Loader Mounted Snow Blower Specification-3.doc

Specification

Loader Mounted Snow Blower Purpose and Intent:

It is the purpose and intent of these specifications to describe a snow blower that will be fitted to a wheeled front end loader.

The blower unit must comply with all applicable Federal and State of Maine laws. The snow blower shall be a self-contained, single stage or two stage snow blower unit. It shall be powered with an integral diesel engine, and designed for installation on, and operation from a 3 to 3 ½ cubic yard wheel loader (this application is for a J.D 624). The Snow blower must be engineered and designed for a heavy duty application to work under extreme winter conditions.

1. Manufacturers Literature: The manufacturer’s literature shall include a general description of the snow blower, a listing of all standard equipment provided on the model being bid, and a listing of all optional equipment available for the snow blower.

2. Operational Requirements:

a. Width of Cut: Minimum of 108 inches.

b. Discharge Rate: 2800 ton per hour at full capacity.

c. Casting Distance: At least 60 feet, or the equipment manufacturers stated casting distance for the model bid, which ever is greater.

d. Weight: Maximum 10,000 lb.

e. Working Height: at least 60 inches.

f. Overall Length: Not more than 96 inches.

3. MATERIALS: Materials shall be of the highest quality available for their intended commercial use.

4. DESIGN: Design of equipment shall permit easy access for maintenance and service. All blower unit stress points shall be designed to distribute and dissipate shock forces. All auger(s) (if the snow blower is equipped with augers) and impeller assemblies shall be protected against sudden stops or damage that may be caused from foreign objects. Protection may be in the form of automatic clutches, release overrides, and/or shear fasteners.

5. Construction: Shall be heavy duty to provide maximum protection against structural member failures. Equipment shall withstand the cold, moisture, strains, jars, vibration, and other conditions that are likely to be encountered during operation. All oil, hydraulic lines, air lines and electrical wiring shall be protected and properly attached to the frame or body structure. Wherever these lines pass through structural members, they shall be protected with looms and / or grommets except where a through-frame connector is necessary.

6. Blower Frame:

a. Structural Members - The frame shall be made of either pressed or structural steel channel and reinforced as required to prevent distortion under maximum load conditions. All frames and stiffeners shall be treated with a corrosion inhibitor and shall be primed and painted before assembly, as per paint and finish specifications.

b. Fabrication shall be of heavy gauge welded alloy steel designed for the type of expected service.

c. Scraper blade - A full width scraper blade shall be fitted to the lower leading edge of the frame (if unit is designed for a scraper blade), which shall be removable and made of high carbon steel.

d. Skates - The frame shall be fitted with bolt on, steel skates, in proper numbers and locations to be capable of supporting the weight of the blower unit in its normal operating configuration.

e. Side Cutters - The frame shall be fitted with bolt-on steel side cutters

7. Paint and finish: Preparation - The snow blower and all mounting equipment shall be free of rust and mill scale, sandblasted, then treated with a corrosion inhibitor, primed with a two (2) part epoxy primer to the minimum thickness of 3-5 mils dry. The paint shall consist of not less than two coats of Construction Yellow (Imron 5000 preferred or approved equal) having a minimum thickness of 5-7 mils.

8. Loading Chute: The blower unit shall be equipped with a hydraulically operated spot casting/loading chute. The chute shall be capable of loading into a truck with a side height of 10 ft. and shall have a casting distance variable from 3 ft to 40 ft. The loading chute shall have a hydraulic rotation or pivot capacity of at least 180°. Rotation and casting distance shall be fully controlled from within the cab of the wheel loader carrier vehicle.

9. Impeller and Impeller Casing: The impeller capacity shall be at least equal to the capacity of the input augers (if equipped with augers). The impeller blades shall be made of high tensile steel and be balanced to reduce vibration and shock damage. The impeller shall be a 4 blade (min.) unit with easily replaceable concave blades at least ¼ inch thickness. The impeller casing shall be constructed of high strength steel at least 3/8 inch in thickness.

10. Augers: If snow blower is equipped with augers. The augers shall be constructed of at least 3/8-inch high strength steel, and shall be at least 16 inches in diameter. Three auger heads may also be provided as long as the augers provide a total of at least 32 inches of coverage. When three auger heads are provided, the auger material thickness may be reduced to 5/16 inch. The augers shall be equipped with solid auger drive shafts, and shall be balanced and supported by bearings on the discharge end.

