Approval as tractor
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Telescopic elevators New type approval as "tractor" The news for 2005 at Eima is that Faresin Handlers will present its newly-obtained European type approval for the entire range of telescopic loaders dedicated to farming activities as “Wheeled agricultural or forestry tractor”. The importance of having reached this goal is huge, not only in commercial terms, as it will open up new market segments for the manufacturer, but also because of the opportunity it offers farmers to use machines which are polyfunctional in all aspects. To fully understand the value of this new achievement we need to briefly retrace the steps taken by the company to reach this goal.  In 2003 Faresin Handlers identified as a priority the need to develop a telescopic elevator that would make it possible for breeders to cut down on production costs of the enterprise by expanding the range of functions that could be executed by this machine through the introduction of devices which are typical of a conventional tractor. This would make it possible for breeders, and all agricultural entrepreneurs in general, to use the telescopic elevator as a tractor thereby leading to a reduction in the overall number of tractors required to run the farm. The first objective in this project was reached last year with the production of a telescopic elevator with operating features comparable to those of a tractor: the already popular Fh 6.28. In fact, this machine features the typical equipment of a conventional tractor, that is: mechanical power take-off (characterised by high performance), second category 3-point connection and a controlled- or floating-position hydraulic lift with 3,0000 kg lift capacity. Moreover, Fh 6.28 is different from all the other machines on the European market because of its extremely small size and light weight. In fact, having an overall horizontal and longitudinal dimension of a mere 2 metres, a weight of only 5,500 kg, with a powerful rating of 75 kW and a hydrostatic transmission integrated with a mechanical gearbox, it performs well with agility and efficiency in all possible agricultural situations, in the field and as a means of transport. But it did not end there. FH wanted to type approve the elevator to permit it to execute all tractor functions to which it is so very well suited: including towing of large masses on public roads. This second fundamental step was taken in June this year when the European “Wheeled agricultural or forestry tractor” type approval was issued to the machine. Perhaps at this point it is worth noting that telescopic elevators are normally approved as “Industrial or Agricultural Vehicles”. This type of approval permits towing of vehicles with weights not exceeding 3,000 kg on public roads, if not fitted with a braking system, and up to 6,000 kg if fitted with an inertia braking system. Approval as a tractor permits towing of much larger masses, up to 20,000 kg if fitted with an independent hydraulic or pneumatic brake system, at a road speed of 40 km/h. The series All the current ten telescopic elevator models produced by Faresin Handlers are available with industrial or agricultural vehicle approval. Whereas tractor approval has been granted to six models that because of the dimensions, technological characteristics and type of lifting performance are the most appropriate for operating in the agricultural sector. These models range from the big Fh Tr 11.30 (the “Tr” code indicates tractor type approval) to the small Fh Tr 6.28, the only one which also features equipment necessary for activating the vehicles (p.t.o., elevator, etc...). Tab 1. Characteristics of the telescopic elevators for the agricultural sector model maximum lift height in m maximum lift capacity in kg Fh Tr 6.28 6 2,800 Fh Tr 7.30 7 3,000 Fh Tr 7.35 7 3,500 Fh Tr 7.42 7 4,200 Fh Tr 9.30 9 3,000 Fh Tr 11.30 11 3,000 Innovations There are a few differences between those models with tractor type approval and those with different type approval which are basically related to the main transmission type, the presence of devices for powering the braking system of the towed vehicle and several features of the new driver’s cab. In fact, all the telescopic elevators now feature this new cab that has considerably improved the already existing excellent characteristics of the previous one. In tractor-approved models the cab features a few special characteristics connected to requirements for obtaining the O.E.C.D. approval for tractors. These include slightly larger dimensions, the top protective grill integrated in the glass and a safety device for simultaneous opening of the door, the windscreen and the rear window. Another interesting innovation concerns the transmission and the devices for managing the transmission, which had already been tried out on model Fh 6.28 and have now been improved and implemented on all the tractor-approved models. The main transmission is an electronically-controlled Sauer Danfoss hydrostatic transmission, and it has two speeds named Work and Travel obtained through a proportional variation of the motor capacity. Each of these, as a result of the integration with a mechanical gearbox, has two further ratios. The forward gear, reverse gear and speed are engaged by means of a lever switch. The servo-controlled mechanical gearbox is activated by a push button with the machine at a standstill. This gives the operator the use of two step-down gears suitable above all for agricultural work and for heavy towing and transfer operations and two other gears suitable above all for driving on public roads. Table 2 Possible speeds with integrated system “work” system “travel” system Maximum tractive power 1st mechanical gear 6 Km/h 16 Km/h (95,000 N) 2nd mechanical gear 20 Km/h 40 Km/h (35,000 N) A potentiometer equipped with a creeper control which makes it possible to limit the forward speed is particularly useful for operations in the fields. This device permits the regulation of the motor speed according to the power requirements of the p.t.o. without changing the speed of the vehicle. The combined features of this command, the availability of a high performance p.t.o. and a controlled and floating position elevator make the Fh Tr 6.28 particularly suitable for operating equipment that is activated by a tractor. All the tractor-approved models are particularly useful for towing heavy agricultural equipment and, thanks to the transmission and torque reserve available even at the maximum speed, can even very efficiently disengage on slopes or difficult terrains. Moreover, the characteristics of the transmission make these machines particularly suitable for ensiling corn. In fact, as well as support for transport operations, these telescopic elevators perform best in silo formation operations. In fact, in this context on the one hand it is necessary to avoid altering the silo profile (and to avoid having the wheels sink in to the ground) and on the other hand have the availability of a high torque in the entry phases with a loaded bucket. The electronic control of the transmission reduces the sliding effect to a minimum and gives the opportunity of taking the best advantage of the power delivered by the motor. |
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