Lock Up Torque Converter introduced on larger Bell Loaders
The four largest models in Bell Equipment’s E-series range of Wheeled Loaders – the L1806E through to the L2706E – now offer a Lock-Up Torque Converter (LUTC) with five speed transmission to provide customers with several important benefits that deliver real value to an operation and its bottom line.
According to Bell Equipment’s Product Marketing Manager: Wheeled Loaders, Llewellyn Roux, the system provides two major benefits to customers, namely increased productivity and improved fuel economy. He explains: “Wheeled Loaders with LUTC climb gradients faster than those fitted with a standard configured torque converter, which translates to faster cycle times and increased production. The other big benefit is fuel economy during lock up; the machine sees direct drive from the engine to the axles, while the transmission maintains typical torque converter performance at low speeds.”
Standard equipment on all Bell Wheeled Loaders is the ZF Powershift transmission with Smartshift technology and torque converter for the industries smoothest gear shift. Operators immediately notice the smoother gear shifts in forward-neutral-reverse, including downshifts whether in the pile or under load. From transmission selections; the operator can choose how the machine should perform in a given application, with a choice of automatic or manual control on the sealed switch module as well as set “Auto-to-First” ON or OFF. The transmission also offers a quick-shift feature, allowing the operator to choose “Down Only” or “Down Up” settings. This is activated by a button on the loader control lever and can operate in manual or automatic mode, in forward or reverse.
The L1204E through to the L1706E models are offered with the four-speed Powershift transmission and standard torque converter, with 4-speeds forward and 3-speeds in reverse. The 5-speed transmission with LUTC on the larger models is essentially the same transmission as the conventional 4-speed Powershift transmission, but with two obvious differences:
- It is 5-speed, with one additional gear ratio to the conventional transmission ratios to assist with shift smoothness during lock-up conditions, and
- It has a lock-up clutch, which is located on the torque converter and is actuated electronically by the transmission control unit. The control is automated through the controller and will work to lock up the clutch in the top end of 2nd gear and through the 3rd, 4th and 5th gears.
Continued Roux: “Customers and operators who have operated our E-Series 4WD Loaders with the LUTC are impressed by the increased acceleration, ramp-climbing capability, and all around productivity of the machine.”
When the transmission is locked up it is extremely efficient because being a direct drive system there are effectively no torque converter losses. Importantly the smoothness and torque converter operating characteristics that operators prefer in the pile while loading out are preserved. The efficiency gains are more noticeable in stockpiling and transport operations where a majority of the duty cycle is spent in gears 3 through 5 to ultimately lower the daily operating cost with reduced fuel consumption. The other benefit is the speed at which the machine can climb ramps, where the performance is almost two times faster with a LUTC than with a non lock-up transmission.
Roux added: “A true advantage of the LUTC is the huge improvement in fuel efficiency; typically we see a benefit of over 15% in fuel economy compared to a standard converter, particularly in stockpiling and load-and-carry applications. Ever increasing fuel costs are driving our customers to look at more efficient ways of running their operation and Bell Loaders with the 5-speed LUTC is our answer to addressing the situation.”