Loader Mounted Snow Blower Specification[1].doc

Loader Mounted Snow Blower Specification

1. General - The blower unit must comply with all applicable Federal and State of Maine laws. The model offered, and its primary power unit, shall have been in production a minimum of 6 months, and must be in general use by the trade. They must both be current model year products. The snow blower shall be a self-contained, 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. The successful snow blower vendor shall deliver the blower to 145 Bennet Drive, Caribou Maine 04736.

2. Manufacturers Literature - The vendor shall provide a complete set of the manufacturer’s literature for the snow blower included in his bid. 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.

3. Operational Requirements

a. Width of Cut: Minimum of 102 in (2590 mm). The blower must clear a path at least 2 inches wider than the loader on which it will be mounted.

b. Discharge Rate: At least 1500 Tons per hour (1360 Metric tons/hr).

c. Casting Distance: At least 100 feet (30 m), or the equipment manufacturers stated casting distance for the model bid, which ever is greater.

d. Weight: Maximum 10,000 lb (4536 kg)

e. Working Height: at least 50 in (1270 mm)

f. Overall Length: Not more than 95 in (2290 mm)

4. Materials - Materials shall be of the best quality available for their intended commercial use. Component parts shall be new and free of all defects and imperfections that could affect the serviceability of the finished product.

5. Design - Equipment shall be developed in accordance with the best engineering practices available. Design and installation of equipment shall permit easy accessibility for maintenance and service. All blower unit stress points shall be designed to distribute and dissipate shock forces. All auger 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.

6. Construction - Blower unit construction shall 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 components and assemblies shall be free of hazardous protrusions, sharp edges, cracks, or other elements that might cause injury to personnel or damage to equipment. Location of all oil, hydraulic, and airlines and electrical wiring shall be in protected positions properly attached to the frame or body structure. Wherever these lines pass through structural members, they shall be protected with looms or grommets except where a through-frame connector is necessary.

7. 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.

b. Fabrication shall be of heavy gauge welded alloy steel designed for the type of expected service. The frame shall have provisions for vehicle mounts, skates, scraper blades, drive lines, controls, augers, and impeller bearing mounts, and other mechanical hardware.

c. Scraper blade - A full width scraper blade shall be fitted to the lower leading edge of the frame, which shall be removable and made of high carbon steel.

d. Skates - The frame shall be fitted with at least four bolt on, steel skates, 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

8. Painting and Marking - The snow blower shall be painted standard manufactures Yellow.

a. Preparation and Finish - The snow blower and all mounted equipment shall be cleaned first, then treated with a corrosion inhibitor, primed with one coat of two (2) part epoxy primer. The paint shall consist of not less than two coats of Yellow polyurethane enamel having a combined minimum thickness of 7 mils.

b. Quality - The finished paint shall be free of "fisheye", "orange peel", chips, runs, or other imperfections that detract from the equipment's corrosion resistance and appearance.

9. 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 (3m), and shall have a casting distance variable from 3 ft (1 m) to 40 ft (12 m). The loading chute shall have a hydraulic rotation or pivot capacity of at least 300°. Rotation and casting distance shall be fully controlled from within the cab of the wheel loader carrier vehicle.

10. Impeller and Impeller Casing. The impeller capacity shall be at least equal to the capacity of the input 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 5 blade(min.) unit with easily replaceable concave blades at least ¼ inch (6.35 mm) thickness. The impeller casing shall be constructed of high strength steel at least 3/8 inch (9.5 mm) in thickness, and shall have a replaceable poly lining. The casing shall be hydraulically rotated, and capable of rotating 90° from vertical to the right, and 60° from vertical to the left. When the casing is in the vertical position the blower unit shall discharge through the loading chute. To ensure efficient snow flow where an auger and impeller share the same driveshaft, there shall be a reduction gear system between the two to provide a proper meshing of impeller speed and auger speed.

11. Augers. Two interchangeable augers shall be mounted in the blower unit. The augers shall be constructed of at least 3/8-inch (9.5 mm) high strength steel, and shall be at least 16 in (406 mm) 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.

12. 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 with a spring-loaded receptacle mounted professionally at a location specified after selection.

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 a 12-volt battery with at least two (2) 900 CCA and an alternator with at least 100 amp capacity. All electrical components shall be mounted in a weatherproof, sealed electrical box.

e. Fuel heater – N/A.

13. Instrumentation and Controls. An instrument/control panel 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

14. 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 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.

1) Shear Pins. A minimum of six pins shall be provided in support of each shear pin located on the blower.

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