Gulf Construction Online - Doosan adds muscle to wheel loader range

Loaders

The new-generation DL550 wheel loader.

Doosan adds muscle to wheel loader range

01 April 2013

DOOSAN Infracore Construction Equipment has launched the new-generation DL550, the top-of-the-range model in the company’s new family of wheel loaders intended for markets in the Middle East and Africa (MEA).

With a bucket capacity of 5.4 cu m, the DL550 wheel loader is designed to meet a wide range of material-handling needs, from loading and transporting granular material (such as sand and gravel) to industrial, mining and quarrying applications.

A key feature of the DL550 wheel loader is the Tier 2 12.7-litre Scania DC13 turbo-charged, air-to-air intercooled diesel engine, which is ideal for use in the MEA region, delivering ‘best-in-class’ power with a maximum output of 294 kW at 2,100 rpm, says a spokesman for the company.

“The high engine power output is combined with new ZF transmissions and several other features which – in addition to reducing fuel consumption – provide exceptional performance, high durability, ease of handling and serviceability, and significantly enhanced operator comfort,” he adds.

The new wheel loader has three engine working modes: Eco, Normal and Power, to adapt the machine to different applications, with different engine speeds and gear steps according to the working mode engaged. With the ‘Power-Up’ function, the operator can manually adjust to the next highest working mode by applying a full stroke of the accelerator pedal.

The Eco Bar provides information in real-time about fuel consumption in relation to machine performance, allowing the operator to select the driving mode for the best fuel efficiency.

There is also a new ‘auto idle’ feature which, when activated, reduces engine speed by about 200 rpm after 10 seconds if there is no machine movement, which is ideal for applications involving long waiting times.

Meanwhile, the new ZF transmission improves the transfer of power from the engine to the wheels and contributes significantly to the overall reduction in fuel consumption, providing better response and acceleration, especially on slopes. Engine speed variation is less thanks to smaller gear steps, and lower engine speed throughout the whole drive range reduces fuel consumption.

A five-gear transmission with torque convertor lock-up is available as an option. When activated, the torque-converter-cut-off (TCCO) system is switched on automatically to provide a direct mechanical connection between the engine and transmission without loss of power and torque, reducing fuel consumption by as much as 10 per cent.

With the intelligent clutch cut-off system engaged, the driver is able to disconnect the transmission from the engine by operating the brake pedal, to have 100 per cent engine performance for the hydraulic system, making movements faster, while maximising on breakout force and reducing fuel consumption.

The new ZF Type II axles on the DL550 provide more durability and a longer lifetime. Rolling resistance for the axles is also reduced, improving traction and decreasing fuel consumption.

Like all new-generation Doosan large wheel loaders, the DL550 is equipped with load-sensing closed centre controlled, variable hydraulic piston pumps, improving performance and reducing fuel consumption. With load sensing, the hydraulic pumps receive a signal from the main control valve (MCV) informing how much oil is needed. This helps to improve engine performance and reduce fuel consumption.

High quality bucket attachments ... newly introduced by Doosan.

A new cab design features improvements both outside – such as better visibility due to a wider front glass section and an extended wiper blade area, better protection thanks to larger mud guards, improved hand rail and step designs and a new roof cover – as well as inside – such as the new instrument panel with integrated vehicle control unit (VCU). The control panel has been redesigned to allow operators to choose the information they want on the display.

Durability and serviceability has also been made easy on the new model. Changing the direction of the hydraulically-driven fan for cleaning the radiator can be done manually from the cab, without having to switch off the engine. A larger opening angle for the side door improves serviceability.

The operator can set and monitor the time remaining to the next service. If the maintenance period is exceeded, a pop-up warning will appear. Increased space in the engine compartment ensures that components such as filters, valves and batteries are within easy reach for service work.

Buckets

Separately, Doosan has also launched a new family of high-quality bucket attachments for its wheel loader range offering a combination of robust construction and excellent penetration capabilities, to cover the full range of applications from light duty jobs to the most severe and arduous tasks.

The large number of bucket types and sizes ensures maximum versatility and efficiency. Every bucket is designed to fit specific models to match the key kinematic parameters of the wheel loaders. Critical bucket positions have been optimised to enhance digging and dumping performance.

“The buckets are matched to the tipping loads of the wheel loaders for maximum stability and safe operation of the machine,” says the spokesman. “A perfect fit is guaranteed to ensure an easy and quick installation of the buckets on the wheel loaders without the need for special connectors. The operator has an optimal view of the attachment to ensure safety and ease of use.”

The design of the buckets is based on kinematics simulations, which prevent collisions or kinematic lock-out and ensure the movement of the buckets is what is expected and is always completely under the control of the operator. The simulations also ensure forces are transferred correctly from the bucket to the carrier to facilitate optimum digging, crowding and dumping.

A number of bucket types are offered including general purpose, heavy-duty, rock and light material versions.

General-purpose buckets provide a good all-round performance for stockpiling and material-handling operations. With their sloped bottom design for optimum bucket filling capabilities and load retention, these buckets are well suited for day-to-day handling of loose materials, aggregates or gravels and earthmoving jobs in sand and wet clay.

The straight sides of these buckets provide good penetration/capacity ratios. Critical parts such as the base edge, heel plates and corner protections are made of hardened steel for high abrasion resistance. Thick reinforcement plates protect critical areas on the bottom and sides of the buckets with a spill guard designed to protect the cylinders. These buckets can be equipped with optional teeth, shrouds and bolt-on cutting edges.

Doosan heavy-duty buckets are designed for a range of applications that require a robust construction such as sand handling or other applications with occasional severe loadings. Parts subjected to high stress such as the edge, sidebars and corner protections are made of hardened steel. Optional teeth, shrouds and reversible cutting edges allow the buckets to be tailored for particular customer needs.

Ideal for handling heavy materials such as ore, gravel and crushed rock or for digging through rocky soils and sandstone, the heavy-duty buckets have a similar design to the light duty versions, offering straight sides for good penetration/capacity ratios. All critical parts are made of hardened steel for high abrasion resistance. Thick reinforcement plates protect critical areas on the bottom and sides of the bucket, while spill guards protect the cylinders.
Meanwhile, rock buckets are designed for handling and digging of hard compacted material and blasted rock in mining or quarrying applications, where high break-out forces are required. Severe digging is no problem for these tough buckets, which are entirely made of high wear-resistant steel with a hardness of 420 BHN.

Thick reinforcement strips and bars protect critical areas on the bucket sides. Concave sides provide higher penetration and the welded Esco teeth – which are standard – also have a high penetration profile. There is a protection grille to ensure optimal safety and visibility and an extended spill guard provides very efficient protection for the cylinders and the cab.

Finally, the light material buckets are light in weight but large in capacity, making them suitable for applications requiring the handling of large amounts of light materials. The convex sides result in higher capacities up to 9 cu m and reduce spillage of materials, whilst the sloped bases ensure fast and easy filling. The buckets come standard with a bolted reversible cutting edge and are ideal for loading low-density materials such as wood chips, coal, grain, paper, leaves, compost, granulates, refuse, mulch and many others.

Critical parts such as the edge, heel plates and edge savers are made of hardened steel of up to 400 BHN for high abrasion resistance.

Doosan Infracore’s Construction Equipment Division is a renowned global construction equipment supplier that boasts a broad line-up ranging from mid-sized to large excavators to refractive dumptrucks and small machinery, and an extensive global manufacturing, distribution and sales network.