Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/335762
July 2014 | EquipmentWorld.com 34 from any of the major GNSS sup- pliers, but Case recently signed a development/partnership agreement with Leica and future models will be optimized for use with factory- installed Leica systems. Case Extended Life Tracks (CELT) are available as optional equipment. The CELT design uses two coaxial bushings, the outer one rotating when in contact with the sprocket to dramatically reduce wear. Service life can be up to twice that of stan- dard tracks. Caterpillar Enhanced AutoShift on the D6T (207 horsepower) and D8T (310 horsepower) effectively provides a 3-, 6- or 9-speed transmission. The box itself has three gears; the mul- tiplier effect comes from electron- ically-controlled engine speeds. In 6-speed mode each gear can be run with the engine at half speed or full speed. In 9-speed mode the en- gine speed options are half, three- quarters and full. (Relative engine speeds are rounded off for simplic- ity.) The results are a much wider range of operating characteristics, better productivity, and improved fuel effi ciency. The Cat Clean Emissions Mod- ule includes the Cat Regen System burner to preheat the aftertreatment system to improve its performance and also reduces regeneration time. DEF consumption is around 2 percent of fuel consumption. Cat's Tier 4 Final tractors have up to 10 percent lower total fl uid consump- tion (DEF plus fuel) than their pre- decessors (counting fuel only, since those models did not require DEF). Productivity enhancements on the D8T include Auto-Carry, which maintains a full blade, and Auto- Rip, which adjusts ripper shank depth. Both rely on sensors that detect load and measure track slip. Sam Meeker, product applica- tion specialist, emphasizes that Cat offers multiple levels of technol- ogy. "All our tractors come Grade Control-ready for easier installa- tion of aftermarket blade control," he says. "Technology options start with Stable Blade. From there we go to AccuGrade Laser, AccuGrade GPS, and fi nally to Cat Grade Control 3D." The point is to have performance characteristics – and costs – to meet varying customer requirements. John Deere The 205-horsepower 850K, launched in 2011, was the platform for changes that carried over to other dozers the next year, includ- ing the 750K (165 horsepower; 155 horsepower XLT model). K Series machines have CEGR with DPF af- tertreatment. A hydraulically-driven fan runs only as needed to con- serve fuel and reduce noise. Other noise-reduction techniques include machine matters | continued The Case M Series dozers, introduced last year, offer advanced electrohydraulics, giving operators three user-selectable settings, from smooth to aggressive.