Dana’s new drivetrain for RT cranes, terminal tractors

Dana Inc. has introduced a new drivetrain package for rough-terrain cranes and terminal tractors.

Dana Inc. has introduced a new drivetrain for rough-terrain cranes with lift capacities from 83 to 110 tons (75 to 100 tonnes) and terminal tractors.

The Spicer 246 heavy-duty steer axle and Spicer C3300 remote torque converter are offered as part of a complete drivetrain solution for rough-terrain cranes designed to deliver premium performance through improved gradeability and travel speeds, higher efficiency in the field, increased productivity and reduced operating costs.

“As the global construction market recovers, buyers are looking for high-performing vehicles that deliver exceptional productivity and efficiency,” said Aziz Aghili, president of Dana Off-Highway Drive and Motion Systems. “Dana’s large and growing capabilities for rough-terrain cranes enable us to anticipate market shifts and collaborate with original-equipment manufacturers to supply the drivetrain technologies that improve their competitiveness.”

Monolithic axle design

Dana’s new heavy-duty Spicer 246 steer axle incorporates a monolithic axle design and high integrity seals engineered to provide high performance in the most severe working conditions. It offers optimized steering geometries to minimize slippage, while the single universal joint design with outboard planetary gears provides high output torque and high-capacity braking with low drag at travel speeds, Dana said.

Currently available for OEM field testing, the Spicer 246 axle can also be adapted for use with airport ground support vehicles, where it can be configured with optional wet brakes.

New torque converter

Dana said it has developed the new Spicer C3300 remote torque converter specifically for rough-terrain cranes. It is optimized for engines up to 195 kW (260 hp) and can be packaged with Spicer remote transmissions. Dana said it is the only manufacturer worldwide that supplies a remote torque converter with three large pump drives for implements.

The Spicer C3300 remote torque converter is available with an optional lockup designed to improve efficiency while providing higher braking effort during downhill operation. It utilizes new converter wheel sizes configured to optimize the performance of today’s low-speed engine designs.

Available now, the Spicer C3300 remote torque converter is already in use in terminal tractor applications, where it enables lower heights for fifth wheels, Dana said.

Broad portfolio for cranes

Dana has a large and growing selection of drive and motion technologies for manufacturers of tracked and wheeled cranes. Earlier this year, Dana introduced a new series of Spicer Torque-Hub drives for crawler cranes and other large tracked vehicles. With torque ratings from 80,000 Nm up to 450,000 Nm, the new drives offer flexible packaging and gear ratios to meet manufacturer preferences for tracked and wheeled applications, Dana said.

The company also offers high-performance Brevini winches for cranes and other applications with lift capacities from 1.1 tons (990 kg) to 33 tons (30 tonnes). Additionally, Dana supports the work functions of cranes with a wide selection of Brevini slew drives, hydraulic pumps and motors, and proportional directional valves.