Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/120608
NUTS & BOLTS continued from page 21 John Deere Launches Hybrid Loader John Deere has introduced a diesel-electric hybrid front loader that the company said can reduce users' fuel consumption by up to 25 percent and cut down on noise on the job site. The company's new 644K hybrid wheel loader utilizes a 6.8-liter diesel engine with 229 horsepower that runs at an operator-selected constant speed of between 900 rpm to 1,800 rpm. The engine is paired to an electric drive system comprised of four components: the electric motor, generator, inverter, and brake resistor. The brushless electric motor replaces the job of a torque converter, as changes in direction for the loader are handled by the motor. The 644K hybrid has four operating speed ranges, but no clutches. The motor can also work as a generator to recycle energy back into the system, John Deere said. The loader has a simplified PowerShift countershaft-style transmission that has three speeds, said John Chesterman, the company's product marketing manager for 4x4 loaders. The brushless generator converts rotational energy from the engine into alternating current electrical energy, and can also be driven as a motor to use recycled energy to drive hydraulics and save fuel, the company said. The water-cooled inverter delivers electrical energy to the motor, while the water-cooled brake resistor passively consumes excess recycled energy. Three electric cables manage all of the loader's controls, Chesterman said during a media event at the World of Concrete show. He also said that the constant engine speed helps extend engine life and reduce fuel consumption, while the electric motor cuts down on noise on the job. He declined to discuss pricing, but did say that the hybrid 644K would sell "at a premium" to the standard diesel model. ● /www.ttnews.com, February 2013 Case 521F Wheel Loader Boosts Fuel Efficiency 12 Percent Case announced its new 521F wheel loader during World of Concrete, a machine the company says increases fuel efficiency 12 percent over the 521E, while offering faster acceleration. Available in the standard Z-bar configuration, but also in extended reach and tool-carrier models, the 521F is powered along by a 4.5-liter Tier 4 interim-compliant Case engine. The 521F boasts 131 horsepower, 19,596 pounds of lift capacity and 16,735 pounds of bucket breakout force. The machine has an operating capacity of 22,856 pounds and a hinge pin height of 11 feet, 10 inches. In its announcement, Case took time to explain why it went with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) to meet Tier 4 interim standards. In short, the company says SCR optimizes combustion, but results in lower temperatures in the exhaust system. "SCR was the obvious choice for the 521F, because a wheel loader's tasks are more variable, creating inconsistent engine loads and power demands," Case brand marketing manager Rob Marringa said in a IDA UNIVERSAL March-April 2013 prepared statement. "Rather than compromise power, we let the engine do what it does best — run at peak performance — and then use an after-treatment for emissions." Marringa added that without diesel particulate filter regeneration and heightened fuel burn, SCR provides better efficiency on a wheel loader. The company also detailed the axles on the 521F with autolocking front and open rear differentials. The axles improve traction in loose surfaces, like gravel, and reduce tire wear, the company says. Case estimates the 521F can move 212 tons of material per hour, making for 56 cycles. JRB and ACS attachment are compatible with the 521F's coupler, as are more than 250 new buckets. The 521F also offers four operating modes and auto-idle. Case says the loader's cab has a 70.8 decibel rating and features an air filtration system that supplies cleaner air for the operator to breathe. Other features include joystick steering and a rear view camera. ● www.equipmentworld.com, February, 2013 23