More work pics - a positive note

[AQUA-HOLICS]

This is all I got, practicing for the exam so to get recertification. Link Belt RT 8040. The cool thing was we only did pick and carry’s at the airport of aircraft. We also did all the rigging.

 

[Flying_Lavey]

Who owns the crane?
Where is this?

Marco in Tucson

 

[HBCraig]

Marco in Tucson

Great guys.

 

[Tooned Up]

Great guys.

Yes they are!

 

[HBCraig]

A few more of an SPMT. These are cool. With steer axles to boot

 

[Bowtiepower00]

Just out of curiosity, how long does it take someone to get certified to operate that type of crane?...
And also, how long before they are "proficient" and truly good at operating that thing?

Most guys start on smaller stuff and work their way up. And most operate multiple sizes of cranes from small to big. A few months to get comfortable on the smaller stuff assuming one has what it takes to be proficient, and anywhere from a year+ on the big stuff. Some guys have the eye and some dont. And a lot of it depends on the riggers you have working with you.

*former crane operator sharing his opinions*

Good buddy of mine grew up around this stuff. He was operating at 13 since his dad was the foreman. All depends on the circumstances.

Edit: his dad was a badass, and they both passed their certs on first try without issue. You have the skills or you don’t. Getting a feel for the big stuff is hit or miss. The small stuff is quite a bit easier. We did all of the setup and rigging ourselves- no union BS. No disrespect to unions.

 

[HBCraig]

Assuming a mining haul truck in a mine. Very common pick out there

Putting up a tower crane at the LDS church in Salt Lake City. These boys always fly old glory

 

[monkeyswrench]

Assuming a mining haul truck in a mine. Very common pick out there

View attachment 1063845

Putting up a tower crane at the LDS church in Salt Lake City. These boys always fly old glory View attachment 1063847 View attachment 1063848 View attachment 1063849

Probably 99% of humans would be scared shitless, clinging to that steel.
There are 5 guys hanging out at the edge there, just another day. That is pretty impressive from the human aspect. The fact one giant crane is putting together another is a different type of impressive.

 

[Nanu/Nanu]

A few more of an SPMT. These are cool. With steer axles to boot

View attachment 1063650 View attachment 1063651

Where is this

 

[HBCraig]

Where is this

Oregon I believe.

 

[HBCraig]

A different way to move these. A superload to say the least.

 

[Flying_Lavey]

A different way to move these. A superload to say the least.

View attachment 1064639 View attachment 1064640 View attachment 1064637 View attachment 1064638

So what's the benefit to shipping them like this? Is it just for transporting to the new owner? In for repair? Etc?

 

[monkeyswrench]

So what's the benefit to shipping them like this? Is it just for transporting to the new owner? In for repair? Etc?

My buddy does heavy haul stuff. He told me two reasons he knew of. First, they aren't real good highway vehicles, in terms of speed and range. The other, as he put it, easier and cheaper to pay a dumb truck driver and pilot cars, than a crane op for distances.

After seeing on with a flat on the corner of Normandie and 3rd a few years back, I'd think it's easier on the owner too. That thing was down all day...I guess they don't come with spares.

 

[HBCraig]

So what's the benefit to shipping them like this? Is it just for transporting to the new owner? In for repair? Etc?

I have done this in the past to ship a new crane to the owner so there aren't a bunch of miles logged on the crane. Also, many transportation companies are very proficient on what routes to take and obtaining permits. Some of these are very hard to get as a legal load. That's the last reason.

 

[HBCraig]

A new rear final drive for our largest mining truck

304,800 ft lbs of torque

 

[monkeyswrench]

That looks like even the planetaries, have planetaries!
I wonder if they make the new guy torque all the wheel studs

 

[4Waters]

That looks like even the planetaries, have planetaries!
I wonder if they make the new guy torque all the wheel studs

Probably all 3 new guys

 

[Nanu/Nanu]

Probably all 3 new guys

A physics nightmare

 

[rivermobster]

A new rear final drive for our largest mining truck

304,800 ft lbs of torque

View attachment 1066784

No words.

