Scrapers

Introduction

Introduction

A scraper is essentially a
large bowl with a cutting
edge front that is attached to
a pulling machine

Introduction

It is used to scrape the ground

surface by lowering the cutting
edge into the soil and moving
forward to fill the bowl

Introduction

Once the bowl is loaded, the

front apron is lowered, sealing
the material in the bowl
(to prevent it from spilling out)

Introduction

The bowl is then raised and the

scraper transports the loaded
material to the dump site

Introduction
To unload its material:
The bowl is lowered to a point just above
the ground surface
The front apron is raised slightly
The ejector, which is located behind the
bowl is moved forward, forcing the
material out of the bowl

Introduction
Scrapers are capable of performing
tasks such as:
Excavating
Loading
Hauling
Dumping

Introduction

Scrapers are generally the

most efficient means of moving
material for distances ranging
from 500 feet to 1-1/2 miles

Introduction

For longer haul distances,

trucks are usually the most
economic means of moving
material

Introduction

Skilled scraper operators can

cut a grade within 0.1 foot
(1.2) and can spread fill with
the same degree of accuracy

Types of Scrapers

Types of Scrapers
There are four types of scrapers:
Single-engine
Twin-engine
Push-pull
Elevating
Auger

Single-Engine Scraper
A single-engine scraper has one
engine mounted in the front of the
vehicle which provides all of the
power for this scraper type

Twin-Engine Scraper
The twin-engine scraper has a second
engine mounted in the rear which is used to:
Help with loading
Provide added power to travel on steep
haul roads
To provide higher hauling speeds

Twin-Engine Scraper

The twin-engine scraper costs

about 25% to 30% more than a
single-engine scraper with
equivalent capacity

Single & Twin-Engine Scrapers

Both of these scraper types
typically require pusher tractors
to load to rated capacity

Single & Twin-Engine Scrapers

Rated capacity is essentially the
maximum allowable capacity
in terms of weight or volume

Push-Pull Scrapers

Push-pull scrapers are twin-engine

scrapers that have a push block
mounted on the rear and a bail
mounted on the front

Push-Pull Scrapers

They operate in pairs to assist

each other in loading, eliminating
the need for a push tractor

Push-Pull Scrapers
The trailing scraper pushes the
lead scraper while it loads
The lead scraper pulls the
trailing scraper while it loads

Push-Pull Scrapers

When both are loaded, they

disconnect and travel
independently to the dump site

Elevating Scrapers
An elevating scraper has
power-turned paddles mounted
on a continuous chain in front
of the bowl

Elevating Scrapers
The self-loading feature of the
elevating scraper eliminates the
need for a pusher tractor

Elevating Scrapers
The disadvantages of the elevating
scraper include:
The added weight of the elevating
mechanism
Elevating scrapers may weigh 9000 to
11,000 pounds more than conventional
scrapers with the same payload capacity

Elevating Scrapers
More expensive than conventional
scrapers (purchase price)
Higher operating costs (more fuel
consumption during operating cycle)
Higher maintenance costs due to
elevating mechanism

Elevating Scrapers

Elevating scrapers dump the

material by retracting the floor of
the bowl rather than lifting an
apron in front of the bowl

Uses of Scrapers

Uses of Scrapers
Contractors may use scrapers to perform
the following site work tasks:
Topsoil removal
Contour grading
Drainage ditch cutting
Mass excavation
Fill construction

Uses of Scrapers
The most economical scraper to use
depends on:
The characteristics of the material to be
removed
Length of the haul road
Haul road conditions such as grade and
rolling resistance
Pusher requirements

Scraper Selection

Scraper Selection
Elevating scrapers should be
considered if haul distances are
short and haul road conditions
are good

Scraper Selection
If the material to be removed
contains rocks that are too large
to load by elevator, conventional
scrapers should be used

Scraper Selection

Twin-engine scrapers should

be considered if the haul road
has high rolling resistance or
steep grades

Scraper Selection
Otherwise, single-engine
scrapers are usually most
economical

Scraper Rating and Capacity

Scraper Rating
Scrapers are rated in terms of:
Bowl capacity (volume)
Rated load (weight)

Bowl Capacity
Bowl capacity is generally
provided in loose cubic yards
(LCY) in terms of struck
capacity or heaped capacity

