Optimizing the Capacity of Dozer Blade with Hydraulic Foldable Wings to Enhance Productivity

Crawler Dozers play a critical role in global construction, mining and industrial sectors, performing essential tasks like pushing the material, grading, leveling and scraping. In the highly competitive dozer market, meeting the growing demand for increased productivity requires strategies to enhance blade capacity and width. Approximately 70% of dozer operations involve pushing the material and dozing, where blade capacity significantly influences performance. Factors such as mold board profile, blade height, and width impact blade capacity which are crucial for productivity in light applications such as snow removal and dirt pushing. Blade width is also pivotal for grading and leveling tasks. Traditional blade designs, like straight or fixed U-type blades, constrain operator flexibility, limiting overall productivity. The integration of hydraulic-operated foldable wings on both sides of the blade offers the adaptability to adjust blade capacity which also helps to reduce material spillage. This study investigates the impact of hydraulic folding wings on blade capacity, especially analyzing the correlation between fold angle and blade capacity. The optimal fold angle for maximizing capacity is determined for various materials through analytical methods. Furthermore, the study explores the economic implications of utilizing such blades, encompassing considerations like cost, productivity, and customer benefits.