Author Archives: Kevin

How Trolley Assisted Electric Truck Saved Fuel?

Trolley assisted electric truck have been used across the world especially at the mines of North America and Africa. The worldwide usage of trolley assisted electric truck proved that the electric driven trucks are more efficient in the long run than the old existing mechanical truck. In mining areas these trucks minimizes the fuel expense by 45% and increases the productivity by 10%.

The engine of a trolley assisted truck generally idles for about 750rpm. During that time the main pressure inside the machine is that of the electrical system’s cooling blower. This pressure is generally 15% of the total capacity of the engine. In diesel momentum, the engine will attain full power at the highest speed on a 10% effective grade. The BHP is 2025 in a 12V 4000 engine for about 1900rpm. A calculation of fuel consumption rate using the above data in diesel stands at 360 LPH whereas in case of truck assisted electric trolley it is as low as 45LPH.

Electricity is comparatively cheaper than diesel fuel which enables everyone to save money. Moreover, electric trucks also do not create pollutions which is a great problem with diesel fuel trucks. The power through overhead line is more potent than the on board power source of the truck. We all know that voltage is directly proportional to speed and this fact enables the operators to increase the voltage to the level of electric motor’s end point. This, in turn, raises the speed of the truck though it remains in contact with the overhead line. And the speed of the truck reaches 10kph on a twenty percent gradient. The final outcome of this procedure is the reduction in the amount of fuel consumed by the trolley truck which is as low as only about 25 litres per hour.

When trucks run on electricity, and it absolutely makes no use of diesel. It is a well-known fact that electricity or hydrogen are renewable sources of energy. These trucks have achieved the status of zero-emissions, as a result it reduces global warming protecting public health. Fuel cells, battery and hybrid powertrains which are greatly used nowadays saves fuel and hence play a great role in economic saving of the world.

Electric Drivetrain technology saves fuel

  • Hybrid electric vehicle: Hybrid electric trucks are the most mature form of electric drive technology. Hybrid electric trucks can travel more distances as compared to traditional mod of trucks. It improves fuel economy and extend brake life.
  • Battery electric vehicle: Battery electric vehicle trucks are run by an electric motor connected to onboard batteries. No combustion engine is present inside the truck and the batteries should be charged regularly by plugging.
  • Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle: These kinds of trucks gain its braking energy through the recharge of the batteries. They are very similar to Hybrid Electric Vehicles with a bigger battery pack.
  • Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle: These electric trucks gain their energy by refuelling it with hydrogen. It do not require to gain its energy from any external electric source.

 

Electrification of trucks has recently came into being, but it already gained a strong footing. This wiser use of electrification technology has become a key factor that doubles the fuel efficiency of the trucks and will cut down the nation’s estimated oil consumption by 40% in the upcoming years.

 

 

Advent of latest technology gives new life to the construction equipment

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Development of any kind of business is largely dependent on the sort of technology it adopts to get the end product. Similar is the case of the construction industry which is so largely dependent on technologically advanced gadgets and machineries. Construction companies are always in need of machines that can get the work done in a shorter span without compromising the quality of work and in order to get the desired result, they have to depend on technologically advanced construction equipment. Moreover, due to highly competitive market where your competitors are constantly eying work and will not leave a single opportunity to grab a project, it becomes all the more important to deliver the projects on time and keep the guys who give you businesses happy.

Imagine a construction company having all the old models of machineries that take ages to deliver a job. It is pretty evident that he will not be able to sustain in this kind of competitive environment for long. Moreover, he will be losing workers as they will be prone to work for someone who possess latest construction equipments that are more flexible and simple to use.

Machines have a set life:-

Like humans, machines too have a life term and once the term gets over and if you still drag them to work, you will notice that the quality of work has been degraded. In such a situation, you have to deal with changing the older parts of the machine with new stuffs which will undoubtedly cost good deal of money. It also does not guarantee if the machine will work like before however in most of the cases, once the old parts are been replaced with newer ones, the same machine has shown outstanding performances. So the ground rule is when the machine has attained his term and you see it is not working the way it used to, time has come when you should replace the faulty parts with new ones.

New equipment consumes less fuel:-

Most of the construction companies were often struggling with the problem of excessing fuel consumption by their heavy equipment. These days, the construction equipment manufacturing companies are manufacturing machines that eats less fuel and delivers more than ever. Change in technology in the make of the engine has made this possible. Though these sect of heavy equipment are expensive but they are way better than their predecessors in terms of performance and fuel consumption.

