Caterpillar has developed a propel drive system upgrade for the Cat 7495 and 7495 HF electric rope shovels. The upgrade reconfigures the crawler undercarriage to allow drive shaft and tumbler replacement from the outboard side, which improves access and decreases downtime.
The new design slashes maintenance time and enhances safety by enabling access to drive components without removing the propel transmission. Additionally, Caterpillar engineered the upgrade to be a direct replacement. No machining of the crawler frame is required for installation.
The new design also is robust. Thrust loads are evenly distributed on large tapered roller bearings as opposed to bronze thrust plates, and the bearings are sealed and continuously purged with fresh grease. The result is increased durability in harsh environments and alignment with 25,000-hour planned rebuilds.
