-controlled front axle oscillation lock, improving safety when lifting. The drive train comes in the form of a large variable axial-piston motor on the two-step Power Shift gearbox. This provides power to the front and rear axles. Service brakes are servo-hydraulic self adjusting wet multidiscs in two circuits. The superstructure is slewed by the means of an axial piston motor with a planetary reduction gear. Automatic slew holding brake and anti-rebound valve are standard. The operator's cab has a variety of ergonomic features designed for maximum comfort and to reduce operator fatigue. The cab is supported on hydraulic dampening mounts that absorb shock and vibration, and is fitted with a sound absorbing lining that reduces noise levels. Good all-round visibility is provided by large glass screens and thin pillars. The front windshield can also slide up out of the way into the ceiling void; while the lower front glass can be removed and stored in the door. The pressurized and filtered cab air is supplied by an automatically controlled fan, distributed via 13 vents. The operator's seat has nine different adjustments to accommodate a range of operator seating preferences. An Instrument-Electronic Central Unit provides the operator with all relevant information about machine status in a simple and logical manner. Coolant temperature and fuel level are visible, as is information on engine speed, engine hours and system voltage. Warning lights and an audible alarm signal alert the operator in the event of a malfunction. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Construction News :: home page |