Uses of Wheel Loaders

Wheel loaders are a type of earth moving machinery, widely used in various industries and sectors such as construction, highways, railways, hydro-power, ports, mines, stockyards, and national defense. They are employed for loading and unloading bulk materials, site cleaning, short-distance transportation of materials, and can also perform light earth excavation tasks. Their work targets include various soils, sand, gravel, lime materials, and other loose materials used in road construction. They mainly carry out tasks like scooping, transporting, unloading, leveling loose materials, and can lightly excavate rocks and hard soil. With different attachments, they can also be used for lifting, fork-lifting objects, and handling logs, completing tasks like pushing soil, lifting, and loading/unloading .

Working Characteristics of Wheel Loaders

Wheeled loaders feature lightweight, high travel speed, good maneuverability, short cycle time, high operational efficiency, and easy operation. They do not damage roads, can transfer between sites on their own, and can serve as transportation equipment over short distances. Therefore, in situations where the volume of work is not large, work sites are not concentrated, and there is frequent relocation, the productivity of wheel loaders is much higher than that of tracked loaders. As a result, wheel loaders have rapidly developed, becoming one of the main types of machinery for earthwork construction and an indispensable piece of equipment in modern construction. With the trend towards larger models, wheeled loaders are increasingly being used in conjunction with dump trucks to load blasted ore and other materials.

Main Technical Performance Parameters

The main technical indicators that signify the performance specifications of wheel loaders include bucket capacity, rated load capacity, engine power, speed, tire specifications, overall dimensions, maximum traction, maximum digging force, maximum lifting distance, minimum turning radius, maximum unloading height, maximum unloading distance, and the model specifications of major components such as the engine, steering system, braking system, and electrical instrument system.

① Bucket capacity: 

 It is divided into two types: geometric bucket capacity and rated bucket capacity. Geometric bucket capacity refers to the flat-loaded volume of the bucket, which is the volume of material left in the bucket after leveling off along the width of the bucket from the cutting edge of the bucket to the top edge of the backrest (or the rear wall if there is no backrest). Rated bucket capacity refers to the material capacity when a heap with a slope of 1:2 is added around the bucket on the basis of flat loading. In product manuals, if not specified, it generally refers to the rated bucket capacity, usually expressed in cubic meters (m3).

② The rated load capacity: 

It refers to the maximum carrying capacity of the bucket under the premise of ensuring stable operation of the loader, usually measured in kilograms (kg). It reflects the production capacity of the loader.

③ Engine Power:

It is a significant parameter indicating the operational capability of a loader, divided into effective power and total power. Effective power refers to the actual power output by the engine at 29°C and under 9.9×105 Pa conditions (also known as flywheel power). The rated power indicated on domestic loaders generally refers to the total power, which includes the effective power of the engine and auxiliary equipment such as fans, fuel pumps, oil coolers, and filters. The efficiency can be calculated using the coefficient of 0.9 to 0.95, resulting in the effective power value. Total power (i.e., the rated power or nominal power) multiplied by this coefficient gives the effective power value, measured in kW.

Besides, the rated power of internal combustion engines varies depending on their use, with options for 1h power, 12h power, or continuous power ratings. Most loaders adopt the 12h power rating as the standard. 

④ Overall Weight (Operating Weight) : 

It refers to the weight of the loader's working device and accompanying tools, plus the full amount of fuel, lubricating system, hydraulic system, and cooling system fluids, including standard forms and dimensions of the empty bucket and engine mass (75±3 kg). It affects the economic, reliability, and attachment performance of the loader, measured in kg. 

⑤ Maximum Travel Speed: 

It is the maximum speed a loader can achieve when traveling forward or backward on a hard, level surface with an empty bucket, affecting the productivity and deployment of the loader, measured in km/h.

 ⑥ Minimum Turning Radius: 

It refers to the distance from the outer side of the rear wheel (or center) or the curve formed by the outer side of the bucket to the turning center when looking backward, measured in mm. 

⑦ Maximum Pull Force: 

It refers to the propulsive force generated by the drive axle of the loader on its driving chain. Due to the significant weight attached to the loader, it may generate a large pull force, measured in kN. 

⑧ Maximum Digging Force: 

It refers to the maximum upward pull force produced by the lifting cylinder or rotating lift cylinder at a point 100mm behind the cutting edge of the bucket when the bottom level of the cutting edge is 20mm higher than the base level, measured in kN. 

⑨ Maximum Unloading Height: 

It refers to the vertical distance from the tip of the bucket to the ground when tilted at an angle between 45° and 60°, measured in mm. 

⑩ Maximum Unloading Distance: 

It refers to the horizontal distance from the tip of the bucket to the front edge of the tire at maximum unloading height, measured in mm. 

⑪ Tilting Load: 

It refers to the minimum mass that causes the rear wheels of the loader to lift off the ground when the bucket is in its most tilted position, with the arm in its most extended position, on a hard, flat surface. It is usually measured in kg. 

⑫ Working Device Operation Time: 

It refers to the sum of time taken for bucket lifting, lowering, and unloading, measured in seconds. 

⑬ Overall Dimensions: 

It refer to the length, width, and height of the loader. Length is the horizontal distance from the tip of the bucket to the end of the body. Width is the distance between the leftmost and rightmost sides of the loader. Height is the vertical distance from the highest point of the loader to the ground.