Field Loading
Configurations
©Dr. B. C. Paul 2000
Field Loading
Configurations
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Depends on the type of
equipment used
On the space available
Shovels and Hydraulic
Excavators tend to load in one
set of ways
Backhoes have some variations
FEL have some unique ones
Single Truck Loading
Loader near the face
Truck backs up next to the
loader on the drivers side
(Gives the loader operator a
better view
Loader working into cut in the
face
Loader swings about 120
degrees to dump
Advantages of Single
Truck Loading
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Simple
Truck doesn’t have to back tires
into the rockiest areas
The shovel faces armor of the
tracks into the dig face
Shovel operator has optimized
view of truck bed target
Disadvantages of Single
Truck Loading
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Backing into place can take
around 1 minute and may
require a spotter
• Loaders expensive and idle
• Back time is an unproductive bottleneck
• Can form large ques because trucks
tend to bunch
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120 degree swing angle can be
slow
• Manufactures often rate on 90 degree
More Disadvantages
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Limited Space Available for
Oversize Material
• Can set to side
• Do a bowling ball drop into truck
• Hydraulic shovels can set - but cable
shovels drop bucket bottom open
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Extension cord problems with
electric equipment
• Cord has to cut across truck path
• Putting on poles can cost time
Double Truck Loading
Same Arrangement as
single truck loading only
the trucks pull up on both
side
Advantages of Double
Truck Loading
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Second Loading Spot Allows a
second truck to spot during
loading operations
• Avoids dead time on the loader
• Doesn’t help the truck cycle time
other than eliminating some
queing
Disadvantages of
Double Truck Loading
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Still have extension cord
problems on electric units
Oversize boulder problem is now
even more severe
Forces Loader operator to load
on the blind side (most big
loaders put the cab to one side
of equipment)
Drive By Truck Loading
Shovel Lines up Along
the face
Trucks pull forward and
stop beside the loader
Shovel Swings 90 to 180
degrees to dump
Advantages to Truck
Drive-By
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Greatly Reduced Spotting Time no backing cycle
Cable doesn’t cross the Trucks
Path
Can Set Oversize Beside and out
of the way
Machine marches on a steady
forward advance
Can do in a narrower space
Disadvantages of Drive By
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Often have problems with dipper
swinging over the top of the
drivers cab
• Loader gets revenge for the truck
running over its extension cord
• If the dipper comes open your
truck driver can get dead
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Trucks get to drive those
expensive tires through spills
More Disadvantages
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Lack of spotting makes it a one
shot that can lead to long
swings
Tracks are broadside to long
face area
Modified Drive-By (Or
Getting Fancy)
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Shovel in Drive-By Position
Truck Drives up to Shovel as if it
was a drive-by
• Loading drops onto a moving
target
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While the Loading goes for the
next bite the truck backs into a
single load like position
• Shortens swing distance
Advantages
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Get most of the positioning
advantages of single truck load
without the idle spot time
Disadvantages
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Dump onto a Moving Target
• With swinging over cab can be a
real adventurous feeling for driver
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Gets the tires into some real
rocky conditions
Backhoe Loading
Methods
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Backhoe works below grade
• Can allow work to be kept off wet
pit floor
• can also provide multi-level
loading
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Backhoes generally need good
size machine relative to bucket.
Doesn’t wear as well - generally
used for special conditions
Can Work Double and
Single Truck Loads
Can also Load on
Multiple Levels
Multilevel Loading
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Double Loading configuration
• has extra room for oversize and
still two trucks
• Because truck has to come in on
right level does require some
additional advance data to send
truck to right spot
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Can also get 3 position loading
• often a bit of overkill
Front End Loader
Configurations
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FELs are less expensive than
the trucks and are mobile
Makes practical to consider
more than one loader providing
loading service
Limited lift heights make truck
match more critical
Tires can tear up bad underfoot
Single Truck Loading
Common Loading
Arrangements
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Tandom Loading
• This time there are two loaders
and the truck backs between
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Drive By Loading
Chain Loading
Staggered Tandom
Loading