Environment friendly machines:-

Government of almost all the developed countries have set up mandates for the construction companies to deploy machines that meets the standards laid to minimize air pollution. Even before the mandate was introduced, equipment manufacturing companies have already started manufacturing green machines (eco-friendly machines). The advent of this new technology has given a new dimension to the construction and heavy equipment manufacturing industry. Many see this as a new chapter to have begun and the advent of this technology has in real term given a new life to the construction equipment.

 

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Heavy Equipment Apparel..ie cat boot, caterpillar phone case

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People who have to drive trucks carrying big machines continuously for hours can understand how hectic the work is and the toll that the job leaves on their body. It becomes a real pain for them to carry on with this kind of job for years. May be the guys who drive trucks have to do it because they know that better than anything else or else they would definitely think about leaving the job and do something else. The situation is same for folks who work on heavy equipment. On the contrary, things become worse for them as they got to work within a limited zone and have to move back and forth with the machine. This makes things very difficult for them and they become prone to getting cramps on heir foot or on their hands/palms.

The easy solution they can get is by wearing some accessories that can lessen the pressure that is exerted on their feet or on their palms. They can possible wear a boot or a glove that will limit their problems to a larger extent. Many construction companies are already in the process of granting such accessories to their operators which in turn ensure that they remain healthy and do not hamper their attendance. Almost all construction equipment manufacturing companies produce relevant apparels but some brands are really worthy to buy. Out of the many brands available in the market, one can blindly trust the products manufactured by Caterpillar.

Caterpillar is not only known for producing premium quality machines but is also known for producing excellent apparels that are primarily used to limit the strain an operator goes through while working on the machine. Apparels such a pair of boots, gloves, goggles, phone case is a must while one is working inside the cabin. During summer, you just can’t ignore any of the apparels stated above. A phone case does not have to do anything with giving rest to your body but you can work with ease by keeping your cell phone in the case. In this way you do not have to fiddle around every time you get a call and can work with maximum comfort.

Caterpillar takes immense care in producing quality products for its consumers and more to it they are not overtly priced. They have managed to keep the price with the reach of small end consumers. These apparels are so important that you just can’t keep the price high and keep it outside the reach of small consumers. You can easily get the required apparels in any Caterpillar store or at the dealer’s shop who deals with caterpillar products or for that matter deals with apparels of all companies.

In case, you find difficulty in getting the stuffs at the dealer’s store, you can search the item on Caterpillar’s official website or can hunt it on any online shopping portal. It should not be a difficult and time consuming task to get something that is so widely available. Just pay for the item online and give you mailing address so that it can be shipped at your place.

What is the ultimate medium dozer?

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Heavy equipment are of various types each type of heavy equipment is meant for a specific function. Though there are few equipment that are multi-purpose but they also come with certain constraints and keeping into consideration those constraints, an operator bring that machine to use. It depends upon the operators recommendations if the equipment should be used for a specific work because he would be in a better position to understand if the work is doable with the equipment. Similarly, heavy equipment can’t do all kind of work that it is meant to do.  For instance, you are given a project to repair the road which looks fragile. You know that you have to unearth the strip using an excavator and then roll a dozer to plain the road. In this situation, you can’t use the excavator that is used for big projects and also can’t use the big dozers. It becomes important for you to identify the kind of machine you need for the work. You perhaps need a medium dozer to complete the work in contrary to the higher version.

We would be talking about why we need a medium dozer and is it really going to be effective.

Not all work suitable for all machines:-

Not everybody is compatible for everything. This also goes good with heavy equipment. Construction companies that are engaged with mighty projects need big dozers. However, while doing those big projects, they come across situations where they require a medium range or small dozers because they may not find the bigger ones compatible for the small work. They may see the use of a medium dozer in that situation. Similarly, when a person needs to work in his garden or there’s some work in the school campus or in the university campus, a medium dozer is much preferred machine.

Very simple to use and bar the requirement of an operator:-

The medium dozers and quite simple to use and do not have complex buttons that you may see in a big dozer. It would be almost impossible for a layman to understand the various functions in a big dozer. He may ruin the work if at all he uses the complex machine. However, if the person decides to hire an operator, that will be an additional expense on his part. Firstly, it is not so easy to get a heavy equipment operator. They are people with expertise knowledge about the machine and are usually hired by big companies paying them fat packages. Nevertheless, if he still manages to get hold of one, he may not be able to afford him. In such a situation, the medium dozer comes very handy. He only need to follow few very simple instructions and can get his hands on the machine.

