Same size, more power from newest Vermeer rockwheel trencher – utility equipment
Published in: Diesel Progress North American Edition
Date: 1/1/2004
By: Dawn M. Geske
Pella, Iowa-based Vermeer Manufacturing Co. has introduced the latest addition to its trenching product line, the T555 Commander II rockwheel trencher. The Commander II trencher, typically used in utility installation and custom stone cutting, is the same size as the earlier T555 Commander trencher, but offers significantly more horsepower through its six-cylinder, John Deere 6068 HF275 engine rated 185 hp at 2400 rpm.
“It’s a pretty small package with some pretty significant power,” said Mark Cooper, product manager at Vermeer. “It originally came out as 140 hp and now it has grown to 185 hp. It has gotten a little heavier along the way as we solved problems and horsepower increased, but the shadow it casts is roughly the same.”
The liquid-cooled Tier 2 engine is mounted to the same sub-frame as the radiator, oil cooler and pump drive. Mounting the engine and components together allows the entire machine to shake as one under the high vibration effect of the machine’s applications, said Vermeer. Having the machine and its components vibrate in sync also maintains adequate fan clearance during trenching operations, the company said.
The 25,000 lb. machine’s hydraulic drive system consists of a right and left, 2.81 cu.in, displacement, Sauer-Danfoss MPV 046 pump mounted directly off the Funk 28300 pump drive attached at the rear of the engine. Each pump powers a hydraulic motor with planetary final reduction behind it to drive the track.
The undercarriage supports Berco steel tracks used in conjunction with Vermeer’s Auto Tilt Track system. The system automatically levels the machine to keep the trench vertical when maneuvering in sloping terrain up to 17.5 percent.
The rockwheel is operated through a, 6.10 cu.in. displacement Sauer-Danfoss 90L100 pump that drives the Poclain low-speed high torque MS83 hydrostatic motor. A 2.77 cu.in, displacement, Eaton 70423 RCN load-sensing pump is used to operate the implement hydraulic circuits and the cylinder functions of the trencher.
After a year in development, the 84 in. diameter rockwheel is used to cut at depths upwards of 36 in. The 2 in. thick wheal uses its 1 in. shank rotary carbide teeth, which are bolted to the circumference of the wheel, to break through coarse materials at a wheel speed of 1050 fpm and cut up to 6 in. widths.
Each control, within the interior cab of the Commander II trencher, is fed into a Sauer-Danfoss microprocessor control system, which maintains performance, constant speed and engine load. Each function of the machine uses a separate control for operation and an LED screen displays diagnostic information, keeping the operator informed of real-time performance to monitor productivity on the machine, the company said.
Although most trenchers use a traditional chain trencher attachment, harder surfaces and narrow widths may warrant the rockwheel of the Commander II. The rockwheel is used primarily in fiber optic or telephone wire installation where hard, narrow digging is necessary to complete a project or in custom stone cutting for architectural use, said the company.
The Commander 11 trencher is the latest in a flurry of new products unveiled by Vermeer, which is using 2003 as an alignment year, explained Cooper. “We have probably introduced as much product this year as any year,” he said. “This year quite frankly, is going to be significantly better than in past years. The economy is coming back to work for us. Inventories are under control. We are poised to have a nice 2004.”
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