TST series self-propelled transporter

Specifications

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TITAN Machinery (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

July, 2009

 

 

1. Overview

The TST series self-propelled platform transporter is a proprietary product which is exclusively and solely developed by Chinese technicians based on international sophisticated technology and which is overwhelmingly competitive in the global market. It brings superior functions and reliability with the state-of-art mechanical transmission, hydraulic and electronic control technologies as well as the best configuration in the world. It can be widely used in the fields of shipbuilding, steel structure fabrication, steel production, bridge and tunnel construction and bulky cargo transportation.

 

2. Structure and characteristics

2.1 Vehicle characteristics

The TST series self-propelled platform transporter consists of the vehicle frame, cab, power unit, driving elements, independent steering elements, hydraulic suspension, air brakes, hydraulic system, and electrical and control systems.

This carrier is capable of driving with maximum load, independent steering on all wheels, and elevating of the entire platform by means of the hydraulic suspension. It features high capacity, flexible manipulation, and ease of use.

When transporting workpieces, it first drives under the load, then uses its jacking system to raise the load, and transports and places the load to a specified location without the aid of separate lifting equipment.

It can be operated outtdoors in harsh marine environments with the ambient temperature of -20°to +45°C, relative humidity up to 92％, and below 7 grade wind force.

The main technical features include:

● Fully hydraulic drive: high efficiency, smooth operation, reliability, overspeed prevention and slip control;

● Intelligent power control: the drive system uses electronic and computerized transmission and power control technologies, which can ensure both high torque at maximum load and high speed with lighter loads;

● Independent steering on all wheels, hydraulic drive, and closed electronic control, allowing multiple steering modes;

● The hydraulic suspension ensures even load distribution on every set of wheels;

●  The elevating frame is controlled through closed electronic controls, ensuring simultaneous and stable elevation.

● Includes an automatic weighing and CG display system;

● Provision of HD LCD, which visually displays the operating parameter;

● Electronic control system and failure detection/diagnosis system, which provide accurate control, direct diagnosis and the source of failure.

 

 

 whole sketch map

 

2.2 Vehicle frame

The frame is an integral welded structure with I-shaped beams installed lengthwise and crosswise. All steel plates are high tensile strength rolled steel, which are light in weight, high in rigidity, and powerful in bending moment. On the deck, 5mm removable checkered steel plates are used as cover plates in order to provide convenient access to service areas during maintenance and repair.

Its design has provided both proper flexibility and required rigidity. The hydraulic suspension system may be set up for either a 3 or 4 point support system, thereby ensuring stability in any application.

To transport workpieces, please refer to the Vehicle Load Drawing.

The four lugs are evenly distributed on both vehicle sides so that lifting can be performed easily.

 

2.3 The Cab

There are dual control cabs with identical sets of controls.

The interiors of the cabs have been optimally reengineered and arranged to meet ergonomic requirements, and allow the operator to make adjustments for his comfort.

The dashboard is well arranged and aligned to allow easy observation and reading of controls and gauges. There are rear mirrors installed on both sides of the cabs to provide maximum visibility in all directions. The doors and windows are fitted with safety glass.

Both cabs have heating and cooling systems.

Easy to read LCD image displays and control panels have been used to display the center of gravity (CG) of the load and the pressure of the suspension system, as well as other operating status parameters; Once an error occurs in the system, error messages will be displayed on the screen, greatly reducing the time to troubleshoot the problem.

 

 

The Cab

 

2.4 Power System

All power required by the TST series hydraulic platform transporter is provided by a Cummins or DEUTZ water-cooled diesel engine driving hydraulic pumps. The propulsion of the transporter is provided by directing the hydraulic fluid through hydraulic motors and speed reducers. The steering and lifting cylinders use a separate circuit to fulfill steering and hoisting functions. The cooling system can keep the working temperature at a normal level. By using well-known, proven engines, superior performance and after-sales services are available world-wide.

 

2.5 Drive train

A fully hydraulic closed loop drive system is used to achieve locomotion. Imported variable hydraulic pumps and hydraulic motors are used to drive the wheels through planetary gearboxes. With electronic proportional control technology, it is easy for the system to achieve stepless speed regulation and to control issues such as wheel overspeed and slip control.

  

   

Drive Unit

 

Automatic transmission technology is used to match the power need. Speed shift of the diesel engine and driving speed of the vehicle are electronically controlled through a foot treadle so that there is no need to make frequent transmission shifts during driving. The automatic transmission technology enables the platform transporter to adapt to the load requirement automatically in various operating conditions. By adjusting engine power according to the load and driving speed, it can provide fully matched power to meet any operating condition.

