|
|
 |
YAROVIT MOTORS |
Osnovnye SredstvaGLOROS. Trucks designed for had work in complicated conditions
In 2005 our country saw the emergence of one more motor works. On February 17 the inauguration ceremony of “YAROVIT Motors” truck factory took place in Saint Petersburg. The ceremony was attended by Governor of the northern capital Valentina Matviyenko, representatives of the city government and administration, the financial circle, other motor vehicle producers and supplier enterprises.
The new works sees its objective as supplying Russia’s market with variegated reliable trucks featuring high payloads and cross-country capacity, meeting the latest trends in the world car-making in their specific sector of the market.
The heavy-duty truck project originated in early 1990’s. It was then that a racing team emerged among leaders of truck trial tournaments, driving original all-wheel-drive vehicles mostly built with aggregates of a MAZ truck. The team was organized by the company JV “IPC YAROVIT” with its headquarters located in Minsk. The racing team’s successes, the original technical solutions embodied in some of the vehicle aggregates (the transfer case, the driving axle, the tire inflation system, etc.) were noticed by solid foreign investors interested in implementing a serious project in Russia. In 2000 talks started on participation of the JV “IPC “YAROVIT” in developing a concept of an all-wheel-drive truck, the future production object of the new motor works. Serguei V.Sosinovich, a young and talented engineer who possessed previous experience of creating heavy trucks with the companies MAZ and MZKT, was appointed the project Chief Designer.
With the purpose of carrying through the project of developing and launching the production of heavy trucks in Russia, slated to fill in a vacant market niche, the Closed Joint Stock Company “Investment Company “YAROVIT Motors” was formed whose founders were the companies Elgin Systems (USA) taking 51% of the shares and Tracks & Dumpers (Great Britain) possessing 49% of the shares. It was on initiative of CJSC “IC “YAROVIT Motors” that Saint Petersburg was chosen as location for the would-be truck production.
In what ways are YAROVIT trucks different from products of the other factories of the industry and what are the objectives of their creators? The multi-axle YAROVIT trucks are designed for larger gross weights and axle loads than those admissible on public roads. They have to efficiently function in hard road and climatic conditions and fill in the commodity niche between highway tractors and quarry dump trucks. From highway tractors, YAROVIT trucks differ in that they feature greater payloads and better cross-country capacity, increased traction force, and from quarry dump trucks by the load-carrying capacity which is even higher, superior operational efficiency and cargo-hauling speeds. From the point of view of conformity to environmental protection norms and dimensions, these trucks fully meet the requirements for operation on public roads.
When developing YAROVIT trucks, emphasis was put on the use of the most state-of-the-art components, including the key units and aggregates. As the customer may opt for, the truck of one of the families may be outfitted with engines made by Deutz, Cummins, Caterpillar, transmissions from ZF, Allison, axles Sisu, Axletech, etc.
The high effectiveness of operating this innovative equipment is ensured owing to the most modern approaches to designing and assembling the vehicle, and to optimized setup of the aggregates and harmonization of their performances. Thus, the design employs reliable high-quality driving axles designated for onerous operating conditions, especially durable frames, high-performance power trains that guarantee a high power-to-weight ratio, and cleverly selected and combined other aggregates of the running gear and transmission. The modular principle of building the gamut of models makes it possible to advance to the market dozens of modifications of vehicles, whereby their maintenance, repairs and spare parts supply are facilitated due to unification.
Incidentally, the problems of servicing have not been forgotten and receive due attention starting from the first steps of the young enterprise. The after-sale maintenance and repairs system envisages continuous follow-up, subject to warranty, of each vehicle at its working station. On expiration of the warranty, servicing of the company products will be provided by regional maintenance centers that are currently being deployed. In areas difficult to access a network of mobile repair shops will do the job.
YAROVI Ttrucks are designated for such industrial branches as construction, oil-and-gas extraction, mining, forestry. The Gloros truck family counts 11 variants of the chassis of 6x4, 6x6, 8x8, 8x6, 8x4, 10x8 and 10x6 wheel formulae. The chassis can mount various superstructures and rigging, turning it into a bolster truck, dump truck, concrete mixer, logger, short logger, fire engine or truck crane.
