InfraStructures - November 2014 - Allison Transmission Handles Extreme Heat and Heavy Loads

Allison Transmission Handles Extreme Heat and Heavy Loads

Around a blast furnace even the air burns. Humans can stand these temperatures only encased in heat-resistant suits, but extreme heat is necessary to purify metals. After the smelting process, 1,300°C hot slag emerges from incinerators to be hauled away for cooling. The new, and so far biggest, type 2802-130 slag pot transporter, by the special vehicle manufacturer KAMAG, was built to handle these extreme temperatures.

The 82 t vehicle measures 11.9 m long, 7.7 m wide, 4.3 m high and can transport up to 130 t. Powered by a Caterpillar diesel engine C15 with 548 hp and an Allison 4000 Series transmission, the single-axle prime mover hauls a 5.7 m long and 4.35 m high slag pot with a capacity of 45 m3. The slag pot transporter was developed to transport the increasing payloads and larger slag pots with ease. KAMAG selected an Allison transmission largely because it provides superior performance within a compact drivetrain.

An Allison 4000 Series transmission with a direct mount transfer gearbox ensures torque multiplication at vehicle launch and the transfer of uninterrupted power, which means continuous power flow to the drive axle, even during gear shifts. Diesel- und Getriebeservice GmbH (DGS) from Mainz – official Allison Transmission distributor in Germany – provides the transfer gearbox and also contributed to the integration of the drivetrain into the slag pot transporter.

Safety Is First Priority
Due to safety reasons the maximum vehicle speed was limited to 35 km/h when unladen and to 20 km/h when laden. Thanks to Allison’s smooth acceleration control and Continuous Power Technology™, the slag stays in its pot. In addition, without manual shifting, the driver can fully concentrate on the difficult task of transporting the slag quickly, while not spilling any of the smelted material. Crucially, the slag must be moved quickly because if the slag cools, it destroys the pot. The transporter driver’s cabin comes equipped with a multifunctional display which allows the operator to safely observe the delicate tipping process as the transporter approaches the cooling basin, tilts and dumps the slag.

Robust Vehicles Required
In smelting and steel plants the transport of liquid slag is one of the most demanding tasks asked of a driver. That’s why vehicles must be easy to maneuver. Allison’s fully-automatic transmissions reduce the wear of drivetrain components and ensure unrivalled vehicle control for precise maneuvring. The result is less maintenance and reduced downtime, a huge advantage for the operators of these special vehicles. Each Allison automatic transmission features a patented torque converter in place of a traditional starting clutch found in a manual or automated manual gearbox. This eliminates the common need for clutch replacements.

The slag pot transporter was built in a u-frame design, which offers key advantages over a platform design: less time to take in the slag and lower height when the slag flows into the pot. Additionally, this design is especially advantageous is spaces with limited heights, such as when the transporter has to drive through low hall gates.

KAMAG has used Allison transmission technology for many years in their specialized equipment including slag pot transporters, industrial elevating transporters and other articulated vehicles.

For 40 years, special vehicles from KAMAG have been in use around the world in a wide range of areas such as smelting works, steel mills, shipyards and offshore technology, transport vehicles and systems. Vehicles from KAMAG also deal efficiently with demanding transport assignments in the space industry, as well as logistical terminals of large haulage companies and in handling centers. The company was founded in 1969 and is based in the southern German town of Ulm. The history of vehicle technology for heavy transport vehicles is closely connected with the name of KAMAG.
KAMAG is part of the TII Group – Transporter Industry International – together with the companies Scheuerle Fahrzeugfabrik and Nicolas Industrie.

Source: Allison Transmission

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