The automatic transmission technology is a proven new technology that is exclusively developed by our company. It brings the following benefits:

1) The engine power is fully utilized to improve the economy of operating the vehicle.

2) The vehicle speed is not dependant upon the transmission and max vehicle speed can be achieved under any operating conditions, resulting in improved operating efficiency.

3) It is easy to operate, eliminating transmission shift errors when the driver has made inaccurate judgment on the slope conditions.

 

2.6 Braking system

Each wheel bogey is fitted with air brakes for dynamic braking (foot braking) and parking brakes (hand braking).

The planetary gear reducer provides another set of parking brake gear, which is to release braking hydraulically during driving and lock the braking during parking.

 

2.7 Hydraulic suspension and lifting systems

Hydraulic suspension technology is used to achieve load balancing on the vehicle. The hydraulic suspension technology enables automatic compensation while the vehicle operates on rough or uneven road surfaces, ensuring vehicle stability and even load distribution on every wheel bogey. In this way, the vehicle’s traffic ability, smoothness and damping capacity are improved.

The axle bridges are connected to the suspension equalizer by a pivot pin, allowing transverse equalization of each individual set of wheels. This allows the vehicle to accommodate road slope and uneven terrain and ensure load distribution on all wheel sets.

The hydraulic suspension system is installed with a pressure relief valve to ensure safety and reliability.

Synchronous control technology is used in the hydraulic suspension unit to ensure the simultaneity of the lifting operation, thus avoiding deviation caused by biased load during lifting operation. In addition, single-point lifting adjustment is made available to achieve flexible stability control.

     

     

 

Suspension Unit

 

2.8 Steering system

Independent all-wheel steering and proportional reversing valves are used to control the turning of each independent suspended wheel set. Steering signal is produced by the steering wheel, parsed by the controller, and used to perform closed loop control over every steering wheel set. The angular displacement transducer installed above the rotor axis makes real-time detection to achieve accurate multi-modal steering. Steering modes such as directional movement, oblique movement, lateral movement, and pivotal turning can be performed depending on the user’s requirement (for major operating modes, please see attached drawings). 

 

 

 

Steering modes

    (a) Standard drive, forward-backward

      (b) All wheel steering, driving in longitudinal direction

      (c) Truck steering, steering point on axis of last axle, last axle fixed

(d) Transversal drive, left-right

(e) All wheel steering, driving in transversal direction

(f ) Diagonal drive, every angle and every direction possible

(g) Truck steering, steering point on longitudinal axis, the last or first transversal axis fixed

(h) Circular drive, steering point at the vehicle centre

When the steering deviation is more than 3 degrees, the LCD indicator on the cab dashboard will flash warning and emit warning signals. When it is move than 5 degrees, the drive system will be locked up automatically.

 

2.9 Hydraulic system

The hydraulic system consists of the drive, steering and suspension systems. The hydraulic drive system is a closed system comprised of a variable displacement pump, hydraulic motors, planetary reducers, and the associated valves, hoses, and tubing. Based on the actual vehicle load, stepless speed shift, automatic output torque regulation and max speed with full power are achieved by changing the rotation speed of the engine and the output of the hydraulic pump through the foot treadle. The steering and suspension systems are open systems and controlled proportionally through the electronic control system. 

Major hydraulic components such as the pumps, motors and proportional valves are all imported in order to ensure the performance and reliability of the system.

High quality hydraulic filters are used on the feed and circuit lines of the hydraulic system to keep impurities in the hydraulic oil to a minimum, thus enhancing its reliability and extending its life. The system includes a check valve to eliminate the need of draining off the hydraulic oil in order to clean or replace the cartridge.

 

2.10 Power supply and microelectronic system

The electrical and electronics system consists of the alternator, batteries, lighting fixtures and air conditioning equipment. There are 4 main head lamps, steering indicators and trouble alarm indicators.

The microelectronic system consists of the PLC, transducer, feedback system and electric circuit. Its operating status is directly displayed on a LCD to allow the driver to control the functions and modes of operation.

The control system not only can issue instructions to all operations of the vehicle, but also performs real-time monitoring over the operating procedure. In the event of mis-operations, the display will show warning and error messages.

 

2.11 System protection

2.11.1 Finish: the vehicle frame is sand blasted and coated with high quality paint. The standard color is yellow, but may be chosen by the customer.

 

2.11.2 Electrical System: the vehicle design and the component selection have taken into consideration the powerful magnet fields within the dock yard and the marine environment, ensuring the stability and reliability of the electrical system under such conditions.

