PROJECT
CAT 777F Trailer Brakes and Cooling
Customer: Maxter – Finning CAT JV
About The Project
MEDATech Engineering was commissioned to design the braking and brake cooling system on a trailer being attached to a CAT 777F haul truck and supplied to TransAlta coal through a MAXTER and FINNING JV. Previously, the CAT haul truck version 777D had air-over-hydraulic braking systems. Subsequent to version “D” however, CAT changed to electric-hydraulic control on the braking system on their “F” model.
Challenges
- Major challenge to integrate tractor and trailer braking circuits into a single system.
- Testing and certification in accordance with several industry standards and regulations:
- ISO 3450 : 1996 Earthmoving machinery − Braking systems of rubber-tyred machines − Systems and performance requirements and test procedures.
- CAN/CSA-M424.3-M90 Braking Performance – Rubber-Tired, Self-Propelled Underground Mining Machines
- Alberta OH & S Code (2009), Part 36 – Mining – Rubber-Tired, Self-Propelled Machines
- Trailer service brakes must be actuated from the standard CAT 777F in-cab brake pedal with time delay to prevent “jackknifing”.
Services Provided:
Highlights
- Developed and tested a robust trailer brake and cooling circuit that easily integrated into the existing CAT 777F tractor.
- Trailer GVW is 545,000 lbs (272.5 tons) and will have max vehicle speed of 35 mph.
- Final project incorporated the same axle hubs as the tractor though the trailer hubs were non-driven type.