Quite economical in terms of fuel consumption and high productivity:-

The medium dozers are highly economical when it comes to fuel consumption and still manages to deliver high productivity. After a lot of research work, engineers of various heavy equipment manufacturing companies have come up with latest technology enabled medium dozers that saves good amount of money for the user. It can also give a good sales value after using it for some time.

Caterpillar 140K Motor Grader is the ultimate choice of many

Be it flattening the road or leveling a piece of land, a motor grader is the equipment one will vouch for. One can put the motor grader for many other uses as well. For instance, this particular equipment can be used extensively for agricultural purpose and simultaneously has shown great performance in the construction segment. A grader is a machine that has a long blade at the front of it which is used to level the land. Ideally, a grader is equipped with a single blade in the front. However, some construction companies use double blade graders. These types of graders have 2 blades situated in the front of the front axle. The motor grader is also known as “Blade”.

Construction companies have huge requirement of good graders. For them, good leveled roads mean fast work. It becomes very difficult for the workers to work on crooked roads as it may lead to accidents and this is why it is a must to have leveled roads. Simultaneously, other heavy equipment working on the construction site may have a tough time working due to improper roads. Therefore, getting the roads repaired becomes their first priority. Heavy equipment manufacturing companies are aware of the varying needs of the clients and thus they always bring technologies that will lessen human effort and increase productivity.

But out of the many models manufactured by various heavy equipment manufacturing companies, one specific model that has caught the attention of many is none other than Caterpillar 140K. This particular grader seems to be the ultimate choice specifically with users who like to use CAT equipment. The overall length of the equipment is 28.6 feet with around 2464 mm tire width. The total height of the machine is 3131 mm and the wheelbase is 6169mm. The important feature in the machine is its blade base which is 2561 mm. This means that it will not take long for the machine to level a very bumpy piece of land. The maximum power of the grader is 185 hp with a displacement of 10.3 liter. The total fuel capacity is 105 gallon and the fluid capacity for the cooling system is around 10 gallon.

It has 8 front gears and 6 reverse gears. Concurrently, the maximum forward speed is 27.4 miles per hour and the maximum reverse speed is 21.6 miles per hour. The machine is fitted with hydraulic systems that benefits the equipment is every possible way, thus increasing its efficiency and productivity and lowering the fuel consumption. By launching the K-series and replacing the H-series, Caterpillar has tried to reach to customers at all levels. This machine is not only meant for big construction companies but can also fit the budget of medium sized companies and to certain extent small companies as well. Though the H-series model was doing extremely well but had few issues pertaining to the sustainability which has been perfectly taken care by the new model. Cat 140K can be the grader that all can rely on as far as its performance and sustainability is concerned.

Where should a Cat Diesel tech seek advice from?

In the construction and heavy equipment industry, it is very simple to get advices from people. However, you never know how far those advices are accurate and will work for you. So, before you start looking for any advices, it becomes quite instrumental that you find out the right set of people who can advise you on things. People who know about the subject you would be asking and if at all they do not know much about it, they will be frank and tell you to check it from someone else. There are many people who just for the sake of giving advices give you any wrong recommendations which turn out to be dangerous for you. There are people who have set up their office and consult others on various issues. Well, one can’t know anything and everything to consult others. Therefore, you should be aware of such thugs and go to the right place in case you need any consultation. Other than that, in today’s world where internet has brought all of us so close and has made the world a small village, it makes no sense to approach a person directly without checking things on net.

Create a forum and invite people to give advices:-

People love to give advices on things they know and at times even on things that they do not know much about. The best way to get some solid advices is to create a forum ad put up the question you want to know. You will see people flocking in to answer your question. As long as the question does not request others to give their business tactics, they will be more than willing to tell you know what you want to know. A forum will allow experts and intellectuals belonging to the construction and heavy equipment industry to come at a common place and speak on the topic in question. They can give you ample of options that you may have not even heard of. Having experts in your forum will always help you to develop your knowledge about the particular sphere an make you more competitive and a person who has an edge over others.

Simple search it on the net:-

At times you may just want some simple answers and may not require lot of opinions on a given subject as that might confuse you further. In such a situation, it is recommended that you simply search for it on the net. Internet can provide you distinctly what you are looking for and you may ignore the rest. As a matter of fact, it makes no point in getting confused with multiple options and we all expect a straight and simple answer to our questions.

Take advices from your colleagues and peers:-

When you are in trouble, you always depend on someone who is trustworthy. You can do the exact same thing here. If you are eagerly looking for something, you can depend on people with whom you have been working for years. They will be the right choice for you when you need them the most.

