Unit Rig's Engineering Department is working feverishly on the
development of a new 340 ton capacity AC drive haul truck to be introduced into the market
early next year. During the design process, as with most engineering projects, existing
ideas and proven concepts are being used as the starting point. The frame, axles, dump
body, suspensions, and hydraulic systems are all based on the successful MT series
trucks.. Each component is being reviewed for the 340 ton, MT5500 application. The
structural components for instance, are being modeled and analyzed using Pro-Engineer
software.
The MT5500 will also feature an AC drive system, which is new
technology for Unit Rig. The drive system is sub-contracted to Power Conversion Systems, a
division of General Atomics. Many components of the drive system are spin-offs from other
applications and will be modified and adapted for the MT5500. The third quarter of 1998
will see design reviews and countless computer models all dedicated to the development of
the drive system. The finished components are scheduled to be delivered to Unit Rig early
in 1999.
MT5500 statistics include a gross vehicle weight of over 1,100,000
pounds. The truck is 46 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 24 feet tall. The MT5500 will house a
16 cylinder, 3000 horsepower engine requiring 264 quarts of oil and the propensity to
consume fuel at a rate of 137 gallons per hour.
Features of the AC drive system include a top speed of 40 mph, which
compares to a top speed of around 30 mph with current DC drive technology. The drive
system has the capability to switch from propulsion to dynamic retarding in one second,
and the dynamic retarding can go to zero miles per hour.
Another exciting feature of the MT5500 is that it is a perfect match
with the O&K RH400 shovel, which will give mines the ability for four-pass loading (85
tons per pass). Unit Rig's truck and O&K's shovel will make an excellent team to move
material for the customer 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Compare
the MT5500 to a Jeep® Cherokee
