Oil-cooled Disc Brakes For U.S. 35-ton Dumper
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ADUMPER with a payload rating of 35 tons has been developed by the Caterpillar Tractor Co., of America. Interesting features of its specification include the use . of oil-cooled disc brakes, gaseous suspension and a 420 b.h.p. (375 net b.h.p.) six cylinder turbocharged diesel engine. The dumper, designated Model 769, is a four-wheeler and will sell in the U.S. for approximately £22,000.
The braking system is air-pressure actuated, and the brake units are similar to the oil-cooled steering clutches and brakes used on Caterpillar D5 and D9 tractors. Each brake has 33 discs, and oil flows through the system at a rate of 90 gal/min. Wear has been found to be slight after thousands of hours of testing. The suspension system consists of four independent oleo-pneumatic cylinders containing nitrogen under pressure, shocks being absorbed by the nitrogen gas. There is no• front axle, the wheels being 'carried direct on the front cylinders, Which act as kingpins for the hubs. The machine has a wheelbase of 11 ft. 10 in, and a swept turning circle of 54 ft., the front wheels turning through 42°. The steering is assisted by twin hydraulic cylinders.
The power unit's turbocharger works in conjunction with an intercooler, and the governed crankshaft speed is 1,900 r.p.m. Power is transmitted through a nine-speed gearbox with power-assisted gear change. The body is tipped by twin three-stage hydraulic cylinders, which can raise the body to its maximum angle of 55° in 12 seconds and lower it in 11 seconds.
Seventeen Million A TOTAL of 17,167,000 motor vehicles Pt was produced by countries outside the Communist bloc in 1962, an increase of 21-3 per cent over the previous year. This figure is given by Automobile International in its annual statistical survey. Of this total, 8,197,200 were produced in the U.S.A., 2,428,000 in Germany, 1,655,000 in Britain and 1,537,300 in France; Japan, Italy and Canada accounted for the bulk of the remainder.
The magazine puts the 1962 commercial vehicle production figures at the following levels: U.S.A., 1,253,800; Japan, 718,300; Britain, 422,000; Germany, 355,700; France, 198,200; Canada, 80,500; Italy, 71,200. The Japanese figure looks remarkable compared with British production figures. but Japan makes large numbers of small and light threeand four-wheeled goods vehicles.