28th March 2014

Developed as a joint venture (JV) between mining equipment group Bell Equipment and South Africa-based mining equipment company Aard Mining Equipment, a new underground haul truck (UHT), the B33L (Bell branding) or A33 (Aard branding) is expected to be fully operational by the beginning of April, after undergoing months of testwork.

The B33L/A33 UHT, which was launched at international trade fair for construction machinery bauma Africa, in Johannesburg, last year, features a low-height design, enabling the underground transportation of up to 33 t of mined ore.

The dumper completes Bell’s underground hauling complement as the biggest in the range.

The B33L/A33 is fitted with a fail-safe braking system, which showcases a spring-applied hydraulic release brake and automatic stop park brake application.

The truck’s electronics include an inclinometer to determine the correct amount of torque required before the park brake is released. This prevents the truck from rolling backwards on inclines.

When moving forward, the dumper uses eight light-emitting diode (LED) clusters of lights, with reverse lighting being provided by four rear-facing LED clusters of lights.

A rear-mounted video camera also assists the driver in reversing manoeuvres. An automatic fire-suppression system is also available on request.

The UHT is powered by a turbocharged 12 ℓ V6 Mercedes-Benz OM 501 LA series engine that produces 389 hp. Bell says the engine has proven its reliability to Bell engineers, as it is also installed in Bell’s B40D series of surface articulated dump trucks (ADTs).

The engine is mated to an Allison 4000 series automatic transmission, with six forward gears and one reverse gear.

The machine uses Kessler axles, which are designed to carry loads of up to 40 t, while there are large-capacity braking systems with forced cooling at each wheel-end for improved reliability and endurance.

Further, exhaust emissions on the B33L/A33 pass through a catalytic converter for purification and through a large silencer for noise reduction. Exhaust gases meet Tier 2 emissions regulations of the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Unique to this UHT is the centrally mounted operator’s cab, which provides significantly increased visibility. The cab is also air-conditioned, adding to operator comfort, and is fitted with a trainer seat for use when instructing new drivers.

https://www.miningweekly.com/article/new-haul-dumper-to-be-fully-operational-by-april-2014-03-28

https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/new-haul-dumper-to-be-fully-operational-by-april-2014-03-28