What in the world powers this so called mining truck? Some kinna nuclear reactor???

 

[monkeyswrench]

No words.

What in the world powers this so called mining truck? Some kinna nuclear reactor???

Coal fired

 

[Nanu/Nanu]

Who won this battle?

 

[Nanu/Nanu]

If you ever wondered what the insides look like.

 

[HBCraig]

No words.

What in the world powers this so called mining truck? Some kinna nuclear reactor???

2600 HP or so.

 

[rivermobster]

View attachment 1066923
2600 HP or so.

That is a thing of beauty...

Is that turbo on top really that small? Or is it just dwarfed by the size of that thing?

Probably doesn't need to be too big. I'm gonna guess the torque is all in by 2500 or so.

 

[Flying_Lavey]

View attachment 1066923
2600 HP or so.

Do these drive an actual traditional style, just massively large transmission, drive shaft, and axles? Or is it all hydraulic with a hydraulic motor in the rear axle?

 

[HBCraig]

That is a thing of beauty...

Is that turbo on top really that small? Or is it just dwarfed by the size of that thing?

Probably doesn't need to be too big. I'm gonna guess the torque is all in by 2500 or so.

It is just small compared to the engine size. It's our engine too, made in house.

 

[HBCraig]

Do these drive an actual traditional style, just massively large transmission, drive shaft, and axles? Or is it all hydraulic with a hydraulic motor in the rear axle?

It's all electric. I will grab a schematic from the mining guys

 

[monkeyswrench]

That is a thing of beauty...

Is that turbo on top really that small? Or is it just dwarfed by the size of that thing?

Probably doesn't need to be too big. I'm gonna guess the torque is all in by 2500 or so.

I'm guessing those two turbos are BIG! Looks like they feed a supercharger or some industrial chiller? If you look at the rear, looks like twin starters too!

 

[HBCraig]

No words.

What in the world powers this so called mining truck? Some kinna nuclear reactor???

Pic with a person in it for reference. Our big trucks like this have a 4000 HP engine. V16

 

[rivermobster]

It is just small compared to the engine size. It's our engine too, made in house.

When is the shop tour? I'd sure like to see this place.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Pic with a person in it for reference. Our big trucks like this have a 4000 HP engine. V16
View attachment 1066982

Are these joystick control, like the big Cats? Always amazes me that something like this is self propelled, like driving a 2 story house

 

[HBCraig]

When is the shop tour? I'd sure like to see this place.

I can set that up. These are made in Newport News VA. If you are ever close give me a DM. O can get you a tour. No problem

 

[rivermobster]

I can set that up. These are made in Newport News VA. If you are ever close give me a DM. O can get you a tour. No problem

I might have to plan a trip just to see this mystical place...

 

[HBCraig]

Are these joystick control, like the big Cats? Always amazes me that something like this is self propelled, like driving a 2 story house

Conventional driving with a couple of joysticks to dump the bed. The Cat truck is a bit different. Not nearly as cool as ours.

 

[Nanu/Nanu]

I'd like to pick up one of these for the old lady to haul kids and groceries

 

[HBCraig]

Do these drive an actual traditional style, just massively large transmission, drive shaft, and axles? Or is it all hydraulic with a hydraulic motor in the rear axle?

Here you go

 

[monkeyswrench]

The dump truck has it's own substation!
It's kind of like a wheeled locomotive.

 

[Flying_Lavey]

The dump truck has it's own substation!
It's kind of like a wheeled locomotive.

I guess so. I didn't realize. For some reason I thought it was all hydros.

 

[Taboma]

Here you go

View attachment 1067005 View attachment 1067007 View attachment 1067006 View attachment 1067009

I guess a couple of things I find so "Unexpected" about that configuration.
1. Modulating engine / alternator speed to control motor voltage and speed.
Expected constant rpm engine and DC speed control.
2. Ac to Dc, then Dc back to AC again.
3. DC to AC for power, then AC back to the DC bus for dynamic braking --- what happens to all that regenerative energy with no apparent battery storage ?
Or did I miss battery storage ?