Struck Capacity

The scraper is at struck

capacity when it is filled level

with the sides of the bowl

Heaped Capacity
The bowl is at heaped capacity
(HCAP) when the material in the
bowl is piled above the top of the
bowl (in the center) and tapered down
to the top edge of the bowl

Heaped Capacity

Heaped capacity (HCAP)

is the maximum capacity of
a scraper bowl

Heaped Capacity
For this reason, HCAP is
typically used to estimate the
actual load (soil material) that
a scraper can carry

Scraper Capacity

Scraper capacity, therefore, is

limited by both a volume and a
weight constraint (tipping is not
an issue as it is with a loader)

Scraper Capacity
Volume usually governs unless
the material being hauled is
very dense (heavy)

Performance Specs for Elevating Scrapers

Scraper Productivity

Productivity Estimation
Scraper productivity is influenced by:
Volume of the scraper bowl (capacity)
Rated maximum load (weight)
Nature of material being loaded

Productivity Estimation
Length, profile and surface condition
of haul road
Operational efficiency (OE)
Available horsepower

Productivity Estimation
Scraper productivity is determined by:
Estimating the volume of material that
can be moved during each operating cycle
Estimating the number of operating cycles
that can be completed during an operating
hour

Productivity Estimation
The volume that can be moved during an
operating cycle depends on the:
Rated volume capacity of the scraper
Load weight

Does Volume or Weight Control?

To determine if the volume or the weight of a scraper load
controls, one must proceed as follows:

Determine the weight associated with the heaped capacity

(HCAP) using the density of the material

If the resulting weight of the HCAP is less than the rated

load, the scraper can carry the full heaped volume

If the weight of the HCAP exceeds the rated load, the

maximum scraper bowl volume is determined by dividing
the rated load by the loose material density (lb/LCY)

Production Estimation
Example Problem 10.1 (pp. 120-121)
Given:
A contractor has a John Deere 862B elevating scraper
Rated heaped volume (capacity)
Rated load (weight)
Unit weight (density) of dry clay and wet earth in pounds per bank
cubic yard (lb/BCY)
Percent swell (PSW) of dry clay and wet earth in percent (%)
Determine:
The maximum load (weight) the scraper can carry per cycle in pounds
(lb) when loaded with dry clay
The maximum load (weight) the scraper can carry per cycle in pounds
(lb) when loaded with wet earth and the corresponding maximum load
volume in loose cubic yards (LCY)

Scraper Productivity
Scraper productivity (SP) can be estimated
using the following equation:
SP = [(Scraper Volume Capacity)(OE)] (CT)
Where:

OE is the operational efficiency in working minutes

per hour
CT is the cycle time which is defined as the time
required for a scraper to complete one operating cycle

Scraper Productivity
The cycle time for a scraper can be
estimated by the following equation:
Cycle Time (CT) = FT + VT
Where:
FT is the fixed time which includes the time to load
the scraper, dump the load, and turn and spot the
scraper for the next cut
Fixed time can be estimated from Table 10.1 (p. 122)
VT is the variable time or travel time

Fixed Times for Scrapers

Variable Time
Variable time (VT) or travel time
depends on:
Travel distance
Travel speed

Travel Speed
Travel speed depends on:
The grade and rolling resistance of the
haul road
The elevation (altitude) of the project site
The performance characteristics of the
scraper

Effects of Altitude
The performance of an engine is affected
by altitude
Performance data may need modification
with an appropriate derating factor
See Section 7.9, Effects of Altitude (p.
84) for more detail

Traction
Usable rimpull may also be limited by
the coefficient of traction (COT) of the
haul road surface
See Section 7.10, Traction (p. 85) for
more detail

Maximum Travel Speed

Maximum travel speeds are
typically obtained from equipment
manufacturers performance charts

Maximum Travel Speed

An upper limit (maximum travel speed) may be
identified on an equipment specification sheet or
given in a problem statement
Either of these values should override the chart
value for a specific haul road segment if the
chart value exceeds the upper limit

Scraper Speed
Total resisting force (FR) must
first be calculated for each haul
road segment for both the empty
and loaded cases

Scraper Speed
The power available to move
a wheeled piece of equipment
and its load is called rimpull

Scraper Speed
The total resisting force (FR)
computed for a given haul road
segment corresponds to the
minimum required rimpull for
that segment

