Scraper (Loji Larik)

1. Introduction

Typically scarpers are used in road construction:

cut and fill requires a combined load, haul and discharge system
plant that haul at least up to a distance of 3 km
robust i.e. capable of travelling over rough terrain

Scraper vs. dozer

Bulldozer - moving earth over short distances up to 100m
Scraper - developed specifically to cater for this medium-distance haul (up to 3 km)

Advantages of scraper:
can be used on wide range of material type (including soft rock);
economic over a wide range of haul distances and conditions
independent from other plant?
deposit uniform thickness simplify compaction process
huge capacity: 15 to 50 m3

Disadvantage: Less superior to function specific plant

2. Excavating Action

The scraper is a self-loading, transporting and spreading machine predominantly used

for general levelling.

Excavation is carried out:

in layers of 150 to 300 mm - a gradual process.
on a downward gradient (take advantage of gravity)

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Cutting stage:
the bowl is lowered and the apron
(1) opened
forward movement of the machine
directs the cutting edge (2) into the
soil causing it to boil upwards into
the bowl.

2

Discharge stage:
ejection takes place whilst the unit
is moving
the height of the bowl is set to
spread the material in a controlled
layer
the soil is pushed out of the bowl
with the aid of the ejector plate (3)

Capacity (heaped capacity)

tractor-pulled scraper : 8-30 m3

motorised scrapers : 15-50 m3

3. Towed Scraper

Elements:
towed bowl supported on two axles running on four wheels
bulldozer:
powerful - capable of providing 300 hp
good traction - fitted with specially strong and deep webbed tracks

Production:
loading cycle takes up to two minutes
output is considerably reduced due slow travelling speed to the discharge area
hauls greater than 300 m is uneconomic relative to other means of removing the
material
outputs of 40 m3/h of struck material (9 m3 heaped capacity scraper)

Advantages (over motorised scrapers):

able to load in heavy soils
able to load on the upwards gradient
able to manoeuvre in a small turning circle
can be used on hard material

4. Motorised Scraper

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4.1 Standard scraper/single-engine scraper

excavating and hauling action is carried out in a similar way to the towed scraper

frequently requires pushing assistance during the loading phase

production:
haul speeds up to 60 km/h (on well-graded haul roads)
output up to 150 m3/h (20 m3 heaped capacity, hauling over 1 km)

1) bowl 4) swan neck

2) single rear axle 5) hydraulic cylinders controls bowl
3) drive axle height

4.2 Double-engine scraper

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each diesel engine capable of high
power output up to 500 hp each

construction and operating action are similar to the standard one

double-engine scraper is still not a genuine self-loader, in heavy soils a pusher is still
needed

4.3 Four-wheeled tractor scraper

pulling large machines (35 m3 heaped capacity or more) is best achieved with two
engines rather than one very large front-mounted engine

4.4 Method of Working with the Motorised Scraper

4.4.1. Push Loading

used mainly with the standard scraper

tools
bulldozer is fitted with a very robust blade mounted on to the dozer frame through
shock absorbers to take up impact
the scraper is stiffened at the rear to form a push block

The pusher is used only during the loading phase and serves three to five scrapers

5

Although high production is possible from the above approach, the high cost of the
scraper and bulldozer team limits the use of the motorised system to fairly large projects

Number of wheel (rubber tyre) motor scrapers serviced by a bulldozer


 
 
  


  

 


 
 
  


Size of the bulldozer to use as a pusher is related to the carrying capacity of the scraper
and depends upon the hardness of the soil to be loaded.

The actual number of pusher required will be determined by the soil, size of scraper and
dozer.

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 Haul distance Number of
(one way) (m) motor scrapers per pusher set
100 2
200 2
300 2
600 3
900 4
1200 5
1500 6
1800 7
2100 8
2400 8
3000 10
* the average scraper speed along a haul road = 30 km/h

4.5 The Push-Pull Method

two scrapers in turn assist each other to load without the need for a bulldozer pusher

fairly effective in all but very heavy soils

usually double-engine scrapers are used

Working Cycle

1. Scraper I ahead of scraper II after turning. Relative travelling speeds synchronized to

within 2-4 km/hr
2. Scraper I begins to load with the help of a push from scraper II.
3. Scraper II loads with the help of a pull from the fully laden Scraper I.
4. Connection link between scraper I and scraper II is broken.
5. Scraper I accelerates away, and scraper II follows slightly off line
6. Scrapers discharge
7. Scrapers turn.
8. Scraper II takes the lead.
9. Scrapers turn to continue the loading operations at (1) with scraper I regaining the
lead.

scrapers must be robust (modified standard model):

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 strong swan neck and bowl hitch arms
a cushion push block and bail at the front end
a hook and stiffened frame at the rear

push-pull connection mechanism is controlled hydraulically from the drivers cab.

