Caterpillar D9

The Caterpillar D9 is a large track-type tractor designed and manufactured by

Caterpillar D9
Caterpillar Inc. It is usually sold as a bulldozer equipped with a detachable large
blade and a rear ripper attachment.

The D9, with 354 kW (474hp) of gross power and an operating weight of 49 tons, is
in the upper end of Caterpillar's track-type tractors, which range in size from the D3
57 kW (77 hp), 8 tons, to theD11 698 kW (935 hp), 104 tons.

The size, durability, reliability, and low operating costs have made the D9 one of the
most popular large track-type tractors in the world. The Komatsu D275A is one of
Type Heavy bulldozer
its most direct competitors.
Manufacturer Caterpillar
Length 26.5 ft (8.1 m)
Width 14.7 ft (4.5 m)
Contents (blade)
Engineering and technical description Height 13 ft (4.0 m)
Military applications Weight 108,000 lb
See also (48,988 kg)
References Propulsion Caterpillar tracks
External links
Engine CAT C18 ACERT
model (D9T)
3408 HEUI (D9R)
Engineering and technical description
Gross power 464 hp (346 kW)
The D9 is a series of heavy tracked-type tractors, propelled by Caterpillar tracks and
D9T
usually used as bulldozers. The series began in 1954 with a prototype tractor called
474 hp (353 kW)
the D9X. Ten D9X prototype models were built in 1954. In 1955, the 286 hp
D9R
(213 kW) D9 was introduced to compete against the more powerful Euclid TC-12.
The D9 came equipped with a 1,473 cid D353 which powered the D9 right up until Flywheel 410 hp (310 kW)
the 1980 introduction of the D9L. In 1956 the D9 had its engine power raised to power D9T
320 hp (240 kW). The new 335 hp (250 kW) D9E replaced that model in 1959. Two 410 hp (310 kW)
years later, in 1961, the legendary 385 hp (287 kW) D9G was introduced, that D9R
remained in production for 13 years. Over its 13-year life the D9G became the main
375 hp (280 kW)
crawler on many job sites, testifying to its sturdiness and design.
D9N
In 1965, West Coast businessman Buster Peterson hooked up a pair of D9Gs to 460 hp (340 kW)
pushload the largest wheel tractor scrapers built. In 1986 Caterpillar bought the D9L
rights to this concept and thus the 770 hp (570 kW) DD9G was created (D stands for Drawbar pull 71.6 tons
Dual D9G). Peterson also built the first SxS D9G which has two D9Gs side-by-side,
Speed 7.3 mph (11.7 km/h)
pushing a 24-foot (7.3 m) wide bulldozer blade.
Forward
In 1969, Caterpillar introduced this new SxS D9G. In 1974, the improved 410 hp 9.1 mph (14.6 km/h)
(310 kW) D9H was introduced to replace the D9G. The D9H is still the most Reverse
powerful conventional track-type tractor in company history. The DD9H and the
Blade 17.7 cu yd (13.5 m3)
SxsD9H would soon follow.
capacity 9 SU blade
In 1980, the 460 hp (340 kW) D9L was introduced. The unit featured the same new 21.4 cu yd (16.4 m3)
type of elevated-sprocket undercarriage as was used in the larger D10. The new 9 U blade
undercarriage design reduced strain and shock loads on the final drives[1] and gave
the "belly pan" more ground clearance. The elevated-drive-sprocket undercarriage is
a modular design. To repair the machines one breaks down the tracks and pulls the
drive sprockets out. As a result, one can pull the powershift transmission out the
rear. The 370 hp (280 kW) D9N replaced theD8L in 1987.

In 1988, Caterpillar produced their 25,000th elevated-drive-sprocket track-type

tractor, a D9N. The 405 hp (302 kW) D9R replaced the D9N in 1996. The 410 hp
(310 kW) D9T replaced the D9R in 2004. The D9T has a low-emissions ACERT
diesel engine. The current model is the D9T; however, older models such as the
D9H
D9R, D9N, and D9L are still commonly used. The L, N, R and T models of the D9
are visually very similar, differing primarily in the design of their internal systems.

The D9L was replaced by the 520 hp (390 kW) D10N in 1987. The 370 hp (280 kW)
D9N replaced D8L in 1987. The main difference between the D9T and the D9R is
the installment of the new Cat C18 ACERT inline 6 engine in the D9T vs the V8
3408 HEUI in the D9R. The D9R has clutch and brake steering, while the D9T has
differential steering. The D9L is the most powerful D9 in history, with a flywheel
power of 460 hp. The D9L is also the heaviest D9 in history at 130,000 lbs.

