THE KNOWLEDGE
After the beginning
The second of
IC
’s
new series of practical
how-to articles aimed
at improving safety in
heavy transport and
lifting operations. Here
MARCO VAN DAAL
explains the various
types of specialized
transport equipment
and the terminology
used in its reference
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Marco van Daal has
been in the heavy
lift and transport
industry since
1993. He started at
Mammoet Transport
from the Netherlands
and later with Fagioli
PSC from Italy,
both esteemed companies and leading
authorities in the industry. His 20-year
plus experience extends to five continents
and more than 55 countries. It resulted
in a book The Art of Heavy Transport,
available at:
-
of-heavy-transport/
Van Daal has a real passion for sharing
knowledge and experience – the primary
reason for the seminars that he frequently
holds around the world. He lives in
Aruba, in the Dutch Caribbean, with his
wife and daughters.
These prime movers are heavy duty
vehicles, attached to the transporter by
means of a tow bar, draw bar or pull bar
or by a transporter add-on called a goose
neck. Where the prime mover is attached
to the transporter by a bar arrangement,
counterweight is stacked on the prime
mover at the rear (drive) axles to prevent
the tyres from losing traction and slipping
when the combination is accelerating.
Where the prime mover is attached
to the transporter via a goose neck, the
arrangement of counter weight is not
required since part of the dead weight of
the transporter and load is transferred (via
hydraulic cylinders) from the transporter
to the fifth wheel of the prime mover.
A self propelled transporter is not
equipped with a prime mover. The
transporter is therefore not pulled but it is
propelled by a unit of some sort – a power
pack. A power pack is a diesel engine and
one or more hydraulic pumps. The diesel
engine powers the hydraulic pump(s) and
these pumps drive the hydraulic drive
motors on the axles of the transporter.
The amount of oil per interval of time (the
flow) determines the speed of the drive
motors and, therefore, the velocity of the
transporter. The operator controls the oil
flow. The number of axles that require
a drive motor depends largely on the
applications for which the transporter will
be used. The more drive motors the higher
the pulling power.
A
s professionals in our business we
sometimes become blind to the
fact that not everybody possesses
the same knowledge when it comes to the
terminology of equipment. This article
makes an attempt to differentiate between
the various different types of specialized
transport equipment and explains why it is
named the way it is.
INTERNATIONAL AND SPECIALIZED TRANSPORT
■
AUGUST 2013
33
>
In terms of naming equipment, a
starting point is in hydraulic platform
transporters versus trailers. I am a great
believer in addressing the hydraulic
platform transporter (from now on called
transporter) with its correct name and to
not have them mixed up with general over
the road trailers.
Let’s start with a statement:
A hydraulic
platform transporter distinguishes itself by
the hydraulic suspension of the axles and the
way these axles can be plumbed into axle
groups to ensure stability
.
It is important to understand the value
of the above statement and to understand
that various add-ons and special features
such as power packs, the modularity
of these transporters, the capacity, the
manoeuvrability, the steering (mechanical
or electronic), the self unloading capability,
and so on, by themselves do not warrant
entry in the transporter category.
Prior to the development of these add-
ons, the hydraulic suspension of the axles
and grouping capability were, and are, the
only reasons that these transporters were
called a hydraulic platform transporter.
Another issue comes with the terms
truck or prime mover versus power pack
or power unit. Here is where the difference
between a pull-type transporter and a
self propelled transporter is made. It goes
without saying that a pull type transporter
(or pull behind transporter) is pulled by a
unit of some sort – a truck or prime mover.
A self propelled transporter in action. Note the rectangular
power pack unit mounted on the front near the operator
