From what the video shows, the designer must be in the corner! On a serious note though, I think their main objective is maintenance cost reduction through part count reduction. One could argue that from an efficiency standpoint a mechanical drive would be better than the electrical setup because there there is no energy conversion from the crank to the wheels compared to the three energy conversions from crank to AC generator, AC gen to control electronics, then control electronics to the final drive train. I'm ignoring common drive train losses between the two. If an electric regen system were put in place, it no doubt would again increase part count and thus maintenance costs because a separate motor/generator unit(or major modifications to the current system) and associated electronics would be needed as well as batteries(obviously). I would assume the efficiency gains might not warrant the cost too given the DC to AC(phased) conversion required to transfer energy between the battery and motor/generator and also the short back and forth movements of the machine. Maybe a hydraulic accumulator could be used to capture energy when dropping a load, who knows.
dathrevann There is much advantages even on an hybrid little that. The engine could be made to work at a specific speed where it's more efficient. Transmissions with torque converter could become more inefficient on these types of operation. The electric motor could start and stop without affecting it lifecycle, have very good torque from zero speed to some high speed depending on the motor design and construction. The engine has a large number of moving parts and so I think is still the one that deserves more maintenance. Regeneration probably would not require so much pieces (not maintenance necessary) but more expensive.
Is this a joke? Why would it have batteries? Im assuming you mean traction not chassis batteries. Do you just want to double the cost of the machine for no good reason?
Electrically drive has bad efficiency. The better drive in one position is mechanical power shift or radial pump motor hidrostatic transmission, in second, splited hidromechanical transmission, the cvt, used in tractors with hidraulic differential steering, patented for Caterpillar, and in farm tractors, in tirth, hidrostatic drive with axial pump motor, fourth, hidrostatic drive with pinnion pump and gerotor motor, and in the last position electric drive. For this reason, the Caterpillar 797 poweshift wins to all electric trucks.
Even tho the best heavy duty cvt is around 80% efficient And best motor/generator can reach 95% efficiency That can make large difference in running cost
On our 996 it switches to mechanical drive after a specific speed or torque.
Interesting. What’s old is new again.
LeTournou (sorry if the spelling is incorrect) did this years ago. They made all their equipment electric drive.
Cat are very advance.. but pricy in every coner
Opa
If that has a cast iron counter weight instead of batteries for regenerative braking then the designer should be told to go and sit in the corner
From what the video shows, the designer must be in the corner! On a serious note though, I think their main objective is maintenance cost reduction through part count reduction. One could argue that from an efficiency standpoint a mechanical drive would be better than the electrical setup because there there is no energy conversion from the crank to the wheels compared to the three energy conversions from crank to AC generator, AC gen to control electronics, then control electronics to the final drive train. I'm ignoring common drive train losses between the two.
If an electric regen system were put in place, it no doubt would again increase part count and thus maintenance costs because a separate motor/generator unit(or major modifications to the current system) and associated electronics would be needed as well as batteries(obviously). I would assume the efficiency gains might not warrant the cost too given the DC to AC(phased) conversion required to transfer energy between the battery and motor/generator and also the short back and forth movements of the machine. Maybe a hydraulic accumulator could be used to capture energy when dropping a load, who knows.
dathrevann There is much advantages even on an hybrid little that. The engine could be made to work at a specific speed where it's more efficient. Transmissions with torque converter could become more inefficient on these types of operation. The electric motor could start and stop without affecting it lifecycle, have very good torque from zero speed to some high speed depending on the motor design and construction. The engine has a large number of moving parts and so I think is still the one that deserves more maintenance. Regeneration probably would not require so much pieces (not maintenance necessary) but more expensive.
Is this a joke? Why would it have batteries? Im assuming you mean traction not chassis batteries. Do you just want to double the cost of the machine for no good reason?
Electrically drive has bad efficiency. The better drive in one position is mechanical power shift or radial pump motor hidrostatic transmission, in second, splited hidromechanical transmission, the cvt, used in tractors with hidraulic differential steering, patented for Caterpillar, and in farm tractors, in tirth, hidrostatic drive with axial pump motor, fourth, hidrostatic drive with pinnion pump and gerotor motor, and in the last position electric drive. For this reason, the Caterpillar 797 poweshift wins to all electric trucks.
Even tho the best heavy duty cvt is around 80% efficient
And best motor/generator can reach 95% efficiency
That can make large difference in running cost
On our 996 it's electric over mechanical, after it reaches a certain torque it switches to Mechanical Drive.
JJ , then why aren’t you employed at Caterpillar designing their drive systems ? Because you’re just another internet expert .