11. Blower Engine:

a. The blower engine shall be a heavy duty 4 cycle, turbocharged, water cooled, six cylinder, diesel engine with a minimum of 250 Net HP. It shall be able to meet the performance characteristics specified herein on commercial grade fuel. The engine shall develop sufficient torque and horsepower to meet its normal operational requirements without exceeding the no-load speed at the peak of its certified gross brake horsepower curve.

b. Exhaust emission and noise level shall comply with all applicable Federal and State of Maine standards.

c. The engine shall be equipped with:

1) extreme duty oil filtration with spin-on cartridge

2) a 110-120 volt engine heater.

3) A low oil pressure/high temperature warning/shut down system wired so that it is visible to the operator in the wheel loader cab.

4) A cold weather starting aid.

d. The engine shall be equipped with a 12-volt negative ground electrical system with at least two (2) 750 CCA batteries and an alternator with at least 90 amp capacity. All electrical components shall be mounted in a weatherproof, sealed electrical box.

e. Fuel filter (with water drain preferred).

12. Instrumentation and Controls: Instrument/control panels with full controls for the blower unit shall be mounted in the tool carrier, and shall be connected to the tool carrier through the quick disconnect harness. The vendor shall provide a separate umbilical cord with all of the control and instrument functions shown below that can be attached to the snow blower unit with a weather proof canon plug and run into a replacement carrier vehicle on a temporary basis. The instrument/control panel shall also be connected to its wiring harness with a canon plug, and shall be capable of being removed and installed on the spare umbilical cord provided here. Vendors shall provide a bid price for a spare instrument/control panel. The instrument/control panel shall include at least the following:

a. tachometer

b. hour meter

c. voltmeter

d. oil pressure gauge

e. coolant temperature gauge

f. fuel gauge

g. ignition switch

h. warning light and alarm for low oil pressure and high coolant temperature levels

i. clutch engagement controls and a warning system indicating when the clutch is engaged

j. Controls for snow blower hydraulic functions, including loading chute and impeller casing.

k. blower speed control

13. Miscellaneous:

a. Quick Disconnect - The blower unit shall be equipped with a quick disconnect system compatible with the tool carrier coupler system to be acquired with this bid package. The coupler system shall allow the operator to complete changes without leaving the operating cab, including connection of hydraulics. The wiring harness may have a single quick connect plug.

b. Name, Service, and Instruction Plates. All information plates shall be made of either noncorrosive metal or plastic with the information engraved, stamped, or etched thereon. Plates shall be mounted in a conspicuous place with screws, bolts, rivets, or exterior-type pressure sensitive tape.

c. Plastic plates. Plastic plates are acceptable only in locations that are not exposed to the elements and subject to weathering or excessive heat.

d. Information. Plates shall identify make, model, serial number, and any other relevant data.

E. Technical Publications: Prior to acceptance of the blower units, the manufacturer shall furnish two (2) sets of the following publications for each unit; (CD’s are acceptable).

1) Operator's Manual: The operator's manual includes lubrication charts and instructions.

2) Parts Manual: The parts manual identifies and lists all parts, components, and sub-assemblies used in the fabrication of the blower unit.

3) Maintenance and Service Manual: A maintenance and service manual provides guidance to non-specialists performing routine services. The manual should also describe in detail with appropriate schematics the overhaul and major maintenance procedures required to maintain the vehicle.

F. Accessories and Tools:

The blower unit shall be equipped with the following tools and accessories. They shall be kept in a secure and readily accessible enclosure that is permanently affixed to the vehicle.

4) Shear Pins: A minimum of two (2) sets of pins shall be provided in support of each shear pin located on the blower.

5) Specialized Tools:

Specialized tools required for routine servicing of the blower and its auxiliary equipment.

The successful vendor shall deliver the blower to: Maine DOT 145 Bennet Drive Caribou, Maine 04736.

If you have a question regarding this RFQ, you must submit your questions thru the Question and Answer link on the Solicitation Details View page. Your answer will appear there as well. It is the vendor’s responsibility to log in to view all questions and answers posted there. Questions and Answers obtained any other way will not be valid for this RFQ.

PAYMENT METHOD: The State of Maine reserves the right to pay for goods purchased through this solicitation by any of several available means, which include but may not be limited to check, EFT, and/or procurement card. Bidders are advised that state statute precludes sellers from imposing a surcharge on credit or debit card purchases (text follows).

9-A MRSA §8-303 (2): A seller in a sales transaction may not impose a surcharge on a cardholder who elects to use a credit card or debit card in lieu of payment by cash, check or similar means.