SubscribeCummins continues to expand its range of diesel engines for the Construction industry.
With choices from 23kW (31hp) to 2611kW (3500hp) Cummins has engines to fit equipment needs for every installation, built with the strength and reliability that have made Cummins a leader for over 85 years. All are fully backed by Cummins parts and service network – the largest in the business.
At Cummins we develop the right technology for each application. In many pieces of equipment we meet the demand for clean dependable power. As emissions legislation becomes more stringent with the implementation of Tier 3/Stage 3A levels, Cummins is releasing new models that not only meet these levels, but provide the highest levels of performance with lowest possible running costs.
The new QSB engines, launched In the USA and Europe during 2005, have key design enhancements incorporated alongside the necessary changes to meet Tier 3. These provide superior performance, durability, and reduced noise with significant benefits for construction equipment users.
These enhancements include a new block with higher displacement, a new high-pressure common rail fuel system, a new electronic control module and a rear gear train configuration. Allied with Cummins advanced in-cylinder technology they allow the QSB engines to meet Tier 3 with significant performance enhancements.
The QSB engines are specifically designed to meet the durability, reliability and power density requirements of premium applications such as excavators, materials handling equipment and cranes where high performance is essential at every site. The 6-cylinder QSB will be available from 100-205kW (135-275hp), with the 4-cylinder QSB being available from 82-127kW (110-170hp).The move to 127kW (170hp) capability gives the 4 cylinder engine an increase in power of over 30% versus Tier 2. This provides significant improvements in the power-to-weight ratio for compact equipment installations where space is at a premium.
A new block design is one of the key features of these new products. The displacement is increased to move the engines from 3.9 to 4.5 litres (4-cylinder) and from 5.9 to 6.7 litres (6-cylinder), providing higher power and torque capabilities.
Neil Harrison, Cummins Construction Business Leader for Europe says “The increased displacement means that the QSB’s can now be fitted in installations normally requiring engines with higher displacement. This provides equipment manufacturers with a much more cost effective power plant backed by the renowned reliability and durability associated with Cummins B engine platform.”
The Tier 3 QSB engine features full authority electronic control with a high pressure common rail fuel system capable of generating up to 1600 bar injection pressures. This translates to refined and rapid power delivery, reduced noise, and improved cold start. With the new fuel system, maintaining peak injection pressure is no longer dependent on engine speed, load conditions or fuelling capability. Injection pressure can be virtually constant at all speeds, realizing greater flexibility and precision in controlling both injection rates and timing.
The high pressure common-rail fuel system is fully integrated with Cummins high-precision electronic management system, driven by an upgraded CM850 ECM (Electronic Control Module) with a processing speed over twice as fast as the previous ECM. The QSB engine management system continually maintains an optimum balance between load demands, fuel-efficiency and emissions control. The CM850 ECM is designed for isolation from detrimental thermal and vibration loading for extreme reliability and durability.
The rear gear train is part of Cummins move to reduce engine noise and support equipment manufacturers’ need to comply with noise legislation. This feature, coupled with an enclosed valve tappet cavity and a sculpted block significantly reduce engine noise by as much as 9 db. In fact the Tier 3 engine is now as quiet at full load as its predecessor was without load. This is a benefit not only for meeting global noise legislation, but also improves the operator’s experience and reduces the potential for fatigue and distraction due to high noise levels.
“These improvements are the basis of Cummins’ strategy to provide evolutionary product updates which continue to move us significantly ahead of the competition.” says Neil Harrison. “Cummins are targeting early release of the QSB engines to bring these benefits to construction equipment manufacturers and users alike in advance of the emissions regulations,” he adds. The 6 cylinder QSB will be in limited production in June 2005; a full six months ahead of the emissions regulations. The 4 cylinder QSB will be in limited production in December 2005, a full year ahead of the regulations.
The latest generation of QSB engines not only meet the Tier 3 emissions requirements, they are fully capable of moving forward to the future Tier 4 requirements. In designing engines to meet Tier 3, Cummins have had future emissions limits in mind.
In fact, Cummins is all ready to meet the challenge of the Tier 4 Interim off-road diesel emissions rule scheduled to take effect between 2008 and 2011.
