In response to a renewed demand for coal by Government and Eskom to replenish the country’s stockpiles following last year’s electricity shortage, Bell Equipment has introduced specialized coal bins and high volume haulers. According to Bell Equipment Marketing Manager, Stephen Jones the company launched these niche products after seeing a need in the market place for companies to increase their coal output, while at the same time reducing the capital expense of their operation.
He said: “Bell Equipment is a world-leader in the manufacture of Articulated Dump Trucks and we have the largest range in order to provide machine solutions to all markets and all segments. As a South African manufacturer we also have a good understanding of our niche markets and the flexibility to respond quickly to our customers’ needs.”
Currently the company has low-density coal bins designed for the flagship B50D and the B40D and is in the process of designing a similar bin for the B30D. “The coal bins are fitted with a tail gate and have significantly larger heaped capacities. In the case of the B50D coal bin the volumetric capacity has been increased by 46% from 28,7 cubic metres to 42 cubic metres. Similarly the B40D bin has been increased by 41% from 23,4 cubic metres to 33 cubic metres,” said Jones.
The proposed B30D coal bin will have a heaped capacity of 26 cubic metres, which is a 47% increase in volumetric capacity compared to the 23,4 cubic metres of the standard bin. “The design process parameters of the coal bin had to ensure that the standard truck geometry was retained, such as the standard chassis, tip cylinders, chassis load points and axle weights. These parameters ensure that the full factory warranty and ADT resale value is maintained by simply refitting a standard bin for resale or transplanting the bin to a new base carrier at the time of trade-in,” Jones explained. Importantly the centre of gravity of all trucks fitted with a coal bin has not changed to ensure that the safety of the trucks is not compromised and that stability has not been adversely affected. The on-board weighing system, which Bell Equipment pioneered on factory-built trucks, monitors the load to ensure that the gross weight does not exceed the rated specification. This promotes the effectiveness of the braking and retardation systems. As an alternative to the ADT, Bell Equipment has also introduced the hybrid B18/30D carrier and the 2806D extended chassis haulers. These machines are targeted more for the coal handling market, where travel is on flat well maintained surfaces. This type of work does not require the same power-to-weight ratio as extraction from a pit.
Said Jones: “With the B18/30D carrier our engineers were given the brief to optimize the frugal fuel consumption of the B18D within the coal environment while simultaneously optimizing the cost input by utilizing the high volume component cost advantage of the standard production lines. The result is a machine that have the B18D drive line and engine pack coupled to a B30D rear chassis and a bin fitted with the standard B30D tailgate.”
Meanwhile the 2806D extended chassis hauler is based on the standard 2806D and has a common driveline. However, the company has worked closely with customers to tailor an extended chassis to suit third party trailer coupling. In order to suit third party trailer coupling it was necessary to design a complete new extended chassis with specialized hydraulic additions and an automated trailer braking system to prevent the trailer from ‘jack knifing’. Jones added: “The automatic trailer braking system employs automated preset trailer braking to re-align the horse and trailer during the classical retardation phase of trailer haulage, when the laden trailer pushes against the haulage unit.
“Providing the lowest cost per ton solutions has always been key to Bell Equipment’s design philosophy and we are confident that the coal industry will reap the benefits from these timeous new niche products and maximize their equipment in these tough economic times,” said Jones.
