Bucyrus has delivered five CL10C compact loaders to China Shenhua Energy Co for operation in the longwall mines managed by Shenhua Shenfu-Dongsheng Coal Co. The 10 t capacity loaders are the first electronically controlled diesel vehicles supplied to the Chinese underground coal mining industry. They are designed to raise loads to a height of 1 m directly onto the cookie plate via the hydraulic winch, and can be used in a wide range of applications including general mine transportation and maintenance work, longwall installations and relocations, cabling and piping installation and stone dusting.
Bucyrus says its record of successful delivery, commissioning and reliability supported Shenhua’s decision to purchase Bucyrus diesel vehicles to continue to meet its production targets. The CL10C continues the modular concept behind the Compact Loader platform, allowing flexible configuration that is not possible with a unibody frame design. Bucyrus can offer multiple variants, with direct pin-on cookie plate attachments and buckets and forks for dedicated application and Bucyrus Rapid Attach System attachments for utility vehicle tasks. Engine package options, automatic and manual transmission systems along with pilot hydraulic control or full electronic control systems are also available.
Tyres are kept in constant contact with the roadway by means of 45o articulation and 8o oscillation via an articulation joint between the tractor and cookie plate sections. This allows the vehicle to follow surface contours safely and remain stable. The diesel powered CL10C has permanent four-wheel drive through automatic transmission, resulting in smooth gear shift and optimum gear selection and control over various gradients with different loads.
Power is supplied by a 173 kW EPA Tier III Caterpillar C7 six-cylinder diesel engine, delivering controlled power and torque. This low-emission engine combined with Bucyrus wet-exhaust package and the option of particulate filters, gives power and performance, while minimising emissions.
Horizontally mounted radiators and fans allow clean air to be drawn in at the top of the machine eliminating fan blade damage and increasing operational flexibility. This layout also gives the operator good visibility.
The Bucyrus Diesel Control System, integrated with the Engine Control Module, continuously monitors the operation of the CL10C from pre start-up vehicle integrity check to observing data to ensure safe operation. The system continuously assesses environmental conditions such as methane levels along with equipment and machine integrity. If a hazardous situation occurs, it first provides a condition warning via the display followed by controlled automatic shutdown.
The instrument cluster offers full monitoring of all vehicle systems via a 150 mm colour LCD display. The cookie plate lift and winch are joystick controlled, with all displays and controls highly visible and within easy reach. An air-suspension seat and restraint system minimise operator fatigue.