The D9's primary working tools are the blade, affixed to the front and controlled by
four hydraulic cylinders, and an optional ripper, which can be attached to the back. CAT D9L, the first D9 model to
The blade is mainly intended for earthmoving and bulk material handling: pushing employ the "high drive" configuration.
up sand, dirt, and rubble. It also can be used to push other heavy equipment such as
earthmoving scraper pans, and in military applications, main battle tanks. The dozer
blade usually comes in three variants:

1. A Straight Blade ("S-Blade") which is short and has no lateral curve, no

side wings, and can be used for fine grading.
2. A Universal Blade ("U-Blade") which is tall and very curved, and has
large side wings to carry more material.
3. A "S-U" combination blade which is shorter , has less curvature, and
smaller side wings. This blade is typically used for pushing piles of large
rocks, such as at a quarry.
A Caterpillar D9N on a beach
Like many other bulldozers, the D9 can be fitted with other devices such as mine
plows.

The rear ripper is intended for use in loosening rocky ground and ripping out larger
stones. It can also break frozen ground and excavate small ditches. The ripper can be
replaced with a multi-shank ripper, allowing the bulldozer to comb the ground.

The size, power and weight of the larger track-type tractors dictate that they are used
primarily for major projects. The D9 is most commonly found in use in construction,
forestry, mining, waste, and quarry operations.

Military applications CAT D9T, the current generation of

the Caterpillar D9 tracked-type
Caterpillar Inc. does not manufacture a military version of the D9 per se, but the tractor series.
attributes that make the D9 popular for major construction projects make it desirable
for military applications as well, and with Israeli modifications and armor, it has
been particularly effective for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)[2] and also used by KBR in Iraq.
The US Army used D9 bulldozers to clear forest in the Vietnam War but after the
war, they were replaced with smaller and cheaper Caterpillar D7G bulldozers. D7G
bulldozers are still very common in US combat engineering battalions, but there is a
series of oft-recurrent suggestions to replace the lighter D7Gs with the newer and
more heavily armored D9s.

The Caterpillar D9 have been used by the Israel Defense Forces since it was
introduced but an armored model, with Israeli developed vehicle armor kit, was
introduced only in 1986, on the D9L. The IDF Caterpillar D9 armored bulldozer is
operated by combat soldier from the Combat Engineering Corps (Hebrew: ‫חיל‬
‫ )ההנדסה הקרבית‬after going through a 2 months course. Many of the D9 operators An armored IDF Caterpillar D9R
bulldozer, nicknamed "‫( "דובי‬Teddy
are reservists and veterans, which operated heavy equipment also as civilians. The
bear) in Israel.
current models of the D9 employed by the IDF are the D9L, D9N, D9R and D9T. Its armor allows it to work under
The majority of the IDF's D9 fleet today is composed of the D9R withslat armor. heavy fire.

The IDF Caterpillar D9 gain notoriety during theSecond Intifada (2000–2005) when
it was used to clear improvised explosive devices and booby traps, and also to
demolish Palestinian structures. The Israeli armor makes the D9 impervious to
machine gun and sniper fire and to explosive charges and heavy roadside bombs.
These attributes made it ideal to win the Battle of Jenin 2002 during Operation
Defensive Shield. Today the D9 is one of the main combat engineering tools of the
IDF and is considered a valuable asset.

Caterpillar D9H in Requena (Spain)

IDF Caterpillar D9L razing house

IDF Caterpillar D9 with slat armor on IDF Caterpillar D9R pushing soil
display at Israel's 66th Independence (earthworks)
Day

See also
 IDF Caterpillar D9
Rome plow
List of Caterpillar Inc. machines
Heavy equipment
Killdozer! (film)

References
1. Caterpillar Inc. "D9R Track-Type Tractor" (http://www.albahar.com/assets/products/Product%20Machines/D9R.pdf)
(PDF). Retrieved 15 November 2012.
2. "Caterpillar D9" (http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/vehicles/engineer_vehicles/bulldozers/d9). www.Israeli-
Weapons.com website. www.Israeli-Weapons.com LTD. Retrieved 2013-07-24. "The Israeli Armored D9 is a
Caterpillar D9 bulldozer that been modified by IMI for IDF
."

External links
Caterpillar D-Series Track-Type Tractors – Official Caterpillar website
Photoes of Caterpillar D9, Flickr
Army's new D9 bulldozer digs into duty in Kuwait– The US army tests the armoured D9R for the Iraqi campaign

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This page was last edited on 17 May 2018, at 08:20.

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