Caterpillar introduced the Cat water delivery system (WDS) nearly 20 years ago, aiming to change the dynamics of haul road management.
Cat WDS, which controls dust and addresses underwatering and overwatering issues, was enhanced in 2015 with the development of an automated water delivery feature that increases safety and efficiency.
A fully integrated solution was introduced in 2021 whereby a Cat truck, water delivery system, tank and telematics were connected, ushering in what Caterpillar describes as a “new era of intelligent watering” that uses Cat MineStar to provide import data for mining and quarry operations to make informed decisions.
At MINExpo 2024, Caterpillar took its WDS yet another step forward with the unveiling of WDS 2.0. As Caterpillar says, WDS 2.0 delivers more power, greater efficiency, streamlined integration and easier installation.
“The Cat water delivery system is the culmination of nearly 20 years of collaboration with our dealers and customers,” says Dave Freeman, WDS engineering manager. “Cat WDS 2.0 is a continuation of that journey, showing our dealers and customers we’ve listened. Connected with Cat MineStar data tracking, we believe we’re providing our customers with the most advanced water solution for the next 20 years.”
With more than two years of testing and validation at the Caterpillar Tucson Proving Ground, the company says WDS 2.0’s new water pump and Cat hydraulic motor provides a 25 percent increase in water output compared to WDS 1.0. The increase enables water trucks equipped with the new water delivery system to achieve accurate water application rates at 28 mph, keeping pace with autonomous haul truck fleets.
WDS 2.0 delivers increased water cannon output and spray distance, according to the company. Depending on the cannon nozzle orifice and pipe size, the maximum water output of the cannon at high idle is 1,900 gallons per minute – up to 15 percent higher than WDS 1.0. The system also provides up to a 20 percent increase in maximum cannon spray distance of 240 ft.
Caterpillar says WDS 2.0 is engineered with a high-output, Cat hydraulic motor that’s connected with a new water pump assembly. The motor is optimized to work with the hydraulic output of Cat rigid-frame trucks.
Additionally, the water delivery system is now integrated into the truck’s hoist controls to regulate the optimal amount of hydraulic power from the hoist pump to the hydraulic motor. The design helps to provide precise water output while eliminating the need for a separate hydraulic tank, reducing service and maintenance costs. The motor and pump assembly uses a dry coupling that reduces the need for lubrication, eliminating leaks and failures associated with wet couplings.
Additionally, Caterpillar says the ability to now track water data is an industry “game changer.” The new WDS 2.0 connects with cloud-based Cat MineStar telematics, allowing customers to collect data to measure key performance indicators like operator watering procedures, cycle duration, fuel utilization, volume of water distribution and tank level when reaching the fill station.
