A cut above: Vermeer uses Tier 2 emissions as starting point in enhancing CC155 concrete cutter’s capabilities
Published in:
Date: 8/1/2005
By: Dawn M. Geske
Vermeer Manufacturing Co. has launched a new concrete cutter with increased horsepower, all-wheel drive and a series of other enhancements designed to optimize its application in concrete batch work, bridge decking replacement, utility installation, bridge relief and highway under drain. The new CC155 concrete cutter went into production earlier this year at the company’s Pella, Iowa, headquarters.
While initially driven by the onset of Tier 2 engine emissions standards, Vermeer used the opportunity to develop other features for the CC155 cutter. “These enhancements include a ground drive system which provides a true all-wheel-drive system to improve tractive effort,” said Barry Scieszinski, solutions specialist for track machines at the company. “Our cutter wheel motor has a larger displacement which provides more torque for increased cutting capabilities.
“We’ve also done a lot of enhancements to the machine controls and we’ve improved our water spray system by adding nozzles for more area coverage and easier maintenance.”
Those changes were in addition to the added hp gained through the integration of the Tier 2 Cummins 6BT 5.9 diesel engine rated 155 hp. The six-cylinder, 5.9 L turbocharged engine is equipped with a larger Donaldson two-stage scavenger air cleaner. “We’ve increased the capacity of the filter by 72%” said Scieszinski. “With cutting concrete, that’s a big feature that can provide more production between maintenance intervals.”
Vermeer has also paired the engine with an in-series Josephson radiator and Hayden oil cooler. This also cools the cutter wheel circuit and the hydrostatic drive system which is driven off the engine through a Funk pump drive.
The concrete cutter’s hydrostatic drive system is driven by Sauer-Danfoss 90 Series hydraulic pumps with 3.35 cu.in. displacement. The dual pumps supply four Poclain wheel motors. The motors have a 77 to 154 cu.in, displacement range, integral wet disc brakes and are mounted directly to foam-filled Goodyear tires. The drive system is configured so torque is available to all the wheels at the same time in all speed ranges, giving better traction in most conditions and less tire spinning during cutting, Scieszinski said.
A separate hydraulic circuit is used to operate the cutter whet, powered by a Sauer-Danfoss 90 Series variable displacement pump. This pump drives a low speed, high torque Poclain MS83 motor, which Scieszinski said is critical to matching cutter wheel speed and torque to match conditions. “On asphalt the operator may want a little faster speed,” Scieszinski noted. “But with real hard concrete at full wheel depth, here slower speed may be needed, while maintaining adequate torque.”
The cutter wheel has an 84 in. diameter with 2 in. thickness. It features 10 replaceable 4.75 to 10 in. wide cutter segments. It has a maximum cut depth of 31 in. and according to Scieszinski, can cut “as slow as one to two feet per minute at full depth and up to 30 feet per minute,” depending on depth and material.
The cutter wheal is also installed with a water spray system, supplied by two 100 gal. water tanks. It uses six removable water nozzles that are strategically placed around the cutter wheal. With the removable nozzles, Scieszinski noted that “the nozzle can be pulled out and cleaned on a daily basis.” The water spray system may also be used to reduce dust that may obscure the operator’s view or reduce visibility for traffic, Vermeer said.
Operation of the CC155 concrete cutter has also been simplified as Vermeer has integrated a Sauer-Danfoss controller to control the ground drive. A four-speed selector is also incorporated, allowing the operator to match ground speed to cutting conditions. “The operator has a lot of control so the operator can cut concrete at exactly the speed the operator needs,” said Scieszinski. “That’s great for productivity and efficient use of the cutter wheel teeth.”
A standard climate-controlled operator cab is also equipped with manual levers to extend the stabilizer arms alongside the cutter wheel. The stabilizers are designed to reduce machine bounce for greater operator comfort and cutting efficiency. Other features in the cab include a fully adjustable suspension seat, Murphy PowerView gauge that provides electronic monitoring of the Tier 2 engine parameters and service codes, an hourmeter, tachometer, voltmeter, fuel gauge and pump drive disconnect.
Vermeer began manufacturing the CC155 concrete cutter in Pella, earlier this year.
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