 

2.11.3 Overload protection: Protections from overload or unbalanced load are considered during system design by reserving a large safety factor. In addition, the control system is also used to detect such conditions during operation to ensure system safety. That is, with the detection of an uneven load or the overloading of any suspension point, the vehicle may operate normally for a short time within the safety factor of 1.1; When the load on a single wheel is 1.1 to 1.25 times the load rating, the system will show an overload condition and the alarm will sound; When it is more than 1.25 times, the alarm will sound and the system will be locked automatically. Likewise, when the total load is above 1.1 times of the load rating, the system will alarm and be locked automatically. After the load is adjusted to within the normal range, the locking will be released automatically and the vehicle will continue to work.

 

2.11.4 Overspeed protection: the hydraulic circuits are designed in parallel so that the operating pressure of every driving wheel can be equal. The electronic control can effectively prevent overspeed and wheel slip.

 

2.11.5 Hydraulic system circuit protection: A rupture protection valve is designed for the suspension circuit. In the event of pressure loss, the fluid will be cut off immediately to guarantee safety.

 

2.12 Combo operation (nonstandard configuration, not included in the quotation)

 

The TST series platform transporter provides possibility of dual or multiple unit combination operation. Combo operation functions or interfaces can be provided according to customer’s requirement. There are two operation modes: single vehicle or combo operation. In combo operation, the operator simply needs to connect the signal cables of two or more vehicles together via a quick acting connector, and select any of those vehicles as the primary vehicle (others as secondary). Normal operation can be achieved through the cab of the primary vehicle.   Multiple vehicles can be connected in tandem or parallel. Additional line controls or remote control is available according to customer’s requirements.

a) Two singles b)Parallel-Combination

In combo mode, the vehicle also has multiple operating modes. Please refer to figures below.

 

 

 

 

 Parallel-Combination Steering modes

     (a) Standard drive, forward-backward

(b) Transversal drive, left-right

(c) Diagonal drive

(d) Several vehicles together, all wheel steering, driving in longitudinal direction

(e) Circular drive, steering point at the vehicle centre

3． Latest technologies employed

 

3.1 Closed control technology is used for the suspension and lifting systems to ensure the simultaneity of the lifting operation across the whole vehicle.

 

3.2 The automatic transmission technology is easy to operate and can achieve full power matching under any operating conditions.

 

4. Configurations

 

No.	Name	Brand or vendor
1	Engine	Cummins or DEUTZ (water cooling)
2	Cab	China
3	Air conditioning	China
4	Driving pump	Rexroth/SAUER /Linde
5	Steering pump	Rexroth/SAUER /Linde
6	Drive unit	Rexroth/SAUER /Linde
7	Rotary bearing	Fangyuan (China)
8	Tyre	Double coin (China)
9	Wheel rim	GKN (China)
10	Proportional multi-way valve	HAWE（Germany）
11	Radiator	AKG（Germany）
12	Suspension cylinder	Hengli (China) with Parker seal
13	Steering cylinder	Hengli (China) with Parker seal
14	Coupling	KTR(Germany)
15	Microcontroller（PLC）	EPEC（Finland）
16	Steering angle sensor	Baumer（Swiss）

 

 

5 Technical documentations

The vehicle comes with the following technical documentations:

5.1 Operation Instructions (General Assembly drawings, Hydraulic Diagram, and Electrical schematic).

 

5.2 Factory test report and factory certificate of compliance.

5.3 Steel structure material bill, welding test report and finish test report

 

6. Quality and service warranty

6.1 Quality warranty period

The TST series transporter is warranted against manufacturer defects within 12 months after handover with an acceptable inspection.

 

6.2 Inspection/test

Before delivery, all functional tests will be performed on the vehicle at the factory. During this period, the buyer may send their personnel to witness the process and receive relevant trainings. The buyer is liable for all related expenses (including traveling and accommodation expenses).

 

6.3 Training/commissioning

Before shipping the vehicle, TITAN engineers will conduct technical presentations and training with the customer’s technicians (operators and service technicians), including 5 day commissioning and field training for the operators. The training covers the basic structure, principle, operations, maintenance/service, and common troubleshooting.

The buyer should provide necessary facilities such as a crane or hoist to unload the vehicle at the buyer’s site and consumable items for commissioning, without charge. Upon the completion of vehicle assembly and onsite commissioning, TITAN engineers will disclose technical data of the vehicle and complete the final inspection before the vehicle can be operated under normal conditions.

 

6.4 Delivery period 

In normal situations, the lead period is 4 months and subject to contract terms and conditions.

 

6.5 Services

Regular callback service will be provided to solve issues arising during operation and maintenance. We also have necessary consumable spare parts in inventory to minimize repair time for our customers.