Wibako Guide
We've already covered bulldozers, excavators, and loaders - so it's time for a technological vehicle to appear in our series of guide articles.
This is a very popular machine on Polish construction sites, which due to its versatility and great transport capabilities is also used in mining, port logistics, recycling or in quarries. We invite you to take a closer look at these vehicles, with a particular emphasis on their construction and application.
Main features of a technological vehicle
Large transport vehicle, or the popular dump truck, was developed for the mining industry in the 1930s. The machines quickly gained such popularity that they began to be used in construction.
Dump trucks are used to transport large quantities of materials, such as sand, gravel, aggregates, soil etc. - larger models can transport even several dozen tons of material at once.
They are characterized by excellent functionality. This is due to their impressive transport capabilities and trouble-free operation in difficult terrain. This makes them usable where a dump truck or tractor with a trailer would not cope.
Excellent off-road properties are due to, among other things, a low center of gravity. The vehicle does not sink under the load and can usually carry more material than a truck of similar weight.
Basic division of technological vehicles
Dump trucks are divided into articulated and rigid frame. The former have a joint that provides excellent maneuverability, making them much easier to maneuver. Articulated ones develop higher speeds when driving backwards.
All these features make the models with a joint most often used in the construction and road industry. The main feature of rigid frame dump trucks is their greater load capacity and durability.
Thanks to this, they perform excellently in the toughest working conditions, including in mines and quarries.
How is a technological vehicle built?
Each dump truck has the same base, i.e. the chassis and body. In the latter, we can distinguish a drive mechanism, a cabin, a load box, and a suitable mechanism for lifting it.
The main structural element of a rigid frame dump truck is of course the frame, which connects two axles. All chassis and body elements are mounted on the frame. In rigid frame models, we will also find a classic steering system.
As for the articulated ones, we are dealing here with the combination of a single-axle tractor with a trailer (usually two-axle) using a special joint system. The engine, cabin, and most important drive elements are located on the front axle.
In articulated models, there are usually three axles and no classic steering system. The turning function is provided by hydraulic cylinders.
What is the application of technological vehicles?
This mainly depends on the type of dump truck. Rigid frame models are mainly used in mines, which results from their construction - rigid and resistant to heavy loads and work in difficult terrain.
On the other hand, articulated ones are perfect for construction and road works. This is due to their excellent maneuverability and versatility - in both respects, articulated dump trucks outdistance typical trucks.
It is also worth mentioning that more and more specialized dump trucks are appearing on the market, which cope very well in specific works - for example in agriculture. The popularity of compact dump trucks is growing, ideal for small construction sites and for work in cities.
Interesting technological solutions introduced by manufacturers are added to this. Let's mention, for example, the load box, which can be adapted to the type of material transported. Among other things, heating sets are installed to reduce the risk of freezing the load - exhaust gas heat is used for this.
Such solutions can be found, among others, in Volvo machines. It's hard to disagree with the statement that technological dump trucks are today indispensable machines on most large construction sites.
When choosing such a vehicle for a company, it is worth focusing on the operating costs and technical parameters of a given model, but also check under what conditions the dump truck will be most often used - this includes, among other things, the slope of the road, obstacles on it, type of ground etc. This will allow perfect coordination of the dump truck's work with other machines, and thus speed up the execution of works.
