Posted on 06/12/2009 7:19:45 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
This big dozer, the Caterpillar D7E, is the first to use a hybrid power train.(Credit: CNET)
On the way to a demonstration of Caterpillar's first hybrid dozer, I was expecting it would be one of the little ones, the kind used to dig pools and landscape suburban back yards. But looming up in the middle of Holt of California, a Caterpillar dealer outside Sacramento, Calif., was a huge beast, a massive yellow earth mover, the metal tracks of which came up to my waist. The Caterpillar D7E was a lot bigger than the little hybrid I was expecting.
A Caterpillar representative jumped in the cab and, metal tracks scraping up the clean concrete floor, pivoted the big dozer around and drove it out to the demonstration area, a field of dirt with one big hill, and strategically placed holes and trenches--not to mention a slalom course marked by orange pylons. As a dramatic start to the demonstration, the driver took the 56,669 pound D7E over the steepest section of the hill, the dozer's blade pointing up toward the sky. At the top, it neatly balanced on the crest before making its descent, demonstrating how easily it maintained control on this loose ground.
The D7E differs from traditional earth-moving equipment in that it uses a locomotive-style series hybrid drivetrain.
(Excerpt) Read more at reviews.cnet.com ...
fyi
D7 is nice but the D9 is a sight to behold
>The D7E differs from traditional earth-moving equipment in that it uses a locomotive-style series hybrid drivetrain.
Diesel Turbines! Nice.
Hybrid my 0bambi, I want to see a carbon belch!
No, it is a conventional engine, but the dozer has electric drive motors. The diesel powers a train style generator.
Maybe the electric drivetrain is more efficient, but wouldn't the hydraulic drivetrain be a "hybrid" too?
R.G. LeTourneau (LeTourneau, Inc.) built some of the largest earth moving machines in the world. The old man was fanitically opposed to the use of oil hydraulics and insisted that his machines use electric motor powered winches and cable for all the actuators. That extended to the propel drive train as well. He was so biased against oil that he swore that if there was a way to run an internal combustion engine without lube oil, he's do it. After the fonder retired they slowly integrated oil hydraulics into their machines. Many of the huge open pit dump trucks also use and electric drive as well.
Regards,
GtG
The Hi Track, up drive sprocket a thing of the past?
BIG “oop-si-daisy”
So is this thing.
I would love a diesel / electric hybrid 1-ton pickup.
Unfortunately, such a thing cannot be made (or can easliy be modified not) to abide by the speed limits.
Consequently, it will never happen.
Those excavators are amazing. Plus, everything about them is politically incorrect. I mean, they’re STRIP MINING machines for gosh sakes. They mine for that nasty coal that iBama wants to ban.
RG also built the tourna train consisting a string of trailers with an electric motor in each wheel for snow, mud etc. Mercedes also builds diesel electric tractors, bushhogs having electric motors instead of power shafts. RG also put every thing on Rubber. after he sold the company to Westinghouse Air Brake, he developed land clearing machines that mowed down trees. He also had a machine that carried a one BR house made of concrete and set it on a foundation. Amazing man RG, self made, uneducated, a welder by trade. The Earthworm tractor company is searching for Obamadollars convincing the pols that they invented Hybrid earthmoving. BTW I got a letter from Obama Motors saying the Pres was going to take care of mei and offering a $2500 discount on a new Sub. I dont think so unless I bought it from a screwed over dealer
barbra ann
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