Loading Considerations
2000 Dr. B. C. Paul revisions 2009
Note These slides include screen shots from the Caterpillar Performance Manual
Edition 29.
Field Loading
Configurations
Depends on the type of
equipment used
On the space available
Shovels and Hydraulic Excavators
tend to load in one set of ways
Backhoes have some variations
FEL have some unique ones
Single Truck Loading
Loader near the face
Truck backs up next to the
loader on the drivers side
(Gives the loader operator a
better view
Loader working into cut in the
face
Loader swings about 120
degrees to dump
Advantages of Single
Truck Loading
Simple
Truck doesnt have to back tires
into the rockiest areas
The shovel faces armor of the
tracks into the dig face
Shovel operator has optimized
view of truck bed target
Disadvantages of Single
Truck Loading
Backing into place can take
around 1 minute and may require a
spotter
Loaders expensive and idle
Back time is an unproductive bottleneck
Can form large ques because trucks tend to
bunch
120 degree swing angle can be
slow
Manufactures often rate on 90 degree
More Disadvantages
Limited Space Available for
Oversize Material
Can set to side
Do a bowling ball drop into truck
Hydraulic shovels can set - but cable
shovels drop bucket bottom open
Extension cord problems with
electric equipment
Cord has to cut across truck path
Putting on poles can cost time
Double Truck Loading
Same Arrangement as
single truck loading only
the trucks pull up on both
side
Advantages of Double
Truck Loading
Second Loading Spot Allows a
second truck to spot during
loading operations
Avoids dead time on the loader
Doesnt help the truck cycle time
other than eliminating some
queing
Disadvantages of
Double Truck Loading
Still have extension cord
problems on electric units
Oversize boulder problem is now
even more severe
Forces Loader operator to load
on the blind side (most big
loaders put the cab to one side
of equipment)
Drive By Truck Loading
Shovel Lines up Along
the face
Trucks pull forward and
stop beside the loader
Shovel Swings 90 to 180
degrees to dump
Advantages to Truck
Drive-By
Greatly Reduced Spotting Time - no
backing cycle
Cable doesnt cross the Trucks
Path
Can Set Oversize Beside and out of
the way
Machine marches on a steady
forward advance
Can do in a narrower space
Disadvantages of Drive
-By
Often have problems with dipper
swinging over the top of the
drivers cab
Loader gets revenge for the truck
running over its extension cord
If the dipper comes open your truck
driver can get dead
Trucks get to drive those
expensive tires through spills
More Disadvantages
Lack of spotting makes it a one
shot that can lead to long
swings
Tracks are broadside to long
face area
Modified Drive-By (Or
Getting Fancy)
Shovel in Drive-By Position
Truck Drives up to Shovel as if it
was a drive-by
Loading drops onto a moving target
While the Loading goes for the
next bite the truck backs into a
single load like position
Shortens swing distance
Advantages
Get most of the positioning
advantages of single truck load
without the idle spot time
Disadvantages
Dump onto a Moving Target
With swinging over cab can be a
real adventurous feeling for driver
Gets the tires into some real
rocky conditions
Backhoe Loading
Methods
Backhoe works below grade
Can allow work to be kept off wet
pit floor
can also provide multi-level loading
Backhoes generally need good
size machine relative to bucket.
Doesnt wear as well - generally
used for special conditions
Can Work Double and
Single Truck Loads
Can also Load on
Multiple Levels
Multilevel Loading
Double Loading configuration
has extra room for oversize and still
two trucks
Because truck has to come in on right
level does require some additional
advance data to send truck to right
spot
Can also get 3 position loading
often a bit of overkill
Front End Loader
Configurations
FELs are less expensive than the
trucks and are mobile
Makes practical to consider more
than one loader providing loading
service
Limited lift heights make truck
match more critical
Tires can tear up bad underfoot
Single Truck Loading
Common Loading
Arrangements
Tandom Loading
This time there are two loaders
and the truck backs between
Drive By Loading
Chain Loading
Staggered Tandom
Loading
My Consideration What
Kind of Turning Radius is
Needed
Turning Radius for Single Truck
Loading
How Big a Truck can I
Use?
About truck width
Turning Radius
Truck Length
About 15 feet for berm and edge clearance
Checking Out Cat 793
(Our biggest option)
43 ft 4 inches long
26 ft 8 inches width
99 ft 2 inches full circle
Turn clearance
(effect 50 ft turn radius)
Plugging In
About truck width
Turning Radius
13 feet
50 feet
Truck Length
43 feet
About 15 feet for berm and edge clearance
15 feet
121 Feet I dont have that
Try 777 (789 was similar to
793 in dimensions)
Turn Radius 43 feet
Width 18 feet Length 32 feet
Checking Out the 777
About truck width
9 feet
Turning Radius
43 feet
32 feet
Truck Length
About 15 feet for berm and edge clearance
15 feet
99 ft < 100 ft
Just Works
(smaller trucks ok)
For Single Truck Load
Cat 777 is the largest that will
work
One of our two smaller would
leave us a little more room for
comfort
We could look into drive by but
we might want to consider our
loader options more