Cummins solution will ensure construction equipment manufacturers long-term platform stability in the face of regulation changes for as much as 10 years with the Tier 4 Interim.
From Tier 3 levels, Tier 4 represents a 90-percent reduction in emissions of Particulate Matter (PM) and a 50-percent reduction in emissions of Nitrogen Oxides (NOx). Cummins is focused on achieving customer benefits as well as meeting emissions regulations.
With all key technologies such as fuel systems, electronics, air handling, and filtration all vertically integrated within Cummins, no other engine company has access to the broad range of in-house design integration to meet Tier 4. Better integration means minimising the cost impact associated with these emissions changes and with Cummins PowerMatchTM software providing integration, the OEM and the operator can be assured that the engine systems are optimized for the greatest reliability and the lowest cost of ownership – not just meeting emissions.
“Cummins is in the best position in the industry to ease the impact of changing emissions regulations for OEMs,” said Neil Harrison, Cummins Construction Business Leader for Europe “Our approach to changes in emissions requirements is to help our customers navigate the regulations; regulations coming with shorter time intervals between them,” he added.
Significantly, Cummins Tier 4 technology solutions will be built upon the latest industrial engine platform range launched for the Tier 3 emissions regulations that commenced in January 2005. This engine platform commonality and simplicity will offer equipment manufacturers a significant advantage by minimizing installation changes through 2011 and beyond.
The Tier 4 emissions rule will be phased in on different dates related to engine power bands, requiring varying levels of emissions reduction. Engines rated below 49 horsepower (37 kW) will need to comply by 2008. The most severe emission reduction levels will apply to engines rated over 50 horsepower (37 kW) beginning 2011 with Tier 4 Interim, followed by Tier 4 Final beginning 2014. The regulations cover all diesel-powered construction, agricultural, mining and other off-road machinery.
A key part of the Tier 4 rule is the regulated reduction of sulphur content in off-road diesel fuel from over 3,000 parts per million (ppm) to first 500 ppm and then 15 ppm just ahead of the Interim and Final engine emissions effect dates. This will make it possible for engine emissions solutions to comply with the new EPA standards.
Of similar significance is the scheduling of the Tier 4 emissions effect dates. As one of the largest suppliers of off-road diesel engines, Cummins will be able to utilize the available time to address the added complexity of working with many hundreds of OEM customers and equipment types. The availability of proprietary Cummins software such as PowerMatch will help ensure a faster and more effective specification and installation process for these customers.
PowerMatch™ software optimises engine performance and provides construction equipment manufacturers with unprecedented flexibility in installation. As part of the Cummins Advisor™ software suite for electronic engines, PowerMatch shapes torque curves and adjusts features of an electronic engine to match engine performance to customer needs.
"Cummins application engineers are able to work with customers to optimise the engine for each application using Powermatch," said Neil Harrison, Cummins Construction Business Leader for Europe. "This enables Cummins to provide responsive support to extend the capability of the machine and allow it to function at the highest levels of efficiency."
PowerMatch provides equipment manufacturers with the ability to optimise engine performance around the machine’s duty cycle. PowerMatch enables the equipment manufacturer to provide performance enhancing benefits such as engine and equipment protection or to maximize fuel economy with the Alternate Torque Curve feature.
With PowerMatch High-Speed Governor Trim, the equipment manufacturer can set maximum vehicle speed and power transfer rate for optimum performance. PowerMatch makes it possible for the equipment manufacturer to custom tailor the engine in applications such as heavy lift trucks, to utilize the optimum calibration for both lifting and transporting its payload enabling faster, more efficient work.
Additionally, savings in operational cost and reduced emissions can be made available through features such as engine idle shutdown. The engine can stop operation when a longer than specified amount of idle time occurs.
To provide a seamless fit between engine and equipment, PowerMatch takes into account the work environment, load factors, ambient temperatures and operating modes, and customizes the power curve and features of an electronic engine to a specific equipment model and/or application.
Cummins Advisor takes over from there and builds a virtual model to show how the electronic engine is installed in the equipment. Accounting for everything from load factors to fuel lines and operating climates to duty cycles, Advisor analyzes how these factors can affect overall reliability and equipment performance, and ensures that all systems work together for optimum performance.