Save Your Life by Wearing Safety Vest at Construction Sites

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Safety vests are seen prominently at the construction sites worn by road flaggers, road workers and emergency personnel. They have to perform their job with heavy equipment in all conditions. The vests are designed to make the wearers more visible to others and hence keep the workers safe. According to the report of Occupational Safety And Health Administration, the reflective material of the safety vest should be sewn all over it to make the workers more visible both day and night. The vests are light-weighted, the loop and hook closure at the front side and the side strap of elastic aid to keep the wearers at ease in any situations.  It is made of fabric of bright neon colour containing a reflective tape that reflects the light of the car headlights.

The fire and emergency rescuers wear ANSI 207-2011 safety vest. These vests are generally known as public safety vests. The workers put them on over safety equipment which can be taken off quickly in the circumstance of complication.

Uses of safety vests

  • The reflective high-visibility safety vests are the first choice of the machine operators as it helps them to be detected and hence others can avoid colliding with them.
  • It also helps to maintain the traffic where it is at its minimal.
  • Putting on a safety vest while performing at huge-traffic areas help to reduce road accidents.
  • Its visibility also enables the wearer at the construction site to make out in foggy or dark conditions.
  • On big construction areas, where a worker is stranger to the other, the vests assist them to welcome a visitor.
  • In case any accident occurs on the site, safety vests make it easier for the emergency employees to locate the injured workers in an uneven landscape.
  • The padding of the vests protects the user from all types of injuries.
  • The vest also provides the worker with warmth making him comfortable in adverse weathers.
  • It is designed with two big sized pockets which are sewn on the interior side of the vest for cartable storage.

Which is better- Air Vest or Traditional Safety Vest?

There is an ongoing discussion about which is better- Air Vest or Safety Vest. At present, both of the brands have an accessible synthesized vest consists of the characteristic of both the safety vest and the air vest. However, modern air vests are designed in such a way that most of the workers working at a construction site prefer to use air vest to traditional safety vests. Development of safety vest set out in some accidental situations is underway, but these kinds of vests are not available commercially.

Maintaining a high-visibility vest is of first concern for different construction employees and this necessary safety equipment provides the employers the chance to assist their colleagues to stay secured and more visible at the job site.

Therefore, in conclusion we can say that safety vests are major safety equipment in a construction company. So, the workers should not forget to put on the vest before going out to work.

 

 

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How to Maintain Heavy Equipment Parts

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Are you a heavy equipment operator? Do you have an adequate knowledge about the construction equipment parts? Then you have selected the correct one as here in the following, you will get to know the secret tips of how to increase the longevity of the heavy construction equipments.

Heavy equipment characteristically refers to the industrialized paraphernalia that is used by the farming, mining and construction companies. Some of the highly-demanded heavy equipment (parts) are loaders, attachments, planters, dumpers, trailers, tractors etc. The weighty equipment manufacturing firms usually procure these pieces from the reputed mechanical stores. A machine is worthless without its adjoined parts. The routine chart of proper maintenance helps the driver to run the machine hassle-free for a long time. The manuals of the heavy equipment manufacturing organizations help the prospectors to know the features of the machine parts. In those instruction booklets, the heavy equipment drivers can also get to know the quick guidelines of repairing the minor problems of the machine parts.

Strides to Remove the Frozen Pins from the Heavy Equipment

Pins are usually utilized to hold the pieces of the heavy machinery together. Sometimes the machinists observe that the pins are rusted over time. This corrosion causes the pins to be jammed in the joint of the two parts. Removing the rusted pin from the heavy equipment is a physical strenuous job for the operator. Therefore here are some of the tactical points that help the driver to free the frozen pin very easily.

  • First the machinist should discharge all the perfunctory and hydro mechanical pressures carried by the frozen pin. The technique of releasing these two pressures counts on the type of machine being mended.
  • Inundate all uncovered areas of the pin with corrosion piercing oil. The drivers should permit the oil to sit on the pin for a whole day.
  • Then the operator should scour the exposed areas of the pin with a wire brush so that the oil enters the holes of the pin properly.
  • Then in the next step, grasp the cranium of the pin with a cylinder wrench and after that remove the cotter pin with the help of pliers.
  • Slant a sledgehammer at the bottom of the large pin and drag the pin by the assistance of the pipe yank.

How to Unsoiled Heavy Equipment When the Parts Are Rusted?

  • First the heavy equipment operator should power off the machine and remove the battery so as to prevent from any sort of accident.
  • Separate the tarnished machinery parts from the apparatus and uncontaminated it with a special type of mineral.
  • Take undiluted white coloured vinegar in a bowl and put the rusted equipments parts in it for 24 hours.
  • Use naval jelly on the corroded pieces and wash them with warm water. Finally reconstruct the equipment and coat it with required amount of grease.

