At the highest level
The red snow groomers from Kässbohrer are a familiar sight in every ski resort, but hardly anyone understands their sophisticated technology.
A successful tradition is being continued
The new PistenBully 600 Polar, which will be climbing the slopes at night and in fog from winter 2018/2019, stands for slope management of the highest order: the LEVEL RED. With this vehicle, Kässbohrer Geländefahrzeug AG is once again underscoring its position as number one in the global market – not only in terms of market share, but above all in terms of technology and innovation leadership. The first customers and potential buyers were there – at the opening of the LEVEL RED roadshow on the Nebelhorn:
Packed with innovative technology and smart features
The new PistenBully 600 Polar makes every snowcat driver's heart beat faster. The powerhouse with highly responsive, finely tuned hydraulics and 100% performance on any terrain combines everything you need for a perfect slope.
The best-in-class at work
The perfect slope
The red giant makes its way over the mountain through darkness, fog and winter storm. The PistenBully's tracks cling to the soft fresh snow like burdock, 510+ HP propel the juggernaut, which weighs more than ten tons, up steep inclines. Every pile of snow, every hump that appears in the machine's spotlight is leveled. First, the more than sixteen-feet wide blade at the front of the vehicle and the snow miller at the rear press the hillside as smooth as a board to make ready for the final touch and a perfect slope: The finisher then compacts the snow surface and provides the typical groove structure.
Grooves create a softer and therefore more pleasurable skiing experience than a completely flat slope. They also expose a larger surface area, so that the night air can cool the snow down better.
Decision criterion – slope quality
Did you know that the quality of the ski slope is one of the main criteria when skiers are choosing a resort?
Getting the best out of hydraulics, CAN technology and stepper-motor control
Bucher Hydraulics combines the LCV series directional valve, which has proven itself in numerous applications and is constantly being enhanced, with a CAN actuator. Now the valve is operated by a brushless, electric stepper motor with integrated electronics, which in turn is controlled via the CAN bus.
The new mechatronic system offers a broad range of applications around the globe, regardless of climate zones. The strengths of the system are demonstrated in both extreme cold and extreme heat. The applications for the system are therefore many and varied: From snow groomers, through tractors and self-propelled harvesters up to municipal vehicles. No pilot pressure is required for operation, making the valve resistant to external influences such as pressure- and temperature-fluctuations, viscosity changes and contamination.
At the heart – LCV
The LCV is a high-precision hydraulic valve that compensates for tolerances as well as mechanical play over the entire service life of the valve and the machine.
All actuators are held in position without leakage thanks to seat valves. In addition, a float-position function can be activated for each actuator as required.
The front hydraulics of the PistenBully 600 Polar
Optimized blade control
In the new PistenBully 600 Polar it feels almost unreal when you push huge mountains of snow in front of you and hardly notice it.
The snow is pushed together with the 12-way plow blade. The ultra-responsive hydraulic control system in the PistenBully implements the driver's commands quickly and accurately, no matter how heavy the load – for finger-tip control and smooth operation.
The LCV ensures that the behavior of the blade is completely independent of the load – regardless of whether it is 200 lbs or 2000 lbs of snow that has to be pushed.
Simultaneous, pressure-independent, proportional operation of all actuators
Along with the 12-way blade, the snow miller can also be controlled simultaneously at the touch of a button and via hard-coded control algorithms.
By switching the control system from blade functions to milling functions, it is also possible to operate the snow miller on its own in parallel-proportional mode. This feature is mainly used when constructing fun parks.
Valve blocks
Users can combine ten valve sections in one valve block, where all LCV valve sections are equipped as standard with four operating spool positions.
The design of the valve block allows users to easily incorporate a number of additional functions.
Oscillation damping for ultimate travel comfort
The oscillation-damping valve flange-mounted on the rear valve block enables safe, smooth and comfortable travel when attachments at the rear are raised up. During acceleration and heavy braking in rough terrain, strong oscillations of the 1000 kg snow miller are absorbed, and the mechanical load on surrounding components is greatly reduced. The oscillation damping is achieved just with an add-on block on the LCV and entirely without a pressure accumulator.
Co-steering snow miller
With its Auto-Tracer function, the LCV offers active steering and curve support for the snow miller on hillocky, mogully terrain. The snow miller follows the vehicle in perfect harmony, just like the tail fin of a fish. This reduces track slippage during steering, resulting in a clean slope appearance even before the snow has been milled.
Always on course
The lateral stability ensures that the PistenBully stays on course when traversing diagonally, and it prevents the snow miller from slipping or bouncing away. The degree of damping is set by the driver depending on the terrain – the snow miller always follows the carrier vehicle right on track. This ensures that the slope has a precise and uniform appearance even in difficult terrain and tight curves.
One of the special features with which the LCV proves its versatile functionality is the easy switchover from flow control to pressure control.For perfect adaptation to the terrain, the attachments can be loaded and also counterbalanced with a defined pressure.
Smarter Master of the Extreme
Smart electromechanical valve actuators
The LCV offers a compact system solution in which all hydraulic functions are integrated. The CAN actuator provides maximum ease of use during installation and diagnostics.
Several temperature-dependent operating modes are stored in the valve actuator, so that at low temperatures it can react to changes in the valve's behavior that result from the unfavorable viscosity of the hydraulic fluid. This makes it possible to control the valve safely and precisely even in Arctic conditions with ambient temperatures below -40 °C.
Reliability under extreme conditions
At extremely cold temperatures, actuators react more slowly in order to protect valves, cylinders and the surrounding steel components.
Self-protection of the hydraulic system
In bitter cold and with temperatures of -40 °C, oil is as thick as honey. Actuators react more slowly in order to protect valves, cylinders and the surrounding steel components. As the fluid warms up, the valve spool's full adjustment speed of 100 m/s is reached at +5 °C.
All-round trouble-free package
Thanks to an intelligent, no-sensors evaluation of the various data from the stepper motor, safe and precise valve control is guaranteed. If faults occur during operation, such as a mechanically jammed control spool or a fluctuating supply voltage, these are reported to the ECU by the valve operator. The driver receives a detailed fault message on the display, which makes it much simpler to correct the fault quickly and easily.
Serviceability
Thanks to identical valve technology for all actuators – the new PistenBully 600 Polar uses a total of 9 LCV valves – fast and straightforward maintenance is possible. This system similarity not only reduces the range of spare parts needed, but also simplifies the training requirement for the service technicians.
Teamwork – the success factor
Bucher Hydraulics works closely with its customers from the early development stage of a project – including the new PistenBully 600. Thanks to excellent cooperation with the Kässbohrer design team, we know what is important when preparing the slopes.
The result of this teamwork is outstanding quality in the speed and response of the hydraulic functions.
More information about our LCV series of proportional directional control valves
Credits:
Kässbohrer Geländefahrzeug AG Georg Fiegl / Pistenteam Obergurgl Marco Schnyder