Russian OEM KamAZ has launched the first of a new range of dump trucks for the mining sector. The KaMAZ-65805 Atlant dump truck model features an Allison 4700 fully automatic transmission to support its market proposition as an efficient, economical and comfortable dump truck. Developed by the KamAZ Science and Technology Center, the KaMAZ-65805 is designed for the transportation of rock and ore material in medium and small quarries. It is capable of being converted into an autonomous vehicle.
“The KamAZ-65805 offers state-of-the-art technology options. With the Allison 4700 fully automatic transmission, which includes hydraulic retarder, and progressive steering, the new truck has superior manoeuvreability, robustness and safety, critical for the mining segment. The KamAZ-65805 Atlant truck range will include vehicles with a load capacity of 45 to 70 t and with a 10 x 6 chassis. The Allison fully automatic transmission was chosen by the Atlant vehicle designers because they believe it can significantly improve performance in this load capacity class.”
The KamAZ-65805 is equipped with a new 500 hp 12-litre inline KamAZ 910 diesel engine. The Allison 4700 transmission’s integrated hydraulic retarder was specified to provide greater brake system service life and to address the challenge – particularly in quarries and mountainous areas – of slowing the truck effectively without overloading the brake system. Another valuable safety feature of the automatic transmission is that it virtually eliminates rollback when driving uphill.
“We design new haul trucks with the market needs in mind by thoroughly studying the requirements of end users for this vehicle class,” said Sergey Nazarenko, Chief Designer of Innovative Vehicles at the KamAZ Science and Technology Center. “As one of the key vehicle components, the transmission is subject to increased requirements in terms of reliability, durability and manufacturability. These were the major factors for selecting a transmission for the new KamAZ Atlant. We opted for Allison Transmission.”
An additional benefit of Allison Automatics is the patented Continuous Power Technology™. It provides more efficient power transfer to the wheels and improved manoeuvreability, which in turn, increases the amount of work that can be done, bringing greater operational efficiency and profitability. The Allison 4700 transmission can be fitted with a Power Take-Off (PTO) mechanism to power various equipment.
The new KamAZ-65805 haul truck has a 10 x 6 wheel arrangement with three rear-driving axles. The Allison fully automatic transmission was chosen by the Atlant’s vehicle designers for this load capacity class where it is believed to significantly improve performance. The two front axles and the last rear axle are steerable. This solution, along with the use of the Allison Automatic, makes the vehicle’s manoeuvreability and off-highway capability on par with 8 x 4 trucks. Specifying an automatic transmission will enable the vehicle owner to convert the truck into an autonomous vehicle quickly and efficiently in the future.
The typical quarry vehicle scenario involves frequent shuttle trips over short and medium distances with a stop in the quarry, with both the engine and all transmission components bearing heavy loads. The Allison transmission is designed to ensure optimal engine operation, increasing its life and thus the profitability of the dump truck. In addition, the automatic transmission allows the driver to fully focus on driving without being distracted by shifting into the right gear.
The new Atlant is a further cooperation between Allison Transmission and KamAZ. At the COMTRANS‑2019 exhibition, KaMAZ presented the Allison-equipped NefAZ-4299-30-52 semi-low-floor passenger bus and the KamAZ-Arktika all-terrain vehicle.
“Allison Transmission provides KamAZ fleet operators with an opportunity to analyse and compare the performance of vehicles with and without an Allison automatic transmission, by providing the facility to replaces the regular transmission with an Allison. As a result of this programme, orders have been placed for Allison transmissions for the NefAZ-5299-30-32 bus operated by a public transport company in Kazan, and for the KamAZ-6520 on a deicing sprayer from Mercator Holding, the leader of the Russian road and municipal vehicle market.”
