HWTQube – Universal Hamburg Wheel Tracker

Description

The new IPC Global HWTQube Universal Hamburg Wheel Tracker can cover a wide range of testing procedures, including EN and AASHTO, out from the box. The machine can be easily adapted to a suitable configuration only by replacing the test wheels (steel or rubber wheels), and selecting the test on air or water. Switch from air to water (or water to air) doesn’t require any mechanical modification to the machine, only add or remove water. Once the machine is the right test configuration, the corresponding test configuration can be chosen in the software from the large touchscreen PC, and the test is automatically performed.

HWTQube includes a range of features to improve machine use and its operativity. The exclusive motorized water bath raising & lowering mechanism allows to leave free access to the test area, reducing the height of the mould insertion point and making possible to put moulds in position by just sliding them. The two test areas are independent and fully closed, improving the temperature control quality. Control by large touchscreen PC makes very easy to automatically control the test performance and clearly process the test results to multiple standards. The independent wheel lifting system allows to stop each test independently, both for maximum number of cycles, maximum allowed rut depth or manual stop. The machine must be completed with a suitable kit of wheels (rubber and/or steel) based on the required test configuration.

A high-performance system 

The scotch-yoke mechanism allows to perform a true sinusoidal mechanism, granting 100% conformity to strictest standard specifications just out from the box. The two independent test areas allow to test specimens both in air and in water, independently one from each other, without any additional accessory, and the two temperature probes allow monitoring the two test temperatures in close way. The rut depth is measured with a wheel co-axial system, granting a direct measurement system, allowing a large 50mm span and a high accuracy at the same time. 

A research-oriented system 

The machine can cover a wide range of test standard, but it can also perform tests exceeding standard specifications. Optional extra weights allow to expand the load on wheels from standard 700/705N to 1500N, the test temperature can be set up to 80°C, the wheel frequency can be adjusted and the test duration can be extended beyond standard 20’000 passes. The test software allows to collect up to cycle-by-cycle rutting results and to perform a wide range of test elaborations*. 

*Optional, see Accessories 

Main Features

• True sinusoidal movement with scotch-yoke mechanism
• Designed for modular configuration – more units connected to single controller
• Fully closed test area for operator safety and superior temperature accuracy
• Motorized automatic water bath raising & lowering, for easy sliding of test moulds into test area
• Two independent test areas, allowing both dry, both wet or one dry/one wet test
• Suitable for use with both rubber or steel wheels, to be added based on required specifications (see accessories)
• Adjustable load system, from standard 700/705N up to optional 1500N
• Temperature range from ambient to 80° C (± 0.5°C) for both air (with temperature extender) and water
• Accurate temperature control (±0.5°C) for both in water and air test
• Rut depth transducers feature 50 mm travel, 0.01 mm accuracy
• Direct rut depth measurement system, with transducers axially mounted in alignment with the wheel’s center
• Independent wheel lifting system, allowing a single wheel to be lifted if maximum allowed deformation is reached
• Free access to the wide testing area
• Slab mold size of 400 x 300 mm, 360 x 300 mm (for 320 x 260 mm slabs), double 150 mm gyratory compactor cylinders, 200 mm/8”/10” diameter cores
• Slab thickness adjustable from 40 to 120 mm (in 10 mm steps)
• PC control by large 21.5” vertical touchscreen PC, software included
• Dedicated optional Processing & Reporting software with advanced functions
• Automatic water filling and leveling system, no need to adjust or control the water level above the specimen during the test
• Complete with 2 temperature probes to monitor the temperature of the 2 test areas (both in water and air), with possibility of adding to extra probes to monitor the two specimens’ temperature.

Specifications

Wheel motion: Moving loaded arm with scotch-yoke mechanism, harmonic sinusoidal movement with adjustable speed 

Wheel travel: 230 mm 

Wheel speed: variable 10 to 40 cycles/min

Wheel load: standard 700/705 N by weights, adjustable from 700 to 1500 N in 100 N steps (see Accessories) 

Water bath: Motorized with lifting mechanism, capacity 60 lt. Temperature range: ambient to 80°C, +/-0.5°C 

Air bath: Temperature range: ambient to 60°C or 80°C (with optional range extender), +/-0.5°C 

Rut depth transducer: 50 mm range, 0.01 mm accuracy, coaxial with wheel position 

Test durations: user selectable up to 65’000 cycles or 130’000 passes 

Molds: not included, to be ordered separately 

Slab thickness: adjustable from 40 to 120 mm in 10 mm steps 

Overall dimensions (W x D x H): 1120 x 1270 x 1380 mm (1610 x 1270 x 1380 mm with PC) 

Weight approx.: 560 kg 

Power supply: 230V, 50-60Hz, Single phase, 32A 

Power rating: 3500 W (4500 W with optional temperature range extender) 

Downloads

Datasheet (PDF)

Ordering Information

Accessories

Test Wheels

Machine upgrades

Moulds and Adaptors