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