Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/620628
former L 566 axles). "We're com- mitted to increasing the lifespan of the loaders," Gschwend says of this decision, "and customers expect more service." To date, Liebherr says it has put more than 65,000 hours on proto- type XPower loaders, testing them at a various customer sites, includ- ing quarries, sawmills and recycling companies. "There has not been a single main component failure," Gschwend says, and the power-split transmission and larger axles "have proved to be particularly durable." Liebherr Power Effi ciency legacy drive system continues The company is using its Liebherr Power Effi ciency drive system (introduced on its previous loader lineup) to manage the Tier 4 Final Liebherr engine, transmission and hydraulics. The engines, mounted on the back of the loaders and thus eliminating the need for a counter- weight, use SCR emissions reduc- tion technology and operate at 1,100 to 1,800 rpms. The L 550 and L 556 use a 4-cylinder engine, and the L 566 to the L586 use a 6-cylin- der engine. Because the XPower drivetrain independently supports braking, the operating brakes have only a support function, reducing brake wear. Tire wear is reduced by up 25 percent, due to the continuous force control in combination with automatic 45 percent self-locking differentials, providing tractive force whenever needed. "With 100-per- cent manual locks, most of the time when you need it, it's usually too late, so we adjust it automatically," says Mark Walcher, product manag- er for wheel loaders, Liebherr-Werk Bischofshofen. Liebherr offers both a Z-bar and an industrial linkage on its L 550, L 556, L 566 and L 580 models (see chart for additional specs). The Z-bar linkage now offers up to 20 percent more breakout force than previous models. Bucket fl oors have been reinforced and strength- ened, and bucket volumes have increased by .26 to .65 cubic yards from previous models, depending on the model. "Either linkage is available at no additional cost, so the customer can choose what's best for his operation," Walcher says. The redesigned tapered hood offers increased visibility. "Most operators like to drive through the mirrors and not through the dis- play," Walcher says, "so we took care with the view to the rear bumper." Four working lights are now integrated in the rear hood, il- luminating the back of the machine. As with most large machines, a rear view camera is standard. Continuing a feature found in previous machines, the cooling package is located right behind the cab, where the air is cleanest. This section of the back end is ac- cessed by a hood that lifts up for air fi lter cleaning and maintenance. The remaining back hood opens backwards for access to the engine compartment. In the open position, the hood also has a small service platform in front, allowing main- tenance personnel to stand com- fortably while working within the engine compartment. "On the way into the cabin, you can check several service points," Walcher says. Underneath the left- side cabin stairs, there is access to several service points, including the transmission oil glass and greas- ing system. The cabin door can be locked in the open position, and the door lock also serves as an access step for cleaning the front window on the outside. XPower cabs became larger, increasing by roughly 4 inches in both width and length, and the air conditioner's cooling capacity increased by 10 percent. The steer- ing column can be adjusted to three different positions and a hydraulic control lever is integrated into the operator's seat. Noting that different operators prefer different positions for the in-cab display, Liebherr made the touch-screen display adjustable. Larger window areas extend further than in previous models, improving visibility. The loaders are equipped with LiDAT, Liebherr's telematics system. Data from the system can be accessed for one year free of charge. EquipmentWorld.com | January 2016 63 The back hood moves backward to access the engine compartment. Inside the hood, a service platform gives mechan- ics a comfortable perch to work from. The XPower transmission uses a continuously variable transmission gearbox to automatically switch between a hydrostatic and a mechanical transmis- sion, depending on the job at hand. The blue arrows above show the pathway of the mechanical transmission, while the orange arrows show the hydrostatic transmission. The green arrows represent the total transmission.