World-first hydraulic solution for tracked carriers

A hydraulic solution developed to minimise ground compaction in tracked carriers used in mining and construction, is said to be the first of its kind.

Hytec South Africa and Bosch Rexroth Germany joined forces to develop a hydraulic solution for Bell Equipment that would ensure optimal performance in soft underfoot conditions without negatively impacting the ground. The new TC 7 and TC 11  range of tracked carriers are designed to operate in environmentally sensitive areas where ground compaction is unacceptable.

Bosch Rexroth Germany assisted with the required system calculations and made recommendations regarding component selections of the hydrostatic drive system, including the prototype tandem drive pumps, motors and planetary reduction drives, while Hytec ensured that the hydraulic drive component installation by Bell Equipment engineers was in accordance with Rexroth specifications.

Bosch Rexroth products and components used in the TC range include tandem closed loop pumps for oil flow and drive pressure, variable displacement piston motors to drive the tracks and planetary reduction drives. These drives, when placed between the piston motor and track, are designed to multiply the delivered torque.

“Fine tuning and optimisation were done by Bell Equipment engineers, in collaboration with Bosch Rexroth Germany’s engineers,” explains Hytec SA regional technical manager KwaZulu-Natal region Berndt Wichmann. “This teamwork helped to achieve optimal vehicle control and performance.”

“Feedback from the intensive US test programme was encouraging,” adds Bell Equipment product designer Ryan Lombard. “It surpassed our expectations, with all features designed into the machine having proved themselves in the various applications.”  

The TC7 and TC 11 tracked carriers are said to each meet the needs for short haul tasks in mining, construction, oil and gas and the pipe-laying industries for work in soft underfoot conditions.