LeTourneau Inc, the Longview, Texas-based company, employs SR Drive® technology in its latest 50 Series ‘digital’ loaders.  The L-1350 electric-wheel loader is the first machine of its type to be fitted with SR Drive® systems that provide independent traction for each wheel.

LeTourneau invented the electric-drive wheel loader more than forty years ago, and has been refining the concept ever since. Today, its range of loaders represents the industry standard and includes the largest front-end loader in the world.  The L-1350 stands 6 metres high from ground to cab roof and more than 16 metres long.  It weighs over 180 tonnes and its 21m³ rock bucket handles a 38 tonne payload.

 
Independent all-wheel electric drive for advanced wheel-loader.
LeTourneau’s B40 SR Drive® motor.
LeTourneau’s SR Drive® motors, electric power conversion and control system.
 


The loader is powered by four B40 type SR Drive® motors; one on each traction wheel, each providing torque to the wheels via a 141:1 planetary gearbox.  Each  B40 motor is rated at 300kW, yet its physical size is comparable to that of a conventional 150kW motor.

The wide torque bandwidth of the LeTourneau SR Drive® system delivers exceptionally high tractive effort and maximises the benefit of on-board control schemes that minimise wheel slip and tyre wear.  All four SR Drive® systems operate as generators as well as motors, allowing the vehicle to be braked electrically.

Relative to the original brushed DC motors that the SR Drive® system replaces, the absence of brushes and a commutator in the SR Drive® machines provides a major increase in service and inspection interval from around 500 hours to 20,000 hours for bearing replacement.

 

 

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