Caterpillar Inc.’s AP655D asphalt paver is practical in a wide range of applications, from routine commercial jobs to demanding highway operations. Typical applications for the AP655D include: highways, urban and rural streets, county roads, lane additions, industrial sites, overlays, airport runways and other medium to high production-sized paving jobs.
The AP655D features include a Cat C6.6 engine with ACERT technology that is U.S. EPA Tier III engine emission compliant, dual operating stations with the Advisor Monitoring System (AMS), tilting consoles, Mobil-trac undercarriage or steel track undercarriage, high capacity cooling system, belt or hydraulic driven generator system and Caterpillar’s material handling system with independent auger and conveyor controls.
Optional features include friction steering, smooth Mobil-trac track belt, power folding front hopper apron and a track plow to name a few.
The engine is a turbocharged, 6-cylinder diesel that provides 174 hp (129 kW) of power. ACERT technology incorporates a series of innovations working at the point of combustion to optimize engine performance in order to meet U.S. EPA Tier III emission regulations for off-road application.
The deck-mounted cooling system provides cool intake air in order to maximize fuel efficiency and minimize emissions. A variable speed fan draws ambient air across the engine compartment and through the radiator. The exhaust air exits toward the hopper providing a cool engine compartment and working environment for the crew.
The AP655D includes dual swing-out operator stations with tilting consoles. The stations offer four different positions for good visibility to the operator’s surroundings. The stations can be positioned beyond the machine frame for greater visibility when precise paving control is required. The tilting consoles also offer multiple positions that allow the operator to be comfortably positioned for long hours of operation.
Other operator features include cup holders on each station and a 12-volt power receptacle.
An advisor monitoring system located on the left operator station provides an interactive interface to assist the operator. The system includes project planning calculators, start-up checklists, engine operating parameters and many other features to assist the operator. The system also lists fault codes for machine functions, making troubleshooting quick and easy.
The Mobil-trac undercarriage offers many advantages over wheel-type pavers, according to the manufacturer.
Increased traction when operating on unstable bases or on grades, less ground pressure and better flotation, are some of the advantages over wheel pavers. High travel speeds give the AP655D Mobil-trac the ability to be quickly repositioned at job sites or driven to the next site.
The Mobil-trac can be purchased with either the raised tread-bar belt or the smooth belt. The smooth belt offers less disturbance of the base materials, yet provides good traction on a variety of surfaces.
The AP655D also can be purchased with a steel track undercarriage. The steel track undercarriage incorporates special quad-roller rear bogies, Cat D3 track rails, and automatic tensioning to deliver a smooth, dependable ride. The steel track undercarriage is available as a more economical alternative to the Mobil-trac.
The AP655D utilizes three steering modes, including pave, travel and maneuver. The maneuver mode permits the tracks to counter-rotate, allowing the machine to turn within its own footprint. This feature provides quick mobility in commercial applications when moving to a new starting point.
The independent material handling system provides precise mix delivery. The gateless material handling system promotes hands-free operation by providing features such as ratio control dials, and independent control of each auger and each conveyor. The independent operation reduces component wear and minimizes the potential for mix segregation.
Reversible augers and conveyors assist the crew by reducing handwork and clean-up. The reversible augers are able to pull asphalt back into the main screed area when retracting the extenders while the reversible conveyors pull asphalt back into the tunnels, resulting in limited spillage.
The foldable front hopper apron offers a power folding option. The apron folds rearward providing good material flow while reducing clean-out effort and time.
The high capacity generator provides quiet power for the electric screed heat, auxiliary lights and job site tools. The tractor-mounted generator provides 33.75 hp (25 kW) of power at 60 Hz for the electric screed heat and the auxiliary power panel.
Circuit breaker protection, internal electronic voltage regulation and a dual bearing design provide reliability.
The AP655D can be equipped with the AS3251C screed with rear-mounted extenders or with the AS2252C screed with front-mounted extenders. These screeds utilize an electric heating system that provides fast warm-up, simple operation and reliability, according to the manufacturer.
The AS3251C vibratory screed features hydraulically-driven, rear-mounted extenders. Heavy-duty support tubes stabilize the extender providing even material flow for high quality results on highways and streets as well as commercial applications.
The AS2252C vibratory screed features narrow front-mounted extenders. The extenders utilize 9-in. (22.8 cm) wide screed plates making it a fit for commercial applications by reducing the need for handwork when changing paving widths.
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