5. Self-loading Scraper

Even the push-pull method often requires dozer assistance

To overcome resistance encountered when cutting into the soil, the apron is removed
and replaced by an elevator which aids the loading action

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Self-loading in all but very hard or heavy soils.

6. General Points to Consider When Using Scrapers

1) Keep haul roads broad enough to accommodate overtaking.

2) Ensure that haul roads are well maintained with graders and free from deep rutting
and grooving and well drained.

3) Construct hauls with gradients less than 5% if possible.

4) Plan haul road routes to avoid bottlenecks, short lengths of sharp gradient and
curves.

5) Try to keep the rolling resistance as low as possible.

6) Towed scrapers are economic up to 300 m haul distance.

7) Single-engine standard scrapers are suitable for light soils, and low rolling resistances
along the haul and require pusher assistance, economic up to about 3 km haul.

8) Push-pull: scrapers must be double-engined and robust. Capable of similar work

described above under (7).

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9) An elevator scraper is 10-15% heavier than the equivalent standard scraper and
generates a greater rolling resistance. Purchase price is higher but as it is a self-
loading machine it may be more economic than the standard scraper if push loaders
are not needed on the project.

10) The single-engine scraper has lower fuel costs than either the double-engine or
elevating scraper.

11) Push loading gives a shorter loading time than push-pull loading.

12) Cuttings - start along the outer edges of the projected cutting and work downhill
towards the fill area. Maintain the formation in a convex shape to lean the scraper
towards the sides of the cutting and thereby encourage the maintenance of the full
width of the cut. Continuously trim the cut sides with a grader/bulldozer, pushing
the material to the scraper for removal.

13) Fillings - embankments are formed in layers working inwards from the outer limits.
The formation is made concave to lean the scrapers towards the centre and so
reduce the possibility of the scraper slipping over the edges.

7. Production Data
Ideal output of motorised scraper Ideal output of towed scraper

8. Haul Roads

8.1 Resistance to Movement

The production data given in previous figures assume a good haul road with a rolling
resistance of about 2%.

Rubber-tyred scrapers are particularly affected as the haul road deteriorates - as the
rolling resistance approaches 10%, output from a scraper could be halved.

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The maximum speed attainable by a moving machine naturally depends on the rolling
resistance of the ground, scrapers must supply sufficient power to the wheels to
overcome rolling resistance.

Approximate value of percentage

rolling resistance on different soil types
Rolling resistance (%)
Ground surface condition
rubber tyres tracks
Concrete 1.5 0
Fine gravel/sand 2.0 0
Loose gravel 10.0 5
Loose sand 10.0 5
Soft mud 16.0 7
Deeply rutted loam 16.0 7
Loose loam 4.0 3
Firm loam 2.0 1

9. Scraper Production

The capacity of a scraper can be measured by volume or weight

Operating efficiency decreases when the plant capacity or weight is exceeded

Scraper volume measure in two ways in lcm:

Struck volume: volume in lcm that a scraper will hold if the top of the material were
struck off even at the top of the bowl
Heaped volume: volume in lcm that a scraper would hold with the material heaped
and sloping above the sides of the bowl. Heaped volume takes into account the fill
factor.

The cycle time of a scraper:

(Loading time) + (Travelling time: haul full) + (Discharge time) +
(Travelling time: return empty) + (Spot for the next cut)

Typical times:
Load times
Vary based on power, bowl capacity, and site condition.
Typical times: 0.4 to 1 min
Manoeuvre and spread or manoeuvre and dump range from 0.6 to 0.7 min.

Example 1

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A Cat D631E Series II wheel tractor scraper assisted with a D9R bulldozer is to be used to
move soil about 1280 metres to build detention pond at the entry of subdivision. The D9
has ripped the soil in the area to be excavated about 46 cm deep. The D9 is to push the
scraper until it is out of the hole. Once full, the scrapers average haul speed will be around
16 kM/hr. The return route is about 1340 metres and the average return speed will be
around 22 kM/hr. The rated heaped capacity of the D631 is 24 lcm. The estimated load
time according to the performance manual is 0.6 min. The estimated dump time is about
0.7 min. The Cat estimated hourly O&O for moderate conditions fo D9 is RM290/hr and for
the D631 is RM300/hr. The projected O&O cost includes the operator for this calculation.

1) What is the work hour productivity if the operator works 50 min per 60-min hour?

  
    








1280  1 ! 60 
 
  4.8 
16 ! 1000  1 

1340  1 ! 60 
%
 
  3.7 
22 ! 1000  1 



 (  (  ( 

0.6  ( 4.8  ( 0.7  ( 3.7 
9.8 
24  60  50 
*   122.5 
9.8  1  60 

2) How many scrapers will the D9 support?


 
 
  


  

 


 
 
  


Pusher cycle time push time ( return time ( boost time ( manoeuvre time
Push time scraper load time
Return time 40% of scraper load time
Boost time 0.1 min
Manoeuvre time 0.15 min

*
 

0.6 ( 0.40.6 ( 0.1 ( 0.15 1.09 
D
 

9.64 min * 1

9.64

  

 

1.09
8.8

To avoid delay for any scraper to hit the hole, round down the calculated number; use 8 scrapers.