The original rigid and durable frame of the GLOROS consists of two channel-type constant-profile side members joined by cross bars. The frame has reinforcements in spots subjected to maximum loads. Side members are supplied by the French division of the company Thyssen Krupp Prisma S.A.S., the leader among European frame manufacturers. The side members are made from high-strength cold-resistant Domex steel developed by the company SSAB Tunnplat specifically for use in high-load structures operating in extreme conditions.
The designers have developed four cab types: a 1860 mm-long two-seater with one bunk, a similar one but 2170 mm-long, a 1860 mm-long high cab with two bunks, and a deluxe version 2170 mm-long. The cab design is based on a metal frame which bears the basic loads and fiber-glass plating capable of dampening shocks and even deformations of the panels up to 60-80 mm deep and restoring the initial shape without any visible damage.
Glass fiber possessing lesser heat conductivity than metals also serves as thermal insulation, which is important for operation of the vehicles in the northern regions. Additional thermal and sound insulation is provided by special heat-insulating material sandwiched between the outer and inner panels. The cab is attached to the frame on four springs, optionally a pneumatic suspension can be provided.
Door windows can be furnished with double panes, the windshield is either panoramic or two-section type. The arrangement of controls on the dashboard corresponds to the world standards. The ventilation and heating system can be additionally outfitted with an air heater and air conditioner. The steering column is height- and tilt-adjustable, and the pneumatically suspended seats made by the firms KAB Seating, Pilot and others can be optionally provided with electric heating. All the seats are equipped with three-point-fastening safety belts.
The in-line 6- and 8-cylinder Deutz engines of 11.9 – 15.9 l cubic capacity generate from 408 to 598 hp and meet Euro 2 standards. The in-line 6-cylinder 11-litre Cummins diesel engines generate 340 - 430 hp, while the 12-litre 6-cylinder Caterpillars provide 335 - 505 hp. Optionally, the engines can be outfitted with liquid preheater-heaters made by the world’s renowned manufacturers.
Depending on the functional purpose, the trucks can be equipped with 16-step mechanical ZF (including modifications with built-in hydraulic retarder) transmissions, or transmissions with hydraulic clutches (WSK), or semi-automatic Allison transmissions. Transfer cases are supplied by the company ZF-Steyr, however, optionally a domestically produced aggregate can ve installed.
The steerable axles manufactured by SISU Axles are designed for the maximum load of 10 tons, the thru and rear axles (of the three-axle truck) for 13 tons. 16-ton rear axles can be optionally provided. The locking cross-axle differentials and interaxle differentials in the transfer cases are electro-pneumatically controlled. Owing to the use of “tandem” and “tridem” (thee-axle) rear bogies, one can achieve an optimal distribution of load between the vehicle axles, while the design of the spring suspensions allows for considerable throw of axles relative to each other.
The design of Yarovit trucks uses an original dual steering system which retains control of the chassis in cases of failure of certain parts (pumps, valves, etc.), depressurization of one of the hydraulic circuits of the system, shutdown of the engine in movement, or when the truck is towed with the engine killed. The control system parts are supplied by the company ZF Lenksysteme. As a unique feature of the GLOROS electrical equipment, we can cite installation (optional) of the electronic transmission control system (ADM) by ZF-Steyr on the all-wheel-drive vehicles.
When moving on bad roads, the system automatically provides optimal control of activation-deactivation of the driving axles and the transfer case, as well as of pressure in the tires. Gloros trucks are equipped with a system of pneumatically driven drum brakes, which rules out dust or water getting on the braking shoe working surfaces. Automatic adjustment of clearances in the braking couple ensures additionally safe braking. The system was developed by specialists of the renowned firms Wabco andKnorr-Bremse, which is why these companies supply the components. Installation of oil- and moisture-separators is envisaged, and all trucks are outfitted with antiskid braking systems.
The works annual production program envisages manufacturing up to 500 GLOROS trucks of from 29.5 to 46.9 ton lifting capacity. The comparative analysis of efficiency of YAROVIT and BelAZ dump trucks performed by the mining company “Phosphorite” (Kingisepp) shows that 10 new GLOROS 4350 trucks are capable of replacing 15 model BelAZ-7547 dumpers, and the annual economic gain will amount to 969,900 USD. The saving from five years of their operation will amount, correspondingly, to 4,854,500 USD.
By P.Aleshin
“Osnovnye Sredstva” (Fixed Assets) Magazine, No 1/2006
 Print Version
|
