What are Dump Cars Used For?
What are Dump Cars Used For?
When organizing the transportation of any goods, a logistics specialist must consider many factors, such as:
- Delivery route;
- Nature of the cargo;
- Loading and unloading processes.
If bulk cargo, such as gravel, is transported by rail, it is impossible to use loaders for unloading, and it is impractical to rely solely on manual labor. Dump cars with a special system are best suited for this purpose, as they simplify the delivery process.
Purpose of Dump Cars
These cars have a dump truck design and are intended for transporting bulk materials (mainly minerals) over short distances—from the extraction site to processing plants.
A dump car is a unit of a railway train with tilting sides and a body that can be inclined. This design significantly reduces loading and unloading time. It also practically eliminates the human factor, reducing the likelihood of errors, losses, injuries, and significantly lowering costs.
Characteristics of Dump Cars
The uniqueness of dump cars lies not only in their design. Since they are not intended for long distances and the track layout at mining enterprises may be non-standard, dump cars of various load capacities and designs are produced:
- Four axles – load capacity of 65 tons;
- Six axles – 105 tons;
- Eight axles – 145 tons;
- Dump cars for transporting rock – 145 tons;
- Narrow-gauge cars – 22 tons.
Dump cars are equipped with a pneumatic drive, and the sides can tilt or lift.
The length of a dump car depends on the cargo being transported and is at least 10 meters.
The body volume is 70 m³. The tilt angle of the body with an open side is 45°. Unloading is usually done to the side of the track, but if necessary, it can also be done between the rails.