Very Cool , thanks for sharing

 

[monkeyswrench]

I guess so. I didn't realize. For some reason I thought it was all hydros.

I would think the heat generated at the hydraulic motor would be insane with the tire size. Then again, with planetary sets that big, they're probably close to 100:1?

 

[rivermobster]

I guess a couple of things I find so "Unexpected" about that configuration.
1. Modulating engine / alternator speed to control motor voltage and speed.
Expected constant rpm engine and DC speed control.
2. Ac to Dc, then Dc back to AC again.
3. DC to AC for power, then AC back to the DC bus for dynamic braking --- what happens to all that regenerative energy with no apparent battery storage ?
Or did I miss battery storage ?

Very Cool , thanks for sharing

That is really weird. An alternator inherently puts out AC. Why even bother with a rectifier assy. if the final voltage to the wheel motors is AC?? Maybe to clean up the signal? Is the "stack" really a transformer??

Some mystical shit going on here fo sure. Absolutely f'n amazing.

 

[monkeyswrench]

That is really weird. An alternator inherently puts out AC. Why even bother with a rectifier assy. if the final voltage to the wheel motors is AC?? Maybe to clean up the signal? Is the "stack" really a transformer??

Some mystical shit going on here fo sure. Absolutely f'n amazing.

The "Stack", is where they squeeze the unicorn poop into pixies...and the pixies then turn the wheels. Very technical, European design. Like a BMW, have no clue how it works, it's just magic

 

[rivermobster]

The "Stack", is where they squeeze the unicorn poop into pixies...and the pixies then turn the wheels. Very technical, European design. Like a BMW, have no clue how it works, it's just magic

Sure seems like it!

 

[HBCraig]

I guess a couple of things I find so "Unexpected" about that configuration.
1. Modulating engine / alternator speed to control motor voltage and speed.
Expected constant rpm engine and DC speed control.
2. Ac to Dc, then Dc back to AC again.
3. DC to AC for power, then AC back to the DC bus for dynamic braking --- what happens to all that regenerative energy with no apparent battery storage ?
Or did I miss battery storage ?

Very Cool , thanks for sharing

Dude, these are engineering questions. You are losing me, I am an idiot

 

[HBCraig]

That is really weird. An alternator inherently puts out AC. Why even bother with a rectifier assy. if the final voltage to the wheel motors is AC?? Maybe to clean up the signal? Is the "stack" really a transformer??

Some mystical shit going on here fo sure. Absolutely f'n amazing.

Holy shit. I can put you in touch with the statics and engineering department if you like.

 

[4Waters]

That is really weird. An alternator inherently puts out AC. Why even bother with a rectifier assy. if the final voltage to the wheel motors is AC?? Maybe to clean up the signal? Is the "stack" really a transformer??

Some mystical shit going on here fo sure. Absolutely f'n amazing.

I think like any electric motor/components they want clean power.

 

[monkeyswrench]

I think like any electric motor/components they want clean power.

That, and I was thinking about the drives. With the starting load differing so much, I would think these things may be the biggest VFD setups I've ever seen.

Weird to think the technology involved, on a dump truck.

 

[Flying_Lavey]

That, and I was thinking about the drives. With the starting load differing so much, I would think these things may be the biggest VFD setups I've ever seen.

Weird to think the technology involved, on a dump truck.

Or is the speed control happening when it's in DC? More efficient to control the power there than a VFD? Maybe? I dunno.

 

[hman442]

That looks like even the planetaries, have planetaries!
I wonder if they make the new guy torque all the wheel studs

The torque wrench probably has planetaries

 

[Taboma]

Dude, these are engineering questions. You are losing me, I am an idiot

Oh good, then you saved me the embarrassment, if even only unto myself, of my heading spinning up, when presented with the Mystical Engineering answer.
I will be satisfied to remain in the "State of Awe" the mystery provides.