Earthmoving and transport machinery constitutes a vital category within the field of construction machinery. Comprising equipment such as loaders, bulldozers, graders, scrapers, and mining dump trucks, this machinery is primarily utilized for the excavation, loading, transport, and leveling of earth and rock materials. Its applications span a wide range of sectors, including general construction, mining operations, road engineering, and agricultural water conservancy projects. The power source for this machinery predominantly consists of diesel engines, while transmission systems employ mechanical, hydromechanical, or hydraulic methods. Structurally, the machinery consists of three main components: the power unit, the chassis system, and the working mechanism; the travel mechanism is broadly categorized into wheeled and tracked types. The technical parameters characterizing this class of machinery encompass dimensions, mass, power specifications, and economic indicators. Specifically, dimensional parameters cover both operational dimensions and overall machine dimensions; mass parameters relate to both the total machine weight and its operational weight; and power parameters include the output of the power unit as well as the specifications of the hydraulic and pneumatic systems. In 2024, the total import and export value of earthmoving and transport machinery in China reached US$7.35 billion, with front-end loaders and off-highway haul trucks emerging as the leading export products. Current technological development trends are centered on the transition toward new energy sources (specifically electric and hybrid equipment) and enhanced intelligence (featuring 5G-enabled remote control and autonomous driving capabilities). Concurrently, market demand exhibits a multifaceted pattern, characterized by a simultaneous trend toward high-end sophistication, large-scale capacity, and compact miniaturization.
Earthmoving and transport machinery-including bulldozers, single-bucket loaders, scrapers, and graders-is capable of executing a diverse array of earth and rock engineering tasks. These tasks range from scraping, excavating, loading, and stockpiling loose materials to site leveling and overburden stripping in open-pit mines. As these operations rely heavily on the interplay between traction force and speed, the machinery places stringent demands on both its travel mechanism and its traction transmission system. Typically driven by diesel engines, these machines utilize mechanical, hydromechanical, or hydraulic transmissions to transmit traction power. The travel mechanisms are available in either wheeled or tracked configurations, while the working mechanisms are predominantly controlled via hydraulic systems. In recent years, the industry has witnessed a distinct trend toward both large-scale expansion and ultra-compact miniaturization. Furthermore, research is actively being conducted into the application of autonomous and remote-control technologies to broaden the operational scope of this machinery and enhance its performance capabilities in harsh environments-such as underground mines, underwater settings, and high-altitude regions. Concurrently, significant research efforts are being directed toward energy conservation, the reduction of environmental pollution, and the enhancement of machine safety and operator comfort, all with the ultimate objective of optimizing overall machine performance.