It's all in the family for wacker: unique hood profile of new ride-on compaction roller series aims for familiarity

Diesel Progress North American Edition, March, 2005

In an effort to unify the appearance of its compaction equipment line, Wacker Corp. has introduced the KD 27, a two-model ride-on roller series for asphalt and sub-base compaction applications. Included in the 2.5 ton series are the RD 27-100 with a 39.4 in. drum width and the RD 27120, a slightly larger machine that carries a 47.2 in drum width.

According to Jay Baudhuin, product manager for the compaction division of the Menomonee Falls, Wis., company, the RD 27 series helps to give a family look throughout the company's roller line. "The hood is the main eye catcher," he explained. "When they see that look of the unique hood design they know that it's a Wacker."

The sleek, modem hood is the piece that ties the equipment together, as well as providing excellent visibility, he added.

The new RD 27 series is the first of the Wacker rollers to feature a Perkins 1.5 L, three-cylinder 400 series diesel engine. The engine is rated 33.7 hp at 3000 rpm and packaged with an engine fan-driven radiator, Oiltech oil cooler and a Donaldson two-stage cyclonic air cleaner. The hood over the engine compartment lifts to fully expose the internal engine components, allowing (or easier maintenance and component accessibility; the company said.

Other models in the roller line, the RD 11A, RD 11V and RD 15, are equipped with Honda, Briggs & Stratton Vanguard and Hatz engines rated 18, 18 and 22.8, respectively.

In both RD 27 rollers, the Perkins engine drives the hydraulic steering pump, the vibration pump system and transmission pump. The transmission pump is a variable displacement piston pump from Bondioli & Pavesi. The pump supplies a front and rear Poclain drive motors fitted to each drum while a separate Sauer-Danfoss gear pump powers steering. The drive also uses a spring applied hydraulic release brake system.

An additional Sauer-Danfoss gear pump supplies the exciter system, which is electronically controlled by a switch on the Quadco joystick used to control the rollers' travel. The pump powers a Sauer-Danfoss hydraulic motor fitted to each drum that is splined to the shaft of the eccentric weight by a splined coupling. With a 5467 to 9307 lb. centrifugal force per drum, depending on model and frequency selection (55/66 Hz), the rollers compact to a 24 in. depth.

According to Wacker, the two frequency levels are ideal for contractors who want to use the same machine to compact the same area at both high and low forces such as sub-base followed by asphalt layers. The company also said the RD 27 series has the highest centrifugal force in its class with vibration available in either the front drum or both drums. The vibration has been isolated from the operator using a series of shock mounts.

Because the RD 27 roller series has application in asphalt, an intermittent sprinkling system has also been incorporated on the drams. Water is fed through hose and piping and a three-stage filter system from the water tank located at the rear of the roller's two-flame chassis. The engine and transmission components reside in the front flame.

The operator platform incorporates a Milsco seat with an ergonomic control panel. The panel has a series of light indicators for alternator, engine oil pressure, hydraulic oil and engine temperature, as well as notification for when the flashers, parking brake and vibration system are in use. The 2.5 ton rollers also feature foldable POPS, which is designed to simplify transport, storage and maneuverability in low building. Average height on the rollers is 109.3 in.

Wacker designs and manufactures a range of light construction equipment. It has its own manufacturing and development facilities in Menomonee Falls; Reichertshofen, Germany; and Manila, the Phillipines. Its parent company, Wacker Construction Equipment AG, is headquartered in Munich, Germany.

Remote control compaction

Along with its new rollers, Wacker has also unveiled the DPU 7060SC reversible vibratory compacting plate. The plate is one of 10 models offered in Wacker's plate compaction line that ranges from 2.01 to 17.2 hp.

Powering the new DPU 7060SC model is a single-cylinder 43 F air-cooled Farymann diesel engine rated 14.8 hp at 3000 rpm. This is used to drive the 15,510 lb. vibratory impact of the machine using a Suco centrifugal clutch which is V-belt driven off the engine. According to Wacker, the plate can compact 11,302 sq.ft, per hour with its 31.5 in. baseplate, and it can climb grades up to 40% in sand, gravel and mixed soils. Frequency rate of the compactor is 51 Hz.

The DPU 7060SC model is available with Wacker's Smart Control remote control option which uses a line of" sight to control travel of the compactor. The Smart Control system works in conjunction with a stand-by mode, which is designed to increase fuel efficiency and operator safety by gearing down to idle anytime the control joysticks are not being used. This stops the travel and vibration movement of the compactor and completely shuts down if disuse continues after an hour. The Smart Control system will also revert to idle if the line of sight has been interrupted or if the operator steps within 5 ft. of the machine.