Hydraulic Excavator (Hydro excavator)

Hydraulic excavator is also called Hydro excavator. A hydraulic excavator consists of the basic machine which has the full 360° swing superstructure and the undercarriage for traveling; and the front-end attachment which can be exchanged to allow a wide range of applications including digging and loading.

Hydraulic machine is fully driven hydraulically in a manner completely different from a mechanically driven type. Mechanical energy of the engine is first converted into hydraulic energy to actuate cylinders and motors in which hydraulic energy is then converted into
mechanical energy.

A hydraulic excavator is a really versatile machine. In other words, travel, swing, digging and their combined operations are all done by hydraulic power.

Hydraulic excavator: Engine -> Hyd. pump -> Hyd. Cylinder, Hyd. motor -> Work

Mechanical excavator: Engine -> Gears, Chains, Wire ropes -> Work

Feature of Hydraulic Excavator

A big feature of a hydraulic excavator is a full 360° swing while stationary. In addition, combined operations of digging, loading and swing are possible, ensuring high operating efficiency and production. By exchanging the front-end attachment, a range of applications is widened greatly, giving high versatility.

1 The machine, even while stationary, can get the job done in wide ranges.

2 The machine can dig ditches and foundations, precisely and safely.

3 Operating cost is minimum: Wear of undercarriage is minimal because operations can be done with the machine stationary.

4 The machine can be stationed on firm ground while digging in water or soft ground.

5 The machine can swing a full 360°, allowing easy operation in confined area.

6 The front-end attachment can be exchanged easily for a wide scope of applications.

7 Lifting work in pipe-laying can be done.

8 Digging and loading can be done stationarily. So operation is comfortable and fatigue-free.

9 The undercarriage allows efficient job-to-job travel.

10 Travel on rough terrain and soft ground is possible.

11 High stability

12 The undercarriage can counter-rotate with minimum movement trace in confined area.

13 A wheeled hydraulic excavator gives high mobility.

Advantages of hydraulic excavator

1- A hydraulic excavator is a really versatile machine.
2- Wide working ranges including deep ditching capability
3- Digging at elevated level
4- Long reach
5- Operation without damaging scaffolding
6- Lifting
7- A wide scope of applications

Types of Hydraulic Excavators

Hydraulic excavators are divided into three types; crawler, wheel and truck types, according to types of under carriages.

1. Crawler type

- Most popular type, widely used in small to giant sizes
- Ground pressure :-

Small and medium sizes: 0.3 to 0.7 kgf/cm2
Large size: 0.7 kgf/cm2 or over

For operation on swamp and muddy site, wide undercarriage is employed to reduce ground
pressure down to 0.2 to 0.3 kgf/cm2.

Characteristics

- Applicable regardless of jobsite ground conditions such as soft ground and rough terrain
- Good stability
- Low travel speed (about 3 km/h): inferior mobility
- Damaging pavement

2. Wheel type

- Similar to crawler construction, but tires are employed instead of crawlers.

Characteristics

- High travel speed (about 30 km/h, 18.6 mph), quick job-to-job travel
- Does not damage pavement
- Not applicable on rough and soft ground
- Poor stability

3. Truck type

- Truck chassis of special design, different from an ordinary automobile, using outriggers to ensure high stability in operation. Mobility is higher than that of wheel type.

Characteristics

- Highest travel speed with maximum speed of 50 km/h (31 mph). Long-distance travel possible.
- Does not damage pavement
- Not applicable under adverse road conditions

Applications

A hydraulic excavator is very versatile. Here are typical applications, including civil-engineering, mining and recycle jobs.

1. Civil-engineering works

-Sewage work
-Road widen work
-Pipe laying
-Rock braking
-Dragging

2. Resources mining

-Overburden removal in coal mining
-Gravel collecting

3. Forestry works

-Timber handling
-Prune off work

4. Demolition / Crushing

-Bill crushing
-House crushing

5. Metal recycle

-Slag handling
-Scrap handling