Caterpillar's D7E dozer, with a diesel-electric power train, delivers up to 30% better fuel efficiency and 10% more production than its conventional D7R2 predecessor. Fuel savings, fewer mechanical parts to wear, reduced lubricant use, and added production combine to lower owning and operating costs, according to the company.
Three new productivity-boosting dozing features help optimize the machine during grade work:
Stable Blade Control complements operator inputs and auto adjusts the blade for smoother, more precise grades.
Traction Control senses track slip and makes instantaneous smart blade adjustments to improve load consistency and maintain fuller blade loads, resulting in greater productivity with less undercarriage wear.
Slope Indicate provides a constant visual readout of the machine’s mainfall and cross slope for real-time grade and slope guidance without a dedicated grade control system.
The dozer meets U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final emissions standards.The Cat emissions reduction technology requires no action from the operator and no stopping for system regeneration. The selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system uses diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), which can be refilled at refueling time. Across a variety of applications, the D7E typically has used DEF at a rate of 2-2.5% of fuel consumption. The D7E has excellent fluid efficiency, defined as the amount of work done per unit of fuel and DEF consumed. In less aggressive applications, many will find they can complete multiple shifts on a single tank of DEF.
The D7E engine powers an electrical generator that sends current through armored cables to a solid-state inverter, which supplies DC current to accessories. The propulsion module, featuring AC electric motors, delivers well-modulated torque via axles to the final drives. Electrical drive train components are sealed and liquid cooled with both oil and water to work efficiently in a wide variety of conditions and in high ambient temperatures.
The load-sensing hydraulic system continually adjusts hydraulic power to maximize work tool efficiency. Dozer blade choices include universal, semi-universal, straight and angle blades. There are also special application blades to meet the needs for processing materials such as wood chips, coal, and waste.
