h1Articulated Haulers/h1
An articulated hauler is one of the most versatile piece of equipment which is a transition between a tractor-trailer and an articulated loader. The strength of an articulated hauler lies in the coupling and drive systems. Power and drive sections moves independently of the load section due to the coupling system. The two sections are attached together through an oscillating system which allows the two units to move in a rolling motion around its centerline.
Articulated haulers have good load carrying capacity and its body is wide and open to facilitate loading from excavators and wheel loaders. They are also very maneuverable to load from fixed loading facilities.
Applications
An articulated hauler is easy to operate machine. It is very useful in operating in rough terrain and is applicable in the following areas :
- Loading and unloading of materials.
- Bringing the materials to construction sites.
- Helpful in road
- Helps in bringing materials for the construction of runways of airports.
- Useful in various landfill operations.
- Articulated haulers are also used to move large volumes of material without access to roads in earthmoving, quarrying, mining, forestry etc.
An articulated hauler invented by Volvo Construction Equipment is an engineering vehicle used to transport loads over rough terrain. The first such machine was introduced by Volvo in 1968. The machine consists of two basic units, one generally called the tractor and the rear section, called the hauler or trailer section, which contains the dump body .
Articulated haulers are the cousins of another heavy truck called the rigid hauler. The two main differences are the weight of material carried and the steering function. The differences in payload are rather sizeable, a rigid hauler carrying up to 400 tons, and an articulated hauler generally carrying no more than 40 tons. A rigid hauler steers using the same principles as a passenger car, whereas an articulated hauler uses hydraulic cylinders to turn the front frame, containing the tractor, independent of the rear frame.
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Volvo: The 'Centaur' articulated hauler concept model
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The ‘Centaur’ concept rewrites the rules for articulated haulers. The most striking feature is its ability uncouple the front ‘tractor’ from the ‘trailer’, which opens up possibilites to rapidly change work application.
The Centaur can be a hauler one moment, converting to a pipe or log carrier – and then a liquid container the next.
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ARCHER - The concept
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The ARCHER concept is the further development of the Bofors manufactured artillery gun 155 mm howitzer 77B, in which the gun’s gun carriage is mounted on an articulated hauler (dumper) from Volvo.
The gun has been upgraded for better fire power and compatibility with international ammunition and has been equipped with the necessary equipment to facilitate remote operation via the gun’s computer. This means the crew does not need to leave the cab for normal gun operation.
The cab provides the crew with a protected work environment ensuring extreme endurance during severe circumstances. The protection includes ballistic protection, mine protection, NBC protection, fire protection and noise protection.
The workplaces in the cab give the operators total control over the system. Among other features the gun computer can handle ballistic computations, firing, VO measurements, security checks, ammunition handling, communication, command and fire control, navigation, operational follow-up, surveillance/observation close-in protection and fire control.
To facilitate close-in protection, an external remote-controlled sensor and weapon platform, PROTECTOR from Kongsberg Defenc & Aerospace AS, has been mounted that serves as secondary armament. There are several storage boxes in the rear chassis for storing radio and computer equipment, gun accessories, extra ammunition, the crew’s heavy baggage, and more.
The truck as a whole has been equipped with weight-optimised ballistic protection and mobile camouflage system (MCS). The gun system’s excellent fire power and brief redeployment times allow a combat technique that considerably improves survival for the gun system while simultaneously ensuring high momentary effect in target shortly after the order to fire is received. With modern ammunition, the system can engage with armoured targets and precision fire from long distances.
The ARCHER system is interoperable, adapted for international environments and can operate in different climate conditions. The system will use the NATO method for ballistic computations and is customised for NATO’s map reference system and NATO ammunition.
ARCHER fully satisfies the requirements for a future artillery system.
Besides the wheel-driven artillery gun, the ARCHER system consists of:
- Ammunition re-supply vehicle (ARV)
- Support (maintenance) vehicle
- Newly developed ammunition
