ABSTRACT
SUMMARY: Caterpillar recently introduced to the world mining industry two new mechanical drive off-highway trucks in the size ranges of CVW 230,430 kgs and 291,665 kgs and with payload capacities up to 136 and 177 tons. These new trucks are refereed to as the 785 and 789.
This paper will review the primary engineering features of the mechanical drive design with reference to the methods adopted and results obtained from the comprehensive development and testing program that preceded production. Further, the paper will illustrate the benefits obtained from the proper matching of components with resultant specifications for the power train components that achieve new standards of machine gradeability, braking performance and power train efficiency. Finally, in-field performance from actual job site studies of these new trucks will be compared with their predecessors and other similar trucks.
