Braked with compressed air, the Volvo wheeled excavator EW160E is allowed to tow trailers with weights of up to eight tons, at a maximal supporting load of 1000 kg. The Volvo wheeled excavator EW160E, which is licensed for public street operation, can carry attachments for all pending work on a single trailer. This is particularly helpful when it moves from one day construction site to the next. Safe braking of the heavy train of wheeled excavator and trailer is ensured by the air brake system developed and installed by Dipl.-Ing. Tietjen GmbH.
 

Development and assembly of the air brake system

Swecon Baumaschinen GmbH and the development department of Dipl.-Ing. Tietjen GmbH have cooperated closely to develop solutions in order to integrate the components of the air brake system into the wheeled excavator. The compressor – the core of the air brake system – was placed in the engine compartment of the upper structure, while valves and air reservoirs remain in the undercarriage. One special challenge was routing hoses and lines through the rotary feedthrough from the rotating upper structure to the rigid undercarriage.

The trailer control valve was sized in accordance with the brake hydraulics of the wheeled excavator so that a coordinated delay between the tractor unit and the trailer is achieved. Further valve technology was developed based on the function of the parking brake hydraulics and current EU regulations. Depending on country and customer request, coupling heads for the trailer air supply will be installed individually.

Fully equipped and ready to go

With the air brake system retrofitted by Tietjen, the wheeled excavator is now able to move securely on the road even when towing truck trailers, and carrying along its own work equipment such as the bucket, shaker plate, or similar devices. In this case, the wheeled excavator is equipped for filling a trough trailer with debris that it can take away and then return to the construction site with an empty trough. A second vehicle for such transport runs can, therefore, be dispensed with.

Thomas Brandenstein from Swecon Baumaschinen GmbH’s product marketing explains: “Air brake systems have become a common option for construction site machinery that we gladly offer our customers. In cooperation with Tietjen, we have been offering a wide range of tried and tested solutions for many years, ensuring a seamless range from the L45H compact wheel loader all the way to the L150H. We can provide customised kits to customers with Volvo construction site machinery internationally this way.”