Classification of loaders

Loaders are a type of construction machinery widely used in fields such as construction, mining, and agriculture, primarily for loading and unloading bulk materials (such as sand, gravel, coal, grain, etc.). According to different classification standards, loaders can be divided into various types. The following are common classification methods and specific categories:

I. Classification by Engine Power

• Small loaders: The power is generally below 50 horsepower (about 37kW), and the overall machine quality is relatively light (usually less than 5 tons). They are suitable for small-scale engineering, agricultural operations, municipal maintenance, etc., such as rural road construction and orchard transportation. They are characterized by flexibility, portability, simple operation, and low requirements for the site.
• Medium loaders: The power ranges from 50 to 160 horsepower (about 37-118kW), and the overall machine quality is 5-15 tons. They are the most widely used type, suitable for general construction, auxiliary mining operations, port loading and unloading, etc., balancing work efficiency and flexibility.
• Large loaders: The power is 160-300 horsepower (about 118-221kW), and the overall machine quality is 15-30 tons. They are mainly used in heavy-duty operation scenarios such as large mines and large infrastructure projects, and can efficiently handle large quantities of bulk materials.
• Extra-large loaders: The power exceeds 300 horsepower (more than 221kW), and the overall machine quality is more than 30 tons, which are customized products. They are only used in extreme heavy-duty environments such as extra-large mines (such as open-pit coal mines, metal mines), with extremely high work efficiency but poor mobility.

II. Classification by Travel Mode

• Wheeled loaders: With tires as walking components, they are the mainstream type in the market currently.
  Advantages: Fast driving speed (usually up to 30-50km/h), good mobility, can drive directly on roads, and convenient for transfer; less damage to the ground, suitable for urban roads, hardened sites, etc.
  Disadvantages: The ground pressure is relatively large, and the passability on muddy and soft ground (such as swamps, deep foundation pits) is poor.
• Tracked loaders: With crawlers as walking components, they contact the ground through crawlers.
  Advantages: Small ground pressure (the crawler increases the contact area with the ground), strong passability in complex terrains such as soft, muddy, and steep slopes, suitable for operations in mines, wetlands, and non-hardened sites in the early stage of infrastructure construction.
  Disadvantages: Slow driving speed (generally not exceeding 10km/h), relying on trailers for transfer, and causing greater wear to hardened ground.

III. Classification by Transmission Mode

• Mechanical transmission loaders: They use mechanical gearboxes (such as manual transmission) to transmit power, with simple structure, low cost, and convenient maintenance. However, the operation intensity is high, the speed adjustment is discontinuous, and they are suitable for small loaders or simple operations sensitive to cost.
• Hydromechanical transmission loaders: They transmit power through a combination of a hydraulic torque converter (transmitting power) and a mechanical gearbox (shifting).
  Advantages: They can achieve stepless speed change, the power transmission is stable, can automatically adjust the output torque according to the load, reduce the impact on the engine, and are easy to operate, widely used in medium and large loaders.
• Full hydraulic transmission loaders: They are driven by hydraulic pumps and hydraulic motors, eliminating the traditional gearbox.
  Advantages: High transmission efficiency, wide speed regulation range, fast response speed, can achieve precise control, suitable for complex operations (such as fine loading and unloading, operation in narrow sites). However, the structure is complex, the cost is high, the maintenance difficulty is large, and the application is currently less.
• Electric transmission loaders: They are powered by electric motors, and the walking and working devices are driven by motors (some are hybrid).
  Advantages: Zero emissions, low noise, suitable for indoor, tunnel, and scenarios with high environmental protection requirements (such as urban municipal engineering, underground mines). However, limited by battery life or power supply facilities, the current popularity is low, and most are customized for specific scenarios.

IV. Classification by Purpose and Working Device

• General-purpose loaders: Equipped with standard buckets, mainly used for loading and unloading bulk materials, which are the most common type.
• Special-purpose loaders: According to special operation needs, the bucket is replaced with other devices, such as:
• Side-dump loaders: The bucket can unload materials to the side, suitable for operations in narrow sites (such as tunnels, culverts) to avoid occupying space for turning around.
• Logging loaders: Equipped with log grabbers, used for loading and unloading long materials such as wood and pipes, commonly found in forest farms and logistics warehouses.
• Snow removal loaders: Equipped with snow pushers and snow rollers, used for snow removal on roads and squares, widely used in municipal maintenance in northern winter.
• Forklift loaders: Equipped with forks, having both the functions of loaders and forklifts, can load and unload pallet goods, suitable for warehouses and ports.
• Backhoe loaders (two-way machines): The front end is a loader bucket, and the rear end is an excavator bucket, integrating loading and excavating functions, suitable for the multi-functional needs of small-scale projects.

V. Other Special Classifications

• Articulated loaders: The whole machine is divided into front and rear parts, connected by an articulation pin. When steering, the front and rear bodies rotate relative to each other (similar to the steering mode of tractors). Most loaders are articulated, with small turning radius and good flexibility.
• Integral loaders: The body is of an integral structure, and steering depends on wheel deflection (similar to cars). Only a few small loaders adopt this structure, with poor flexibility, and have gradually been eliminated.

Summary