3) How many hours will it take to excavate and haul 15750 bcm of soil with swell factor
of 15% using the D9 and D631 scrapers?

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 I  
JK

  L 8 
 8  122.5 
980 

15750  1.15 

I  
JK

 
980 
18.5 
4) How much it cost to excavate and move the soil?

M18.5 1 N

%!290 O ( M18.5 1 
%!300O %!10,915

5) What is the unit cost for the work?

%!10915
%! 0.69
15750 L

10. Rimpull and Traction

Terminology:
Traction = Grip (cengkaman) = Usable rimpull
Supplied rimpull engine power

Grip (traction) between the ground surface and the wheels or tracks must be sufficient
to prevent slippage

Grip therefore must exceed the supplied rimpull, if the vehicle is to move at all.

10.1 Supplied rimpull

The supplied rimpull is the tractive force applied between the tyres of the drive wheels
and ground surface:
3.6 
P
Q
  


D 
   




determined by the power of the engine
influenced by:
the efficiency of the transmission
the gearing ratios
wheel/track arrangements
affected by
altitude
air temperature
Approximate reduction in engine power for altitude
Altitude Reduction
0-300 m no loss in performance
300 m and above reduces available rimpull by 3% per 300 m.

Approximate reduction in engine power for temprature

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 Temperature (C) -15 0 15 30 45
Reduction (%) +6 +3 0 -3 -5

10.2 Usable rimpull

The usable rimpull = traction/grip

depends upon the coefficient of traction
coefficient of traction is defined as the factor by which the load on the drive wheels
or tracks may be multiplied before slipping occurs

RL
  
 
P  K
Q

  

  

Approximate coefficients of traction

Type of surface (dry) Rubber tyres Tracks
Smooth concrete 0.8-1.0 0.3-0.6
Clay 0.5-0.8 0.6-0.9
Firm sand/gravel 0.3-0.8 0.7-0.9
Loose sand 0.1-0.2 0.3-0.5
Loose gravel 0.2-0.4 0.4-0.7
Packed snow 0.1-0.4 0.2-0.6
Firm loam 0.4-0.8 0.6-1.0
Loose loam 0.4-0.6 0.7-1.0

Example 2

A rubber-tyred motorised scraper has a capacity of 16/23 m3 (struck/heaped). The machine

is operated on firm loam up a gradient of 6% at an altitude of 900 m where the air
temperature during the day is 30C. The rated power of the engine is 335 kW (450 hp). The
gross laden weight of the unit is 72000 kg, made up of 36000 kg self-weight and 36000 kg
payload. The total load is distributed with 50% on each axle. Determine:
i) if the wheels will slip?
ii) if sufficient rimpull is available given the travelling speeds for the following gear
ratios:
1st gear 5 km/h
2nd gear 12 km/h
3rd gear 18 km/h
top gear 40 km/h.

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Solution:

1) If the wheels will slip?

coefficient of traction (see table) = 0.6 (average value)

Max. usable rimpull (traction) = 36000kg9.81m/s210-30.6

= 212 kN

Max power supplied from the engine = 335 kW

Efficiency in transferring engine power into rimpull (engine efficiency) = 80% (typical
value)

Uncorrected supplied rimpull

Gear Speed
3.6 
P
Q
  





3.6  335  0.8
1st 5 km/h 193 kN
5
3.6  335  0.8
2nd 12 km/h 80 kN
12
3.6  335  0.8
3rd 18 km/h 54 kN
18
3.6  335  0.8
top gear 40 km/h. 24 kN
40

Approximate reduction in engine hp for altitude

0-300m no reduction, >300m reduce rimpull by 3% per 300 m

Approximate reduction/increase in engine hp for temperature

30oC reduction = 3%

total reduction = 6%+3% = 9%

Corrected supplied rimpull (temp and altitude)

Gear Corrected supplied rimpull

in 1st 1930.91 = 176kN
in 2nd 72.8kN
in 3rd 49.14 kN
in top gear 21.84kN

Max Supplied Rimpull is in 1st gear (176kN) less than Usable Rimpull (212kN). wheels will
not slip.

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2) If sufficient rimpull is available given the travelling speeds for the following gear
ratios?

Rolling resistance for firm loam = 2% (see table)

supplied rimpull to overcome rolling resistance

 Q
P    P 


2 9.81
7200  
100 1000
14 


Supplied rimpull to overcome grade resistance

 Q
P    P

6 9.81
7200  
100 1000
42 

Total supplied rimpull required = 14 + 42 = 56kN

The scraper will generate sufficient rimpull in 2nd gear to climb grade. If the unit is to be
operated at heaped capacity, the maximum speed along the haul road is 12km/hr

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