by Kerry Clines, Senior Editor

Hybrid excavators come to North America

Komatsu America Corp. says its new hybrid PC200LC-8 excavator is the first to enter the North American market. The 20- to 22-ton machine provides 138 horsepower, has an operating weight of 43,643 to 47,260 pounds, and features a 0.66- to 1.57-cubic yard bucket capacity.

The excavator uses a newly developed electric swing motor, power generator motor, capacitor, and diesel engine. The hybrid system works on the principle of swing energy regeneration and energy storage. The kinetic energy generated during the swing braking phase is converted to electricity, which is sent through an inverter and then captured by the capacitor. The captured energy is then discharged quickly for upper structure rotation and to assist the engine when accelerating under work load conditions.

In tests comparing the hybrid to Komatsu’s standard excavator, the company said the hybrid model reduced fuel consumption by approximately 25 to 40 percent, depending on the application.

Portable, high-output crusher

Eagle Crusher Co. says its new 1200-25 CV portable crushing plant, with the UltraMax II 4747 Impactor, accepts large feed sizes and is suitable for high-volume primary and secondary crushing. The crusher’s impactor includes a solid-steel, three-bar rotor for efficient crushing of limestone, shot rock, concrete, asphalt, and sand and gravel with a reduction ratio up to 24:1. The open-circuit crushing plant is designed to have efficient weight distribution for easy transport. The crusher is equipped with a heavy-duty, steel-reinforced 17-cubic yard feed hopper that accepts material from 5-yard loader buckets or excavators.

High-frequency portable screen with bin

TCI Manufacturing says its new portable screening plant and bin (PSB) allows quick, portable, self-contained set-up and has the capacity to power three auxiliary conveyors. The PSB consists of an 8- by 14-foot feed hopper with a remote, hydraulic-control door and hydraulic grizzly; a 36-inch by 18-foot, roller-belt feed conveyor underneath the hopper; a 36-inch by 41-foot channel frame feed conveyor; a 6- by 12-foot, double-deck ultra frequency screen; 24-inch by 16-foot cross conveyors for products; and a 30-inch by 17-foot rear-discharge channel frame conveyor for fines.

Returns materials to main stream

Martin Engineering’s new Martin Carryback Capture System is designed to minimize problems with fugitive material by transferring belt cleaning residue back into the material stream. The system stands just 13 inches high, allowing it to fit into tight spaces under conveyors or in low overhead conditions. It uses an electrically driven hydraulic cylinder to push a steel cleaning blade across the system’s collecting pan, sliding the slop and fines in the trough toward the conveyor discharge. The cleaning cycle of each unit automatically adjusts to match the belt speed of the main conveyor.

Object detection system

Caterpillar has enhanced mine safety with the introduction of its new Cat Integrated Object Detection System. The system combines cameras, radar, and alarms to notify the operator when an object is close to the machine, but not in the operator’s field of vision. The system monitors and shows the operator the areas immediately around the truck. Radar information is processed by an on-board, touch-screen display, and the cameras allow the operator to identify what the radar detects. Three alarm levels indicate the proximity of an object or the urgency of taking action to avoid an object. The system is wholly contained on the machine and is scalable, allowing operators to start with just cameras and add radar later.