GIANT TRAILER SA - This is a 338 wheel Supra Cometto trailer 14x14 with a capacity of 450 tons and under special conditions 1000 tons. The trailer weighs just under 300 tons empty. The largest load to date that the trailer has moved is 425 ton tunnel boring machine. The largest electric equipment moved is from their power station weighing 370 tons. This system is not assisted by motorised bogies on the trailer, but simply uses huge tractor units in multiples.

In South Africa no loads are moved by rail like in the USA, Germany, India and Japan as we have huge open spaces ideal for transporting large equipment." These two photographs show one of the largests on-highway vehicles in the world with a 370 ton Siemens generator stator with a gross combination load of 860 tons with five Ultra Pacific trucks 4000hp. Total length 160m. The heaviest load transported in beams has been 950ton gross combination mass the 425 ton tunnel boring machine."

WORLD RECORDS - Mammoet is world’s largest service provider with specialization in lifting and transporting heavy weights. Basically the idea is to develop a heavy transport solution called Trailer Power Assist (TPA). These trailers will be powered hydraulically thus lifting large and heavy equipment will not require combining several trucks.

Traditionally, you might have seen that (multiple trailers) four or five trailers are used to transport heavy cargo. Two or four trucks are used at front to steer the movement and two or four trucks are used at back for support to the cargo/ heavy equipment. The trucks are mechanical connected with limited maneuverability.

The new TPA-system has been initiated by Mammoet and developed in cooperation with SCHEUERLE, the leading manufacturer of heavy transport vehicles. TPA is based on the SCHEUERLE K25 trailer, which is fitted with a Power Pack Unit (PPU) that hydraulically powers 4 of the 6 axle lines. The PPU is mounted at one or either end of the trailer, depending on the configuration – or can be placed on the prime mover to replace the counterweight for traction. Each PPU is powered by a MTU V12 diesel engine, compliant with all emission requirements, that generates 1,000 horsepower and a traction power of over 40 tons. The TPA system is specified for all weather extremes.

One TPA is equivalent to two trucks. Using this technology, only one truck will be required at the front to pull and steer the equipment. This means that only one experienced driver/ operator will be incharge here thus it will reduce any damages caused by communication gaps between several drivers of other trucks combined to move same cargo.

TPA SYSTEM - Traditionally, in road transport of very large and heavy cargo on multiple trailers, two or four trucks can be required at the front to pull and steer and two or four trucks at the back to push or brake assist. The trucks and trailers are mechanically connected, increasing pulling and braking power but limiting their maneuverability. Instead of trucks heavy haulage prime movers are also used – but all of them need to drive back empty.

The new TPA-system has been initiated by Mammoet and developed in cooperation with SCHEUERLE, the leading manufacturer of heavy transport vehicles. TPA is based on the SCHEUERLE K25 trailer, which is fitted with a Power Pack Unit (PPU) that hydraulically powers 4 of the 6 axle lines. The PPU is mounted at one or either end of the trailer, depending on the configuration – or can be placed on the prime mover to replace the counterweight for traction. Each PPU is powered by a MTU V12 diesel engine, compliant with all emission requirements, that generates 1,000 horsepower and a traction power of over 40 tons. The TPA system is specified for all weather extremes.

The draw bar pull of the TPA is the equivalent of two fully loaded prime movers – meaning that one TPA can replace at least two trucks. This has a number of advantages. It reduces the length of the transport and greatly enhances maneuverability by requiring only one truck at the front to pull and steer. One single truck driver operating the system virtually eliminates communication errors – the key safety concern with multiple operators – greatly increasing safety on long haul transports. TPA power can be multiplied by adding more TPA trailers and PPUs, greatly enlarging efficiency compared to using multiple trucks. After on-site delivery the TPA can be operated by remote control in ‘creep mode’ for maximum maneuverability and positioning. One truck can return the empty TPA units in frictionless ‘free-wheel’ mode of the hydraulic drive system.

The assisted road speed of TPA is at least five times higher with only a third of the fuel consumption compared to a transport using only SPMTs (Self-Propelled Modular Transporters) – considerably reducing the carbon footprint. Above the maximum speed of 25 km/h the PPUs shut off and the truck can pull the trailer combination to highway speeds of up to 80 km/h. This means larger loads can be transported over longer distances with safer higher average speeds. In future, exceptionally large transports of over 2,000 tons over longer distances using multiple rows of trailers with one truck at the front and one at the back could become a reality.

SCHEUERLE is currently building two TPA-prototypes in a joint venture with Mammoet. In 2016, these two prototypes will be field-tested by Mammoet.

AMAZING - The giant hydraulically assisted trailer moves a massive cylinder through a mountainous geographical landscape.

LINKS & REFERENCE

http://mechanicalinsider.com/2016/03/16/worlds-largest-giant-trailer/

http://www.hankstruckpictures.com/d_child_sar_h.htm

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