Scraper Speed
This value of rimpull is used
to determine the maximum
scraper speed for a given haul
road segment

Scraper Speed

The following slide provides

an example of a performance
chart for a Caterpillar 613C
Series II elevating scraper

Average Travel Speed

Average travel speeds are used
to calculate variable times (VT)
for each haul road segment

Variable Time
Variable time (VT) or travel time is
determined by dividing the travel
distance by the average travel speed
VT = [Travel Distance] [Average Travel Speed]

Scraper Speed
The scraper will not operate at its
maximum speed for the entire time
It will be accelerating and decelerating
during some of its travel time

Scraper Speed
To account for these changes in speed,
the average travel speed is estimated
with the following equation:
Average Speed = (Maximum Speed)(Speed Factor)

ASS = (MSS)(SF)

Speed Factors for Scrapers

Speed Factors
Speed factors are selected from
Table 10.2 (p. 123)
Segment lengths not shown in
Table 10.2 may be estimated by
linear interpolation

Travel Time
Variable time (VT) or travel time for a haul
road segment can be estimated by using the
following equation:
Variable Time = [Haul Road Segment Travel Distance]
[Average Speed for the Segment]

The total variable time (VT) is equal to the sum

of the travel times for all of the haul road
segments

Scraper Productivity
Once cycle time is determined, scraper
productivity (SP) can be estimated using
the following equation:
SP = [(Scraper Volume Capacity)(OE)] (CT)
Where:

OE is the operational efficiency in working minutes

per hour
CT is the cycle time which is defined as the time
required for a scraper to complete one operating cycle

Scraper Productivity
The equation for Scraper Productivity
in the textbook (Equation 10-3, p. 122)
uses the term Rated Capacity in the
numerator

Scraper Productivity
This value in the equation is really an
actual or allowable volume of material
(cubic yardage)
In some instances, this value may equal
(not exceed) the rated (maximum load)
capacity

Production Estimation
Example Problem 10.2 (pp. 122-126)
Given:
A contractor is planning to use a Caterpillar 615C Series II elevating
scraper to grade a building site for a small medical clinic
Elevation of project site (3000 ft)
Scraper engine type and horsepower (derating factor is required)
Material type to be excavated (dry common earth)
Unit weight (density) in (lb/BCY) and percent swell (PSW) of soil material
Haul road description and properties including length (ft), rolling resistance
(lb/ton), grade (% slope) and coefficient of traction (COT)
Scraper specifications including rated heaped capacity (HCAP) in cubic yards
(CY), empty weight (lb), maximum load (lb) and weight (load) distribution
Scraper performance chart is shown in Figure 10.8 (p. 124)
Operational efficiency (OE)
Determine:
Estimated productivity of the scraper in (BCY/hr)

Push-Loading Scrapers

Push Loading Scrapers

Scrapers require assistance in
loading to rated capacity unless they
are elevating
Push-pull scrapers work in tandem to
assist each other

Push Loading Scrapers

Other non-elevating scrapers
require pushers

Push Loading Scrapers

Crawler tractors are usually used
as pushers because of their traction

Push Loading Scrapers

Three methods of push-loading
scrapers are illustrated in Figure 10.9
(p. 127) and include:
Back-track loading
Chain loading
Shuttle loading

Push Loading Scrapers

When excavating hard materials with

scrapers, ripper-mounted crawler
tractors are often used to loosen the soil
in advance of the scrapers, which results
in increased scraper productivity

Push Loading Scrapers

When scrapers are push-loaded,

material in the bowl tends to be

compacted to a higher density than its

natural loose density (typically about
10% greater than its loose state)

Push Loading Scrapers

The density of the material in the scraper
bowl can be determined by one of the two
forms of the following equation:
Density in the Scraper Bowl = [(1.10)(Bank Density)]
[1 + (PSW in decimal form)]
Density in the Scraper Bowl = [(110%)(Bank Density)]
[100% + (PSW in %)]

Push Loading Scrapers

To determine the number of
scrapers a pusher can load, one
must determine the pusher cycle
time (CTp)

Push Loading Scrapers

Pusher cycle time includes the time
required to:
Contact the scraper
Push it while it loads
Boost it out of the cut
Maneuver to contact the next scraper

