Spotlight Feature Articles Joy Global Surface Loading & Drilling April 16 | Page 9

SURFACE DRILLING AND LOADING
the economical operation which in turn reduces
the fuel consumption.
The HL970 is also fitted with an ECO Gauge
which enables the economic operation of the
machine. The gauge level changes colour with
the engine torque and fuel efficiency level. It is
also able to provide the status of fuel
consumption so that the average rate and the
total amount of fuel consumed are
displayed. Hourly and daily based fuel
consumption can be checked in detail which
helps the operator run the machine more
economically and efficiently.
The automatic/manual cumulative weighing
function greatly improves operating efficiency.
Icons displaying weighing errors and the twocolour weight value indicator on the monitor
enable accurate weighing to support efficient
production management.
Hyundai engineers have also redesigned the
wheel loader buckets on the HL series and they
now have a better fill factor and an additional
spill guard to minimise spillage of loaded
materials. The HL970 boasts up to 5% greater
productivity in comparison to the Dash 9A Series.
The boom and bucket are both controlled by
either the joystick or fingertip system. The new
wheel loader is also available in an XT version for
a larger dumping height.

Best practice in wheel loader operation
Based on numerous production studies
conducted at mines around the world and at
Caterpillar proving grounds, Caterpillar wheel
loader applications specialists have
recommended a number of best practices for the
most efficient face loading, many of which are
common sense but are still not implemented by
many operators. Its range includes the 993K and
994K which are widely used in mining for their
flexibility in tasks such as blending.
In terms of site prep for wheel loader
efficiency, Cat states that the optimal bench
height is at the maximum lift height of the loader.
“Higher benches have the potential to collapse
and overload the bucket, which can damage the
loader. Avoid a steep material slope angle as this
can cause material to fall unexpectedly into the
bucket, overload the machine and cause damage.
Maintain a smooth floor and good drainage,
because wet rocks cut tyres easier.”
Better operations also require cleaning the
floor between trucks to maintain good floor

Caterpillar wheel loader applications specialists have
recommended a number of best practices for most
efficient face loading, many of which are common sense
but are still not implemented by many operators

conditions. This helps avoid loader and truck tyre
damage and helps minimise truck manoeuvring,
which wastes time and fuel, when pulling in and
out of the loading site.
On pile engagement and bucket fill efficiency,
wheel loader operators should “begin loading
the bucket as low as possible right above the
floor for optimum pile penetration. Do not drive
into the pile with the front wheels to reduce
potential for damaging the tyres. Avoid tyre spin
to reduce tyre wear and tyre cuts. Keep the frame
straight when digging to maximise pile
penetration and production.”
Cat recommends a loading time at the face of
less than 15 seconds for high production, good
fuel efficiency and reduced heat generation and
wear in the torque converter. “Lift the bucket
before crowding the bucket into the pile, because
crowding is not producing material, but it is
unnecessarily burning fuel. The bucket should be
full when the lift arms are horizontal. Continuing
to fill the bucket above horizontal is not efficient
and does not use the strength of a wheel loader.
Never operate a bare bucket edge, because it will
ruin the bucket. Make sure ground engaging tools
are in place and are replaced when worn out.”
Finally on truck-loader efficiency, the operator
should spot trucks with a loaded bucket.
Spotting trucks with an empty bucket means the
loader isn’t moving material during part of the
cycle, which wastes time and fuel. “Keep the
rear tyres of the truck off the pile to avoid
damage to the truck tyres. Spot trucks at 45° for
ease of pile-to-truck approach and to minimise
cycle time. Use a tight V pattern with the loader
into the truck to minimise loading time and

maximise production. This also limits tyre travel
to reduce tyre wear and fuel burn. Position the
loader 1.0 to 1.5 wheel revolutions from the face
to the truck to minimise cycle time and improve
production. Pad the truck bed with smaller
material when loading oversize rocks to protect
the truck bed from damage. Minimise wait time
between trucks for good production efficiency.”

New drilling solutions
In new models, the Caterpillar MD5075C Track
Drill replaces the MD5075 and is capable of
drilling holes of 76 to 114.3 mm in diameter to a
depth of 31 m. The fuel efficient 224 kW C9
engine can be configured to meet emissions
standards worldwide. The compressor, which
features widely variable air control, produces 350
cfm @ 150 psi (9.9 m3/min @ 10.2 bar).       
Two different rock drill choices enable matching
to the application to achieve the highest production
rate. The standard rock drill on the MD5075C is the
HPR5123, which uses 45 or 51 mm drill rod. Also
available is the HPR4519 Rock Drill, which uses 45
mm drill rod. Caterpillar says it is the only
manufacturer offering rock drills designed to be
serviced on-site for reduced downtime and costs.
The control system features touch screen
navigation for Drill Assist, rearview camera, tram,
water, rock drill auto-lube, alerts, drilling and
target depths, penetration rate, machine
performance, total hours and service. The high
resolution display uses simple icons to aid
navigation and control, and it sh