The Caterpillar 740 Ejector Articulated Truck is
Caterpillar
Caterpillars ( ) are the larval stage of members of the order Lepidoptera (the insect order comprising butterflies and moths).
As with most common names, the application of the word is arbitrary, since the larvae of sawflies (suborder ...
's second generation of
articulated hauler
An articulated hauler, articulated dump truck (ADT), or sometimes a dump hauler, is a very large heavy-duty type of dump truck used to transport loads over rough terrain, and occasionally on public roads. The vehicle usually has all-wheel drive a ...
s (
dump truck
A dump truck, known also as a dumping truck, dump lorry or dumper lorry or a dumper for short, is used for transporting materials (such as dirt, gravel, or demolition waste) for construction as well as coal. A typical dump truck is equipped ...
) to have a system that pushes material out the back of the body. It is the largest articulated haul truck offered by Caterpillar; larger trucks use a rigid frame system. The ejector uses a 4-cylinder hydraulic ram and blade to dump the material out, a similar system to Cat's wheel tractor-scrapers. The 740 Ejector is sold as separate model from the usual 740.
Total power is 436 hp (325 kW), total operating weight is 162,280 lb (73,610 kg), with the load being 42
short ton
The short ton (abbreviation: tn
or st), also known as the US ton, is a measurement unit equal to . It is commonly used in the United States, where it is known simply as a ton; however, the term is ambiguous, the single word "ton" being variously ...
s (38
tonne
The tonne ( or ; symbol: t) is a unit of mass equal to 1,000 kilograms. It is a non-SI unit accepted for use with SI. It is also referred to as a metric ton in the United States to distinguish it from the non-metric units of the s ...
s), 37.3 yd
3 (28.5 m
3) at a 1:1 heap. Top forward speed is 34 mph (55 km/h).
History
Caterpillar introduced an ejector version of its D400E in 2001. In 2002/2003, the DX00 series of trucks were replaced with the 7XX range. Currently Caterpillar supplies 725, 730, 730 Ejector, 735, 740 and 740 Ejector versions. The 7XX truck series uses the same cab design across all types. These are all manufactured in the UK.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages
# Lower risk of tipping over on slopes when dumping.
# Ability to spread the material out over a distance.
# Dumping does not increase the risk of contacting overhead obstacles (power lines, bridges, etc.).
# Virtually eliminate any material remaining in the body after dumping.
# Dumping and returning can be done without slowing down.
Disadvantages
# Reduction in types of materials suited for hauling, large rocks can wedge between sidewall and ejector causing damage.
# Winter operations may cause wet material to freeze on sidewall jamming ejector.
# More complicated operation, additional parts to maintain.
# Body can be damaged from contact while loading, preventing ejection.
External links
Caterpillar 740 Ejector- Official Caterpillar website
Ejector system(image from manufacturer website)
Magazine Article in Earthmovers Magazine about Maveric Contractors Caterpillar 740 Ejectors{{Caterpillar
740 Ejector