Some of the famous heavy equipment component suppliers are Komatsu Heavy Equipment Parts, Kobelco Heavy Equipment Parts, Daewoo Heavy Equipment Parts, and Caterpillar Heavy Equipment Parts etc. These firms deliver excavator undercarriages pieces, ripper teeth, scarifier teeth, steel floor plates etc.

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Electronic Logging Device- Making Things Easier In the Construction Area

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Concerns about the safety are an integral part of the construction arena. Since the nature of the work is somewhat hazardous, construction company authorities have to be extra careful about maintaining safety at construction sites. It is keeping this aspect of the entire deal in mind that construction companies have come up with the electronic logging devices.

Electronic Logging Device- What Is It All About?

The construction area has come up with the electronic logging device in order to maintain and improve the safety quotient at construction area and driving in general. No more do truck drivers and heavy equipment operators need to resort to the manual mode of entering information in order to keep things going. With the government explicitly defining a particular HOS or hours of service regulation, more and more number of vehicle owners are opting for the electronic logging device including the arena of construction. This device has been designed to record the status of the equipment as to how long it has been running and how much time is left for its last run and things like that. Not only does this ensure optimum utilization of the equipment, but also ensures safety that may otherwise have been hampered due to overload on the part of the equipment.

Electronic Logging Device in the Construction Industry

The use of electronic logging devices in the construction industry has proved to be highly advantageous for those involved in the arena. The very fact that they do not have to manually maintain a record of things is perhaps the best part of the entire deal one could think of.

  • The electronic logging device allows heavy equipment operators and truck drivers to enhance the safety score of the concerned construction organisation along with providing a safer work environment for the employees. The device has been designed in manner so as to provide alerts and reports on the engine, speed and mileage of the equipment so that the equipment operators are well aware of the hazards.
  • One can be assured of significant reduction in the error percentage what with the records being entered and saved in the digital format. This means you save a considerable amount of time which would have otherwise gone into exhaustive paperwork and there is also the fact that you are never going to lose data with this system.
  • With the electronic logging device keeping track of the heavy equipment and truck drivers, one can be completely assured of improvement in the errant behaviour of the drivers. And with improvement in the driving skills, one can be sure of prevention of penalties.

Therefore, it can be easily concluded that proper driving of the heavy equipment and construction trucks contributes in quite a significant way to the entire gamut of the construction business. And the use of electronic logging device has definitely made things much easier for the ones involved in the area.

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Renting heavy equipment in 2015

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Setting up a construction company has never been an easy task especially for people who do not have anybody from their family into this industry. Knowing the tricks of the trade can be a very difficult job and on top of it procuring heavy equipment can take you on a royal ride. Buying heavy equipment will eat away most of your investments and you will be left with hardly anything to take care of your business expenses. This is the problem which many newbie are experiencing and when they realize that things are going out of their hands, they wind up their business. This brings an end to their dream of establishing a construction company.

Now for people who have heavy equipment that are mainly lying idle as they are out of business for few months, they are not sure what they can do with those machines. It hurts to see them doing nothing and getting rusted remaining out in the sun. Here we have 2 set of people with 2 different requirements but both associated with each other. In other way, both of them can help each other by the later one giving the machine on rent and the former paying a said sum of money on each and every month for a defined period of time.

The year 2015 will give a lot of opportunities to people falling under these 2 spheres. What we have noticed in the last few years is people do not want to spend more on buying heavy equipment. They are more comfortable in hiring them from the guys who possess them and once they complete the work, they give it back to them with some minor wear and tear.

Go online to search for guys willing to rent heavy equipment:-

It may not be easy to hunt for guys who rent their machines to others. Either you should know people who are in the business of renting their machines or you need to hook up with an some one that deals with renting heavy equipment. The next best option is to go online and check sites that deal with renting heavy equipment. These sites may not charge you anything as they ideally bill the guy who gives the machine on rent. So you do not have to bother about the expense part. Just check the equipment they have put online and the rent they are demanding. If possible, try to contact the party and see if they are willing to negotiate and bring the rental down.

Inspect the equipment before taking it on rent:-

Once you have identified the equipment, the next thing you can do is inspect the machine before you sign on the dotted line. Take a mechanic along with you if you are not the person who understand much about the machine and do a thorough inspection. Only if the mechanic is content with the equipment, you should go ahead with the deal.

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