Push Loading Scrapers

In the absence of job-specific data, the following
equation can be used to estimate pusher cycle
time (CTp):
Pusher Cycle Time (CTp) = 1.4 (Ls) + (0.25 min)
Where:
(Ls) is the scraper load time in minutes
Scraper load time (Ls) is typically obtained from Table
10.1, Fixed Time for Scrapers (p. 122)
Boost time is estimated to be 0.10 minute
Return time is estimated to be 40% of the scraper load
time (Ls)
Maneuver time is estimated to be 0.15 minute

Push Loading Scrapers

The number of scrapers that a pusher can load is
determined by the following equation:
Number of Scrapers (Ns) = [Scraper Cycle Time (CTs)]
[Pusher Cycle Time (CTp)]

Ns = CTs CTp

Push Loading Scrapers

Scraper operations are normally
planned so that scrapers do not
have to wait to be push loaded

Push Loading Scrapers

Idle time for the pusher
(crawler tractor) generally costs
less than that for the scraper

Push Loading Scrapers

Example Problem 10.3 (pp. 127-131)
Given:
A contractor is planning to use Caterpillar 631E Series II single-engine
scrapers to excavate the side of a large hill to construct a level building site for
a school at an elevation of 3000 ft
Scrapers will be push-loaded with Caterpillar D8N crawler tractors
Scraper is equipped with a 450-HP turbocharged diesel engine
(derating factor is not required)
Material type to be excavated is sandy clay
Unit weight (density) in (lb/BCY) and percent swell (PSW) of soil material
Haul road description and properties including one-way distance (ft), rolling
resistance (lb/ton), COT and % grade (slope) from cut area to dump area
Scraper specifications including rated heaped capacity (HCAP) in cubic yards
(CY), empty weight (lb), maximum load (lb) and weight (load) distribution
Scraper performance chart is shown in Figure 10.10 (p. 129)
Operational efficiency (OE)
Determine:
Estimated productivity of one scraper in (BCY/hr) if the scraper does not wait
in the cut for a pusher
How many scrapers can one pusher load

Cost and Time Analysis

Cost and Time Analysis

Scraper operations often involve
multiple pieces of equipment to
accomplish a task (a set or fleet
of equipment)

Cost and Time Analysis

Accompanying equipment might
include a crawler tractor with a
ripper to loosen the soil in advance
of the scrapers and a crawler tractor
to act as a pusher for the scrapers

Cost and Time Analysis

The overall productivity and costs
associated with the set (fleet) of
equipment must be considered
when estimating unit cost

Cost and Time Analysis

The following steps should be taken to

estimate costs and time required to perform a
construction task with a scraper:
Estimate the hourly ownership and
operating costs using:
Historical cost data
The techniques discussed in Chapter 4
The cost references discussed in Chapter 5

Cost and Time Analysis

Determine Scraper Productivity (SP)
with Equation 10-3 (p. 122):
SP = [(Scraper Volume Capacity)(OE)] (CT)
Important Notes:

The equation for Scraper Productivity in the textbook uses

the term Rated Capacity in the numerator

This value in the equation is really an actual or allowable

volume of material (cubic yardage), which in some instances
may equal (not exceed) the rated (maximum load) capacity

Cost and Time Analysis

Estimate Unit Cost for a construction task
with Equation 5-2 (p. 49):
Unit Cost = (Hourly Ownership & Operating Cost)
(Hourly Production
Rate)
Unit Cost = O&O Cost Productivity

Cost and Time Analysis

Estimate the Total Cost for a construction
task or activity:
Total Cost = (Total Quantity of Work)(Unit Cost)
Total Cost = (Work Quantity)(Unit Cost)

Cost and Time Analysis

Estimate the time required to perform a
construction task or activity:
Time = (Total Quantity of Work) (Productivity)
Time = (Work Quantity) (Productivity)

Cost and Time Analysis

Example Problem 10.4 (pp. 131-132)
Given:
The contractor of Example 10.3 estimated the ownership and
operating (O&O) costs (including operator labor) for the Caterpillar
631E Series II scraper and the D8N pusher
The estimated volume of material to be removed in BCY
The productivity of one scraper was estimated in Example 10.3
Determine:
Unit cost for excavating the side of the hill if the contractor uses six
scrapers and one pusher
Unit cost for excavating the side of the hill if the contractor uses
seven scrapers and one pusher
Time required to complete the grading operation in 8-hour days
using the most economical set of equipment